RP:Trust: A Two-Way Street

This is a Rogue's Guild RP.

Summary: Meri decides that her and Cal should find some place new to go to. They find the Lazy Eel. There's creepy anthropomorphic animal people for days. Thanks Meri. Eleanor winds up there as well after her ship-ride from Rynvale and the three exchange what's been going on in Larket, Cenril, and Rynvale, and Eleanor's hopes for the future (in the smuggling business, that is). It's all sorts of weird.

The Lazy Eel Lounge, Cenril

Meri and Cal were both present within the LazyEel, but probably incredulously so. Come on, Cal. Let's do something different. Let's try something new. This place does not look too bad, does it? It did not from the outside, at the very least, but maybe Meri should have been clued in by the lack of windows on the establishment. This place seemed rather reminiscent of another establishment -- The Office. A Stage? Exotica? Oh my. Maybe next time Meri's pleas of 'let's hang out somewhere new' should be rejected, because look where it has gotten them, Cal? Much like Callum Meri was not a fan of The Office, but she'll give credit where credit is due and there was more class in that establishment. And Meri hasn't even made the discovery of the basement full of odd goop. What. "Uh. Okay. So....I did not think..." That she'd manage to pick the only other strip club in Cenril to try and hang out in. Maybe the Whaler was a safer bet after all.

Callum was all wide-eyed as they headed inside and found that it’s… kind of fracking weird here. This was not the sort of wide-eyed look that said ‘dude, this place is totally awesome’, it was more of a ‘omfg Meri why did you do this? I’m never trusting you again’ kind of thing. But, here they were and Cal -really- did not want to walk past that creepy anthropomorphic panther again. Let’s just… sit -somewhere. Away from all the weirdos. “I think you should ask Brand to burn this place down,” he whispered to the blonde as he ushered her into a booth and scooted in next to her. Still, though, Meri wanted to try something new and here they were, trying something new. Cal may never try anything new again after this, mind you. He’s going to lock himself in his office at the botanical gardens and never come out again.

Eleanor didn't have much in mind when she found her way to the LazyEel, only an unquenchable thirst and an impatient foot as soon as she'd stepped into the docks nearby, so much so that there wasn't even time to cross Cenril to the other club. Besides, after two employees recently disappearing, El hoped they hadn't just taken up employment at this slimy excuse for a dancing and drinking establishment. It would have to do for now, and she made a beeline toward what passed for a bar, pulling her shadowy cloak's hood low over her brow, tucking blonde bangs over her diadem as usual to half-curtain it behind the flaxen waves. As she reached the bar and made an order for the strongest whiskey she could afford, she cast a furtive glance of celadons around the place, her left brow rising as she came to spot Cal and Meri as they ducked into a booth. Grunting out a hoarse thanks for the drink and paying for it, she took the tumbler in hand and withdrew from the bar, finding her way through the room until she came to their chosen table. "Dornt suppose there's room at thes table fur anither," the spell-rogue offered up, her full lips twisting into a faint smile. The rest of her expression was haggard and easily noted her fatigue before she helped herself to a seat at their table across from them, slumping into it with a heavy sigh before tipping back that whiskey and finishing it clean off. Thereafter settling the empty glass on the table, she pushed it between other of her hands and glanced between them. "Sae." Beat. "Fowk disappearin' in toon. Fowk gettin' thirsty in Rynvale. Either ay ye hae onie idea whit it nine hells is gonnae oan?

Meri didn't know and didn't mean to, Cal. The look that she gives him as they slide into a booth is an apologetic one but the suggestion she talk Brand into burning the place down is met with a smirk. "Could have him cause a small fire then try and buy the place out," she did want some exhibit space in Cenril, didn't she? Which would only serve to boost business at The Office, mind you, if Cenril was down one to seedy lounge. "One drink and then..." She was about to go on and explain how they should leave after said one drink but here comes Eleanor, wanting to join them in their booth. A quick look is shared with Cal to try and feel out his sentiments on another joining them before motioning to the other half of the half-empty booth. "Sure. There is a room." Another longer and more thoughtful look is shared with Cal when Eleanor attempts to pick their brains for information on recent happenings. "Naw, honestly, I don't really know too much about that non-sense. Hudson mention that a few people around Cenril have gone missing but...No one we know, and I don't know anything about people in Rynvale going thirsty either. Is that why you are back out here in Cenril?" Last but hardly least, a question for Cal, "Well, I'm going to grab a whiskey. Do you want one too? Or something else?"

