Venturing a Venture (Pip & Winston)

[Epiphany]

When it came to visiting people Epiphany didn't really pay a lot of attention to the time of day and the fact that they might be sleep or otherwise busy. If they said they would help her out she took that to be an 'anytime, anywhere' offer. This was the reason why Epiphany was knocking upon Winston's door at about 8 o'clock in the evening. She was wearing dark jeans and a black short-sleeved fitted top. Her hair was pulled back into bun and she carried nothing but a belt with a few small leather pouches on the hips. Putting her ear to the door she listened to see if he was in.

The girl would be in luck. He had recently gotten back from his newly acquired office. Lucky for her, she got there before he had stripped down for the shower. His black shoes were still upon his feet, the black trouser pants, a baby blue button down shirt, with the top two buttons undone. The suit coat and tie had already been discarded. Hearing the knock, without much thought, he went to the door and pulled it open. "Hello...." Now if he had met Epiphany it was a long time ago, so hopefully there would be no offence there. "Can I help you?" He assumed that anyone that was knocking needed something.

He was dressed up, she was in luck. She didn't remember eve meeting him but since he had signed his name on the paper she was able to look it up in the ledger and get his room number. Of course when she heard it opening she pulled away from the door and rocked back and forth on her heels. "Hi there!" she said with a wide and enthusiastic smile. "I'm Epiphany. You signed up for my ad I placed on the corkboard about a week ago?" she swayed to the right and held there. "Dirty girl looking for a real man?" maybe that would help his memory.

Now, it was a good thing she had pulled back, otherwise he might of been suspicious. A pause, when she said he signed up for a ad. He looked like a deer in the headlights, because he couldn't remember that, it was right before his deal went through. He was a bit worried, that he had went and got himself into trouble. But then she said what she did, and it jogged his memory. "Oh! Dirty Girl Pip! What can I help you with?" He didn't know for sure what she would need, but depending on what she said, he might have to change. He lifted his hand upwards, to press to the bridge of his nose just a moment.

"What else," a chuckle as she shook her head and she patted her right hand on his doorframe. "I need you for some dirty work." it was the obvious tone, the one that said he should have known the answer. "You're fine just the way you are. Dress wise." she pushed from the door to start turning and going down the hall when she stopped mid stride. "You're a business man.. right?" turning back to him. "Al does some work for or some such?" Because Al had mentioned him - if briefly - so she was sure she had the right guy.

He let out a chuckle. "I see." He gave a grin, playing did not mean anything bad right? Brows waggled, "Dirty work...well I did sign up." He started to say something else, before he gave a nod of his head. "Then I won't be changing. Can't upset the Dirty Girl." A laugh, before he paused. "You could say that." Then she mentioned Al, and things fell into place a bit for him. "Yes, she's a great asset." A nod of his head, "So you know Al then?" He knew she was being social now. At least until he needed her to bury herself in work. Hopefully he hadn't lost his best assistant.

Epiphany grinned when he said the bit about not upsetting her and she turned to face him - that meant her walking backwards a few steps. "That's right. you don't want to upset me, but feel free to banter. I like my working men witty and tough in some fashion other than bursting muscles. Helps if they look good in a suit or hard hat. So you fit the bill." She gave him another one of her wide grins as she continued to walk. "Come on now, we have people to see and offers to make. As for Al and I..." what could she say? there was a lot to say. "Let's just say that I know what lies beneath the clothes."

Chuckling. "You mean you would rather us have a back bone? No cowering?" He was not going to bow and scrape either. "Banter is good. Banter we can do." Winking, "Glad to hear that I fit the bill. I was worried about that." A mock look of fear crossed his features. And as she was walking and telling him to come on, he would slip out of his room, shutting the door behind him. "Lets not keep these people waiting." Before he caught what Epiphany had said about Al. He chuckled. "For some reason that does not surprise me." He did not know what lies beneath the clothes and he did not want to know, it might change things.

"Anyone ever tell you that this place can do strange things to a person? Not this place as in the Inn, but Rhydin?" if only he knew the type of people she was taking him to see.. maybe then he wouldn't be so willing and anxious to go? Then again.. can never tell about guys. "And not to me. I was born in this odd and crazy realm so I think that I add to the strange things." She took a few stairs at a time to reach down to the bottom. "I'll remember what you said about backbone and cowering. Might need it to what we're going to be about this evening. So tell me what you do? You like.. use business as a cover up for some shady dealings? Al didn't say much about what the work was."

