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?"

 

[Kinza Rainclaw]

Kinza couldn't help but feel like a complete scruffball around this vixen. There were times she prided herself on that, but she had so very rarely met anyone of high society excepting the odd toff who was midway through a ransom on a stop-off. They hadn't had any quarrel with pirates so long as they were polite, they could trade like any other beasts. She supposed she would have to think differently in the employ of the Navy.

"Ah, mostly meself. My brother and I are enlisting, hoping ter put ourselves to use on the seas. Name's Kinza."​

 

[Marianna Furotazzi]

Marianna reached across and offered her own paw as they walked. "Marianna," she returned the introduction. She left her last name off; it tended to carry a certain weight with it. "You're likely enlisting on the Golden Hide, then?" she confirmed. "She's a wonderful old ship. I'm sure you'll love your time aboard her. I'm fairly confident that I did, though it's all a bit hard to remember. I was a navy brat," she confessed, inclining her head and smiling as if she were sharing a secret with a friend. "Your accent is quite unique," she commented, adding, "I can't quite place it. If I may ask, have you recently arrived in the Imperium from abroad?"

 

[Kinza Rainclaw]

The offered paw was shaken firmly and she noted the equal lack of surname sharing, not that all beasts had a surname. It seemed likely one of Marianna's standing would. Not having fully mastered the art of keeping emotions in check, Kinza's ear flicked at the mention of the Hide. She was excited to see the ship when she made berth, one that held so many stories, most of which were probably not true.

"Aye, me accent's a bit of a melting pot. I grew up on an island a-ways far east of here but the sailors spoke of it often. You say ye were on the Hide? The ocean not your calling now?"​

 

[Marianna Furotazzi]

Marianna laughed at the question, her voice light and musical. "Goodness me, no. For a while it seemed like it would be my parents' calling, but they both left the navy while I was still an infant. My brother and I both grew up on land instead. What about you? Will this be your first vessel?"