Reluctant Buisiness Partners [Jenn] (finished)

[Lucca]

The streets of the Capital were bustling with Cards of all colors, ranks, and regions, as was normal for this time of day. Hating the crowds, one cardinal had decided to try and stay away from them as much as possible by flying to his destination, but this was proving to be more of an annoyance than he'd anticipated. Already, he'd have several kids try to jump at him, several other birds who'd had the same idea try to start up a chat (which he was in no mood for today), and one particularly daring little card try to grab at the brown messenger bag slung over his shoulder. A quick scratch of his claws downward had solved that one.

It was with some relief that Colin finally found his destination: a large building with the words "Lakeland Shipping Co." displayed prominantly. Clipping his wings, the Villa native dove and landed right...in a bush. An undignified squawk emerged from his beak before he could stop it, and Colin quickly struggled out onto the steps and brushed the leaves out of his feathers self-consciously.

Firmly ignoring anyone who was staring at him, Colin held his head high and strutted into the building. "Such is the undignified fate of all those who are lowered to the status of 'messenger boy'," Colin muttered to himself with a slight sigh.

Forcing a well-practiced smile onto his beak, he made a beeline for the desk, and the Card sitting there. "Excuse me," he intoned in a voice that betrayed none of his misgivings, "I'm here on behalf of my mother's fabric buisiness...I believe she wrote you a letter last week discussing her intentions to expand her buisiness through the help of your firm?"

[The Jenn]

The man at the desk looked up as the door opened and the sparrow stepped in. He was a biped Selkie feline, hired part-time to man the front desk and handle customers while he worked his way through college in the city. His head nodded politely and he smiled before the man began speaking, betraying only a little bit of nervousness. He'd only started working there three weeks ago and he still had a lot of things to hash out. "One moment while I check with someone in the back, please, sir." His upper half bobbed in a pseudo-bow before he hurried through a door behind the counter, into the office.

Rogers sat staring at his fish as it swam circles around its bowl, having been distracted a minute ago from the sheet of figures on the desk in front of him. When the temp approached, he looked up guiltily. "I heard the door open a minute ago. Someone need me?"

The feline nodded. "Someone on behalf of a fabric business who sent a letter a week ago about expanding?" He didn't open the mail, so he had no clue about the situation.

Nodding, the Morganberry dug through his file cabinet for a second and pulled out what he assumed to be the letter. "Yes, I replied to that one. I'll be right out." He dug out a few more sheets of paper, forms he'd paper clipped to the letter for when they sent a representative, and went out to meet with the customer.

"Hello, sir. My name is Rogers. I'm a partner in the business, the one who responded to your company's inquiry. If you could please follow me to one of our conference rooms, I'll be happy to assist you."

[Lucca]

"Of course." Colin nodded politely, the smile still frozen on his beak as the feline left the room. He was glad the desk worker had been prompt, despite his apparent lack of experience working this job. Colin's eyes strayed around the room, taking in its decor with an air of indifference. He just wanted to get this over with so he could get back to his piano at home. The claws on his left leg drummed idly on the floor as he waited, though as soon as he heard the door to the other room open, he stood straight at attention, greeting the Card that emerged with the same fake smile.

His eyes widened slightly in surprise, though, at finding that Rogers was a Villa! Well...half Villa. Still, it was rare that Colin was fortunate enough to do business with someone of his own region when travelling outside of it. Maybe his mother was onto something with this one, but only time would tell.

"Thank you, sir," Colin responded with a slight bow, ignoring the few leaves that fluttered to the ground out of his feathers and hoping the other man did too. How embaressing for his clumsiness to show itself so obviously today. Feathers slightly ruffled, he followed Rogers to the aforementioned conference room.

[The Jenn]

It was usually a pleasure to deal with full Villas. Their business ideas were usually quite interesting. Also, they reminded Rogers of his father, and he loved his father, even if the man was a bit of a flake. He smiled politely at the man, yellow-trimmed ears flicking forward to pay attention. Small, growing businesses made up a valuable part of their operations and they'd been expanding to more personalized services for many of these individuals.

He carefully didn't say anything about the small fluffing of feathers, wondering if the man had flown in. Most of the people he spent time with when he wasn't working were birds, from his mate to the man who may as well be his brother and all of the relatives associated with Theofilus. It wouldn't at all be polite to mention unless the man made a joke about it himself, and he didn't seem so inclined.

Entering the small conference room, he held the door open and then closed it behind them. Inside sat a round table, large enough for six to sit comfortably. In the corner there stood a tall plant that the canine made a mental note to water later and two windows allowed in some natural light. On the table, a pitcher of water and a variety of cups and bowls sat, ready for use regardless of the client's physical conditions.

Rogers settled the papers he'd brought with him in front of one of the chairs and turned to the cardinal. "Can I pour you a glass of water, sir?"

[Lucca]

Colin gave the room a cursory glance, seeing the basic conference room setup, and feeling some dissapointment that the room wasn't a little more aesthetically pleasing. He wondered what creativity Rogers may have gotten with his Villa inheritance, but that was hardly a proper topic of discussion for a buisiness meeting, so he shelved that curiosity for now. Besides, Rogers may not necessarily be high enough up in the company to control the decor of the building. At least there were windows, so the room wasn't unbearably stuffy.

Colin looked at the other man as he was addressed, walking to stand near the chair that was across from the one the papers had been set at. "Oh, yes, thank you," he said politely, deciding he did feel a little thirsty after that long flight over. He stood waiting to be invited to have a seat, eyes brushing over the papers with casual interest, though decided this was as good a time to introduce himself as any. "My name is Colin, and as you know, I'm here representing my mother's fabric buisiness."

