Open The Market A Vixen Stocks Up

[Kinza Rainclaw]

Altogether, this place was a different kind of jungle. Bully was loaded with peril, noisy, and its markets were occasionally hot and sticky with a dash of poison. Kinza was glad it wasn’t landlocked, accustomed to the sound and smell of the sea. What fascinated her most, as much as it was disconcerting, was how many beasts were in one place and the variety of goods available. Her parents had drilled into her to keep her gilders safe and warned her of scams. There was a lot to be said for experience, but she remained wary alongside her excitement. The food smelt amazing, whether her stomach would agree on it later or not; the melting pot of cultures a delight.

She found what she was looking for, a haberdashery stall. There would doubtless be more high-end shops elsewhere, but cheap sewing supplies and fabrics would serve well enough for lower naval rankings. Items for sail repairs would surely be covered under a ship’s own budget, so Kinza sought basics for patching and making a few simple items for herself and her brother. Lorcan was off doing a little bit of his own shopping, insistent that he could survive this place without her for a short while. They would need to be independent once under the orders of a captain anyway. So long as they ain't reckless with my brother’s life.

“Twelve gilders,” said the weasel stall owner.

“Yer wot?” Kinza scoffed. “That’s robbery, that is. Lookit the weave in this, yer lucky y’ain’t been hounded off. Four gilders. Five if’n ye throw in this thread.”​

 

[Marianna Furotazzi]

A vixen with crimson fur, who had been examining herself in a small mirror as she tried on a large emerald green summer bonnet, glanced up at the haggling between the stall owner and a fellow customer. Her eyes traced over the other vixen, assessing her at a glance. Was she broke, desperate for a bargain? No, if she were, she wouldn't be shopping here. A bargain hunter then, a consummate haggler, frugal with an eye for quality, no matter how she tactically disparaged the vendor's wares. True, they were hardly the height of quality, and it was only Marianna's own frugality that led her to shop here instead of at a proper store in the Trenches. It seemed the stall drew in a specific type of customer.

"She's right," Marianna confirmed, approaching with her own tentative purchase. "Really, the lack of shame in asking such a price! Good sir, really, what would your mother say if she could see you trying to swindle young vixens of their coin?" She set her own bonnet down next to the rougher vixen's purchase, stating, "I'll give you ten gilders for our combined purchases, two spools of thread included. We'll need it to patch up this shoddy edge stitching." She shot her fellow customer what she hoped would be taken as a look of solidarity. She could respect a beast trying to keep her coin in a cutthroat market.

 

[Kinza Rainclaw]

Surprised by the well-to-do-looking vixen's intervention, Kinza took a moment to push down initial defensiveness. Who's she calling 'young vixen?', thought the young vixen. I can handle m'self. On the one paw, she was immediately suspicious of beasts playing nice to satisfy their own ends. On the other, she surmised it was possible the lady was the real deal. From the stories of Bully she had heard, she was sceptical. But, so long as she considered that, she'd be safe, right? Why not take advantage of their offered coin?

"Fine!" The weasel threw up her paws before sticking one out for the money. "I'll be speakin' to the hatter about his craftsmanship."

Kinza stuffed her newly acquired materials into her bag, feeling no remorse at letting a presumed richbeast throw their gilders around.

"Thank ye fer the kindness. The hat suits ye well."

 

[Marianna Furotazzi]

Marianna beamed at the compliment, patting at the curls poking out just under the edge of it. "Doesn't it just? I've been told that green is my color - matches my eyes." It was one of those traits that got her compliments most often... when she was in a position to be complimented, that was. "So," the vixen continued as they walked away, tucking her coin pouch back inside her purse, "are you out here shopping for yourself, or for someone else?"