"A Matter of Fresh Bread"

Log Date:
	11/23/99

Log Cast:
	Jenean, Richard, Kavi, Jenara, Amber

Log Intro:
	For the last several days, Richard has been occupied searching in
and around Haven for the branded healer Cynara, determined to relay to her
the news that Nox has been wounded -- and to offer her a stiff price, if
necessary, to secure her cooperation in the repair of his wings. Having
finally found one of her various followers who's agreed to relay a message,
Richard has finally returned to his own business. But while discussing with
a fellow thief a newly open room in the place where he lives, Richard has
made a discovery that's shocked him: 
	House Nemea is in Haven, in the person of the Dea Dulcinea Nemeides.
	And she has with her a young dark-haired, white-winged child, the
sight of whom has stunned Richard visibly enough that both Nox and Sabrienna
have noticed.
	Now, reeling from the implications of the presence of Nemea in the
city, Richard has left the Rialto and retreated to the Siren's Song, hoping
to have the opportunity to clear his head with some quiet drinking. One 
thing about the Song is, though, that Jenean and her girls have all sorts of
cures for what ails a brooding man, and ale is only part of the allure. 
	And another thing about the Song is, you never know who'll walk in
the door...

*===========================< In Character Time >==========================*
             Time of day:  Late Morning
          Date on Aether:  Saturday, August 11, 3905.
           Year on Earth:  1505 A.D. 
       Phase of the Moon:  Waxing Gibbous
                  Season:  Summer
                 Weather:  Partly Cloudy
             Temperature:  Warm
*==========================================================================*

Jenean comes down from the upstairs rooms.
Jenean has arrived.
Jenean picks her way downstairs, yawning.

Quiet in the Song as of a morning -- and that's as Richard likes it. As Jenean 
  arrives on hand, he's parked his lean frame at one of the several unoccupied 
  tables, slouching there with his back against the wall, nursing an ale and 
  staring grimly across the room as he does.

Jenean collects a cup of wine from the bar top, and perches on his table. 
  Brightly, "Mornin', sweetheart."

Blue eyes looking shadowed around their edges and perhaps shadowed within lift 
  their attention off the ale. A bit of a smile flickers into being around 
  Richard's mouth. "Mornin'," he murmurs.

Jenean shifts from table to his lap, like it or not, and herself comfortable, 
  hair tickling his cheek, and smiles up at him. "An' don' growl at me. I just 
  woke up."

Richard's brows go up, his eyes go wide, and he has just enough time to get 
  his ale out of the way before he finds himself with a lap full of Jenean. 
  That she can deftly shift herself right off the table before him and into 
  his lap comes as very little surprise -- but that she's done to him, well, 
  perhaps that's a different story. He pauses for a moment, empty right hand 
  out to one side, ale-bearing left hand out to the other, before he offers a 
  slightly larger smile and brings the ale back over for another sip of it. 
  Over the top of the mug he pledges, "I wouldnae dream of growlin' at ye." 
  His right hand... well. It comes back to rest lightly against the table's 
  edge, near the woman, but not yet touching her.

A blueeyed, winning smile. "Do I get a cuddle, or are ye' just gonna wave yer 
  arms around like a Varati in a fishpond?"

Kavi steps into the tavern from the docks outside.
Kavi has arrived.

Jenara steps into the tavern from the docks outside.
Jenara has arrived.
Jenara waltzes into the Song with a basket on her hip grinning at the hoots 
  and catcalls that ring out from a few of the Song's more determined patrons 
  "aye ye wish Laric! Ye know I only be here t'deliver the days bread" sidling 
  up to the previously mentioned Laric she grins and stage whispers.."but if 
  ye think yer wife wont mind...??" to the amusement of the man's cronies. She 
  deftly avoids the man's overt grope laughing her way past him toward the 
  back of the room. She wears around her neck a medallion of bronze marked 
  with the sigil of House Nemea and is greeted by one of the serving girls 
  "heyla Jenara."

It's into this somewhat subdued and less than jam-packed Song that Kavi, that 
  recently arrived poet, steps by way of the front entrance. He doesn't even 
  bother to scan the room with his big blue eyes, nope. He just heads over 
  towards the bar with a bit of a yawn. Tired, yes he is. Plopping himself 
  down on a stool, the varati orders himself a small breakfast and mug to go 
  with it, removing the required coinage from his vest as he waits for it.

