Ghost Story

[Varric]

Offering a smile and a nod, Varric gathers his dishes to drop off at the bar on his way out of the tavern. So. Malcolm of Raplin's Oak. Elf or merikos should still be alive. Finally, a solid lead. He slows at the door, frowning slightly as he debates with himself on whether he should head back to check on Emma and get back to work now that he has said lead or if he should keep drifting around for more information. That paladin fellow might be able to share some information on the old Bright (but is that worth looking further into is the question). 

[GamesMaster]

"Ah, good fortune!" Mayor Alifort, an older man with a salt-and-pepper beard and a cold smile, trots across the street toward Varric with his customary briefcase of papers in one hand. "I was just heading to your place."

[Varric]

Three point two seconds and I could be invisible. "Mayor Alifort," Varric replies, biting back a sigh as he turns to face the pain in the ass. "So glad to have spared you the walk." More, glad that I won't have to deal with you trying to (spy) poke around the place (again).

[GamesMaster]

"Well, I'll need to make the trip anyway -- I've just discovered your inspection papers are out of date. I'll need you to fill out the new paperwork and I'll be making a call to inspect the place, ensure it's habitable. The usual sort of thing."

[Varric]

"Are they?" Varric exhales slowly. "Well, I can save you the trip; it's not completely habitable. Given that I bought the place with the expressed purpose of fixing it, I would have thought that'd be obvious. Which is why I've posted signs around the property warning people off; I know what I'm doing and how to stay safe, being a professional and all, but others might not."

[GamesMaster]

"Still, I'll need to inspect the property to catalogue the violations you're intending to remediate," he says, his voice taking on a pompous tone. "You understand."

[Varric]

"Curious; where did you study architecture and engineering?" Asshole.

[GamesMaster]

"No need, no need, there's a checklist," he says, chuckling. 

[Varric]

"A checklist," Varric says flatly. "Well, that's easy enough to handle then; give it here and I'll tick the problems off."

[GamesMaster]

"No ,no, it has to be done by an official of the government to ensure there's no cheating. Not that you intend to cheat, of course."

[Varric]

"Of course." Varric tilts his head to the side. "An official of the government you say? Surely the mayor himself has far better things to do with his time than spending half a day or more completely a prefuctionary inspection." Preferably someone (less of an overbearing asshole) more easily intimidated or fooled. 

[GamesMaster]

"Nonsense. I'm happy to aid our newest citizen personally." And get a look inside that house.

[Varric]

"You're far too kind. Well, if you're really going to insist on spending your time-- and mine-- on such a thing, then I suppose that's what's going to happen." Varric hums softly, then nods. "I should be able to give you the tour, say, the fifthteenth?" Which is over a week from now. 

[GamesMaster]

"I'm afraid that's the due date -- so the fourteenth at the latest."

[Varric]

"The fourteenth? Hmmm." Varric pretends to considers that for a long moment, lips moving as if trying to remind himself of things. "Could do," he finally says, just as he figures Alifort is about to speak. "I could squeeze you in just after breakfast: quarter past seven. Only have an hour though; I'm a big believer in filling my time so I don't have a lot of wiggle room I'm afraid. Still, it's just a checklist, so it shouldn't take long, right?" Shouldn't be too hard to hide Emma for an hour or so, particularly if I keep Mayor Asshole moving quick.