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The circus that called itself the ‘Tempest of Set’ was an attraction that Callidora had not yet explored, far more concerned with keeping herself alive on the streets of Cairo rather than exploring its hidden treasures. With a life spent travelling, Dora was normally the first to explore whatever nooks and crannies she could reach of the area she visited, but other matters had taken precedence since her fateful arrival on Africa’s shores. Now that she was bolstered with the wealth of one of the local nobles, her future seemed a little more secure. She figured she could take some time for herself and do more exploring of the local attractions. Why not start with a circus?
Approaching the large tent where the performances were sure to be held, she was surprised and delighted to find so much activity outside. Sword swallowers, firebreathers, and acrobats abound, filling the Grecian widow’s sight with all manner of color and curiosity. Pausing to watch one of the acrobats tumble for a small crowd, Dora gasped in wide-eyed awe and applauded with the rest. How could one ever manage to become quite so… bendy? These days, she was lucky if she could reach her toes without straining a muscle.
Throwing a couple coins at the performer’s feet when she finished, the merchant smiled and moved on. Not only were performers scattered around the tent’s exterior, but there were also a small number of vendors peddling various wares. Always keen-eyed for a business opportunity, she wandered among the makeshift stands with a contemplative regard, pausing at one of the stands to inspect a bolt of colorful fabric. Running the silk between her fingers, she shook her head with narrowed eyes. She knew the quality of her merchandise was better, and yet here this man was with a quickly filling coffer. Interesting…
Her steps kept moving her forward, stopping again at another curious sight that instantly held her in thrall. The soft strains of music drifted across the air to accompany the movements of the woman who played them. It wasn’t the music, however, that captivated Dora, but rather the purpose the music seemed to serve. Watching with bated breath, verdant eyes were instantly drawn to the cobra in front of the small dark-haired woman, the snake moving in graceful tandem with the notes she played. Was the woman not afraid of the snake striking her? Would it not be deadly if it did?
Not that Dora was a woman to balk at risk. More adventurous than was seemly for a person of her gender, she had seen herself in her own fair share of dangerous situations. However, among those situations, never had she been tempted to dance with a venomous snake. Nor had she even seen such a feat, and to witness it now was both awe-inspiring and fear-inducing.
Applauding loudly as the woman finished her performance and situated her snake back in its basket, Dora waited for the others to move on before approaching the petite performer. “That was remarkable,” she complimented her in heavily accented Coptic, her smile friendly and open. “However did you manage to train it to do that?”
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This character is currently a work in progress.
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The circus that called itself the ‘Tempest of Set’ was an attraction that Callidora had not yet explored, far more concerned with keeping herself alive on the streets of Cairo rather than exploring its hidden treasures. With a life spent travelling, Dora was normally the first to explore whatever nooks and crannies she could reach of the area she visited, but other matters had taken precedence since her fateful arrival on Africa’s shores. Now that she was bolstered with the wealth of one of the local nobles, her future seemed a little more secure. She figured she could take some time for herself and do more exploring of the local attractions. Why not start with a circus?
Approaching the large tent where the performances were sure to be held, she was surprised and delighted to find so much activity outside. Sword swallowers, firebreathers, and acrobats abound, filling the Grecian widow’s sight with all manner of color and curiosity. Pausing to watch one of the acrobats tumble for a small crowd, Dora gasped in wide-eyed awe and applauded with the rest. How could one ever manage to become quite so… bendy? These days, she was lucky if she could reach her toes without straining a muscle.
Throwing a couple coins at the performer’s feet when she finished, the merchant smiled and moved on. Not only were performers scattered around the tent’s exterior, but there were also a small number of vendors peddling various wares. Always keen-eyed for a business opportunity, she wandered among the makeshift stands with a contemplative regard, pausing at one of the stands to inspect a bolt of colorful fabric. Running the silk between her fingers, she shook her head with narrowed eyes. She knew the quality of her merchandise was better, and yet here this man was with a quickly filling coffer. Interesting…
Her steps kept moving her forward, stopping again at another curious sight that instantly held her in thrall. The soft strains of music drifted across the air to accompany the movements of the woman who played them. It wasn’t the music, however, that captivated Dora, but rather the purpose the music seemed to serve. Watching with bated breath, verdant eyes were instantly drawn to the cobra in front of the small dark-haired woman, the snake moving in graceful tandem with the notes she played. Was the woman not afraid of the snake striking her? Would it not be deadly if it did?
Not that Dora was a woman to balk at risk. More adventurous than was seemly for a person of her gender, she had seen herself in her own fair share of dangerous situations. However, among those situations, never had she been tempted to dance with a venomous snake. Nor had she even seen such a feat, and to witness it now was both awe-inspiring and fear-inducing.
Applauding loudly as the woman finished her performance and situated her snake back in its basket, Dora waited for the others to move on before approaching the petite performer. “That was remarkable,” she complimented her in heavily accented Coptic, her smile friendly and open. “However did you manage to train it to do that?”
The circus that called itself the ‘Tempest of Set’ was an attraction that Callidora had not yet explored, far more concerned with keeping herself alive on the streets of Cairo rather than exploring its hidden treasures. With a life spent travelling, Dora was normally the first to explore whatever nooks and crannies she could reach of the area she visited, but other matters had taken precedence since her fateful arrival on Africa’s shores. Now that she was bolstered with the wealth of one of the local nobles, her future seemed a little more secure. She figured she could take some time for herself and do more exploring of the local attractions. Why not start with a circus?
Approaching the large tent where the performances were sure to be held, she was surprised and delighted to find so much activity outside. Sword swallowers, firebreathers, and acrobats abound, filling the Grecian widow’s sight with all manner of color and curiosity. Pausing to watch one of the acrobats tumble for a small crowd, Dora gasped in wide-eyed awe and applauded with the rest. How could one ever manage to become quite so… bendy? These days, she was lucky if she could reach her toes without straining a muscle.
Throwing a couple coins at the performer’s feet when she finished, the merchant smiled and moved on. Not only were performers scattered around the tent’s exterior, but there were also a small number of vendors peddling various wares. Always keen-eyed for a business opportunity, she wandered among the makeshift stands with a contemplative regard, pausing at one of the stands to inspect a bolt of colorful fabric. Running the silk between her fingers, she shook her head with narrowed eyes. She knew the quality of her merchandise was better, and yet here this man was with a quickly filling coffer. Interesting…
Her steps kept moving her forward, stopping again at another curious sight that instantly held her in thrall. The soft strains of music drifted across the air to accompany the movements of the woman who played them. It wasn’t the music, however, that captivated Dora, but rather the purpose the music seemed to serve. Watching with bated breath, verdant eyes were instantly drawn to the cobra in front of the small dark-haired woman, the snake moving in graceful tandem with the notes she played. Was the woman not afraid of the snake striking her? Would it not be deadly if it did?
Not that Dora was a woman to balk at risk. More adventurous than was seemly for a person of her gender, she had seen herself in her own fair share of dangerous situations. However, among those situations, never had she been tempted to dance with a venomous snake. Nor had she even seen such a feat, and to witness it now was both awe-inspiring and fear-inducing.
Applauding loudly as the woman finished her performance and situated her snake back in its basket, Dora waited for the others to move on before approaching the petite performer. “That was remarkable,” she complimented her in heavily accented Coptic, her smile friendly and open. “However did you manage to train it to do that?”
The music slipped from her pungi, and the world around Kesi melted away. The audience mattered not, the crowds of people moving to and fro, or even the watchful eye of the circus enforcers did not phase Kesi. In this moment of time, all that existed was Kesi and her snake. One low note followed by another and another, she was locked in a deadly performance with the venomous beast in front of her.
One step closer, another step, her bare feet light on the sand and her eyes locked with the snake as it rose, swaying to the notes. Kesi too, danced the creature, moving in such a tantalizing way. Closer and closer, the snake could bite at any moment, locking its fangs deep into her flesh. But Kesi knew this would not happen. She and the snake were one. Their thoughts were shared, their movement the same, the pair knowing what each would do. With one low note of her pungi, she picked up the snake from his tail, bringing it closer to the audience, allowing them to share in the excitement. The snake wiggled and writhed, but it never went to attack. She dropped it back in the sand, and the performance continued.
When the song finally ended, and Kesi’s mind was back in reality, she smiled at the applause and went to put the snake back in his basket. It was then, as the crowds thinned to find the other performances going on about the circus, did a woman approach the young snake charmer. She had light, strawberry hair and green eyes, obviously not Egyptian by birth. This was further cemented by her heavy accent. Greek maybe? Kesi would not be surprised, she had met a number of Greeks in Egypt in her days. One of her favorite Greeks taught her poison, though they were an odd bunch worshiping weird gods.
It mattered not, for she was complimenting Kesi, and now was not the time to ponder of the stranger’s origins. Kesi smiled and gave a small flourish. “We of the Tempest of Set spend much of time practicing, perfecting our craft. This includes our beasts that roam the circus grounds. This snake in particular has seen many performances. I spent hours prepping him to get to this state, soothing the snake from captivity until now. I know his thoughts at this point, and he knows mine.”
Kesi put down the basket and opened the lid. She pulled out the snake allowing it to coil around her arm. This was not Apep, Apep was saved for more important days. But this was still a well-behaved creature, and likely to be the next Apep when he inevitably passed on. Kesi held the snake out towards the strange woman, “Would you like a chance to hold him, Miss? I promise he would not bite. This snake is keen on humans, women in particular.”
Oh, right, she should ask more questions to people. That kept them more engaged, and she could direct her to other parts of the circus. That’s how people kept coming back, right? “Aside from my charming, has there been anything else that caught your attention, Miss?” Kesi asked with a smile. “There are many things to see at our circus.”
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The music slipped from her pungi, and the world around Kesi melted away. The audience mattered not, the crowds of people moving to and fro, or even the watchful eye of the circus enforcers did not phase Kesi. In this moment of time, all that existed was Kesi and her snake. One low note followed by another and another, she was locked in a deadly performance with the venomous beast in front of her.
One step closer, another step, her bare feet light on the sand and her eyes locked with the snake as it rose, swaying to the notes. Kesi too, danced the creature, moving in such a tantalizing way. Closer and closer, the snake could bite at any moment, locking its fangs deep into her flesh. But Kesi knew this would not happen. She and the snake were one. Their thoughts were shared, their movement the same, the pair knowing what each would do. With one low note of her pungi, she picked up the snake from his tail, bringing it closer to the audience, allowing them to share in the excitement. The snake wiggled and writhed, but it never went to attack. She dropped it back in the sand, and the performance continued.
When the song finally ended, and Kesi’s mind was back in reality, she smiled at the applause and went to put the snake back in his basket. It was then, as the crowds thinned to find the other performances going on about the circus, did a woman approach the young snake charmer. She had light, strawberry hair and green eyes, obviously not Egyptian by birth. This was further cemented by her heavy accent. Greek maybe? Kesi would not be surprised, she had met a number of Greeks in Egypt in her days. One of her favorite Greeks taught her poison, though they were an odd bunch worshiping weird gods.
It mattered not, for she was complimenting Kesi, and now was not the time to ponder of the stranger’s origins. Kesi smiled and gave a small flourish. “We of the Tempest of Set spend much of time practicing, perfecting our craft. This includes our beasts that roam the circus grounds. This snake in particular has seen many performances. I spent hours prepping him to get to this state, soothing the snake from captivity until now. I know his thoughts at this point, and he knows mine.”
Kesi put down the basket and opened the lid. She pulled out the snake allowing it to coil around her arm. This was not Apep, Apep was saved for more important days. But this was still a well-behaved creature, and likely to be the next Apep when he inevitably passed on. Kesi held the snake out towards the strange woman, “Would you like a chance to hold him, Miss? I promise he would not bite. This snake is keen on humans, women in particular.”
