[Zena] Tall Dark And Oban [Damissan | Ergon]

[Miss Chief aka Uke]

Seeing as Damissan had never been to Zena prior, he had certainly never before made it to their capitol. Zidel, for all that it had been talked up in various ways, was still bitterly cold, even on the open street. But it was undoubtedly the most populated of all the snowy region’s various locale, and certainly supported a distinct clustering of the wealthiest among them. Most of Zena’s nobility, and anyone beneath that who had to their name enough affluence to claim noteworthiness had some station here, so far as Damis could tell, making it a surprising cross section of power, opportunity, and commerce for quality goods despite its natural climate which he might have otherwise expected to dissuade anyone from approaching.

Some of Oba’s nobility even had strong trade ties with Zena, including Damissan’s — he squinted out over the road at the thought — mother’s friend, Lord Royce. But even after growing into his own, Damissan had not capitalized on that connection—or any other, for that matter, partly due to the fact that most seriousness in his own attitude regarding his future had been developed along the way since leaving all of that behind.

Things could change when he returned, but much would depend on Xilarn.

For now, he was left in a city of wealth and promising prospects, but no connections to guide him. Ideally, he was looking for very serious, high quality bargained for exchange, but every merchant would attempt to promise him that, and he couldn’t pretend to know enough about the area, its merchants’ reputations, or finery itself to be a connoisseur of his own regard and trust his choices.

It would be useful if he could pull the aid of a suitably well-versed local.  

[Cornetified]

It had been a productive day at the office, leaving Ergon in a rather amiable mood. His father had left early that day, leaving him in charge of the shop for the evening. Nothing had gone sideways or burned down, of course, and it was time to close.

Stepping out into the cold, he ended up standing around with a few coworkers to chat about the day and what the plan was for tomorrow. While he still had little desire to continue on in the family business.. he could not deny that he was quite good at it. For now, the 'more' he wanted in his life would have to wait. There were other things that came first, like keeping the honor of his family, growing his estate to eventually help support the woman he loved, growing his status in society... All of the important things.  

[Miss Chief aka Uke]

Given that he knew no one, Damissan felt free to start anywhere, it was simply a matter of where and who. His likeliest prospects, he decided, would be centers of higher business — not the markets, but trade buildings and epicenters of more condensed affluence and community, and where those people spent their working hours.

After making his way to the town square and out from there to observe as the day did seem to be winding towards a close—at least for those who spent their days working indoors—he lingered, pausing in particular as one group of icelings seemed to be emerging and gathering to talk outside.

Clearly not common merchants themselves, likely business owners or tradesmen, a thought only further emphasized when he drew near enough to speak with them. One in particular seemed to possibly be the head of their bunch, but for the moment, he opted to wait until only a few remained before taking a broad shot as he approached.

“Good evening, gentlemen…is there a chance any of you have a moment to spare for a traveler here? I was hoping to give the city some business…but an experienced opinion or two would be welcome first.”  

[Cornetified]

They were bidding farewell when a voice spoke out. They all turned to look, faces stoically neutral when their eyes fell onto the foreigner. Of course, they were all businessmen and professionals, so they couldn't be rude.

"Ergon here could show you around."

"Yes, Ergon knows plenty about here."

Ergon slipped a glare at the escaping coworkers, but he could not be too angry. Naturally, he knew that he was the better of the group to show someone around the businesses. Naturally. After a sigh, he turned to the foreigner with a nod. "I will help you with what I am able to. What sort of business is it you are looking for?"  

[Miss Chief aka Uke]

Damissan watched the interplay well aware of what was going on—which was why he had timed things as he had. If he approached too large of a crowd, there was no guaranteeing he’d seem like anything other than a distraction, and if he had waited until the last man, that one might have been unhelpful or at least able to come up with a tacit excuse that sufficed without having to do so in front of others he knew already.

This ‘forced’ the small group to either present a volunteer, work communally, or pick one of their own and pin the task on him. Which was exactly what occurred.

Damissan’s eyes fell on their appointed leader, or scapegoat as the case may be, and flashed an only vaguely predatory grin, his expression mostly teasing as he came up to hold out a hand. “Damissan Mataou,” he introduced himself, “of Sulburi, and I promise not to take up too much of your evening. It’s a pleasure, and I appreciate your aid in advance. I was actually wondering what you know of the local jewelers…”  

[Cornetified]

Ergon glanced at the hand held out to him, only the briefest hesitation rising before he accepted it to shake. Business required certain things... "Ergon, as you may have already noted," he replied. Those dear coworkers of his would be in for it tomorrow...

