Open The Docks Elara Mosswhisker's Introduction, Lost!

[Aramaeus Lemon]

Aramaeus nodded along with the femmes' introductions, though he did blush a little bit at the details of the skink's work. Well, such things happened, he reminded himself; one couldn't blame someone for supplying (at least legally) what was demanded. "If your licenses are all up-to-date," he addressed the hedgehog, "then finding work in the city should be quite easy. Any one of the ministries will not only pay for your work, but will outright pay for or reimburse you for any additional training that may be necessary to maintain your qualifications. You can also seek private employment or go into private practice yourself; there are some in the Insanely Rich Area who would pay and provide board for you to live as in-house staff, especially if they have an ailing relative. Make sure to negotiate that time carefully," he noted; "while it is legal for them to make any payment arrangements you both deem necessary, a frequent source of labor disputes is terms for payment of time 'on-call'. I am not a labor lawyer myself," he allowed, "but there are several solicitors who have offices in the Slups and Trenches and specialize in such cases."

His gaze slid to Izakis, and his blush returned again, his eyes not quite meeting hers. "As regards your, ah, profession," he allowed, "as long as you are engaging in it in a clean and well-maintained environment, and keep any public advertising for your more, ah, select services discreet and in good taste, you shouldn't run into any trouble with the law. I do believe that Niceties expects such workers to undergo regular health examinations with a, ah, 'lady doctor'," he termed euphemistically, "but admittedly I am not aware of any enforcement action being taken in that regard. It certainly remains good practice, though, and I would imagine it would be reassuring to your clients. As for you, Seabeast..."

His gaze slid to the rat, and he looked at her pensively. "Maritime and naval law is an area in which I am not the most well-versed," he allowed, "though I have read cover-to-cover 'The Imperial Navee Handbooke, Third Edition, with Annotations and Commentary by Captain Anithias A. Freedom of The Golden Hide'." There was more than a little pride in his voice at this small and perhaps somewhat pathetic boast regarding a book which most regarded as an overpriced source of emergency sanitary paper. "The navy makes its own regulations regarding discipline and conduct, and, while at sea even in Imperial waters, those rules and regulations can be modified or suspended by the captain at their whim. Most tend to take a lax regard toward such matters," he allowed, "and The Golden Hide in particular is somewhat noteworthy for captains lacking this sense of discipline, but it still does well to be aware of the standards to which you will be held. I do have a pocket copy of that volume if you need it," he offered, patting over his coat in search of the dog-eared handbook.

 

[LightSeeker]

Elara listened as Aramaeus spoke, his voice regaining a measure of confidence, though still edged with self-consciousness, especially when addressing Izakis and Credence. Licensing. Reimbursement. On-call terms. Health examinations. The nuances of maritime regulation. It was all useful, dry, bureaucratic, but real. The kind of information that kept a beast from being exploited, even if delivered awkwardly. When he mentioned in-house staff positions for nurses, Elara gave a small nod, not in agreement, not in aspiration, but acknowledgment. She had no interest in serving the wealthy in their gilded homes. But she understood the option existed. And for some, it was a matter of survival. When he addressed Izakis’s work, Elara didn’t flinch. Didn’t look away. She simply noted his discomfort and the effort that went into it. He was trying to be professional. To apply the law without judgment. That mattered. And when he turned to Credence, citing a naval handbook most sailors used as toilet paper, she smiled. “You’re right about one thing,” she said, her voice calm, level. “A sailor should know what rules they’re under. Even if those rules change at a captain’s whim. The Ministry might pay for my training,” she continued. “But only if I qualify under their standards. And only if I agree to go where they send me.”