Dinner in the Black Bear (open)

[Amedio Malateste]

Amedio had wandered into the Black Bear. After roaming the slums, looking for a suitable place to set up shop, he had decided it was time for a little relaxation. A hot meal, some drink, and perhaps even see if he could get a room for the night. It seemed like ages since he had last slept in a proper bed.

As usual, the Bear was dimly lit, and there were only a handful of people scattered around it. Picking a spot as close to the fire as he could, he placed his packs on the table in front of him, in clear sight, and looked around. The cracks in the walls let some breeze in, no doubt removing some of the otherwise musty smell of the place. The worn furniture all seemed to have seen far better days. But that was fine. Amedio had never much liked the trappings of the wealthy. Oh, wealth he liked, and what that could buy. But the pretences, the opulent things which existed simply for the sake of showing wealth, he had never had a taste for.

Satisfied that this was exactly the sort of place he had hoped for, he looked around to see if there was any wait staff. It wouldn’t be uncommon for there not to be. After all, these were the poor, the labourers, the people who actually made the whole machine of a kingdom work. Unlike the nobility, strutting around in their over blown finery, yet actually doing nothing productive for the lands or its people, the people here in a place like the Bear didn’t expect to be waited on. Perhaps he should simply get the barkeep’s attention, and order.

[Evie Perroy]

Evie was glad for a quiet night at work. She went about her duties mechanically and unenthusiastically, only glancing up from scrubbing the dirty floor with dirtier water when a man walked in. He was definitely not brotherhood, and Evie wondered if he had come to the right place.

"What can I get you?" she asked blandly as he approached the bar. "Ale? Food? A woman?" she listed the usual reasons men attended the Black Bear. The food wasn't good, the ale watered down and the women and board were both cheap and undesirable. Perhaps he was here to meet with someone.

She ran a hand through her dirty blonde hair and gave him a tired smile. He didn't look like a rowdy troublemaker, and in that case he was better than a lot of the other patrons.

[Amedio Malateste]

Amedio's smile looked more tired than charming, but he seemed friendly still. As he smiled to the woman, he replied. His accent was thick, and his words came out somewhat slowly.

"Food and ale would be wonderful. It has been a long few days and I could use a hot meal, of anything. Also, come to think of it, I could use a place to stay as well. Not sure if you offer accomadations, but anything will do. All I need is a bed, somewhere to lay down. Even a common room would do, and until I find more permanent accomadations, anything is good."

Looking to the dirty bucket of water she had been cleaning the floor with, his face seemed to come a little more alive, a bit more brightness to his eyes and more color to his tanned cheeks.

"Actually, after that, if I could tear you away from your work, perhaps you could sit with me for a moment while I eat. You no doubt know your way around these parts, and perhaps you would be willing to help out an old stranger in a new land. Not looking for a tour guide, or any additional sort of, umm..." he paused and thought of the next words, "company of that sort. Just maybe that with your knowledge of the city, you may be able to answer a few questions for me. I would be willing to compensate you for your time."

[Evie Perroy]

The man's voice was polite beneath his accent, and Evie's shoulders dropped as she relaxed around him. "Take a seat and I'll bring y'something to eat and drink. There's rooms available; they're not much..." Evie didn't feel the need to further explain about the drafts and flea ridden mattresses. He had already stated that anything would be good.

She liked how carefully the stranger phrased his words when he continued to address her; she even smiled at the word compensation. Men had paid Evie for a lot of things in her time, but never for conversation. She replied with genuine warmth, "I'd be happy to give you my company, I don'know much about the castle and nobles, but I can answer any questions about the city. Let me fix you up with some food first."

Evie returned within fifteen minutes with a tankard of ale, and a plate of meat and vegetables. There was little meat, and the vegetables were overcooked and bland, but it was hot and the thick gravy still steaming. She set the plate before him, and took a seat opposite, keeping one eye on the bar in case she was needed.

"Name's Evie." she said, folding her hands into her lap.

