>>13153397
Do we have any other contacts aside from gains? Maybe someone to help us with our wardrobe problem?

>>13153426
You know Mrs. Mentery, who runs a pub in the docks district. And there's always the Murk Water Boys, east of the river.

In addition, the Market district is just the next block west, where you can find clothiers, probably closing up shop just about now.

>>13153482
Who are the murk water boys?

>>13153542
They fancy themselves a "Roight an' Propah Thieves Guild" that operates in the slums past the industrial district. They mostly run dice and numbers, but they're also not above arranging bigger crimes. Alex has a bit of a love/hate history with them, and, as such, has never solicited membership.

Disregard Keepers
Acquire Currency.

>>13153597
I doubt they have any dtailored goods. Lets see if any of the tailors of the market distrct need some of our "services"

>>13153397
how old is alex?

>>13153630
You make your way into the markets, past a row of boutiques. Two stand out, with their lights still on through the windows; a fancy one with a pink door and a big pane of glass. Across the street is a slat wood with small, oily windows.

There's a constable at the corner of the street, waving traffic about. You don't recognize him.

>>13153664
She's fourteen (~ish), never really kept track of her birthdays. Short, scraggly, brownish hair and no figure to speak of, but she can pass for a boy when she cares to.

>>13153713
hell if were going to a ball we need a fancy dress! lets see if we can get one off the pink door shops owner.

>>13153791
Fancy dress ho!

The door opens to a parlor, and several dresses on stands. There's a clerk behind a counter, looking rather bored. Against one wall are racks of machine made clothes, and at the back are tables of stockings, shawls, scarves, and unmentionables.

The clerk looks up from counting coins into a till. "Evening. Help you with something?"

>>13153869
Ask for someone to help Alex pick out an outfit and try it on.

Guys, I don't think we are 'going to a ball'. What he said was "Meet us there, tonight, and we'll set you up." After we stole something for him. That's not 'you are our guest' material.

Not to mention that we couldn't possibly pull off pretending to be a genuine guest. We don't really have the social skills or background to pull off any sort of high-class event. And you can't steal truly nice clothes- they have to be custom made or at least fit in any era before mass production means that they have thirty copies in a wide array of sizes. That means getting someone to fit them to us. We'd also need to render ourself clean and not street-smelling somewhere, which usually means a bath with soaps and such; hardly within our means. And a haircut would be essential for passing, too, which we'd need someone relatively skilled for.

All we should be shooting for is an outfit good enough that we won't be kicked out of the district on sight by any guards who spot us. Even that will be a huge task.

>>13153869
how much money do we have? ask if the dress can be payed in other ways aside from money.

>>13153869
"Hey, kid. We're closing up shop. You need something?" The clerk asks.

You take the opportunity to case the storefront. There's a door in the back and a staircase leading up. You can see a balcony on the floor above, with more clothes on display it seems.

There are two doors in the back too. One looks like a dressing room.

>>13153986
"I need a new dress." Alex says. "Could I get some help."

The clerk sighs, and comes around the counter. "Fine. What sort of price range?"

Alex turns over the two tin pence in her pocket. Bother. "Nevermind."

"That's what I thought."

Alex heads back into the streets.

>sour Hibblice
Sure, sounds like a good drink.

>>13154043
well he does say "I take it you have an appropriate wardrobe." so allong with a new outfit we might need a place to bathe.

>>13154043
Suggestion:
-Locate someone appropximately our size and shape, but with nicer clothes
-Jump them and take their shit

Though, admittedly, going from 'burglar and vandal' to 'mugger' isn't really the best way to move up in the world. All I've got, though.

>>13154091
He said that because he's a goddamn idiot wealthy noble with no sense of how difficult it is to acquire the myriad of things that he takes for granted while one is living all but penniless on the streets. And we didn't object to his assumption because we're a fool.

>>13154057
see if we can sneak in the back door or maybe climb up to that balcony and jack some of their shit.

