Pomodu turned as Asta gestured at a beast in the doorway. Her eyes lit up, immediately imagining this beast as a new friend. "You ah furen'du?" she inquired, approaching the frozen fox. She smiled wide and offered her outstretched arms. "Hu'gu?"
Open The Bilge In The Bucket Lute in the Bucket
- Thread starter Asta Dalgaard
- Start date
Till Dupré
Rating: Cook
After offering applause to the musician marteness, Till could not help but turn toward the door to see whom Asta was inviting to play. The poor fox was looking right at Till, clearly stricken. They had tried to prepare themselves for this as much as other expected prejudices, but fear of her was still something Till was not used to handling. They had not been among non-woodlanders much. What were they even called as a collective? She couldn’t very well call them vermin anymore. What a horrible word.
Till watched with some concern as her new large friend made to accost the fox. She raised a paw as if to stop Pomodu but did not want to cause more of a scare. Till resolved to cup their paws together and backed off to perch upon the sturdiest looking stool they could find. Perhaps if she looked smaller this todd would be less anxious.
Till watched with some concern as her new large friend made to accost the fox. She raised a paw as if to stop Pomodu but did not want to cause more of a scare. Till resolved to cup their paws together and backed off to perch upon the sturdiest looking stool they could find. Perhaps if she looked smaller this todd would be less anxious.
There was a ringing in his ears. Muffled voices. Silvertongue's gaze was ripped away from the badger as this... curious looking beast, approached him. Her appearance was enough to snap him out of the onset of a panic attack. His fear gave way to utter confusion. He had never seen a beast like this, and her broken words further fueled his theory she was from some faraway land. He did understand the words 'friend' and 'hug'. Admittedly, she looked like an excellent hugger. Maybe this was something from her culture, or perhaps she was just being friendly. Regardless, he felt the tension leave his body as he allowed himself to fall into her arms, hugging her tightly. "Wow... you are so soft and fluffy..." Silvertongue said softly, feeling his stress melt away.
Pomodu enveloped the fox in her warm embrace for a few more seconds before slowly setting him down. "Betteh now," she proclaimed, smiling down at him. "No moh sa'du. You pulay?" She pointed to his instrument, raising her brows, then pointed to stage. "She pulay. You pulay togedeh?"
Silvertongue nodded, though his gaze lingered on the badger for a moment. He tore his eyes away from her, focusing on the marten on the makeshift stage. He walked up, and he helped himself up onto the stage, tipping his hat to her. "I'm quite happy to find another beast skilled in lute playing." He said with a soft smile.
Asta offered a flourishing bow to the fox. She pointed to his lute. "You play, I follow?" The young marten smiled and pointed to herself. "Asta. My Vulpinsulan, not so good."
Somewhere in the crowd, a beast called out, "Play Lifeboat Beast*!" His comrades jeered along with him at the pair on stage. "Oh aye, and you can act it out; the jill can be Jen! Give us a show!"
Asta glanced questioningly at the fox on stage with her, lifting her shoulders in a shrug.
((*if you want the lyrics, search Lifeboat Man by the Dreadnoughts. Just continuing with the lusty shanty requests theme))
Somewhere in the crowd, a beast called out, "Play Lifeboat Beast*!" His comrades jeered along with him at the pair on stage. "Oh aye, and you can act it out; the jill can be Jen! Give us a show!"
Asta glanced questioningly at the fox on stage with her, lifting her shoulders in a shrug.
((*if you want the lyrics, search Lifeboat Man by the Dreadnoughts. Just continuing with the lusty shanty requests theme))
Silvertongue grimaced. He was, unfortunately, familiar with the song. It was vulgar, and brutish. It wasn't surprising these drunkards would want such a tune played. He needed the money, and well- if he had to play a raunchy song, he wouldn't feel bad wringing the coins from the pockets of perverts. So, he started to play the tune on his lute and sing the lyrics.
Asta listened with her head tilted, watching the fox's fingers on the strings. She nodded along, then joined with the chord progression, adding various variations on the theme as she went. Though she did not understand all the words, she picked up on the syllables of the chorus after two iterations and joined in with a harmony in her clear soprano. The jill swayed and danced with the music, not entirely sure she appreciated the tone of the cheers from the crowd. But, money was flowing into the box on stage as beasts tossed in their gilders. A drunken rat wobbled onto the stage and came towards her, paws outstretched as though to take her into an embrace.
"Ah'll be yer lifeboat beast, pretty jill!" he slurred.The crowd laughed.
"Get 'er, Scratchear!" somebeast shouted.
"Take her belowdecks!" another jeered.
Asta yelped and backed away, bumping into Silvertongue.
"Ah'll be yer lifeboat beast, pretty jill!" he slurred.The crowd laughed.
