Far from Allurand: Dragonwings (IC)

Kore tapped her chin thoughtfully.

"Of course those aren't the only matters to consider in this case. In addition to the information on the time-sensitive jobs we also need information on how large the goblin clan is and if there's a more precise location in the pass where they typically appear. If they're centralized in a location we could likely bait them into the open and use the wyverns to wipe out the majority of their forces in one action. Which would save us time for the other jobs."

Graf rolled his eyes as he listened to his half-siblings prattle on about matters that would remain irrelevant until they'd actually sent word back to their potential employers and gotten replies for their inquiries.

"Alright, alright, then help me get these messages written so we can send them already! Enough back-and-forth, let's get something done. Today, preferably, before we have to deal with that incoming headache from the military." He looked toward Penelope with a peculiar look, the question almost etched on his face.

Which one is coming?

Kore's ears dropped briefly at Graf's words before she turned to him.

"P-pardon me, Big Brother." She started, her voice wavering before she cleared her throat.

"Excuse me. However, this is hardly idle chatter. We are discussing factors that need to be taken into account before we can make a proper decision on our next move from a logistical standpoint. And Meli is absolutely correct in saying that we need to verify that all clients are amenable to a schedule before we begin our journey."

The mage's speech had started softy but become more firm and formal as she continued on and there was a stubborn glint in her eye that Meli would recognize as an early warning sign.

"It is said that the best leaders often take criticism and advice from their subordinates. Perhaps, Big Brother, you could learn something from such a school of thought."

Big House

Finishing up his carving of Aros, Theris hopped to his feet and took a look at the various jobs at hand before making his decision. "I'm thinking it'll be best for me and Mereth if we take this third job. Gives her an opportunity to spread her wings and I think we'll be better suited for it than the other two."

As Graf and the others argued for a bit, Theris gently placed the carving of Aros on the table in front of the elder Penelope with a smile before finally butting in on the conversation at hand. Pointing at Kore, Theris simply said "She's got good points. I get we're all looking to get out there, and make names for ourselves, live up to various legacies and so on, but being bullheaded won't get any of us anywhere. I'd also like to add that if I can get a better idea of where we're heading on this pilgrimage, I see about picking up any supplies we might need in the area."

Graf's stare at Kore might have conveyed more of his displeasure at taking lip from his younger half-sibling, but some sentimental part of him refused to try to intimidate any of his family. Still, that did not prevent from opening his mouth to return with his usual snark.

"Do I look like I was born without ears?" he answered with a question, his eyes like impatient infernos itching in their imprisonment. "Everything you've said is critical, yes. But it's all useless if it's just in the air and not on a page. We've got at least two letters to write to our clients, three if we want someone to do some information-gathering for us about those goblins. And until those letters are written down and sent so we can get replies ASAP, we're just stuck here."

He took in a breath, sparing his siblings from his figuratively burning gaze before he opened them upon exhalation. "Alright, we've got to let these people know what we're thinking, and we have to know about any constraints on their end. Is there anything else we need to write down?"

Penny realized, as the conversation picked up, she needed to be writing this down. She hustled on over to the table and started furiously transcribing the conversation. So it was immensely gratifying to hear Graf try for a power move she'd heard in merchant companies all around her previous job.

"I've actually been taking notes the whole time." Penny raised a piece of paper with, yes, notes. "So this conversation's had great value. You give me a map and a sextant and I can figure out logistic costs by EOD. I'll draft up a different letter for every plan proposed so far too, so you can just send whichever you like the most. The main call to make is whether improving pay with timely and separated service is worth the money lost by not conserving supplies with one big trip and potentially receiving less pay."

Meli stared down her older sibling with no small amount of irritation. "No, honorable brother. You don't look like you were born without ears. You sound like you were born without common sense. I don't want to be hurried by someone who didn't even think to gather information in the first place, and to just take the jobs as is. Yes we need money, but we can't afford to rush, or else it will just end with more of us dead. You can't scare me with that half-assed glare, so how about you cool it on the leader with an iron fist and reign of fear act before I crack you upside the head for bullying your siblings."

Graf regarded Meli with a blank stare that everyone understood as his "resting bitch face" before turning to Penelope with exasperation.

"Now do you get why I question his decision?" First accused of inconsideration, and now accused of not listening, such a basic skill that missing it would have seen him dead a decade ago in this land. Only his first day "in charge," after all these blessed months where he wasn't really in charge of these people. Unbelievable.

"Write down whatever they suggest, put it together coherently if you can," he said rather redundantly to Penny before standing up straight, groaning as he moved to stretch his back and feel the cracking in his spine.

"Urgh...I'm better at waiting than I seem to be at listening, so I'll just face the capital and wait for our guest." He turned with barely a glance at his family and stepped outside, wanting some fresh air after all that.

What was he thinking? After a moment to consider it, he moved back towards his tent. His equipment was there, and he wasn't flying without it.

Edited by Insano on Feb 1st 2019 at 12:24:51 PM

With a half-deflated groan, Veylian loosened her grip on Pyrrha. A bit of a shame, really, she did not have to be so tense in front of everyone. Since the big lady ordered it though, no choice in that matter. She just can't let her displeasure go unheard, though.

"Aww, you really gotta be so uptight now? Moodiness does nobody favours, you know."

Now to the real matter at hand: jobs, and pay. The others began mulling over it before her. A bit too much, in Veylian's opinion. Seems like there's too many variables for them to wrap their head around, time to add a constant to the equation - which was what would have happened, but Graf's apparent falling-out and exit disarmed her zest for a moment, and she stiffly uttered,

"Merchants...for me. Uh, that's all."

Graf Is Afraid of Amino: Wulfric, Meli and Penny

Standing at the side with her head leaning on the room walls Wulfric sighed, the atmosphere was getting tense for what she felt was nothing, she paced slowly towards the two arguing when suddenly the half elf just moved out of the building.

"There he goes" Luna turned to Meli. "Captain woke up on the wrong side of bed huh? Well, as overaggressive as he was, can't say he doesn't have a point, I don't think we can delay our customers too much, we haven't gotten a job in a while right? If we wanna raise our reputation up again as a company, maybe it's a good idea to not get stuck on indecision too long"

The tall woman turned to the Halfling, she stared at the ground, her hand on her hip. "I'm not sure our short term monetary concerns should be our only worries, after all we need put ourselves on the map again. If we wanna start here then we need to carry out these jobs as professionally as we can right? If I was the client, I would be more inclined to spread the word if the work is done fast and clean yeah? I'm fine with both, but just something to consider. Put me with the cleric if we split up, I did come from Dys after all, I know how some of them think" Luna smiled, Dysine enemies sounded like a good time, some action from home. Her kind of pastime.

Kore continued to try to glare at Graf so hard that it looked like she was trying to burn a hole in him with her eyes. However shortly after he left her ears and tail drooped down and she shuffled back to her previous position.

<"I nearly got angry with him."> She muttered to Meli. <"It's bad enough when it happens with other people. But he's our brother. Even if he was being an ass I don't want to see him hurt.">

She started wringing her hands nervously. <"I really shouldn't lash out, we're all just trying to get by.">