Open The Market Sweetened Scent

[HuckleTheCartoonist]

Huckles Perspective

His paw grip tighter on the Whicker Basket in his paws, the Large Otter's paws digging into the Woven Wood of the basket. His mind is racing just like his heart, it's like he'd blow up and die — if he isn't already dead from the fear and is just now entering his own Personal Hell. But if it was, he wouldn't have his Baskets of Fruit that feel like they've gotten lighter since he's made it in the market. He wouldn't be surprised of he was Pick-Pocketed or if he ate some just to stop thinking so negatively.
( Maybe that's why he looks so Plump )

He closed his eyes and rubbed his paws against each of the Weaves, thinking about his Great Grandmother and what she'd tell him. " People are just People" She'd say " They'd toss you around and Pumble you into the dirt. But you take that Dirt, you take it and Dig like you always do. Because you'll find pure Riches in the Rubble of your Troubles." He'd thought about that note like a Widow thinks about the Last Words of their passed Husband or Wife; It brought him closure, but he wanted to go home all over again

" Just for Today . . . Just on trip to the market, to Sell these Fruits and Fix-Up my Barn."

He beings to walk deeper into the Crowed, keeping his eyes on his Feet and his Basket, softly beginning to sing to himself.

Switch - OSA ( The Song Huckle's Singing )

​

 

[Ivo Suresight]

Ah, The Market. Bustling hub of all activity in the city. Only place where all social stratas more or less intermingled. Place of commerce and goods from all around the Vulpinsula... as well as the place where common folk like Ivo came for their daily produce.

Not that he didn't have closer alternatives, Ivo just liked the hustle and bustle of it. Reminded him of his past spent running the streets to scout them while staying low in the crowds.

Coming in Ivo wished to just resupply hi pantry at home. He wasn't a great cook but a beast got to eat and dining was expensive even for someone on official wage. But there was also another reason he came in. Spotting what and who is new was his hobby at this point, one that his great memory for details and perceptive eyes greatly accommodated.

As such, going through the usual collection of stalls, he easily fished out an elephant in the room... or rather an otter. One bigger than most beasts around and walking nervously around with a basket of fresh fruit.

It was an opportunity, something that Ivo loved and was specialised in finding. So he came closer to the seemingly gentle giant.

"Howdy, yer new here chum?" He greeted him from the side, making sure they would see his non-wounded part of the face while smiling charmingly.

 

[HuckleTheCartoonist]

Huckle was close to jumping out of his own Skin and Fur with the sound of his voice, stopping Mid-Song with a Sharp, Rigged voice crack. His face slowly turned a bright and blushing pink from the sheer embarrassment — He looked like a Cherry Blossom from how heavy the blush was. He inspected the Vulpine with Curiosity, his tail beginning to sway. He slowly started to relax; The keyword being "Slowly"

The Otter reached his rather Large and Soft-Look paw out to him, offering a handshake.

" Uhm, Y-Yes! I am fairly new here, as you can.. Probably see. My names Huckle, Huckle Mc'Macintosh, you?" ( )

He responded, his ear twitching.

" I sound like an idiot!" — He thought quietly to himself, his mind slightly unraveling like a Ball of Yarn ( Or the Stitching on his Shirt-Collar )

 

[Ivo Suresight]

Ivo chuckled and grasped the otter's paw. It felt strong and very big but he wasn't shy of beasts bigger than him. "Ivo Suresight, jus'ta 'honest city officiel. Are ya just visiting or yer plannin' to sell here?" He spoke with a very trustworthy smile. He may have had a small idea to get something out of it, even if he wasn't keen on crime those days. A little bit of mutually beneficial convincing was a good replacement.

"The Market'sa big place. Hard to get through if ya ain't coming with somethin' unique or have da rep, 'tis hard to earn gilders here." He spoke while observing his nervousness and reactions. Ivo wasn't malicious, but opportunity was too got to let it go.

 

[HuckleTheCartoonist]

" Uhm ... I'm planning on selling my Fruits!"

He said with a Large and Happy smile, a small — yet Very Noticeable chip in his Right Fang as he cheezed with pleasure, his ears fluttering as he leaned the basket down to him. The basket with filled many different kinds of Fruit. From Apples and Apricots to Bananas and Papayas, The Sweetest Strawberries and his personal favorite: Huckleberries.

