sleeping weasels 𓇬 18+ 𓇬 1x1

[oakfather preserve u]

⊱༒︎━━━━ : ̗̀ Julien Vaughan || Male || 37 || Human || Amesquite || Tag: Adelaide, Auguste : ̗̀⁍ ━━━༒︎⊰

Vaughan raises an eyebrow at the reaction or lack thereof from Auguste, "Well it's nice to see you too, Auguste" tittering slightly as he quickly turns his attention to the scattered Adelaide. He tips his head in greeting, giving a straight lined smile. "How kind Ms. Bortel.. I guess it's been alright.. Nice day out for delivery!" He raises both eyebrows listening to her instructions intently, looking at the cupboard before him. Looking down at the crate he holds then back at Adelaide. "As you wish, Miss." Vaughan walks towards the cupboard, opening up the door with his foot to reveal the space inside. "Umm, not sure if everything'll fit in here, I've got at least four more crates" Turning back round to look at Adelaide, his eyebrows lowering in wonder, immediately raising again as he reassures her, "But the meats all wrapped up if you'd like me to just take 'em out?"

Her inner wallflower demeanor standing out to him as he notices her fingers shake ever so slightly, Julien hides his perception.

[undead persuasion]

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈⊱༒︎ Adelaide J Bortel || Female || 23 || Human || Amesquite || Tag: Julien, Auguste ༒︎⊰┈┈┈┈

Adelaide's eye twitches with suppressed amusement as she catches a hint of Julien's sarcastic remark aimed at Auguste. It soother her nerves slightly. A brief smile flits across her lips before she regains her composure, glancing up from her meticulously organized notes. "Ah, yes. Anything that won't fit, we will dry and sell as jerky. Not to worry." She gives a slight nod before adding, "But please do open the crates, if you don't mind." She scribbles a final flourished underline under her notes and takes a steadying breath, folding her notebook, and pocketing it. "I understand you are due payment?" she asks, raising an eyebrow in inquiry.

[oakfather preserve u]

⊱༒︎━━━━ : ̗̀ Julien Vaughan || Male || 37 || Human || Amesquite || Tag: Adelaide : ̗̀⁍ ━━━༒︎⊰

Vaughan tips his head in accordance, placing the crate in his hands on the lowest shelf in the cupboard. "I'll see to it that they're all opened." He reassures her as he walks towards the door to retrieve the other shipments. He opens the door and crouches down to wedge the underneath with the doorstop sitting on the side of the floor, pressing against his knees to stand before responding to Adelaide.

"Right, 'bout that." He says slightly under his breath. "There's a price increase. New pigs from the big city apparently" Sparing no time he walks out to continue moving the other crates into the store, quickly stepping up the foot step in the back of the wagon, one arm holding onto the side, the other grabbing a crowbar stowed in a box of tools in the back. As he steps down he gives it cheeky flip before beginning to open up every crate, leaving the top on for hygiene purposes.

[undead persuasion]

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈⊱༒︎ Adelaide J Bortel || Female || 23 || Human || Amesquite || Tag: Julien, Auguste ༒︎⊰┈┈┈┈

Adelaide’s gaze darts to Auguste, who is still preoccupied, diligently ignoring both her and Julien. A small sigh of relief escapes her when she realizes Auguste hasn’t heard Julien’s words. She knows to diffuse any anger at a price increase she must get all the information before Auguste or her father catches wind of it. Adelaide follows Julien out of the shop, stepping in time behind him as he makes his way to his wagon. A knot of unease tightens in her chest. "A price increase?" She keeps her voice hushed. "How much?" Adelaide is clever enough to know if she can reshape the narrative, she might convince Auguste to temper his reaction and avoid an explosive confrontation.

[oakfather preserve u]

⊱༒︎━━━━ : ̗̀ Julien Vaughan || Male || 37 || Human || Amesquite || Tag: Adelaide : ̗̀⁍ ━━━༒︎⊰

Crouched as he continues opening up the crates, he looks up at Adelaide, squeezing one eye shut and squinting at her with the other, the sun peering down at them. Taking only a moment to recollect the number " 'Bout twenty gold now, so I've been told." He finishes up and places the crowbar to hang between his belt and his jeans before picking up a crate in one swift motion, lifting with his thighs and walking the pork into the shop; ducking and squeezing past the frame each time.

