Rainblade-Ryalors Private The Bilge In The Bucket The Belle of the Bilge

[Mina Rose Brewer]

The Bilge, Mina Rose discovered, was a far different working environment from her parents' tavern. For one, the owner was far less permissive than the Brewers had been; the first time she dropped a bottle, Mina Rose was scolded fiercely and warned that it was coming out of her pay. At least she'd managed to wait until she reached the back storeroom to start crying.

Second, the beasts who frequented it were rude. She'd been yelled at numerous times for small mistakes or things she couldn't control, like the slowness of food coming from the kitchen. She'd had to bite her tongue and bear with the abuse, worried about losing another job if she talked back. Then there were the beasts who got handsy with her, pinching at her tail whenever she turned her back. One had done so right atop her bandaged wound from the crossbow bolt she'd taken at the Opera House, and she'd reacted so violently she dropped the entire tray of drinks she was carrying. That too, of course, came out of her pay. Almost worse were the awful things that some of them whispered or muttered to her when she walked near; she'd been scared enough that she'd taken extra shifts rather than walk back to her apartment in the dark, fearful of one of them making good on the vile promises sent her way. When she'd complained about it to the owner, it had been met with a shrug and advice to 'toughen up'. As if surviving the loss of her entire family, friends, home, and life's savings wasn't tough enough.

By the time that Mina Rose got around to serving the table in the back, she was on hour six of another twelve hour shift, and she was on the verge of tears. She'd finally had enough and had slapped away the paw of a beast grabbing at her rear, throwing the most vehement oath she could their way - and they'd laughed at her. She'd wanted to strike him over the head with her serving tray, but she was sure she'd get fired if she did so, so instead she stormed away, trying to contain her anger, humiliation, and shame.

"Sorry fer the wait," she apologized, not glancing up at the beast in question as she fished in her apron pocket for her notepad. "Busy day an' all. Wha' can I getcha-" She finally looked up, and she froze. She recognized him immediately, of course; her rescuer's face had played in her dreams a few times since that night, including in one or two very interesting ones that had left her flushed and embarrassed when she awoke. Her face turned red as one of those mental images crept into her mind, and she had to look away, brushing nervously at her headfur. She knew she looked a mess, especially compared to his careful composure. "Hi," she managed, her voice suddenly small and shy.

 

[Kaii Nashirou]

Of all taverns he visited, Kaii rarely ended up at the Bilge. It had specific reputation and Kaii mostly ate at whatever was closest (and affordable) to his current workplace. Today however, he was just done working on fixing a strongbox. More specifically, the opening mechanism that got stuck. Rarely Kaii liked to work on those due to possibility he could assist someone in a heist. But it was a proper shop by the market asking for it so he agreed reluctantly. The pay was good after all.

And since the nearest place was The Bilge, Kaii ventured in for the meal. He was standing out like a sore thumb, wearing his usual frilly shirt, waistcoat and having his pins and a signet on him. Not that he cared much, in his tool bag there also was his glaive, ready to be used at any attempt to mug him. As such, the marble fox simply sat down by the slightly further table and awaited for a waitbeast to come. Kaii was still in a way processing recent revelations about his own family as well as the whole meeting with Duchess Dusk. It wasn't exactly life changing, but he could now tell exactly that his life goal of honourable restoration of his title, made little sense since his parents actually did betray the country. It was after a lot of thinking that he concluded that he himself at least could stick to this. If he couldn't make Nashirou name great again, because it wasn't, he would make it great with his own work.

Kaii did break his line of thought as one waitress came close and spoke to him apologetically. He recognised her instantly. Mina Rose, a vixen that he met at the Opera. One that made him feel primal attraction like no beast before. It was a matter of time to find somebeast like that, but Kaii didn't expect for it to be so soon. He wasn't ready, his life was still a mess and he had little to offer as a bachelor. But also, he wasn't going to step back because he wouldn't defy his nature.

"Good afternoon Mina. A pleasure to see you." He spoke softly, with a delicate smile, keeping in his head all that he had to withheld from her for now. "I didn't know I could find you here."