He gave a shake of his head. "I have not heard that. So Rhydin, it does crazy things to a person?" It might be odd but he had yet to come across anything that was known as being something other then human. Guys were weird to girls, its just how it worked, you just had to find the right girl that didn't think you had cooties. He laughed, "You add to the odd things. Should I be scared?" And once they were at the bottom of the stairs, he looked to her. "Pretty much, I buy other businesses and property, and turn around and sell it for a profit. Some places I keep. Just got myself a building in town. Al thought we should open a office here make it easier to stay here while we work." He wasn't shady, he just well, okay so some people might say he was shady.

Should he be scared? "You should!" She said that with eager certainty and a nod of her head. "Yeah, you should, but you shouldn't be. The good thing is that no one who's been with me somewhere has ever died. That;s a good thing isn't it? They may be a lil scarred or have some other type if irreversible damage but they always live and living is half the battle." Epiphany obviously thought that she was being funny with that because she was grinning. "You know Winston you're just the guy i need." she opened the door that would put them out of the inn and waited for him to go through. "Depending on your performance i may have to tangle you in more of my affairs. And this office of yours...In town? It' doesn't happen to be by the water or like. in the warehouse district is it?"

He should not of asked, if you don't want to know don't ask, the man was good at getting into odd situations, and oddly getting out with the skin on his neck still. "That is comforting." Now when she went on about how no one had ever died with her, injured and changed for life but not dead, well hell he could handle that. "As long as you don't send me back to broken, I think I won't be in too much trouble." Yes, if he was broken in pieces, he might be put into more pieces, from someone else. And out the door he went, when she made the comment. "That is frightening." Spoken with a twist of a grin. He gave a nod of his head, he understood that. "It is in town, near the water. Is that the warehouse district? It is a nice few story high building, with a basement. Used to house some sort of business or other." He shrugged, he didn't care about the business he cared about the location and the building.

As Epiphany listened to what he said about the building he acquired and where it was, confirming her own words she grew quiet and wide-eyed. "Um.. ah.." she cleared her throat and swallowed. "Yeah." Her walk towards town was a bit slow. She always walked unless she need for other transportation or someone came to get her in something. "And you said it was abandoned?" she reached up to scratch the back of her neck. oy.. well! Never know.. I mean. there are lots of buildings down there that... so.. yeah. could be any of them."

He saw the quiet and the wide eyes. "Then yes it was there. No it wasn't abandoned. I made them an offer they could not refuse." He quirked a brow at her. "What am I missing?" He felt as if the girl had a secret, that could effect him.

"Nothing!" said that rather quickly didn't she? Even added a quick turn to him and then back to the road they were on. "Nothing critical anyway. See, that's where we're going.. to the Warehouse District of town, to meet with a man about supplies for my project that I advertised for." She pointed a finger at him. "That's where you come in. At least right now because I need someone to work a deal for me and he's a dealing and gambling man and I.. can't really make anymore deals with him"

She seemed to shoot out that nothing rather quickly. That was never a good sign. But she said nothing critical, which didn't mean nothing bad, but it would be his luck that the person she wanted to wheel and deal with had a relation to the building he took over. He paused, in thought and step for just a moment, but the step came right back. "You have already wheeled and dealed with him, yet you can't make any more deals with him. What does he want you to play in blood?"

"Mmm something like that. The last time I dealt with this man it was a handful of years go when I wanted to expand my own underground hide-away and I just can't perform the same services now as i did then. My blood isn't for sale to just anyone and I'm a taken girl. Surely if I were to deal with him again he'd want me to do something beyond traditional services. " she grinned. "but you're a cut throat kinda guy. They should be your people. You now how to handle them."

"You have a underground hide-away?" Now he was jealous! That sounded so cool! He wanted a man cave. Before he followed Shane here, and then ended up staying because of Vesta, ultimately, he was planning on building himself a man cave. He would not a bit at her words. "I am sure that he would." The woman was attractive, but that did not mean that he would go all gaga over her. He had someone else he was all gaga over. He thought about that, "I am sure we will be able to work something out. People always owe others something." As in if the guy wouldn't barter with them, as it seemed that was what Dirty Girl wanted, he would make sure that she would get what she required.

