Open The Docks A Hire Purpose

[Griblo Jankweed]

Griblo puffed out his chest and help out his paws eagerly as Emilio offered over the scabbard and pack.

"Aye, mate! Ye can trus’ me!"

The moment the badger’s weapon and gear were in his grip, however, the ferret staggered backward a step, knees buckling under the sheer weight. He tottered dramatically, jaw clenched as though it were dragging him through the floorboards.

"Blazes, what’s dis made of, lead!?" he wheezed, though the twitch of his whiskers betrayed that he was playing it up just a touch. With a grunt, he shuffled to the side room and carefully set the load down, brushing off his paws with a loud exhale, as though the deed were herculean. "Hells teeth, beast like yew coul' pull a whole 'ouse down!"

He shot a last lingering glare back at Kaii and the vixen, sharp and narrow-eyed, before slinking out into the wet with a swish of his tail.

--- 2 Hours Later... ---

The warehouse door shuddered open again without a knock or warning, and in slunk Griblo, soaked through, fur plastered flat, dripping like a drowned rat. Yet his grin was as wide as ever, and his claws clutched a tightly woven basket bound against the rain.

"Vittles bell!" he crowed, water flying as he shook himself out. "Oi got’s ye all o’ de goodies a badger the likes o’ ye needs. Hope i’s enuff, matey!"

He plonked the basket onto a bench, flipping it open to reveal its bounty: several slices of buttered raisin toast, three steaming meat pies, a paper sleeve crammed full of non-fish fishsticks, and a battered canteen. With a spring, he hopped up onto the same bench, leaning in close to Emilio’s ear.

"Even snuck ye some grog from m’ per’snul collec’shin! T’is in d’ canteen!" he whispered with conspiratorial glee, before bouncing back down to the floor, chest puffed.

Casting his gaze across the trio of laboring beasts, his grin widened.

"Roight! So, did ol’ Twin-Tails ever show ’is mug or wut?"

 

[Kaii Nashirou]

Kaii was now in the middle of working on assembling the crane mechanisms again. Sitting on a wooden beam, he dutifully worked with his wrench, attaching the elements at adequate tightness. Focused on work, and not really too concerned with such matters, the unpleasant ferret from before was now an afterthought. That is until they came in, bringing a multitude of foods for their friends. At least, Kaii considered, they were kind to those they did care for. That was something.

To their question however, Kaii pulled out his watch, checked it and then flatly responded. "In about forty-seven seconds. Be patient." He hid the watch again at continued his work as usual. Knowing that at least mister two-tails would be pleased upon seeing him work. And indeed, as if the marble fox could predict the future, an iguana stepped through the doors exactly forty-seven seconds later. They were an iguana, green and visibly chubby (for a reptile). Indeed their tail was splitting into two a short bit after it begun. Both tails seemed independent of one another, giving a rather mesmerising dance that helped the iguana to stabilise their walk.

"Greetings Mister Nah-she-ru. How's me crane doin'?" He asked just before taking a look around and noticing an extra badger and ferret with lots of food at paw. He got somewhat angry, as his crest spiked up. "AY! Who are those beasts? I dun remember gettin' a catering, nor any extra workers fer today!" He spun and stared at the marble fox who was absolutely unimpressed.

Kaii turned to him and got down from the wooden beam, brushing off some stray splinters from his clothes. "For the Ferret, they are bringing food for their friend. The Badger on the other paw sought work. He meticulously did so for the past two hours, hoping he would get an employment here alongside payment."

The Iguana for a moment tried to say something but wasn't able to. They just stood their, maw agape. After a while they pointed at Kaii with an outburst of energy, both of his tails now flicking around in anger, Kaii wasn't in any way bulging however. "Listen Mister. Am spendin' FORTUNE on yer repair of the crane. I dun need any more expenses today and fer sure not workers that are wastin' their time on breaks!"

Kaii shook his head and stared at the reptile, intensly, knowing they were just greedy. But also, just like with negotiations earlier about his own pay, the marble fox was aware that the lizard didn't like one thing more than spending money. Being seen as foolish. And Kaii could again use that.

"Mister Two-Tails. You typically employ few beasts because of your crane. For the past few days as it was broken, before you bothered to seek someone to fix it, your warehouse almost came to a halt. You actively would rather lose money on not having enough paws to run things here rather than employing a beast that did two hours of honest work without a payment from you in an attempt to even get a job? Look around at all the unorganised crates that still need to be done. Observe also as most of your actual employees did not come today due to the weather and unwillingness to work too hard without the mechanical support." Kaii explained so flatly, one could claim his voice was like a razor. "Besides all this, you told me many times that I am responsible for this place. Thus I took it seriously and sought help for running your buisness." He added and then turned away from the speechless and much much more docile reptile. Kaii once again climbed the wooden beam to continue his work.

And as Two-Tails swallowed the loss of his pride, in order to not act like a fool anymore, he turned to the rest. "Alright. Miss Marble, please tell me how's yer work in the past hours." He then walked closed to the Badger. "An as fer you. Me apologies. Times are tuff an all that. Yer here fer work yus?"