Callum cast a side glance at the table, nodding his head at Meri’s counter-suggestion, “That could certainly frakkin’ work. Maybe we should finally go talk to him and FireSwordGuy soon.” He raised a brow right back at Eleanor as she sat down at their table; she looked hella thirsty and that whiskey was obviously not going to do her any favors in the hydration department. When the glass was emptied, he’d conjure up a small globe of water for her, plopping it neatly into her drinkware with a couple blinks. “Not a damned clue, but the Queen just popped out her kid five months early.” Thankfully, Meri was not going to get pregnant--like ever. He’s got that down on lock with his herbal birth control. Maybe they could slide into that market and make a ton of gold. Ideas, Meri. Ideas. Something to consider when they got home at least. “I’ve been getting requests for pain-relieving herbs left and right at work for some of the midwives around town. Turns out these kids are coming out full-term when it’s only been a couple months and most of them are making themselves into orphans.” It was enough to give him a bit of a shudder. When asked about a drink, he eyed the bar warily, but eventually shrugged, “Whiskey is fine.”

Eleanor ‘s weary eyes darted back and forth between the other two, catching Meri’s glances toward Cal, before a frown pulled at her lips. “Och?” she started, her brows rising as she glanced at the glass now full of water. It was given a dubious glance, then a look at Cal, and back toward the water again. A beat later, she’d tipped the glass back, but was only thirstier, gulping it down until the glass was empty again, leaving the female gasping for breath, smothering any discomfort with a shift of her weight in her seat, crossing one leg over the other. “Gods,” she breathed, absorbing the information on the queen. “Was hopin' tae heed tae Larket next, efter Ah can figure it whit happened tae tois employees ay th' club; a body ay th' dancers, an' a body ay th' bartenders hae disappeared. Ah thooght mebbe they'd rin aff together loch a coople ay lovesick idiots afair Ah heard others hud gain missin' tay.” Her hands curled tightly around her glass, as much to steady the shake in her hands as anything else. “Jobby is gonnae sideways aw ower Lithrydel,” and the spell-rogue didn’t like any of it. Giving her head a shake, she lifted a hand to tuck that single blonde braid behind her left ear, soon returning her hand to the glass. Turning her gaze, then, toward Meri, she murmured to the male, “Quite a lot ay talents yoo've got thaur. Glad tae see a body ay them is in keepin' 'er canty.” Her lips twisted into a slight smile, before her expression shifted. “Say, Ah dornt suppose yoo'd ken anythin' abit thes Zedidiah Gawkroger fellaw, dae ye? Heard he acquired some plant fur th' queen herself, wondered if yoo've crossed paths wi' heem in yer line ay wark.” The plan had been to ask Hudson directly after Zedidiah made their acquaintanceship known, but perhaps running into Cal and Meri could turn out to be more than a happy coincidence. Speaking of potential smugglers, she offered up a sly, “Eh'd be willin' tae pay fur onie special information ye main hae oan heem.”

Meri doesn't abandon the table to fetch those drinks. There is some manner of staff present and Meri manages to flag a gal down, requesting two glasses of whiskey for herself and Cal. Not much is thought of the frown on Eleanor's lips, or the weary look she gets when Meri and Cal exchange glances. "Well if you go out to Larket, make sure you leave your wolf behind. Don't want you to have any painful accidents while you are out there." Thank you Cal for your knowledge of herbs, this definitely could be another business venture to look into. Every day we're hustling. Whiskey is delivered, and more questions come from Eleanor. Questions that are met with a slow an casual shrug, questions that are met with more questions rather than answers. "Well aren't you just a curious little kitten tonight, El. First about people disappearing? The thirst troubles in Rynvale? And now you want to know about some Zebediah." By the way Meri is mispronouncing his name, she may very well has not met this particular character. Has she? "What about this guy do you want to know? Maybe we can dig some information up?"

