Location: Ordo Vulpium, Iuana Harbor Closed: for @decthless-a
The food stall was bustling today. A huge trading shipment from Thalassara had been released from quarantine - salt and spices and pickled or salted goods of all sorts unleashed towards potential buyers and shops with a stamp of city approval. And with this grand event of sorts, the harbor was buzzing with activity. Clay jars kept being filled with hot meals without stop; meat, poultry and fish got chopped, sliced and diced as if on a factory track as two busy chefs in the small back kitchen busied themselves with practiced choreography, barely pausing. Spiced and honeyed wine spilled out of overflowing decanters as it was served and chugged by locals and newcomers alike, thirsty and hungry after long voyages or hard work days. Ji-hoon wiped the sweat that threatened to trickle into his eyes with the wristband tied snugly over his forearm for that exact purpose, his rolled up sleeves not helping any with the heat that permeated the entire place, rising from the stoves in thick clouds of fragrant steam. Someone poked their head into the kitchen, immediately regretting the wave of heat flushing their face almost instantly. “‘hoy, Ji, there’s a client upstairs for ya.” They call out, fanning themselves with their hand as they stand in the doorway. Ji-hoon sighs, tossing the spatula into the deep-frying pan full of simmering oil. “Now?” The messenger shrugs indifferently, already lobster red from the heat of the place. “They look important.” This was enough of a response for Ji-hoon. “Take over. I’ll be up as soon as I change clothes.” Which he would make very quick work of, doing so at one of the upper floors above the street food place on the ground, where his apartment also was. Then he’d walk over to the office next door, as presentable as he could be, though likely without a quick bathing a lingering scent of sweat and deliciously salted cooked meat still clung to him as a faint undertone. He ducked under the short curtains fending off bugs and mosquitos from the lobby of Ordo Vulpium’s offices, slightly curious just how ‘important’ this supposed new client was. He’ll work them out with just a glance, surely. How they dressed, carried themselves, what jewelry if any they wore, how they spoke… all telltale signs just how well they could pay and what exactly they could afford. Ji-hoon did not make his men work for peanuts. Not when his men could turn to him with knives and pitchforks they knew how to use, should their salary come out short. What he did not expect was them in the offices, just existing there like it was the most normal thing in the world. It wasn’t. Not when they looked like the most beautiful creature that had ever graced this earth. Ji-hoon fancied himself a worldly man, part foreign himself as he lived by the harbor where the great big outdoors met the good city of Aurea. He’d seen all sorts, chatted with people from all walks of life, seen so many faces in the army and otherwise that no features, expressions or fashions could ever surprise him. But this was without a shred of a doubt the most beautiful person he’d ever laid eyes upon. And they were just… there, unbelievably resplendent. Like a dream. It was the first time Ji-hoon had to take a second to school himself before meeting a client. If some sort of an emperor from abroad waltzed in he’d have a less of a difficult time to wrap his mind around them. As it so happens, he needed a moment to reconcile the cascade of snow white hair and the angelic face that framed a pair of enchanting doe eyes. The force of will it took to keep his demeanor professional and his step deeper into the room confident. “I apologize for keeping you waiting, I was busily employed… elsewhere. How may our order serve this young master today?” He was proud of himself how his smooth voice did not falter and how his charming smile stretched without a single twitch out of place except for perhaps uncommonly putting a little more work into it than usual.
