Who: Nadine and Open When: May Where: Nocwich, Cadens What: Catch-all for May Warnings: Talk of drug use/drug content, will add anything else as needed
[Prompts/TLs in the comments below! If you want anything specific, hit me up or toss me a starter!]
They might have only spoken over the weird thought thing and never met before in person, but neither of them is exactly conspicuous. Her with her white fur, him with his fiery red hair, long black cloak and mismatched eyes.
It doesn't take Kell long to spot Nadine sitting on the bench in the square with her assortment of bags. Clearly looking as if she waits for someone. It's also not his first time making contact with people he doesn't know to make a trade.
"Hi, I'm looking for a lady called Nadine. I assume that would be you, am I right?" he starts sitting down on the bench next to her.
"You assume correctly. It's nice to meet you properly, Kell."
Another one on the young side. But again Nadine can tell herself he looks college aged, at least, and that's fine.
Especially since he's in Thorne. God knows they don't provide their Summoned with their own money. And at least when she was there, they didn't exactly encourage them to make any money either. He needs the money.
"I've got everything to get you set up. And I didn't use my business packaging for any of it, just in case. Figured it probably wasn't great to have anything with a Cadens address on it in Thorne."
Kell would argue that he's not that young. He's not old either. He's in that weird space of having been through some disturbing experiences that most likely scarred him for life - and no, it's not even about the murder cave - but still not enough to develop a more mature perspective on things.
"Thank you, I appreciate it."
He acknowledges her consideration with a crooked smile.
"I've got into enough of hot water for borrowing a book. I doubt anyone would applaud me for trying to foster business relations with the enemy."
Will that make him stop? Quite the opposite. Kell quickly realizes that the way he phrased might make her reconsider their arrangement.
"I won't get you in trouble, I promise. Or myself. We don't need another diplomatic incident, and I won't be a source of one." He pats one of the packages. "But I do think that people need this."
And Kell needs all the money he can get to fund Lucifer's spy network. He never cared about it before he got kidnapped. Now, he has become quite obsessed with the idea. If only they had it earlier, they might have learned about the kidnappings earlier. Might even been able to protect themselves.
Saints, at the rate things are progressing he might need this. It's probably pretty obvious from the way he looks, that's he hasn't been sleeping all that well recently.
"Oh I'm not worried about getting in any trouble with Thorne. I'm...already in trouble with Thorne." Nadine laughs a little sheepishly. It's too much to hope they've forgotten her and Julie's very illegal escapes. Both of them.
"I just don't want you to get in any trouble. I don't live there anymore, they can't do anything to me. But hopefully they won't pay too much attention to you."
It's just some guy selling packs of herbs. There's nothing weird about that.
"And you're right, I think people need it, too. It has multiple mental and physical benefits. I use it. Other healers and doctors are really interested in it for a reason. Even if you're only selling to other Summoned...we really need it."
"I'm fairly unknown. If anything, the guards already know I sell packs of herbs. Only it's tea right now. I do some custom blends on requests. It's not often enough to make it a proper source of income, but it happens. Other than that, I made sure to keep low profile."
Someone has to. At least he can keep himself from trying to punch Ambrose, no matter the temptation.
Kell slowly nods to her explanation, his expression turning serious.
"We do. The Summoned in Thorne? We're not good. The crown has congratulated itself on our rescue as if their sole contribution wasn't to stay the hell out the way and let people do stuff. They, begrudgingly, allowed us to have weapons, but we need to secure funds for them. Which, combined with how they discourage anyone from actually earning any money, is a pretty empty gesture. Not that there are many great job opportunities in Thorne to begin with. But you probably know that already."
"Yeah, that sounds about right. I know it's better there now, but...They kept us on a really short leash. We couldn't even leave the castle back then, at first. Not unless we were supervised."
Those first two months had been...not great. For many reasons. And while Nadine has heard a great deal from current Thorne Summoned, it sounds as though that leash has been loosened in very tactical ways.
"I wasn't able to start making money until we fled the castle for Nott. They were actually really great. Welcomed us but then just...left us alone. And Castle Thorne didn't bother with Nott. I don't know if things are the same now, but...well, if I had to live in Thorne, I know where I'd rather be living."
Though who knew if that was even an option for them these days.
"I also know that the drugs you can get on the black market there are intense and not everybody thinks hallucinating for half an hour is a fun way to relax. And you know...you can make tea out of this. You just need a heavy cream or milk or butter in with the water to steep it. So it's not even lying if you call them tea herbs."