>>13154113
Alex swallows, watching a governess for a couple minutes. She's a little taller, traveling suitcase in tow. She turns her knife over.

>>13154182
There's a grate barring the alley behind the clothier. But it won't be any trouble to chimney the bricks and go over it.

Seems like you'll have to pick one or the other, or risk some heat from 'blue.'

>>13154208
Mugging a governess with the constible nearby might not be the best idea. I say go for the stealth approach and hop the grate.

>>13154208
There's a constable nearby; mugging is a bad option.
Far better to wait for the store clerk to leave for the night, then break in and grab some appropriately sized clothes.

>>13154208
Hop the grate. Even if we can't find fitting girl's clothing we can steal some fitting boys clothing. Or better yet, we could steal both and have two different identities ready for whenever we need them.

Mugging is a good way to get caught.

Find a relatively unknown boutique, offer to wear their finest clothes to the gala as a sort of walking advertisement. Mention that we've already got an invite, so they don't need to pay us.

>>13154208
Gah. Burglary. Lower-risk.

Problem is, even after we get the dress where the hell will we take it? There's much more than a dress to looking nice. Or even decent. Our best bet is probably scraping up enough money for a stay at an inn somehow... hopefully there'll be cash somewhere inside.

Though frankly, if we were friends with some girls in a mid-range whorehouse somewhere we could avoid all this by borrowing their stuff and using their baths; any decent place is going to keep everyone clean and looking good. Dangerous to do that sort of thing as a young and impoverished woman, though; one might get sucked into the business.

>>13154247
Alex puts her palms on the sides of the two buildings, four quick hops puts her over the grate. Its easy to open from the other side, which will make getting out a bit easier. Around the back of the shop, she scales a trellis to the second floor. There's a narrow balcony overlooking the little, cobblestone courtyard. The door is locked, and the window doesn't open. She hears the door open, leans around the edge of the shop, and sees the clerk walking out into the street.

>>13154318
Can we jimmy the window's latch with our knife?

>>13154318
Is there a chimney? Or anything else that looks like it might be a way to get in?

Also, we're taking some change so we can hit the baths, assuming there are public baths in this city. After we clean up, we steal something nicer to wear from the lockers at the bathhouse.

>>13154318
do we still have the brick? If so, wait a till the sop owner is fare away and smash the window.

>>13154285
Find the whorehouse that employs cross-dressing men.

Seriously. There's always a rich, perverted demographic for that sort of thing.

>>13154389
...or, assuming the constable isn't looking, we brick the clerk from above and then filch his keys and wallet.

>>13154389
With a constable out on the street, I'd prefer a more quiet means of gaining entry.
Though I suppose we could use our shirt over the window to attempt to muffle the noise of shattering glass.

>>13154318
Do we know any cosmetics shops? Perfume is a better alternative to using a broken rain gutter to take a shower.

>>13154285
You know a couple of working girls, but have always stayed for just that reason.

>>13154365
Its a small window wrought into the wall. But your shiv twists the screws from the doorknob and gets you inside.

>>13154366
You step into the top floor of the boutique. The till was downstairs. Upstairs looks like more of the same, a lot of machine made clothing. Some coats and purses as well, some of them look imported.

>>13154389
You used the brick to distract the cleaning ...thing... in the academy.

>>And, while I'm very appreciative for all the contributions now, I'm gonna have to ask for a second on the next action.

>>13154416
I think we decided against mugging.

>>13154407
My guess would be that whorehouses which do that also employ girls, simply because it's more difficult to start in a specialized niche than to start out general and add specialties later.

>>13154444
Granted on your point about the whorehouses, but a whorehouse that employs actual men dressed as women isn't as likely to want our scrawny barely-feminine ass as a new employee.

Anyway, time to raid the till and downstairs.

