Re: Svarik and the company II

[Mirach]

"Alright," Senecio nodded. "I will just need to stop for some of my things on the way back, so that I don't have to walk around in borrowed clothes, if it's no problem..."

[VisAnastasis]

Hans's eyes did glisten with a little bit of malice, as he recognized inconvenience that was still okay for him to cause to actor, despite his hands were otherwise mostly tied.
" It's needless loss of time to do it now. You can pick up the clothes early tomorrow morning, while I am busy working through the rewriting of script." He just said simply, with but very light doze of pleasure." I don't want to lose precious time for it today."

[Mirach]

"Fine," Senecio just nodded, careful to not reveal if it bothered him.

[VisAnastasis]

 I first just need to pay our tracker for his valuable help. I made a meal, and deal's a deal. Pack up the papers, I'll be done in a minute.  Hans said then, and, after he with grace and thankfulness sent his men away, he turned to the lovely beast. He nodded to it with respect and he then closed his eyes, and extended to it his wrist. Beatiful creature woofed at him, almost as if a dog would - and then, it opened its jaw, revealing sharp teeth, and it bit into Han's wrist, probably into veins and arteries, and then it seemed to start to gulp on and drink his blood. It seemed it wasn't first time Hans was doing this, as he did not flinch, only calmly let dog like creature drink for a while.

[Mirach]

Senecio was gathering the papers, but he couldn't help it but glance at the creature curiously.

[VisAnastasis]

The creature feasted on Spirit's blood for a while, until Hans's face grew a little pale. But then, it stopped, and after carefully removing its sharp teeth from the wrist, it licked the wound, and as if under effect of its saliva, wound started to heal. It was gone within moment, and then, man probed his hand and smiled, and bowed to creature deeply, saying his thanks, presumably, on Spirit language. Critter bowed back softly, and then, with permission, it leaned forth, and lightly licked Hans's face with fondness in goodbye, before it gracefully turned away, and skipped and run of elegantly into deeper layers of the world.

[Mirach]

"A seal vampire?" Senecio asked curiously. "I didn't know something like that existed?"

[VisAnastasis]

 It's just a lovely low demon, that's all.  No biggie about it. " Hans couldn't help but smile somehow bemusedly, yet somewhat sadly, with actor's curiosity. " It lived in sea in old ages, drinking blood and liquids within first living things, though it by this point evolved beyond point of needing it to sustain itself. It still loves it though, and Spirit blood, specially one of Singers, is a special treat to it.  he explained, as he stretched a little slowly, as if to get more comfortable in this form after the blood loss. " Tide loves it very dearly - though it's no wonder, for he loves many people very dearly. It's one of his seaside.. friends. I often make deals with it, when I have to find something, or when I have murder or theft case to solve. It's not like Erdel, that lad's a masterpiece of nature, sure, but it's seances are still very commendable, better than any other Spirit's or Demon's that likes nearby. "

[Mirach]

"He helped us a lot, without him we could be searching for days," Senecio said, and carefully  put the pages of the script into a hard case.

[VisAnastasis]

" Yes, they are very helpful creatures. There're only three of them left in the world that me and Tide know of, so we are pretty protective of them, though same goes for most of our kin, I suppose. " Hans just said simply, waiting for actor to gather things. " Let's go get that dinner, then, I'm starving. " he said, and he then, after they left theater, led actor to a pretty fine classy restorant, that way high up in some castle beside shore, and had a lovely view at the sea.

[Mirach]

Senecio wouldn't admit before Hans how hungry he was, but the grumbling of his stomach gave it away when they could smell all the tasty meals.

[VisAnastasis]

Hans noticed it, alright, and he seemed to take full advantage of it - he ordered food for them himself, saying it's his treat, and whispered something to the waiter, giving him a big tip. His part of order came first, of course, and it looked utterly delicious, as most expensive and tasty treat  - and he satisfied himself with starting eating right away, mumbling sounds of great delight at its tastiness, while actor's belly still grumbled.

[Mirach]

The actor wouldn't give him the satisfaction of being impatient. He studied the surroundings and the view while Hans ate. "Does Tide like it here?" he asked.

[VisAnastasis]

" It's not a common restaurant. It is on border between first layer and a third one. Owner is a Low Spirit, and cook is a low sea guardian. They delight in serving everything that comes. Everything's an illusion. You see people, but it's just a spell, we are mostly surrounded by tiny demons and spirits of sea, and only part is human. This place is a well kept public secret among my kin."  he sipped the delightful beverage. " Because of the particular environment, food made here is especially tasty, though too expensive for the likes of you, I presume. Tide loves it. "

[Mirach]

"I see... but still, can I look at the prices in the menu?" Senecio asked, just coming to the decision to invite Tide here sometimes, when he is able to get a new patron, and wondering how much should he save for that and how long will it take.

[VisAnastasis]

" Suite yourself. Just beware  -for last couple of centuries, mostly royalty comes here. Prizes are intentionally high to discourage humans taking up all of this Beings safe place. " Hans said with some grim satisfaction, and handed actor the menu - prizes ere indeed, astronomical ... You could easily buy a new boat or expensive instrument whole, for cheapest item on the menu.

[Mirach]

Senecio raised his eyebrows a little, but studied the prices carefully, calculating. "Are all Beings that wealthy? Or are the prices different for humans?" he asked.