Oh, right, she should ask more questions to people. That kept them more engaged, and she could direct her to other parts of the circus. That’s how people kept coming back, right? “Aside from my charming, has there been anything else that caught your attention, Miss?” Kesi asked with a smile. “There are many things to see at our circus.”
The music slipped from her pungi, and the world around Kesi melted away. The audience mattered not, the crowds of people moving to and fro, or even the watchful eye of the circus enforcers did not phase Kesi. In this moment of time, all that existed was Kesi and her snake. One low note followed by another and another, she was locked in a deadly performance with the venomous beast in front of her.
One step closer, another step, her bare feet light on the sand and her eyes locked with the snake as it rose, swaying to the notes. Kesi too, danced the creature, moving in such a tantalizing way. Closer and closer, the snake could bite at any moment, locking its fangs deep into her flesh. But Kesi knew this would not happen. She and the snake were one. Their thoughts were shared, their movement the same, the pair knowing what each would do. With one low note of her pungi, she picked up the snake from his tail, bringing it closer to the audience, allowing them to share in the excitement. The snake wiggled and writhed, but it never went to attack. She dropped it back in the sand, and the performance continued.
When the song finally ended, and Kesi’s mind was back in reality, she smiled at the applause and went to put the snake back in his basket. It was then, as the crowds thinned to find the other performances going on about the circus, did a woman approach the young snake charmer. She had light, strawberry hair and green eyes, obviously not Egyptian by birth. This was further cemented by her heavy accent. Greek maybe? Kesi would not be surprised, she had met a number of Greeks in Egypt in her days. One of her favorite Greeks taught her poison, though they were an odd bunch worshiping weird gods.
It mattered not, for she was complimenting Kesi, and now was not the time to ponder of the stranger’s origins. Kesi smiled and gave a small flourish. “We of the Tempest of Set spend much of time practicing, perfecting our craft. This includes our beasts that roam the circus grounds. This snake in particular has seen many performances. I spent hours prepping him to get to this state, soothing the snake from captivity until now. I know his thoughts at this point, and he knows mine.”
Kesi put down the basket and opened the lid. She pulled out the snake allowing it to coil around her arm. This was not Apep, Apep was saved for more important days. But this was still a well-behaved creature, and likely to be the next Apep when he inevitably passed on. Kesi held the snake out towards the strange woman, “Would you like a chance to hold him, Miss? I promise he would not bite. This snake is keen on humans, women in particular.”
Oh, right, she should ask more questions to people. That kept them more engaged, and she could direct her to other parts of the circus. That’s how people kept coming back, right? “Aside from my charming, has there been anything else that caught your attention, Miss?” Kesi asked with a smile. “There are many things to see at our circus.”
The Tempest of Set.
Was that what they called themselves? A poetic name for a performing troupe. It was only appropriate, she supposed—circuses were a curiosity, and what drew more curiosity than such an enigmatic name? “Your practice and care are obvious in your act,” Dora complimented the snake charmer, warmth suffusing an easy smile. “It’s not hard to tell how much you’ve dedicated to this.”
The woman pulled the snake back out, wrapping it around her arm and even offering it to Dora. “I… I don’t know about that,” she replied with a self-deprecating laugh, eyeing the serpent doubtfully. Its charmer might claim it would not bite, but the Grecian woman was not so sure she wanted to trust that assertion. The last thing she needed was a venomous bite on top of everything else she had suffered lately. “Forgive my cowardice, but… perhaps another time.”
Ten years ago, Dora likely would have done it without question—a bold and somewhat reckless young woman with a hankering for adventure. But time had dulled that recklessness, tempered it with intelligence, and she was much more apt to weigh the risks she took now. Cuddling a cobra hardly seemed a risk worth taking.
Aside from my charming, has there been anything else that caught your attention, Miss?
Another smile lit Callidora’s face as she nodded enthusiastically. “I’ve only just arrived, but already there has been so much to see. You have quite the retinue with your circus.” The compliment was offered with a deepening of her grin. “I’ve never seen acrobats bend in such a way. I haven’t even been inside yet, and I’m already impressed with the spectacle.”
Her head tilted consideringly, a pointed gleam in her eye. Of course, she had no idea how heavily this woman was involved in the affairs of the circus beyond its performances, but if she already had her attention, what did it hurt to plant an idea in her head? If she wasn’t the one to talk to, perhaps she could direct her to the one that was.
“Not to be critical, of course, but there was one thing I noticed could be improved upon.” She was taking a gamble on whether or not the woman would be offended, but that was all right. After all, as she’d said, she had only just arrived. If she was chased off now for her rudeness, what did it really matter? As opposed to the woman’s snake, this was a risk Dora thought worth the reward.
Pointing back toward the vendor stalls, she went on, “I’m a merchant, you see, a traveler with an… eye for quality. Quality seems to be rather lacking in some of your sellers.” Shrugging as if it didn’t concern her, she added, “I don’t know how often you take on new business associates, but I can assure you the value of my goods far surpasses that which you all have on display now. If that’s something that interests you, anyway.”
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The Tempest of Set.
Was that what they called themselves? A poetic name for a performing troupe. It was only appropriate, she supposed—circuses were a curiosity, and what drew more curiosity than such an enigmatic name? “Your practice and care are obvious in your act,” Dora complimented the snake charmer, warmth suffusing an easy smile. “It’s not hard to tell how much you’ve dedicated to this.”
The woman pulled the snake back out, wrapping it around her arm and even offering it to Dora. “I… I don’t know about that,” she replied with a self-deprecating laugh, eyeing the serpent doubtfully. Its charmer might claim it would not bite, but the Grecian woman was not so sure she wanted to trust that assertion. The last thing she needed was a venomous bite on top of everything else she had suffered lately. “Forgive my cowardice, but… perhaps another time.”
Ten years ago, Dora likely would have done it without question—a bold and somewhat reckless young woman with a hankering for adventure. But time had dulled that recklessness, tempered it with intelligence, and she was much more apt to weigh the risks she took now. Cuddling a cobra hardly seemed a risk worth taking.
Aside from my charming, has there been anything else that caught your attention, Miss?
Another smile lit Callidora’s face as she nodded enthusiastically. “I’ve only just arrived, but already there has been so much to see. You have quite the retinue with your circus.” The compliment was offered with a deepening of her grin. “I’ve never seen acrobats bend in such a way. I haven’t even been inside yet, and I’m already impressed with the spectacle.”
Her head tilted consideringly, a pointed gleam in her eye. Of course, she had no idea how heavily this woman was involved in the affairs of the circus beyond its performances, but if she already had her attention, what did it hurt to plant an idea in her head? If she wasn’t the one to talk to, perhaps she could direct her to the one that was.
“Not to be critical, of course, but there was one thing I noticed could be improved upon.” She was taking a gamble on whether or not the woman would be offended, but that was all right. After all, as she’d said, she had only just arrived. If she was chased off now for her rudeness, what did it really matter? As opposed to the woman’s snake, this was a risk Dora thought worth the reward.
Pointing back toward the vendor stalls, she went on, “I’m a merchant, you see, a traveler with an… eye for quality. Quality seems to be rather lacking in some of your sellers.” Shrugging as if it didn’t concern her, she added, “I don’t know how often you take on new business associates, but I can assure you the value of my goods far surpasses that which you all have on display now. If that’s something that interests you, anyway.”
The Tempest of Set.
Was that what they called themselves? A poetic name for a performing troupe. It was only appropriate, she supposed—circuses were a curiosity, and what drew more curiosity than such an enigmatic name? “Your practice and care are obvious in your act,” Dora complimented the snake charmer, warmth suffusing an easy smile. “It’s not hard to tell how much you’ve dedicated to this.”
The woman pulled the snake back out, wrapping it around her arm and even offering it to Dora. “I… I don’t know about that,” she replied with a self-deprecating laugh, eyeing the serpent doubtfully. Its charmer might claim it would not bite, but the Grecian woman was not so sure she wanted to trust that assertion. The last thing she needed was a venomous bite on top of everything else she had suffered lately. “Forgive my cowardice, but… perhaps another time.”
Ten years ago, Dora likely would have done it without question—a bold and somewhat reckless young woman with a hankering for adventure. But time had dulled that recklessness, tempered it with intelligence, and she was much more apt to weigh the risks she took now. Cuddling a cobra hardly seemed a risk worth taking.
Aside from my charming, has there been anything else that caught your attention, Miss?
Another smile lit Callidora’s face as she nodded enthusiastically. “I’ve only just arrived, but already there has been so much to see. You have quite the retinue with your circus.” The compliment was offered with a deepening of her grin. “I’ve never seen acrobats bend in such a way. I haven’t even been inside yet, and I’m already impressed with the spectacle.”
Her head tilted consideringly, a pointed gleam in her eye. Of course, she had no idea how heavily this woman was involved in the affairs of the circus beyond its performances, but if she already had her attention, what did it hurt to plant an idea in her head? If she wasn’t the one to talk to, perhaps she could direct her to the one that was.
“Not to be critical, of course, but there was one thing I noticed could be improved upon.” She was taking a gamble on whether or not the woman would be offended, but that was all right. After all, as she’d said, she had only just arrived. If she was chased off now for her rudeness, what did it really matter? As opposed to the woman’s snake, this was a risk Dora thought worth the reward.
Pointing back toward the vendor stalls, she went on, “I’m a merchant, you see, a traveler with an… eye for quality. Quality seems to be rather lacking in some of your sellers.” Shrugging as if it didn’t concern her, she added, “I don’t know how often you take on new business associates, but I can assure you the value of my goods far surpasses that which you all have on display now. If that’s something that interests you, anyway.”
Boy, this girl sure likes to smile. Kesi wondered as she continued to rattle off compliments if her cheeks were hurting. Kesi’s sure were as she nodded enthusiastically trying her best to be as engaged as possible despite not really caring about the conversation. Compliments to the circus were par for the course. They were the best circus in Egypt. The Tempestuous Clique were stars, a shining jewel of the Tempest of Set. They brought people in droves to the circus tent, and the other performers made sure they stayed around so patrons could continue to spend their coin.
Kesi was put out, though, by the refusal to hold her snake. While it wasn’t Apep, the snake was quite nice. Too few people liked snakes. They were beautiful creatures with a deadly bite. Kesi wished she had a deadly bite. Though then again if she did then she wouldn’t be able to bite Amenemhat when they…
Her attention returned to the woman as she started to criticize the circus. Kesi blinked at the woman, her mind stalling for a moment or two. She didn’t know how to take critique. That wasn’t something Kesi ever had been exposed to. Not by random strangers at the very least. Most people didn’t want to talk to the lady who walked around with a snake around her neck or arm.
Were their merchants selling cheap wares? To be allowed to sell inside the circus was a privilege. Customers were plenty and coffers were often left full. Were the merchants using the easy customer base to sell their cheaper wares at inflated prices? Kesi did not often inspect what their merchants sold, that wasn’t her job. But the Tempest of Set was known for their quality performances. They were high tier entertainment. As such, the same expectations should go for the merchants that sold their wares.
“A merchant you say?” Kesi blinked back to reality, her smile remaining steady. “I am not the one that typically handles business associates. That’s my bro- Oh!”
Across the way, she saw her brother in his typical performance attire. When it came to when the circus was running and Kesi was working, she typically did not speak much with Amenemhat. Unless it were a task he put her on or an emergency, she was focused on her own performances and keeping an eye for any trouble that may occur. Her brother was busy and so was she. But maybe he would have time to entertain this woman’s inquiry? It might even impress him that it was Kesi who brought her to him and not tried some dangerous trick that could have gotten her in trouble.
“Here, Miss! Follow me!” She grabbed the woman’s wrist and brought her to her brother. “Nem!” she called out to him. “Oh, Miss. This is Amenemhat, the ringmaster of the circus. And this is…” Kesi cleared her throat. She was horrible with names, so she had never bothered to ask the stranger. Names were useless. “A merchant. She had something to say to you, Nem.”