Huckle was leaning over a bit lower then expected, his knees bent and meeting him face to face

" Would you like one? ... Please?"

 

[Pomodu lu Modokunomulo]

Pomodu was wandering around the market, a large basket probably designed for carrying entire harvests now stuffed with samples of different fruits and vegetables, and still she was eagerly shopping. Word had gotten around the market that the strange foreign beast was willing to pay a whole gilder for anything, it seemed, and the vendors were all eagerly awaiting their turn to overcharge the foolish beast. The way the large purse (likely an army surplus bag intended for hauling small arsenals to the front line) continued to jingle, it seemed the sudden distribution of wealth was not likely to end.

The red panda's eyes widened as she spotted the large otter, a whole haul of fruit in his basket - though what caught her eye was one fruit in particular. Her squeal of delight deafened those within ten feet of her and caused a delicate glass bubble that a blower was making at his stand to pop abruptly. "Papaya!" She ran forward, cobblestones shaking with each step, to join the pair of beasts. Her eyes had grown wide with eager desire, her mouth watering as she looked at the distinctive tropical fruit. "Papaya i'su my favori'te!" she enthused. She reached a paw into her purse and came out with a small fistful of glittering gilders. "How mu'ch?" she inquired.

 

[HuckleTheCartoonist]

Huckle was slightly distracted until the sight of the Red Panda coming quickly into view set him into high gear, letting out a slight yelp at the other sudden appearance. He hated when people ran up to him like that, but he had to focus on something else: The Prices. He never thought of a price until now.

" 5 ... 5, uhm.. Gold, Pieces?"

He didn't know a thing!

 

[Pomodu lu Modokunomulo]

The eyes of every single merchant within earshot widened at the price. One gilder for a single fruit was an incredible overpayment; five was unheard of. They all watched with bated breath to see the bizarre foreign beast's reaction.

Pomodu counted out five of the golden coins, inadvertently selecting the larger hundred gilder coins rather than the smaller one gilder coins, and eagerly slipped them into the otter's paw. With her other she picked up the papaya, cradling it to her as if it were a beloved lost child. "Danukuu!" she exclaimed, a phrase that seemed to be her jubilant attempt at 'thank you'. She looked eagerly over his other fruits, scanning for other goods to purchase. "Wha'tu shou'd I ea'tu?" she inquired, looking to the other two seemingly for advice.

 

[Ivo Suresight]

Ivo kept himself quiet as another big beast approached, this one looked rich and he was surprised by seeing them at least until they heard why did they come up to Huckle.

But when he heard the price Huckle offered his jaw just dropped. 5 gold pieces was more he earned per month while working at the town hall. Most beasts didn't get that many in entire year of work... and those in Slups sometimes didn't saw those in their lifetime.

But then he was even more surprised as this reddish... bear? Raccoon? Casually just paid those as if it was nothing. Albeit her reaction kind of justified it but Ivo just needed a moment to process it nonetheless. He ended up shaking his head rapidly to recompose himself before catching onto a new idea.

"From fruits? I s'pose ya have a specialist here." He pointed at the otter with a wide grin and slightly lidded eyes. "But if ya need something else, I could show you 'round some nicer pubs and restaurants..." He offered to them. Pondering how he could further use those two...

 

[HuckleTheCartoonist]

Huckle froze in place as all the eyes locked onto him, sweat dripping off of his face as he gripped his basket. A Chilling Shiver sliced down his body as if he were cut in half with an axe, tears of fear watering up in his eyes as more people began to stare at him. Eyes, Eyes Everywhere... Everywhere. He wanted to Disappear, to Crawl into his own skin and Vanish from both Eye and Earshot. His legs trembled underneath his Chubby body, his Claws beginning to unsheathe

( Huff . . . Huff . . . Huff )
​

His breath was getting heavier the more he looked around him, his world beginning to Melt and Scribble like a ruined painting, the Sea Otter becoming lightheaded as he gripped his basket with all of his might

" U-Uhm . . . I-I think I should . . . Go"

 

[Pomodu lu Modokunomulo]

Pomodu's expression turned quizzical at the otter's sudden distress. "Why sa'du?" she inquired. Her face brightened up as she seemed to think of a solution to his upset. "Hu'g?" she offered, outstretching her arms.

