RP:Great New Formula!

Part of the The Dust Up In Cenril Arc

Summary: Hudson visits SoulsKin and passes on to Meri a new product he's created: purple dust. Because the Firefly Steve formula has been compromised by whatever secret sauce Emelyan has been adding, Hudson asks Meri to try out the new product with her friends and let him know how it compares to, in notable part, the red dirt that has gotten so popular in Frostmaw these days.

SoulsKin

Hudson is actually by the tattoo parlor to catch Lita or Meri, but the former's evidently not in at the moment. It's getting warmer, albeit not quite spring yet, so he's only in a light jacket and jeans when he shows up, afternoon encroaching on evening. He's got a duffel bag full of sweaty clothes and other assorted sundries from playing a pick up game at the nearest gym earlier, sports doing some (but not enough) of the heavy lifting to distract him from the trouble he's seeing on all fronts. He appears to have rocked up to the joint as it's closing down, typically good timing.

There is always a fine level of appreciation (hate) when a customer comes to any establishment at closing time. Meri has just finished doing the entire cleaning routine for the night as both Lita and Meri take quite a bit of pride in the reputation of their shop. Cleanliness was high on their list of priorities -- they do not need some Joe spreading rumors about how much their shop sucked because he got an infection at a dirty establishment. The bloc that helps the ladies by running the front counter and scheduling their appointments starts to deny Hudson entry into the parlor because of the hour. "Listen, you can browse the books tonight and make chat with an artist but don't expect to get any ink done tonight. We only accept walk-ins up to an hour before closing. So unless you have a previously arranged appointment...." Which he knows Hudson does not. That sentence trials off right there, which is probably for the best, because the implication is that Hudson should take a hike. The parlor is not large in size, just right for two artists to work in comfortably, so Meri is able to hear all of this exchange and it is enough to cause her to poke her head out of the stall she had just finished sanitizing just in case she was required for any level of conversation. "Oh this is Hudson. I don't think he is here for a tattoo. Anyway, cut out a few minutes early. I can lock up no problem." A known fact, she has opened and closed these doors many times in the past. Without further adieu, the gent who runs the front desk makes his escape before Meri changes her mind.

Hudson scratches his uneven beard (he should really try to maintain the situation if he's going to let it run free) and, respectfully, looks past the guy who's obviously trying to shoo him out of the place. "I'm just looking for someone who works here," he catches sight of Meri just in time, she cuts in to vouch for him as a non-customer. Hudson offers the shop guy an easy grin, claps the guy on the shoulder, and then the two step around each other. Hudson leaves his duffel and sweaty gym stuff on a chair by itself, sitting down on the spare one next to it. He remarks that it's just Meri here, no Lita, that's fine. He cocks his head, his gaze following the blond woman as she moves about. "Is it just us in here?" he wants to know. (People might be lurking in the bathroom, who knows.) "Indeed I am not here for a tattoo, although I do have one," he remarks.

Meri manage to keep her thoughts on that unkempt thing on Hudson's face that might pass as a beard were it actually groomed. "What is wrong with that thing on your face?" Charming, to the point. The bit of bustle that Meri was up to comes to an end after Meri locks the from door, to keep the customers out not to lock anyone in. Doors locked at closing time, this was normal. The artist sinks into a stool behind the counter, that very same stool that the employee she just dismissed was occupying. "Mhm, yup. Sometimes Lita'll sneak in the back but it's her shop sooo..." Can't keep Lita out if she wants in. A brow is lifted at the mention of a tattoo, a subject that would gain Meri's interest with success one-hundred percent of the time. "Well I can't imagine that you came all the way out here for a game of a show and tell. I think we both know I'd win that game hands down, no contest, anyway." A sly grin pulls at red lips. "But, now I've got to ask. What sort of ink do you have?"

