Deal with a Watcher

Shemm sprawls at his ease on his barrel, a spot where those in the know know to find him. He picks at dirt under his nails with his dagger. As Corrben approaches, he looks up with a slight sneer. "Yer lost, Watcher. I'd get back t' the better parts o' town if I were you." He glances up at the rooftops, and the shadows that flit among them, and shakes his head slightly. Wait.

Corrben looks around and back at him, "Never lost, this is my town." He steps towards him, looking down at the cobblestones as if with great interest, "I think this is it." He looks up at the shabby man, "Where I killed one of the Stone Quarter bandits."

Shemm waggles his dagger at the man. "Eh, thought that might've been you. Well, we ain't got no trash that needs takin' out t'night. Just us honest poor folk here." He makes a 'move along' gesture with the dagger.

Corrben quirks a smile and steps around the area that once had been caked in blood, "Funny thing, about trash it ends up in the oddest of places sometimes." He glances at him, "Sometimes trash is another man's treasure. How's business?"

Shemm cocks an eye at him. "Business is my own, Watcher... 'nless you're here to buy?" He darts a look at the thugs to his left, two of Hog's men. They pause in their argument to glare at the Watcher and move away slightly, but are keeping an eye on the man for their boss. Watchers aren't welcome here.

Corrben glares back at them, then says to Shemm 'Might be looking to make a purchase.'

Shemm smirks. "An' purchase what, hm?" He says in a sing-song voice, "I got ribbons an' buckles an' all sorts o' pretties. No pies though." He points with his dagger. "An' you'd best be ready t' pay in kind. Already costin' me to be seen talkin' with you, Watcher. Your type makes some o' my regular customers ... nervous."

Corrben smiles slightly, walking closer to him, "Maybe a ribbon, what colors do you have?"

Shemm stiffens slightly, but another glance assures him that there are eyes watching them. Not friendly, but less friendly to Corrben than to Shemm himself. This is his turf, inasmuch as any is. He answers, more seriously, "I got ribbons o' most colors, Fenflower. Lots o' folk come to me with ribbons. Lots o' colors. Lots o' styles. But I don't sell to just anyone. Why should I sell to you?"

Corrben flickers his glance at him when he says his name, "Because I have a great need for all colors of ribbons for several lovely lasses. I have coin and I have a desire to make sure these lasses don't know about each other. You know how it is balancing ladies." He smiles a bit tightly, his dark eyes casting a glance towards some of the men.

Shemm smirks a bit. "That I do." He gives the watcher a measuring look. "I think mebbe we can do business." A brief glance and nod to the men on his right, another glance up to the roofs, and ambiguous motion of one hand at his side, which Corrben may not even notice. "Let's step where we might talk... more privately." He rises. "You lead the way." He gestures to his left, toward the stairs leading to the old court.

Corrben glances at the direction, then at Shemm, his eyes hooded and watchful. "Fine then." He starts that way, and Shemm follows.

Elsewhere, Seaver paces around the outskirts of the wall, glancing behind him periodically to check to see if he is being followed.

Shemm pauses and leans against the wall. "Relax, Fenflower. I ain't going t' stick you. Not unless you start askin' for it. Folk here don't need that trouble, and besides, it ain't good fer business. An' I'm a businessman." His chin goes up slightly at this pronouncement.

Corrben turns to face him, keeping his voice low so that it would not echo off the stone walls too much. "That I do appreciate. I rather like all my organs where they're at. Now, about those ribbons."

Seaver passes the two men in silence, then pauses on the stairs, having about-turned from his intended course, He chews his lip.

Shemm holds up a hand. "Not so fast." His voice is low too. Corrben, with his own street smarts, likely recognizes this as a spot where they can be seen from the rooftops but not overheard ... but that any cry would echo up, loud, to surrounding streets. "I might have some ribbons for ya. But I gotta know, Watcher, you lookin' t' be buyin' regular, if you like what you find, or are you jus' comin' down here t' piss on my turf 'cause ya got an itchy cock?"

Corrben eyes him for a moment, "I've got need for a regular supply of ribbons and baubles, but finding a reliable source has become somewhat of a task. If you carry what I want, I'll be your best customer."

Shemm smirks a bit. "Heh. Ya wanna doll yerself up fer ol' Stoneballs, now that he's callin' the shots, that it? Make yerself look pretty? Mebbe get yerself promoted atop o' Nessya?" He makes a suggestive gesture at his own crotch. "Wouldn't mind gettin' on top of that one myself... She looks like she'd be a loud one. Or mebbe she'd just whimper."

Seaver crosses his arms as he leans against the wall in silence.