 

[HuckleTheCartoonist]

Huckle flinched — he flinched Hard, looking like he was about to throw himself back because of the force. His basket continuing to shake from his nervous and sweaty paws, his breath getting softer yet more weighted, like something was pressing on his chest and pulling all the air out from his lungs.

" N-No thank you ... I-I don't like hugs that much"

 

[Ivo Suresight]

Ivo decided to step in between the two. He didn't want to lose this opportunity and it was getting very very slippery right now. He needed to act fast. "Hey, y'two, less jus' go someplace less crow'd. I know of a good place t'sit an'all jus few paws away. Follow me!" He gestured while giving them one of them nicest smiles his scarred face could produce and very slowly started moving. Ivo hoped that decisiveness will cause them to follow and that he could speak with them in somewhat of a quiter place... especially as those two seemed really really useful to him.

 

[HuckleTheCartoonist]

He stepped back a little before looking over at Ivo with worried eyes, trying to relax himself as he followed in his footsteps — literally. Huckle slightly watched the other shop-keepers look up at him with mixtures of Disgust and Disappointment, whispering to one another as the Large and Young otter caught up as quickly as his Stubby, Chubby legs could take him.

" Lets hope is far enough ... I-I still wanna go home, to my Barn."

 

[Pomodu lu Modokunomulo]

Pomodu's expression turned to further confusion as the otter backed away, then began following after the fox. Pomodu, unsure of what was happening, plodded along behind, heavy bag of gold hundred-gilder coins jingling over her shoulder. "We ah go to ge'tu moah faruu't?" she inquired, her tone hopeful. She clutched the papaya to her, curious to see what other fruits from her homeland the otter might have.

 

[HuckleTheCartoonist]

Huckle didn't say anything to Pomodu, instead giving the Red Panda a soft and delicate smile, the chip in his tooth showing slightly a he nodded. He didn't make a sound. He didn't like the noise and he didn't like the eyes, so why would he draw more attention to himself.

 

[Ivo Suresight]

Navigating the market was easy for someone like Ivo usually. This time however he had to account for two larger beasts following him. There was some challenge in picking the right routes to get through while avoiding shadier paths, ones he knew from back when he himself pick-pocketed at those.

It wasn't too long until they got out of the market and Ivo led them down the street into Zann's Backyard. There was a cozy restaurant that Ivo had visited when he wanted to celebrate something, mostly due to the prices. But having someone throwing gilders around justified it.

Once he got to the point, he stopped and turned to the other two beasts. "We're here. Not t'best food in the city, but one I can vouch fo'."

 

[Pomodu lu Modokunomulo]

Pomodu looked up at the sign above the door, her lips moving as she sounded out the name. "Di Giludedu Ro'se?" Her pronunciation of gilded was a bit stilted, and there was certainly no call for two syllables in rose, pronouncing it closer to rosé, but she got close enough at least. She considered for a moment before nodding and stepped forward to get the door for the other two, knocking over a sandwich board with her tail in the process. "Afata yu!" she invited cheerfully.

 

[HuckleTheCartoonist]

Huckle looked up at the Restaurant, his eyes slightly widening as his pupils began to dilatate slightly bigger as he looked up towards the building, his tail slightly swaying from side to side. He rubbed his paws nervously — He was never too keen on Dining out, or going out in general.

" Oh ... Oh my "

 

[Ivo Suresight]

Ivo quickly caught the sandwich board and saved lots of food in the process. As someone from Slups he was particularly sensitive on this matter. Food was precious and wasting it felt bad. He glared for a second at Pomodu before sighing and turning to Huckle with inviting smile. "C'mon. I ain't gon'make ya eat here. Jus'll be easier to talk here."

He entered to the decently sized room filled with tables and chairs. There were decent amount of beasts here, mostly merchants that were doing well. It was rather surprising considering the time but then he realized someone was performing while standing on a small scene made of few tables. This was new, but the music was really great.

Ivo ushered the two larger beasts to one of the empty tables but he himself was busy looking at the bard at the stage.