A question of quality

[Ryahn Debois (I)]

It had been a few weeks since I had received the letter from the friend of the cousin of the man who I had made the new ufrninture for last year. His bride had been overjoyed with the quality of the work I'd done, and so she had recommended me to this person, who had in turn recommended me to a friend. This friend lived in the City of Elua, and after many messages back and forth, had requested that I come to the City and bring with me some examples of my better work.
Mother had urged to me accept this request, and I agreed, thinking perhaps that it might lead to a commissions for more work.
I arrived in the City with mother by my side, and a wagon full of some of the finely finished things I had created in the past year.
The letter of request had told me to go to a place called Dorville's where I would be met by an acquaintance of hers, who happened to work there.

[Luc Bradamante]

Through a series of friends who knew friends, Dorville and I had been communicating with a man in Azzalle, who went by the name of Ryahn, who was to arrive sometime either today or on the morrow. I was excited, though a little worried. Dorville had taken sick since those letters had commenced, and I was bogged down with special orders and running the shoppe, leaving very little time for myself nowadays. I hoped, when I walked to the front of the store, that this man was good. I would hate to have to turn him away.

So, I waited, nervous to be doing my first bit of management. I was young, and I feared I would either be too hard on the man or not hard enough. Maybe I could regurgitate the very things Dorville had said to me when he had hired me on. I smiled, hoping it would go smoothly, though I smiled to noone but myself, and waited for his arrival.

[Ryahn Debois (I)]

I pulled the wagon to a stop in front of the shop I'd been directed to, and before climbing down from the seat, gave the wares in the window a good looking over. They seemed to all be of the finest quality, and I worried a bit that my work would be judged to be as good. Leaping to the ground, I went around to help Mother down, and she told me she wanted to go look at the other shops while I took care of my business.
I nodded, then turned to the door of the shop, after pausing for a moment to take a closer look at the items in the window.

[Luc Bradamante]

A wagon had pulled up outside and a strapping man jumped down. I watched as he helped an older lady out of the seat and then watched as he looked into the window more intently than most. I wondered then if that was the man we were waiting for. I rose from where I sat behind the desk and walked to the front of the store.

[Ryahn Debois (I)]

I nodded to myself. The work was very good, and as I turned to enter the shop, I spotted a man inside approaching the front, through the window. He seemed as interested in me as I was in the wares, and I wondered if this was the person I would talk to.
I opened the door and went inside, keeping my eye on the man I'd seen. Giving him a nod, I once again turned my attention back to the furniture display, admiring the well crafted tables, and the scrollwork on an arm chair. Then I turned to the man and held out a hand, "I'm Ryahn. And I'm guessing you must be the one I'm supposed to talk to."

[Luc Bradamante]

I smiled as the man entered the shoppe, he seemed as impressed as I had when I first set foot into Dorville's. I remember thought that I had been more slack jaweed, but that was just my personality. I took the hand he offered me and shook it briskly. "Yes, I would be he," I said with a smile, "Luc Bradamante," I said, releasing his hand and giving him a nod. "You must be Ryahn then. I hope that your trip was not too long and tiring," I said with a smile.

[Ryahn Debois (I)]

I nodded, "Good to meet you, Luc. Yes, that'd be me. And no, it wasn't too bad, I suppose. Thanks for asking. First time I've been to the City, so I got a bit turned around. Hope I'm not too late."

[Luc Bradamante]

I smiled with a nod, "not at all. It can be confusing. I am still not entirely used to it," I said with a smile. "So let me show you around, if you dont mind, then we can take a look at what you've brought with you?" I asked as I started towards the showroom proper.

[Ryahn Debois (I)]

I gave another nod, glad my late arrival hadn't caused a problem. Glancing out the window once, it looked like Mother was still shopping, so I followed Luc.