Corrben glances up at the stars for a moment, "I've got my own reasons." He looks back at Shemm, "Ah, Nessya...I wouldn't touch her with your dick. Besides I heard she likes rug."

Shemm snorts. "Yeah, well, jus' means she ain't had the right man." He glances up at one of the nearby roofs, where a ragged boy appears beside a chimney, makes a sign, and points. "Well, let's talk ribbons..." his voice rises slightly, "... as soon as the fellow lurkin' on the stairs moves along, that is. I perfer my private conversations to be ... private."

Corrben glances at him, waiting to hear a response. He looks around, up at the rooftops now.

Seaver spots the boy and aware that his position would be given away, He frowns. Still not moving.

Shemm inclines his head to the left, where someone's lurking, though he doesn't know who. "Friend o' yours?"

Corrben speaks quietly, "Some of the ribbons I need are for fair lasses he acquainted me with. But I'd still prefer to move along, there are other things I am wanting to purchase."

Seaver mutters a curse. Walking onwards then. Deciding it can wait. He turns the corner and disappears inside the brothel just around it, being greeted warmly by Nora Strawley on the door.

Another signal from the rooftops. Shemm nods. "Alright, enough of this ribbon shit. I've seen you 'round, Fenflower. Ya seem like a fellow who's knows how t' deal. Not some pockin' idealist who'd beat the crap out o' folks like me on principle, but not some bastard so corrupt I'd not be able t' do real business with."

He gestures at the rooftops. "But folks are going t' be askin' me now, what you an' I talked about. You want t' do business down the road, we gotta sweeten the pot for them. Make 'em think yer the right sort. Or, least, not too much the wrong sort. So yer going t' promise t' do me a favor. An' then we can talk. 'Cause I think you'll like what I’m sellin." He smiles. "Don' worry. I ain't askin' you t' drop your breeches for me. Ain't much I’m askin. Jus' a show o' good faith."

Corrben licks his lips slightly and nods once, "You're right about that, I do what it takes to get what I need, within reason. What did you want?"

Shemm smiles slightly and nods, perhaps warming to the man. Well, relatively speaking. "Word is an associate o' mine's gotten himself in a spot o' bother. Stupid sod named Ewley. Face like the arse-end of a cow. An incontinent cow. Got himself locked up for stealin' mail, of all the stupid shit. Handful o' love letters an' tailors' bills. But he's useful t' me - more useful than not. More to th' point, he's one o' Hogs fellas."

He continues to play with his dagger, but it seems more like habit now, not a pointed reminder. "He's jus' takin' up space in your cells. You get him sprung, an' that’ll show Hog and his sort that we can deal. Then they're like t' look the other way if you come back wanting more... ribbons."

Corrben thinks for a moment, recalling the faces in the cells, "Ah, yes. I know which one. Mail theft...right, we can deal. I'll sign off on his bail but he keeps his hands in his own pockets for now. At least in front of a crowd."

Shemm snorts. "Not sure you want him keepin' his hands in his pockets, neither. Not with what he's like to be doin’ then, crowd or no crowd. Still, mebbe he'll learn a bit o' sense after bein' locked up. Stupid pock. Right. So..." He meets the man's eyes. "Whatdya want, an' what's it worth to you? We know I can be useful to you, if the price is right. Question is, can you be of equal use to me, hmmm? Like I said: businessman."

Corrben chuckles slightly, "Aye...maybe the pillory would have been more appropriate. Either way, he'll be released tomorrow morning." He takes a deep breath, "So, I need information on some names and their connection to a man named Vandalan."

Shemm nods. "I know the name," he says, evenly.

Corrben glances at him, "I'm very interested in him but I don't want him to know that. I've never met him but I hear he's an ill tempered cunt and does some dirty business along with legit. Now, there are three women that know him. Ellae, Katey and Celnessyn, all connected to him and I need to know where they are and where they hang out. If you can find information on Vandalan himself, I'll pay you even more."

Shemm nods. "Vandalan's a sick pock, an' I've not done business with him. You can have that for free. As for the three women... yeah, I know a thing or two ‘bout them. Information on Vandalan ... well, mebbe not on the first date." He plays with his dagger, studying the watcher. "Yer hot on th' trail of somethin', eh? Tryin' t' impress Stoneballs." Seems more a statement than a question. "An' I'd not want t' make you look bad doin' it, neither, would I? Not if we're to be ... friends."

Corrben hooks his thumbs on his belt, "Looking good for Stoneballs? Sure, it's better than the alternative. My concern is that he might have committed a very serious crime and I want to make sure I've got enough on him before approaching. I need your help for it, a friend in low places, no offense."

Shemm chuckles. "Not the place, high nor low, as makes a man or a citizen, eh?" He sucks one of his yellowing teeth. "Tell ya what, Fenflower, I'm going t' cut you a deal, this first time. I wanna see what you're made of.

