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ORELA - THE MARIGOLD INN - EVENING
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Gareth sits at the counter of the inn's common room, just wrapping up a nice meal and enjoying a few drinks as he mentally runs over his day's dealings. Things with his business are setting up nicely in Orela, and he's already established contact via mail with folks in Vamas, so he's feeling quite good right now.
Gareth continues to work his way through the tail end of his meal, then settles into just having a few mugs of his favorite drinks. However, after a few moments into his second mug, the fur on the back of his neck prickles a bit, his senses telling him that there are eyes watching him, specifically. He frowns to himself a bit as he slowly sets the mug down, now alert as his ears swivel, trying to get a better sense of where his observer is.
Narrator: A figure clad in black leathers, cloaked and hooded, armed with the faintest of gold peering out from under said cloak, sits at one of the corner tables of the inn. Her eyes, under the hood, observe Gareth. She moves her hand slowly to grab for her drink, taking a small sip, though not throwing her head back enough to remove her concealed gaze off of Gareth.
Gareth 's eyes wander a little as though he's casually observing the bar after finishing a meal, and his gaze eventually settles on the hooded figure. He watches them with a relaxed air, but his eyes tell a different story as they bore into the shadowed hood. After several seconds, he grabs his mug and stands up, then starts to make his way over to the table the figure is seated at.
Narrator: Lowering her drink to continue observing, Gareth would almost certainly feel that the figure is smiling warmly at him as he approaches. With a motion of her hand, she invites Gareth to sit. "Good to see you, dear." She greets.
Gareth keeps up his appearances as he approaches the table, but once Lianne speaks up, his facade breaks, and he smiles in turn. He goes to take a seat once offered and his smile turns into a happy little grin. "Good to see ye too, Lianne. How've ye been?"
Lianne Sparr: "Decent. Been keeping myself busy, though it's been slower than I'd like. The price of being out for a while, I suppose." Lianne laments. "And you? Any issues with. . .lacking certain documentation?"
Gareth shakes his head and chuckles. "Nah, there was a bit o' worry at first since it was just that missin', but I had everythin' else in order so it didn't cause any real problems. I hope yer employers were happy with what ye grabbed fer them?"
Lianne Sparr: "You know not inclined to talk about any of my employers, past, present or future." Lianne pauses momentarily with a stoic face, as if to scold Gareth, before the facade breaks with a smile and chuckle, "Happy enough in the sense that I got paid. Not sure after that. I suppose that depends on how much of a threat you are to them?"
Gareth chuckles as well, though he seems a little chastised by the look, if only for a moment. "Glad to hear ye got yer due fer the job, at least. I'm not really much o' a threat right now fer any businesses, though. Given some time, though..." He grins slyly, "Given time, I might be able to shape this thing into somethin' like the Silver-Talons."
Lianne Sparr: "Oh?" Lianne places her elbows on the table, clasping her hands and leaning in. "Got some old friends as contacts, I presume? If you're going after the Talons you'll definitely need them. . ."
Gareth shakes his head, a little surprised. "Oh, no, no, I'm not intendin' on competin' against the Talons. At least, not fer a good while still. I'm just sayin' I could potentially make my trade route between Aephix and Orela... and whatever that new continent to the south is called, just as strong as the one the Talons have between Vamas and Sarn." He nods after a second, "But, aye, I've got some contacts that I've got that should at least let me have a smaller route up north."
Lianne Sparr: "A shame." Lianne amusedly states, pulling back. "It all sounds very exciting, and I'm certainly happy for you." Lianne pauses, "But I can't help but feel a certain sense of sorrow, at what appears to be your retirement."
Gareth tilts his head a bit, smirking. "Retirement, from what, bounty huntin'? Nah, it won't stop me from doin' that still. This merchant business gives me an opportunity to get back out on the ocean, though. Ye know how long I've been stuck in Respite Falls, after all. The ocean still calls."
Lianne Sparr: "Mm. Respite was a nice distraction, for a time. . ." Lianne sighs, moving on, "A legitimate business while bounty-hunting on the side?" Lianne questions. "Sounds like you're asking for those you've scorned to come create some payback."
Gareth chuckles and shakes his head a bit. "Thought o' that one already, actually. I'm already gettin', er... "targeted" by the Pirate Queen o' Orela, Yanahuatl. I don't think anyone else is goin' to be dumb enough to try and screw with the fleet once she's gotten eyes on the ships."
Lianne Sparr: "You struck something with Yanahuatl?" Lianne chuckles, "Then it seems I've missed my opportunity. I should've negotiated with you on your ship after all."
Gareth chuckles and reaches over to lightly pat one of Lianne's hands. "Maybe, if ye think it might have been an opportunity, but there'll be others. Me business is still growin', so plenty o' opportunities will pop up fer a lot o' different things."
Lianne Sparr carefully assesses Gareth's hand, taken aback briefly. "Well, if that day comes, I look forward to it. Until then, I'll have to inform my employer that my rates just went up. Unless they'd rather risk someone else getting caught and spilling."
Gareth smiles at Lianne. "I can say that I'll definitely want to know more about what others are sendin' and receivin', once I get my fleet more established. Fer now, though, I've got about as much as I could set up already in place. O' course, yer always welcome aboard me ships even if yer not on a job."
Lianne Sparr: "Very kind of you, Gareth." Lianne smiles back. "Though getting familiar with your crew would be. . .Less than ideal. Sorry."
Gareth hums and nods. "No worries, Lianne. Just sayin' that yer always welcome to pop by fer a visit on whichever ships I'm captainin' personally, even if ye sneak aboard at night."
Lianne Sparr: "Fair enough." Lianne nods, finishing her drink and standing to leave. "I'm sure we'll talk again soon."
Gareth smiles at Lianne as she stands up, and likewise stands, leaving his mug on the table for the moment. "I'm sure we will, Lianne. Ye take care o' yerself in the mean time, alright?"
Lianne Sparr: "Of course. I'd give you the same, but you seem to be doing well enough to not need the sentiment." Lianne gives Gareth a little wave of her fingers as she walks past.
Gareth nods and waves at Lianne, still smiling as he watches the ray leave. "See ye around soon, then."