>>13154443
First things first; we were here for new clothes.
Go for something understated and not too flashy. We don't want something that could be easily identified as coming from this shop.
A plain but sturdy purse to hold stuff in would be good, too.

Alex snatches up a plain, brown leather purse. There's a clutch inside that matches. Its the first one she's ever owned, and she holds on tight as she pulls it around her shoulder. Downstairs, the gas lamp is turned off, and its a dim gray through the curtains pulls over the bay window. The till is under the counter, its locked with a little padlock, but isn't secured to the counter.

The machine made dresses do come in all sizes, so its just a matter of choosing a style. What does Miss Carvic fancy on this evening's shopping expedition?

Would Alex have any contacts in the whorehouse area that is willing to lend a bath and a soap bar (or a sliver of soap, really) for him/her/it/our urchin to scrub down?

Also, no dresses.

Page boy uniform, or anything boyish and servant-y.

>>13154578
For our job, we should look for a set of clothing that looks servant-y. Page boy, delivery boy, or maybe maid.

Also, for ourselves, a nice but plain dress, easy to get lost in a crowd in. While we're here, we might as well get a new change of clothes, ey?

>>13154611
Perfect.

Something that makes us look like a courier.

>>13154578
Think nice but utilitarian. Functionality is key; it only has to look nice enough to avoid getting us accosted by guards, but it has to be sturdy and flexible enough for us to undertake our usual climbing and thievery in it. Male clothes would probably be better in that respect, but no strong opinion.

>>13154491
I'm not willing to risk coming out as a girl to meet these erstwhile patrons of us. Two (probably jocks) nobleboys willing to pay for larceny? Not really the paragon of kindness, I say.

>>13154578
How big is till? Can we carry it around?
Grab a pair of simple dresses that fit Alex, and maybe one or two expensive ones that could be sold to the whorehouse.

Get some page-style uniforms for boys too.

>>13154578

Something black and sturdy. A hood would be nice.

>>13154578
Regarding till, might as well practice our lockpicking too.

>>13154643
Do NOT weigh ourselves down with loot. We should not leave here with more than three sets of clothing, and 1-2 would be better. Mobility and freedom of action is important, and we have nowhere even remotely secure to stash things.

We might consider trying to pick the padlock on the till, if that's within our skillset. There are bound to be a lot of potential improvised lockpick items here.

Wait, I have an idea.

We could always pretend to be a servant. People don't notice those.

>>13154698
People do notice when the servant has no idea what in the hell they're doing, though.

Alex takes a vest and a buttoned shirt from a rack, they look to be about the right size, and there's a changing room to try the outfits on if she cares to spend the time.

There's a box of pins in a drawer under the desk. And with a little work, Alex figures she could take the lock off the till. Its too big to stash in her purse, but not too heavy to carry.

She also stuffs her purse full of clothes, ones that look nice, but definitely cheaper ones, made by machines and not a trained tailor.

>>13154726
True. 2 sets of clothes, then?
Regular servant type clothes to get us inside the building and past the guards, then change into an expensive dress, and if we're caught act like a lost guest?

>>13154752
I think we should pick the lock. We could really use the cash, especially to get a bath.

>>13154768
Two sets of clothes, and a dress fit neatly in the bag. A blue dress, with shiny stripes. Hope it fits.

>>13154786
Alex sets the till on top of the counter and puts a needle in, and another serves as counter to hold the locks pins in place. She licks her lips as she hears the first click into place and takes a third pin to it.

Outside, something jangles, is that the lock?

>>13154659
I dont know hoods still kinda stand out. I sugest we get something like a baker boy hat so that it obscures our face and we can toss it if people are looking for anyone waring it.

>>13154833
Put the till back, quietly go up the stairs and out the window. Close the window, and hide on the balcony.

>>13154833
anyplace to hide like a closet or something? if not sneak up to the balcony and wait untill the intruder leaves

>>13154865
There's a changing room. But the other door into the back is locked.

>What's the plan, I'll need a second if you please.