[Epiphany]

People always owe someone something.. that's what he said and she knew that to be truth! "True words my man.. true words. Just don't show any fear. No fear!" She would have said that loudly but they were nearing the city and she didn't need to draw any attention to them at this hour. there were a few people milling about and most of the light was on buildings marked out be pubs and clubs - makes sense that they would be open. "And don't be afraid to shed a lil blood..." leaning towards him and nudged him in the side with her elbow. "if you know what I mean." Did he? did she even know? She nodded like she did and she took the path that lead down.

His head would nod to Dirty Girl. That was very true. Everyone owed someone, in some aspect or way, even if not always money. He was very good at finding out what he needed and doing what needed to be done. "One should never show fear." One would have to be rather dull witted to show fear in business dealings. "Don't let them see you sweat." He knew that drill as well. Lucky for Epiphany he did not say not to shot until you see the whites of their eyes. He wasn't one to draw attention to himself, unless he had a good reason, at least not on purpose. "A blood thirsty little girl aren't you." And he followed along the way that she went, it was what he was suppose to do right?

“Me?" A hand to her chest in mock shock, she even gasped. "Never blood thirsty, only out for the kill. Hypothetically speaking." maybe that would calm his thoughts about her. Despite the fact that she was taking him to do shady dealings. Currently they were walking past one of the local pubs and music could be heard form the inside. "Let me fill you in on what we want to go. This guy, you see. he deals in this very expensive and imported metal. I personally haven't seen anything like it before. It's slightly bendable, even mold-able, until heated.. Then it hardens and it's nearly unbend-able. That's the metal i want to use for the frame."

He let out a chuckle. "I see...so you only want the blood when your killing?" He grinned, which she may or may not of seen. He was aware of the surroundings, not in any weird way of super senses, but it did not take those. "And you fear this man won't barter with you how you wish?" He was wondering the whole story on this, and what he wanted her to barter with.

"Oh i know he won't." She almost chuckled and hooked her thumbs into her waistband. "When i went to him earlier I asked if I could barter some off of him and he looked at me with one of those looks that guys give females. That's when I knew it'd be a no-go for me. But you! You can do it." Pip seemed pretty confident in that matter too. "Though I'm still debating on whether or not to send you in without me..."

His steps did not falter but he had to ask, after hearing her speak. "Are you saying he won't find my boyish good looks are hard to resist as yours?" A twitch of his lips had him grinning. And he would press one hand up to his chest. "Your going to send me in all by myself?" But that was enough of that, otherwise they might very well get some looks, and he had a feeling whatever energy he had left, he was going to need. "So..any weakness's you know about this man?" He might not get results the first time in, but he usually got some pieces of information that would be a good start for what he needed to find to get the goods on someone.

She'd spy in through the window! Covert like to make sure that he wasn't taken prisoner or anything like that . Not that that was a high possibility.. only a small one. "Word on the docks is that he's a gambling man. Likes to toss dice about in game that I never understood the rules off. So.. he may like taking chances if that helps you at all?" It may have, it was the least she could give him. "I don't know much else, oh! He's a dwarf." that was important. "You know.. short.. wide.. gruffy voice?"

Oh! She was into spy games! Interesting. He would give a small nod of his head, as she spoke. "That could turn out to be interesting. And what am I suppose to barter with? What are we offering him for this metal?" Dwarfs, it was probably good that she gave him that, so he did not go in and offend the short man.

That was a good question. "Good question. Usually I barter with myself." pointing to herself with both fingers, "but that's mostly because I'm terrible at the money thing. I tend to give to much because i don't think it matters to be exact but others tell me that by doing that it causes them to overcharge. But the Inn has money." Or she did for the Inn to use. "And things. Depends on what he wants. If he wants something I'm pretty sure I can get it for him." the pubs and bars were slowly being left behind them as they traveled downwards and the night shadows were darkening as the moonlight was being semi blocked by the big warehouse buildings. "I'm sure you can think of something. "

He nodded. The fact that she said she normally bartered with herself, well he was a man, and his thoughts went in that odd spot. He couldn't help it. He had a healthy appetite. "Then I guess we will have to find out what he wants. How much of this metal do you need?" It would be good to have a estimate of what she needed for her job, so he could give the man what he wanted. To see what he wanted in exchange.

