OPEN | come away, oh human child

[keenly]

WHO: Colin
WHAT: Setting up shop, literally
WHEN: Present through the end of the month
WHERE: The Gallows
NOTES: The Inquisition's Kirkwall branch now has a general goods store where you can get a discount. Yaay.

All day yesterday was hard work, getting everything off the ship, getting the key for the place, testing the key to the place, carting in load after load of crap, et cetera et cetera but today is the day the store actually opens.

Colin has run a business, sort of, but this is his first time actually running his own store. It's a dream come true, especially since the day the templars dragged him away from his family and locked him in a tower. Now, it's starting to feel like he might be able to leave it all in the past. If he can only get this lyrium shipment sold, maybe he'll have some padding if business goes poorly at first. It feels like it's burning a hole in his pocket, so to speak. Not his literal pocket.

To lure people into the store during the noontime, he has crafted a massive street-pan full of an Antivan paella, spicy with chilies and sweet with seafood and steaming hot. On other days it might be a lamb meatball soup, spicy and vinegary and fatty, with a side of fresh bread. Or it might be delectably grilled onions, eggplants, and tomatoes with hot and fresh sausages. Whatever it is, the meal always costs the same day-to-day, and is always delicious even on the days when he's clearly paying less to produce it, making up for more extravagant days.

Comments

[misdirection_hex]

There are few better ways to lure Vandelin anywhere than with exotic food he's never tried. The cheaply-stocked kitchens of the Hasmal tower had not been a place for experimentation, nor had the hasty cookfires and campsites out on the run with nothing but what his ragtag group could catch or steal, but he'd done his best--and Kirkwall is a place for new opportunities.

Drawn magnetically into the shop as if floating in on the cloud of saffron-scent, he leans on his staff and surveys the pan with appraising eyes. He wants to see how many ingredients he can identify, though it would be both impolite and far too difficult to try and reverse-engineer the recipe.

"And I just came in for some new socks. I didn't know all this fell under the purview of 'general goods.'"

[keenly]

Colin takes private pride in how the man lingers to appreciate the sight, but he didn't learn cookery from the Circle.

"My mother ran a food stall in Denerim," he replies with a little smile as he finishes stirring everything up. "I also sell bowls, if you didn't bring your own," he adds helpfully. "I can't guarantee there'll be anything left if you run off to fetch one, either."

[misdirection_hex]

Had he entered the shop in a better mood, that would have genuinely made him smile. As it is, it doesn't quite reach his eyes, but he makes an effort. "Yeah, I'll bet you can't," he says, impressed in spite of himself by the clever business model.

"All right. I'll bite. How much for the stew and how much for the bowl?"

[samahl]

Cyril is pretty pleased with the idea of a general goods store opening up. It will be easier to track down some of his personal care items or those little odds and ends he can use for his puzzles and other trinkets.

He also likes that the person behind it is rather easy on the eyes. When he comes to check out the shop the smell of the food is just another plus.

"What is that wonderful smell?" he asks, looking over at Colin curiously.

[keenly]

Colin beams shyly, clearly pleased.

"Your lunch, I hope. It's called paella, it's Antivan." He's never seen a facial tattoo quite like that one before, but everyone has their own tastes. "Try a spoonful, if you're not sure about it."

[samahl]

"Hm, I love everything I've ever tasted of Antiva. I'm sure I'll love it too, but if you're offering free bites I wouldn't turn it down." There's a bit of a purr to his voice which makes it difficult to tell if he's just talking about the food.

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin has very little interest in lingering at the Gallows, at least usually. However, it's the place where Araceli has her office, so sometimes she just has to suck it up and deal. During one of those times, a delicious but out-of-place scent as her veering away from the direction of said office to follow it, and the Vashoth woman steps inside the store. For a moment, she just savors the scent, then steps up to the counter with a smile.

"Thanks, now I know what to get my kadan and I for lunch. She'll be thrilled to have a taste of the north without having to make it herself, for once."

[keenly]

At this rate, he might make more off the food than he makes off the rest of the store. Colin beams.

"Puts her one up on me," he says good-naturedly. "Pretty much everything I cook here is going to be northern, and you can pass that along to her. Is she Antivan?"

[gatheringstorm]

"Nope. Rifter, actually." Korrin sounds casual, but she does take note of his response to that. After the way tensions in the area have been rising, she's become more protective of Araceli and rifters as a whole. "But her homeland might as well be Antiva in a lot of ways. I'm from Wycome, so Antiva was never that far to me. Something with actual flavor in it is just what we need."

[circleprodigy]

Such scents lure in another...well, two more. Not long after the paella is made, Inessa enters alongside her mabari. She can't deny that a lot of her meals have been hastily-cobbled things eaten by paperwork, but perhaps a moment actually sit down and savor her food is in order. And Garahel is staring intently at the creation; he'd never knock it over, but if a piece so happens to fall his way, it will be gobbled up in a flash.

Noting Colin, she nods with a smile. "Antivan today? You know my usual preference is Fereldan blandness, but given your culinary skills, I suppose I can make an exception."