"There are a few options here, actually," he said, turning to point a few buildings down. "The closest is Gulvar's right there. He is an honest man with quality items. Then there is Fulik's Golden Egg Designers. They're quite a bit pricier, but the quality is excellent. If that is outside of your budget, there is also The Raptrix Eye. Lower prices, decent quality. ..If I may, what sort of jewelry is it you are searching for?"  

[Miss Chief aka Uke]

“Ergon…?” Damissan’s attention drew over the man. He likely had a family line of merit, if not nobility, though perhaps he was especially standoffish. It wouldn’t be out of character, for an iceling, and the man didn’t have any reason yet to consider him ‘worth’ spending overly much time on. Damis had not over-exercised his position on his travels and in fact, had found himself more prone than not over the course of many months to simply not mentioning his place or rank ‘back home.’

He hadn’t come out here for that, and it wasn’t likely to win him favors with most.

But with this man.

He rolled his shoulders and smiled. “Price is not a concern,” he assured with easy confidence. “I am on the road currently, but intend to return home well within the year. It’s a wedding engagement on my mind, and I am interested only in the best Zena has to offer. Since I am not the most familiar with the area, I thought a purchase of such weight would benefit from a few solid and more backed opinions first.”  

[Cornetified]

'Price is not a concern.'

Well, that was an attention grabber. Perhaps Damissan's name meant little to Ergon, but it apparently meant something somewhere.

Then the reason for the search was mentioned though, and Ergon softened the tiniest bit. Engagement... He had his heart set on one, though it would be some time before he could go through with that. Good on this man for choosing jewelry from Zena. "Congratulations," he found himself saying. Clearing his throat to return to his more serious tone, he gave a little nod. "In that case, Fulik's would be best as your first stop. Do you wish me to escort you there? The roads can get a little confusing as you near the center with how much the cross back and forth."  

[Miss Chief aka Uke]

Damissan watched, and observed with private curiosity as Ergon’s expression eased a touch, and he found the push of his own posture easing in kind, his expression softening to something almost more abashed himself. He was excited, and if this was a point of common, or at least comfortable ground, he couldn’t have asked for better.

At the Congratulations, his ears warmed under his hood, and he grinned earnestly.

“I’d appreciate that,” he said in response to the offer. “And thank you. I haven’t actually-” Then, he thought better of it, remembering. “Well I have, once, and he said no. But it wasn’t as serious then. It’ll be different, and better now…” He cleared his throat, realizing that perhaps he had tripped too excitedly into his explanations for making small talk with a stranger, but— “What I was going to say was that I haven’t asked, properly, yet. So I suppose I can’t even be certain what I buy will make it to him, but I hope it does.” He pulled at the edges of his cloak, and decided to venture a thought: “You looked like you might have had someone on the mind yourself?”  

[Cornetified]

He? Well... that was unfortunate, but not unbearably so. More generally though, Ergon's brow rose with surprise. To have been turned down once before and still be going after the same person? That was some determination. He would die of humiliation if was turned down... Of course, he planned to wait until it was serious for certain, so there should be no doubt of a positive response by then.

"Perhaps having the promise in your hands will show your commitment? At least in part," he offered. Cheeks flushing purple at his relaxed attitude, Ergon turned his gaze away with an awkward cough. Others had tried and failed to get on his good side, and yet Damissan was getting a pleasant chat after just a couple minutes... How common of him.

Leading the way, his thoughts turned toward his own situation. "I... do," he murmured bashfully. "She is.. something else." How was one to describe Iryana? ..Well, not that he had to describe her to this foreigner, nope! It was supposed to be business only! "Was there any other business you desired to seek here that I might help you find?"  

[Miss Chief aka Uke]

Cornetified

“I don’t actually suspect that gold backing to a promise will make much more of a difference to him in itself,” Damissan admitted, but it was good naturedly. “I think I could come to him with nothing, and so long as he understood I was serious, that is what would matter…but I would like to do it right because I can, and he deserves nothing but the best, so I might as well provide it. I don’t think there’s any excuse to do otherwise, and I’ll be happier knowing he has the most I can offer.”

It was good, at least, to see that the iceling boy had some to say on this topic beyond stiffness, and his blush seemed only to further relax the situation from Damissan’s perspective. He loved every moment with Xilarn, but it was nice to have a chance to speak about his excitement with someone else, particularly of this variety seeing as he specifically couldn’t share as much with Xil until the time was proper.