Callum’s brows furrowed at the obvious discomfort Eleanor was in. “Whatever is going on, it’s clearly magical of some sort.” She’d seemed hesitant about the water initially, but Cal let out a ‘hrm’ before summoning up another globe of water. This one seemed to have an odd sort of glimmer to it, and instead of going in her glass, hovered next to her, “Take this with you. It replenishes itself. Just give it a few light pokes and make sure you’ve either got your face or a glass under it. It’s sort of the same thing I used in the gardens to keep the plants that need it hydrated.” Except those are on more of a timer. He paused, smirking a bit, “And yes. I’ve got many talents.” If he were Brand, that’d certainly be some sort of innuendo. But. This is Cal. He’s a bit of a sprout. “Aye, I’ve met the guy and I did point him in the direction of said plant.” Said plant that was now in the arborium. He tilted his head at Meri, indicating her questioning, as if to say ‘what she said’.

Eleanor eyed the water-globe with the same hesitance as she had the prior one, but eventually lowered her chin in a nod of appreciation. "Cheers," she murmured, reaching out tentatively to curl her hand around the orb, ushering it closer (hopefully without spilling its contents everywhere) to study it a bit better. "Ye hink it's magical?" she asked, fixing her seaglass gaze on Cal. "Whit kin' ay magic thocht?" The spell-rogue was then giving her head a slight shake, casting doubts on the idea. "Doesnae feel arcane, diz it?" And then, "Some kin' ay divine intervention aiblins? Ur a god curse?" El shook her head yet again, more vehemently than before, pushing out a sigh; she'd had dealings with such things before, and it soured her mood a shade. Glancing toward Meri, she soon added, "Ah make it mah business tae ken things, Meri, hink yoo'd hae figured 'at it abit me by noo." Her lips twisted into a new smile, weary though it was, in the wake of her vague jest. Turning sober, she nodded to them both. Relying on their discretion, she continued in lowered tones, "Eh'd loch tae ken if it's worth hirin' heem tae move some product intae th' Rynvale harbur." A quick glance around, confirming that no one seemed to be listening, and trusting that Callum, though more unfamiliar to her, wouldn't go spilling that which she shared with him. "Claims he's got a way pest th' port authority's attention, but Ah hae ne'er heard ay heem ur his shippin' company afair." There was a slight shake of her head, then, "Aam nae keen oan strangers, but he claimed he kent Huds, an' didne ask mony questions ay his potential cargo. Wi' aw th' other jobby gonnae oan, Ah need tae ken fa Ah can troost."

Meri does not really seem to have too much more to add to this particular line of conversation. Her blue eyes were shifting between Eleanor and Callum as they chatted, sipping contently away at her whiskey. "Well I am not sure that either one of us know this chap well enough to say anything about him one way another. Can you trust him? You may very well be able to but..." Again Meri was looking at Cal, as if trying to see if the man had the same line of thinking that she did with this one. -Sometimes- Meri liked to check with him before blindly offering him up to jobs. It was the jobs that she took on for herself that she was less inclined to seek permission for, more like ask for forgiveness if it ever came down to him being upset for her she-devil ways. Meri also likes gold, Cal, and it's not like Mr. Rochester wasn't a known merchant himself -- prior to being hired out as the royal botanist.

Callum let out a ‘hm’, “No. Definitely not arcane. At least, any arcane magic that I would’ve learned about back home.” He sure as hell didn’t know about that tattoo Meri had acquired a couple months ago that made her go all weird and zombie-like; he didn’t exactly pay attention in his detection of magical objects class, though. When she talks about Zedidiah though, he couldn’t help but laugh. A lot. There’d probably even be a look or two in his direction, but nothing that showed that people knew what they were talking about. “That guy?! Frak, no. He didn’t even know about that plant until -I- gave him the info. -I- told him it was on its way to Chartsend. -I- told him what dock and who the captain was and what time. That frakking moron nearly sweat himself to death because he promised Josleen this rare fern and didn’t even know where the frak to find it!” There’s a bit of a huff, “Let him take all the damned credit too even though I should’ve thrown him to the wolves. Probably could’ve gotten more money from Josleen that way.” Better to play it safe, though. She had been pregnant at the time and you know how pregnant women area--they’re frakking crazy as hell. “What exactly is it that you’re looking to bring in?” He made no mention of Hudson at all. He didn’t exactly hold him in high opinion, despite the fact that he was Meri’s boss. There wasn’t really a good first impression.

