Keaton "Buster" Palmerteri

There was an itch at the back of Busters mind that wanted to push back in his own alpha way. Who was this man to say anything to him - did he not know who was standing before him. Even to just poke at him; yet he refrained. They were in public and something about him was off and he couldn't put his finger on it.

So all he offered was a passive grunt and a look of annoyed judgment.

"Then we should head out. I will conduct the drop out near the parking structure." Buster didn't bring any of the items inside - they were locked in his bikes saddle bag protected by an enchanted lock. The only way he traveled with goods.

"My bike is on the second deck in the far back corner. I will take the long way around." His eyes shifted over Wolf again before he nodded and stepped away - to wander through the exhibit.

In truth, he had a grudging respect for that.

Why hand something over until you were sure that your client had arrived, that the space was clear, and that they had listened to what you had to say? It was a logical move. Wolf simply itched to have the whole thing done.

Wolf remained in place though, letting the other man get his time and space as he finished reading the information board (more simply to assure he had given the appropriate amount of time). Then he slipped away, into the next gallery and doubling back until he made his way out to the parking structure. He spent a long while scoping it out before he entered the stairwell and made his way up, ears pricked and sniffing every step he took.

Eventually, he emerged onto the level, and paced his way slowly towards the area that had been described, circling slowly to check that there was nobody lying in wait.

Runners needed a secure means of transportation.

The key was blood bonded to him and the lock would only open if the key was in his bare hand. The magick was always a bit impressive for Buster but he never questioned it - it was bad ass and nobody would ever get the upper hand on him to abuse it.

Turning the key there was a crisp crack of the lock as the pins turned and it popped open a tray. Buster pressed the top is his knuckle into the tray - his engraved ring fit into it and the top of the saddle bag rose open.

The package was wrapped like a slab of fresh meat in parchment paper - even tied with twine and a label.

Chuck Roast Prime Cut.

The perfect cover for a turnover like this.

Grabbed it his eyes shifted up and watched as Wolf approached. Tucking the bundle under his arm he shut the cover of his bag and ensure it locked tight.

“I’ve got everything individually wrapped in here.” Now handing the package over across the bike. “Instructions will be activated on a parchment inside when sprinkled with salt water. The will dissolve over time so ensure you do not get distracted.”

Buyers lips pressed into a thin smile. “I appreciate doing business with you mate.” His eyes shifted over the other man one more time. “Enjoy the prime cuts yeah?”

This wasn’t some item that was plucked from some tray at a swap meet. This was something with a story and it was one of a kind.

Buster nodded as the other man met him where he needed. This was exactly what he asked for and that meant the deal was solid. Probably his first one in Swynlake which was good.

“It has absorbent properties and I was told it does not have some resistance to it.” Buster cleared his throat only lightly as the wolf behind his eyes stayed tense. “I don’t think they will be a problem.”

There was another long breath as he nodded again. Now engaging in a full conversation with Wolf - other might think they were casual friends the way he could make it look more natural than business.

“The instructions are rather simple. If you soak it in near frozen salt water with the scales I’ll provide it should adhere to whatever space you see fit.” Busters eyes blinked with a flutter. “Then once it’s set there is a vial of sand that must be buried on the property. Without that it will not work.”

The drop was nearly ready to happen but he needed to give one finally warning. Eyes furrowing he grabbed Wolf arm with a firm grip. “I only warn you that if it’s stolen from your property and got into the wrong hands it will be hell for all of us mate.” His eyes blinked again as he grip looseness “not that I think we have to worry yeah?”

He would not allow them to lapse on his watch.

Wolf flinched obviously when Buster grabbed his arm without permission, drawing his arm back sharply, jaw tightening and squaring as his eyes blazed with cold fury.

He breathed out slowly, trying to steady himself. Buster did not know, but Wolf hated to be touched by strangers like this. "You do not have to worry about it, no," Wolf said slowly, through gritted teeth. "Please do not do that again, though." If he did it again, Wolf was not sure he would be responsible for his actions.