At the admittance, I do… Damissan’s expression stretched into a brief flash of a grin.

“Then congratulations yourself,” he said, “I am sure she is a fortunate woman for it.” The corner of his lip edged up, flirting with a smirk at the description of ‘something else.’ “More than a small handful, it sounds like…I hope the best for you both.”

For now, he let the inquiry regarding other business slide, just shaking his head. He wasn’t here on politics, nor did they need any further supplement to their supplies than had already been attained. In the far future, of course, he could see himself engaging in larger scale business here—but that wasn’t on his mind for the moment, and it seemed more pleasant to speak of enjoyable things. So:

“I appreciate it, but not currently. My partner and I have what we need and will be taking a rather more gradual route back to Oba when we leave…but before we part perhaps I could advise you how to reach me if you were looking for a connection within Sulburi. What business do you do here?”  

[Cornetified]

Really? A person who didn't see value in a material promise? Now that was an odd concept... Would someone really agree to marry another person who had nothing to provide? Must be one of those strange quirks of the poor. At least Damissan seemed to have the right idea though. "He should appreciate you doing things with both of your preferences, simple for him and the best for you," Ergon offered. It sure was a considerate gesture for Damissan to consider both of their wants.

The returned offer of support made Ergon stand a little taller. She is fortunate. He was quite a catch, to be sure~ ...He was fortunate as well, but that was no matter. "A small handful," he agreed, unable to stop his lips curving into a small smirk as well. This were certainly not average with that woman...

Business with Sulburi? Ergon thought for a long moment. While it might not be something he would jump all over, it was certainly worth considering. "I cannot say I was looking for a connection, but it is worth looking into. I run a loan office with my father," he finally said. Perhaps saying he ran it with his father was a tiny stretch, but he might as well be running it at this point! "It's for those who need extra funds that they do not have at the time. And what is your business?"  

[Miss Chief aka Uke]

“I do hope so,” Damis responded casually. And for now certainly, his thoughts were optimistic. Beyond that, when Ergon saw fit to smile, Damis felt a sense of personal success. At least the iceling had it in him to loosen up a touch under the right inspiration.

Lenders. Well, that explained the warm initial attitude.

Damis cleared his throat. “A profitable venture I’m sure. My family lives within the palace sector and operates mostly on a political level, though we also partake in the arms and gem trades…” They weren’t in any personal need of borrowing coin so far as Damissan knew, but it never hurt to have options open—a name on the list was always available to recommend out, too, even if not needed by them.

Of course, Damissan had been away from home long enough and uninvolved enough even when he had been there that he didn’t actually know the current state of any finer details regarding how his parents’ wealth functioned and was maintained. But that didn’t need to be said aloud. Those were temporary gaps of information, easily remedied if it became important.  

[Cornetified]

Ergon nodded lightly. "There is food on the table every night and the house is kept warm." His material life had always been rather comfortable, even if other aspects had not been. He couldn't complain too much. When Damissan described his family's work, Ergon tipped his head back slightly to think. "While it would perhaps not be of direct dealing, we would be happy to help you with any transfers of items and funds as well. At the least, we will appreciate having someone to look to if we ever have business there. The majority of our business is local to Zena, but there have been occasions to travel out. It is especially difficult with the mountains separating our lands, but it is not uncommon around here for other businesses."

While he was a traditionalist who felt little need to expand out, he also knew that it made business sense to do so. It was an unfortunate necessity, these days. "With how much travel is going on, it would be simply silly to not put some effort into connections on the outside. How long do you plan to remain in Zena, if I may ask?"  

[Miss Chief aka Uke]

Cornetified

Damissan hummed in agreement and nodded, satisfied that young man seemed to have loosened up since he’d first approached and was cooperative about the idea of collaboration. He didn’t know the
details of his parents’ financial and social dealings at this point, but he did know it never hurt to have one’s name and associations spread across a wide map. And it was never a poor time to contribute to that.

At the latter question, though, he shook his head.

“Not long,” he said, the word ‘unfortunately’ coming close to the tip of his tongue, for it seemed like a polite addition—but it simply wasn’t true, in Damis’ mind. However convivial he was, he couldn’t deny: the climate here was far too cold for his liking. But, neither did that need to be explicitly stated, since this Ergon seemed — if Damis were to venture a guess — to be one of those especially attached to his homeland. “A week at most, likely, perhaps less. My partner and I are here to rest and restock, as we just recently arrived, but soon we’ll be making our way back south again. I assume you’re native here?”