In Vino Verissima Veritas [Night 1]

[Kannon]

The man leaned back. He looked nowhere in particular, away from Hadrian.

"I will pass this message then." He said flatly and stepped away.

[Using 4 Threat for something that requires a Hard Perception Roll with 2 Setbacks.]

[Laila Bridger]

Laila missed whatever it was.

--
Does Laila See What This Guy is Cooking? Hard Perception with 2 Setbacks: 1eA+1eP+3eD+2eS 0 successes, 3 threat

[Hadrian Martikova]

"Please do."

Hadrian was clearly annoyed by this whole thing. You'd think three years of doing business with someone would net you five minutes without cloak and dagger. Still didn't keep him from being on alert though.

Perception: 2eP+1eA+2eS+3eD 2 successes, 4 threat

[Kannon]

Looking away from Ioannis, Hadrian noticed a slight movement of the bartender's hand below the counter. He could surmise well enough that there was some way there to call in spaceport security. His stare was too obvious, however, and both the guests and the guards at the premises had noticed things as well and finally pegged his behaviour as confrontational.

No-one had started anything violent yet but those who were supposed to be ready were ready for it, and there were at the very least a few. If Hadrian had guessed right, the standoff would end the moment security would arrive, so he was on limited time to make calls that wouldn't involve authorities.

[Utilised Threats]

[Hadrian Martikova]

"Well security won't have far to walk." He said just audibly enough for the two employees to hear. "Just look outside, hmmm?" He motions in the direction he last saw Emcas. "Don't misunderstand, I'm here as a friend. I'm trying to help Chilon as well as myself."

[Kannon]

Both shrugged. It was above their pay grade to consider any such unspecific and contextual platitudes. Perhaps their employer didn't seem to them as one to need any help from a self-aggrandising and troublesome upstart. Hadrian's declaration of friendship, no matter how insincere, took some edge off the guests' attention, who came here not to be disturbed after all.

[Laila Bridger]

Laila sighed, then walked forward to the bar.

"Any chance I could order a drink while we wait for this to shake out? I don't ordinarily drink on duty, but I get the feeling I'm going to want one by the time this wraps up..."

[Kannon]

"This is what we do, madam, serve drinks to well-behaved clientele." The bartender said with a professional smile. "What would you like?"

[Laila Bridger]

"Have any Caladanian vintages on hand? I picked up the taste when I signed on with this guy."

She paused.

"Failing that, anything you have that might be a bit like... do you even know about Elaccan ale? We never really made much of an export of it..."

[Kannon]

"I'm not one to shame anyone for a rustic taste." The bartender smiled, glancing at Hadrian. "We have been off-loading Caladanan fare to lesser locales, but I think I still have a bottle somewhere." It gave him a moment to think about the other inquiry. "I've heard about it, but didn't get a chance before the... nastiness? Anyway, fogwood barrels is not something the Ecazi would just release into the market. Counterfeit artwork concerns, I guess?"

[Kannon]

Outside, Emcas would notice that security was indeed on the way.

[Laila Bridger]

"I'm not one to shame anyone for a rustic taste." The bartender smiled, glancing at Hadrian. "We have been off-loading Caladanan fare to lesser locales, but I think I still have a bottle somewhere." It gave him a moment to think about the other inquiry. "I've heard about it, but didn't get a chance before the... nastiness? Anyway, fogwood barrels is not something the Ecazi would just release into the market. Counterfeit artwork concerns, I guess?"

"All about preserving the mystique."

She chuckled and glanced at Hadrian.

"We all do it to one degree or another."

[Emcas]

Emcas frowned, doubting that this was good news.

[Kannon]

[Emcas: Easy Perception.]

[Kannon]

"All about preserving the mystique."

She chuckled and glanced at Hadrian.

"We all do it to one degree or another."

"What's yours?"

The bartender put a half-filled wineglass before her.

[Laila Bridger]

"What's yours?"

The bartender put a half-filled wineglass before her.

"My mystique? You know a lot of lady mercenaries working for someone from a second world and working on a third? I got all the mystique I can stand..."

[Emcas]

[Emcas: Easy Perception.]

Perception, untrained: 2eA+1eD 1 success, 1 advantage

[Kannon]

They wore new-looking spaceport security uniforms. But Emcas didn't know their faces, which in itself might not have been anything weird. But to him, they felt non-local. And there were three of them, where one or two would usually suffice.

[Emcas]

Emcas's gaze narrowed and fixed on them. Everything about them was too new...from their faces to their uniforms. Even when guards received new garments they never received them for a whole squad unless they were freshly joined. Green guards would normally be paired with someone more senior as well.

He observed the area to see if he could get ahead of them...if not he would follow them and memorize their faces

[Kannon]

They were heading toward the entrance to the Oinomatopoeia, paying him little heed. They looked new here, but they were no rookies to the coercive business by their looks. Toughened, seasoned was more like it.