[Luc Bradamante]

I nodded once and smiled as I walked back and through the door way leading to the show room that was filled iwth all manners of things, cribs, dining tables of all sizes, armoires, benches, chairs, divans, chandeliers carved of fine woods, anything and everything. I spread my arms. "This is it!" I said. "This is where all the finished work ends up, unless special ordered. And there have been a great amount of special orders coming in," I said with a chuckle. "And with Dorville under the weather it has been difficult.. pulling all nighters," I said, "fun but taxing you know?" I said as I let a hand pass over the veneered top of a cherry wood table with filigreed legs.

[Ryahn Debois (I)]

As I followed him back into the main showroom, I took note of all the items that were displayed, most especially those with fine carving. That was really what I liked to do the best, so those were of the most interest to me.
Listening to Luc talk about special orders, I nodded. It was a special order that had gotten me here in the first place. Then I glanced at him, "Dorville, that's the shop owner? What wrong with him?" I was curious about this, since I'd been under the impression that I'd be meeting him.
I had to smile and nod, "I've pulled a few all night sessions myself. But most of the orders I've done aren't very big. Just a few things for the people in the village close to where I live."

[Luc Bradamante]

"Yes he is, and he would have been here to meet and greet you himself, except he is at home. He has not been too well lately," I said, my smile faltering. "But I am sure he will pull through," I said with a smile. "And yes, before I came here... well if you met my sister she would tell you. I would go days, no sleep, no food, when the muse struck me with a new idea," I said with a smile. "What do you think of the wares?" I asked as we slowly made our way back to the workroom.

[Ryahn Debois (I)]

I nodded, relieved. "Sorry to hear that he's down. Let's hope he gets better soon."
I gave a chuckle at his description of being so wrapped up in an idea, and had to nod again. "I've done that a time or to, though my mother always fusses to make sure I eat." I grinned, "Mothers..."
Turning to look at the chandelier I'd been admiring earlier for it's fine carving, I went over to smooth a hand down one of the elegant curves. "This is especially fine. I haven't done a chandelier like this before, but I'd love to give it a try."

[Luc Bradamante]

"Your mother sounds like my sister then. She would always bring something out to the shed to make sure I didn't starve... not too much anyways," I said with a laugh. Then I walked up beside him as he let his hand run over the wood of teh chandelier. "Thank you," I said with a smile, running a hand through my hair. "It took me a long time," I said with a smile, "it was my second attempt and I swear I still feel the splinters," I said with a laugh.

[Ryahn Debois (I)]

I nodded, still admiring the workmanship. Looking up, I grinned and held up my right hand, which was the one that always seemed to get hurt the most often. "I wouldn't be surprised if I still have a few splinters in there somewhere." I turned my hand over to look at the back of it, "That long scar was from my first time carving anything. It took a while to heal up." I chuckled, "The chair leg, my mother still uses it, got a big gash in it as well." I shrugged, "I was only 14."

[Luc Bradamante]

I laughed and shook my head, "ah yes, if anyone wants to have smooth, unmarred hands, being a carpenter is not the profession," I said as he looked on. "What would you say is the most difficult piece you have done?" I asked as I, too, looked around at the wares. Some were mine, most were Dorville's before he had taken ill.

[Ryahn Debois (I)]

I had to think about his question for several minutes, thinking back over the more complicated work I'd done. It didn't take me ong to pick one particular piece of work.
"I think it must have been the carving I did on a mirror frame a few years ago. There was some very intricate vinework."

[Luc Bradamante]

I smiled. Good, I thought, making mental note, he is accomplished in fine detail carving. "It must have been rather lovely," I said, picturing the idea in my head. "Come, I will show you the work room," I said with a smile and a gentle pat on his shoulder blade, "then we can always come back out and look over some more thing and then see your work!" I was happy, he seemed rather amicable, and laid back, much like myself.

[Ryahn Debois (I)]

I nodded, returning his smile. His pat on my shoulder barely registered as I followed him into the workroom. I was beginning to feel very hopeful that I could get a good thing going here.