[VisAnastasis]

" You see only what your human eyes can see. It's not your fault. Those are human prices, after all.  But in our little safe bubble we created here,  currencies we established are a touch.. different. " Hans just said, mysteriously and alluringly, as he swallowed yet another delicious slice. " It requires a blood prize, and a pact of peace, and it requires you to make a deal with... Tide. Let's leave it like that and not dwell too much on technicalities. " he sipped his wine. "That said, we let humans pay the money, and while some of us mays money too, most of us pay in blessings, in blood, magical artifacts, and deals. Those kind of stuff. It's like our little special thing. For each meal you take, a token is places for you and hair is taken from you, which means when Tide call for your aid in something or needs you to give your blessing to someone, you are obliged to do it. It's part of the Tide's deal. Of course, Tide can not call for something huge in exchange for meal, sure, it's not his way - but if, let's say, some Spirit or Demon in Tide's care is hurt and could benefit from help of someone who eats here, Tide will call upon his for favor, and he'll be obliged to come. Similarly, Tide makes sure to keep an eye out for everyone eating here, and making sure everyone's well fed and taken care of, with food most suites for his specie. Tide's insistence on cooperation makes this place very unique... And popular. "

[Mirach]

"Oh... so this place belongs to him? I was thinking about taking him here, but that would be a bit awkward, taking him to a place he owns... But still, what are his tavourite meals here? Just for inspiration..."

[VisAnastasis]

" It's not really his - he is just... a very friendly person. Since he is beloved by both Spirits and Demons of the area, owner chose him as confidant and middleman, and Tide as well personally likes to make sure everyone's well looked after, and comes here often, just to see whom of his friends is around and if anyone needs something. He's just that kinds of guy. You can still bring him here sometimes, without it being awkward. And number 3 and 5 are his favorite things on the menu. You see it under different name and description, of course, that we do, so you just need to specify to waiter to bring you demon version of the meal. " Hans explained, and then, sipping some from his glass of wine, he teased. " You have no blessings that you can offer for service, though, so by Tide's measurement, you're pretty useless, and can't use token system. " he said innocently, using word *useless* with particular grim pleasure. " Those are most expensive items, though, little human, as some ingredients are really hard to get by, so you'll have to save quite a bit, if you really want to treat Tide here. "

[Mirach]

"Do humans come here often?" Senecio asked, ignoring the tease. "Maybe just to check it out, see the meals and their prizes? I really wonder that they don't find it suspicious. I mean, there's too many people here. With the prices, just the top five or ten people from the city should be able to afford it, maybe fifty from the whole coast. And those tend to know each other. If I would be one of those, I would find it quite suspicious, to see this many people here, and most of them unknown to me. And if I would be just a random passer-by who strayed in, seeing the prices and all the people who seem to be able to afford it, I would find it weird as well. I would expect maybe one or two guests per day..." 

[VisAnastasis]

Hans shrugged a little, as if little bemused by his comment.
" It's a mystery, isn't it? " he said innocently. " It seems humans here but see what they wish to see. Humans that are not rich enough do come by sometimes. It happens. Seeing the prices is thankfully, good enough to make most of them chose to leave. This is one of couple places of  this kind that is safe space for Spirits and Demons, I told you. Humans have whole world for their safe space. " he smiled mirthlessly, as he took another bite from his delicious meal. " We want to have our place, but with Death's forces always probably lurking around, we need to keep safe spaces concealed under other labels. We do what we can, to discourage many to overwhelm it. But it is marketed as a, so to say, high end establishment, where no questions are asked, if you can afford prices, and they also have safe rooms with enchantments that hide your presences. That said.... " he caused discretely. " It is assumed along the coast that most of the people that come are either super wealthy, or... in some shady businesses, once you get killed if inquiring too much into. That's how it more suits us Beings. Moment we come in here, we are all highly under weight of illusions spells of this place. Nobody sees us supernatural ones as we really look, as we're all masked to look as humans. Only you, you are human and look as when you entered this place, and can be recognized by others of your kin. I sure do hope none of your former *patrons* or high end fans are here. " he looked around sheepishly. " It would be quite awkward for you to explain, what are you doing with a figure unknown and probably shady, in this place. "

[Mirach]

Senecio looked around carefully, to see if there is someone he knows. "Nobody I know..." he said. "But being an actor means that much more people know me than I know them. But why should I explain something like that? Fans enjoy a bit of a mystery and scandal. It's almost expected from you... But, if payment for meals for your kind is a deal with Tide, how does Tide pay? Is it free for him? Because inviting him for something he can have free is still awkward..." Senecio asked, as if he could actually afford it.

[VisAnastasis]

" It would be free, if he would but bid for it. Alas, I think you know Tide well enough by no, even in this short time, to guess. " Hans sighed a little, seeming little bewildered and resigned with his statement, despite he was still looking at actor, measuring him up intently. " Tide uses token system as well, and eats here often, too. For each meal he takes, he is assigned a token, and whoever comes to eat here and desires it, can take one token, and in exchange get one blessing from Tide. " he took a deep tired breath. " It's needless, really - because Tide would bless anyone freely. He just loves when people approach him on their own, seeking for his blessing. He works with many Spirits and Demons into cooking, and funds restorants like those along coast. and eats in them often, always leaving tokens - so that, if someone new showed up, they could bid for help from him. It's just something that brings him joy, and one another of his little subtle tricks that help him meet up as many critters as possible. "

[Mirach]

Senecio nodded, having suspected that. "Still it's quite crowded..." he murmured, having some private train of thought, maybe some plan about how he could treat Tide here. "But, anyways, we are losing time here. It seems the service is a bit slower to humans, so I'm going to read through the script meanwhiles," he said, ignoring his hunger further and taking out the script so he could start reading it and refreshing his memory about the missing scenes.