More About You

JP with mdman and Cindy

Cronk awaited the Lady Elizabeth outside. He walked where he could view where he had left the potted flower for Lorem just in front of the door to her workspace. It was now gone. Cronk hoped that Pretty Flower would like the plant. It would spruce up her place, not that Lorem didn’t spruce it up when she was there.

He knew Lady Elizabeth may be a while, so Cronk drank from a flask that looked small in his hands. The bourbon went down smoothly. This French whiskey was good stuff.

In a few minutes, Lady Elizabeth made her way out of the house. Cronk grinned. “We go now?”

"Yes, Mr. Cronk. We can leave now." When they got out the door, Elizabeth turned to Cronk and said, "We are going to the area by Ives Avenue. It is a fairly rough area from what I have been told. You might have guessed I tend to stick out in areas like that. So, I am going with a story - a cover. I am a philanthropist, there to survey the area to give possible ideas for improvement. You are my security." Elizabeth had a feeling Cronk might understand what she was getting at. She also realized she needed help in the area of disguises.

Cronk intently listened to Lady Elizabeth. Rough areas, Cronk could handle. He hadn’t experienced much beyond the neighborhoods of Dublin that he and Quinn worked.

Cronk nodded his understanding, then scratched his cheek, looking confused. “Who Phil Lantropiss?”

Elizabeth did know she needed to get better at communicating things to Cronk, it partly the reason she decided to team with him today. So, she should have the question from Cronk was coming. "It is not a particular person, more a kind of person. A philanthropist is someone who has a lot of money and uses that money and their deeds to help others."

The continued walking and Elizabeth knew it would take several minutes to get to where they were going. She decided now was a good time to find out more about the Orc. "So, Mr. Cronk where are you from, originally?"

“Lady Elizabeth take care us,” Cronk stated. “So Lady Elizabeth phil…an…thro…pist.”

Cronk listened as Lady Elizabeth asked the question. “Cronk born in Oslofjord. Raised on farm. Cronk got tired of farm life. Quinn took Cronk to Dublin. Worked for Quinn there. Quinn brought Cronk to Paris.”

Hearing Cronk calling her a philanthropist, made Elizabeth smile slightly. "Well, thank you Mr. Cronk."

She nodded as he spoke of his past. "Dublin is a beautiful city. I have never been to Norway." Elizabeth explained. "Anything else you want to tell me about yourself. " Elizabeth wasn't just making small talk, as leader it was important to get to know her team better.

Cronk thought a bit. “Cronk’s mother and father love Cronk. Cronk troubled them. They call carousing. Quinn same as Cronk. Quinn accept Cronk. Called Cronk son.”

“Life in Dublin adventure,” Cronk continued. “Did what Quinn need. Celebrate after.”

Elizabeth nodded to what Cronk said. "You're Mr. Quinn sounds like he was a very good boss." Elizabeth responded. "You enjoy celebrations, then?" Maybe, that question was more small talk because Elizabeth already knew the answer.

Cronk chuckled between his tusks. For Cronk, celebration was living. It was part of the essence of life. Of course, Cronk would have to understand the term essence to fully understand that statement.

“Cronk celebrate a lot,” he stated. “Not sure Lady Elizabeth like Cronk celebration.”

Lady Elizabeth seemed to be the prim and proper type person. To her, celebration would be like a grand ball. For Cronk, celebration meant carousing, drinking, and of course, the ladies.

Elizabeth smiled at the response from Cronk. It was likely true, she might not enjoy his kind of celebrations or at least not fit in. "Once we catch the evil doctor, that will be cause for celebration."

They reached a street corner, and Elizabeth looked at the street signs, thought for a moment and headed left. She knew the general area they were headed to, even if she had not spent much time there. After a few minutes of quiet between the two Elizabeth asked. "Mr. Cronk, is there anything you would like to ask me?"

Cronk was puzzled about something. Lady Elizabeth was refined. Much more refined than any female Cronk had ever known. The puzzling thing was why she did what she did. It was Cronk’s opinion that most high society women were highfalutin gossips, more concerned with their social standing than to care about the common person. They were quick to judge, despite falling short themselves.

“Why you do this?” Cronk asked, sincerely trying to figure out the lady for whom he now worked.

"I am guessing you have not been around many Eldren before. I suppose I should start with that. Eldren, as you might be aware, live very long lives. As a result we do not marry until later than most humans. This gives us time to do other things. It is not that unusual for Eldren women to explore the world or do other things. We are known to crave adventure. I guess you could say I definitely have that quality. However, that is not the only reason. My father, Duke Ellington, is in charge of the entire Order. He raised me and had me trained, mostly by Mr. Sung, from the time I was very young, to eventually do this very job. Even though at the time, I did not know that was what he was doing. I also believe fully in what the Order does. I feel that every member is making a vital contribution to benefit of the world." Elizabeth had kept her voice down as she spoke but no one was really around to overhear. "Does that answer your question?"

Cronk had never envisioned himself as having benefit upon the world. Maybe Quinn, yes. Now, perhaps Lady Elizabeth. The world? The world was a big place, even for an orc.

It was evident that Lady Elizabeth expected great things from Cronk. He hoped that it was in the area of strength, for that was his true gift. Certainly, at this time, she was counting on him for security. So, Cronk kept his eyes not upon her, but scanning the area s they walked.

“Thank you,” Cronk spoke. It wasn’t often an Orc gave his gratitude, but Cronk was brought up right, and even though he rebelled from the life of his parents, inside, he was a decent Orc.

"You are quite welcomed, Mr. Cronk. I know none of this was what you had planned upon coming to Paris, and I do wish, for your sake it had been under better circumstances but I am glad you have joined my team. I do think that you are are benefit to the team." Elizabeth said.

The two turned down a few more streets and side streets from the posh section of Liz's home, to the middle class area. Not as nice but the area gave an almost cosy feel. Women were tending to flowers, laundry or children outside. A few more side streets and the atmosphere changed. Run down buildings, dirty streets, broken glass on the streets. The faint smell of alcohol permeated the air. It was difficult to tell if it was from the drunken panhandlers on the street corners or the rundown bar at the end of the street. It was one of bars that never closed and was always noisy.

Turning another corner and a row of vendors sold, semi rotten meats, drinks from a barrel, and vegetables which had the distinction of being a favorite of flies. Then there was the fish.... and some selling snails. All the vendors calling out their goods in a cacophony of voices, in French.

Elizabeth was certain she had never been in a place that smelled quite this bad. And she wished for a scarf to cover her nose.

One scanty clad woman, seemingly came out of the darkness and walked towards Cronk. The woman looked to be maybe Elizabeth's age, possibly younger. Dark hair, slightly unkempt, blue eyes that showed a life older than her years. The woman pushed a flower cart of blooms that had seen better days. She eyed Elizabeth then said, to Cronk. "Quel genre de rose, recherchez-vous? cette sorte..." She made a half-hearted flourish towards the rickety cart. "ou mon genre?"