[keenly]

"It's only going to be Antivan, Ness," he says with some amusement. "I was raised better than that. Grab a bowl; I'll knock a bit off the price for my princess."

[circleprodigy]

She chuckles, doing just that. "I suppose I should request some treats for Garahel, or he'll just keep eyeing that dish as though I never feed him." Garahel lets out a soft whine, playing up that angle because it smells so good. He's behaved, can't he have something?

[justice_is_blond]

It's the blend of spice and vinegar that hits his nose and reminds him that he'd forgotten to have lunch, which his stomach quickly backs up. It wouldn't do to keep healing on an empty stomach so he detours over and flashes Collin a smile.

"How much for a bowl?" It's some sort of meaty soup, by the looks of it. "And can I get three extra meatballs?" Pawdric might not be able to do more than nibble at it, but Purrelden would certainly 'help' with any leftovers. Or Lady.

[keenly]

"Extravagance," Colin comments in fake judgment. He's shelving a new crate of twine. "Take what you want, Anders, it's about to go cold and everyone else has already got theirs."

Could he heat it up himself, with ease? Sure, but people would get weird upon learning the local merchant is a mage.

[justice_is_blond]

"I've three little ones at home that would know if I short them," he says with no little amusement as he serves himself (and wraps the aforementioned treats in a cloth.)

"Why are you let--" The words stop as it dawns on him and he coughs instead. "I could heat the food back up, if you'd like. A trade for the meal."

[onlyhymns]

Cade is about as subtle as a mabari trying to inch its way toward a table with a roast on it, and about as guileless. He's walked by the stall once or twice now, ostensibly interested in the food it offers, but he always stops himself coming nearer and hopes he'll go unnoticed as he drums up his courage. Isn't this what Samson got busted for? And... right here, in the Gallows?
But things are different now. And with or without the Templar insignia comes the lyrium addiction.

[keenly]

The lunch rush is over when a weird man starts acting suspicious. Mentally, Colin locates the club he tucked away under the counter and starts casually moving toward it.

"Can I help you?"

[onlyhymns]

Though it takes a moment, Cade does finally shuffle over, still clearly nervous and uncertain whether he should be here at all.
"Do you, um," he stammers, looking everywhere but at Colin's face, "um, do you, uh, that is... do you sell..." He trails off, staring at the merchant's goods. "...more than... food?"

[foundmyselfagain]

Ah, yes. Buying things. With money. And he has money, now! At least, money that he's earned, not money that he looted off of dead Templars. And now that he's got a steady income that doesn't depend on corpses, it's high time to buy things that aren't necessary for immediate survival.

Things like that food that he smells, because whatever it is, he needs it. The smell directs him to the stall better than any sign could, and his face brightens when he sees that the vendor is someone that he actually knows.

"Colin! Hey, I didn't know you could cook. And cook well, even." He strolls on in, posture loose, smile cheerful and easy. "And you've got a store! You are a productive guy, huh. Makin' the rest of us look bad."

[keenly]

Colin grins at first, until Gareth hits the rest of us and suddenly he looks anxious and glances around to see if anyone heard that.

"Could you lower your voice when you say things like that?" he inquires nervously. "I'm trying not to let it out I'm a...you-know-what."

[foundmyselfagain]

A baffled stare overcomes Gareth's face, an eyebrow quirking down as he glances around as well. There doesn't look to be anyone nearby...? He turns back to Colin, just as confused as he had been, and cocks his head to the side.

"Let it out that you're...an Inquisition agent? 'Cause I think people've already puzzled that mystery out, buddy. Or new? Or that you're someone who goes around opening up shops, when I've spent most of the time I've been here taking some fairly impressive naps." Maybe he shouldn't give Colin such a hard time, the guy's already pretty twitchy. Is he going to have to learn how to be....delicate?

[provenforce]

Rey would have approached the shop even if it weren't for the food. She's taken up the mantle of general maintenance worker around the Gallows, so a store that sells odds and ends is something she's very much interested in. Granted she's been able to work a lot with what she has, and make deals in Lowtown or even Darktown when needed, but having somewhere at hand, that appeals to her a great deal.

The food, of course, is distracting. She's tried a wide variety of things since coming to Thedas, and the spices wafting from the pan are nothing short of heavenly. She raises her eyebrows as she approaches, curious, but with just the right amount of wariness.

"Interesting business practice."

[keenly]

"What is?" Colin peers around, scanning the store for anything he missed. "Something wrong?"

[overharrowed]

Julius comes by a bit after midday; he's running a few errands in town, and the lingering scent of the paella in.

He smiles a bit when he sees whose shop it is.

"Up and running already, I see. Is that... Antivan cooking I smell?" Julius had been in Antiva for long enough that it felt fairly distinctive, but then again, he had a Ferelden-bred palate.

[keenly]

"Good nose, Ench...anter," Colin says, deciding the honorific is still suitable for a mage-in-the-closet to use. "Five silver for a bowlful."