#ccsemberclub

As they approach the Club , plenty of time before work hours, CC's eyes widen "Honey, someone is rehabbing the building across the street from our club"

Indeed, the building was closed, but he didn't know it had been sold.

"Mmm." He -has- tried to get tied into the neighborhood networks, but he can't be everywhere at once, despite his best efforts. "Let's pop in to the Club; I'll pick up a little welcome gift and toddle over."

"Oh my. Hope it's not competition" She says "Not that we can't handle it"

They do head into the club.

He picks up a bottle of nice wine and puts together a small hamper of snacks, bustling about the kitchen comfortably.

"Joining the grunts today?" Teensy the troll looks amused as she helps prep

"Now Teensy, you know I grunt right along with the rest of you." mildly.

"mmm" She nods "Yeah, getting underfoot sometimes but yes" good natured for the sometimes tyranical chef with slavic flare , she eyes the wine bottle "I don't use that one for cooking so no complaints. "

"I should hope not! This is a very nice burgandy." he sniffs, not really offended, and bustles out.

CC sees his offerings "The burgandy, you always have such good taste in gifts. "

"And you taste good in every other possible way." he smiles.

"Mmm" Pleased "Flattery will get you... well, pretty damned far" She smooths his lapels, " I think we're respectable as is. Ready?"

"Coming with?" not an objection, but to clarify.

"Delighted to. Unless you think you'll be able to evaulate better as a single? I don't mind" SHe offers "And I could manage the prep for the club instead"

"Oh, let's go together." he agrees "A welcome wagon."

She pats her own rear "I carry my wagon behind me"

And off they go across the street.

As they cross (on the cross walk!) he observes the scene looking for any potential threats or traps. A lifetime of habits has given him a lifetime.

There is sign of some recent rehabbing, hard physical work now down but with some remnants of dry wall clearing in containers outside ready to be transported. That said, no danger per see.

Occupied? Work in progress?

Then he hears a female voice "Everything good in the back, honey?"

Another woman's voice "Sure, mother. You know I work faster when I'm on my own back here"

"Just let me know if you need anything lifted." the first voice says

CC arches a brow and mutters "A family business?"

THere is a door to the front, of course

"Mm." he knocks, and steps back to allow space; it doesn't do to crowd strangers, after all.

The door opens, and well, up and up he looks. Now he just saw Teensy, but this lovely lady troll is blessed with better cheekbones, and a generous mouth. She is wearing work clothes, and somehow the sledge hammer over her left shoulder doesn't detract from her . She looks to be 30s but whether she's 31 or 39 he can't tell.

"Ah." He was not expecting Kith but ... he rolls with it. "Good afternoon."

"Hello. " she says surprised "I did not expect other kithain here. May I help you?"

"What's up, mom?" A voice from behind

An eyebrow.

"Just a welcome wagon. Emerson Stodgepole, and this is Miss CC. We have the Ember Club acros the street."

"Oh." The woman says surprised, then says "Forgive my ill manners. I'm Geraldine, but call Gerri. Gerri Hanks" She offers her free hand to shake then calls by "Tilde, we have visitors. They're... kithain like us"

Stodegpole shakes. "A pleasure to meet you." and offers the baket.

"REALY?" The 19 year old's boggan's head pops into view. The girl is pretty, like her mom, but her kith takes that prettiness in different directiosn, for example she IS much shorter. She grins "Another boggan! I'll have someone to gossip with"

'I look forward to it." he assures her gravely.

"Charmed" CC smiles

Her mother lifts a brow at her daughter, "Don't be a pest to our neighbors, dear" She sets down the sledge hammer to the side and takes the basket, then her own eyes light up a bit "Mister Stodgepole this is... very extravagant"

The girl bounces forward to look at the gift basket "Ooo wine"

"Ester, you're not twenty one yet" Gerri reminds

"Mom, there are satyrs five years younger than me who have had booze" her daughter says

"Just the tools of my trade, Miss Gerri." he demurs.

"Yes, I'm sure they have their OWN mothers too" Gerri says to her with a simple statement, then says to Emerson and CC "Please, won't you come in? It's a mess, I am afraid"

"Ah, but what is mess to a boggan but opportunity?" He smiles and steps inside "What kind of work do you do, Miss Gerri?"

"Clothier" She says "Mostly we buy damaged clothes and repair them for resale"

CC says "REALLY?"

"Oh mom's being modest, we can make clothes whole sale when we have to" Ester says

"MMmm....." he glances appraisingly at Miss CC, then back to the duo "Do you deal in voile at all?"

CC does indeed look intrigued, given the outfits used for the club's acts.