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Boy, this girl sure likes to smile. Kesi wondered as she continued to rattle off compliments if her cheeks were hurting. Kesi’s sure were as she nodded enthusiastically trying her best to be as engaged as possible despite not really caring about the conversation. Compliments to the circus were par for the course. They were the best circus in Egypt. The Tempestuous Clique were stars, a shining jewel of the Tempest of Set. They brought people in droves to the circus tent, and the other performers made sure they stayed around so patrons could continue to spend their coin.
Kesi was put out, though, by the refusal to hold her snake. While it wasn’t Apep, the snake was quite nice. Too few people liked snakes. They were beautiful creatures with a deadly bite. Kesi wished she had a deadly bite. Though then again if she did then she wouldn’t be able to bite Amenemhat when they…
Her attention returned to the woman as she started to criticize the circus. Kesi blinked at the woman, her mind stalling for a moment or two. She didn’t know how to take critique. That wasn’t something Kesi ever had been exposed to. Not by random strangers at the very least. Most people didn’t want to talk to the lady who walked around with a snake around her neck or arm.
Were their merchants selling cheap wares? To be allowed to sell inside the circus was a privilege. Customers were plenty and coffers were often left full. Were the merchants using the easy customer base to sell their cheaper wares at inflated prices? Kesi did not often inspect what their merchants sold, that wasn’t her job. But the Tempest of Set was known for their quality performances. They were high tier entertainment. As such, the same expectations should go for the merchants that sold their wares.
“A merchant you say?” Kesi blinked back to reality, her smile remaining steady. “I am not the one that typically handles business associates. That’s my bro- Oh!”
Across the way, she saw her brother in his typical performance attire. When it came to when the circus was running and Kesi was working, she typically did not speak much with Amenemhat. Unless it were a task he put her on or an emergency, she was focused on her own performances and keeping an eye for any trouble that may occur. Her brother was busy and so was she. But maybe he would have time to entertain this woman’s inquiry? It might even impress him that it was Kesi who brought her to him and not tried some dangerous trick that could have gotten her in trouble.
“Here, Miss! Follow me!” She grabbed the woman’s wrist and brought her to her brother. “Nem!” she called out to him. “Oh, Miss. This is Amenemhat, the ringmaster of the circus. And this is…” Kesi cleared her throat. She was horrible with names, so she had never bothered to ask the stranger. Names were useless. “A merchant. She had something to say to you, Nem.”
Boy, this girl sure likes to smile. Kesi wondered as she continued to rattle off compliments if her cheeks were hurting. Kesi’s sure were as she nodded enthusiastically trying her best to be as engaged as possible despite not really caring about the conversation. Compliments to the circus were par for the course. They were the best circus in Egypt. The Tempestuous Clique were stars, a shining jewel of the Tempest of Set. They brought people in droves to the circus tent, and the other performers made sure they stayed around so patrons could continue to spend their coin.
Kesi was put out, though, by the refusal to hold her snake. While it wasn’t Apep, the snake was quite nice. Too few people liked snakes. They were beautiful creatures with a deadly bite. Kesi wished she had a deadly bite. Though then again if she did then she wouldn’t be able to bite Amenemhat when they…
Her attention returned to the woman as she started to criticize the circus. Kesi blinked at the woman, her mind stalling for a moment or two. She didn’t know how to take critique. That wasn’t something Kesi ever had been exposed to. Not by random strangers at the very least. Most people didn’t want to talk to the lady who walked around with a snake around her neck or arm.
Were their merchants selling cheap wares? To be allowed to sell inside the circus was a privilege. Customers were plenty and coffers were often left full. Were the merchants using the easy customer base to sell their cheaper wares at inflated prices? Kesi did not often inspect what their merchants sold, that wasn’t her job. But the Tempest of Set was known for their quality performances. They were high tier entertainment. As such, the same expectations should go for the merchants that sold their wares.
“A merchant you say?” Kesi blinked back to reality, her smile remaining steady. “I am not the one that typically handles business associates. That’s my bro- Oh!”
Across the way, she saw her brother in his typical performance attire. When it came to when the circus was running and Kesi was working, she typically did not speak much with Amenemhat. Unless it were a task he put her on or an emergency, she was focused on her own performances and keeping an eye for any trouble that may occur. Her brother was busy and so was she. But maybe he would have time to entertain this woman’s inquiry? It might even impress him that it was Kesi who brought her to him and not tried some dangerous trick that could have gotten her in trouble.
“Here, Miss! Follow me!” She grabbed the woman’s wrist and brought her to her brother. “Nem!” she called out to him. “Oh, Miss. This is Amenemhat, the ringmaster of the circus. And this is…” Kesi cleared her throat. She was horrible with names, so she had never bothered to ask the stranger. Names were useless. “A merchant. She had something to say to you, Nem.”
The circus was Amenemhat's personal kingdom.
Pulling upon its strings, weaving spectacle and festivity was but one of the purposes it served. Another was the perpetuity of Set's name and domain within the expanse of Egypt. A massive nation with a pantheon of Gods, spanning from the creator God Ptah to the night Goddess Nephthys, to the mighty sun God Ra, it was often enough that the force of Chaos that was Set was relegated to a lesser role. Chaos, after all, was often associated with discord, with entropy, with pandemonium. While these associations were true, it was also epitomized by change, by astonishment. By spectacle. Giving one side of the dominion of Set too much credence was to bring ruin to his good name, something that many seemed not to understand.
So, Amenemhat perpetuated the domain of Set, from the performances that sang symbolic graces to his name to the ample donations he gave to Set's temple. He considered himself an emissary to the God of Chaos, and sought to fulfill that role one way or the other. But, there were other concerns in the moment. The titular Tempest of Set performance had come to an end, and there were stage slaves to wrangle up, human cattle that required feeding and watering before being released to continue along with facilitation of further engagements. There were the members of the Clique to acknowledge and compliment, for a gracious ringmaster such as himself would seek to uplift rather than create the simple expectation of performance.
Where Somgi of Cairo was content to fuck whores and sleep the night away, I allow my influence to permeate within the whole of the circus. Zealots are kept the way they are through constant conditioning.
And so, Nem's fingers brushed along the jawlines of the Liu sisters, an embrace had with each of the sisters before he clasped at the backs of his male performers, pressed his lips to the forehead of the women acrobats. The paint upon his shoulders and chest smeared with the reciprocation, and he sent all of the performers on their way to reapply their vestments before he took a towel from a wandering slave and brushed away the decaying ink from his face and body. Once his face was purified of the sticky ink, he heard the 'Oh!' escape familiar lips. It seemed that his sister had cause to speak to him, for she drew closer and brought someone in tow.
He did not oft speak extensively with Kesi during the show. She had her place outside, and implicit trust in her ability to perform left him never needing to keep the vigil upon her. If she was speaking to him in this moment, when all of the world around them required his attention, there needed to be a proper reason. As he turned over the towel and brushed his face clean of the last hints of paint, he threw it over his shoulders, only for the garment to be taken away by a second moving slave. He chuckled as he listened to Kesi draw a blank on the merchant's name. Always, they seemed to elude her. In this regard, he certainly sympathized with her. Names were useless, up until they weren't. Once someone presented themselves as worthy of address, then their name was all too significant.
"Not one of ours, I presume," he answered first, letting the easy words flow from his lips. She better not be. The merchant cur who persisted from his father's heyday were, for a great part, liabilities. They greased the circus' palm to remain in their proper place, and truly, Amenemhat had only begun to police the culinary merchants so that there were no incidents of food poisoning within. The circus' wares never needed to be superior. They were baubles, eye candy for people to look past and pick up before and after the real reasons for attending the circus were met.
"It's rather unconventional," he began, striking a glare at Kesi for the means in which she summoned him away from his other tasks, but the smile cast easily upon his lips when he returned his gaze to the merchant woman.
"But not unwelcome. What do you have to say, miss...?" he trailed off, giving her the opportunity to introduce herself.
Names weren't important, but calling people by supplicating pronouns was quite beneath the circus' ringmaster.
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The circus was Amenemhat's personal kingdom.
Pulling upon its strings, weaving spectacle and festivity was but one of the purposes it served. Another was the perpetuity of Set's name and domain within the expanse of Egypt. A massive nation with a pantheon of Gods, spanning from the creator God Ptah to the night Goddess Nephthys, to the mighty sun God Ra, it was often enough that the force of Chaos that was Set was relegated to a lesser role. Chaos, after all, was often associated with discord, with entropy, with pandemonium. While these associations were true, it was also epitomized by change, by astonishment. By spectacle. Giving one side of the dominion of Set too much credence was to bring ruin to his good name, something that many seemed not to understand.
So, Amenemhat perpetuated the domain of Set, from the performances that sang symbolic graces to his name to the ample donations he gave to Set's temple. He considered himself an emissary to the God of Chaos, and sought to fulfill that role one way or the other. But, there were other concerns in the moment. The titular Tempest of Set performance had come to an end, and there were stage slaves to wrangle up, human cattle that required feeding and watering before being released to continue along with facilitation of further engagements. There were the members of the Clique to acknowledge and compliment, for a gracious ringmaster such as himself would seek to uplift rather than create the simple expectation of performance.
Where Somgi of Cairo was content to fuck whores and sleep the night away, I allow my influence to permeate within the whole of the circus. Zealots are kept the way they are through constant conditioning.
And so, Nem's fingers brushed along the jawlines of the Liu sisters, an embrace had with each of the sisters before he clasped at the backs of his male performers, pressed his lips to the forehead of the women acrobats. The paint upon his shoulders and chest smeared with the reciprocation, and he sent all of the performers on their way to reapply their vestments before he took a towel from a wandering slave and brushed away the decaying ink from his face and body. Once his face was purified of the sticky ink, he heard the 'Oh!' escape familiar lips. It seemed that his sister had cause to speak to him, for she drew closer and brought someone in tow.
He did not oft speak extensively with Kesi during the show. She had her place outside, and implicit trust in her ability to perform left him never needing to keep the vigil upon her. If she was speaking to him in this moment, when all of the world around them required his attention, there needed to be a proper reason. As he turned over the towel and brushed his face clean of the last hints of paint, he threw it over his shoulders, only for the garment to be taken away by a second moving slave. He chuckled as he listened to Kesi draw a blank on the merchant's name. Always, they seemed to elude her. In this regard, he certainly sympathized with her. Names were useless, up until they weren't. Once someone presented themselves as worthy of address, then their name was all too significant.
"Not one of ours, I presume," he answered first, letting the easy words flow from his lips. She better not be. The merchant cur who persisted from his father's heyday were, for a great part, liabilities. They greased the circus' palm to remain in their proper place, and truly, Amenemhat had only begun to police the culinary merchants so that there were no incidents of food poisoning within. The circus' wares never needed to be superior. They were baubles, eye candy for people to look past and pick up before and after the real reasons for attending the circus were met.
"It's rather unconventional," he began, striking a glare at Kesi for the means in which she summoned him away from his other tasks, but the smile cast easily upon his lips when he returned his gaze to the merchant woman.
"But not unwelcome. What do you have to say, miss...?" he trailed off, giving her the opportunity to introduce herself.
Names weren't important, but calling people by supplicating pronouns was quite beneath the circus' ringmaster.
The circus was Amenemhat's personal kingdom.
Pulling upon its strings, weaving spectacle and festivity was but one of the purposes it served. Another was the perpetuity of Set's name and domain within the expanse of Egypt. A massive nation with a pantheon of Gods, spanning from the creator God Ptah to the night Goddess Nephthys, to the mighty sun God Ra, it was often enough that the force of Chaos that was Set was relegated to a lesser role. Chaos, after all, was often associated with discord, with entropy, with pandemonium. While these associations were true, it was also epitomized by change, by astonishment. By spectacle. Giving one side of the dominion of Set too much credence was to bring ruin to his good name, something that many seemed not to understand.
