Lunch with Seraphina

[Joras Timbule (I)]

I sat at a small table, cradling a mug of good spiced wine from Caerdicca, trying to determine the vineyard it had come from. The horologist cried the hour, and I was beginning to worry if my invitation had been accepted. Hopefully my garb would suit someone important like her, it would be a shame to be dressed poorly. I was just about to leave when I heard the murmurs; someone important must be coming in. I looked up to see who it was, and placed it as Seraphina Frizon. Beckoning for her to sit, I poured a glass and asked "Will the Southern vintage suit?", putting on my most disarming smile.

[Seraphina Frizon(D)]

I walked in, clad in a red silk dress that was off the shoulders and sewn together with golden thread that glittered in the catching light. Four Cassiline guards walked with me to the table. I had been a bit perturbed at the letter. Alliances? Arguably the most successful merchant in Terre d'Ange? I had scoffed at that. That was me, and I knew it with pride. I had none the less broken a few things when reading the letter, but I was calm and serene now. My dark hair spilling around my shoulders and my blue eyes watching the man beckoning me to sit.

I sat with a slow grace and met his eyes. "The southern vintage will suit just fine. Thank you."

[Joras Timbule (I)]

I placed a glass for her, glancing at her eyes. Something was other than glad there, and it made me uncomfortable.

"You sure do bring a fuss with you." I said, grinning "then again, one in your position must have to"

I decided that it would be better to treat her as a superior, seeing as I knew nothing about the local hierarchy. I straightened myself, fussing over my old green tunic.

"So, my lady, you do seem knowledgeable of the city. I am but new, so if it pleases you, would you tell me about the wonders it holds?"

[Seraphina Frizon(D)]

I gave a slight smile, taking the glass in my hand and holding it with the tips of my fingers. "Yes well, you never know when someone might try to attack you or kidnap you for finical gain. Better to be safe than sorry, no?" I took a sip of my wine, well at least the quality was good. I could see that he wasn't set in his skin so to speak, and slightly uncomfortable with me.

I spoke in a melodious voice. "I'm sorry, but I may have to disappoint you about the city really. I've only been here for about two weeks now. Which is not to say that I am unaware of the layout, but I have just returned from a profitable excursion in Ch'n. I have visited many times before, but this is really the first time that I have taken up residence here. It is a fine city, the height of fashion, and more shops here than anywhere else. This is where most nobles reside and it much easier to sell her than in some other, less wealthy places. So you are a trader then?"

[Joras Timbule (I)]

"Well, I suppose one could call me that."
I saw that she was trying to make me feel more comfortable, and she was doing a good job of it. At least, now I didn't expect her to have me kidnapped. I suppose her apprehension was the same as mine, and rightly so.

I laughed, a quick nervous reaction. "I hope you'll forgive me for being so... abrupt. Never had any skill with subtlety. Would you like to dine now? I am treating, you know." I grinned. Seraphina had a lovely face.

[Seraphina Frizon(D)]

I smiled, interested to see a trader who had little knack for subtlety and had nerves such as his. "I am dining with you good sir, it is up to you to decide when we dine, but I would take dinner now if you wished it." I made no argument to him treating, I had the money, but it was nice not to have to use it.

[Joras Timbule (I)]

"well, I suppose we shall dine now then" I said with a smile.
She was warming to me, and that was good. This meeting may yet bear fruit.
I summoned a waitress and placed an order of fish for myself. "And for you, my lady? What would you dine on?"

[Seraphina Frizon(D)]

"Lamb if you please." I watched him order, at least there he knew what he wanted, and I was slightly amused by it, but didn't let it portray on my face in case he took my amusement the wrong way.

[Joras Timbule (I)]

As the waitress trotted off, I put my elbow on the table and rested my chin on it, thinking. I wanted to make her respect me, but I wasn't sure how quite yet.

"What goods do you sell? Maybe we could work out a deal here and now..." I suggested.

[Seraphina Frizon(D)]

I gave a brief smile before answering. "I sell quite a lot, but the Frizon name is known for it's silks, spices and of course gold. I've just come back from Ch'n with fresh spices and silks actually. I picked up some other things along the way of course. You?"

