Open The Slups Debt Has it's Benefits.

[Marianna Furotazzi]

Marianna couldn't quite contain the laugh that escaped her as Ruffano turned a sultry performance squarely upon her, one that surely played well with the vixens most days. "As flattered as I am," she remarked, "an audition will not be necessary. Your performance at this bar is sufficient for me to gauge your talent. Besides," she added, lowering her voice, "I think my toddfriend wouldn't appreciate you giving me that sort of audition." It was as subtle a warning as a cannon shot across the bow, but it would hopefully get the point across. It was also, she realized, the first time she had referred to Ivo as her toddfriend, even obliquely. She would have to consider how she felt about that.

She listened with interest as the wildcat paid for the entertainer's services as well. It was quite the strange alliance they were forming here, but serendipity often occurred that way. She caught sight of Silvertongue and Greeneye finally entering the bar, and she waved for them to join the trio in their drinking.

 

[Ruffano Quickwhistle]

Ruffano chuckled into his glass, a little too loud, a little too long. The warmth of spiced rum had settled nicely into his chest, coaxing out that familiar haze where everything seemed funnier than it was. He swirled what remained of his drink and looked toward Marianna with a crooked grin.

“Me’ gal, I am a dishonest beast in many regards,” he slurred with the comfortable honesty of the intoxicated, “but I assure you, I wouldn’t have a tryst with a married beast. The chance of losing one’s life is far too high.”

He gave a lazy, theatrical shrug, eyes glinting.

“I simply meant that you shall see my acceptance of the gig as my audition.”

He tipped his glass in mock salute to her, then let his gaze drift across the bar where the bard, poor sod that he was, had just been escorted toward the counter by a creature more wooden than flesh. The peg leg. The hooked paw. The armor that creaked like furniture. Ruffano blinked, genuinely unsure whether the rat escorting Silvertongue had been built or born.

For a moment, his tipsy mirth waned. The bard looked rough. Real rough. Something like compassion fluttered in the fox’s chest before something silver caught the light.

He turned just in time to see the strange, feathered feline slip a silver bracelet into his paws.

“Why, certainly it’s enough!” he gasped, slipping the ring up his black-furred forearm, turning it this way and that as it sparkled against the tavern’s low light. The bracelet was definitely meant for a large cat's paw, but around Ruffano’s wrist it dangled awkwardly. Still, he wore it with a gleam in his eye.

“Though I don’t do world tours,” he added with a wag of one claw, “This todd doesn’t set paw on the deck of a boat. So your entourage must choose a venue here.”

He smiled conspiratorially, already plotting his own role in the grand affair.

“I do have recommendations, of course...”

 

[Tal'Rakan]

The Lynx took a second to also notice the newcomers. One fox, very elegant by local standards and one... rodent, looking like a cripple that was forced to fight over and over again, no matter the wounds. There was a pang of objection within him. Phoenixes called for sacrifice of oneself for their glory, but even in most dire times, neither them nor Rakan himself would call for crippled to fight unless they wanted to. Aside from it being inefficient in most cases, it also was just unfair to call for such ultimate sacrifice... that of course didn't mean those who wished to give themselves fully were not welcome.

He made sure to wave, offering them a greeting that he so far had managed to learn was common in those lands. The exchange between the fox he was talking to and the vixen taught him that there was a solid sense of belonging with a chosen mate. He could understand that, even if having concubines or straight up polygamous relations was a norm among some of his compatriots. More importantly, he was glad to hear his offer was accepted. The condition however that this entertainer wouldn't enter the ship was a bit jarring. He wished to get him onto the boat he came here for the sake of privacy.

Looking as the bracelet he gave was dangling on the fox's wrist, he noted that for the future, he should bring more jewellery made for smaller races within his homeland. Then Tal'Rakan spoke with open arms."I see, your audience will pre of just five preasts. Safe for denouncinkh our divine Phoenixes, all that you wish to convey is welcomed. I may pay for a place you'll need, prut I ask you to consider steppinkh onto our boat still. We are not leavinkh the dock for the time to come and there is enuff space for dozens like you." He explained with a spark of curiosity, knowing that even if the todd will disagree, Rakan would still not bother with missing out on promised performance. Not after he paid for it for sure.