“My price is jus' this -- going t' ask you t' do yer job. If you saw Ewley, you saw he'd had th' livin' shit beat out o' him. Assault an' battery, right in front o' th' Pony. I want you t' take his statement on that, an' arrest the folk as did it, or fine 'em, or whatever it is you do. Put their fancy, foreign arses in the stocks an' let street urchins bugger 'em with rotten zucchini. I'll even give you th' statement from Ewley if ya want, as he's got trouble puttin more than a few words t'gether."

Shemm's voice and gestures have gotten a bit more intense, more animated, as he speaks, and his pale skin has flushed slightly. He visibly calms himself now, leaning back against the wall, forcing his voice back to its earlier, laconic tone. "Tha's my price. If ya can call it a price. I’d call it civic service." One brow rises. "Think we can deal?"

Corrben furrows his brow at the news of the assault, pressing his lips together, "This fight, did it include a very loud dwarf?" He nods, "Very well, we'll take the statement and I'll issue the warrants if you've got the names of the men that did it. It is something that irks me that so much violence can happen at that tavern and we barely get to touch them. Brigwald..." He pauses and cuts himself off. "Fine, I'll do what I can get these men punished."

Shemm grins. "Ya, I think we can do business, Fenflower." He pushes his hood back, letting his lank black hair fall free down to his shoulders. "An' yeah, involved a loud dwarf - was the dwarf that attacked me an' Ewley." He raises a hand. "An' it ain't the dwarf I'm on about. He an' I patched things up, proper like, jus' between us.

“Was th' pockers as just stood about an' watched me an’ Ewley get th' crap beat out o' us that I'd like t' see get theirs. But I suppose there ain't anything you can do t' folk as just watches tha’ sort o’ abuse an' laughs.” Shemm grinds his teeth slightly in frustration.

“But th’ other pockers, the ones tha' just jumped in t' help the dwarf's unprovoked assault – I'd like t' see them get what’s comin’. Bunch o' stinkin’ foreigners, lordin' it over honest Bree folk." He takes a calming breath. "An' yeah, I got names an' descriptions for you." He spits to one side. "As for paperwork? You can have it, that an' your 'high' places and yer politicians with their noses in their air and their thumbs in everyone else's business, or up each other's bungholes.... So, whatcha need for yer report?"

Corrben smiles a bit, "I do so enjoy it when chance gives me an opportunity to put one of those foreigners in a cell. Too bad exile never seems to stick. No we can't punish people for gawking but I can try to do something about these men. I need names, descriptions, exactly what happened and any witnesses you think might step forward. I did speak with the dwarf, he was too indignant to make much sense, I cut him free because things weren't done properly. Bloody recruits."

Shemm nods and quickly summarizes the scene for Corrben. Shemm and Ewley were just standing around talking to Morrinth, one of Blince's get - okay, and maybe leering a bit - when the dwarf, who they'd met before - showed up and attacked them out of the blue, being a bit crazed and violent. Shemm and Ewley both tried to fend him off without serious injury, and called on the bystanders to help. The bystanders just laughed, and sat about mocking the two and rooting for the dwarf.

At a certain point, Hersagor (whose name Shemm didn't catch, just a description) jumped in, attempting to beat on the two. Shemm avoided him, but was then caught about the neck by Masrick (whose name he did know) and threatened with a dagger to the throat. Shemm protested that he and Ewley weren't the aggressors, and to stop the dwarf, but everyone, "Jus' pockin' took th' side of the foreigner, an' assumed tha' just 'cause Ew an' I don't got th' right accent or th' right clothes, we're th' pockin bad guys.'' Clearly this pissed him off.

By now, Hersagor had knocked Ewley to the ground and kicked him in ribs and head. A woman there (whose name Shemm didn't get) continued to laugh and mock the two, and Ewley called her 'wench'. This set off Sigfread (whose name Shemm did got) who said something like 'don't call my sister 'wench'" ... "As if that weren't somethin' ya hear every day. Weren't like Ewley called her 'whore' nor 'bitch' nor nuthin, though I'd not blink t' hear she was both o' those things, th' stuck up cunt"... and knocked Ewley back down and kicked him, causing him to vomit blood. Hersagor kicked Ewley in the head again, knocking him unconscious.

At this point the dwarf, appalled at how the locals were interfering in a private matter, offered to help Shemm carry Ewley off to the healers, and they did so, as Morrinth and Skelcar (whose name Shemm heard but didn't remember) and others continued to mock them. Watcher Jazaline met them on the way, and heard only a little of the story, then went to speak to Rin & Skel, as Shemm and Logorim the dwarf carried Ewley off.