What Kell heard about the first wave of Summoned was not great, and fragmentary. He did not actively seek out to learn more. Not at first. Now, it seems like a truly stupid oversight. Especially after the kidnappings. He shrugs away the memory of those particular horrors.
"I wouldn't call it bad, but I wouldn't call Nott the friendliest either. If I had to pin down my own impression whenever I visit, it's cautiously non-hostile." He shrugs again. "Maybe that's just me. I don't know maybe they got in trouble for helping before, but living there is not really an option. Besides, everything that hits Thorne, hits Nott twice as hard." His jaws tightens. "I sometimes get an impression they think we're part of the problem. Even if all I want to do when I go there is help."
Kell has never been into Nott far enough to find the black market. That's a place he'd feel right at home. It's a good thing one exists...and should have been obvious to him if he only cared to think for a minute. Apparently, there's time to change it... as soon as he gets over his stupid phobia.
"Oh, really? There are already a couple of tea drinks I make with cream." He flashes a wicked grin at her. "There's nothing stopping me from expanding the repertoire."
"It was that bad. At one point they invited officials from all over Thorne, and trotted us out. And Nott...wasn't exactly an option, I just ran away there with a few other people. And they didn't come for us." Nadine shrugs. Her own impression of Nott had been different. It was a working class town. The people were struggling and hardened by that. But they'd been kind, in their way, and she'd found it easy to live among them.
"Nott's just dealing with a lot of tough things. I know places like that, they're... insular, and they put up a pretty gruff front. And can be proud about help. Don't take it personally."
It's clear that Kell has a heart that wants to help. Even this is something of a risk. Not a great one, she knows, but still.
"And really. It just needs to be some kind of dairy with a high fat content. And it needs to steep longer than most tea, half an hour at least. I'm sure keeping it warm with magic won't be an issue."
we could wrap this delivery on your next, what do you think?
Kell bites his lower lip as he nods along her explanation, fully unconscious of the tick. He always does this when he's deep in thought. Especially, when trying to piece out a solution for a difficult problem, or reconcile the seemingly contradictory information. He has no idea it makes him look even younger when he does it. Wouldn't have been able to stop himself even if he knew.
"I try not to," he admits. "I do not blame them for trying to distance themselves from potential trouble, but it does feel like we're blocked on all sides."
With a shake of his head Kell pushes away his increasingly darkening thoughts. It's not the first time in his life that he felt trapped. Not the first, he's found his way around the bars of the cage. He just needs to do it again. His attention snaps back to Nadine as she explains how to prepare the herb for drinking. Sounds pretty doable.
"Not at all. Keeping things warm is a pretty basic spell."
The time needed to prepare the thing as a drink might be a slight issue though. Could be too long for a tea house. But that's his problem to figure out.
"Are you waiting for some else or can buy you a drink, so we can discuss how should I compensate you for the goods here?"
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Thorne Connection
It doesn't take Kell long to spot Nadine sitting on the bench in the square with her assortment of bags. Clearly looking as if she waits for someone. It's also not his first time making contact with people he doesn't know to make a trade.
"Hi, I'm looking for a lady called Nadine. I assume that would be you, am I right?" he starts sitting down on the bench next to her.
"I'm Kell."
[ooc:psst...hover over Nadine's name :P]
no subject
Another one on the young side. But again Nadine can tell herself he looks college aged, at least, and that's fine.
Especially since he's in Thorne. God knows they don't provide their Summoned with their own money. And at least when she was there, they didn't exactly encourage them to make any money either. He needs the money.
"I've got everything to get you set up. And I didn't use my business packaging for any of it, just in case. Figured it probably wasn't great to have anything with a Cadens address on it in Thorne."
no subject
"Thank you, I appreciate it."
He acknowledges her consideration with a crooked smile.
"I've got into enough of hot water for borrowing a book. I doubt anyone would applaud me for trying to foster business relations with the enemy."
Will that make him stop? Quite the opposite. Kell quickly realizes that the way he phrased might make her reconsider their arrangement.
"I won't get you in trouble, I promise. Or myself. We don't need another diplomatic incident, and I won't be a source of one." He pats one of the packages. "But I do think that people need this."