[Luc Bradamante]

I moved and pulled the door open. It was a wide one, wide enough that we might bring larger items into the show room easier. There was sawdust on the floor from the night before, and the room smelled of wood and wax and paint. The wide back doors were closed as I had not opened them to sweep yet for the day, or to air out the room. The last thing that Dorville had been working on, a rocking chair, was in the spot he had left it, unfinished, while my own projects were in my area of the workshop. "This is where all the magic happens," I said with a laugh. "Forgive the mess," i said with a smile, "though it is a workroom and meant to be messy I usually clean it often."

[Ryahn Debois (I)]

I wasn't surprised to see the sawdust on the floor, and the scent that greeted me when I walked into the workroom was like coming home. I took a deep breath, savoring the sights and smells that were so familiar. It brought another smile to my face, and I shook my head at his apology. "Nothing to forgive. I'm used to seeing things like this, and I rather enjoy it. It just proves you've been working hard."

[Luc Bradamante]

I laughed. "That we have, on the regular. I am usually here around 5 in the morning, if I have not stayed over night, and leave rather late. I love it here myself. It's perfect," I said wtih a smile as I ran my hand over the smooth wooden table, gathering a bit of sawdust witha smile, feeling the smooth grit on my fingers and dusting my hands off. "Are you liking it thus far?" I asked, turning to him wiht a smile.

[Ryahn Debois (I)]

I smiled in reutnr, then nodded. "That's early, but I'm used to early mornings when there's work to be finished." I watched as he dusted off his hands, then took another look around the room. "This is a very nice place, I could get comfortable here."
I turned back to Luc and smiled, "How about we go lok at my work?"

[Luc Bradamante]

I smiled widely, rubbing my hands together in anticipation. "Now that sounds like a good idea. Afterall, everything does.. kind of hinge on that," I said with a smile, "though something tells me that I will be very happy with what I see. You have a very honest quality about you that I am sure must extend over to your work."

[Ryahn Debois (I)]

I nodded my thanks, again returning his smile. "I just do my best. Nobody has complained yet."

[Luc Bradamante]

I laughed at his words as we moved from the work room, through the shop and to the front door, opening it I nodded for him to go ahead. "The suspense is killing me," I said with a chuckle.

[Ryahn Debois (I)]

I grinned, then went out of the shop ahead of him, moving to the wagon to pull off the canvas cover I'd used to protect the furniture.
The wagon held several pieces, including a table, a bench, a pair of matching chairs, and the disassembled pieces of a bedstead.

[Luc Bradamante]

I followed after Ryahn, stopping behind him as he detached the cover from his wagon to reveal the goods within. I stepped up to the wagon, then, and peered in, spotting some pieces that caught my eye immediately. "Those are a lovely set of chairs, and I love the detail work in carving on that stead," I said with a wide grin, "how much do you normally sell these items for?" I asked as I glanced at him quickly, then back to the items presented to me.

[Ryahn Debois (I)]

I nodded, a grin on my face now. He had picked out my two favorite items as well.
"The chairs would go for about 200, and the bed would be about twice that, if I included a matress. If not, it would be about 325."
I motioned to then bench, which was still in a rough stage, "That's nowhere near finished yet, I just brought it with me to show my carving style."

[Luc Bradamante]

I nodded as I looked over the items, reaching in to pass a hand over the ornate carvings. "Very nice," I murmured, admiring his craftsmanship. "And not bad for prices either. Now, the thing is, not all the profit will go to you when we sell pieces you have made," I said turning to him to talk shop, "and we will sell them at different prices, though not usually lower than what you would normally price them at yourself, no certainly not lower at all," I said with a smile. "How do you feel about that?" I asked. Working for a company was different from working for yourself. I remember when I hd first started Dorville had sold my items for far more than how I would have normally priced them back home, and so it worked out well in the end, still getting my own cut add to my wages whenever one of my own pieces sold.