Recieving a steaming bowl and a less than overflowing mug, Kavi hands over the 
  money. Spoon in hand, he sets upon the stew, finishing it in just moments. 
  Not just tired, but hungry. Of course, he doesn't get paid all that much or 
  often. Harsh work, being a poet, but the personal rewards of such a position 
  are quite the opposite of the material ones. As the bowl is finished, his 
  hand closes upon the handle of the mug, bringing it to his mouth as he turns 
  upon his stool.

Jenara giggles softly with one of the serving girls at the back as she removes 
  loaves of fresh bread from her basket and counts the coin she receives. The 
  serving girl places the bread into another basket while asking "yer mistress 
  no mind ye continuin' this work on the side Jenara??" The young woman shakes 
  her head.."Nay..well truth be told I no be givin' the opputrunity to be 
  tellin' me nay or aye. I figure she be havin' enough worries without me 
  troublin' her over so small a matter aye??" she says winking at her friend.

"Ach, well, since ye put it _that_ way..." Never let it be said that Richard 
  is not a gracious man. Or a graceful one, for that matter. He reaches around 
  his lap's occupant to set down the ale, and then his arms slide round Jenean 
  to hold her firmly, but not hard. He has no illusions that she needs his 
  help to stay right where she is. Despite the entry of the Varati customer 
  who's just approached the bar and the Mongrel woman who's just been roundly 
  greeted by a few patrons near the door, most of his attention seems to be on 
  the Song's redoutable mistress. "A better good-mornin' for ye, then?" he 
  huskily inquires.

The mistress of the Siren tips her head up to look at Richard, pouts just a 
  touch, and winks. "Y'could improve it a shade more." A decade or more in her 
  role has lead to mastery of the eminently kissable pout, no doubt about that.

Kavi, from his seat at the bar, surveys the scanty morning 'crowd', taking a 
  drink from his mug every once in a while to punctuate the periods of people 
  examining. Lets see, servant of some sort doing something or other, mongrel 
  guy with a cyprian in his lap, a few others. Nothing particularly attention 
  grabbing, as it were. He mulls over a few possibilities, then. Play a song? 
  Write a poem for some Cyprian and hope to get a coin or two? Go elsewhere 
  and try to find some form of amusement or work?

Jenara leaves her gossiping and tucks her coin into the pouch under her skirt. 
  Hefting her now emptybasket to her hip she starts to head for the door.

Something of the tension in Richard's face and frame, not entirely eased away 
  by the alcohol he's put down so far this morning, drains away now at that 
  look Jenean is giving him. But still... something about that redheaded girl 
  at the door cajoles his attention in his direction. What exactly it is is 
  not easy to glean from a distance, but the Mongrel woman in his lap, even as 
  he curls his arms a little tighter around her, can feel a renewed flash of 
  tension shoot through his frame. He stares hard in Jenara's direction, 
  before turning a strange look back upon the woman he holds. The kiss he 
  feathers across her brow is distracted, and he murmurs an apology before 
  calling out to the lass at the door, "Hoy! What's with the bread, gel?"

Jenean tsks, mock-offended, draping arms round Richard's neck, and leans back, 
  hair hanging down behind her, to study the redhead, half upside down. 
  Definitely Richard's morning, if he's paying attention.

As the red headed mongrel girl walked across the Song, Kavi watches with a 
  thoughtfull look on his face, thinking of something, something that is 
  disrupted by Richard's call to the subject of his thoughts. A guick glance 
  is shot towards the man and the woman in his lap before it returns to the 
  girl, listening to hear her reply.

Jenara turns at the sound of a voice addressing her. She stands with a hip 
  thrust out and a saucy look in her eyes " what ye mean?? It be bread..no 
  much more in that" she saunters back over to see what he wants.

Black eyebrows arch mildly over Richard's twilight eyes. "Handin' out fresh 
  bread for free?" he inquires, before adding sidelong to Jenean, "Or are ye 
  havin' it brought in now?" His gaze remains upon Jenara as he speaks, 
  though, seemingly entirely casual.
Jenean senses "Richard's body within your arms, despite his apparently casual 
  behavior towards this young stranger, suggests a well-hidden intensity of 
  reaction. Hidden from everyone's eyes... but not from a woman holding him 
  close."

