Open The Slups Crime Cartographer

[Fanjo Mercytooth]

The target seemed like nothing Fanjo couldn't handle. He held no sympathy for these lovers. As far as he was concerned, he was doing a job and the world revolved on trade. Two grand would set him up well toward affording a higher life, and more so do well to grease paws to keep them from reaching for knives.

"Hmm," he grunted with amusement at the request. "I can see I'm going to have to charge my other sources discretionary fees. Anyhow, ain't any trouble revealing this one. Little scat, name of Flunker. Stowed aboard a cargo run, did some nasty business to a few workers, and run off with two sacks of coughee, way they tell it. Mister Razorshanks wanted him hauled in."

 

[Ivo Suresight]

Ivo took a second to memorise name, reason and the method. All that while heartily chuckling at the notion. "Heh, careful with those. Discretion sure pays well, but lack of it? That's where da money really is." A notion of paying for discretion was with money wasn't stupid, but it sure was inefficient.

Still, Razorshanks was a name he knew. Off the top of his mind, Ivo could already add to the picture of this grizzled sailor turned "businessmen". Gilders sure seemed to turn beasts sour and petty. Especially now that he could add this vermin posting whole bounty after a mischief and effectively petty thief. It was in a way useful knowledge. Awareness of how petty a beast can be was crucial in doing buisness with them.

Satisfied, Ivo finally put the paper he was drawing upon on the table.Aalongside a simple sketch of target and a client, there was a neat map, showing how to navigate through the slups strating from the Bilge. It also had written names. "The path there'll lead ya to t'client. Target, from what I know lives in da same neighbourhood. Memorize it 'cuz that page's gettin destroyed s'soon as ya stand up."

 

[Fanjo Mercytooth]

Fanjo studied the map, more interested in the destination than the route. He had grown up in the Harbour, nigh on every street having seen the underside of his boots. Even after a little time away and young as he was, he knew it well enough. The grey fox would consider Ivo's opinion on information handling, but he knew that he was unlikely to budge on his own thoughts on the matter. Knowledge was valuable for a reason. Not everyone wanted their bounties made public. To be so free with information for the sake of his own purse would surely dry up his main source of income. Blabbermouth bounty hunters would wind up dead bounty hunters, as far as he reasoned. There would be clients who wanted their bounty widely known. Those tended to be more competitive, and Ivo could just as easily find out the information before Fanjo found his way to tell it.

"I'll be back when it's done." He pinched the brim of his hat with respect and rose from his seat.​

 

[Falun Furotazzi]

A golden-furred fox navigated his way back around the room to Ivo's table, leaving a trail of blood droplets dripping from his knuckles on the floor. He'd split his knuckles again, as always; they never seemed to get time to heal properly. The rest of the blood, at least, was not his own. He was grinning like a maniac as he approached the table. He stopped, surprise registering on his face. "Fanjo!" He barked out a laugh, approaching and offering the bounty hunter a paw. "Thought 'at was you! 'Gates, I 'aven't seen ya since afore Vito's funeral. Didn' know you were back in town!" He glanced between Ivo and the gray fox, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, sorry, ya on a job? I was gonna buy ya a drink, but we can hold off 'at."

 

[Ivo Suresight]

Ivo took a look at Falun. Glad to see him again even if his scent was nothing but blood and viscera. "I think we're jus' finished. Won't say no to a drink but I'll have t' finish me work first." He chimed leisurely, before turning to the bounty hunter. Now realising that if these two know one another, this bounty hunter most likely is in a way entangled with Tazzis. More details to add into his already immense map of this organisation.

Speaking of maps, Ivo took the one he just drew and shredded it with his claws, carefully collecting the parts of it and hiding them at random into various parts of his outfit. As soon as he will be next to any fire, he will burn them. For now, this was best he could do. "I'll be waiting fer ya... somewhere. Am not that hard t' find when I wanna be found." Ivo said with a chuckle to the bounty hunter. Relaxing again in his place and awaiting next client to come.

 

[Fanjo Mercytooth]

The grey fox's ears perked at the sight of Falun's approach. Fanjo smirked and accepted the bloodied paw, ensuring not to squeeze and cause his superior further damage.

"Good ter see you, Ivo. Be glad to have a round with the both of you gen'lefoxes once I'm done. Ain't got much to share outside of work on my part, but happy to lend an ear for the Family. Take care now."