"Get 'er, Scratchear!" somebeast shouted.
"Take her belowdecks!" another jeered.
Asta yelped and backed away, bumping into Silvertongue.
Silvertongue stepped in front of Asta, and glowered at ‘Scratchear’. For some reason it reminded him too much of Greeneye. And right now he was none too happy with Greeeneye.
“Could you please get off the stage, sir?” Silvertongue asked. “Unless you intend to make some sort of addition to the performance-”
“Aye, some beast has to kiss ‘er, like in der song!” Scratchear nodded, chuckling and wobbling about.
“Oh- a kiss. Then by all means, go ahead.” Silvertongue replied, while grabbing the neck of his lute. “In fact, allow me to give you an EXAMPLE!”
Silvertongue suddenly smashed his lute into the rat’s face, and there was a sickening crunch as Scratchear’s nose was almost certainly broken, the rat screaming out in pain as he was thrown backwards, tumbling off the stage and slamming into the floor.
Upon further inspection, Asta would notice that Silvertongue’s lute was no ordinary one. It seemed to be reinforced with a thin metal plating along the backside, cleverly painted to match the wood of the rest of the lute.
“That is no way to speak to- or to treat, a lady.” Silvertongue said loudly, and sternly, before addressing the crowd. “Is anyone ELSE interested in getting a kiss from Miss Azure here?” He asked, referring to his lute.
“Could you please get off the stage, sir?” Silvertongue asked. “Unless you intend to make some sort of addition to the performance-”
“Aye, some beast has to kiss ‘er, like in der song!” Scratchear nodded, chuckling and wobbling about.
“Oh- a kiss. Then by all means, go ahead.” Silvertongue replied, while grabbing the neck of his lute. “In fact, allow me to give you an EXAMPLE!”
Silvertongue suddenly smashed his lute into the rat’s face, and there was a sickening crunch as Scratchear’s nose was almost certainly broken, the rat screaming out in pain as he was thrown backwards, tumbling off the stage and slamming into the floor.
Upon further inspection, Asta would notice that Silvertongue’s lute was no ordinary one. It seemed to be reinforced with a thin metal plating along the backside, cleverly painted to match the wood of the rest of the lute.
“That is no way to speak to- or to treat, a lady.” Silvertongue said loudly, and sternly, before addressing the crowd. “Is anyone ELSE interested in getting a kiss from Miss Azure here?” He asked, referring to his lute.
Pomodu didn't follow the lyrics of the song; it wasn't one she'd learned in studying the Vulpinsula, nor did she pick up on the words as they were sung, nor would the subtext have made any sense to her even if she had heard the words properly. What she did pick up on, though, was how uncomfortable Asta was becoming, and how much the crowd seemed to be advancing on her. Pomodu's smile faded, and as Silvertongue stepped in to protect Asta, the massive beast moved. As the rat was battered to the floor, Pomodu pushed through the crowd, reaching down and picking up the dazed, lecherous rodent by the shoulders. "Hu'g!" she declared fiercely, pulling him into an hold that actually threatened to be both suffocating and bone-crushing.
Till Dupré
Rating: Cook
Needless to say, Till was horrified. They had been warned about the dangers of the world beyond Mielville and had heard of plenty of awful things from neighbouring Alkamar, yet this was the first time they had experienced such behaviour in the Imperium. It was only day one, after all.
Her eyes narrowed and her paw curled around the pan fixed to her belt — but it seemed the musical fox and then her new friend had everything well in paw.
For now, Till saw no reason to move from her seat or intervene. If anyone did claim to want a kiss from Asta, there was a skillet happy enough to make their acquaintance instead.
Her eyes narrowed and her paw curled around the pan fixed to her belt — but it seemed the musical fox and then her new friend had everything well in paw.
For now, Till saw no reason to move from her seat or intervene. If anyone did claim to want a kiss from Asta, there was a skillet happy enough to make their acquaintance instead.
"Oi! You broke ol' Scrathear's nose!" Several of the rat's companions pointed at the fox on the stage. Others stared at Pomodu, advancing but keeping their distance as they eyed the large red panda warily. The rat in her embrace made a muffled cry and tried to struggle from her grasp. Asta kept herself behind Silvertongue, eyes wide at the display of violence.
Then somebeast from Scratchear's group threw a half-empty bottle of grog at Silvertongue.
"Boo! Get off the stage! Let the pretty jill sing an' dance for us."
Then somebeast from Scratchear's group threw a half-empty bottle of grog at Silvertongue.
"Boo! Get off the stage! Let the pretty jill sing an' dance for us."
Silvertongue caught the half-empty bottle in his paw, but grog still splashed onto his clothes. His good clothes. The clothes his mother had chosen specifically. He tried to calm himself. He was a civilized beast, he was better than this-.
