Leto Karme
Jewelcraft Extraordinaire
The Future of Leto's Shop (Krait please, private) Continued from here. No customers whatsoever in the past three brightenings, only to be approached by two men who reeked of ouzo, and the other one whom was apparently smoking a cigarette within Leto's shop. He held his breath at first, then let out a sigh. "Chairete, I am indeed Leto Karme..." he then said as he looked towards each of them, a thought crossing his mind as to whether they would want to purchase something or not. Or if these happened to be two of the people that were willing to assist in keeping his shop open without needing a merchant's license. Now, Leto really didn't have a problem with going out and renewing it for a thousand crowns, he certainly had the money for it, and the surplus he made off of it wouldn't be a problem throughout the era. But he wondered what Epiktetos would do in this situation he happened to be in. Would he see what these men whom smelled of alcohol wanted, or would he turn them away. Might as well see what they actually want, rather than miss an opportunity when it's presented to him, if indeed there was an opportunity. "What is it that I can help you with today, kyrios?" he asked them then, his sapphire hued eyes scanning them deeply... |
"Good," the blonde boy spoke up again rather curtly, "We are here about your... interest... to do business with us," he got straight down to business, albeit spoken slowly in a wary manner. "We represent the Kondonyanis," he paused, deliberately giving time for the proprietor of the "Eukataktos" to process the word and the implication behind it. And Leto should be by now familiar with the word, or rather the 'name' there... The Kondonyanis was a native gang. Starting out as a group of young Secyclid delinquents who spent most of their brightenings, loitering, drinking and playing Pilbolas, challenging teams for money, they later upgraded to fully setting up sports gambling rings, before getting into the lucrative endeavor of running a "protection racket", in which they collect "protection money" from businesses inside their "territory". The Kondonyanis, though mostly made up of... what could be termed as 'children', were known hooligans, young and dangerous, with a reckless zeal and lust for getting into fights with complete disregard for their own safety - so much - that they have established quite a fierce reputation in Secyclion's underworld, to even earn respect from the other more mature gangs and the pirate groups themselves. In fact, it was known that the Kondonyanis involvement in the "protection business" was initially an off-shoot enterprise from the pirates, who hired them to terrorize the local trades and craftsmen should they refuse to pay. "... and we have been watching you," the boy smiled, looking more like a predator than he was friendly. "Good to see your business is doing well," he continued, his Common fluent though heavily accented with strong traces of an Ariosian flair to it. The boy was probably a half-breed, a Secyclid judging from his features, perhaps interlaced with other Eunesian blood, most notably Arios. "... or not so well," he looked around the empty shop, and turned back to Leto with a sympathetic shrug, "But perhaps we can help you with that. For two thousand crowns, and for a small fee every season, you can get right back into business, and maybe even be more successful than before!" he flashed another smile, one that was supposed to be assuring as he took a sip from his bottle before handing it over to Leto, "Want some?" he asked. His companion remained standing glumly, one hand on hip while the other idly fondled the cigarette he kept inhaling from. |
Leto smiled as he moved behind the counter, allowing the two men to watch him as he listened to what all they happened to be speaking to him, and offering him. Upon the offer of some Ouzo, Leto shook his head, but then thought about what they had offered previously. Do I trust these hooligans? or were they the reason my shop isn't doing as good as it could be doing? he thought, and then allowed his sapphire gaze to fall upon them once more. The choice was simple, he'd take their offer for now, in hopes that he could increase his business. But first he needed some information from them. "How much is it per season? Will the profit I make be more than is needed for this 'protection'?" he asked, looking towards them with all seriousness in his eyes. He didn't mind paying the fee, so long as he was definitely making something off of it. It was a dirty world out there, playing businessman, but Leto had to do something in order to stay afloat. "And these merchant taxes, are they over and above this little seasonly fee?" he finished, looking at the boys seriously, his hands flat upon the counter, supporting his weight as he leaned against it, no tunic present, merely wearing a feyanella about his waist... |
"Ah, not much... not much," the boy gave a coy shrug, and look over to his partner, who smiled back while he flicked his cigarette ash to the floor. "Fifty percent of your seasonal profits!" he gaily announced, extending his hand, all fingers splayed apart as emphasis. "I know it might sound pricey along with the two thousand crowns, but you don't have to worry about your license ever again, or merchant's tax, or any such tax, and especially... future complications..." he gave Leto a stern and sharp gaze, looking at him straight into the eye, to see if this young tradesmen was getting the message. "... such as lack of customers... or damage of property to name a few..." he added, speaking with deliberately slowness as to ensure Leto comprehend what he truly meant to say, and then waited for his reaction. The other boy with the cigarette coughed a bit as he came over to lean on the counter directly opposite Leto, smiling broadly at the jewelcrafter, one hand resting on the hilt of his weapon, while the other rested on top the counter, barely an inch away from Leto's own hands. The deep brown eyes of his roamed all over Leto in quite… an uneasy manner, like a predator sizing up its prey. Up so close, Leto could certainly see his feature more clearly. He was roughly around the same age as Leto, and wasn't exactly bad looking, though he boasted a crooked nose, and a few small scars over a cheek and an eyebrow, a testimony to his violent lifestyle. |
Leto's jaw nearly hit the counter when he heard what the boy was offering. Fiftey percent! To get more customers, and no property damage. Feth it all, this wasn't a deal, he thought, but then sighed, and realized he had no other options lest the boys might just flay him here and now. And he certainly didn't what that to happen. Looking towards the boys, he said, "Deal. If you can offer protection from damages to my store, and an increase in customers, then what do I have to complain about?!" As he exclaimed this, a slight smile crossed his face, and he nodded to them. "Where can I send the crowns to?" he then asked, brushing a hand through his short brown hair, looking towards the two of them wondering where they wanted him to send the crowns to, or if they wanted him to fork them over right then and there... |
