VIDEO | UN: claude von riegan

[feintofhart]

Good evening, everyone! After the month we've all had, it feels a little bit foolish to get straight back to the dreary mundanity of businesses and job opportunities, doesn't it? But life goes on, and so do we.

[ Even on camera, his smile gleams. On camera is a handsome young man, curls tamed and gelled back with tan skin and startlingly green eyes -- and dripping with more easy confidence than anyone really ought to. Behind him is a familiar sight to anyone who's been here for some time: an apothecary, stuffed to the gills with hanging bundles of plants and herbs, jars and concoctions and tins lining the the walls. Claude himself is dressed casually, in a plain white linen shirt that he nonetheless seems to wear like it's the same as his fineries. ]

For those who haven't yet had the pleasure of making my acquaintance, the name's Claude von Riegan, and I am the humble proprietor of the local Apothecary. Some of you might be aware that we suffered something of a setback a couple months ago, but I've never been one to sneeze at that sort of thing. We've rebuilt things bigger and better than ever!

And to that end... I'm hiring! I'm in need of more hands to tend to my greenhouse, to embark out into the wilderness to continue investigating the local flora and, of course, an apprentice or two to learn the tricks of the trade to keep things going even if I'm not here to do it.

[ If he dies or disappears, he means, but he has no interest in addressing something so terribly dreary. ]

I have only one caveat: if you're working in the fields or the greenhouse, I don't much care what you think of the people here. But if you're to work at the Apothecary proper, I'm firm on one rule: no matter how much we may debate about the, uh... nature of those around us who aren't us Chosen, as far as I'm concerned, they're people. Regardless of their attitudes towards us, your job as Apothecarist is to help them, no ifs, ands, or buts. We help those in need. No exceptions, even if you regard them as nothing more than bits of code. [ A beat. ] Unless I personally dislike you.

Kidding, kidding! And for the rest of you who aren't interested in work, I hope to see you at my establishment soon. These expansions won't pay for themselves!

[ He gives a little wave to the camera before swiftly cutting the feed. Toodles! ]

Comments

[feintofhart]

That's the spirit!

[ Claude gestures for Vash to come in, turning his back to him so that he can get to lifting the kettle off of the roaring fire, the entire place kept familarly rustic in some odd defiance against the modernity of the outside world. Vash is getting a cup of tea whether he likes it or not - though Claude does slide him a few tins to sniff at to see which one he likes the thought of most - and he busies himself with grabbing a couple of cups. Not the nice ones he uses for the customers (sorry, Vash!), but the humble ones he uses for himself and his rare personal guests, made of dark, hardy ceramic, and marred by the occasional chip. ]

It helped that most of the structure was already in place. All it needed was a little fixing... and the greenhouse, of course, but that's an entirely different endeavor. All things said, it's a cozy place to work. [ He glances over at Vash. ] I don't think I ever caught what you said you did back home.

[skelters]

I didn't know there were so many different kinds ... [ referring to the said tins of tea leaves, vash carefully selects one that doesn't smell as strongly of some medicinal tinge as some of the others and slides that forward in the other's direction with a finger. ] Which one is your favourite?

[ and honestly, vash is the last person who'd ever judge (or even know enough to judge) claude's tea service choices, and in the meantime he's much too occupied in cautiously sniffing at the tins to notice anyway - it's a little like distracting a kid with something new and interesting, no? ]

Oh, a bit of everything! [ what an evasive answer - and it seems like this time it does occur to vash as well, because he follows that with a sheepish, self conscious grin. ]

I don't have much experience in the greenhouse part, I'd have to say ... though I've been learning at the florists! But it's a bit different use of plants to what you do, no?

[feintofhart]

You don't have to tell me, certainly. But I'd prefer that you just tell me to keep my nose out of your business -- you won't be the first, and you certainly won't be the last, [ Claude says with a chipper sort of tone, gliding his fingers across the canisters of tea as he plucks a couple of tins out of the line-up. He does seem genuinely unbothered -- which is because he is. He's met enough soldiers and mercenaries and leaders and criminals here to know that people have a damn good reason for keeping their cards close to their chest.

Claude included, in fact. He's just a lot more secretive about the fact that he is secretive; sometimes the best way to hide is by telling everyone a little bit too much. ]

The greenhouse at the florist is more similar than you might think. While their use of flowers may be purely ornamental, we grow plenty of flowers too -- they have just as many medicinal and recreational purposes as my herbs do. At the end of the day, they're all plants.

[ He slides a canister of tea over to Vash. It smells floral and sweet, almost creamy. ] You strike me as a man who may have a sweet tooth or two. This may be to your liking -- a creamy bergamot, excellent with a bit of milk and honey.

[ He waggles another tin in Vash's direction. ]

This is my personal favourite, but I think we keep it stocked for me and me alone.

[ It's the most herbaceous of the bunch, with sharp tannin notes and a sensation that the moment you sip from one of those cups, your palate will be flooded with a bitterness most don't appreciate. It's the sort of thing that men lie about enjoying, just to seem more mature.

Claude genuinely likes it -- but he grew up with it, after all. ]

[skelters]

[ vash seems shocked at the suggestion despite the fact that he's the one who's been not forthcoming with the answers - clearly that particular reasoning had never occurred to him, whirling around to face claude. ]

Sorry!! I didn't mean it in that way!!! [ too earnest ... ]

I mean ... It's always useful to have someone who can do odd jobs around, you know? I travel a lot!!!

[ a bit of an understatement of the century (literally, in his case), but really ... he's done all sorts of things from passing as a plant engineer, to a travelling performer, to a bodyguard for hire, to a destructive humanoid typhoon wrecking havoc wherever he went ... the list goes on. now that's something that he'd rather keep well hidden for as long as he can.

luckily claude passes him another tin of tea before he could properly work himself up into an apologising pathetic mess, and vash automatically takes it from the other's hand and takes a cautious sniff while stealing what is still rather a tentative glance in his direction - thankfully, the mellow sweet scent of the tea does manage to distract him enough. his face immediately brightens. ]

Oh, this is nice!