Hudson passes a hand over his beard. "My mum made a similar remark at our dinner, I should probably do something about it," he says, stretching to make himself comfortable. "Lita's cool with me, pretty sure she left beer on my lawn the other day," he adds. He shucks off his jacket and briefly tugs the collar of his shirt to the side to expose Alvina's name in script just below his shoulder. "Mother of my children," he explains. "I'm not actually the kind of guy who gets ink." He gestures at his clothes and sneakers, which are like chill and casual dad to the maximum right now. "No offense intended, I'm just not that cool, of course the tattoo I get is something basic like a woman's name." He pulls the collar out again for good measure. "It covers a nasty scar from when I got bit and became a werewolf. Not quite just the jock who might sit behind you in chemistry anymore." He digs into the duffel beside him and pulls out some leather pouches, which he tosses to Meri in quick succession, saying, "Heads up," as he does so. "Due to business reasons not worth getting into here, I had to modify my blue dust, it's purple now. A formula mix between the blue stuff and the red stuff they're selling in Frostmaw. Not sure if it's a success, maybe you and your lady friends can let me know. We have to phase blue out for awhile, turf stuff, but hoping this'll be a patch."

Meri inspects that pretty basic tattoo in brevity, it was not nearly as interesting as she had hoped (sorry). Her attention on it is limited and quickly settles back on Hudson's face, keeping it professional. "Mmm, well touchy subject, I am sure, but if you ever want that covered up...." Meri sort of braves, as she has not quite figured out if Hudson and Alvina are off. Or on. "Be pretty easy to turn that name into a bad ass wolf tattoo of some sort." Will that help Hudson to escape his classification as a basic bro? Naw, probably not. "Anyway, nothing wrong with doing the name thing. I will probably be bugging Lita for a new piece that will incorporate a name dealio into it." Sometimes Meri was basic too. Those bags are caught one by one and then deposited on the counter in front of where Meri sits. She'd take a closer look later. Hudson might express that the business deal wasn't worth getting into, but curiosity killed the cat and Meri cannot resist the urge to ask. "Oh really? Interesting. Supply problems? Hm." A beat. "The red stuff they are selling up in Frostmaw? That being pumped out by you too? So what is supposed to be the major difference. Red. Blue. What are you expecting from the purple?"

"Hah," is the immediate reaction of Hudson in response to Meri's offer to rework the tattoo. "It did embarrass Alvina at the time, I don't know if her opinion over time has changed. The name thing's not for everyone but I had good intentions," he elaborates. His gaze slides over the ink visible on Meri's arms. Way more than he'd ever get for himself, despite being an outlaw wolf, he'll stick with his jock sleeping through chem class look, thanks. He scratches his beard as he contemplates the easiest way to explain the political question she's put to him. "The red dirt in Frostmaw's not me," he tackles the easy stuff first. "Have a good idea of who those guys are, I was able to clone their product for the comparison activity here. If you haven't tried it, it's more of a regular upper, it keeps you awake and wired and ready to rumble if you're the fighting kind. My blue stuff was more mellow, good for antisocial people trying to connect. You've probably seen people on it if you've been to any of the big bardic shows recently. I'm hoping purple's something in the middle, though closer to the blue truth be told. The guy who made the regular blue stuff with me, is leaving the business, we're working out the intellectual property thing a bit, but I'm just trying not to use his recipe straight up out of respect." And also because Emelyan had threatened that people using the blue dust made without him would turn into literal monsters. Kinda not good. "Anyway. Would be good to get a variety of views, so if you have friends, please share."

A shrug is issued as Hudson seems to reject the notion of a coverup, which Meri is perfectly fine with. "Yeah, no pressure. Tattoos are a personal thing, they should not be forced. Just throwing it out there." While encounters with Leoxander and Eleanor do not seem to be panning out, something about what Hudson says gets the gears in Meri's brain turning. What ideas she may have? She eases into that,m by addressing some of the other things they have been discussing. "Yeah, sure, like I said. I know some people. I meet some people. I am sure I can get you a few different opinions amongst both genders. Of course, you really should experience these things first hand for yourself." One of those leather pouches is lifted and given a wiggle in a half-hearted manner before dropping it back into it's prior resting space -- she was already anticipating that no from Hudson. "So you've got some competition and you maybe have a few leads on it, hm? Dealing and helping with an expansion here seems to still be burning on the 'maybe' at best. But you know, except for like you apparently, most dealers like pretty girls who like to party, yeah? I could do some nosing around. See what I hear." It's at this point Meri rises from her seat to disappear into her booth long enough to produce a satchel of coin. Neither overly hefty, for Meri is not a rich gal, but it's not running on empty either. "How much do I owe you for playing test dummy?"