[Joras Timbule (I)]

"Well, I came here really as a traveler, and all I knew was the D'Angeline need for ridiculous amounts of quality fabrics." I laughed at my joke
"I did the only thing I thought was feasible and went into the fabric business. I am considering starting into other ventures, however." I emphasized this last part especially. We held our future in our hands, here, and we could be bitter rivals or good partners.

[Seraphina Frizon(D)]

I smiled and sipped my wine delicately. "Yes the D'Angelines do love their fabrics. I among them I must admit."

[Joras Timbule (I)]

The waitress arrived with our meals, and I thanked her politely. I started eating, for it had been a time since I had eaten last.

"Are you going to the Wedding? From what I hear, it will be a rather grand event"

[Seraphina Frizon(D)]

I had started cutting my meat up, when I glanced up at him with a smile. That question was somewhat of a sore point for me. "Sadly I have a previous engagement to attend to, but I did give them a few wedding gifts. Quite nice some of them, it was my new shipment from the east. What about you?"

[Joras Timbule (I)]

"No, I was not invited. I don't mind, though, because I have been contracted to be the Caerdicci Ambassador's personal tailor for the event." I blushed in embarrassment at not being able to go. Or maybe it was the wine.

[Seraphina Frizon(D)]

I gave him a gentle smile, "Well it is good you make coin off of it, is it not? There are those who think that traders are not as good as the nobles, but we drive the economy, without us they wouldn't have parties. Where would they get their cloth, and food from? We should be proud of who we are whether the nobles recognize our work or not." I felt slightly sorry for Joras, usually I liked to crush the competition and get on with it, but I was somewhat of the same sentiment since I had returned to the city.

[Joras Timbule (I)]

I replied thoughtfully. "Aye, we do drive the economy. But the same could be said from a farmer's perspective: we merchants think down on them, but where would we get our fine goods if not them?" I was starting to get onto a philosophical rant, so I stopped myself abruptly. Instead I went on to matters of business.

"I understand that you have a fashion line? Quite possibly we could arrange something... mutually beneficial?"

[Seraphina Frizon(D)]

I swallowed my chicken and smiled, " I do not look down upon those who feed me." My family was newly rich, two generations. I had not forgotten where I had come from. I was proud, and maybe arrogant, but not stupid.

I washed the chicken and sentence down with wine. "I'm listening."

[Joras Timbule (I)]

"Well, I have told you that the Ambassador is going to the wedding in clothes fashioned by me. I don't really have a shop, but if I could make my services available through you we could both benefit. You will of course receive a fair share, plus I will give you access to my wares from Caerdicci. You will find that this is more than fair to you."

I sat back, waiting for her answer. My nerves were strung high and my head was buzzing. I took a deep breath and held it without realizing.

[Seraphina Frizon(D)]

"I would of course have to see both the goods you have from Caerdicci and some of your skills as a clothier before I can make a true decision. It just so happens though I am about to open a shop, so if we do agree to this deal you would of course have some place to work and utilize your skills." Usually I wouldn't of made such a deal, but I did need a skilled clothier for my shop and if he was making clothes for ambassadors, than all the better for me.

[Joras Timbule (I)]

"Of course, of course" I replied. I was pretty confident now. My sources in Caerdicci were highly successful, and I had been trying my hand at clothing ever since my meeting with the Ambassador.
"If it pleases you, I could design very fine clothes to fit yourself, which could be done right after the wedding. I will also commission a suit for myself, to show you my skills fitting both sexes. The Caerdicci goods are mostly paintings and jewelery, which I can establish in the same time frame."

By now we had finished our meals, and the waitress cleaned our places. I slipped a pouch full of coins into her hand, and told her to keep the change and bring us a luscious desert of strawberries and cream.

She laid down our treats, and refilled our wineglasses. "A toast to mutual prosperity!" I raised my glass in salute

[Seraphina Frizon(D)]

My eyes flicked over his face. I had personal seamstresses and I usually designed them. Although I wasn't one to turn away a free outfit, and I did need to see what his skills were.
So as my glass was refilled I picked it up smiling, my accountant scribbling down Joras's words. It would be interesting to see what would be made of this deal, but I was confident that I would have it on my terms, and why shouldn't I? I had more contacts in the city, his goods would be bought sooner and with more quantity with my name attached.

"To mutual prosperity." I echoed lifting my glass to his.