[The Jenn]

Rogers chose one of the bowls more commonly used by their avian customers and half-filled it with water, pouring himself a glass and motioning for Colin to sit before he did so himself. "Yes, we received your letter last week and I did a bit of research into the regions your company's owner expressed an interest in shipping to. With the Villa behind your business, it shouldn't be too difficult to attract potential customers. I'm assuming that you have several interested parties already lined up and need a reliable means of shipping the products?"

He studied the man for a moment as he sipped at his water. It was always interesting to try and 'read' Villas by their words, though he knew that such a thing could be dangerous if you formed too many false assumptions. His own words were forward enough, 'complicated' and another version of 'determined', but many other people weren't so easy. This man seemed to be an interesting contrast. 'Wrath' and 'forthright'? That could mean one of any number of things. He had a feeling he didn't want to rile the bird, if at all possible.

"So would you prefer to get straight to business, Mr. Colin, or would you rather take a moment to relax? I'll admit curiosity to where in the Villa you come from. I haven't been there in almost two decades." He'd never lived in the place, but they'd visited regularly enough because of his father.

[Lucca]

Colin was actually a little insulted that he was given a bowl instead of a glass. Not for the first time, he felt ashamed of the fact he didn't have a biped form. None of this showed on his face, however, as he sat down when motioned to, still with the fake smile firmly plastered on his beak, and accepted the bowl, gracefully dipping his head to take a sip.

"You are correct," Colin said, removing the messenger bag from his shoulder and setting it on the chair next to him, before taking a folder out of it and setting it in front of him. "We haven't really shipped any of our products so far; the owner uses the fact that most of us are Avian to her advantage. But delivering all the products by hand is getting to be a bit much for our limited staff, especially with all the new locations we're hoping to sell to." Translation: Colin was tired of being his mother's errand boy all the time.

He was in the process of looking at the papers in the folder and removing them with a claw when the other man spoke again. "Hm?" Colin paused. On the one hand, he wanted to get this over with as soon as possible. On the other...it WOULD be nice to have a chance to talk about his home...

"I don't have anywhere else particular to be today," he decided, leaving the folder alone for now. "So we can take a little time to relax. I currently live near Laurel Ridge with my family. Been there all my life, actually." He couldn't help but a bit stunned at Rogers' words. Two decades was a LONG time to be away...Colin could never imagine being away from his beautiful home for so long.

[The Jenn]

Rogers didn't pick up on Colin's reaction to the bowl, having already turned back to the papers in front of him. At least he'd bothered to organize them earlier that week. It would have been unprofessional to make the man wait, especially when they'd mailed ahead. He just hadn't been sure what day of the week they would visit, and Rosewood had been very... distracting that week. He was lucky to have his mind on work at all.

When the cardinal pulled out his own set of papers, the canine sat up straighter and rested his hands and on the table in front of him, slightly crossed. "Yes, I can see how an increase in business and broadening of locations could put a strain on your normal couriers. We have quite a few avians working here as well. The company's managing partner and his family are mostly sparrows, which had helped the business expand immensely in the early years."

And yes, it looked like there would be a little chatter in between business. That would be pleasant. He didn't interact with Cards from the Villa on a day-to-day basis and it was nice to catch up on word from the realm. "Laurel Ridge... you know, I think my father lived only a mile from there growing up, a few levels higher and closer to the Talia's Ploom area. Lots of talent in that area. Do you play?" Music was most traditional, but for all he knew, the man could be an artist or writer or actor in his spare time... or anything else.

[Lucca]

Colin nodded at the man's words, wondering if any of the sons and daughters of the managing partner had ever felt used, like he did every time his mother asked him to run her little errands. It might have even been better if she HADN'T paid him for it...but now was hardly the time for long reflection on these matters. "Indeed," he chirped, and took a few papers out of the folder, sliding them the canine's direction. They would be request forms from several shops and custom tailors from all over the Realms who wanted to buy the fabric. "And these are just the ones we've agreed to."

Colin perked up as they spoke of the Villa. Buisiness was one thing...speaking of his wonderful home was another. "Talia's Ploom is a lovely place. Nice flowers," he commented offhandedly, having been there numerous times. But at the question, his beak split into a true grin, and his tone took on quite a bit or pride. "Piano," he informed the part-Villa. "I give concerts in the local hall once a week."

[The Jenn]

Rogers reached out and slid the papers closer, glancing down at the forms and nodding slowly. "You have a good bit of business lined up. I can see why you're in need of a quick means of expansion," he agreed, tapping one claw against the paper.

The name of their business... it sparked a slight memory. But what? He watched the man perk and smiled slightly. What Villa didn't enjoy talking about their particular art? "That's quite the accomplishment, from everything I know. They only regularly schedule the best in the area. My father had never gotten that good, but he preferred traveling anyway. He was a drummer - hand drums." They'd all grown up with a good sense of rhythm, though he'd been the only one of his brothers who didn't embarrass himself when he sang. His father had long lamented their general lack of musical talent.

And then the memory tickled by this bird's company slowly crept to the surface and his eyebrows rose. "A quick question... does the owner of your company have a daughter who's especially musically talented? I seem to remember someone with this family name being bandied about the last time I read any news from the realm and it only just struck me."

((OOC: ...so yeah, I totally want to see what happens. xD Sooooorry, Colin!))