"I will ensure that the proper procedures are followed."

There was an itch at the back of Busters mind that wanted to push back in his own alpha way. Who was this man to say anything to him - did he not know who was standing before him. Even to just poke at him; yet he refrained. They were in public and something about him was off and he couldn't put his finger on it.

So all he offered was a passive grunt and a look of annoyed judgment.

"Then we should head out. I will conduct the drop out near the parking structure." Buster didn't bring any of the items inside - they were locked in his bikes saddle bag protected by an enchanted lock. The only way he traveled with goods.

"My bike is on the second deck in the far back corner. I will take the long way around." His eyes shifted over Wolf again before he nodded and stepped away - to wander through the exhibit.

This wasn’t some item that was plucked from some tray at a swap meet. This was something with a story and it was one of a kind.

Buster nodded as the other man met him where he needed. This was exactly what he asked for and that meant the deal was solid. Probably his first one in Swynlake which was good.

“It has absorbent properties and I was told it does not have some resistance to it.” Buster cleared his throat only lightly as the wolf behind his eyes stayed tense. “I don’t think they will be a problem.”

There was another long breath as he nodded again. Now engaging in a full conversation with Wolf - other might think they were casual friends the way he could make it look more natural than business.

“The instructions are rather simple. If you soak it in near frozen salt water with the scales I’ll provide it should adhere to whatever space you see fit.” Busters eyes blinked with a flutter. “Then once it’s set there is a vial of sand that must be buried on the property. Without that it will not work.”

The drop was nearly ready to happen but he needed to give one finally warning. Eyes furrowing he grabbed Wolf arm with a firm grip. “I only warn you that if it’s stolen from your property and got into the wrong hands it will be hell for all of us mate.” His eyes blinked again as he grip looseness “not that I think we have to worry yeah?”

He would not allow them to lapse on his watch.

Wolf flinched obviously when Buster grabbed his arm without permission, drawing his arm back sharply, jaw tightening and squaring as his eyes blazed with cold fury.

He breathed out slowly, trying to steady himself. Buster did not know, but Wolf hated to be touched by strangers like this. "You do not have to worry about it, no," Wolf said slowly, through gritted teeth. "Please do not do that again, though." If he did it again, Wolf was not sure he would be responsible for his actions.

"I will ensure that the proper procedures are followed."

There was an itch at the back of Busters mind that wanted to push back in his own alpha way. Who was this man to say anything to him - did he not know who was standing before him. Even to just poke at him; yet he refrained. They were in public and something about him was off and he couldn't put his finger on it.

So all he offered was a passive grunt and a look of annoyed judgment.

"Then we should head out. I will conduct the drop out near the parking structure." Buster didn't bring any of the items inside - they were locked in his bikes saddle bag protected by an enchanted lock. The only way he traveled with goods.

"My bike is on the second deck in the far back corner. I will take the long way around." His eyes shifted over Wolf again before he nodded and stepped away - to wander through the exhibit.

This wasn’t some item that was plucked from some tray at a swap meet. This was something with a story and it was one of a kind.

Buster nodded as the other man met him where he needed. This was exactly what he asked for and that meant the deal was solid. Probably his first one in Swynlake which was good.

“It has absorbent properties and I was told it does not have some resistance to it.” Buster cleared his throat only lightly as the wolf behind his eyes stayed tense. “I don’t think they will be a problem.”

There was another long breath as he nodded again. Now engaging in a full conversation with Wolf - other might think they were casual friends the way he could make it look more natural than business.

“The instructions are rather simple. If you soak it in near frozen salt water with the scales I’ll provide it should adhere to whatever space you see fit.” Busters eyes blinked with a flutter. “Then once it’s set there is a vial of sand that must be buried on the property. Without that it will not work.”

The drop was nearly ready to happen but he needed to give one finally warning. Eyes furrowing he grabbed Wolf arm with a firm grip. “I only warn you that if it’s stolen from your property and got into the wrong hands it will be hell for all of us mate.” His eyes blinked again as he grip looseness “not that I think we have to worry yeah?”