His brief meet and greet complete for now, Fanjo retrieved his unfortunate previous bounty and hauled the sack over his shoulders. One last nod to the two other foxes as he passed by, he strode out to chase his payment and quarry.​

 

[Falun Furotazzi]

Falun grinned as the bounty hunter left, clearly tickled to see another professional from the old days still around now. Shaking his head and chuckling, he turned to Ivo and clapped him on the shoulder. "I'll hold you to that drink," he advised, his gaze drifting to the front door of the tavern. "I think you might be in for that conversation I was warning you about, though." Coming in just after Fanjo, a sharp expression on her face, Marianna had entered the tavern and was looking straight at them. Falun patted Ivo's shoulder once before strolling away, disappearing around a corner just as the vixen reached Ivo.

"What did my brother want with you?" she asked immediately, her tone sharp, forgoing the usual pleasantries. Her eyes were hard and alert, trained on the space where Falun had just disappeared as if she were expecting a threat to emerge from it.

 

[Ivo Suresight]

Ivo was greatly surprised by such sudden appearance of his love. He had seen her earlier that day, as he did so daily, and told her he would be here. Her timing was impeccable too, as if she spied on her own brother and followed him to make sure he wouldn’t say too much about her. Her reaction, one of great distress and urgency, to him it spelled that she was either afraid or furious and thus further reinforced his observation. The question was, was she afraid about Ivo learning things and feeling bad ? Or was she afraid of her own suffering?

Either way, Ivo wasn’t at all planning on anything but telling the truth. Not only he had promised that to her, he also believed that lying here would be a stupid idea. As such, with a relaxed muzzle, he started quietly elaborating, trying to not garner more attention from other patrons. “Well dear, yer brother came t’ ask me r’ end with ya. He’s worried about losin’ me as a business contract with family citin’ yer past… perturbations with otha’ guys. Told me bunch about how ya treated them and inevitably broke up with sum drama. Honestly he jus’ wanted me affirmation I ain’t gonna take me vengeance should that happen. That’s really it.”

Ivo then smiled to her and gently raised his clawed finger and pointed it at her. There was no malice or accusation in this gesture. Simply an emphasis for the words that had followed. “I wanna hear from ya ‘bout it all once ya feel like it. I jus’ need truth. From ye.”

 

[Marianna Furotazzi]

Marianna's eyes widened as Ivo told her directly what Falun had advised him. She inhaled sharply, her nostrils flaring as she glared after Falun. "That little... I'm going to..." She took a few deep breaths, paws spread out flat at her waist as she tried to steady herself emotionally, before she reached into her purse and pulled out a purple ascot. "I found this while cleaning," she stated. "I thought to return it to you. And," she admitted, taking a deep breath before continuing, "I heard that Falun had been asking around about where to find you, and I panicked. I figured that he would try to scare you away. I didn't quite expect that method. Usually he's far more 'touch my little sister and I'll break your knees' about it."

She looked over Ivo carefully before inquiring, her tone unexpectedly soft, "So... You aren't leaving me?"

 

[Ivo Suresight]

Ivo grinned roguishly at the notion. “No.” He stated, considering her rapid flow of words while cupping her cheek. “I want to jus’ know if he said truth. Full story from ya. Past happened, I did sum uncouth things too that would paint me as bad beast to hav’ ‘sa lover. Point is, I care more for our present and future.” He admitted truthfully. He wanted to know her flaws. But he only cared really to see if she would try to stop them. He, after all, did as he promised, and hoped that so would she.

 

[Marianna Furotazzi]

Marianna took a deep breath, her eyes scanning the room. "Not here," she said quietly. "You're still working now, right? Maybe tonight, your place? I promise, I'll tell you everything."

 

[Ivo Suresight]

Ivo nodded and nuzzled her nose with his. Then he leaned back. Letting go of her and offering her another charming grin. “I’ll be there once midnight comes. Fer now, I jus’ wanna assure you that while am startled, in no way am thinking to leave ya,”

 

[Marianna Furotazzi]

Marianna smiled, relief crossing her face - and she stepped in and nuzzled his snout right back. A few onlookers at a nearby table gave a playful whoop, and she blushed as she stepped back. "I'll be there," she promised. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go kill my brother." With a smile and wave over her shoulder at Ivo, she headed in the direction that Falun had disappeared.

 

[Ivo Suresight]

Ivo felt some pity for Falun. Some. It wasn’t his fault after all for being a truthful beast. Even if only to that one Vixen. Especially as he never said he wouldn’t share this revelation with her.

Watching as Marianna was leaving, he wagged his tail slightly at the prospect of seeing her later. But then he kind of realised that any beast at this establishment saw it and would easily piece together that the two were together. A dangerous detail, but not one he would try to hide. She was his and he was hers. Of all secrets, this one wasn’t worth keeping. Genuinely happier now, Ivo sat there, wagging along as he sipped his drink again. Waiting for more clients to come.

