Closed Contact

[Kelmar Hedos]

14th of Winter, 512AV The docks were usually busy, and today was no exception. A small crowd bustled about their business, either hurrying across the way or unloading cargo from the vessels that carried them from the lakeshore. A few performers were scattered here and there, attracting small clusters of people, but for the most part the mass of people was fluidly moving in one direction or another, two streams of people heading in opposite directions forming naturally as everyone sought to get where they were going. Right beside Tine's was a simple busker amusing a little gathering with a deck of cards, performing trick after trick for their amusement. To the average person it might have been interesting if not impressive, but Kelmar was not an average citizen as he stood at the edge of the group, his attention everywhere but on the actual performer. Kelmar's work the previous night had pleased the man who had employed him. However, when the agent expected another assignment or contract of sorts he was told that things would be taken care of and that his assistance would no longer be required. While that wouldn't have bothered him normally, his thoughts last night had led him to wonder what if Kelmar's assistance could be provided, but through an associate rather than himself? It was the inklings of a plan, an idea that would take time to develop and even longer to gather the funds necessary, but great things had small beginnings. For five years he had played his part in helping the fledgling network of the Galatos family grow into one of the most sophisticated list of contacts in the underground, and though major growth could not be credited to him he did do his bit and learnt a lot from it. There was no intention of ever butting heads with the Galatos, after all Xerin had treated him well and was still a part of it. Kelmar was just interested in maybe having his own little crew of people who could take care of various items and agendas. Which was in large part why he was here now. The night before while waiting on his target to move, he had made acquaintances with an observant yet charismatic man who had displayed an interest in his tight-lipped profession. There was enormous opportunity to be had in making contact with a man like that, especially one who benefitted from the social grace that Kelmar often lacked. Grace was not the proper word though, the young Hedos had been groomed and still remembered the lessons of politeness. Savvy was probably a better adjective, savvy and easygoing. Such personalities tended to loosen tongues, and in Kelmar's profession loose tongues were those that talked a little more than they should. It also led the agent to wonder what the half-Svefra's other... skills were, whether any more within his own realm of interest. This was the meeting place that the man, Noric, had declared they would meet at. Very unhappy with the arrangement, Kelmar nevertheless made an appearance as a gesture that he was interested in making contact, well aware that the man could very easily just be observing them. Perhaps he'd think that Kelmar rushed in without thinking, that he hadn't thought through his presence here. Such assumptions would be incorrect however, as this was actually a very opportune place to meet. A nice lovely crowd, constant movement, and a steady flow of direction. Perfect to step into and disappear. The people moved like a current, each one with their own destination in mind and paying little attention to the world around them. If worst came to worst, Kelmar could always join the stream, then match the rhythm and flow of the crowd until he was hidden and then long gone. Even so, he disliked being as exposed as he was, as it meant that if there were to be a surprise it would be at his expense. His eyes darted about the crowd, his head turning left and right to look for Noric every once in a while. There was nothing to fear of letting him know why he was present, and the sooner the two met the better.

[Noric Sidhe]

Noric watched Kelmar for a few chimes from his position in the crowd. He walked slowly, shoulders hunched and back curled with feigned age. His cloak was pulled tightly around his body and hood pulled down to cast his face in shadow. The only other visible article of clothing were his boots. It was a simple disguise, easy to use with just the clothes on your back, but effective at least at a distance. And it let him shuffle slowly, allowing more time to observe the man he'd met last night. Kelmar had been astute when thinking Noric could use the crowd to his advantage, and he was doing just that. The man stood in front of Tine's, looking extremely uncomfortable.

Noric smiled to himself, wondering how a person could be so completely awkward around other people. If Kelmar was in the line of work that he thought he was, then social skills were important. But that just meant that Noric might have the upper hand. This possible ally wasn't doing out of the ordinary though. There was nothing to watch. He occasionally scanned the area, no doubt looking for him, and just kept looking uncomfortable, as well as a little peeved. His smile grew. Might as well put him out of his misery. So he cut through the crowd slowly, as fast as he could while pretending to be an athritic old man.

The little show gathered next to Tine's seemed to reaching a climax. Several people exclaimed loudly, but he brushed by without a second glance. A waste of money, street performers were. His smile had disappeared with each shuffling step that brought him closer to Kelmar. He didn't trust this man yet, any further than he could throw him. Too quiet. Nevertheless, he ended up at Kemlar's side, twitching back his hood and rising to his full height. They were almost the same, except he was fractionally shorter.

It was a nonchalant appearance, despite obviously having been pretending to be someone else. He smiled brightly, giving a mock salute, touching 2 fingers to his forehead. "Greetings."

[Kelmar Hedos]

Even though he didn't know it, Kelmar had seen the man he was here to meet more than a couple times, hobbling through the crowd with his back hunched over. He just didn't know. To the agent's eyes, he was just another of the crowd during his scans, though there was something that seemed odd about the old codger at first glance. However, that was not the reason Kelmar was here, so consquently he spent little time dwelling on every little detail on his mind. The assumption of irrelevancy was soon proved incorrect however, as Noric rose to his full height and greeted him as easily as if he'd just plainly walked up to him. "Thought something looked off about that geezer," Kelmar replied. "No one that age is that big." That was what bothered the Hedos before he now realized, that the man's back was so large. Of course, with the benefit of hindsight it was easy to spot, but if Noric were someone with malicious intent then he could easily have listened or followed at his leisure, all at Kelmar's expense. Well, maybe not follow. It would be hard to keep up the ruse and still walk that fast. The agent had to be more wary, for even though this jump had been okay to suffer there might be some in the future that would not be so pleasant. "So it appears you are a man of many talents." Once his initial addressing of the hald-Svefra was done, Kelmar returned to what was left of the act, nonchalantly talking as if they were about to launch into a conversation about the weather rather than potentially illegal activities. "One might wonder what possible reason you could have for pretending to be something you are not. Though if last night's impressions are anything to go by, I do not have to wonder." With a final flourish, the busker gave a bow and was answered with some polite clapping from the folks gathered, among whom Kelmar did not bring his hands together and instead turned to face Noric. "Well, you've seen what I do," he said, "perhaps now it is your turn."