Quoi Woods - Open

[Kaufman]

Naturally. I don't make the trip out here unless I have to. I had to come down to oversee the construction of some new stores--the guy I had in charge forgot to check zoning ordinances and created a whole debacle. [sighs] I can't get too angry with him, because those kinds of ordinances don't actually exist in Dahngrest, but it's still awfully irritating. Lost some gald over paying fines and pushing back the deadlines for the contractors.

[Yeager]

Oh dear. [he chuckles a bit, in spite of himself, at the mess she had to endure.] It's got to be hard, havin' guildsmen in charge of things here. There's a lot for them to get used to.

[Kaufman]

Definitely. I make them study the laws before they cross the border, but there's still always issues. Especially with how frequently the council seems to be adding stuff to the books these days.

[That chuckle makes her start. It's incredibly familiar and quite out of place--she's positive she's heard it in Dahngrest. She can't place it exactly, but she knows that much. And it raises dark suspicions in her mind.]

So what business do you have in Nor, sir?

[Yeager]

[He catches her reaction and wonders at once what raised her hackles. Something he said? Some gesture, some slip? He tries not to let caution seep into his tone as he responds]

Meetin' with one of our suppliers. We contract out some of the sword-smithin' to Heliord.

[Kaufman]

Hm. [she tries to keep her own tone nonchalant] Almost all of Fortune's Market's arms are shipped from Dahngrest or Nordopolica. I can get things like clothing and food from imperial companies, which tends to be cheaper for my stores here, but the companies don't want to do business with me for anything potentially dangerous. It'd look too much like they're funding guild conflicts, I guess.

Have you ever visited Dahngrest?

[Yeager]

[An odd question, considering that he's purporting himself as a noble. She's onto him.]

No, I haven't. Heard it's dangerous.

[He turns his head, glancing away from her and out the window, hoping that a lack of eye contact might make it harder for her to tell who he is.]

[Kaufman]

It's not as bad as people think. So long as you don't show up dressed as a knight or something like that, you're not going to get jumped.

[Unfortunately for him, when he turns his head a bit of his pomade-slicked hair falls free to dangle by his forehead. And even though it's shorter than the bit Yeager normally has hanging along the edge of his face, it allows her to finally make the connection. A slim man in a business suit with indigo-colored hair and a polite little laugh...]

...I would think you'd know that by now, Yeager.

[Yeager]

[His immediate instinct is to play dumb. He looks at her, feigning confusion]

What did you say?

[Kaufman]

You know what I said. Drop the act, Yeager. You're not fooling me.

[And it's quickly making her mad that he even tried to deceive her. Who did he think she was? She's not that gullible!]

You've been over here selling to nobles, haven't you? I could get Leviathan's Claw disbanded for this! You have no right to be doing business in imperial territory!

[Yeager]

[Alright, playing dumb isn't going to work. He gives up and drops his false accent, smiling at her as though entirely unswayed by that threat]

Oh, but I had you going for a while, didn't I? Calm down, Kaufman. No need to raise a fuss over a case you would never be able to make.

[Kaufman]

I have all the evidence I need right here! [And she knows that Yeager, unarmed as he is, might try to make a break for it as soon as he gets an opportunity, so she promptly raps on the ceiling with her fist and calls out to Finas and the driver] Stop the carriage! I need some help here!

[Finas//Alvin [Blaze001]]

And the carriage instantly jerks to a halt, the door being wrenched open and Finas has his sword out.

"What's wrong?"

[Kaufman]

[jabs an accusing finger towards Yeager] This man is Yeager of Leviathan's Claw! He is unauthorized to be in imperial territory and I have no doubt that he's been trafficking arms across the border! Arrest him!

[Finas//Alvin [Blaze001]]

"Yeager?"

Finas squints at the man...

...And double-takes. "Agh! How did-?"

But then the sword is pointed at the man. "Out the carriage. And don't try anything funny."

[Yeager]

Hello, Finas. [He gives him a little smile--oh, he'd love to take that threat as a challenge, but goofing around isn't the wisest thing to do at the tip of a sword--and gets out obediently.] Fancy seeing you here. I seem to have a nasty habit of running into people I know today.