Shemm raises one hand as he finishes this account. "Jus' so you keep my name out o' it, Fenflower. Was Ewley as told ya all this, and mebbe that dwarf too. No need for Honest Shemm's name t' appear in yer paperwork.”

Corrben reaches for his small worn notepad and the stump of a charcoal pencil, quickly scratching down the names and events, pausing once for clarification, "Lorgorim came in shackles with Jazaline, the recruit. He's well known for his temper, I've dealt with him before and he really should be rounded up with the rest but I'll leave it." He writes a bit more.

"Now, I can leave out your name off of it of course, I'll merely ask Ewley if everything matches what he recalls and write it up. He'll be out tomorrow, on the count of this being a more serious crime and he's spent enough time for his sticky fingers. We'll work on finding the men, this Sigfread and the rest of the lot."

Shemm nods again. "You do that, watcher, an' I'll hear of it... an' that'll prove t’ me tha' yer a man as I can work w’, even if ya do have tha' shiny watcher's badge on ya. Now, fair's fair -- though mebbe I should wait fer you t' pay up first. But gotta be a bit of give an' take in any relationship, eh?”

Corrben grins slightly, "Don't let the badge and last name fool you too much, I've been in my share of scrapes and scuffles before I could do it legally. I know when to get dirty if I have to."

Shemm nods. “Right. So here's what I got for ya." He gives over some basic information about the three women, including descriptions. Enough for Corrben to easily identify them by sight. "Ellae and the one known as Katey, you'll find 'em at the Pony, like as not. Ellae's a tall wench, too tall if ya ask me, an’ too thin. Could at least get a decent pair o' tits on her, if they're going t' be shoved right in a man's face. Celnessyn, now, she's got a fine rack. Bit on th' heavy side, mebbe, but I figure, that'll jus' give a man somethin' t' hold on to, eh?" He smirks and makes a lewd gesture, demonstrating.

"She worked for a time at that ‘bathhouse’ over in Tegwent, though I don' know if she's been there of late." A frown. "My sort's not welcome there, it seems. Even if I've bathed that week! Also she'll do your laundry for a coin... an I'll leave you guessing what else she might do. Used t' do the washing over at the Dawn Hall, so mebbe ye'll find out a bit over there as well." He spits to the side again at this.  “Wouldn't mind seein' those pockers taken down a peg or two neither."

He brushes one gloved hand against another as he finishes, as if dusting off. "There now, I'd call tha' fair exchange an' more than fair, seein' as I ain't asked you t' do much but what you ought t' be doin' anyway." A slight grin. "Don' get use t' it though. I'm goin' gentle on ya first time. Don' want to leave you chafing."

Corrben listens attentively, writing quickly in his notebook, careful not to smudge the charcoal. "This bath house, sounds like a start. They won't serve you, even if you've got the coin? Who do they like to serve?" He continues writing, "I appreciate all of this I do and I will try my best to get some sort of justice for that beating. Makes me sick, the way so many just flaunt our laws because we're 'small' to them. I wish they'd all shunt off back to where they came from but if wishes were horses then beggars would have better shoes, or something like that."

Shemm scoffs. "Yeah, an' I'd be mayor o' Bree an' have these foreigners buggerin' each other fer my enjoyment. Mebbe get them t' beat on each other, too, as they seem t' think that's the mark of a 'hero'."

Corrben smirks slightly at that, glancing off at the darkness below, "Beat, then bugger, that'd be my choice in the matter. Then toss them all past the gate of Andrath."

Shemm pulls his hood back up. "But I've paid you, an I ain't seen shit yet. Not my usual way. Guess I like yer face or somethin." Now he raises his voice slightly, so that the inevitable lurkers will hear. "So you run off back t' the well-lit parts o' town, Watcher, an' show me you ain't jus' another bastard with a stick up ‘is arsehole an' a badge hangin' off ‘is cock, an' then mebbe you'll be worth talkin' to again. 'Cause Honest Shemm don' do business wit' jus' anyone, specially not those as disrespects him and his."

Corrben tongues his cheek, "Right then, I'll get on it. Look for your friend to be released at dawn."

Shemm says, "Aye, we'll be watchin, Watcher. You can count on that."

Corrben glances over his shoulder, his mouth quirking slightly at that.

Shemm makes a 'shooing' gesture with one raggedly-gloved hand, then follows at a distance, subtlety escorting Corrben out of the Alley.

Corrben watches the shadow corners, noting the girl's tent still empty and heads out the gate.

Shemm makes a gesture toward the roofs, and the shadows flitting up there. One detaches to follow Corrben a bit further as Shemm turns about, back to the Alley.