"How could you let these vagabonds sully your outfit? You've worked so hard to keep it in pristine condition." That voice. The darkness that always lingered in the back of Silvertongue's mind. "You should make them pay."
Today, Silvertongue didn't need much convincing. With a shout, he leaped from the stage, slamming into the crowd and wrecking havoc with his lute, bashing into beasts faces indiscriminately.
"How could you let these vagabonds sully your outfit? You've worked so hard to keep it in pristine condition." That voice. The darkness that always lingered in the back of Silvertongue's mind. "You should make them pay."
Today, Silvertongue didn't need much convincing. With a shout, he leaped from the stage, slamming into the crowd and wrecking havoc with his lute, bashing into beasts faces indiscriminately.
All Hellgates broke loose in the Bilge in the Bucket. Somebeasts screamed and tried to flee from the fox wildly swinging the lute. Others joined in the fight with drunken fervor. On stage, Asta clutched her instrument to her and backed away, eyes wide and fearful. She thought she saw an opening where she could jump from the stage and run for the door, but as she dashed towards it, a brute of a weasel dragged himself onto the stage and blocked her path, leering at her.
"Going somewhere, beautiful?"
Asta ran the other direction, but quickly ran out of stage. In the fighting crowd, bottles broke over heads and chairs were thrown. One clattered on stage and tripped up the marteness. She fell, cradling her instrument protectively. The weasel ran after her. Kicking the chair into his shins, she managed to cause him to stumble.
"Help!" she cried out, not knowing if anybeast heard or cared enough to do anything. Now she knew why Caden had warned her away from the Bilge.
In the crowd, somebeast either very brave or very stupid threw a chair at what was supposed to be the back of Pomodu's head. However, given her size, they only managed to strike her in the small of her back.
A rangy stoat jumped from a table in an attempt to tackle somebeast who had just thrown a bottle at his head. He missed his target and instead smashed directly into Till.
"Going somewhere, beautiful?"
Asta ran the other direction, but quickly ran out of stage. In the fighting crowd, bottles broke over heads and chairs were thrown. One clattered on stage and tripped up the marteness. She fell, cradling her instrument protectively. The weasel ran after her. Kicking the chair into his shins, she managed to cause him to stumble.
"Help!" she cried out, not knowing if anybeast heard or cared enough to do anything. Now she knew why Caden had warned her away from the Bilge.
In the crowd, somebeast either very brave or very stupid threw a chair at what was supposed to be the back of Pomodu's head. However, given her size, they only managed to strike her in the small of her back.
A rangy stoat jumped from a table in an attempt to tackle somebeast who had just thrown a bottle at his head. He missed his target and instead smashed directly into Till.
Pomodu grunted as the chair hit her in the back, her natural and artificial padding only doing so much to cushion the blow. She whirled, tossing the captive lech into the crowd in a rough spin. She bared her teeth at the crowd, paws ready to lunge at any challengers. "Hu'g!" she snarled, the word now clearly a threat to any challengers.
At the sound of Asta's cry for help, she turned and ran for the stage, picking up momentum. Just before the stage, she leaped, arms outstretched toward the marten's assailant as she sailed toward a tackle. "Hu'g!"
At the sound of Asta's cry for help, she turned and ran for the stage, picking up momentum. Just before the stage, she leaped, arms outstretched toward the marten's assailant as she sailed toward a tackle. "Hu'g!"
Till Dupré
Rating: Cook
This was a nightmare, and unfortunately what Till’s family had warned them they would face if they went to the Imperium. At least I can prove to myself and them that I am ready for it. She watched bottles be thrown and the once chivalric-seeming fox hurling himself upon the crowd in a frenzy. The poor marteness was hounded once again.
Till rose from their chair just as a stoat slammed into them. Stumbling upright, she gripped her most weaponly pan and growled at the unfortunate projectile mustelid.
“Sit down at once and do not be so rude!”
She did not want to draw more attention to herself than she already had, for one being a badger, for another having an Alkamarian accent, but it was fast becoming necessary. Her new friend thankfully had no qualms about diving right in and helping the pine marten in distress.
“Please cease this fight!” Till begged of the rabble.
Their voice did not carry very loudly yet.
Till rose from their chair just as a stoat slammed into them. Stumbling upright, she gripped her most weaponly pan and growled at the unfortunate projectile mustelid.
“Sit down at once and do not be so rude!”
She did not want to draw more attention to herself than she already had, for one being a badger, for another having an Alkamarian accent, but it was fast becoming necessary. Her new friend thankfully had no qualms about diving right in and helping the pine marten in distress.
“Please cease this fight!” Till begged of the rabble.
Their voice did not carry very loudly yet.
