RP:Safes And Safety
Summary: With Cal being the new owner of a lovely bismuth skull, precautions must be taken in order to sate Meri's nerves. So, they go to see a dwarf about a box.
Rochester-Boyce Residence, Larket
After the madness of a recon mission turned rescue mission, Meri returned home to Larket. She did not want to be stationary for long, though. Rest? It was hard to feel at ease in Larket knowing Cal was a witch, resting and relaxing was the last thing on Meri’s mind. It was the very next day that she was trying to convince Cal that they go out and do something together. Why not even try and be semi-productive on this adventure? They could shop for safes for that newly acquired skull of his…”So I have two thoughts. We go out to Cenril and see if we can’t get any good leads on a safe out there. I mean there is Cenril’s bank. They have to have some top of the line equipment in there, I would think. Or…we could go out to Craughmoyle. I mean those dwarves know something about smithing and hoarding, so they I would not be surprised if we could not find something down there. Plus we have not been that way together yet. I feel like we ought to make it a goal of ours, checking off places on the map together. I have stayed at the Dragon’s Head quite a few times but I hear they have another one called the Green Rose?” Meri looked earnestly at Cal, eager to hear his opinion on the entire matter. Cenril or Craughmoyle.
Callum considered Meri’s thoughts carefully. “Let’s go to Craughmoyle. In the lower portion they’ve their own sizeable bank down below the surface. I, uh, might have some gold stashed away there too. For emergencies.” He coughed awkwardly. “What with all the chaos lately--or since I met you, really--” Cal stuck out his tongue; it was a playful jab because she -is- a she-devil after all,” --so I forgot. I practically interrogated them on the quality of their safes and vaults and such. They’re completely legit. Probably could find an enchanter down there too.”
Meri points at herself and attempts to look innocent. As innocent as any she-devil can look at least, until she betrays herself with a smirk. The decision is made though, Craughmoyle it is. “Well sounds like you might know your way around those parts better than I do. Which means you will be showing us around.” The horses are rounded up and the two set off on their way on their leisure. Meri is not overly chatty for the ride, which is not odd for her. She is often content to keep pace with Cal and just enjoy the scenery. She is not silent though, she probably inquires about that plant, comments about how they are going to need to have their horses reshoed now that it is getting warmer. They make just through Xalious, almost to Craughmoyle before Meri drops into a serious subject matter for them to discuss for the tail end of their ride. “I have been thinking a lot about this. I am not sure that we should keep living in Larket....The biggest reason being...well...you.”
Xalious Village, Xalious
The Catalian returned the smirk and nodded, “Yes, you. She-devil.” He promptly smooched he blonde and went to gather his things--one of those things being that skull. Cal wasn’t going to leave that at home. They’d get almost to Craughmoyle and then Meri would speak up, Cal silently gesturing to his lovely blue roan to slow their pace just a little as he mulled over his woman’s words carefully. “We don’t have to stay in Larket; the possibility of me being or not being a witch doesn’t even have to factor into it. I think that town’s been dead to me for awhile. We don’t have to live in Sage either though. I think between the two of us, and with the ability to sell both houses, we could pretty much go anywhere. Where would you want to go?”
Meri was relieved and it showed, she did not think this would be a negative experience but she did not know what Cal would say one way or another. “Well, I have had my doubts about Larket for awhile. They have just been compiling and growing...” Blue eyes find the general area that Cal has stored that skull at, suggesting that the witch potential was the final straw in this want. “I don’t know where exactly I want to live but I know there are some places I would like to rule out. Larket.” Duh. “Definitely no to Frostmaw. Vailkrin. Trist’oth. Outside of that, I am open. I would be content with selling the home in Larket and living in Kelay-Sage. We can always do updates to the place if we felt like it. But if we were to look around. Are there places that you would like to see crossed off a search list?” Meri considers. “I think it would be nice to live near Cenril but I am skeptical about living in the city itself. That barrier seems like an open challenge to Kahran, so I speculate it is probably only a matter of time...”
“Kelay-Sage or Cenril, I think, would probably do. Kahran’s literally attacking everywhere, so I don’t think -that- matters as much at this point. If they need me to help with Valrae’s resurrection, then I wonder if they’ll need me to help with that barrier too…” Callum seemed uncertain of this, mainly because he was still uncertain about the whole witch thing. Besides the hexing though, was there really much difference between the witches and what Cal’s been doing already? “I guess we’ve got places narrowed down at least. We’ll sort out the details with the realtor and get the house in Larket sold soon, alright?” They’d continue on and finally make it into dwarf country, having taken the southern route through Xalious. He’d lead her down into the underground area, past the embassies, and to the east, stopping just briefly in front of the inn. “Here’s your Green Rose. It’s not bad if you don’t mind the fact that there’s no actual view what with being underground and all.”