So, Amenemhat perpetuated the domain of Set, from the performances that sang symbolic graces to his name to the ample donations he gave to Set's temple. He considered himself an emissary to the God of Chaos, and sought to fulfill that role one way or the other. But, there were other concerns in the moment. The titular Tempest of Set performance had come to an end, and there were stage slaves to wrangle up, human cattle that required feeding and watering before being released to continue along with facilitation of further engagements. There were the members of the Clique to acknowledge and compliment, for a gracious ringmaster such as himself would seek to uplift rather than create the simple expectation of performance.
Where Somgi of Cairo was content to fuck whores and sleep the night away, I allow my influence to permeate within the whole of the circus. Zealots are kept the way they are through constant conditioning.
And so, Nem's fingers brushed along the jawlines of the Liu sisters, an embrace had with each of the sisters before he clasped at the backs of his male performers, pressed his lips to the forehead of the women acrobats. The paint upon his shoulders and chest smeared with the reciprocation, and he sent all of the performers on their way to reapply their vestments before he took a towel from a wandering slave and brushed away the decaying ink from his face and body. Once his face was purified of the sticky ink, he heard the 'Oh!' escape familiar lips. It seemed that his sister had cause to speak to him, for she drew closer and brought someone in tow.
He did not oft speak extensively with Kesi during the show. She had her place outside, and implicit trust in her ability to perform left him never needing to keep the vigil upon her. If she was speaking to him in this moment, when all of the world around them required his attention, there needed to be a proper reason. As he turned over the towel and brushed his face clean of the last hints of paint, he threw it over his shoulders, only for the garment to be taken away by a second moving slave. He chuckled as he listened to Kesi draw a blank on the merchant's name. Always, they seemed to elude her. In this regard, he certainly sympathized with her. Names were useless, up until they weren't. Once someone presented themselves as worthy of address, then their name was all too significant.
"Not one of ours, I presume," he answered first, letting the easy words flow from his lips. She better not be. The merchant cur who persisted from his father's heyday were, for a great part, liabilities. They greased the circus' palm to remain in their proper place, and truly, Amenemhat had only begun to police the culinary merchants so that there were no incidents of food poisoning within. The circus' wares never needed to be superior. They were baubles, eye candy for people to look past and pick up before and after the real reasons for attending the circus were met.
"It's rather unconventional," he began, striking a glare at Kesi for the means in which she summoned him away from his other tasks, but the smile cast easily upon his lips when he returned his gaze to the merchant woman.
"But not unwelcome. What do you have to say, miss...?" he trailed off, giving her the opportunity to introduce herself.
Names weren't important, but calling people by supplicating pronouns was quite beneath the circus' ringmaster.
Even if she hadn’t come across the proper person she needed to speak with, it seemed she’d made a good choice, anyway. Though the younger woman seemed a little strange, Dora could hardly hold that against her. This was a circus, after all. Normality held no place here.
Her wrist grabbed and tugged behind the snake charmer, the Grecian merchant gave a startled bark of laughter as she was led to the man this woman called her brother. Apparently he was the one she needed to speak with, which suited her just fine. Men were usually easier to sell on anything, as it was. A pretty face went a far way as a woman in her trade, and hopefully, if things went the right way, this time would be no different.
Then again, if they didn’t work out, it wasn’t important. For the first time since she came to Egypt, she could afford to lose out on an opportunity. But she meant to make her benefactor proud. She had entered into an agreement with Lord Akhenaten, and she meant to honor it. And if she couldn’t expand their trading prospects, then what use was she?
“Callidora,” she introduced herself, supplying the lack of name her companion never bothered to ask for. Offering a smile of greeting, she respectfully inclined her head. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Amenemhat.” Even if her Coptic still held a Greek coloring in her accent, she gained better mastery of the language every day. A complicated name, the syllables competently fell from her lips, much to her own pride. “Your sister here has been very helpful.”
She turned the smile on the snake charmer before turning back to the ringmaster. She felt little sense in dancing around the subject, not when the man already seemed a little put out by her and Kesi’s interruption. She figured she might as well dive for the heart of the matter and hope for the best. “I can see you’re a very busy man, so I won’t waste too much of your time. Forgive any offense I may give, for I assure you, it is not intended. But as I told your sister here, I noticed the quality of your vendors seems to be rather… lacking.”
Lifting her shoulders in a casual shrug, she went on, “Your circus is starting to gain quite the name for itself here in Cairo. I’ve heard it buzzing in my ears several times over the past few weeks. With such a name, wouldn’t you prefer to have more competent merchants selling outside your tent?” Without waiting for an answer, she continued, “I serve the interests of the Lord Akhenaten H’Sheifa, heir to the Sheifa Hei. They have made their fortune on the backs of merchants, and as of recently, I’m proud to be among them. Of course, I would have to give my lord the final say, but he has effectively put me in charge of his business ventures. I have a feeling it could be favorable to us both to count your circus among them.” A smirk sat on her lips, tilting a brow his way. “I don’t expect you to trust me on word alone, but I’m happy to prove the truth of my claims. If you’re interested, of course.”
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Even if she hadn’t come across the proper person she needed to speak with, it seemed she’d made a good choice, anyway. Though the younger woman seemed a little strange, Dora could hardly hold that against her. This was a circus, after all. Normality held no place here.
Her wrist grabbed and tugged behind the snake charmer, the Grecian merchant gave a startled bark of laughter as she was led to the man this woman called her brother. Apparently he was the one she needed to speak with, which suited her just fine. Men were usually easier to sell on anything, as it was. A pretty face went a far way as a woman in her trade, and hopefully, if things went the right way, this time would be no different.
Then again, if they didn’t work out, it wasn’t important. For the first time since she came to Egypt, she could afford to lose out on an opportunity. But she meant to make her benefactor proud. She had entered into an agreement with Lord Akhenaten, and she meant to honor it. And if she couldn’t expand their trading prospects, then what use was she?
“Callidora,” she introduced herself, supplying the lack of name her companion never bothered to ask for. Offering a smile of greeting, she respectfully inclined her head. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Amenemhat.” Even if her Coptic still held a Greek coloring in her accent, she gained better mastery of the language every day. A complicated name, the syllables competently fell from her lips, much to her own pride. “Your sister here has been very helpful.”
She turned the smile on the snake charmer before turning back to the ringmaster. She felt little sense in dancing around the subject, not when the man already seemed a little put out by her and Kesi’s interruption. She figured she might as well dive for the heart of the matter and hope for the best. “I can see you’re a very busy man, so I won’t waste too much of your time. Forgive any offense I may give, for I assure you, it is not intended. But as I told your sister here, I noticed the quality of your vendors seems to be rather… lacking.”
Lifting her shoulders in a casual shrug, she went on, “Your circus is starting to gain quite the name for itself here in Cairo. I’ve heard it buzzing in my ears several times over the past few weeks. With such a name, wouldn’t you prefer to have more competent merchants selling outside your tent?” Without waiting for an answer, she continued, “I serve the interests of the Lord Akhenaten H’Sheifa, heir to the Sheifa Hei. They have made their fortune on the backs of merchants, and as of recently, I’m proud to be among them. Of course, I would have to give my lord the final say, but he has effectively put me in charge of his business ventures. I have a feeling it could be favorable to us both to count your circus among them.” A smirk sat on her lips, tilting a brow his way. “I don’t expect you to trust me on word alone, but I’m happy to prove the truth of my claims. If you’re interested, of course.”
Even if she hadn’t come across the proper person she needed to speak with, it seemed she’d made a good choice, anyway. Though the younger woman seemed a little strange, Dora could hardly hold that against her. This was a circus, after all. Normality held no place here.
Her wrist grabbed and tugged behind the snake charmer, the Grecian merchant gave a startled bark of laughter as she was led to the man this woman called her brother. Apparently he was the one she needed to speak with, which suited her just fine. Men were usually easier to sell on anything, as it was. A pretty face went a far way as a woman in her trade, and hopefully, if things went the right way, this time would be no different.
Then again, if they didn’t work out, it wasn’t important. For the first time since she came to Egypt, she could afford to lose out on an opportunity. But she meant to make her benefactor proud. She had entered into an agreement with Lord Akhenaten, and she meant to honor it. And if she couldn’t expand their trading prospects, then what use was she?
“Callidora,” she introduced herself, supplying the lack of name her companion never bothered to ask for. Offering a smile of greeting, she respectfully inclined her head. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Amenemhat.” Even if her Coptic still held a Greek coloring in her accent, she gained better mastery of the language every day. A complicated name, the syllables competently fell from her lips, much to her own pride. “Your sister here has been very helpful.”
She turned the smile on the snake charmer before turning back to the ringmaster. She felt little sense in dancing around the subject, not when the man already seemed a little put out by her and Kesi’s interruption. She figured she might as well dive for the heart of the matter and hope for the best. “I can see you’re a very busy man, so I won’t waste too much of your time. Forgive any offense I may give, for I assure you, it is not intended. But as I told your sister here, I noticed the quality of your vendors seems to be rather… lacking.”
Lifting her shoulders in a casual shrug, she went on, “Your circus is starting to gain quite the name for itself here in Cairo. I’ve heard it buzzing in my ears several times over the past few weeks. With such a name, wouldn’t you prefer to have more competent merchants selling outside your tent?” Without waiting for an answer, she continued, “I serve the interests of the Lord Akhenaten H’Sheifa, heir to the Sheifa Hei. They have made their fortune on the backs of merchants, and as of recently, I’m proud to be among them. Of course, I would have to give my lord the final say, but he has effectively put me in charge of his business ventures. I have a feeling it could be favorable to us both to count your circus among them.” A smirk sat on her lips, tilting a brow his way. “I don’t expect you to trust me on word alone, but I’m happy to prove the truth of my claims. If you’re interested, of course.”
Nem was, despite himself, somewhat impressed by the woman in front of him. Alexandria was, more than anywhere else in Egypt, a melting pot. He'd met his share of Greeks in his time living there, and moreover, in the multitude of visits ever since. Each time, the merchants he associated with struggled to pronounce his name, a show of disrespect that would often enough cause the ringmaster to refuse their goods. It was a privilege to work with the circus, after all. Such disrespect was disgusting. Callidora, however, managed to work through it and he allowed her the opportunity to continue speaking because of it.
This woman seemed all smiles, perhaps some asinine attempt to further earn his favour. It was, perhaps, better to see a woman's smile than a man's, the expression so blank and devoid of authenticity. How amusing it was, to figure that everyone wore a facade like he did. It was so very... fake. Her name was filed away for possible future use as he deigned it fitting to hear her out. Merchants were so very common, their conversation always a droll of sales pitches and kissing ass that sought to stoke a sort of ego that Nem scarcely cared to foster. To his surprise, however, she spoke of offenses and moved on to speak about his vendors.
This is new, he mused. The strategy of putting down one's competitors wasn't some revolutionary tactic, but to hear it so veiled in fake respect and then followed with the idea that the circus was starting to gain any sort of traction... Either the merchant was woefully ignorant of the world, new to Egypt, or the absolute worst sycophant in the business. Ignorance could be forgiven, however, assuming that there was any sort of truth to her words. Always, there was the conflict, between Amenemhat's natural inclination to demean those who sought to suckle at the teat of his circus and the need to hear all of them out.
Picking the diamonds from the rubble was the task given to him, one of the least pleasurable but also most essential. The concessions the circus peddled were so... easy. It was a guaranteed flow of profit for him, for he put none of the funds up front for it aside from the space he often already paid for. It was a boon to the ambiance, allowing his patrons the opportunity to spend more money and find joy in something beyond the performances. So, he'd grit his teeth and sit through any number of these imbeciles in order to find the intelligent ones. Callidora was, despite his innate desire to refuse her, proving herself to be more and more in the camp of a beneficial use of his time.