>>13154887
What's farther, the changing room, or the stairs to the second floor?
Did any of the steps creak when we were coming down?
And the changing room, are the curtains floor length, so our feet won't accidentally show if we hide in there?

>>13154862
Seconding these, but careful retreat instead of all the way out to the balcony.

>>13154833
Take the till with us, head for the window we came in through.

>>13154929
Hide on the ceiling of the changing room, Sam Fisher style.

The changing room is tempting, but getting caught isn't. Alex pulls the pins out of the till's lock and places it back where it belongs. It might be a little off, if the dusty outline is any help, but there's no time, the handle twists on its brass fittings.

Alex dashes up the stairs and onto the baclony. She's out even before the front door opens, and catches the clerk coming in.

She places a foot on the trellis to climb down, it creaks painfully loudly, and she pulls it back. Hells, hells, hells.

>>13155005
>it creaks painfully loudly, and she pulls it back
crapcrapcrap!
Is there a pile of clothing or fabric we could hide in?
Or should we chance it and get down from the balcony and hide under it?

Either way, make sure that the window is closed!

>>13155005
Climb up to the roof, then jump to the next roof over.

>>13155071

Second.

>>13155050
The window never opened, you took the upstairs door onto the balcony outside. Alex crouches under it though, and steals a quick glance inside. The clerk climbs the stairs, and roots through some of the things in the shop. He must have left something, Alex figures as she inches away from the window and finds a way to pull herself onto the roof. The shingles scratch a little as she makes her way across and jumps onto the next roof.

"Ooof!" A quick slide down a drain pipe puts Alex back in the alley, with a brand new purse filled with some nice new clothes.

>Where to next?

>>13155206
The fact that we didn't get any coins is a problem.

Is there any place where we could get a bath and look presentable, before we have to go to the ball?

>>13155206

How much time left till we're needed at the White Stag?

>>13155218
maybe we can steal asome perfume if the bath costs too much. Alternitively we could just use one of those roftop water tower thingies to take a shower.

>>13155218
In the market district, there are a few places a lady-in-waiting could go for pampering. But they're likely closed this evening. So your best bet would probably be to dive into a canal.

>>13155229
Its the evening, but you've still got an hour before Gains told you to come.

>>13155241
There's a water tower across the street, and a peddler with a cart of perfumes wandering below it. Feel like trying to palm something off him?

>>13155325

Always a good chance to improve our craft. Take the necessary precautions though.

After we're done pampering, we should check out the outside of the White Stag. We've been consistently having bad luck lately. It would be nice to have an escape route prepared.

>>13155325
the water tower seems like the least risky and it will really get you clean instead of just masking the smell.

>>13155406
I agree. Not only do we need to get rid of the smell, but also the dirt and grime. And since we're using the servant-boy disguise to get inside, I think that's more useful.

>>13155371
Alex crosses the street, follows the peddler. The cart is over burden with scented bottles and little bags of potpourri. An old woman gets the peddlers attention, he steps around to show her something, Alex backs down.

She finds stacked crates behind the building, it looks like a small warehouse for the post, and gets onto the roof. The water tower is wood, with iron rivets in the struts, easily scaled to the grates ringing it. There's a crack on one side, which leaks when she kicks it. Its freezing cold, but she sets her purse and loot down a ways away.

Shivering, and with her hair stuck to the back of her neck, Alex towels off with a scarf she swiped and puts on the servant's clothes. Simple, industrial, scratchy. The upper city is a hike away, but its time enough for her hair to dry. The buildings here have trees in the front yards, and there are more carriages on the wide roads.

The White Stag is a big building of white wood, one of the oldest in the city, with a gated fence ringing its property on one side, there's a clear lake around the back.

>>13155525
As >>13155371 suggested, let's try to take a look around, and identify some escape routes.