"A hundred to two hundred yards. That's lengthwise." She may not be able to tell a person about money, but she could tell them about supplies. "that should be enough to cover the structure of the building and the stairway that will be leading underground. "And I meet the metal to be cut into seven foot long poles. He can cut it, don't let him say that he can't. Haven't' seen him do it, but i know he can cause how else would he carry it round ya know?" only made sense to her! Epiphany stopped a block away from what looked like an abandoned warehouse or one that wasn't in the best of conditions on the outside. "There it is." she pointed to it. "There's a door. knock and wait for someone to answer. You ready? I'll creep up around the side."

He gave a nod. "Two hundred yards. Seven foot in length." He was not going to start with the small, you always started large, and if you had extra you had extra laid around. He noticed the warehouse that she was looking at he would give a nod. "Ready when you are." And he gave a impish grin, because he actually did like the wheeling and dealing and the crushing when it came right down to it. "Im ready. Just be careful out here." He did not know about the Dirty Girl Epiphany, but he did not want her to get into trouble while he was inside. He took steps to the door where he let out a knock. Knuckles raping against the door not so quietly.

Epiphany started in the same direction he went and then she veered off to the shadows to the left of the building. Just as she got situated around the corner to peer about noises started behind the door Winston had knocked on. "Oh!" Epiphany said in a whisper. "Polycon!" That word was whispered too but with urgency. "Polycon! Win--" and she couldn't finish out the rest of what she was going to say for she saw a beam of light from the door. The small window in it had opened and the eyes and nose of a man was seen. "Password." Came the deep voice.

Now if he had not been in atuned with Epiphany he would of never heard the word. But he had been on alert for her voice. And that was a good thing, because the window opened and there was a nose and a eyes and speaking. "Polycon." He spoke the single word, sending up a small thank you that he heard what Epiphany had said, hopefully it will come out right.

He heard her! Great! Epiphany sighed relived and moved from the corner. That window closed and there was the sound of locks unlocking and then the door pulled open with a creak. Behind it was a dwarf, not the one he needed to speak to, but a dwarf nonetheless. He was about four feet tall - stood on a box earlier. His hair was a mix of red and a light blond at the tip and he was wearing leathers. His beard was gone and went down to his chest, his mustache braided on either side. "Who be you.?"

He stood still as the door was unlocked and being pulled open. He wondered if the man had stood upon something to cause him to be tall enough, but he did not let his thoughts stay on that route. Instead he looked at the man. Doing his best to not look down upon the man. "I am Winston Charles Bakersfield the Third to be exact." He did not ask him to state his business but he did that just as well. "I'm looking to aquire some special metal." He figured the man would tell him what way or whom he needed to speak too.

The Dwarf scoffed and eyed 'the Third' hard from his lowered position. Splotches of dirt was on the Dwarfs face and clothing as though he had been working in a mine. It wasn't his business to question why a man like him was looking to do dealings with drawfs. He looked to neat and tidy for his taste. And spoke well. "Snippity git ain'tcha? You gotta talk to the Head." He didn't say anything else but turned to walk towards the back. There were no real walls in this place, it was a large open plaee with fake walls put up to act as screens..Tables were here and there, some of them were covered but no the one's that were not there were what looked to be weapons. But bows and arrows but metal weapons. Guns mostly of various sizes and ammo to fill them with. There were other Dwarves there as well, around the table assembling some of them together or polishing. The room wasn't very bright, in fact it was a bit dim and footsteps and noises were easily echoed through the building. If there were windows they were blackened..so where was Epiphany? The Dwarf lead Winston to one of the fake doors. "Wait." and he entered in.

Hey he asked whom he was and he wasn't about to short change his name. So he gave him the full answer of that. Of course, the fact that he was wearing dress clothing probably was not lost on the dwarf whom looked as if he had been working for a while. He bit back his reply to see if that was anything like talking to the Hand. "The Head." He repeated that, wondering if it was a name or a position, he figured it was the latter of the two. He was looking around as they went. A part of him wondering what the dwarfs needed with guns but it wasn't like he hadn't seen plenty of guns. That one time in Columbia...a mental shake of his head. "Okay." He did not speak much seeing the way the guy had talked about his speaking. Pausing where the man told him to wait, he could play this the correct way, he hoped.!