He used that moment to speak to their host, Marianna. "Out of curiosity, if I may. Is your mate of the same occupation?" He asked bluntly, wanting to know if the locals allowed to mix between the castes as his kin wouldn't dare to. Albeit he kind of expected the answer already.

 

[Marianna Furotazzi]

Marianna considered correcting the fox on her marital status. ...No, she decided at last. It was best not to let the todd think he stood a chance. And besides, Marianna found the notion of herself as a married femme oddly appealing. So Ivo was younger than her, significantly at that. So she'd already overheard a number of the Furotazzis making jokes about not realizing that they were admitting cougars to the family now. So she'd been warned by Falun that dating someone that many years apart was bound to end in heartbreak, 'old soul' or not. It might be a foolish romantic notion, but the concept of possibly the pair being more than just bedmates someday was, at least, a delightful fantasy to consider within the privacy of her own head.

She was pulled from it by wildcat's question, making her blink as she turned to address his inquiry. "He is an information broker - what you would perhaps call a priest of secret wisdom," she allowed, "and one who metes out those secrets in trade for other secrets. He's not unlike a fabled sphinx, actually," thinking of the mythical cats said to dwell in the desert regions of the Mahsterious Sahthern Cahntinent. "Bring him a secret he has not heard, and he will give you the knowledge you seek. In our society, it isn't the most respected role," she admitted, "nor is mine, but it is one that makes him a very influential and powerful beast."

 

[Ruffano Quickwhistle]

Ruffano nodded at the wildcat's response. He adjusted the oversized bracelet on his wrist with a subtle flourish, then let out a short, amused breath.

“Ah! Now I see where the misunderstanding lies, noble Lynx.”

He turned more fully toward Tal’Rakan, lifting his paws in a gesture both placating and grandiose.

“When I said I don’t do ships, I meant I don’t do voyages. Journeys. Anything with anchors raised and a horizon that isn’t anchored to a skyline.”

He tapped the rim of his glass, thinking.

“But if your vessel is docked, your audience domestic, and the venue... floating yet unmoving?” A grin. “Then I am, of course, at your service. I’ve performed in stranger places.”

His tone softened, just enough to show sincerity beneath the show.

“All I ask is your word that I shan’t be... spirited away. This todd prefers to choose his exits, not be bundled through them in a sack.”

He gave a mock shiver.

“I look forward to dazzling your five priests with the fire of unfiltered expression.”

 

[Tal'Rakan]

The lynx was a bit surprised actually to hear about the role of this vixen chosen mate. Priest of secret knowledge? So he was one teaching word of a Phoenix and managing their hatchlings while doing the work of entertainers to know the unknown? Or was it measly a case of another hard to understand for him local way of doing things. Either way, a beast with such immense knowledge was definitely not a commoner and for sure someone worth knowing, just as the vixen said: "...very influential and powerful beast."

"If so then I would like to meet them sometime. I am not yet familiar with all that is khoinkh on and well... I am curious to see what I can learn." The last part was mumbled more to himself before he took a last gulp of the sweet mixture he was given. While doing so he listened to the entertainer who seemed all too eager to participate. Granted, if the local ones were anything like those from his homeland, he was essentially allowing for a spy to enter his ship. But at the same time, it would happen on his conditions and under his watchful gaze.

As such, he grinned, showing off his entire maw of ivory, sharp teeth and fangs. "You have my word entertainer. No harm will happen to you nor you will pre stolen. Just rememprer to not speak ill of what we find divine."

 

[Marianna Furotazzi]

Marianna smiled as she nodded her confirmation. "I will gladly arrange an introduction," she confirmed to the lynx. "Just come ready with secrets to trade," she added. "The more valuable the information, the more valuable he will give in turn."