>>13155576
From the road outside the fence Alex counts three floors, all well lit, with balconies ringing the building's upper stories. There's a little boat launch on the lake, with row boats and a few more interesting looking craft, and a wide yard. But the iron fence separates the lodge from just walking up, and a pair of young men in formal uniforms are stopping each carriage as it arrives, though they've waved all of them through. The yard is well lit with lanterns, maybe oil, or maybe magic. Maybe some of both, given the way they seem to float in the night. She can hear a little music playing inside.

>>13155624
Is there a back or servants' entrance? Since our disguise is that of a courier boy, we should probably go that way.
Also less likely to have guards, and more ways to escape, too.

>>13155624

Are we familiar with the lake? Can we swim it?

Also, it is worth noting that Gains probably thinks we're a boy. Accosting him with a dress woould just confuse him.

>>13155664
Alex circles around to the edge of the property, where there are carts bringing in different things for the party, it looks like bigger musical instruments now.

They don't notice when she passes by, but at the door a sous chef accosts her. "Hey, are you looking for something?"

>>13155691
"Yeah, where's the loo?"

>>13155691

"Urgent message for one Mr. Gains"

>>13155691
"hello sir, I'm a journeyman from the caulking committee. Im here to make sure all the boats are propperly caulked for tonights occasion. Could you kindly show me where i may accuire some caulking?

>>13155673
You're not familiar with this lake, its probably owned by one of the Great Houses, maybe Knoveri. But Alex can swim, not well, but its a way to cool off in the summer, if you don't mind the occasional bit of flotsam stuck to you after a dip in the river.

>>13155738
The sous chef snorts. "Servant's facilities are down that hall, on the left. Just get back quickly."

Alex nods and enters, she hears him grumble about the help as she leaves. The halls are carpeted, warm, the light is almost golden on the ivory papered walls. There are some paintings here, mostly portraits with little brass etched placards.

She takes one door into a parlor, where an older man in a ruby silken sash eyes her. "Hello?"

>>13155763
"Urgent message for one Mister Gains."

"Senior or junior?" He asks, swirling brandy in a glass.

>>13155785
"For the younger, sir."

>>13155785
" the one who attends the Royal Academy of Science and Magics, you know the one with the brown beard with the grey tips."

>>13155831
>>13155850
"the one who attends the Royal Academy of Science and Magics, you know the one with the brown beard with the grey tips."

"The younger then." The man's associates chortle, "Gains with children, oh dear. Then you're like to find him in the ball room, uh ...boy. You'd be smart to delivery it quickly, or he'll be too plastered to remember it in the morning."

Alex gets directions and finds the ball room. There is a grand staircase at one side, and a bar on stage ahead of her. The floor is crowded with revelry, a long table is laid out with food, and a second with wines and spirits.

Gains is between three girls, with a glass of the sparkling blue spirit you procured for him. They giggle as he presdigitates a rose for each of them out of the aether.

>>13155913
Oh, as part of our disguise, were we able to snag a bakerboy cap?

>>13155956
Unfortunately, the shop you ripped off didn't have many hats.

>>13155972
Are we on time? If we are, I think we should stand off to the side in his vision, like an obedient messenger boy would.
We need to keep this act up...for now.

Though if he tries to double-cross us, I'm for kicking him in the balls and then making our escape, dodging into a room to quickly change clothes then nonchalantly exit via the servant entrance.

>>13155913
Hmm. He would probably not appreciate our interrupting his flirting time. Just the same, our cover won't hold forever and he did tell us to meet him here... stick to standard messenger etiquette, which I imagine has us walk up, tell him there's a message for him, and if he doesn't recognize us and asks us what it is right there, make it something like "[our name] hopes you're enjoying the [name of beverage we stole] and looks forward to speaking with you at your earliest convenience". That's just unsubtle enough to work.

>>13156024
Alex checks the grandfather clock, right on time. And waits of to his side. Gains doesn't seem to notice, but the rest of the party avoids you as well. Eventually, one of the girls draped over Gain's shoulders comes over to you.