[Epiphany]

It took a bit, not too long but just enough that it edged on maybe making the guy wonder if he had been forgotten about. The other Dwarves looked at Winston as they went about their task, as few of them huffing in his direction and puffing out their beards, they talked in gruff tones about the 'business man' that came to do dealings. A pair picked up a couple guns and looked to be aiming right at the guy, but when they fired it was off to his left side. And they laughed wondering if this man would jump and flinch. Soon after the door opened up and the same one who greeted him was on the other side. "C'mon now. In wit ya." Inside there wasn't much to see. There was a long metal table with a Dwarf - probably the Head - sitting in a chair at the middle. Leaned back with his feet propped up. Two other dwarves were at either side of the table and they had rather large guns held at rest. Short and gruff like they knew how to handle what they had even if the weapon was about the size of them. Now this head hauncho dwarf, his mustache was long past his chest and it was braided with onyx beads marking off every inch. The beard was made to a ponytail at the chin and the color of his hair was as red as flame. He had a vertical stitched scar under his right eye and his lips appeared chapped. He was chewing something for black spit was on the corner or his lips. He was in dark leathers, almost as dark as his face and he was a wide dwarf, the wooden chair he sat in creaked as he rocked back and forth. "Let me see ya." Calling Winston closer.

If Winston had not been used to dealing with others, he might very well of thought indeed that he had been forgotten. But that was not the case. He himself often made people wait quite a while before meeting with them. When the pair picked up the guns and leveled them at Winston, he did not bat a lash, nor did he move. He had dealt with some dark characters in his times in the past, when one said that they had to speak to someone, they usually were safe unless that talk went bad. And if he would of even flinched or sucked in his breath he very well might of lost ground. When he was told to go in, he inclined his head in a manner to the dwarf that had opened the door, and in he went. He stayed back. It was as if he thought if he advanced or spoke before the Head said it was alright, he might feel that Winston did not put him up, in high enough esteem. People could be...picky. He had taken note of the two with the large guns. That still did not cause a bead of sweat to pop, not yet. As he was told to move forward, that was what he would do. But no words would pass through his lips. Steps would move until he was close enough but not to close to be considered inappropriate.

The Head didn't say anything to Winston as he came forward. He only looked at the man. Looked him up. Looked him down and then hawk-spit into a spittoon that was on the floor on his side of the table. He leaned back more in his chair causing the thing to creak and the sound hit against the walls but didn't echo as this 'abandoned' warehouse had quite a few other sounds going on as the other dwarves were working. He folded his hand across his belly. "You. I know you. You're the bastard who stole from me." It may have been clear by how this one spoke why he was the Head. His voice was gruff and deep like the rest but at least he could speak in understandable words.

He never had a man look at him like that. It felt...odd. Ladies yes. Men, no. "You know me?" That caused a lift of his brow. He did not flinch at the next words. "Stole? I have never stolen anything. I merely make the deals to get what it is I require. Surely you would do the same if possible?" His gaze did not waiver from the Head. He did not cast a glance at the other two dwarfs. It was best not to break his gaze from the Head. It was a good thing that they did not have a language barrier. It was then, that Winston thought to ask for there were three men that he now owed their debts..or rather they owed their debts to him. "Are you one of the three that I bought the debts off of?" Curious now/

His hand balled into a fist, feet pulled down from off the table as that large fist slammed down hard on the metal and he leaned forward with narrowed eyes. "Are you calling me a liar!" The Head accused Winston, the black spit dripping from his mouth to down his chin and beard. The two Dwarves with guns cocked them both with audible clicks and turned to Winston, the weapons not pointing at him yet but they were lowered from the ready. "I said you stole from me."

Still there was not a flinch. Not a single muscle twitch. He was not one to lose his head either. A single brow raised, almost as if he had not a care in the world, not a good sight to be sure. "And what, exactly, did I steal from you?" He had a good idea that this Dwarf his name had to be on the list. The list that was not on him currently, but showed that he was owed quite a bit of money, after buying up the debts. He heard the clicks of the guns...maybe not a good sign, and yet maybe for show. One wouldn't know right off.