He wouldn't answer her, even if she had waited for him to. There was no reason to interrupt her pitch and take more time out of his day asking silly questions that'd end on tangential nonsense. Then, she mentioned something that, at last, caught his interests. Akhenaten H'Sheifa was a man he'd met before. There was no business between them just yet, for in the ushering in of the new year, there was no reason to see the noble as anything but a noble suckling at his family's wealth.
But, it was impossible to ignore the word that spread. The fact that Sutekh H'Sheifa was no longer called that was no secret, and the new heir to Sheifa was instead the younger one. Disgrace was always such an amusing thing, particularly when it benefited Nem. With his attention thoroughly secured by her wise use of words and what he garnered as a meticulously ordered monologue...
She's a clever one. Naming her business associate last, insulting her competitors while doing her utmost to praise the circus around it. This may well be a good use of my time.
With a quick, approving glance towards Kesi, he gestured towards his distant tent, larger by far than the rest of those that orbited the circus grounds. He could leave the machinations of the circus to his mother and instead allow this particular merchant some more of his time.
"If you have samples of your wares, then show them to me. In the interest of not causing a stir among the vendors, let's take this to my tent and we can discuss the particulars of merging your interests and my own."
The quality of her goods barely matters. Vendors are born and killed by the notoriety of their name alone. H'Sheifa being among the names of my vendors... that's an asset that cannot be ignored.
"Kesi, if you would like to join us, feel free," he offered before turning away from Callidora and making his way towards the tent. The time he had was scarce, for there were other shows that needed his attention. But, Callidora ensured that she could not be forgotten about.
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Nem was, despite himself, somewhat impressed by the woman in front of him. Alexandria was, more than anywhere else in Egypt, a melting pot. He'd met his share of Greeks in his time living there, and moreover, in the multitude of visits ever since. Each time, the merchants he associated with struggled to pronounce his name, a show of disrespect that would often enough cause the ringmaster to refuse their goods. It was a privilege to work with the circus, after all. Such disrespect was disgusting. Callidora, however, managed to work through it and he allowed her the opportunity to continue speaking because of it.
This woman seemed all smiles, perhaps some asinine attempt to further earn his favour. It was, perhaps, better to see a woman's smile than a man's, the expression so blank and devoid of authenticity. How amusing it was, to figure that everyone wore a facade like he did. It was so very... fake. Her name was filed away for possible future use as he deigned it fitting to hear her out. Merchants were so very common, their conversation always a droll of sales pitches and kissing ass that sought to stoke a sort of ego that Nem scarcely cared to foster. To his surprise, however, she spoke of offenses and moved on to speak about his vendors.
This is new, he mused. The strategy of putting down one's competitors wasn't some revolutionary tactic, but to hear it so veiled in fake respect and then followed with the idea that the circus was starting to gain any sort of traction... Either the merchant was woefully ignorant of the world, new to Egypt, or the absolute worst sycophant in the business. Ignorance could be forgiven, however, assuming that there was any sort of truth to her words. Always, there was the conflict, between Amenemhat's natural inclination to demean those who sought to suckle at the teat of his circus and the need to hear all of them out.
Picking the diamonds from the rubble was the task given to him, one of the least pleasurable but also most essential. The concessions the circus peddled were so... easy. It was a guaranteed flow of profit for him, for he put none of the funds up front for it aside from the space he often already paid for. It was a boon to the ambiance, allowing his patrons the opportunity to spend more money and find joy in something beyond the performances. So, he'd grit his teeth and sit through any number of these imbeciles in order to find the intelligent ones. Callidora was, despite his innate desire to refuse her, proving herself to be more and more in the camp of a beneficial use of his time.
He wouldn't answer her, even if she had waited for him to. There was no reason to interrupt her pitch and take more time out of his day asking silly questions that'd end on tangential nonsense. Then, she mentioned something that, at last, caught his interests. Akhenaten H'Sheifa was a man he'd met before. There was no business between them just yet, for in the ushering in of the new year, there was no reason to see the noble as anything but a noble suckling at his family's wealth.
But, it was impossible to ignore the word that spread. The fact that Sutekh H'Sheifa was no longer called that was no secret, and the new heir to Sheifa was instead the younger one. Disgrace was always such an amusing thing, particularly when it benefited Nem. With his attention thoroughly secured by her wise use of words and what he garnered as a meticulously ordered monologue...
She's a clever one. Naming her business associate last, insulting her competitors while doing her utmost to praise the circus around it. This may well be a good use of my time.
With a quick, approving glance towards Kesi, he gestured towards his distant tent, larger by far than the rest of those that orbited the circus grounds. He could leave the machinations of the circus to his mother and instead allow this particular merchant some more of his time.
"If you have samples of your wares, then show them to me. In the interest of not causing a stir among the vendors, let's take this to my tent and we can discuss the particulars of merging your interests and my own."
The quality of her goods barely matters. Vendors are born and killed by the notoriety of their name alone. H'Sheifa being among the names of my vendors... that's an asset that cannot be ignored.
"Kesi, if you would like to join us, feel free," he offered before turning away from Callidora and making his way towards the tent. The time he had was scarce, for there were other shows that needed his attention. But, Callidora ensured that she could not be forgotten about.
Nem was, despite himself, somewhat impressed by the woman in front of him. Alexandria was, more than anywhere else in Egypt, a melting pot. He'd met his share of Greeks in his time living there, and moreover, in the multitude of visits ever since. Each time, the merchants he associated with struggled to pronounce his name, a show of disrespect that would often enough cause the ringmaster to refuse their goods. It was a privilege to work with the circus, after all. Such disrespect was disgusting. Callidora, however, managed to work through it and he allowed her the opportunity to continue speaking because of it.
This woman seemed all smiles, perhaps some asinine attempt to further earn his favour. It was, perhaps, better to see a woman's smile than a man's, the expression so blank and devoid of authenticity. How amusing it was, to figure that everyone wore a facade like he did. It was so very... fake. Her name was filed away for possible future use as he deigned it fitting to hear her out. Merchants were so very common, their conversation always a droll of sales pitches and kissing ass that sought to stoke a sort of ego that Nem scarcely cared to foster. To his surprise, however, she spoke of offenses and moved on to speak about his vendors.
This is new, he mused. The strategy of putting down one's competitors wasn't some revolutionary tactic, but to hear it so veiled in fake respect and then followed with the idea that the circus was starting to gain any sort of traction... Either the merchant was woefully ignorant of the world, new to Egypt, or the absolute worst sycophant in the business. Ignorance could be forgiven, however, assuming that there was any sort of truth to her words. Always, there was the conflict, between Amenemhat's natural inclination to demean those who sought to suckle at the teat of his circus and the need to hear all of them out.
Picking the diamonds from the rubble was the task given to him, one of the least pleasurable but also most essential. The concessions the circus peddled were so... easy. It was a guaranteed flow of profit for him, for he put none of the funds up front for it aside from the space he often already paid for. It was a boon to the ambiance, allowing his patrons the opportunity to spend more money and find joy in something beyond the performances. So, he'd grit his teeth and sit through any number of these imbeciles in order to find the intelligent ones. Callidora was, despite his innate desire to refuse her, proving herself to be more and more in the camp of a beneficial use of his time.
He wouldn't answer her, even if she had waited for him to. There was no reason to interrupt her pitch and take more time out of his day asking silly questions that'd end on tangential nonsense. Then, she mentioned something that, at last, caught his interests. Akhenaten H'Sheifa was a man he'd met before. There was no business between them just yet, for in the ushering in of the new year, there was no reason to see the noble as anything but a noble suckling at his family's wealth.
But, it was impossible to ignore the word that spread. The fact that Sutekh H'Sheifa was no longer called that was no secret, and the new heir to Sheifa was instead the younger one. Disgrace was always such an amusing thing, particularly when it benefited Nem. With his attention thoroughly secured by her wise use of words and what he garnered as a meticulously ordered monologue...
She's a clever one. Naming her business associate last, insulting her competitors while doing her utmost to praise the circus around it. This may well be a good use of my time.
With a quick, approving glance towards Kesi, he gestured towards his distant tent, larger by far than the rest of those that orbited the circus grounds. He could leave the machinations of the circus to his mother and instead allow this particular merchant some more of his time.
"If you have samples of your wares, then show them to me. In the interest of not causing a stir among the vendors, let's take this to my tent and we can discuss the particulars of merging your interests and my own."
The quality of her goods barely matters. Vendors are born and killed by the notoriety of their name alone. H'Sheifa being among the names of my vendors... that's an asset that cannot be ignored.
"Kesi, if you would like to join us, feel free," he offered before turning away from Callidora and making his way towards the tent. The time he had was scarce, for there were other shows that needed his attention. But, Callidora ensured that she could not be forgotten about.
Callidora could see the moment the man’s favor shifted in her direction, the subtle change in his face which before held only polite disinterest. It was part of a merchant’s skills, after all, to read a prospect’s face, to shift one’s narrative to fit the situation at hand. Well, it was part of a good merchant’s skills, anyway. And the Grecian widow was a very good merchant.
The woman knew well what she was doing, surrounding her criticism with praise and casually dropping the name at the end. It was a classic tactic, and it was a classic for a reason. Ultimately, it was the name she dropped that won Amenemhat’s regard, and inwardly, Dora smiled. It had been scarcely days since Lord Akhenaten took her into his employ, and already she was achieving what she set out to do. If she’d gotten this far, there was no doubt in her mind she could seal the deal.
Her expression was like a cat licking cream as the ringmaster invited her to follow him, patting the pack at her side. Luckily, she had planned ahead for this, hoping today’s venture would be more than just a mere curiosity expedition. “I have a few things on me, yes,” she remarked as they picked their way through the organized chaos outside of the main tent. “I’m sure you’ll find them to be suitable.”
As soon as they were safely ensconced in the man’s tent away from the prying eyes of the other vendors, Callidora blinked a few times to adjust her eyesight to the sudden lack of sun and started rifling through her bag. A few scraps of finely woven silk and brightly dyed wool; three jars of garlic, cardamom, and cinnamon; and a small bottle filled with a Condos vintage found their way from her grasp onto a nearby table, gesturing for her companion to have a look.
“I, personally, specialize primarily in spice, textiles, and imported wines. Occasionally, I have the random bit of jewelry or exotic foods, but these are my most consistent supply lines. Of course, His Lordship and I are working on branching out our interests, but these things take time. Eventually, I hope to be able to have my hand in as many pies as possible, but, as I’m sure you can understand, there are those who would look at me with rather… instantaneous distrust.”
Ambition held little meaning when there was no leverage to back it up. Callidora was a competent saleswoman, savvy in the ways of trade, but a Grecian woman alone in Egypt was not very highly favored, particularly in wartime. However, with the backing of a merchant family like Hei Sheifa, her prospects were considerably higher and would surely lead her further in the direction she wished to go.
Callidora waited for his response with a patient look of expectation, looking between Amenemhat and the goods on the table. “Your thoughts?” she prompted.
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Callidora could see the moment the man’s favor shifted in her direction, the subtle change in his face which before held only polite disinterest. It was part of a merchant’s skills, after all, to read a prospect’s face, to shift one’s narrative to fit the situation at hand. Well, it was part of a good merchant’s skills, anyway. And the Grecian widow was a very good merchant.
The woman knew well what she was doing, surrounding her criticism with praise and casually dropping the name at the end. It was a classic tactic, and it was a classic for a reason. Ultimately, it was the name she dropped that won Amenemhat’s regard, and inwardly, Dora smiled. It had been scarcely days since Lord Akhenaten took her into his employ, and already she was achieving what she set out to do. If she’d gotten this far, there was no doubt in her mind she could seal the deal.
Her expression was like a cat licking cream as the ringmaster invited her to follow him, patting the pack at her side. Luckily, she had planned ahead for this, hoping today’s venture would be more than just a mere curiosity expedition. “I have a few things on me, yes,” she remarked as they picked their way through the organized chaos outside of the main tent. “I’m sure you’ll find them to be suitable.”
