OOC Wouldn't take either, just raw cunning.

Leaving the shop, Guilliame walks down the street to the Fini's shop where he finds the door, which he last saw boarded up, is now un-boarded and the door closed.

Knock on the door.

Guilliame knocks on the door and waits for it to be answered. Several moments pass and then the door is opened my Master Fini.

"Hello Master de Marchant," says Fini. He then steps aside and says, "Come in, come in. As you can see, I have returned. How have things been in the city while I have been gone?"

"Unsettled. But I think there are fewer religious zealots roaming the streets, so that is an improvement. Do you know the story behind your door being nailed shut?"

"Yes, I was told that the Watch did it after someone was attacked by a monster in my shop," he says, the welcoming smile being replaced by a frown. "However, apart from the door, I can find no other damage, nor really anything missing apart from some stock that I presume you relocated to your own store. Did you get to sell any of it?"

"We have sold quite a bit. Come across when you are free and we will go through what we have sold and give you due recompense. In fact Naomi sent me across to get some more paper. But if you are reopening then I assume you will sell it yourself?"

"Actually," says Fini. "I am only here to pick up a few things, sell off unwanted stock and sell the shop. Are you interested?"

"I think we would definitely be interested in the stock. As to the shop I would need to talk to Naomi. But come over as soon as you are free and we can perhaps go out to dinner. Welcome you back for at least a little while." 

"That is very kind of you... and much appreciated," says Fini.

Then, after a moment's hesitation, he offers his hand and adds, "It is Guilliame, is it not? I know your grandmother well, but you, not so much. Please call me Frans." 

Shake hands (assuming no covid). "Good to formally meet you Frans, and welcome home. Come across now if you like or whenever you are free."

"Not home, Guilliame," says Frans, sorrowfully. "The family is with my parents. That is our new home. We came to Constantine originally because this is where the money is. But in this current climate... Well, it is not a safe place to raise children for someone of my faith, so I will only be here long enough to tidy up our affairs and then I will leave and not return."

Looking back over his shoulder into the shop, he then adds, "I will spend the day here and join you for dinner just before the sun sets... If that is convenient? Otherwise, maybe tomorrow. I expect to be here at least a couple of days."

There is an awkward moment of silence before he says, "Well I had better let you get on with your day. Thanks for dropping in and we can settle up and talk about your buying any stock later, if you like. I will give you first chance at it."

[OOC: Clearly Fini wants to get back to whatever it was he was doing, so what do you want Guilliame to do now?]

OOC When is Guilliame due at the Sheriff's - I suspect I'm overcommitting here.

Quote from Guilliame >>

OOC When is Guilliame due at the Sheriff's - I suspect I'm overcommitting here.

[No, you're good so far. The 8th candle after sunrise is a couple of hours after noon, well before dinner and Guilliame's shift on the watch that starts at the 2nd candle after sunset.

It is now about still before noon, so Guilliame has 2 and something hours before his meeting with the sheriff.]

"Very well. We will see you later. Can I take some paper for sale though. It has been a solid seller."

"Sure, that is good," says Frans motioning for Guilliame to follow him into the shop. Once inside, Frans gathers together a few smaller stacks paper into a larger one and hands them to Guilliame. "We can settle up this evening, if that is all right," he says.

He then looks around and says, "I still cannot believe how lucky we were that the place was not stripped of everything. Liluri must have been looking after it for me." Then he casually heads back towards the door to show Guilliame out, while saying, "Anyway, thanks again for selling some of my stock, but now I must get back to work. I have to clean up my paper press in preparation for the trip."

"We will see you later."

Head back to shop with the paper.

Saying goodbye to Fini, Guilliame walks back up the street carrying his fresh supplies of paper products to find Granny serving a customer in the shop. Guilliame recognises the customer as a regular, Nabarak (Nab) Colia, a candle maker who uses some of the herbal supplies the shop sells to scent this candles.

Nab Colia is a middle-aged man who puts himself forward as being of pure blood Sorendenese descent—to the point he is well on his way to developing the fully crimped beard of a Sorendenese patriarch—but there is a sturdiness to his frame that suggests there might be Stemian blood in this family history.

"Blessed day, Guilliame," says Master Colia with a slight bow when he sees Guilliame. "From the looks of it, you are branching out into another line of trade... With Fini gone, I can see how that might be a good proposition."

"Blessed day, Master Colia. It's always good to branch out. Perhaps even franchise. I am hoping some day soon every second shop will be a Masterful mixtures."

Master Colia smiles at Guilliame's joke and then says, "My own aspirations are not so great... So, I hope you will forgive me in hoping that my own simple shop is one of those others not part of your soon-to-be glorious franchise."

Granny gives a rueful smile behind Colia's back and then, while placing a small hessian bag on the counter, says, "That will be 2 lions, Master Colia."

Colia turns back to Granny, fetches out a purse and pulls two of the larger copper pieces out of it and places them on the counter. "There you go," he says. "The rain a couple of days ago has brought something of an increase in the demand for these specialist candles and I was running low on stock. Now I will be able to make another batch."

[OOC: I will stop here to let Guilliame interact with Colia, if you want him to. If not, then Colia will leave the store at the beginning of the next post.]