It could all very well be for show! Never could tell until someone died... but that wasn't right now. Right now the Head was staring hard at this Winston guy not blinking or turning his head. Then there was a rattle from outside that made his eye shoot quickly to one of the dwarves with the gun. "Don't just stand here ya fool! See what that noise is!" Might be those pesky city guardsmen patrolling the area again and he didn't need any of them finding this place by accident. Just where was Epiphany? Back to Winston... The Head smirked and eased back in his chair. "My time. Stealing it straight like a thief to a coroner." Old saying probably. "What do you want? Those papers been signed and our dealings done." Obviously this was the same guy and he knew what Winston was talking about in regards to buying up the other building.

Exactly! Until someone died or was wounded by the guns, it was all a show. Winston would meet his gaze, seriously, one had to in such situations. He let out a small chuckle, of course, the man thought he had come because of the debts? Of course, that was not what he wanted. He shook his head. "I am not here to waste your time, I am here because I heard you can get your hands on some interesting metal. Metal that is in need for building. Adding a basement to a already standing building." He did not know if he needed to tell the man more or if the man would know what he was speaking of.

Winston probably should have stuck with the Head thinking that he was still in some debt to him, now he was thinking that Winston needed him. "So you need something from me now, is that it? What makes you think that I have whatever your looking for?" He spread his arms to indicate the room. "I deal with weapons. Not building supplies." a smug look on his face.

Oh but the man still did owe him. The building was not enough to cover all the debts and that had been divided three ways. His brow lifted. "Oh I have it on good authority that the metal I need would be something you deal in." He would not say how he heard it. "And if you were to get your hands upon things, we could forget the rest of your debts." Not that a man would like that to be thrown out there. But upon Winston's death, there were provisions and he had made those with some that would not be frightened of a silly bullet.

Pudgy fingers stroked down his beard as he considered. "Man comes in from out of Realm," A hard smack to his mouth as he continued to chew on whatever was in his mouth. "Thinking they can flash some money around and take over everything. Don't always work that way." The Dwarf he had sent out earlier to check out the noise came back in. They didn't say anything to each other but there was a nod here with a tip of the head there and a shift of the eye that went that way instead of this and the Head swiveled in his chair. "I could kill you now. It's not like you have someone waiting on the outside for you. Do you?" It was a question and an answer as he went on the information his man told him. "That would clear up my debts now wouldn't it?"

He looked to the man, he wasn't going to say anything about coming from out of the Realm. It was true. He looked to the man. "No? How does it work?" There was something in his voice, the tone, of his voice. Then the words he knew would come and he let out a laugh. "Do I?" He wasn't one to call out the fact he wasn't alone. "Do I only have but one other man?" He then grinned almost triumphantly. "You could, but that would not clear up your debts. IF anything happens to me, I have it arranged, with a nice sampling of money. The debts become due immediately. And the people I have hired....aren't so easily gotten rid of." He had just admitted he was dealing with some not so good creatures.

"You may have more than one person, but one of the persons you got, I got." And he motioned to the other Dwarf who left the 'room' and came in holding someone by the arm. That someone was Epiphany and she had on one of those guilty grins and gave an apologetic smile to Winston with a waggle wave of her fingers. "I owe you money, she owes me service," pointing to the 'she' in mention here. "You want metal that I have. Do you know this girl?"

And in was Miss Epiphany, the Dirty Girl, marched into the room. His face would not show recognition, nor would it show any thing other then a slight bit of boredom. That was before he looked over to the girl again, hearing that she owed the Head service. He let his eyes linger upon her, before they snapped over to the man. "She's cute enough. What services does she owe you?" He was thinking in his head, about different trades. "You do have the metal that I want." He had finally admitted to having said metal. "I don't know the girl, but I think I would like to." A small waggle of his brows so the dwarf did not misunderstand his meaning. He was not lying, he had just met her, so he did not know her, not really.