As soon as they were safely ensconced in the man’s tent away from the prying eyes of the other vendors, Callidora blinked a few times to adjust her eyesight to the sudden lack of sun and started rifling through her bag. A few scraps of finely woven silk and brightly dyed wool; three jars of garlic, cardamom, and cinnamon; and a small bottle filled with a Condos vintage found their way from her grasp onto a nearby table, gesturing for her companion to have a look.
“I, personally, specialize primarily in spice, textiles, and imported wines. Occasionally, I have the random bit of jewelry or exotic foods, but these are my most consistent supply lines. Of course, His Lordship and I are working on branching out our interests, but these things take time. Eventually, I hope to be able to have my hand in as many pies as possible, but, as I’m sure you can understand, there are those who would look at me with rather… instantaneous distrust.”
Ambition held little meaning when there was no leverage to back it up. Callidora was a competent saleswoman, savvy in the ways of trade, but a Grecian woman alone in Egypt was not very highly favored, particularly in wartime. However, with the backing of a merchant family like Hei Sheifa, her prospects were considerably higher and would surely lead her further in the direction she wished to go.
Callidora waited for his response with a patient look of expectation, looking between Amenemhat and the goods on the table. “Your thoughts?” she prompted.
Callidora could see the moment the man’s favor shifted in her direction, the subtle change in his face which before held only polite disinterest. It was part of a merchant’s skills, after all, to read a prospect’s face, to shift one’s narrative to fit the situation at hand. Well, it was part of a good merchant’s skills, anyway. And the Grecian widow was a very good merchant.
The woman knew well what she was doing, surrounding her criticism with praise and casually dropping the name at the end. It was a classic tactic, and it was a classic for a reason. Ultimately, it was the name she dropped that won Amenemhat’s regard, and inwardly, Dora smiled. It had been scarcely days since Lord Akhenaten took her into his employ, and already she was achieving what she set out to do. If she’d gotten this far, there was no doubt in her mind she could seal the deal.
Her expression was like a cat licking cream as the ringmaster invited her to follow him, patting the pack at her side. Luckily, she had planned ahead for this, hoping today’s venture would be more than just a mere curiosity expedition. “I have a few things on me, yes,” she remarked as they picked their way through the organized chaos outside of the main tent. “I’m sure you’ll find them to be suitable.”
As soon as they were safely ensconced in the man’s tent away from the prying eyes of the other vendors, Callidora blinked a few times to adjust her eyesight to the sudden lack of sun and started rifling through her bag. A few scraps of finely woven silk and brightly dyed wool; three jars of garlic, cardamom, and cinnamon; and a small bottle filled with a Condos vintage found their way from her grasp onto a nearby table, gesturing for her companion to have a look.
“I, personally, specialize primarily in spice, textiles, and imported wines. Occasionally, I have the random bit of jewelry or exotic foods, but these are my most consistent supply lines. Of course, His Lordship and I are working on branching out our interests, but these things take time. Eventually, I hope to be able to have my hand in as many pies as possible, but, as I’m sure you can understand, there are those who would look at me with rather… instantaneous distrust.”
Ambition held little meaning when there was no leverage to back it up. Callidora was a competent saleswoman, savvy in the ways of trade, but a Grecian woman alone in Egypt was not very highly favored, particularly in wartime. However, with the backing of a merchant family like Hei Sheifa, her prospects were considerably higher and would surely lead her further in the direction she wished to go.
Callidora waited for his response with a patient look of expectation, looking between Amenemhat and the goods on the table. “Your thoughts?” she prompted.
Kesi followed her brother- of course she did. She was an obedient little lap dog to him. But she was also curious. She had wanted to grow, to be more of use to him than a performer, assassin, and lover. She wanted to understand the circus more, and to work on a… weakness of her’s. Which… apparently was being told no.
She didn’t know if she would talk much during this meeting. Her brother was far more wise and intelligent when it came to matters such as these, and she didn’t want her shortcomings to effect a business deal that could potentially be lucrative to her brother. But as she listened she felt her mind whirl trying to organize the various thoughts going through her mind.
And Kesi felt… afraid. She felt afraid to speak her opinion in case she would get her brother mad. She almost felt like it was a test being here. Like if she said something stupid he wouldn’t ever give her another chance. But if she said nothing? That would be worse? Kesi was the type to just blurt things out. She didn’t filter her words, she saw no point to. She was spontaneous… as chaotic as her patron might suggest. But this was one of those few moments that Kesi didn’t feel like she could be just that. She had to… consider her words carefully.
As the woman suggested the samples she brought out did seem of quality. Kesi didn’t have the greatest discerning eye as some, but she wasn’t an imbecile. She could recognize that what she had was great- amazing even. But it didn’t necessarily… sit well with Kesi. She chewed her lip thoughtfully. From her experience in the selling of her poisons and venoms, getting ingredients from foreign kingdoms, such as the Greecian kingdoms, can get incredibly pricy. But with the war, getting those materials was going to get even more difficult. With that increased difficulty prices tend to soar. Kesi already had found herself trying to find and make substitutes and for things, she couldn’t seeing the prices jump. There was a shortage, and it would go straight to people’s wallets.
Which for the circus may or may not be a bad thing. Kesi wasn’t privy to the exact numbers the circus made, but she knew they did very well. But the same couldn’t necessarily be said for the people coming to the circus. While the circus didn’t cater to poor people, not everyone was part of the Heis that came here. Would the people that walk the circus grounds be able to afford the fine Greek wine? Perhaps the VIP clients, and that might be a good draw for them, but…
Kesi wanted to chew her lip. She wanted to look at her brother as if asking to permission before she spoke. But Kesi was a killer, and she knew that when others showed weakness it gave power to the other side. So even if she really didn’t want to risk messing anything up by asking dumb questions and making him disappointed (which Kesi would rather drown herself in the Nile then disappoint Nem), she spoke, “I think my caution is your… supplier. This all looks great. But we don’t necessarily know how long the war is going to go on, do we? What happens when items such as these grow scarce?”
She is wanting to get her hands in as ‘many’ pies as possible, but just how did she intend to do that when warships would be crossing the ocean and merchant ships would prefer to remain in their respective shores. There was a black market, sure. But even their prices fluctuate. Kesi finally stole a glance at her brother and continued. “Quality is really important, and it’s clear you have that. But… at what price?”
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Kesi followed her brother- of course she did. She was an obedient little lap dog to him. But she was also curious. She had wanted to grow, to be more of use to him than a performer, assassin, and lover. She wanted to understand the circus more, and to work on a… weakness of her’s. Which… apparently was being told no.
She didn’t know if she would talk much during this meeting. Her brother was far more wise and intelligent when it came to matters such as these, and she didn’t want her shortcomings to effect a business deal that could potentially be lucrative to her brother. But as she listened she felt her mind whirl trying to organize the various thoughts going through her mind.
And Kesi felt… afraid. She felt afraid to speak her opinion in case she would get her brother mad. She almost felt like it was a test being here. Like if she said something stupid he wouldn’t ever give her another chance. But if she said nothing? That would be worse? Kesi was the type to just blurt things out. She didn’t filter her words, she saw no point to. She was spontaneous… as chaotic as her patron might suggest. But this was one of those few moments that Kesi didn’t feel like she could be just that. She had to… consider her words carefully.
As the woman suggested the samples she brought out did seem of quality. Kesi didn’t have the greatest discerning eye as some, but she wasn’t an imbecile. She could recognize that what she had was great- amazing even. But it didn’t necessarily… sit well with Kesi. She chewed her lip thoughtfully. From her experience in the selling of her poisons and venoms, getting ingredients from foreign kingdoms, such as the Greecian kingdoms, can get incredibly pricy. But with the war, getting those materials was going to get even more difficult. With that increased difficulty prices tend to soar. Kesi already had found herself trying to find and make substitutes and for things, she couldn’t seeing the prices jump. There was a shortage, and it would go straight to people’s wallets.
Which for the circus may or may not be a bad thing. Kesi wasn’t privy to the exact numbers the circus made, but she knew they did very well. But the same couldn’t necessarily be said for the people coming to the circus. While the circus didn’t cater to poor people, not everyone was part of the Heis that came here. Would the people that walk the circus grounds be able to afford the fine Greek wine? Perhaps the VIP clients, and that might be a good draw for them, but…
Kesi wanted to chew her lip. She wanted to look at her brother as if asking to permission before she spoke. But Kesi was a killer, and she knew that when others showed weakness it gave power to the other side. So even if she really didn’t want to risk messing anything up by asking dumb questions and making him disappointed (which Kesi would rather drown herself in the Nile then disappoint Nem), she spoke, “I think my caution is your… supplier. This all looks great. But we don’t necessarily know how long the war is going to go on, do we? What happens when items such as these grow scarce?”
She is wanting to get her hands in as ‘many’ pies as possible, but just how did she intend to do that when warships would be crossing the ocean and merchant ships would prefer to remain in their respective shores. There was a black market, sure. But even their prices fluctuate. Kesi finally stole a glance at her brother and continued. “Quality is really important, and it’s clear you have that. But… at what price?”
Kesi followed her brother- of course she did. She was an obedient little lap dog to him. But she was also curious. She had wanted to grow, to be more of use to him than a performer, assassin, and lover. She wanted to understand the circus more, and to work on a… weakness of her’s. Which… apparently was being told no.
She didn’t know if she would talk much during this meeting. Her brother was far more wise and intelligent when it came to matters such as these, and she didn’t want her shortcomings to effect a business deal that could potentially be lucrative to her brother. But as she listened she felt her mind whirl trying to organize the various thoughts going through her mind.
And Kesi felt… afraid. She felt afraid to speak her opinion in case she would get her brother mad. She almost felt like it was a test being here. Like if she said something stupid he wouldn’t ever give her another chance. But if she said nothing? That would be worse? Kesi was the type to just blurt things out. She didn’t filter her words, she saw no point to. She was spontaneous… as chaotic as her patron might suggest. But this was one of those few moments that Kesi didn’t feel like she could be just that. She had to… consider her words carefully.
As the woman suggested the samples she brought out did seem of quality. Kesi didn’t have the greatest discerning eye as some, but she wasn’t an imbecile. She could recognize that what she had was great- amazing even. But it didn’t necessarily… sit well with Kesi. She chewed her lip thoughtfully. From her experience in the selling of her poisons and venoms, getting ingredients from foreign kingdoms, such as the Greecian kingdoms, can get incredibly pricy. But with the war, getting those materials was going to get even more difficult. With that increased difficulty prices tend to soar. Kesi already had found herself trying to find and make substitutes and for things, she couldn’t seeing the prices jump. There was a shortage, and it would go straight to people’s wallets.
Which for the circus may or may not be a bad thing. Kesi wasn’t privy to the exact numbers the circus made, but she knew they did very well. But the same couldn’t necessarily be said for the people coming to the circus. While the circus didn’t cater to poor people, not everyone was part of the Heis that came here. Would the people that walk the circus grounds be able to afford the fine Greek wine? Perhaps the VIP clients, and that might be a good draw for them, but…
Kesi wanted to chew her lip. She wanted to look at her brother as if asking to permission before she spoke. But Kesi was a killer, and she knew that when others showed weakness it gave power to the other side. So even if she really didn’t want to risk messing anything up by asking dumb questions and making him disappointed (which Kesi would rather drown herself in the Nile then disappoint Nem), she spoke, “I think my caution is your… supplier. This all looks great. But we don’t necessarily know how long the war is going to go on, do we? What happens when items such as these grow scarce?”
She is wanting to get her hands in as ‘many’ pies as possible, but just how did she intend to do that when warships would be crossing the ocean and merchant ships would prefer to remain in their respective shores. There was a black market, sure. But even their prices fluctuate. Kesi finally stole a glance at her brother and continued. “Quality is really important, and it’s clear you have that. But… at what price?”
