Open The Slups Debt Has it's Benefits.

[Silvertongue Songfox]

Heskel died. Not with a cry or a shout, but a sickening gurgle. Silvertongue didn't know how to process it. He had always thought that the slavemaster would one day be overrun by the beasts he had lorded over. He didn't have time to think about it, as he was guided away by the enforcers.

As for the other three pirates... perhaps they were not so lucky to still be alive. "H-hey, Silvie, come on!" The big brute Boris said. "I never treated ye wrong, did I? Remember all those times I carried ye around on me shoulders when ye were a kit? Ye thought it was hilarious!"

Silvertongue went to speak, but he found himself hesitating. He couldn't find the right words to say. "I-I'm sorry, Boris... it's out of my control now."

 

[Falun Furotazzi]

Falun glared at Silvertongue as he stopped to talk to one of the prisoners. "Inside, now," he barked, his tone making it clear he wasn't brokering dissent today. He waited until the fox was inside before cracking his knuckles as he looked over the captives. "Alrigh'," he declared, blood and brains still dripping off his iron knuckles, "here's the deal. We 'ave one open spot in our organization fer someone wiv' a sense a' self-preservation an' secrets ta share. So, if ya wanna tell me why yer out 'ere chasin' Silvertongue, who it is 'oo wants 'im so badly an' what their deal is, then I'll consider 'at yer application. Fer the rest a' ya... well, I'm sure I'll find out what ya have t' say eventually. So," he raised his bloodied weapon, "'oo's feelin' talkative?"

Marianna, inside the tavern, listened to the lynx's explanation and the fox's nervous prattle, idly making a small gesture to the bartender that resulted in a gin and tonic swiftly being poured for her. Normally when she was drinking for pleasure, she preferred something fruity, but for business, a serious drink was required. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Ambassador," she addressed the cat. "I assure you, we will honor your presence and your service both. Please," she invited, including the todd in the invitation. "Order anything you like. Tonight, you are our guests, both of you."

Her eyes fixed upon Ruffano as she added, "You have nothing to fear from me, or my brother... at least in this instance. To answer your question: I do not fully know why these ruffians are so intent upon capturing him, other than claims that he was once one of theirs." The corner of her mouth twitched as she raised her drink to her lips. "I think these pirates will swiftly find they met a foe even more possessive than they are." She took a long sip before setting her drink down on the bar. "What surprises me," she stated, "is that you rushed to the aid of a total stranger, both of you. In Bully Harbor, that is a most unusual level of chivalry. I feel like there must be quite interesting stories behind beasts so bold."

 

[Ruffano Quickwhistle]

Ruffano visibly relaxed at Marianna’s assurance, settling deeper into his seat within the Lilting Lily like a fox who had successfully dodged both death and responsibility. He exhaled long and slow, as if letting go of the weight of an entire premier’s worth of tension.

“Ahhh… sanctuary,” he purred, casting a paw lazily toward the ceiling. “No blades, no bolts, no burly bruisers with body odor and abandonment issues.”

At Marianna’s question, he blinked once, then leaned forward slightly, ears tilting with a sheepish charm.

“Well… if we’re being honest, and I do hate honesty when it’s inconvenient...I stepped in to impress a vixen.”

His eyes widened.

“Svetlana!”

He bolted upright, tail puffed in panic. “I left her back at her home...alone! In the middle of a bloodbath!” He looked toward the tavern door, preparing to make a gallant, if belated, dash.

But then he paused mid-stride. His expression soured with sudden clarity.

“Though, really... she didn’t even offer me a cloth for my paw when I spilled the brandy. And that little comment she made after, completely off-beat... I carried that entire scene.”

He turned back around with a dramatic spin, flicking his tail behind him as he returned to his seat.

“Let her find a lesser fox to under-rehearse with.”

Settling back in, he smoothed his whiskers with practiced grace and snapped toward the bar.

“Spiced rum, if you please. Neat. Twist of citrus.”

 

[Greeneye]

The three pirates were stricken with terror, when suddenly there was a rushing of paws as Greeneye came clambering into the alleyway. "I heard dere was trouble-!" He wheezed, doubled over.

"It's his fault!" Boris pointed at Greeneye.

"Boris? What der hell are ye doin' 'ere?!"

"It's all 'is fault!" Boris repeated. "Ye see, 'is farder is a big pirate Cap'n, and Greeneye ran away wif' Silvertongue ter get married, because der Cap'n didn't approve of it, not one bit-"

"Oh, yew piece o' shite! Shut up!" Greeneye snapped, but Boris kept going.

"An' ye see, Cap'n has been chasin' after Greeneye an' Silvertongue until we got 'ere. So, really it's Greeneye's fault that we snuck onto der mainland, tracked Silvertongue down, and beat the shit out o' 'im and planned ter kidnap 'im ter lure Greeneye back to his farder's ship where der Cap'n was gonna kill 'im anyways to teach Greeneye a lesson-"

"Do ye REALLY think this is helpin' yer case right now, ye damned idiot?!"

"Yea, 'e said 'e wouldn't kill me if I spilled der beans-"

 

[Tal'Rakan]

Rakan was somewhat an enjoyer of fine drinks, he already got himself slightly familiarised with the local ways of enjoying oneself. A fair reward for his duty to his gods and nation. Besides, land of chaos like this also offered hedonistic pleasures that Rakan simply couldn't pass on. "Anythinkh? Well, any sort of liquor made of your fruits, mixed with condensed milk and any sort of spicinkh, maypre cinnamon or chilli." The Lynx requested. A fair mixture of local products with what he knew from his home. A drink worthy of someone his rank for sure.

Tal'Rakan grinned at the words of this vixen. Not exactly smiling, but also not exactly snarling. Her words confirmed what he already knew, that acts of order were rare in those lands here. Nonetheless, in the eyes of Phoenixes, he did what was right. That was what mattered to him the most. Listening to the fox made him realise that these two must already have known one another. So he wasn't just a mere stranger. More than that, while he could approve of flamboyant act he did to impress a lover, Tal'Rakan was slumped that it was his only motivation. Better than none and much better than inaction but... it still felt wrong. Was this entire nation really lacking any spine to act in the name of greater cause?

"I come from a land where most would act upon such act in puprlic. Such heinous crime akhainst any of the Phoenixes children is more than enouff to prinkh punishment of the others. I am perplexed really that preasts here care not for one another, despite them all sharinkh oritchin, land and resourcs." The Lynx have responded to the Vixen. That was both an answer and a test. He could judge, based on the previous encounter with High Priestess Dusk, what was the position this one occupied.