Down to Business, Chapter 1
Descending Water 4, R.Y. 777
Tick-Tock was the longest tenured member of The Geronimo’s crew other than Ash and Moon, co-captains of the vessel, still she still frequently discovered new and unexpected things about their exalted leader. Perhaps it was the nature of exalts, of just the nature of this particular one. Tick-Tock loved puzzles, she was good at them. She solved them and moved on, it gave her a reputation of being frivolous and flighty, yet she never seemed to grow bored on The Geronimo. Unlike every other member of the crew, and most of Ash’s long term acquaintances, Tick-Tock and Ash were incredibly similar at heart. This often meant that Tick-Tock, even more so than Moon, was an excellent predictor of Ash's thoughts, moods, and feelings.
The two of them had been dropped off by The Geronimo in one of Lookshy’s public skydocks three days ago, the ship departed and Ash had brought the two of them to the humble little shop they had been residing in ever since. She had picked up a change in Ash’s demeanor and temperament of late, and discussing it with the other members of the crew she had put together that he seemed to be distancing himself from the business he’d spent the last several years cultivating so deliberately. It was an all together perplexing series of events that most of the crew had yet to connect. She wasn't sure if she would find out more during their stay or not, but she knew it was related.
In the few days they’d already spent here she had learned a great deal of how Ash operated out of Looksy, however so far the enlightenment had been purely business, which Tick-Tock was much less interested in. None the less she had been the dutiful student, despite public perception Ash rarely wasted days on end and he almost never spent long periods of time alone with other individuals, there was a purpose to his and she would divine it. As far as Ash’s business was concerned she was a bit surprised what she found, it was quite unlike how she imagined it. Ash’s demeanor, and how she assumed he would conduct his business, was boisterous, loud, arrogant, and typically sinfully extravagant. Lookshy was his home turf, it was one of the rare places he could actually publicly show The Geronimo, and yet so far she had found his dealings to be humble, modest, and somehow quaint. The building where the business was headquartered, and where they had resided was the center of the whole facade. It was a two story cottage nestled tightly between two much larger buildings in one of the wealthy districts of Lookshy. It was outside of the heaviest military presence in the downtown area of the city, but within walking distance of a gate that would take you into that district. The neighborhood was mostly affluent Lookshy natives who made their living, at least currently, outside of the military. Teachers, scholars, engineers, and businessmen walked the streets and frequented the establishment. Ash had pointed out early in the trip he had gone to great lengths to cultivate that clientele. The first story of the building had a split purpose, it was one part tea house and one part trinket market and repair shop. If you entered through the front door there were a series of small circular tables surrounded by sturdy wood chairs that were perfect for drinks but much too small to accommodate a group enjoying a meal. Further into the deep, narrow room was a glass counter that spanned the width of the building separating the consumer and the shopkeeper. The glass counter houses the wares of the shop, mostly small and intricate trinkets of unknown origins and minimal importance. Often in various states of repair. Everything from compasses, to fire starters (known as lighters to the frequent patrons), to watches similar to but much less grand than Tick-Tock’s own time piece. Behind the counter was the small kitchen where the shopkeepers could cook and brew whatever currently occupied the small, seasonal menu. The shop was full of lessor wonders, but in the Time of Tumult they were wondrous indeed. In this age of man, only the Exalts are capable of crafting such devices, to possess enough to operate a shop, albeit a small one, was the purview of a Scavenger Lord.
The most notable fixture in the room was the immense and ornate mantle along the right wall of the room. Clearly not part of the natural structure, it appeared to be a hallowed Iron Wood tree that sprung up from the floor and crawled it’s way up the wall and through the roof of the structure, acting as a one piece fireplace, mantle, and chimney. In reality the massive petrified tree had been transported here and built into the structure when Ash purchased the establishment. The ancient tree had a large fireplace carved into it at floor level that gave the tree the faint appearance of a face with a mouth full of fire. No matter how hot the fire burned it never seemed to ignite or melt away the supernaturally hardened wood, though the inside of the chimney was quite blackened, it showed no signs of actual damage. Along the top of the fireplace was a mantle, carved into the wood like a great python wrapped around a tree, where the shop displayed it’s most significant and powerful artifacts, all of which were officially not for sale.
The second story was just as functional though unassuming. Half of the space was used for two spacious bedrooms that seemed to be rarely used, though it was where Ash and she had spent their stay. There was also a office of the manager of the store and a secure store room for some of the more valuable goods.
Tick-Tock was instantly smitten with it, it was perfect for her. It had crossed her mind as she excitedly drifted off to sleep during her first afternoon here that he had actually purchased it for her. She woke up to the dreading feeling that he would leave her here. She hadn't brought up either idea with Ash yet.
She had just awoke from her afternoon sleep cycle and slowly descended the slowly stairs to to rejoin Ash, one hand delicately lifted the front of her long silk dress to avoid tripping. It was a practiced and reflexive motion, a necessity for a women who refused to compromise her own unique, whimsically extravagant sense of style with her life as a tinker, mechanic, deckhand, and assassin.
