(no subject)

[runningred]

{{from here}}

Jay lead Alfred upstairs. His room is nothing special; a rather large bed, a workshop style bench covered in sketched designs and half finished gadgets. There's a laptop and a detached robotic hand in here somewhere. The wardrobe is locked but locks are hidden, except to someone who might be looking.

"Drink?" Jay offers, nodding to the fridge and wet-bar in one corner.

Comments

[runningred]

"The only way to wake up. That or room service at a five star hotel." He sets everything out on the table, sipping his coffee like a lifeline. "Oh god, I love this stuff. Comes from one tiny coffee house in the markets of Istanbul but here I can get it every day."

[morethanprops]

"I've seen something like it in Genua, but I like my coffee simpler," He grabs a pastry and takes a bite, "Mm, she's one of the few people who knows how to make proper walago."

[runningred]

"I don't know Genua. What's it like?" Jay helps himself to a pasty, not entirely convinced.

[morethanprops]

"Humid, swampy and fun,"

The pastry's actually from Uberwald but Moist won't volunteer that unless asked.

[runningred]

"Sound like Louisiana but I'm not I'm a fan of the humidity. And apparently I'm tasty to bugs." Jay chuckles.

[morethanprops]

"What's Louisiana like? I'm not too bad but I do burn easily,"

And that is something that can be a little too noticeable.

[runningred]

"Swamp mostly. Hot, humid and full of bugs. Why anyone would want to live there is beyond me." Jay chuckles. "I use to burn like that too but after a couple of months in Africa I tanned and stayed that way." Although it's starting to fade now.

[morethanprops]

"I only visit in Genua, not a place I prefer to stay,"

Moist has some added color but not much, he's Uberwaldian pale.

[runningred]

"Where do you prefer?" He asks softly, watching Alfred's face.

[morethanprops]

"It depends but I find the road suits me best,"

A fast horse under him and on his way somewhere is where he's his happiest.

[runningred]

"I use to be same but... I don't know. I think I'm getting tired. I like it here, its' nice to have a safe place to stop a while."

[morethanprops]

"I agree. Milliways is good for stopping without worrying,"

He's felt too settled and didn't like it.

[runningred]

"It's harder for the past to catch up here." Jay agrees, all too aware of just how fast his own past keeps pace with him.

Jay considers for a long moment. "As pleasant as last night was," and it was, "I have a feeling our business inclinations could be of use to each other as much as our personal inclinations."

[morethanprops]

"I could see that being true,"

He sips his coffee and eats another pastry as he waits to see what Jay has in mind.

[runningred]

Jay watches Alfred's quiet, measured face. This one gives away nothing he doesn't want to. "I have knack for designing and building things and you, I suspect have a gift for finding opportunities that might require specialist equipment."

[morethanprops]

"Equipment, that can be tricky to acquire, but I do try and keep my needs simple. Though I'm certain I could be persuaded to take a chance on something,"

Machines are chancy but experts know their business.

[runningred]

"No chance needed just consider me if you find yourself in need of something you can't lay hands to."

[morethanprops]

"I will. And what could I do for you?" There's always a price of some sort.

[runningred]

Jay shrugs. "I work on commission. Pay what you think my work is worth off my tab. And I'm sure you've got skills I might be able to use. I'm only a passable forger."

[morethanprops]

Moist smiles and reaches over to stroke Jay's face,

"While I am a very good one. It would be fun to see the kind of ripples you created on the Disc."

[runningred]

"I'll bear that in mind." Jay leans a little into the touch, ever warmed by the attention. "I won't have thought you were to type for ripples."

[morethanprops]

"They can be fun to watch and I'm a tiny pebble,"

He likes knowing how the world works to know how to use it and that means sometimes pushing here and there.

[runningred]

Jay chuckles. "I, on the other hand, tend to make waves. The trick is not being there when they hit."

[morethanprops]

"Or not being seen, that's the real one to manage."

[runningred]

"Hide a face behind a mask, hide identity behind a costume and a code name." He shrugs. "On the whole, people are stupid. They don't see past bright colours."