"Can I help you with something?" She leans forward, spills wine on your shoes. She's blonde, her hair done into spiraling curls, and wears a low cut dress with an ivy and floral design.

"Um, sure? Would you tell him that Alex hopes you're enjoying the Qatam and looks forward to speaking with Mister Knoveri at his earliest convenience"

"Okay." She says, shuffling Alex's hair like a dogs, and saunters off. She whispers to him. He pauses and starts to make his way over.

"Alex?" He addresses you with a start.

>>13156077
Should we come right out and say that it's us?
Or keep up the messenger act?

>>13156077

Bow.

Say this in a low voice.

"Our employer would like to thank your sir, for choosing us in the providement of Qatam Reserve."

>>13156077
His face turns red, and breaks out in a fit of laughter. "You really showed up? PSSH! Oh, that is to much."

The girls behind him giggles as he rejoins them.

"Really, you really thought you could just drop in? Hello? Planes to Alex. Are you even in a lesser house? Would SOMEONE show this peasant out? Quickly, before it gets angry."

A valet makes his way through the crowd and ushers you toward the hallway you came in.

>>13156196
Act like nothing's wrong. "I'm sorry to hear that. Enjoy your evening." Then go with the valet, of course, and act (to him) like you just delivered a message as you were supposed to.

New project: harming Mister Gains Knoveri, for cheating and mocking us. Shouldn't even be too hard; he seems arrogant and careless. An item for tomorrow. In the meantime, head somewhere halfway decent to sleep and enjoy our clean clothes.

We should sneak back later, when they are passed out, to wreck some havoc

>>13156250
I second this. We look like a messenger boy, so continue to act like one. With someone as arrogant as Gains, I'm sure that he's done something similar to many other servants in the past.

Maybe mention to the valet once we're away from the crowd "What's his problem? Jus' doin' me job delivering a message, eh? Berk."

>>13156250
"Right." Gains says drolly, as he goes back to entertaining.

The valet gives Alex a push down the hall. "Move it, rat."

She walks, with her hands behind her, as they pass the lounge, the old man stops the valet. He clears his throat to get Alex's attention. "Stop, please."

>>13156279
No. One does not hit nobles in their houses, where they are surrounded by loyal servants and guards and what have you. That's suicide except for a highly skilled assassin, which we are not.

We know he attends the Academy. He'll come out and go wandering alone or with no more than a friend or two. We'll get him then, one way or another. No rush; he'll forget us easily except as something to laugh about.

>>13156292
"Yes, sir? How can I help you?"

>>13156292
We stop, of course. Respectfully.

>>13156292

Stop.

We don't got anything incriminatin on us now do we? Play it cool. Play it cool.

>>13156310
>>13156314
Alex pushes down the urge to bolt out the door and make for the docks, or to go and round up the Murk Water boys.

The gentleman introduces himself. "Upton Carcorough, house of the same." He waves the valet away and tips him a pence. "Come in, sit."

She does so, the couch is lined with plush cushions, the one-armed kind meant for young ladies to receive callers on.

"I saw the little scene in there, Alex." He takes out a pipe as big as her fist from a red wood box and begins to pack it, pauses. "Would you like some brandy?"

>>13156352
"No, thank you, sir."

We aren't really of brandy-drinking rank.

>>13156352

Never take a drink from kindly strangers. Ever. I got a feeling we're about to get roped into something nasty.

>>13156382
>>13156369
Agreeing with these two; decline, politely.

>>13156369
"Ah, well, all the same." He comes back over and sits across from you. Its just the two of you remaining in the small lounge, a cramped little room that smells like candied tobacco and is filled with book cases, a small hearth crackles warmly. "Are you good at keeping secrets Alex?"

>>13156382
You're at a Noble's party and have the social standing of day old bread. Can you arrange a situation wherein you don't get the short end of the stick?