Jenean chuckles. "Not me y'should be askin', sweetheart. S'Raven orders th' 
  bread." She straightens up enough to look at Jenara the right way up, and 
  mmmms softly. "Love th' hair, hon."

Jenara laughs and wiggles her hip. From under her skirt the sound of coin can 
  be heard jingling. "certainly no fer free sir. I be paid" she smiles at 
  Jenean "aye thank ye"

"Ach, well, that explains it then," drawls the black-haired fellow with Jenean 
  in his lap. His gaze settles upon the pendant she wears about her neck, 
  studying the House sigil without apparent concern. "Hadnae seen ye before. 
  Be around more often, will ye?"

The older woman - who's hair must once have rivalled Jenara's - snuggles up 
  against the mongrel who's lap she's settled in, pushing now-greying chestnut 
  hair off her face.

Amber comes down from the upstairs rooms.
Amber has arrived.

Jenean is in Richard's lap. Other than that, it's a redheads' convention.

Jenara grins and winks.."why ye want t' know?? " wonderin cuz considerin' who 
  you've got in your lap she's confused as to why you'd want to bother with 
  her. "Aye I be around..make deliveries here every mornin'

Amber must still be running on last night's high, because she slinks down the 
  stair, eyes bright as if looking for the next mark. A tiny smile plays over 
  her lips as she pauses at the bottom of the stair.

His gaze still resting upon the young redhead's pendant, Richard replies 
  straightfacedly, "I like fresh bread, lass." Up comes his attention, then, 
  and a lazy lopsided smile curls his mouth. "Hard enough t'come by, moreso'n' 
  usual as of late. Ye're in from one o' th' Empyre's Houses, aye?"

Jenean waggles fingers at Amber, blows her a kiss.

Jenara nods.."aye how'd ye guess that??" forgetting what she wears around her 
  neck. "if fresh bread be so important t'ye I could make shre I be havin' 
  extra fer yer day if ye like??" she offers..though still confused. You are 
  the first man in the Song who's ever made an offer for her..bread.

The look Richard gets is unreadable, but that which falls on Jenean is nothing 
  short of openly warm. She glides over to the two and reaches around both so 
  that she can press her lips to Jenean's cheek. "G'morning."

Cheek? No way. Jen turns into that kiss.

"Thought I recognized yer jewelry, lass," is Richard's even reply. "Used t' 
  have a little bauble like that m'self, when I worked for a House a few years 
  back. Dinnae think I know that sigil, though." This, too, is apparently 
  casually delivered. While Amber comes up on his side to lean in and kiss 
  Jenean, he frees an arm from around the woman on his lap and reaches into a 
  pocket to pull out a couple of coins. These are slid across the table to 
  Jenara, to whom he adds wryly, "Got an extra loaf on ye, I'll buy it off ye 
  for your time an' trouble." And he casts a small amused smile at the other 
  two women.

Amber's hand falls onto Richard's shoulder for balance and she does not remove 
  it once it settles there. She smiles down upon both and then looks to the 
  unfamiliar woman curiously, affording her a comfortably welcoming nod as 
  well.

Jenara grins and though her look remians merry the gutter rat's eyes turn 
  sharp as she studies your features.."I no be havin' any more as I just sold 
  what I had 't the Song. But if ye want I am sure ye can buy one from 
  them..it still be fresh..Aye think I recognize ye..twas many years ago twas 
  it not? Ye know m'da then..Ian?? still works fer the House..the Dea's body 
  guard??"

Jenean rests her head comfortably back on Richard's shoulder, pushes hair out 
  of her eyes. "Could ask Raven nicely." A husky laugh. "But I ain't gettin' 
  outta yer lap just yet."

Jenara eyes alight on Amber and she gives her nod and smile as well as she 
  waits for Richard's response.

"Which Dea'd that'd be then, lass?" asks Richard, guilelessly. He must have an 
  iron will. Despite Jenean comfortably cradled against his one shoulder and 
  Amber's lovely hand upon the other, the man's still looking steadily at 
  Jenara.

Amber's hand slides around to settle on the skin of Richard's neck, her thumb 
  stroking there for a minute. She smiles, then and asks Jenean quietly, "I 
  was thinking about slipping out. D'you want anything from the Rialto?"