[Amedio Malateste]

When Evie sat, Amedio smiled again, a little more genuinely this time. "My thanks, Evie. As I'm certain you can tell, with all the faces you no doubt see in here, I am not from the city. As I said, a stranger in a strange land. I am Amedio Malateste. Simply Amedio, please." Taking a bite of the food, he let it stay in his mouth a moment, closing his eyes and savoring it. The quality seemed to be of little notice as he smiled and swallowed, openning his eyes again and quickly taking another bite. After washing it down with a sip from the tankard, he spoke again. "You have been most kind. In truth, I was unsure what to expect in the city. And as for any questions I may have, fear not, I have no interest in the castle or those who reside in it. My years and travels have taught me that no matter where one finds themselves, certain things never change, particularly where the nobility is concerned." His smile turing into a bit of a sneer, he added. "And after all, since they have such disdain for the rest of us, why should I have any need to learn anything of them? No doubt they're of the same sad lot as the nobles anywhere else."

The sneer disappeared almost as quickly as it apeared, and after another bite of the food, he was smiling again. "It is good to have hot food again." A slight chuckle slipped through his lips as he smiled. Between mouthfuls, politely he continued. "A long time on the road, and of all the things I have learned along the way, cooking was never truly one of them. And now, not only do you bring me food and drink, offer me a room with a bed to sleep in, but tell me you can answer my questions about the city as well, you truly are a blessing, dear. Tell me, though, is there anyone whom you can think of who might be willing to rent me some space here in the neighborhood? A work space and small shop preferably? Not that I'm in any hurry to leave here, you've been most kind, and I look forward to staying here until I can find a more suitable lodging, but I assume you know of some landlord who may be willing to rent out some space. I look forward to getting back to work. However, as many find my work to be dirty or unpleasant, I find that although I am welcome enough to sell my wares in most markets, most prefer I manufacture them elsewhere. Hence why I've come here."

"You see, dear, although many of my clientelle find my work necessary, beautiful or valuable enough to pay well for it, they find the methods distasteful enough to not want me anywhere near them while its being done." Smiling and waving his arm, "So I tend to find myself living and working in neighborhoods such as this. It is like home to me now. I suppose I could live in one part of the city and work in another, but if the residents here are happy enough to have me working among them, I'm happy enough to live among them. As well, if I am to spend my money, either on rent and a shop, or, drink and fine company, I would much rather spend it among the people who made me welcome." Amedio winked and smiled at the mention of drink and company. Sipping from the tankard again, he chuckled softly. "Plus, I must confess, I do get some pleasure out of knowing that some rich buffoon of a noble has to send their servants down here with a purse full of coin to buy my wares. I'm sure the thought of their money funnelling into these streets must pain them so much."

[Evie Perroy]

Evie liked Amedio's attitude. She listened to him talk with her head resting on her hand, looking across the table to him. She silently approved of his casual disdain for the nobles of Camelot. Since the crown prince had killed her lover, Evie had imbibed a far bleaker outlook on all nobles and royals. When Amedio paused in his story to eat, Evie sat quietly without feeling awkward, and waited for him to continue.

She wondered if the stranger, Amedio, she corrected herself mentally, was aware of the nature of the Black Bear. If he was a traveler, perhaps he wasn't aware of the Brotherhood? Many of the actual citizens didn't even know. She sat upright, laughing at his last words. It had been a while since Evie had laughed.

"I'm sure it would!" she agreed. The bar was also filled with the regulars, many Brotherhood members, and they took the guarding of their organisation seriously. Evie had been an insider from birth, her father being high up in the ranks, but if she betrayed them, they wouldn't hesitate to kill her. Instead, she decided to test the waters and see how much Amedio knew, and what she should tell him.

"I think the slums'll be a good place to set up work." Evie mused, "Property is cheap here, well, cheap if you have money." she gave a dry smile, thinking of the tiny room upstairs that took up most of her wages. "There are a certain group of men I think you'd find it useful t'talk to... they're dangerous to deal with." she added, somewhat ominously.

Her curiosity got the better of her, and before Amedio could reply, she leant in and half-whispered: "What is it you sell?"