RP:Jealousy Changes Hands

Part of the Merfolk Tale Arc

Summary: After Neema passes a Mercea artifact into the hands of an assassin for payment of services rendered, Krystann meets with Finn to verify the items worth.

Characters: Finn, Krystann

Location: Vailkrin, Weapons Merchant.

Finn: “I’ll give you three hundred for it..” The offer was an idle drawl made from a broad shouldered, auburn haired male as he stood before the display case of the Vailkrin weapons merchant. A calloused fingertip ran almost lovingly over the jagged edge of the longsword he had laid out on the counter before him. The laugh that came from the pale and elegantly adorned vampire on the other side of the case was dry and disdainful. “You most certainly will not Red..” the male bit out, “It’s worth at least twice that, and you know it,” he said, moving to take the weapon out of reach of the runner. “Oh aye?..” Finn baited, “An’ they’re sellin’ real well aren’t they..” he stated provocatively, as his eyes lifted to take in the multiple variants of the weapon that sat un-purchased on the wall brackets. “Four twenty-five.. final offer..” he muttered. The weapon could be put to use here in person, he’d travelled light when he left to retrieve the Rider, and had the feeling that he’d stepped into a mess deeper than he might otherwise have anticipated. He could always resell as a used item later..and still at a profit if he purchased under true value. “Fine..” It was almost a bark from the merchant, and Finn could not help the grin that flashed across his features. “Pleasure doin’ business mate..’ he murmured, passing gold across the surface of the case as he slid the weapon home into its sheath and lowered it to his side.

Finn bought 1 jagged-long sword for 550 gold, 10 silver, and 10 copper.

Krystann steps into the Vailkrin weapons for two reasons; getting his stuck dagger vambrace repaired, and possibly beating the living hell out of the vampire who'd bungled it's repairs the first time. He's still dressed for work, with a small amount of his latest targets blood staining the front of his dark robes. Yet he halts at the doorway, noticing Thalah had another customer whom Krystann scrutinizes hard for several moments while the pair discuss business. He can't help but wonder about the man... it was a very striking resemblance to the one he was searching for, but this was not at all the place in which Krystann had been told to look. Silent steps carry the Assassin closer to Finn from behind, and were it not for the sudden nervous expression on the face of the Vampiric store clerk, Finn would have a hard time figuring out that Krystann was there.

Finn was a particularly observant man. One learned to be in his line of business, so he did not fail to note when the expression of resigned disgruntlement on the face of his current companion became one of wary insecurity. Nor did he miss the nervous flickering of a gaze over is shoulder to someone or something just beyond. Damned Darklands, one never knew what might be lurking over one’s shoulder. His fingers settled more securely about newly purchased blade hilt, and his solid mass centered itself in the case of the need for swift defensive action on his part. His voice when he spoke however, without turning around, was a relaxed and idle drawl of apparent amusement. “It’s a dangerous thing to sneak up on an armed man my friend..lotta accidents happen that way..” he said. Gold flecked gaze lifted, skimming the wall for some reflective surface in the shop in which he might catch a glimpse of whoever it was that had made entry. Not an impossible task, given the mass of blades of varying sizes that adorned it. The flat, wide blade of an Axe on display provided just the ticket, and the male locked eyes on what little he could make out of the male’s dark reflection.

Krystann remains still where he stands some several feet behind Finn, eyes still traveling up and down the mans form idly. "If I were sneaking up on you, we wouldn't be talking right now." he replies rather dryly, though it wasn't meant as an insult. He -was- an expert at getting close enough to kill without ever being seen after all, and most were not so watchful as they ought to be, especially when engaged in business. Krystann's eyes catch the glint of an axe sitting on a display rack ahead of the pair, though he can't see the reflection of Finn's face in it, just the very top of his head. "I'm looking for someone...." Krystann starts to say as he walks around Finn to lean against the counter, at which point he starts unbuckling the dagger vambrace on his arm. "Only problem is i've never met him, you see." there is a light clanking as the assassin tosses the mostly leather implement down onto the glass counter and eyes Thalah. "But if I had to hazard a guess, judging from your appearance and your... tenacity... you could easily be him."

Finn laughed shortly, but not without appreciation for the man’s directness. Auburn head angled Krystann’s way, that whisky gaze observing the man’s ease with the handling of the weapon he deposited on the counter top. “Reckon I’ll take that as a complement mate..an’ give you the benefit of the doubt that you’re tellin’ it straight.” It never hurt to network with the sort of people who might be useful in areas Finn might himself deign not to tred. “I might be who you’re lookin for..suppose that depends on what you’re wantin’ your target for..” he added, eyes turning again to observe the interaction of the male with the shop keep. It would reveal much, to see if the man was a regular..or just passing through for the first time.

