In the shop

It was an average night, the street lights lighting up the outside of the large two bay building, one of the large drop down doors was open about a foot, and from under it passerbies could see the flickering blue lights of someone welding inside. In fact Derick was working on a project as usual, Welding away at some steal braces for a new structure. It was the second night into this project and it was going smoothly. Cradle of Filth could be heard blaring in the background, loud enough that Derick could hear it while the machinery was going. He finished the last weld of corner and stopped for a bit, lifting his welders hood to look at his work, and listen t a few of his particularly favorite lyrics.

Things are relatively quiet, except for some kids drawn to the blue light like moths. A couple speculate as to just what is he building in there. Eventually they come to the consensus that you are Iron Man and then one of their number performs an unflattering impression of Danni Filth before they fly cackling into the night.

An ambulance wails past. Between the noise you're making you hear someone knocking on your drop down door.

He looked up at the door, Comming to a full stand he would walk toward the it, turning the blaring music down on his way to the door, along with turning the oxygen off on a welder s he passed it. Watching the direction of the sound as He removed his welding glove he grabbed the chain that raised the door and yanked hard once, sending the door up, as He started removing his other glove. It wasn't odd tohave a call or request at this time of night, seamed alot of people didnt sleep in this city. But work was good, Life was eventfull and fun. he was at the top of his game, Eyes looking forward to whoever it was that knocked on the door.

There's a man on the other side. He's middle-aged, white. The suit he wears looks expensive, but it hangs off him in a state of distress, knees and elbows shiny with wear. Outside in the dark, his eyes appear almost semi-luminous, as they reflect the low light from within.

"Good evening," he murmurs in an awkward, low tone. "Can I come in?"

Derick's eyes met the man's. he had a few conclusions he cam to easily in his own mind of this man, but everyone was a perspective client. "Somethin' I can help you with?"
He leaned on the doors frame, absent mindedly putting his hand on the chain to the door, showing he wasn't ready to move yet, but not posturing in any threatening manner. He knew when it came to new clientel, it took finesse, had to be yourself, but had to give them room to feel like they are in control.

Rick drove his van to Derick's shop, parked the van and stood behind the guy in the suit, tapping his foot and checking his Timex impatiently. He treated himself to a cigarette it while he waited for the other guy.

The man turns around and glares at Rick. He pauses for a second as if about to say something, but hold his tongue.

"Yes," the man answers quietly, attention back on Derick. "I'm interested in commissioning something, may I come in?"

Derick would nod to the man, eyes moving to Rick for a moment, and a fingure would go up. "I will be with you in a moment" Then he would turn toward his office, pointing to the door. "if you would come this way to my office we can talk in, Discretion" Reffering to the strange man who originally knocked, this place was getting busy fornight time, but again he did get more work at night then the day. The Shop would be scattered with projects, from long term ones that he picked away at, to ones just started or nearly finished.

"Yeah, that's what I thought." mutters Rick under his breathe. Rick follows the middle-aged guy in the suit and stands just outside outside Derrick's office. He tries to listen in on them without looking like he is. He just leans on the wall and faces the opposite direction and finishes his cigarette with a self-satisfied smirk.

The man follows Dereck into the office clutching a canvass wrap. He hands it over to Dereck.

"I'd like you to take a look at this."

[Cobra, you can roll Wits+Comp to listen in, although you'll need a couple of successes to hear through a wall.]

http://sheetgen.dalines.net/wiki/WikiDiceRoller?hash=874356a3
(Not sure if that's enough, but thought I'd try anyway.)

Derick would close the door behind them and accept the canvas wrap, begining to unwrap it. He was always excited to have a new project, especially if it was something he hadn't seen or done before. He would set the object on the desk, right on top of a pile of scattered papers and blueprints. "Hmm, what are you wanting?" he would ask not taking his eyes off what he was about to study.

Under the canvas is an old bowie knife, its blade flecked with rust. There's a deep crack in the wooden hilt, and the brass adorning the blunt end is in dire need of a polish. It really isn't much to look at. The The man looks about your office, pausing a moment before answering.

"Can you restore it?" he asks, expectantly.

Outside, Rick can make out every other word.

[Cobra, roll Wits+Comp again]

Derick would look at the piece, it did look rather worn, and he would nod. "It can be done, you want it good as new, or you want to keep this gouge in the handle?" Not knowing if the thing had sentimental value or not he figured he needed to ask. as he took his eyes off the knife and looked at the man.

http://sheetgen.dalines.net/wiki/WikiDiceRoller?hash=0070e1f0
(Not much. It might do though.)

"Good as new, if you please. How long do you think it'd take?"

Rick notices a man stood across the street, staring intently at the property, although he's trying to appear as though he's doing something on his cellphone. He appears to be casing the place.

"well" he would clear his voice. "it wont take long at all, if you need it in a rush should be able to clean up the blade, polish the brass, and spin a new handle tonight. rushing costs though, I got alot of projects going." He would make a gesture to the shop they had passed to get into the office. "as you can see"

Rick observes the man across the street. He didn't know what he was doing, he just hoped he wasn't setting off a bomb or something.
http://sheetgen.dalines.net/wiki/WikiDiceRoller?hash=03726397 (Just in case)

"I have obligations tonight, I need this knife good as new first thing tomorrow morning. How much is that going to cost me?"

The man shadowing the building continues to stand sentry. He slides his phone away.

Spoiler:

And then he meets Rick's gaze before walking around the block with affected nonchalance.

Derick would nod. "No Problem. tomorrow morning I can have it done for one twenty. . I didn't catch your name."
He half expected the man to make one up, it seamed several people did that if they came at this hour.

Rick decides to cautiously pursue the guy, but he tries not to be seen because he doesn't want to get his ass kicked.
http://sheetgen.dalines.net/wiki/WikiDiceRoller?hash=58e8fc01

The man in Derick's office hesitates before answering. "My name's John Amis," he blurts out. 'Amis' peels two fifties and a twenty from his wallet and leaves them on your desk. He doesn't seem to want any physical contact.

Spoiler:

The man Rick tails continues to walk, slipping into a side alley between a shuttered barbershop and a burnt out rowhouse.

Rick continues following the man, hoping that the man won't notice him.

Derick would again nod, noticing the man not wanting physical contact he does not offer to shake his hand. "sounds good. Is there anything else you need?" he would ask as he walked toward the office door and grabbed the knob.

"No." the man replies, bluntly. He glances at the door and takes an awkward step towards it before remembering to nod a farewell.

Rick's nostrils are filled with smells of rotten vegetables as soon as he enters the alley. Soaked cardboard litters the ground, along with a sea of tattered fliers, creeping across the mouth of the alley with a gust of wind. The man isn't immediately visible.

[Roll Wits+Comp at -3]