Jenara nods."aye when ye be there it still be Cleon's ma that be Dea..it be 
  Dulcinea now that be Dea and Cleon's he be dyin' in the war. The Dea's son 
  Momus be Deus now wit his uncle now step father Erasmus actin' as Regent." 
  The young woman is ging an awful oot lot of information..

A nod from Jenean to Amber. "See if Hakim's had a shipment in? An' we're shy 
  on a couple o'herbs."

"Cleon," repeats Richard, canting his head a little sideways. For a moment, 
  Amber's hand seems to finally distract him, and he flicks a small, almost 
  gentle smile up at her before glancing back to Jenara. "Ach, lass, sorry, I 
  think ye mistake me for someone else. Dinnae know any o' those names."

Amber nods knowingly. Jenara recieves another, wry grin and she squeezes 
  Richard's shoulder before gliding over to the door. A light cloak slips on 
  over her dress before she steps outside.

Jenara tilts her head and offers another gamin like smile.."aye..I must be. 
  Well then ..no harm done"

Blue eyes watch Amber leave, and Jen allows herself the softest of 'mrrrrs' of 
  appreciation, purred not that far from Richard's ear.

"Nay," answers Richard easily. As Amber goes out about her errand, he 
  resettles his arms about Jenean -- demonstrating that despite his apparently 
  formidable will, he's not at all insensitive to that low purr of breath 
  along the side of his head. His voice drops a little in register when he 
  speaks again: "Keep the coins if ye like, for your time." Now, though, he 
  turns his head ever so slightly back to Jenean, suggesting that now that his 
  curiosity is satisfied, he's got an appetite for something besides bread.

Jenara grins with the slightest hint of envy directed toward the woman in 
  Richards lap...not because of her location rather for the fact that despite 
  the bit of grey in her chestnust tresses Jenean is utterly lovely and has 
  more feminity in her little finger than Jenara could ever hope to have. The 
  young woman shrugs her shoulders slightly and pockets the coin "thank ye 
  then" offering another smile and a wave as she walks toward the door again.

Jenean wrinkles her nose at Richard, and teases, softly, "Ok. Now all th' 
  competition with proper red hair's gone, mm?"

Richard does not watch Jenara go; he's not that crass. Still, there's an odd 
  distraction in his eyes for all that he turns a softer edition of his 
  crooked smile fully upon the woman who remains in his arms. "Aye," he 
  agrees, "an' I believe ye were askin' for an improvement upon good-mornin', 
  before I so rudely interrupted ye."

"Mmm." Arms settle round his neck again. "Y'were plannin' on sittin' here an' 
  lookin' grumpy all mornin', if I hadn' showed up?"

"The backup plan," drawls Richard, "was to get knockered." He tips an ebon nod 
  down at what's left of his ale.

Jenean snorts, softly. "I gotta better one, if y'like."

Richard's smile flickers back into being. "Didn't ye just get _out_ of bed, 
  luv?" he murmurs.

Jenean straightens up a little to rub noses with him. "Mm? And?" A teasing 
  laugh. "Wasn' plannin' on goin' back t'sleep fer a while." A soft kiss. "An' 
  I taste nicer'n ale,"

Richard lets himself answer the kiss, his mouth matching the proffered 
  softness, the contact subtly speaking of his earlier tension... and 
  tiredness, too. Meeting Jenean's blue eyes with his own darker ones, he 
  rasps, "I'd... like a little time with ye." Some time with her sweet arms to 
  hold him, and perhaps a few hours in which to rest, afterwards -- it sounds 
  like bliss, though only his gaze shows even a hint of the depths to which it 
  appeals to him.

Blue eyes find his. Gently, she murmurs, "I know, love." Knows... well, almost 
  everything. It's her job, and her life, to know why she's needed, and make 
  fulfilling the real need her aim.

Down here in the Song's public room, Richard keeps that casual mask of his 
  mostly in place -- but with that knowing attention upon him, not even he can 
  entirely disguise his need, for all that he's not about to speak of it. Not 
  down here. He casts an inquiring gaze at the stairs, then brings his 
  attention back to the Mongrel woman's face, letting the query in his 
  expression stand without benefit of words to elaborate.

Tenderly, "C'mon up."

[End log.]