Furotazzis Open The Slups A Direction Worth Selling

[Griblo Jankweed]

Rain had left the alley outside slick with a foul sheen somewhere between brine, tar, and clay-rich mud. Griblo Jankweed squelched through it like he owned the place, the hem of his trousers already damp as he nudged open the warped wooden door with a grunt. The bell above gave a feeble jingle, then settled into silence. The shop was dim, cluttered, and smelled like mildew and pickled onion. Shelves leaned under the weight of dented relics, cracked spectacles, brass doorknobs, a mounted eel’s head, and rows of battered paw-rings.

Behind the counter sat Grubbage, a grease-furred rat with gold hoops in both ears and an eye like a bruised marble. He scratched himself lazily with a ruler and didn't look up.

Griblo didn’t wait for pleasantries. He slapped a brass compass down on the counter with a dramatic flourish.

“Real special, this one,” he said, steel-blue eyes glinting. “Got it off a beast down in the kelp markets. Said it don’t point north. Naw, said it points t’ wot ye desire most.”

Grubbage snorted, whiskers twitching.
“Desire most? Yeh been drinkin’ seawater again, Jankweed?”

He plucked the compass from the counter and flipped it open. The needle spun lazily… then settled.

“Et looks like et points north ta me,” he said flatly, gesturing behind Griblo. “An’ I assure ye, wot I desire most ain't en that direct'chin.”

He snapped the compass shut and shoved it back with a scowl.
“Yeh tryin’ t’ fence junk in my shop again? Y’ain’t even polish it. Tch. Get gone, Griblo, ‘fore I call Falun.”

Griblo stiffened.

Falun. The Furotazzi’s dock enforcer. The one who once broke a stoat’s back over a barrel for skimming off the top.

Grubbage’s shop was under protection. Not official, but protection all the same. Forgies weren’t called here. Not unless they were part of the arrangement.

“…Fine,” Griblo muttered, tail flicking. “But y’re passin’ on somethin’ mighty special.”

He turned, but lingered at the front of the shop, eying around the small front room. Rain was still tapping the windows like fingers on a coffin lid. And maybe… maybe some other fool would come through that door.

 

[Emilio]

A mighty hiccup sounds from the gob of one modestly mighty badger as the wretched stench of the Slups and too many cups of local swill mix together somewhere in his body. A paw races to cover his mouth, his cheeks puff out! Poor Emilo could just about feel something rising in his throat. Eyugh! The big city hadn't quite been what he'd hoped for. It was easy to get lost, just about everybeast seemed busy with something or another, and the prices of anything interesting at the market were beyond his means- for as many interesting and exotic things as there seemed to be.

The Slups weren't quite so bad. Really! Importantly, everything was a little cheaper. Sure, he caught a lot of mean looks, but nothing more had come of them yet. It was a bit like Voil Village, but denser, smellier, and without the same sort of rogueish charm. That is to say, altogether worse, but- Emilio grinned, flashing his not-so-pearly teeth down the street. Something told him everything would be alright. One big win at dice, and he could pick up a souveneir and head back home, or find a steady job somewhere, or... he could worry about that later. There were still a few dozen Gilders in his purse, a sword at his side, booze in his belly, and the brim of his helmet did a good enough job keeping the rain off. All was well.

The half-hollow ringing of a bell prompted a delayed twitch of the ears beneath his helmet. This could be exactly what he needed, another pub! Perhaps a gambling hall? A shop would be alright, too. His work boots trudge on through the mud as he heads down the alley after it. He'd hardly make an attempt to squint through the windows and into the dim interior before barging through the door and- THUNK!

Emilio's helmeted skull knocked against the doorframe, leaving a chip in the wood. "Ooouh! Heh heh heh..." He stumbled and flashed a big, stupid grin as he took in everyone inside. The rat with golden earrings... the ferret with even more golden earrings! Pissin' Hellgates, these beasts must've been rich! "Surr- hic- sorry. Heh heh." A fool had arrived.

 

[Ivo Suresight]

Another day, another occasion for Ivo. Albeit he was already done with his tasks for today. Did his shift at the town hall, at which among much boring paperwork, examined his contingency scenario. Visited Marianna, as he did so daily, to share both secrets and bed alike. Then visited a new workshop that was making cloth. Formally to make safety review but more importantly to map it through.

Now he had a bit of time to spare to just walk around, always eager for new things to happen around him. He had his drawings done for today so for now he was just observing the surroundings, letting his paws take him wherever they've desired. That is how he ended up here. Grim alleyway deep into Slups. The rain made it looking more like a scene from nightmare but Ivo was rather used to this.

And then he heard a mention of Falun from a nearby pawnshop. One done with a thud and scowl. While Ivo wasn't particularly a member of the family. His... special position meant he could dabble in their matters as long as he wouldn't bring problems to any operations. And well, secrets were worth it much more than anything he could potentially get away with. Besides it was against him to harm Mari position or operations in any way.

A badger stepped into this pawnshop. Aside from taking a mental note this was one of the facilities under their protection for the sake of putting it onto a map later, Ivo wished to see what the cause of calling enforcer's name. The scene between ferret and a rat explained it all to him. An argument while selling stuff, quite typical. Yet... usually after the mention of enforcers, client would step away and leave. This Ferret must have had some real guts, be stupid as a brick or... the thing they had brought was worth more than eye would show.

So Ivo stood there, in broad light. waiting for the situation to develop while himself looking around as if he came to just buy something. He could spare a moment or a dime if it meant learning about something great.