And Kell needs all the money he can get to fund Lucifer's spy network. He never cared about it before he got kidnapped. Now, he has become quite obsessed with the idea. If only they had it earlier, they might have learned about the kidnappings earlier. Might even been able to protect themselves.
Saints, at the rate things are progressing he might need this. It's probably pretty obvious from the way he looks, that's he hasn't been sleeping all that well recently.
no subject
"I just don't want you to get in any trouble. I don't live there anymore, they can't do anything to me. But hopefully they won't pay too much attention to you."
It's just some guy selling packs of herbs. There's nothing weird about that.
"And you're right, I think people need it, too. It has multiple mental and physical benefits. I use it. Other healers and doctors are really interested in it for a reason. Even if you're only selling to other Summoned...we really need it."
no subject
"I'm fairly unknown. If anything, the guards already know I sell packs of herbs. Only it's tea right now. I do some custom blends on requests. It's not often enough to make it a proper source of income, but it happens. Other than that, I made sure to keep low profile."
Someone has to. At least he can keep himself from trying to punch Ambrose, no matter the temptation.
Kell slowly nods to her explanation, his expression turning serious.
"We do. The Summoned in Thorne? We're not good. The crown has congratulated itself on our rescue as if their sole contribution wasn't to stay the hell out the way and let people do stuff. They, begrudgingly, allowed us to have weapons, but we need to secure funds for them. Which, combined with how they discourage anyone from actually earning any money, is a pretty empty gesture. Not that there are many great job opportunities in Thorne to begin with. But you probably know that already."
no subject
Those first two months had been...not great. For many reasons. And while Nadine has heard a great deal from current Thorne Summoned, it sounds as though that leash has been loosened in very tactical ways.
"I wasn't able to start making money until we fled the castle for Nott. They were actually really great. Welcomed us but then just...left us alone. And Castle Thorne didn't bother with Nott. I don't know if things are the same now, but...well, if I had to live in Thorne, I know where I'd rather be living."
Though who knew if that was even an option for them these days.
"I also know that the drugs you can get on the black market there are intense and not everybody thinks hallucinating for half an hour is a fun way to relax. And you know...you can make tea out of this. You just need a heavy cream or milk or butter in with the water to steep it. So it's not even lying if you call them tea herbs."
no subject
What Kell heard about the first wave of Summoned was not great, and fragmentary. He did not actively seek out to learn more. Not at first. Now, it seems like a truly stupid oversight. Especially after the kidnappings. He shrugs away the memory of those particular horrors.
"I wouldn't call it bad, but I wouldn't call Nott the friendliest either. If I had to pin down my own impression whenever I visit, it's cautiously non-hostile." He shrugs again. "Maybe that's just me. I don't know maybe they got in trouble for helping before, but living there is not really an option. Besides, everything that hits Thorne, hits Nott twice as hard." His jaws tightens. "I sometimes get an impression they think we're part of the problem. Even if all I want to do when I go there is help."
Kell has never been into Nott far enough to find the black market. That's a place he'd feel right at home. It's a good thing one exists...and should have been obvious to him if he only cared to think for a minute. Apparently, there's time to change it... as soon as he gets over his stupid phobia.
"Oh, really? There are already a couple of tea drinks I make with cream." He flashes a wicked grin at her. "There's nothing stopping me from expanding the repertoire."
no subject
"Nott's just dealing with a lot of tough things. I know places like that, they're... insular, and they put up a pretty gruff front. And can be proud about help. Don't take it personally."
It's clear that Kell has a heart that wants to help. Even this is something of a risk. Not a great one, she knows, but still.
"And really. It just needs to be some kind of dairy with a high fat content. And it needs to steep longer than most tea, half an hour at least. I'm sure keeping it warm with magic won't be an issue."
we could wrap this delivery on your next, what do you think?
"I try not to," he admits. "I do not blame them for trying to distance themselves from potential trouble, but it does feel like we're blocked on all sides."
With a shake of his head Kell pushes away his increasingly darkening thoughts. It's not the first time in his life that he felt trapped. Not the first, he's found his way around the bars of the cage. He just needs to do it again. His attention snaps back to Nadine as she explains how to prepare the herb for drinking. Sounds pretty doable.
"Not at all. Keeping things warm is a pretty basic spell."
The time needed to prepare the thing as a drink might be a slight issue though. Could be too long for a tea house. But that's his problem to figure out.
"Are you waiting for some else or can buy you a drink, so we can discuss how should I compensate you for the goods here?"