He would not allow them to lapse on his watch.

Wolf flinched obviously when Buster grabbed his arm without permission, drawing his arm back sharply, jaw tightening and squaring as his eyes blazed with cold fury.

He breathed out slowly, trying to steady himself. Buster did not know, but Wolf hated to be touched by strangers like this. "You do not have to worry about it, no," Wolf said slowly, through gritted teeth. "Please do not do that again, though." If he did it again, Wolf was not sure he would be responsible for his actions.

"I will ensure that the proper procedures are followed."

There was an itch at the back of Busters mind that wanted to push back in his own alpha way. Who was this man to say anything to him - did he not know who was standing before him. Even to just poke at him; yet he refrained. They were in public and something about him was off and he couldn't put his finger on it.

So all he offered was a passive grunt and a look of annoyed judgment.

"Then we should head out. I will conduct the drop out near the parking structure." Buster didn't bring any of the items inside - they were locked in his bikes saddle bag protected by an enchanted lock. The only way he traveled with goods.

"My bike is on the second deck in the far back corner. I will take the long way around." His eyes shifted over Wolf again before he nodded and stepped away - to wander through the exhibit.

"My procurer if you whill had to travel to the Pacific coast to retrieve it. The crystal itself originates from the Mariana Trench." Buster did need to look at a map to figure out where that was. "More specifically from the ruins or a forgotten metropolis called Al'Qtal. The suken city fell vistim to a metor spell that was meant to obliterate Al'Qtal whole." Honestly it almost sounded like a hoax story but Buster knew it was serious when the tear came into the picture.

"The legend states that the cities guardian was this ancient sea beast known as the Abysmal Leviathan and when it saw the burning sky penetrating the surface and pouring towards its city it knew it couldn't block it with its body. So the bloody bastard swallowed the entire city. In one god damn gulp. The meteor shower boiled the seas around the Leviathan and the beast wept one massive tear of pure concentrated protective magic. Its over some millennia that tear sat at the ocean floor and under pressure compressed into this tower like crystal."

He wouldn't have put it in quite such dramatic terms himself, but this Buster was clearly a frustrated showman to some extent.

Wolf nodded, peering as if he was reading an information card beside the glass case.

He had a nasty suspicion that all of these theatrics were for one purpose only: explaining why the price would have to be quite so exhorbitent.

"Fascinating," Wolf said, again making sure that nobody outside their hearing range would be able to tell he was talking about anything other than the museum. "I appreciate the effort that has gone into securing it," he added, more sincerely as he glanced over towards Buster and met the other's gaze. "I do indeed need it to do so. And to co-exist with our existing network." Otherwise he would have settled for something far easier.

This wasn’t some item that was plucked from some tray at a swap meet. This was something with a story and it was one of a kind.

Buster nodded as the other man met him where he needed. This was exactly what he asked for and that meant the deal was solid. Probably his first one in Swynlake which was good.

“It has absorbent properties and I was told it does not have some resistance to it.” Buster cleared his throat only lightly as the wolf behind his eyes stayed tense. “I don’t think they will be a problem.”

There was another long breath as he nodded again. Now engaging in a full conversation with Wolf - other might think they were casual friends the way he could make it look more natural than business.

“The instructions are rather simple. If you soak it in near frozen salt water with the scales I’ll provide it should adhere to whatever space you see fit.” Busters eyes blinked with a flutter. “Then once it’s set there is a vial of sand that must be buried on the property. Without that it will not work.”

The drop was nearly ready to happen but he needed to give one finally warning. Eyes furrowing he grabbed Wolf arm with a firm grip. “I only warn you that if it’s stolen from your property and got into the wrong hands it will be hell for all of us mate.” His eyes blinked again as he grip looseness “not that I think we have to worry yeah?”