 

[Matisse Dubois]

It was easy enough to play the role of a commoner in a place such as this. By now having whittled the piece of wood into a better approximation of the wren he was carving, the sable's ears flicked back as he noticed the blend of foxed talking beneath the general noise. Words were difficult to distinguish, but at the very least he could be confident that the three had been conversing.

Aside from that, it was beginning to look like a disappointing day: his contact had been selfish enough to die and now he'd have to waste resources cleaning up the mess in case the idiot had leaked information about the meeting. Matisse had been in the process of mulling over whether or not it was even worth forcing down another tankard of this swill the common beasts drank when a vixen entered.

Oh. How very interesting.

Matisse didn't allow himself to appear at all involved until the calls from other patrons supposedly drew his attention. Scrubbing a paw across his muzzle, he waited until Marianna had departed before he ordered himself a further drink and, on his paws, wandered a little closer towards Ivo.

"Got y'sel' a pretty girl, eh?" He nodded to the door with a crooked grin.

 

[Ivo Suresight]

Tensing slightly, the very red fox took more forced casual pose. Leaning back into his chair while playing around with one of his pencils by rolling it between his fingers. It wasn't hard for him to remember this beast spoke to him earlier, while he was at the bar, trying to inquire into his previous client work. There was something off that set Ivo's senses, causing his healthy ear to perk up. Nonetheless, keeping wary to all potential outcomes, Ivo wasn't one to deny an opportunity.

"Love ain't somethin' I can deny. Especially not t' her." He spoke leisurely while observing this beast. Trying to gauge or remember who they were. "What can ol' me help ya with?" He asked while opening his sketchbook on an empty page, grasping the pencil he was toying with and starting to sketch this very building inside plan. Mostly to engrave into his memory both it and today's events.

 

[Matisse Dubois]

Love. What a loaded word: one worth its weight in gold. Still he had no reason to take too much interest save the pursuit of information. This curious fox was clearly well-established in his trade and it always served him well to accrue broad knowledge of the ever-changing faces of the city's underworld. Perhaps in the future he would have need of his services - or at least his identity.

Scratching his chest idly (a habit he disliked, but such common beasts seemed wont to perform such actions), the sable wrinkled his nose as if giving the matter some thought. "Well, I d'know, depen's what it is you do." He blinked, nodding to the sheet of parchment with a curious frown. "What, you draw?" The grin returned. "How in the blazes do you make a pretty penny off drawing, then?"

 

[Ivo Suresight]

That was the question Ivo expected little. If this beast didn't know who they were, they just acted out of curiosity, it meant danger. If they were here to gather the information? Well, Ivo was the beast to go to. Ultimately, it wasn't too difficult to find out who he was. And as someone in dire need for control over such things, Ivo shook off the temporary shock and took on his nonchalant smile. Letting this beast hear what he wants would serve him the best.

"Ya can. Plenty of beasts like 'em drawings. But I ain't sellin' 'em for gilders. Ya can get one fer a low price of a secret. And who knows. Maybe the drawing will have a secret fer ya too, one that ya may desire t'know." Ivo explained, alluding clearly to his profession. The whole underground should know him as naught more then him being a broker, Tazzi associate (per relationship) and Maws member. To make sure all three were known, he had flashed his Maw's Pin he wore on the inner side of his frock coat. He sure gave up a lot of information, but it was controlled, just like he desired.

 

[Matisse Dubois]

The sable blinked slowly as he digested this information; though grey eyes could hardly fail to notice the pin and its associated meanings - nor the intent with which it was flashed - he seemed more bemused by the moment.

"Lissen, mate," he replied, pulling up a chair regardless of whether Ivo wished for his presence or not. "I don't usually come here: was meant to meet a mate an' wouldn't you know it he ain't showing. Left me on me lonesome so forgive that I ain't, ya know..all too famil'ar with what happens in here." Setting his tankard down he scratched his whiskers, eyeing the book. "I see you're one of those beasts though. 'Pologies. Now I don't know what use I got for drawin's just yet but you got my interest. What sort've things can you get, an' what sort of secrets you lookin' for?"

 

[Ivo Suresight]

Ivo flashed a grin, turning to his sketchbook, he picked up the pencil while taking a much more leisure pose. Leaning back into the chair, in few quick strokes he sketched the plan of the very tavern he was at. Including the kitchens, storage rooms and all the entrances in and out. Not something someone who doesn't work there should know, definitely not a client. But Ivo had his ways as always.

Turning it around to show to the beast in front of him, the red fox spoke again, his good ear turning to the front fully as he gestured around with his pencil. "Less jus' say I can produce fer ya any map, of anythin' in this city. Includin' weakpoints, inhabitants... ya name it, I can tell ye that. I meself look for more personal secrets. Who's pullin' them strings, dark truths about somebeast... Hooks, to be used, is what am after." Ivo finished with a gleam in his eye.