#ccsemberclub

Her man sits in the audience, smiling lazily, watching her and knowing.

Rocco the redcap meanders towards him through the crowd, the bouncer is cearly on duty, not even paying attention to his girlfriend who as definitely lost her 'goody two shoes' edge even as she herself has become a great back up. "Boss, got an odd situation."

"Mmm?" Annoyed at the distraction, but accepting of the necessity. "Yes?"

"there's a nocker boy refusing to leave and I explained to him like five times he's too young for this place particularly in operation and to come back in off hours." The redcap looks a bit impressed, "Little punk is ready to soil his pants thanks to some of my patented stares and he still is holding his ground. I can just grab him and carry him off, of course, but I figured you might think that's two far. Kid's 13 tops."

"Bertrand?" Sitting upright, suddenly. "I'll see him in the office, bring him through the backway, and apologize to him." On his feet and moving.

"Yes sir" Rocco nods, and will do so. No doubt Alexis would consider him tamed, but Rocco sees himself as a professional. Both are deadly dangerous and serve different purposes very well. "He's carrying something powerful glamour wise, and won't let me see it. but ..." Assuming the order stands, Rocco is also moving

Oh.... yes. The order absolutely stands.

Soon enough, the office has one bedraggled wilder boy with burns on limbs and bruises here and there standing before Emerson's desk. For all his battering, the boy is grinning with needle teeth wide.

"Dear heavens, boy.... Bertrand, do sit down!" He bustles forward with cocoa (due to the weather).

"Will you allow me to take care of those little aches and pains?"

"Sure sir, and I'm sorry for coming in during work hours, but this was so important I didn't want to carry it round my back pack, you know?"

"I should think not, and no, no, no..... I would think there are no hours here that are barred for -you.-" He does not take the backpack but encourages Bertrand to take a seat.

The nocker does so, sips the coco, "OK. Sir...what I got here is a geniune baleefire container used by a decased firebrand who died in the mission. I don't know where it was going original like but by now another brand would have gotten to them. I don't think it'll make the biggest hold, but we both know a candle sized bale is , uhm what was your words? Priceless?"

A wry expression as he takes his own seat. "I might have said something of the sort.

"

"The worker is worthy of his hire, and , trust me when I saw, we worked for it," Weary smile, "Even some saying i shouldn't put it here but try to find something more nocker like. And that's nice, but we both know KC ain'st just gonna let me cliam property even if it fits right. So, if you don't mind? I'd like to hear what you're putting on the table for me and my family, sir. " He opens the backpack. There's a dented looking lantern with pulsing balefire.

"First, this...." He stands and takes the boy's cocoa, adding to it from a small vial in his pocket. "Drink."

"Uhm sir?" Eyes widen "I don't mean to sound touchy, but this uhm.. not going to addict me with some city drug or opiod or magical whammy what affects my mind? I mean... not to say the worst of you but ... this bale would be a powerful temptation." Apologetic, but folks have told stories

A small smile. "Healing, only, my friend." He offers the drink which does seem to have a bit of Glamour to it now.

"Sorry sir, guess I'm a furking paranoid." He raises the glass, "To our mutual health" And downs it

"Hear, hear." The boggan agrees and retakes his seat. Bertrand should feel much better now.

((The liquid from the vial was a bunk for Heatherbalm. Made from Akwa and Suckrose.))

Indeed, the burns recede to minor ones, and the bruises are entirely gone.

"thanks that did the trick better than mountain dew," He says.

"Now. You and yours. We talked about a monetary number, and access, yes?"

He chuckles.

"Yes sir. Now you seem to be a man of means. This does not mean I should take advantage, but purely monetarily you must confess a thousand dollars for extended life , regular glamour, and influence over the fae community would be far too cheap a price. And while I understand you wouldn't want anyone's family living here too often, I do not think it unreasonable ot provide for my family's regular visits, particularly the grumpkin in the area. So what is your proposal?"

He lips twist in a smile and the nocker -knows- the boggan is enjoying this. "I get by, yes. An ill-spent youth combined with investments has turned out well for me. Additionally, I am ... motivated, in this transaction so you really do have the upper hand." He stands and goes to make himself a drink; two fingers of scotch, neat. "Hm. Rather forward of me." Reflecting as he returns to his seat and pins the wilder with his eyes. "When established, this will be a place for common Fae to find refuge, help, and restoration. Your family, of course, would be welcomed with open arms; those rich in experience most of all."

"We'd be of use for more than taking up sofa space " He agrees but isn't necessarily ready to declare victory right off despite the commentary about having the upper hand, "I like that bit for common fae. And I do like you and Miss CC . But to narrow it down a bit, shall we say no member of my immediate family shall be denied the right ot stay here unless the bale is bieng taxed to its max and that tapping always be clear cut and honest?"

"Agreed. I will stipulate such in writing. Or, we can have Miss CC in if you wish."

"Well , I figure she'll need to be ,but if she'll sign as well that'll do. " An agreement there, "Now, about the uglier financial matter. You're too smart for me to take you to the cleaners, and I want to work for a living, but at the same time, we're a poor country family, and this could be a chance for us to better ourselves."

He nods, listening.

"So I'm trying to think on some options here. And let's face it, the 'going rate' on a freehold is.. well, odd to talk about. I don't want to be all banal. " He says with a look of concern to the fire "You know finances better than I. Now it comes to my attention, that Caesar has real estate connections? Right?"

The boggan's tongue appears on his lips, wetting them briefly. "I cannot speak to that."

"I can. I did some glass work in some of them" he says "but I'm not trying to nose into your new family sir, I'm trying to figure out what's best for mine."

A slight quirk of the lips. "As you should."

"I mean, there's a crazy part of me that things maybe what I ought to do is demand a lump some of cash for the rest of my life every month. But not sure how 'landlordy' that would make me seem."

"Ahhh...." the boggan nods "Well. I'm sure we could arrange a lump sum to assist your family, and some small stipend for you afterwards, regularly. By the way...." he sips his scotch ".... perhaps you should call me 'Emerson.' If we are to be business partners."

"That-- might take some getting use to," A pause, "Still, partner? Huh... if Miss CC would be okay with the lump and stipend combo?"

"I'm sure she would be."

A deep breath, "And I'd like my family to have first dibs on all Club related contracts for repair maintenance, and new construction."

"I will have to consult with Miss CC on that, however, we are both most impressed by your work so far and would return to you, and yours, if we have the opportunity."

"Well, I can understand you might want some provisos on that last one, and details need hammered out, but I think we've hit the gist of it. "A chuckle "Furk, I can't believe we pulled it off"

The boggan... Emerson... laughs. "You did. And... you are most impressive. Hero of Embers." Amused... and serious. He salutes the wilder with his glass.

"Oh shoot sir, I had help. There were five of us. I'd name them, but want to make sure they're okay with that and..." //CC strides in , clearly someone ele's set is on "Emerson, dear? You left my table. I thought a flood might be in the cellar or sommething...Oh " her eyes light up, "Bertrand, you made it back. Thank the dreaming, i was a bit worried. Emerson told me I was being silly that you were capable enoough to come out smiling. I should have known he was right"

The teenage boy blushes furiously "Thank you, ma'am."

"CC, do come and sit." He says smoothly, rising to make her a drink "Our Bertrand has been successful, and we are... negotiating."

"I would not have left were it not important, Miss CC."

"Well, let's hear what you've got so far," She takes a seat "And thank you, lover" To Emerson

The boggan lets the nocker speak of negotiations, and brings the satyress a drink while checking on Bertrand's cocoa and refreshing as needed.