Cal was right of course, Kahran was attacking everywhere which made it especially hard to pick any one location over the other. He was also right that they should get the details down with the realtor, for now this notion is put on hold. A very light hold since they both seem to agree that s move would not be a bad thing. Meri nods her head in agreement agreement, and before she knows it they are standing in front of the Green Rose. It did not look that bad, not overly flashy from what Meri can gather from the outside. It does not seem like the decor lives up to it’s name either, not that she can see from the brief glances she gets through the window. No mind, the Inn was not the only reason for being here and as long as they had a soft mattress, with fluffy pillows, and a comfy blanket neither Meri and Callum could complain much. Clean, clean is a must too. The woman smirks, “I always get to look at the best view around.” The woman waggles her brows at Cal - she is saying she thinks you are hot, Cal. Well this is no surprise by now.
Gherlan's Smithy, Lower Craughtmoyle
It is not long before Meri can hear the sound of metal impacting metal from just up the street. Inside the Inn will not be their first stop, not if Meri gets her way. Doesn’t she usually though? She-devil’s. Meri takes hold of Cal’s hand, smooches him upon the cheek, and then moved northward to investigate the source of this noise. There is a bit of work being done at Gherlan’s Smithy but that is not the noise that Meri is keen on investigating. Just a bit beyond that there is more clambering, the tattooed woman will end up leading them into the Runesmith’s Forge. A blacksmith is there, working away, but he stops when Meri and Callum enter, asking them a rather random question of ‘are you the one?’ Meri looks at Cal, puzzled. The lack of sunlight must have gotten to this one. “Probably not,” Meri admits. “We just are coming through inspecting your wares.”
Cal would smirk and let Meri have her way as usual, allowing her to lead him to the smithy. The atmosphere in the shop was not one he was in often--not unless he needed to buy new horseshoes for Storm anyway. There was a definite look of confusion when that question was asked. He was a lot of things but he didn't know if he was ‘the one’. “I, uh, don't know. I don't think so?” Caught entirely off guard, he took a second to compose himself and glanced around a moment. “We're in the market for a safe. Something small… And hopefully light, in the event it had to be carried elsewhere.”
Neither Meri nor Callum seemed to understand, both indicated that they were probably not ‘the one’. Their business is made clear to the dwarf, who takes a second to compose himself. He really ought to reconsider how he greets those who enter his business, it is a fleeting thought that is soon gone from the gruff dwarf’s mind. Meri steps away from Callum to inspect the wares. Weaponry was abundant in this room and Meri does love her sharp pointy objects. The she-devil is distracted, possibly thinking up ways to spend more money. Does she really need another sword? Hm. Cal is left to deal with the dwarf, for now. “Specific dimensions of what you want are required. That will help me determine which metal to select to keep it at a manageable weight to carry. Is that -all- you are wanting done?” The tone suggested that the runesmith was bored with the concept of the safe as presented. They may as well go down the way to the other smith if that is all they wanted. “No, there is more,” Meri chimes in, but it is Cal’s skull, so he was left to expand upon that statement. Back to the swords for the blonde.
Cal smirked as Meri made her way towards the weapons; she was definitely predictable. The smirk faded, however, as specific dimensions are mentioned, a bit of a frown surfacing. “I… don’t know the exact dimensions. You’ll, um, have to get them yourself, I guess.” Pulling the crystal skull from his bag, he gave Meri a cautious sidelong glance. He did his best to ignore the whispers that came from the skull, brows furrowed in concentration as he held the skull out to the dwarf--not to take, but to look and get those aforementioned measures while Cal held it. “She’s right. I need it enchanted too. Anti-magic stuff. I believe I was told you guys have that same sort of thing on the vaults and safes at the bank here, in case of thieves using magic. It needs to keep the skull’s magic contained.”
Meri is guarded when Cal brings out the skull, but she tries to hide her suspicion by pretending to browse the wares now. She did not want to outright stare. The dwarf does not take, he is skilled enough that he can make the measurements with his eyes. Away from Cal he goes, to a work bench where he retrieves a paper and writing utensil. A few notes are noted down, he does have a few projects and does not want to forget a detail. Anti-magic stuff, Cal says to the runesmith, and in response the Catalian is given an incredulous look. Anti-magic was not something he was unfamiliar with, it was not the first time he received such a request, and each time the smith cannot help but wonder what they are trying to ward against. Something in relation to the skull, that much was obvious to him. A number is written down near where the dwarf has taken his notes then back to Callum he goes. While it is obvious to the smith the Cal and Meri are comfortable, sometimes money is a private matter. Only Cal is shown the number, one that seems reasonable for what is being asked. “If you hang around the city for a few days, your project will be completed. Otherwise, I can have it shipped to a location of your choosing.” Provided Cal agrees to the price. It is about this point that Meri decides to venture back to Callum’s side.
Callum cast a sidelong glance at the floor to avoid that incredulous stare. Nope. He wasn’t going to respond to it whatsoever. This guy was on a need-to-know basis and he did not need to know. The info needed is written down and other things inquired of the Catalian. “We’ll stay here, at the Green Rose. If you finish early, then let us know.” Cal looked to Meri then as she approached, the skull hastily stuffed away into his satchel, “Anything you want before we leave?”
Meri answers Callum’s inquiry with a shake of her head, surprisingly leaving without trying to blow some sum of gold on a weapon she really did not need. At least not now. They had a few days down here in this city, which meant they had time to kill and surely Cal would not want Meri clinging to his side for every second of those few days. Another solo shopping trip may be in order. The two depart and return back to the Green Rose to wait out the completion of their request.