Eleanor hadn’t met anyone who didn’t like Hudson; hell, he was one of very few people she actually trusted with her life. But then again, they knew each other well before they became dust lord and lady. In a simpler time, when she masqueraded as a petty thief, and Huds was nothing more than a momma’s boy and local athlete. Things were so very different now, even with her sitting across from Meri and Callum, skirting topics around more dust smuggling and other opportunities. The spell-rogue parted with a wry smile for Meri, but her expression soon shifted into a frown as Callum revealed to her more truths about the situation. This was exactly why she’d thought to broach the subject with him, and she nodded in understanding with each aspect he’d played a part in. “He seemed a bit tay eager tae seel himself, Ah did wonder,” she remarked ruefully, expelling a sigh. Her thirst was upon her again, and she found her gaze wandering toward passing servers carrying pitchers of cheap beer. And then she was focusing, or trying to, on Callum once more. Her gaze lingered on his features, as if studying him with that glossy side-eye, her lips somewhat pursed. Before she spoke, however, those celadons shifted toward Meri pointedly, a brow rising. “Meri knows exactly whit it is Ah want tae move.” Sliding her attention toward the botanist anew, she added, “Ah ken there's boond tae be obstacles movin' it intae Rynvale in bulk, but everythin' has its price.”

Meri seemed rather unsurprised by this explanation that Callum provides about Zedidiah, tattooed shoulders merely rising and falling in an 'oh well' sort of shrug. "I mean yeah, I know what it is that you're trying to bring in." And she is not very inclined to keep secrets from Cal either, for numerous reasons and not just because they're currently shacked up together. "But Cal's not asking me right now so..." Meri's tone wasn't too sharp, but her statement was rather matter-of-factly. Sure, she could probably go home and explain all of the details to Cal, but like she said. The woman shrugs her tattooed shoulders, because in the end if Eleanor would not answer then...well she does know. The glass of whiskey is emptied and slide off to one side of the table, as sign that she was probably not looking for a second. In fact her gaze was starting to flit toward the door, for it begins to cross her mind that she might want to try and lead Cal out of the place before any shows start. This thought does not come from a jealous place, but out of concern that Cal will turn into a blushing mess. Plus the LazyEel was just kind of weird. Trying new things is not always a good idea.

Callum side-eyed Meri as she finished her drink, then finally tended to his own briefly. “If you want help, skirting around the subject isn’t the right thing to do. It’s been a couple months since I’ve had anything to do with the docks, since I’m working in Larket now, but it wouldn’t take much to figure out what’s what again around here.” He’s got connections, you see. Or, rather, he’s just really good at talking to the dockworkers when they’re drunk and tired off their asses. “If it’s that important to you, we could likely help--and yes, there would have to be payment--but that’s a decision you’re going to have to make on your own.” He even had a place in Kelay-Sage that could be used as storage if it was needed. “It also depends on -what- you’re wanting moved because I don’t deal in people.” That is to say, he doesn’t deal with slaves or slavers. At least, not anymore anyway. His whiskey was finished and the glass moved near Meri’s, signaling that he too was done.“You figure out what you want, how much you’re paying, then come find us in Larket, and we'll decide if we want to help or not.” If she was smart, she’d take the offer, but ultimately, that was up to her. With that being said, he’d glance at Meri again, then the door, as if to say ‘are we leaving?’.

Eleanor wasn’t being enigmatic for the purpose of being difficult but instead to be careful in such an unvetted location as the sleazy LazyEel Lounge. She arched a brow at Meri’s tone, but was unperturbed by it, nodding as she turned her attention toward Callum in conclusion. “Eh'd raither push th' purple doost ben ye than ben some cookie-obsessed hobbit.” She could find other uses for Zed assuredly, but for now, Cal seemed the wiser option. With it becoming clear they were making to leave, she too unwound her aching joints and rose out of the booth before tossing another low, husky phrase their way. “I'll be in Larket in a coople ay days anyway. Ah'll come fin' ye wi' mair details.” There wasn’t much need for anything more shared between them, save another appreciative nod in regards to the magic water-ball; hopefully it would do to slake her thirst, but already she needed more. Perhaps she’d just throw herself in the bay and call it a day. Sending weary glances toward Cal and Meri in turn, she muttered something that passed as a grunted goodnight wish, then made her way out of the lounge, likely to head back to her own club for the night.