Majdalā sees something - someone - out of the corner of her eye, but they whip around her too fast to follow as he head comes up. She laughs, though, when she sees it's Buster, grins at his little bow.

Tapping her fingers on the counter she was leaning against, she cocks her head to the side to take him all in, grin ticking up higher on one side.

"Yah ran real quick. Appreciate it, honey," she hums, tone lilting with her accent, the words sincere even with the teasing quality they always seemed to have.

At his question, she shrugs her shoulders, steps away from the counter to pop her hip into his leg. "Bit o' both. Inspired by Miss Patsy's I Fall to Pieces."

It was Majdala's favorite of hers.

The smile stayed crooked but Buster couldn't offer one in any other way.

"I stay busy." His head shook. "Every day I think I will have less to do but the moon is up before I get back to my place." Lately his days had been filled with procuing and item for Wolf and well...the garage was busy but he did hit the gambling tables from time to time. "You working up a storm or what?" His brow rose. "You might be the only person I don't see around...and yes darlin' I notice."

"Lucky guess," she chirps back, words whip-quick at the tip of her tongue as she grins, head tilting as she watches him get comfortable. "An' 'cause she's always been one o' mine."

Say what you would about Buster – particularly how he didn't fit a certain mold, which Majdalā happens to like, very much – but his music tastes were impeccable.

When he says he's been busy, Maj nods. She understands. "Gotta find time, honey. We both do, unfortunately," she murmurs, runnjng a hand over her hair with a little nose wrinkle, a shake of her head.

You working up a storm or what?

A huff, and she nods again. "Somethin' like that. Been workin' extra to –" The rest of his sentence catches up to her, and Majdalā studies him for a moment, surprise laced in the look.

She spins hair around a finger, thinking about what she's going to share, and how much.

"'M tryin' tah start a business, maybe. I don't...I don't think I'll ever be able tah get on a stage again. Jus'...too much I remember that hurt too much, but 's kinda lonely jus'...exisitin'. So –"

There was something about paying attention when other spoke but selective hearing was a thing - and he was very guilty of that. Very.

At his expense though he knew he’d remember if Maj ever mentioned anything about not getting on the actual stage again. Right? Right?! Then she said she was lonely.

Pressing his lips together he heard her out and then winded out a head shake. “No wait a minute darlin. You sound like you’ve got a lot going on.”

Buster could understand dealing with a big thing like a business and then a small every day thing but it sounded like she had a lot weighing heavy on those shoulders of hers.

Yet she carried it with a shrug. Incredible.

“Wait slow down and back it up. A business?” Buster leaned forward to really look down in her eyes. “We will start there then get to that lonely part.”

Buster at least has the decency to hear her out. It's not always what she expects, but Maj was never one to label a person, whether they look st act or talk the way someone should. She never had; why should someone else?

At the question, really the comment before that, Majdalā lets out a breath, nods slowly, and presses her lips together. Thinking about what she wants to say, how much, and not blurting it all out.

"My Granny's sick. Has been, for a while." Majdalā hates that she sounds small, then, and tired, but she grins anyway. "I've visited. Been sendin' money for her care every month. Got her up in a facility but –"

She pauses, but doesn't want to shrug. She doesn't want to shrug it all off either.

"– she's th' only family I got. My momma left me on her doorstep when I was a baby an' never looked back. Always jus' been us, so when I left tah sing it was hard. Was jus' a kid when I started, nineteen."

Dark eyes flit to Buster's face, then, and take in his expression. The concern, maybe. Again, she weighs what she has to say, and how she wants to say it.

Then he had a family that was taken from him.

So he felt for her but also didn’t have a memory to attach it to. Only thing he really understood was loss.

“Well darlin…” he said clearing his throat. Truthfully he didn’t know what to do when people started to get upset. Should pats and a cigarette offer was about all he had to offer.

“I think aside from her not doin’ well she’d be happy with whatever ya got yourself into.” Wasn’t that was Grand Mums did. Fawn over their grand babies and brag about them to other old birds. “You don’t want to sour the time ya got left or your business dreams or whatever it is you’ve got going on.”