[undead persuasion]

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈⊱༒︎ Adelaide J Bortel || Female || 23 || Human || Amesquite || Tag: Julien, Auguste ༒︎⊰┈┈┈┈

"Twenty-" Adelaide abruptly halts, her breath catching in her throat. She draws in a deep inhale, filling her lungs with air. "Twenty gold? Per crate?" She wipes her palms on her dress, anxious sweat clamming her hands. Alright...I can work with this. She reassures herself. Twenty gold is not so bad. At least it's not thirty. She shakes herself out of her thoughts and hurries after Julien, almost stepping on his heels. "Twenty gold per crate?" She repeats, pinching her brow.

[oakfather preserve u]

⊱༒︎━━━━ : ̗̀ Julien Vaughan || Male || 37 || Human || Amesquite || Tag: Adelaide : ̗̀⁍ ━━━༒︎⊰

His burly physique shifting side to side as he walks back and forth from the cupboard to the wagon, an antsy Adelaide shadowing his path like a lost puppy. "Woaah.. bless your heart Miss Bortel." Julien chuckling with his eyes closed for a moment with his eyebrows in a shape of worry, her anxiety almost endearing to him as she continues to follow him around. "Twenty gold... Total..." Stopping right outside the entrance this time, turning slightly to look at Adelaide from the side, perhaps a part of him wanting her to collect her thoughts before she trips and makes a fool of herself in front of her austere nightmare of a brother.

Continuing his path, his arms only ever so slightly beginning to fatigue, Julien puts the last crate down on the floor as the cupboard can take no more, at this point he cares not if their floors dirty. He takes the crowbar from his belt to open the crate he placed down first on the bottom shelf, holding onto the crowbar this time as he stands back up, turning to face the open space of the shop as he loosens his shoulders in a circular motion, stretching his neck from side to side. "Is that alright?" He asks in regards to the price change, rolling his bottom lip over his top.

[undead persuasion]

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈⊱༒︎ Adelaide J Bortel || Female || 23 || Human || Amesquite || Tag: Julien ༒︎⊰┈┈┈┈

“Right. I see. Twenty gold.” Adelaide reiterates, pinching her brow in concentration. Her gaze flickers briefly to Auguste, who remains pointedly indifferent. She steps around the now open crates, leaning down to inspect the meat inside.

“We’re prepared to pay for the current shipment of…” She counts the crates quickly. “These five crates. Hmm.” She pauses, weighing her options. “Given our longstanding loyalty as customers of your family for several years now, I believe it would be reasonable to negotiate a better deal for our next order.” She chooses her words with care, mindful of the subtleties of social etiquette and business. “Perhaps it would be ideal if we could arrange a meeting, if that’s at all possible.” She raises her eyebrows in question.

[oakfather preserve u]

⊱༒︎━━━━ : ̗̀ Julien Vaughan || Male || 37 || Human || Amesquite || Tag: Adelaide : ̗̀⁍ ━━━༒︎⊰

"A meetin'?" Julien recollects the whereabouts of his parents and the information given to him by his father, tapping his index finger on the crowbar in his hand. Due to the 'family business' aside from the livestock farming, having visitors is highly unfavourable, though they do keep the pens in the best condition possible. It is also not desirable for his parents to be away from the farm for too long, as 'visits' are completely random. Besides, the Vaughan family isn't exactly struggling to survive - a dishonourable but effective method.

"We can talk now, Miss" Julien suggests, tipping the side of his head downwards, his bushy eyebrows lowering ever so slightly, his hand spinning the crowbar every few seconds. Julien's demeanour intensifies unintentionally, seemingly ready to attack but simply in concentration. He's ready to give a slight deduction as he's aware of the makings of the pig feed, Julien feels a bit guilty, however, he will not betray the loyalty he has for his family.

[undead persuasion]

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈⊱༒︎ Adelaide J Bortel || Female || 23 || Human || Amesquite || Tag: Julien ༒︎⊰┈┈┈┈

Adelaide narrows her eyes at him, scepticism evident in her voice. "Indeed." She pauses. "Perhaps a meeting can be arranged at a later date." She almost insists.

"Well! If you have no objection to discussing these matters without him, then so be it. I would like to—" she hesitates, choosing her words carefully, "-lessen the burden on my brother by addressing this privately for the time being." She clears her throat, subtly hinting that they should negotiate the price without her brother's presence.

"As we've been purchasing pork from your family for several years now, and considering the higher quality of meat you're offering, I think a modest discount is warranted," she continues, her tone brisk and business-like. "Let’s say twenty-five percent off? That would put it at 15 gold pieces."