 

[Mina Rose Brewer]

Mina blushed at the sound of his voice, so soft and smooth, far unlike the gruff tones thrown at her all day. She felt a small thrill race down her spine, straight to the wound he'd treated in the Opera House. Got another hole in me ya could look at, the primal part of her wanted to offer. She had to turn away as she flushed redder than her fur.

"Oh, I ain't been 'ere long," she evaded, trying to shield her face with her notepad. She was sure he'd see her indecent thoughts in her eyes; she didn't want this proper, noble, heroic beast to see just how base she could be. "My las' job kinda burned dahn, so I 'ad ta find a new 'un. Ain' much, bu' it pays th' bills." She'd gotten lucky that her family had found her a nice studio apartment in the Trenches on one of the safer streets. They'd given her an account number at the Epicurean Bank to which she made rent payments every Friday. She still hadn't met her landlord; apparently the account was in the name of a holding company, DDR RE Holdco, whatever that meant.

She dared to peek out at Kaii from behind her notepad, and couldn't keep herself from blushing again. 'Gates, were all foxes in Bully Harbor this handsome? Even if he wasn't a minister, he had the bearing of one, that princely stature about him. More than that, he had kind eyes. It was those eyes that had gestured most often in her dreams, and sent a thrill through her that, of she were speaking honestly of the dead, Geremy never had. "Can... Can I getcha a drink ta star'?" she offered. "We go' some wine in the back. I e'en think it migh' be the real deal."

 

[Kaii Nashirou]

Admittedly, Kaii struggled a bit to understand her. He had to thank Swift and Darr both for having accents so that he could get used to deciphering those on the fly. Hers was however quite dense. Not that it was going to stop him. She was visibly troubled with his presence but she wanted to talk. Kaii was happy for it, if both had social issues, this would've been a disaster already.

"A shame to hear so. Losing stability in life always stings." He commented with honest compassion on her saying she lost her workplace. Admittedly, he could relate, albeit he lost his entire wealth and properties and then had to win the ruins in the legal process. Still, in his believes of equality, Kaii wasn't one to grade tragedies. Each beast had their own daemons to deal with.

At the offer of drink Kaii shook his head and chuckled. "Well, I came here for food mostly and maybe some water. But if you offer some? I wouldn't mind some dry, red wine. Preferably from Westisle. It is okay if you don't have that though... Also I would like you to bring a spare glass for it if you would be so kind." The marble fox had a small idea. He wanted to talk with her, but there was a fact she was at work that didn't allow him to continue conversation freely. But at the same time, he had a plan. One that would solve this debacle.

 

[Mina Rose Brewer]

Mina Rose brightened up at his request. "O' course!" she confirmed, beaming. "I'll be back in two shakes of a hare's tale."

She waited until she'd fled into the storeroom to squeal in giddy delight, paws pressed to her mouth. Two glasses? Was he going to invite her to dine with him? Was she allowed to do that? Then again, who in the Bilge was going to tell such a noble fox 'no'? She dropped her paws and steadied her breathing, refocusing herself. She needed to get it together; he might be meeting someone else and wanted the glass ready in advance, that was all. She shouldn't get her hopes up.

She found a bottle that had Fyadorian characters on it, which, unfortunately, she couldn't read. It was darkish, so it was probably a red, and there was a thick layer of dust on it, so it was probably pretty dry after sitting for so long, or so she reasoned. She retrieved it and then swung by the bar for glasses, then returned to the table. "Here ya go," she proclaimed, setting down the bottle and the glasses. She fished in her apron pocket for a corkscrew, then carefully uncorked the bottle - or, at least, tried to. The cork stubbornly resisted her. She braced it against the table, tugging ineffectually. As she felt a bead of sweat form on her temple, she looked to Kaii apologetically. "Sorry, it's a bit stubborn - kinda like me, I reckon," she added, trying to play it off with a smile. "Ya think y' got any strength t' spare?"