It's the midafternoon at the safehouse, and you arrive to find it busier than you left. The lounge is a bustle of unfamiliar faces, and many a long curious look is exchanged. Amidst the strangers you spot Isaac Anson and the small, grey-skinned man who drove the van the other day -- Jack 2? * Kasi looks around curiously. "Why're there so many people?" * Nicholas edges towards Stuart, holding the cat up in front of his face and peering out from behind it * Stuart is holding armfulls of bags, his face barely visible. He looks around at the mass of people. Edward lifts a hand to greet a fat, greasy-haired man with a broad smile. "Hey, what's up? It's never this full outside a meeting."' D hangs back, hiding behind Stuart with Nick. He doesnt look like he's hiding, hands in his pockets with an apathetic slouch, but he's totally hiding. The fat man's eyes sparkle when he sees Edward. "Edward! There's a ton of Brokers in town all of a sudden. Ten or more, just today." * Stuart furrows his eyebrows. The pair of them and his tiny little eyes are are the only features you can see. Edward furrows his brow. He looks puzzled. "Is it a meeting or something, or is it because of the hurricane and the thing with the Wyrd?" ...Brokers? * Nicholas whispers to D, "What's a broker?" D flicks an ear. "Like a stock guy, I think? Like he sells stocks or something." Oh. * Nicholas doesn't know what stocks are, but doesn't bother asking, at least for now. The fat man offers a gallic shrug, revealing broad, callused palms. "We don't know! They're meeting with the King right now, along with Pryor. Once word got out a bunch of people showed up looking to ask for stuff or see what the deal is. I'm just curious, but they've done good by me before, so you never know." Edward nods, then steps back to speak with the group. "The Brokers are a group that helps people trade things for other things. There are only a few in town normally, but for some reason a whole bunch of them came by just today." Huh. Okay, then. So... what do we do, then? Edward shrugs. "Your rooms are still free, I'm sure, so you could go up there. Or you could wait and see if you can get a chance to talk to the Brokers. If you're interested in getting set up in town they can probably speed that process up for you." He takes an awkward look back at the fat man, then indicates him with one hand. "Oh, this is Greg Pope, he's the head chef at Cornucopia. Greg, these are the new arrivals." He points to each of you in turn, giving your name. Edith curtseys in turn. Greg, these are the new arrivals." He points to each of you in turn, giving your name. Edith curtseys in turn. * Stuart balances all of his bags in one arm and extends his offhand for a shake with awkward haste. "Ah! Pleased to meet you, I'm Stuart. Pardon me for being so shabby, I haven't had the chance to clean myself up." One of his bags fall. He reaches for it and then another tumbles. * Stuart whispers in what would be squeaks if he wasn't such a large man, "Excuse me, excuse me." "Greg" grins, but it's not like any grin you've ever seen before. His mouth widens like an unfurling flower, revealing a mouth full of huge, triangular shark teeth. His broad smile pushes up his cheeks, hiding his tiny eyes. He takes Stuart's hand and shakes it vigorously. "Not a problem at all," he assures him, "I know how it goes." * Jan lets go of Edith's hand and gathers up the fallen bags. * Stuart waits until it's proper to take his hand back and liberates Jan from the opressive bags. * Kasi lifts a hand in greeting. "Hey. Nice to meetcha." There's a bustle from the entrance, cutting short pleasantries. A large group of people descends the creaking stairs from the King's office, and the King himself stands in the doorway, backed by light and cutting a fine figure. The descending crowd is a bizarre mix of people in business suits and people in hoodies, led by a white-haired gentleman in an expensive grey suit. * Kasi watches curiously. The men pause to exchange words, and several of them veer away from the onlooking crowd to quickly leave the building, but four of them proceed into the lounge -- two suited men, one suited woman, and a short man in a navy blue hoodie, hands in the pouch at the front. * Jan quietly backs up and picks up Edith's hand again. It's a little unclear who is comforting who. Initially, there's silence, but then a man calls from the couch, "Hey Mr. Pryor, what's this all about?" * Nicholas walks over to a man who he presumes to be a broker How do I buy a house? The white-haired man crouches down, hands on his knees, and smiles. "You must be Nicholas," he says, in a firm but slightly nasal voice. "Why don't we talk about that?"