While Callidora's initiative was worthy of address, this invitation was more for the sake of furthering his assessment of his own. Kesi asked him for more responsibility, for a greater length on the leash he kept on all of his people. She wanted to be useful, to impress him, and to ultimately gain greater favour from him. In this moment, she'd done well to bring the merchant to him but there was more to see. The assessment of the goods laid out in front of him was superfluous at best. Fancy baubles and soft fabrics, food and wines... they were little more than formalities that meant to fill out the space.
Most of the time, he corrected, just as he listened to Kesi's analysis.
Oh?
She was wrong in some ways, but there was a very important point that she brought up. The scarcity of goods as they came from foreign waters. How likely was it for the ports to continue allowing Greek ships in when they were at war? How likely was it for much of anything to come in through the seas when the Pharaoh waged war on foreign entities? More than likely, even the lord Akhenaten and his little lackey couldn't make their wares appear out of nowhere. He was pleased with Kesi's question and then how she looked at him for approval in it all.
But, there was a caveat. The price wasn't for Amenemhat and the Tempest of Set to pay. The people who brought their wares did not often sell to the circus itself, who often sourced their own shipments from other people. Some things, such as the silks and the wool could work for the circus itself, with new costumes needed and additional materials to see to the comfort of his charges. Amenemhat took a moment to carefully consider his words. There was no need to be light with his words for Callidora's sake, but the lessons he wanted to impart upon Kesi were those of calculated reservation.
"Your personal specialisation is meant to wed itself with the Lord Akhenaten's, is it not? While your supply lines might constrict in the coming days, one could assume that Hei Sheifa's will not to the same degree. This... union of yours with the future sirdar seems just in its infancy. Describe to me, merchant Callidora, what sort of plans you have for the future."
Present offerings mean very little in the face of the future. Offering Callidora a place on the circus grounds now can offer a future benefit that is, as of yet, incalculable. There is no reward without some risk.
But the risk here was very low for the Tempest of Set. At the most, he'd see some dissent among his merchants. But, their commentary was irrelevant. Suckling at the circus' teat did not come with the luxury of bearing valid opinions.
Amenemhat held to his sister's arm, bringing her close to him in an interim moment while Callidora prepared her rebuttal.
"Well done, Kesi."
It was all he could offer her, a bit of praise in the lull of the moment. Amenemhat pulled away from Kesi after that, allowing his fingers to brush along the silken fabric.
"Also," he interjected, interrupting the woman if she'd begun to speak.
"This fabric. Depending on the price and amount, I would like to purchase some. If you can arrange for it to be dyed, cut and woven, I have a need for new costumes for upcoming performances. If that is beyond the scope of your influence, then I can arrange it personally."
What are your limits, Callidora? How useful are you?
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While Callidora's initiative was worthy of address, this invitation was more for the sake of furthering his assessment of his own. Kesi asked him for more responsibility, for a greater length on the leash he kept on all of his people. She wanted to be useful, to impress him, and to ultimately gain greater favour from him. In this moment, she'd done well to bring the merchant to him but there was more to see. The assessment of the goods laid out in front of him was superfluous at best. Fancy baubles and soft fabrics, food and wines... they were little more than formalities that meant to fill out the space.
Most of the time, he corrected, just as he listened to Kesi's analysis.
Oh?
She was wrong in some ways, but there was a very important point that she brought up. The scarcity of goods as they came from foreign waters. How likely was it for the ports to continue allowing Greek ships in when they were at war? How likely was it for much of anything to come in through the seas when the Pharaoh waged war on foreign entities? More than likely, even the lord Akhenaten and his little lackey couldn't make their wares appear out of nowhere. He was pleased with Kesi's question and then how she looked at him for approval in it all.
But, there was a caveat. The price wasn't for Amenemhat and the Tempest of Set to pay. The people who brought their wares did not often sell to the circus itself, who often sourced their own shipments from other people. Some things, such as the silks and the wool could work for the circus itself, with new costumes needed and additional materials to see to the comfort of his charges. Amenemhat took a moment to carefully consider his words. There was no need to be light with his words for Callidora's sake, but the lessons he wanted to impart upon Kesi were those of calculated reservation.
"Your personal specialisation is meant to wed itself with the Lord Akhenaten's, is it not? While your supply lines might constrict in the coming days, one could assume that Hei Sheifa's will not to the same degree. This... union of yours with the future sirdar seems just in its infancy. Describe to me, merchant Callidora, what sort of plans you have for the future."
Present offerings mean very little in the face of the future. Offering Callidora a place on the circus grounds now can offer a future benefit that is, as of yet, incalculable. There is no reward without some risk.
But the risk here was very low for the Tempest of Set. At the most, he'd see some dissent among his merchants. But, their commentary was irrelevant. Suckling at the circus' teat did not come with the luxury of bearing valid opinions.
Amenemhat held to his sister's arm, bringing her close to him in an interim moment while Callidora prepared her rebuttal.
"Well done, Kesi."
It was all he could offer her, a bit of praise in the lull of the moment. Amenemhat pulled away from Kesi after that, allowing his fingers to brush along the silken fabric.
"Also," he interjected, interrupting the woman if she'd begun to speak.
"This fabric. Depending on the price and amount, I would like to purchase some. If you can arrange for it to be dyed, cut and woven, I have a need for new costumes for upcoming performances. If that is beyond the scope of your influence, then I can arrange it personally."
What are your limits, Callidora? How useful are you?
While Callidora's initiative was worthy of address, this invitation was more for the sake of furthering his assessment of his own. Kesi asked him for more responsibility, for a greater length on the leash he kept on all of his people. She wanted to be useful, to impress him, and to ultimately gain greater favour from him. In this moment, she'd done well to bring the merchant to him but there was more to see. The assessment of the goods laid out in front of him was superfluous at best. Fancy baubles and soft fabrics, food and wines... they were little more than formalities that meant to fill out the space.
Most of the time, he corrected, just as he listened to Kesi's analysis.
Oh?
She was wrong in some ways, but there was a very important point that she brought up. The scarcity of goods as they came from foreign waters. How likely was it for the ports to continue allowing Greek ships in when they were at war? How likely was it for much of anything to come in through the seas when the Pharaoh waged war on foreign entities? More than likely, even the lord Akhenaten and his little lackey couldn't make their wares appear out of nowhere. He was pleased with Kesi's question and then how she looked at him for approval in it all.
But, there was a caveat. The price wasn't for Amenemhat and the Tempest of Set to pay. The people who brought their wares did not often sell to the circus itself, who often sourced their own shipments from other people. Some things, such as the silks and the wool could work for the circus itself, with new costumes needed and additional materials to see to the comfort of his charges. Amenemhat took a moment to carefully consider his words. There was no need to be light with his words for Callidora's sake, but the lessons he wanted to impart upon Kesi were those of calculated reservation.
"Your personal specialisation is meant to wed itself with the Lord Akhenaten's, is it not? While your supply lines might constrict in the coming days, one could assume that Hei Sheifa's will not to the same degree. This... union of yours with the future sirdar seems just in its infancy. Describe to me, merchant Callidora, what sort of plans you have for the future."
Present offerings mean very little in the face of the future. Offering Callidora a place on the circus grounds now can offer a future benefit that is, as of yet, incalculable. There is no reward without some risk.
But the risk here was very low for the Tempest of Set. At the most, he'd see some dissent among his merchants. But, their commentary was irrelevant. Suckling at the circus' teat did not come with the luxury of bearing valid opinions.
Amenemhat held to his sister's arm, bringing her close to him in an interim moment while Callidora prepared her rebuttal.
"Well done, Kesi."
It was all he could offer her, a bit of praise in the lull of the moment. Amenemhat pulled away from Kesi after that, allowing his fingers to brush along the silken fabric.
"Also," he interjected, interrupting the woman if she'd begun to speak.
"This fabric. Depending on the price and amount, I would like to purchase some. If you can arrange for it to be dyed, cut and woven, I have a need for new costumes for upcoming performances. If that is beyond the scope of your influence, then I can arrange it personally."
What are your limits, Callidora? How useful are you?
Kesi brought up a good point that Callidora should have thought to address in the first place—the point of her suppliers. Not everything she sold was imported; in fact, less than half of it was. Once, she could have afforded the costs associated with shipping across the water, but after the loss of her husband, that was quickly no longer the case. She was willing to pay extra for some things, but she preferred to source locally for the sake of her own purse. Now, she had fewer limitations with Lord Akhenaten’s financial backing, but that was still something she was getting accustomed to. For now, she still had her old supply lines, even as she built up new ones.
“A good observation, Miss Kesi, and one I should have spoken to in the beginning. Forgive me.” Nodding to the woman who spoke and then back to Amenemhat when he elaborated further, Dora explained, “Not everything I sell comes from Greece. Of what I’ve just shown you, it’s only the wine that’s imported. Egypt has fine ale and mead, but the wine here is scarce. I prefer my customers to be able to purchase things they can’t just get anywhere. It’s how I’ve survived thus far.” Gesturing toward the spices and fabrics, she went on, “I have suppliers here in Cairo, Thebes, and Alexandria. I also have a few Judean contacts leftover from my previous marriage. The Grecian war’s interference will be minimal.”
Nodding to Amenemhat, she went on, “And yes, you are right. What I personally lack in the coming days will be more than compensated for by my backer. While our ties are new, they are binding. I had every intention of leaving Egypt on the first ship that would take me, but that is no longer the case, not when I can build the empire I’ve always striven for here.” There was a certain pride in her face as she spoke, an unmarried foreign woman with nothing left to lose standing to gain everything instead. In her wildest dreams, she never would have imagined where she was now, and she knew that influence would only grow. As tenacious as she was, there was no room for failure.
“Even though Lord Akhenaten does not yet wear the mantle of sirdar, his name is influential and powerful. Hei Sheifa has connections to nearly every industry in the known world. My plans are to further solidify those connections with suppliers of my own, to strengthen and reinforce further trade lines, and to open up our options in other provinces and kingdoms that Lord Onuphrious may not yet have considered. From what I have gathered of your circus, you travel often, and you travel far. Such an arrangement could be advantageous to us both; for as Hei Sheifa’s influence grows, so too will The Tempest of Set. You will have access to whatever you wish, wherever you wish, with a hefty cut of your own to take.”
Listening to Amenemhat inquire about her fabrics, she nodded, absently fingering the scrap of silk she held. “Indeed, I would be happy to make such arrangements. Price and amount will depend on the quality and quantity of what you want. I do know a few seamstresses in Cairo that would be happy to take on the task, though. Show me what you want and when you want it by, and I can gather an estimate for you.”
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Kesi brought up a good point that Callidora should have thought to address in the first place—the point of her suppliers. Not everything she sold was imported; in fact, less than half of it was. Once, she could have afforded the costs associated with shipping across the water, but after the loss of her husband, that was quickly no longer the case. She was willing to pay extra for some things, but she preferred to source locally for the sake of her own purse. Now, she had fewer limitations with Lord Akhenaten’s financial backing, but that was still something she was getting accustomed to. For now, she still had her old supply lines, even as she built up new ones.
“A good observation, Miss Kesi, and one I should have spoken to in the beginning. Forgive me.” Nodding to the woman who spoke and then back to Amenemhat when he elaborated further, Dora explained, “Not everything I sell comes from Greece. Of what I’ve just shown you, it’s only the wine that’s imported. Egypt has fine ale and mead, but the wine here is scarce. I prefer my customers to be able to purchase things they can’t just get anywhere. It’s how I’ve survived thus far.” Gesturing toward the spices and fabrics, she went on, “I have suppliers here in Cairo, Thebes, and Alexandria. I also have a few Judean contacts leftover from my previous marriage. The Grecian war’s interference will be minimal.”