His eyes shifted back and forth as he let out an awkward grumble.

“Why don’t you make one of those videos to send her so it’s like she’s got ya there or somethin.”

Looking over the corner display he had his hands in his pockets. Eyes reading as he felt the presence of well of the other man. The wolf was curious but only because there was a presence about him - it was enough to not go unnoticed.

Keeping his eyes on the display he met a hand come out of his pocket to point at the display box holding a tusk of a mammoths. His words had nothing to do with that they were in front of but that was for them to know - the world to assume otherwise.

“Glad you could make the time mate.” Buster wasn’t going to be friendly. That’s not was this was about. “We can perform the drop at the end. You ready for the instructions or do you want the story first.” Buster shifted his eyes to see Wilf in his peripheral. “My seller said both were important”

His eyes narrowed at the mention of both, feeling as though he needed to scan the room for the fifteenth time. Was Buster trying to keep him here for some reason? Spinning out a yarn to keep Wolf in the spot and then what - the police came bursting in? Or something at the Inn happened while he couldn't be there to stop it?

"Very well," Wolf ground out, trying to keep his voice sounding pleasant and neutral, but unable to quite disguise the way it made him tense.

"I will hear the story first then." He wanted neither, really. He knew how to service the ward from the original sorcerer but - he wasn't really in a position to reject the terms, was he?

"My procurer if you whill had to travel to the Pacific coast to retrieve it. The crystal itself originates from the Mariana Trench." Buster did need to look at a map to figure out where that was. "More specifically from the ruins or a forgotten metropolis called Al'Qtal. The suken city fell vistim to a metor spell that was meant to obliterate Al'Qtal whole." Honestly it almost sounded like a hoax story but Buster knew it was serious when the tear came into the picture.

"The legend states that the cities guardian was this ancient sea beast known as the Abysmal Leviathan and when it saw the burning sky penetrating the surface and pouring towards its city it knew it couldn't block it with its body. So the bloody bastard swallowed the entire city. In one god damn gulp. The meteor shower boiled the seas around the Leviathan and the beast wept one massive tear of pure concentrated protective magic. Its over some millennia that tear sat at the ocean floor and under pressure compressed into this tower like crystal."

Buster wouldn’t be too surprised if he thought he was better than him.

Buster: Meet in the Tundra exhibit of the natural history museum in NTO

Buster: noon.

Buster: Don’t be late.

With a final send of the text message Buster looked back at his phone and shook his head. There would no doubt be a rebuttal to all of this but he put out his expectations.

Sliding the iPhone into his back pocket Buster ran his hands through his hair and took a deep breath. Now he needed to retrieve the piece.

SENT: Understood. I will be there.

He typed out, sending the message before he stowed the phone safely away again where it would not be seen.

He did not need to worry about it now, at least not until Tuesday.

Tuesday came, sure enough, and Wolfgang found himself meandering around the exhibit, his jaw twitching as he gazed into the bright, beaded eyes of an arctic fox stood frozen in a display case. Distantly, across the room, he smelled it when Buster arrived; the tell-tale scent of another wolf.

Wolf gave him a little space to settle, before he slowly made his way over to the display the man was stood in front of, and silently arrived.

"Good afternoon," he said, quietly, after a moment.

Looking over the corner display he had his hands in his pockets. Eyes reading as he felt the presence of well of the other man. The wolf was curious but only because there was a presence about him - it was enough to not go unnoticed.

Keeping his eyes on the display he met a hand come out of his pocket to point at the display box holding a tusk of a mammoths. His words had nothing to do with that they were in front of but that was for them to know - the world to assume otherwise.

“Glad you could make the time mate.” Buster wasn’t going to be friendly. That’s not was this was about. “We can perform the drop at the end. You ready for the instructions or do you want the story first.” Buster shifted his eyes to see Wilf in his peripheral. “My seller said both were important”