The two boys looked at each other in mild surprise. Why, this had been easier than they expected. Usually they were met with resistance because those damn money-minded merchants always protested such obvious cut-throat pricing, hence why they resorted to such a high price for an opener. It was part of the negotiating play, meant to partially 'convince' the merchant he's getting his money's worth so there won't be much hard feelings around or leave the potential need to dispute the deal in the future. Some merchants of course proved to be a little too pushy, very demanding, or downright uncooperative and that's when the muscles start getting into the picture. If you cannot make them submit willingly, then beat the fear into them until they do. They both grinned at each other, somewhat happy they have chanced upon such an inexperience and easy prey. The crew had already been expecting, at the very most, a thirty percent cut from Leto's shop, and now they were going to have an extra twenty percent... Lucky! That further twenty percent will so never make it back to the hands of their bosses. It will be split between the two of them. Such was the way things work. "We come and collect payment every end of the first cycle of the first month of the season, so make sure you have the money ready. Don't delay too much. We are good men, we can be patient if you having problems, but don't make this a habit. Also we take care of our clients, so if you have any trouble... say bad people come and threaten you or your business, or customers giving you hard time, or the authorities demand too much, or even things like you cannot find suppliers or good deals... let us know, we will straighten those things out for you. You don't need to worry about anything, just focus on making money..." the blonde boy flashed an assuring smile. "If you need to find us, just look for the Kondonyanis, and you will find us. You local too, I am sure you know how to. As a measure of our goodwill to you, we won't ask you to pay for this season. You start from next. We know you in trouble, pirates have cause many businesses to suffer. But, you must pay for license upfront. We need you to give us the two thousand crowns now. You keep money in bank yes? Do you have check?" he asked. |
"I keep enough extra crowns at this shop in order to secure them without a problem. I really should start utilizing the bank, but I can get you the crowns if you'll be so patient as to wait down here while I go up into my workshop to grab what I have. It should amount to about two thousand crowns, exactly what you're asking for..." he said, and then departed upstairs to his secret stash, hidden under the workbench behind the jugs of jewels. The point of it being hidden there, was so that if robbers ever did come to his shop, they'd hopefully go after the gems first rather than the crowns, as they'd likely see them first. Returning downstairs with two bags of a thousand crowns each, Leto set them down in front of the men, still wary of them, and not wanting to upset them too much. "Here you go, a thousand crowns in each bag, kept safe by my locked doors at night, and by me during the daytime..." he said, and pushed them across the counter towards the men. "I hope that will take care of the initial payment for your services," he said, and then patiently waited for them to speak further, and agree, or disagree which wouldn't be in his best interest possibly. Fortunately though, for him, he didn't have any further crowns within his shop, and the rest were safely back at home in Epiktetoes' room, under the bed there, so as to keep them safe with the coven... |
The boys looked much pleased and were grinning like crocodiles until Leto came up with the bag of money. Then they looked... worried. Why, they can't walk out into the streets carrying such obvious loot with them, especially where they were heading there were equally many money sharks sniffing about. "Urm... we prefer those in paper," the blonde boy muttered. "Or perhaps jewels equal in value," the other piped up as he looked around. "This is a jewel store right." The idea of carrying a few dozen or so of small raw or already cut pieces would be better than carrying two thousand gold crown pieces for sure. "You really ought to put your money in the bank," said the blonde boy again with the most disarming smile, as if he was a concerned good erastes imparting wise advise to the younger eromenos, and not some crook who just made Leto two thousand crowns poorer. Patiently they waited for Leto's next move. OOC: btw just in case you're thinking of roleplaying opening a bank account, I suppose you could do it in this thread heh |
"I supposed you're right, walking around with this many crowns would indeed be a terrible burden. I do have plenty of jewels that are equal in value though, that I could give you instead, rubies that is. The last of my personal rubies, two are cut, the other ten are raw, i believe that would equal two thousand crowns, or a bit more if haggled with the right tradesman," said Leto as he looked towards the two boys, putting the money back, and then retrieving the gems, and placing them in a smaller pouch. Handing it over to them, he said, "I'll head to the bank straight away in order to secure an account for the money i've collected over the Eras..." And once the business was completed with the boys, Leto would make his way over to the bank, only carrying about five hundred of the crowns with him that time, in order to not be conspicuous that he actually had two thousand crowns at his shop, and another ten thousand back at the coven... |
The blonde boy looked over to his dark haired companion for approval of the rubies though all he got in reply was a shrug. Turning back to Leto, he smiled and accepted the bag. They both had no idea how to appraise the stones, but twelve pieces of precious rubies, with two of them cut, seems like a pretty good deal enough. After all the figure of two thousand was only 'figurative' so to speak. The main concern was they have Leto already, yet another merchant on the block ready to contribute to their income. "This will do," he nodded. "And yes, you should go to the bank. Letting your money lie around the place is not a very good idea. If robbers find out... see we may offer protection, but we don't cover negligence. Also the next time we come around, you might want to prepare some paper money for us to avoid any further inconvenience," he winked, gave a friendly farewell pat on Leto's shoulder before gesturing to his partner to depart from the shop. So it seems business has now concluded. Just another brightening in Secyclion's trading hub...
|