The weasel went down beneath the glorious bulk of Pomodu. He barely had a moment to let out a strangled cry of fear as he was enveloped in her warm, powerful embrace and pressed into the stage. Asta scrambled up, watching with wide eyes as her assailant was consumed by the large, red-furred creature. Still, she did not know how to escape the stage, for the chaotic milieu of the main floor of the Bilge seemed to be just a mass of flailing limbs and makeshift weapons and drunken beasts. She backed into the wall, lute clutched to her chest. Another bottle came flying towards her and smashed into the wall next to her head, showering her with foul-smelling drink and shards of glass. Asta ducked away from it with a cry of panic.
The stoat now facing Till was not keen on accosting a badger. But a group five of beasts behind him, spurred on by grog-induced bravery, charged towards Till, bottles and chair legs upraised.
"No badgers in the Bilge!" one yelled.
"Woodlanders go home!" another cried out.
**
Outside the Bilge in the Bucket, the fight had spilled onto the street. Caden, who had finished work at the Guard early that day and was hoping to stop in for a drink, sighed in irritation. He was readying to turn away to go to another bar closer to home when he stopped and peered in through the window.
"Asta?" Caden saw her on the stage, frozen in fear. "What in 'Gates are you--" Hackles raising, the albino marten shoved past a rat limping out the doorway. The dazed rat held a broken chair leg in one paw.
Caden grabbed the piece of wood from her. "I need to borrow this." She blinked blearily at him and nodded.
The marten dodged around a pair of fighters who were rolling about on the ground and entered the Bilge. There was no clear path to the stage, but Caden set to making one, mostly using the chair leg to knock away random blows or shove beasts back from him. A yelling fox swung a metal-reinforced lute at his head, or at least in the vague direction of his head--Caden was not sure if the beast was aiming or swinging indiscriminately into the crowd. Ducking, the marten caught a glancing blow from the instrument in his shoulder.
"Fy faen!" he swore in Varangian, teeth bared at the vulpine. "You're going to kill somebeast with that."
The stoat now facing Till was not keen on accosting a badger. But a group five of beasts behind him, spurred on by grog-induced bravery, charged towards Till, bottles and chair legs upraised.
"No badgers in the Bilge!" one yelled.
"Woodlanders go home!" another cried out.
**
Outside the Bilge in the Bucket, the fight had spilled onto the street. Caden, who had finished work at the Guard early that day and was hoping to stop in for a drink, sighed in irritation. He was readying to turn away to go to another bar closer to home when he stopped and peered in through the window.
"Asta?" Caden saw her on the stage, frozen in fear. "What in 'Gates are you--" Hackles raising, the albino marten shoved past a rat limping out the doorway. The dazed rat held a broken chair leg in one paw.
Caden grabbed the piece of wood from her. "I need to borrow this." She blinked blearily at him and nodded.
The marten dodged around a pair of fighters who were rolling about on the ground and entered the Bilge. There was no clear path to the stage, but Caden set to making one, mostly using the chair leg to knock away random blows or shove beasts back from him. A yelling fox swung a metal-reinforced lute at his head, or at least in the vague direction of his head--Caden was not sure if the beast was aiming or swinging indiscriminately into the crowd. Ducking, the marten caught a glancing blow from the instrument in his shoulder.
"Fy faen!" he swore in Varangian, teeth bared at the vulpine. "You're going to kill somebeast with that."
Silvertongue whirled about to face the newcomer, a fire in his eyes- until the word kill was mentioned. "K-Kill?" He asked, a bit out of breath. "N-no. no. I'm not intending to kill anybeast. It's just, these mindless brutes were harassing this poor marten-" A rat punched Silvertongue in the face before he could finish speaking, and Silvertongue bashed his lute against the rat's head in retaliation. "I'M TRYING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION!" He snapped.
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Caden S. Freemont
Stoatorian Guard: Instructor
Caden watched the rat go down like a sack of bricks. He gestured to the rat. "That's how you kill somebeast! Have you ever been hit in the head by a piece of metal swung at speed? I've seen beasts felled by far less than that. 'Gates." He automatically raised his chair leg as a stoat swung a bottle at him. Blocking the blow with the piece of wood, Caden grabbed the beast's arm and kicked him hard in the groin. The stoat screeched and fell to the ground in tears.
"Anyway." Caden pointed to the stage and raised his voice to be heard over the screeching stoat rolling at their footpaws. "If you're trying to help her, then help me get to her through this. She's my daughter."
"Anyway." Caden pointed to the stage and raised his voice to be heard over the screeching stoat rolling at their footpaws. "If you're trying to help her, then help me get to her through this. She's my daughter."
Pomodu, in the meantime, was fully smothering the weasel. She'd shifted so that she was sitting atop of him, his legs and tail sticking out and flailing ineffectually, while she gestured to Asta. "Hu'g!" she urged. "I potecu you."
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