Nodding to Amenemhat, she went on, “And yes, you are right. What I personally lack in the coming days will be more than compensated for by my backer. While our ties are new, they are binding. I had every intention of leaving Egypt on the first ship that would take me, but that is no longer the case, not when I can build the empire I’ve always striven for here.” There was a certain pride in her face as she spoke, an unmarried foreign woman with nothing left to lose standing to gain everything instead. In her wildest dreams, she never would have imagined where she was now, and she knew that influence would only grow. As tenacious as she was, there was no room for failure.
“Even though Lord Akhenaten does not yet wear the mantle of sirdar, his name is influential and powerful. Hei Sheifa has connections to nearly every industry in the known world. My plans are to further solidify those connections with suppliers of my own, to strengthen and reinforce further trade lines, and to open up our options in other provinces and kingdoms that Lord Onuphrious may not yet have considered. From what I have gathered of your circus, you travel often, and you travel far. Such an arrangement could be advantageous to us both; for as Hei Sheifa’s influence grows, so too will The Tempest of Set. You will have access to whatever you wish, wherever you wish, with a hefty cut of your own to take.”
Listening to Amenemhat inquire about her fabrics, she nodded, absently fingering the scrap of silk she held. “Indeed, I would be happy to make such arrangements. Price and amount will depend on the quality and quantity of what you want. I do know a few seamstresses in Cairo that would be happy to take on the task, though. Show me what you want and when you want it by, and I can gather an estimate for you.”
Kesi brought up a good point that Callidora should have thought to address in the first place—the point of her suppliers. Not everything she sold was imported; in fact, less than half of it was. Once, she could have afforded the costs associated with shipping across the water, but after the loss of her husband, that was quickly no longer the case. She was willing to pay extra for some things, but she preferred to source locally for the sake of her own purse. Now, she had fewer limitations with Lord Akhenaten’s financial backing, but that was still something she was getting accustomed to. For now, she still had her old supply lines, even as she built up new ones.
“A good observation, Miss Kesi, and one I should have spoken to in the beginning. Forgive me.” Nodding to the woman who spoke and then back to Amenemhat when he elaborated further, Dora explained, “Not everything I sell comes from Greece. Of what I’ve just shown you, it’s only the wine that’s imported. Egypt has fine ale and mead, but the wine here is scarce. I prefer my customers to be able to purchase things they can’t just get anywhere. It’s how I’ve survived thus far.” Gesturing toward the spices and fabrics, she went on, “I have suppliers here in Cairo, Thebes, and Alexandria. I also have a few Judean contacts leftover from my previous marriage. The Grecian war’s interference will be minimal.”
Nodding to Amenemhat, she went on, “And yes, you are right. What I personally lack in the coming days will be more than compensated for by my backer. While our ties are new, they are binding. I had every intention of leaving Egypt on the first ship that would take me, but that is no longer the case, not when I can build the empire I’ve always striven for here.” There was a certain pride in her face as she spoke, an unmarried foreign woman with nothing left to lose standing to gain everything instead. In her wildest dreams, she never would have imagined where she was now, and she knew that influence would only grow. As tenacious as she was, there was no room for failure.
“Even though Lord Akhenaten does not yet wear the mantle of sirdar, his name is influential and powerful. Hei Sheifa has connections to nearly every industry in the known world. My plans are to further solidify those connections with suppliers of my own, to strengthen and reinforce further trade lines, and to open up our options in other provinces and kingdoms that Lord Onuphrious may not yet have considered. From what I have gathered of your circus, you travel often, and you travel far. Such an arrangement could be advantageous to us both; for as Hei Sheifa’s influence grows, so too will The Tempest of Set. You will have access to whatever you wish, wherever you wish, with a hefty cut of your own to take.”
Listening to Amenemhat inquire about her fabrics, she nodded, absently fingering the scrap of silk she held. “Indeed, I would be happy to make such arrangements. Price and amount will depend on the quality and quantity of what you want. I do know a few seamstresses in Cairo that would be happy to take on the task, though. Show me what you want and when you want it by, and I can gather an estimate for you.”
The more that Callidora spoke, the more apparent it became that the downsides to having the woman as a merchant affiliated with the circus were next to nothing. She offered a powerful name behind her, one that dismissed most doubts about the possibility of being screwed over. Even as the war steadied on and the violence took more and more men away from attending, there was always the spectacle of exotic waresthat were difficult to obtain. Sourcing goods locally did not imply anything was simple to obtain. Egypt was a large nation where travel was... complicated. Those that wanted to traverse the desert could with enough commitment, but the layman wouldn't make such a risk without reason...
There was much to remain in the air about the nature of their relationship, but for Amenemhat, providing Callidora with the affirmation that business could be done between them... It would only be a matter of time before it was public news. Surely, it'd cause a stir in his current vendors. He'd been too lenient with them until this point, his focus diverted on other matters of greater importance. But, Callidora made it clear to him. There were other people who were hungrier, who wanted a shot and to give it to them served several points.
These fuckers haven't been put on their toes. The rot festered by Somgi of Cairo needs to be exposed and expunged.
Using Callidora for this purpose was reason enough. But, she was clearly smart. Her brain could be picked and he could possibly keep a stronger pulse on the movements of supply lines, a point that could serve him for squeezing money out of the rest.
Previous marriage... Sheifa connections... Who is this woman? You don't see Greeks in positions like this.
Was Callidora simply the sort to be in the right place at the right time? Opportunity was a powerful thing, but it took certain people to take advantage of them like she did. Clearly, some Greek widow would be left to rot away on the streets and die if it were some other woman. Foreigners were disliked by most in the kingdom. But, it seemed that both Lord Akhenaten and Amenemhat himself shared the capacity to look past that.
With his decision made, Amenemhat saw it best for him to move them forward. The show was still going on outside, and the fact that the ringmaster was missing would not be overlooked. He nodded in agreement with her words, well and assured by her reasoning and the fact that she was able to make the arrangements he'd asked her for.
"How wonderful. As pleasant as all of this has been, there's a show to run, Miss Callidora. If you'd like to stay around after the show, I'd happily hear your estimate. But first..."
As he looked at the fabric, the estimate was rougher than he thought. Did he want to dress any of the beasts? Probably not. The fabrics he draped them in weren't falling apart just yet. But, it was that time of year, the need for new looks and new acts to replace the summer festivities and usher them into winter...
"The quality should be fine enough to be seen by hundreds of people. Give me the best you've got. As for the quantity... Arrange for sixty outfits to be made. Kesi, could you explain to our associate the sorts of outfits our people wear?"
With an easy smile cast upon his lips, Amenemhat dismissed himself thereafter, turning from his tent. Excitement welled throughout his being.
"After all, the show goes on."
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This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
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The more that Callidora spoke, the more apparent it became that the downsides to having the woman as a merchant affiliated with the circus were next to nothing. She offered a powerful name behind her, one that dismissed most doubts about the possibility of being screwed over. Even as the war steadied on and the violence took more and more men away from attending, there was always the spectacle of exotic waresthat were difficult to obtain. Sourcing goods locally did not imply anything was simple to obtain. Egypt was a large nation where travel was... complicated. Those that wanted to traverse the desert could with enough commitment, but the layman wouldn't make such a risk without reason...
There was much to remain in the air about the nature of their relationship, but for Amenemhat, providing Callidora with the affirmation that business could be done between them... It would only be a matter of time before it was public news. Surely, it'd cause a stir in his current vendors. He'd been too lenient with them until this point, his focus diverted on other matters of greater importance. But, Callidora made it clear to him. There were other people who were hungrier, who wanted a shot and to give it to them served several points.
These fuckers haven't been put on their toes. The rot festered by Somgi of Cairo needs to be exposed and expunged.
Using Callidora for this purpose was reason enough. But, she was clearly smart. Her brain could be picked and he could possibly keep a stronger pulse on the movements of supply lines, a point that could serve him for squeezing money out of the rest.
Previous marriage... Sheifa connections... Who is this woman? You don't see Greeks in positions like this.
Was Callidora simply the sort to be in the right place at the right time? Opportunity was a powerful thing, but it took certain people to take advantage of them like she did. Clearly, some Greek widow would be left to rot away on the streets and die if it were some other woman. Foreigners were disliked by most in the kingdom. But, it seemed that both Lord Akhenaten and Amenemhat himself shared the capacity to look past that.
With his decision made, Amenemhat saw it best for him to move them forward. The show was still going on outside, and the fact that the ringmaster was missing would not be overlooked. He nodded in agreement with her words, well and assured by her reasoning and the fact that she was able to make the arrangements he'd asked her for.
"How wonderful. As pleasant as all of this has been, there's a show to run, Miss Callidora. If you'd like to stay around after the show, I'd happily hear your estimate. But first..."
As he looked at the fabric, the estimate was rougher than he thought. Did he want to dress any of the beasts? Probably not. The fabrics he draped them in weren't falling apart just yet. But, it was that time of year, the need for new looks and new acts to replace the summer festivities and usher them into winter...
"The quality should be fine enough to be seen by hundreds of people. Give me the best you've got. As for the quantity... Arrange for sixty outfits to be made. Kesi, could you explain to our associate the sorts of outfits our people wear?"
With an easy smile cast upon his lips, Amenemhat dismissed himself thereafter, turning from his tent. Excitement welled throughout his being.
"After all, the show goes on."
The more that Callidora spoke, the more apparent it became that the downsides to having the woman as a merchant affiliated with the circus were next to nothing. She offered a powerful name behind her, one that dismissed most doubts about the possibility of being screwed over. Even as the war steadied on and the violence took more and more men away from attending, there was always the spectacle of exotic waresthat were difficult to obtain. Sourcing goods locally did not imply anything was simple to obtain. Egypt was a large nation where travel was... complicated. Those that wanted to traverse the desert could with enough commitment, but the layman wouldn't make such a risk without reason...
There was much to remain in the air about the nature of their relationship, but for Amenemhat, providing Callidora with the affirmation that business could be done between them... It would only be a matter of time before it was public news. Surely, it'd cause a stir in his current vendors. He'd been too lenient with them until this point, his focus diverted on other matters of greater importance. But, Callidora made it clear to him. There were other people who were hungrier, who wanted a shot and to give it to them served several points.
These fuckers haven't been put on their toes. The rot festered by Somgi of Cairo needs to be exposed and expunged.
Using Callidora for this purpose was reason enough. But, she was clearly smart. Her brain could be picked and he could possibly keep a stronger pulse on the movements of supply lines, a point that could serve him for squeezing money out of the rest.
Previous marriage... Sheifa connections... Who is this woman? You don't see Greeks in positions like this.
Was Callidora simply the sort to be in the right place at the right time? Opportunity was a powerful thing, but it took certain people to take advantage of them like she did. Clearly, some Greek widow would be left to rot away on the streets and die if it were some other woman. Foreigners were disliked by most in the kingdom. But, it seemed that both Lord Akhenaten and Amenemhat himself shared the capacity to look past that.
With his decision made, Amenemhat saw it best for him to move them forward. The show was still going on outside, and the fact that the ringmaster was missing would not be overlooked. He nodded in agreement with her words, well and assured by her reasoning and the fact that she was able to make the arrangements he'd asked her for.
"How wonderful. As pleasant as all of this has been, there's a show to run, Miss Callidora. If you'd like to stay around after the show, I'd happily hear your estimate. But first..."
As he looked at the fabric, the estimate was rougher than he thought. Did he want to dress any of the beasts? Probably not. The fabrics he draped them in weren't falling apart just yet. But, it was that time of year, the need for new looks and new acts to replace the summer festivities and usher them into winter...
"The quality should be fine enough to be seen by hundreds of people. Give me the best you've got. As for the quantity... Arrange for sixty outfits to be made. Kesi, could you explain to our associate the sorts of outfits our people wear?"
With an easy smile cast upon his lips, Amenemhat dismissed himself thereafter, turning from his tent. Excitement welled throughout his being.