At the suggestion that he try his own product, Hudson chuckles, fastening up the duffel bag once more. "I'm someone's - two someone's - dad and I got an outlaw enterprise and some legitimate businesses to run but noted, I could loosen up sometime," he responds. He rubs his beard to wait around a rueful smile. "Ooooh Sven," he whistles, amusement in his voice, "Leading me into an admission like that. I do like pretty girls who like to party, of course I do, who doesn't like pretty girls who like to party. As you may know, it's just problematic sometimes." He winces, unsure if that was the best way to navigate it. He's not sure if their conversation is solely on topic of his product anymore or if they're ranging a bit farther afield. Meri has a subtle way of extracting information, but he's still a bit possessive of his truth. That said, it's still mildly embarrassing to be such a lame dad about things. "I can party a little, I'm not leashed up in the yard so to speak, maybe I'm due for some partying, yeah, yeah," he says in a tone that strikes the balance between playful and defensive. "Put the money away, just let me know what you think of that stuff. You know where to find me, I'm still in the same glamorous location."

Meri pins a mildly confused look on Hudson as he seems to avoid the meat of her query, poking around for information on the red dirt he had explained was available in Frostmaw. The only assumption for the artist to make is that they are still in 'maybe'ville, therefore that line of conversation is dropped. A smooth smile is displayed as Meri picks up on the conversational cues such as 'you know where to find me' and appropriately rolling with them. That odd balance of his tone, playful but defensive, didn't escape Meri's attention either. "Alright Momma's Boy. I'll give this stuff a whirl and see about getting a few other opinions like you have asked, and then I will come knockin' on your strip joint that is sorely in need of a ladies night." She just had to get that reminder at some point during this conversation. "And I will give you it's review. If you don't see me sometime soon then you're stuff is probably no good and you've probably killed me." A bad joke."In that case, it's been real." With none of her gold required, that bag is tossed amongst the rest of the leather pouches, the shop was closed, the door was locked, no one was going to barge in and steal any of her goodies while her back is turned, so to speak.

Hudson is only as attentive in his conversations as his creator, which, heh heh, apparently not so great sometimes. It works anyway. Maybe he's a touch defensive about his domestic situation, he misses her offer. He snorts with open disdain at the prospect that she might die. He's not the most advanced alchemist but plz, he has some pride in what he makes. "You're not gonna die, I know all the stuff that's in there," he reassures her, rolling his eyes. "Unless I guess you're allergic," quick disclaimer. "So try not to be allergic, maybe," he suggests. He shrugs as if to say, I dunno, what does one even say after making such a... grisly observation? He rises to his feet and hooks his duffel over his shoulder. "Anyway, I gotta go .. do my life," he says, in the most awkward announcement of departure. "Maybe do some laundry and shave my face," he concedes. Not getting better. He offers Meri a grin that's meant to apologize for lack of smoothness in the transition there. "You ever say awkward crap?" He rubs his face, heading to the door, which he wedges open to face her. He lifts his hand to wave goodbye. "Yep... so, later." He lets himself out into the street, heading back toward the ferry. He really does have to do his own laundry, though. That's kinda the only thing on tap this evening. Stupid laundry, it reminds him of how things are right now. The wind's cold and kicking up, although the day had been a warmer one. He pulls his hat down, walks into it. Ugh, he misses his kids. It feels like so much wasted time without them, and he doesn't remember how to be that guy anymore, the grass isn't as green as it had seemed after all.