Ash was sitting alone at one of the small tables near the hearth, a teapot with steam still rising out of it and two cups occupied the table along with a small stack of papers and a discarded quill pen. The room was mostly empty, only a few regular patrons occupied the shop and one clerk was behind the glass counter should any of the occupants require anything. Tick-Tock moved out from behind the counter and headed towards Ash’s table, as she approached he looked away from the smoldering fire in the hearth and smiled.
“Your sleep schedule still perplexes me.”
Tick-Tock shrugged with one shoulder as she pulled out the chair across from him and took a seat at the table, taking the teapot she poured herself a cup of tea as she responded. “I’ll add it to the list of things you never bothered to figure out.”
Ash cocked his head slightly to the side at her response and chuckled lightly, someone less acquainted with her might find that comment harsh, but Ash was unphased. “If it was worthy of my time, I would.”
Ash responded with trademarked bravado, though she knew him well enough to be unbothered by his banter, and mostly tried not to indulge him in it. Instead she sat back and relaxed, admiring the hearth and the calmness as she sipped on her tea. It was unusual for members of the crew to have such moments of relaxation. Ash was notoriously restless, though all of that seemed more at peace here, maybe it was coincidence. Instead she wondered aloud, “Do you think you should have been this instead?”
Ash had resumed looking at the parchment in front of him, occasionally making a note with a scratch of the pen or pausing to sip his tea. “Hmm?” He glanced up, without adjusting his posture indicating he hadn't heard or didn't care to continue the conversation.
Tick-Tock decided to continue, quite sure he had heard her just fine and determined not to let him escape explaining himself so easily. “You heard me. And you know what I mean. This life as a small time Scavenger Lord, it suits you more than you care to admit. Do you think you would be happier if you hadn't joined The Order?”
Ash set his pen back to the table and pushed the papers away as he sat back and leveled his gaze at her, less than amused at her direct line of questioning. “I would probably be dead already.” Ash spoke both more seriously and more candidly than she had expected. “Besides, happiness is fleeting. Even I can see the meaninglessness of grasping for something I can never hold.”
Tick-Tock was not so easily dissuaded, “You know that burden you carry so dutifully is perceived, don't you? I’m not buying the ‘woe is me’ routine.”
“Perception is reality, you should know that better than most.” Ash sighed slightly, not intending this to turn into an argument, but his patience was wearing thin. “And I didn't ask for any pity, my point is simply that some of us have a higher calling and can’t just loaf around drinking tea.”
“That’s awfully grand talk from a guy who spends more time dulling his mind with intoxicants and distracting himself with whores than actually trying to achieve anything meaningful.” Tick-Tock was more upset than she had meant to become, but there was no going back now. “And reality is what we chose to make it, no more, no less.”
Ash shrugged to bring the tension of the conversation down, “It’s too late anyway. If I have learned anything from Gyoki it’s that the only thing dwelling on the past accomplishes is stopping you from doing anything in the present.”
“Is that what all of this is about?” Tick-Tock wasn't naive enough to think their little ‘vacation’ didn't have a purpose and she was tired of waiting to find out what it was. Still terrified in the back of her mind that it involved leaving her behind.
Ash got to the point and pushed the papers across the tables towards her, “Not exactly.”
Ash paused long enough for Tick-Tock to briefly look at the papers which appeared to be book keeping and notes for the store.
Ash continued, “Regardless of your position on my life choices, it is plain enough to see that I can’t live both lives. Unsurprisingly, I’m not willing to give up either. That’s why you are here. It is well past time I let all of you live up to your potential, it is impractical at best for me to pass my duties to the Order to you, so this is what you get instead. I think you’ll find that you are well suited to it. All of you.”
Tick-Tock caught on quickly, he wasn't leaving her behind at the shop, but he was giving it to her. More than any other member of the crew, excluding Moon, she was well aware that Ash had spread his business dealings far and wide across Creation. They were concentrated in The Scavenger Lands, but hardly contained there. Over the past several years they had started to take an increasingly large amount of time and energy from Ash, though he always kept the crew out of such matters unless they took place directly aboard The Geronimo or in his recently acquired manse. Recognition that Ash had spread himself too thin was a rare showing of self awareness, or even humility from a man who often appearance incapable of either Finally it was time to let the crew in on it all, though one question remained.
“So, why now?” Tick-Tock couldn't really figure the timing.
Ash smirked, “Always with the questions. Just do as you're told.” Though spoken sternly she wasn't about to start taking orders and stared him down until he continued on his own. “A combination of things, the rest of the crew has been aboard longer now. Maybe things just got too large to juggle on my own. Other, pressing matters...”
She nodded slightly, at least willing to take that answer, even if she felt it was incomplete. “So what, now you go back to running amok with a group of psychopaths and the rest of us toil away, making you more money?”
Ash’s characteristic, infectious grin spread across face as he replied, “Yea! I think you've got it.” Ash patted the papers he’d passed her way with an open hand as he stood from the table, pushing out his chair slightly as he did. “Now study up, you've got a business to run!”
“Where are you going?” She said slightly taken aback by the suddenness.
“Out! We leave tomorrow and I haven’t had time to enjoy my vacation at all!” Ash was already headed towards the door, “Don’t wait up.” With that he gave a backhanded wave, and walked out.