Krystann stares daggers at the store clerk, though he doesn't let his attention draw too far away from Finn, switching his gaze from Thalah to the axe blade's reflection every several seconds. Moving to the counter had shifted the reflection of Finn more firmly into view, giving a better view of his face, and from one's facial expressions it was usually easy to anticipate a sudden attack. There were always telltale signs in one's face, the way their eyes moved, the way their muscles twitched, and Krystann wasn't so undisciplined as to fully disregard the intentions and motions of a man who had a weapon in their hand. "I need this fixed." he mentions to the clerk before responding to Finn "And this time I need it fixed right, as it seems someone failed to tighten the mechanism properly." Thalah looks embarrassed as his gaze shifts from the weapon to Krystann and back, obviously just a slight bit intimidated by the man. As the store clerk takes his vambrace and moves off to start tinkering with it, Krystann turns to face Finn outright. "I've recently come into possession of a certain item for..... well lets just say it was a gift. I was told a man matching your description sold it, sold it for quite a good bit of gold as well." there is a bit of humor in his voice as he reaches the end. "Now, I trust my kind friend who says they spent twenty five thousand gold.... but perhaps I don't trust their business savvy if you know what I mean." As Krystann speaks, making eye contact with Finn all the while, a thin hand dips into a little hidden pocket in his robes and extracts some small shiny object. With a sweeping motion he lifts it up to the light, exposing it as an earring with a little stone. "You wouldn't happen to have seen this before, would you?"

Finn’s observant gaze tracked the movements of the male, his dealings with the shop keeper noted and filed away. The gold flecked gaze dropped to the earring that the male held up on display. He laughed again, a rough husky sound. “Course I’ve seen it. Sold it to the bird.” Those eyes lifted to rest idly on Krystann’s face. “You’re right though, about her business savvy. She paid 25 for it, thinkin' it was just a pretty piece. True value for a knowledgeable client can go as high as 100. I got that much on a bid for another in the same family..as it were..” he said with a flash of white. “Reckon you’re holdin’ a gold mine in your hands mate..an good luck to ya workin’it..”

Krystann can't stifle his curiosity at Finn's assertion that it was worth so much, but had sold for so little in comparison. "You don't strike me as a man involved in charity work. Why would you let it go for twenty five if it's worth one hundred?" The sound of Thalah working on the vambrace with a set of precision tools can be heard emanating from not far away, and it keeps drawing Krystann's eyes toward him, though in a veiled sort of way. "And what do you mean 'workin it'? Surely it doesn't take a genius to put on an earring."

Finn grinned. “Cause the trinkets worth that much to a motivated buyer..don’t mean I have the paitience to idle around till one comes a bitin. She was there, with cold gold. I reckon 25 is a helluva lot more than nothin’” He glanced at the male again. “I was referring to workin the market to get the best price..if you’re lookin to sell. Though I hear tell the things have some sorta magic on em..can corrupt a man if the wearer wants it badly enough.” He shugged idly. “I just sell the stuff. Reckon you’d have to talk to the owner if you want more information on em.”

Krystann pauses for near a minute in silent contemplation, just listening to Finn talk as he waits for the repairs on his vambrace to be completed. The little earring gets tucked back into his secret pocket, and he turns to face the counter once more, keeping an eye on Finn through the reflection of that axe. "And who would the owner be?" he asks after a moment, wondering if it was even worth tracking down another person over the damned trinket. It's about then that the sounds of tinkering cease and Thalah comes back over with Krystann's vambrace in hand. He sets it on the counter and eyes the man nervously as he says "that will be-" but Krystann cuts him off "On the house, i'm sure. After all, your incompetence could have cost me my life Thalah.... and you wouldn't want an unhappy customer on your hands, now would you?" There is a sinister edge to Krystann's tone and the store clerk takes the threat as it was meant. "Of course sir, that's just what I was about to say."

Finn had spent about as much time as he had to spare in idle chit chat with a stranger. “Reckon I don’t actually know her name mate..Don’t need to in business of our sort. But you’ll not miss her. Sea captain..of the Nautica berthed in Rynvale I believe. Legs to her ears, and a voice that’d make a man kill his mother..” he added dryly. “ If that’ll be all..I figure I’ve got business a waitin’ as I’m sure do you..” The red head pushed himself off the display case, his own friendly nod to the shop keeper returned. “Be seein’ you sooner rather than later if this one sells mate..” he muttered to the man. And with a final nod Krystann’s way. And just enough of a pause for any parting words he might utter, the runner would make his way to the exit.

Krystann begins strapping the vambrace back on his arm, tightening it into place with a rapidity that shows he knows exactly how it works and is rather familiar with the weapon. An imperceptible motion puts pressure on a little trigger mechanism, causing the rapid release of a stiletto type dagger from within the vambrace that sticks about two inches past the man's fingers. Clearly, if he were to trigger the blade whilst throttling a man's neck it would not end well for it's victim. Krystann ignores the store clerk as he makes to follow after Finn, feeling that Thalah had been lucky to escape a thrashing. "One more thing. Where might I find you in the future, should I need something what services I gather you provide?"

Finn grinned. “Where you thought to find me the first time. The Inn in Rynvale. Ask for Red, and most will know how to point you my way.” A lazy, two fingered half salute of respect would be the last thing the assassin might see before the runner disappeared into the darkness of the Vailkrin streets.