[Epiphany]

"Oh, you don't know her do you?" Epiphany's eyes grew wide and she shook her head quickly from side to side. The Head only smiled and made a flicking motion with his hand for the guy to take her away. "Don't know her what do you care? I don’t like intruders so I'll deal with her the way I do with any intruder." And the other Dwarf was already pulling her away. "So we were discussing metal. How much?"

Now, perhaps he would of changed his mind, and he might of said he did. But he had been looking at her, not with a look of someone that knew her, just a look. Saw her shaking her head her eyes wide. "That's what I said." Now when asked the next question, he would answer. "Just because I dont know her, doesn't mean I wouldn't like to know her. Perhaps we can make a trade for the services she owes you along with the metal." He paused, how much metal was it he needed. Oh yes! "Sorry a mental calculation, two hundred yards in seven foot poles." He was waiting to see what the dwarf wanted, be it someone in the girl's place or money, or something completely different.

The Head held up his hand. "Wait." And the dwarf leading Epiphany out stopped. She didn't say anything. To speak might very well make the whole thing go badly. Besides, she knew that the Head only dealt with one person at a time. "Here's what I'll do for you." Now he thought he was about to be fair. Fair enough. "You come work for me. Make a few trades over seas for me, and I'll give you the metal. She agreed to make the trade and then backed out of the deal after I prepared for her the same that you're asking for." The Head leaned forward in his seat again. "Tell me you haven't seen this girl here before today? Go on. It's okay." When he grinned the darkened teeth were easy to see.

He watched what was going on. Now, he thought about that. "Trades over seas? I admit I get sea sick but what if I can guarantee that those trades will still get accomplished?" He had his ways and their was a very good chance that the people the Dwarf wanted to trade with, could very well be old acquaintances of his. "If I can guarantee your trades will take place....If I give you my word...do I get the metal and the girl?" He was not one to just give out his word. And then he paused, a small grin slipping over his lips. "I did not say I have never seen this girl before...I said that I did not know this girl." Knowing a girl meant more then the trip they had taken. After this trip he very well could be saying he Knew Epiphany but before that..he did not.

"You have seen her before today then. Yes or no. It's really quite simple." So was the pointing of the dwarve's gun at Epiphany. "Think about it. and you go with the shipment. That's how the plan works. Your signature will be needed to sign off. I don't care if you do get seasick." The man was trying to mince words with the Dwarf. He told him earlier he didn't want his time wasted and didn't care if he wasn't the one being clear.

Had he seen Epiphany before today? He shook his head. "I have not seen her before today." That was the truth! He had just met her. He thought about that. "Now I go....I get the woman and the metal. How many trips do I need to make?" He was going to do it. Damn that Dirty Girl! But it would be worth it..he hoped!

Winston probably should have said yes. Even if that would have been a lie. The Head gave a shrug and a wave of his hand, the gun fired off and Epiphany went down. But there was no blood. Or sign of a bullet anywhere. Not even smoke from the gun. "Less complicated when you don't know them." He pushed back in his seat. "Your metal will be here in a week. When you pick it up sign your name. You'll get your ship passage soon enough." Winston was getting the woman and the metal, just maybe not the way he wanted. "Now get out of here."

He did not want to lie to the man, he was a honest person. A small nod of his head. He walked over to Epiphany, "I will be waiting." Once he reached the girl, unless someone interfered he would lift her up and put her over his shoulder. Really she was awfully light, and then he would make his way out. A week he had before he had to go back. If they let him leave out, he would carry Epiphany out of the room, and out of the building itself. No grunting from the added weight. He mumbled something about getting a broken girl in the deal.

No one would stop him. The deal was made in their eyes so they only watched him as he carried Epiphany out of the abandoned warehouse. It was still just as dark outside as it was when they entered the building. If Winston had taken the time to look at Epiphany perhaps he noticed too that she was still breathing and there wasn't anything on her clothing to indicate a puncture. She was light though, the girl didn't weight that much. As he carried her, for now, she didn't move.

He did notice she still breathed! It was his job to pay attention to such things. But if he had not made any sort of mumbles, perhaps they would of thought something was strange? He waited until they were a bit further away from the building, and that any look out was gone, before he would move to slip Epiphany from his shoulder. But he only took her from his shoulder to his arms, carrying her like a baby. He would notice then that their was not anything on her clothing. "Dirty Girl...You alright?" He figured he would check.

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