>>13156416
>Are you good at keeping secrets Alex?
"Apparently not well if enough if you know my name, sir.
"But otherwise, I can keep one well enough."

>>13156416

Easy enough sir.

>>13156440
protip: he probably heard our name in the party

>>13156416
Successful larceny followed by prompt departure?

But regardless. We are no worse at keeping secrets than any other.

>>13156440
I'm pretty sure that "Alex Carvic" was an alias that we came up with last thread when we needed a name to give Gains. But pretending that it's not seems reasonable enough for now.

>>13156440
"Well don't worry about that." He says, blowing a smoke ring and peering through it, a divining spell. "That's just a little party trick to keep an eye on things. Now then, House Carcorough has some disagreements with House Knoveri. And Gains is in line to inherit the entirety of his father's interests. I think it would be quite a shame if Gains were to be thrown out of the academy, dealing with the Archmages and the Doctoral Adjutants would sully their interests immensely. You wouldn't know of anyone willing to play a small part in arranging such a thing, would you?"

>>13156498

We're an orphan. Names mean nothing really.

>>13156522
Hmm. Well, could be worse. "I might. A small part which would pay well."

>>13156522

Oh crap. We better handle this shit delicately. On one hand, he's a noble and he can have our ass in chains. On the other, we're useful to him now. We should just lowball our expected reward from this. A translation of our Aelfish poem heirloom and some marks to keep us starving for at least a year should be our minimum. Oh and not getting put in the slammer because this necessitates our turning us in.

Let's accept his offer.
>>13156576
>>13156573

Oh and do we have any enemies? Enemies our age we can frame so as to get Gains into trouble? He's an arrogant twit, he won't remember our face. Anyone fitting our build would be fine to take the fall.

"I might. A small part that pays." She says, expecting to take any offer that doesn't put her into too much hot water.

Upton finishes his drink. "Good, good. There is one thing, I can't be privy to what's being arranged, or how. I'm just a coin purse in all of this."

Her eyes perk up. A translation of her Aelfish poem and some marks to keep from starving for at least a year could be a minimum. "So, where does that put me?"

"You seem to know the young Knoveri better than I do. And this doesn't need to happen tonight, but the semester will be over in less than a month, and Gains will be gone, to seal his fathers deals on the southern colonies. Can I send you on your way with anything, master Alex?"

>>13156664
We'll need a contact to provide any compensation, of course. Presumably he has someone else in mind.

Aside from that, a modest fraction of any coin purses up front would be appreciated.

>>13156721
"Mmph, of course, of course. There's a shop in the markets district, Chosho Tobacconists, that my house has ongoing business with. I'll arrange for them to bring you on to sweep up and such. You should drop in two days time. I buy from them almost exclusively, so you'll know where to find me. Now, as for your stipend, will fifty marks hold you over?"

>>Wrapping up here, I can pick up again on Thursday 16 December if that works?

>>13156783

Holy shit. 50 marks!

>That would be great! Same time? 1700 Eastern?

>>13156819
1900 Eastern. 0100 GMT, I think. Hope this session went alright, and as always, happy to take any questions you may have, background info and the like.

>>13156836

Do nobles all know magic? Or is magic not just a big deal in this setting? Seems to be just a normal prestigious career.

>>13156878
Anyone of culture is expected to know some magic, especially simple summoning for entertaining, or divining for spying at business meetings. And anyone can learn magic, but, like Latin or Quantum Physics having any real understanding of it is also better left to professors at the Royal Academy.

Also, what should Alex set out for next time? Fifty marks is plenty of money after all, and ruining Gains is unlikely to be a one-act performance.

>>13156783
"That is quite generous, sir. I will be there."

Our career as an urchin is over. New career: Black ops agent for hire.

>>13156922

Always pays to have a hideaway. Climbing gear (thank goodness), some flares, probably a weapon (hope we won't use it).

Then dinner and rest.

Practicals first.