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.
 
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 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."
 
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 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?"
 
Once Mina left, Kaii again was left to his consternation. He felt that tug, that call towards someone that was unmistakeable, even for someone who felt it for the first time. Was it her scent? He heard a theory that just as scents gave a lot of information, they often passes subconscious information about compatibility. One that went beyond what beasts could tell even when focused. It was mostly a problem for two reasons. He didn't like when something was happening that he couldn't explain with good accuracy. Kaii also had his rational part screaming that in no way he should be searching for a mate now. He was in massive debts still, with poor prospects, bound to navy and also, he was still not mentally well.

It was not too long ago he even told Darr that he is not planning to have a family before resolving those problems.

Kaii remembered now that look the stoat gave him in the Opera when he held Mina. What a sly mustelid.

When Mina came back, she would not be able to notice how torn Kaii was internally as his muzzle was still just as stoic and cool as ever. His tail was slightly curling, being the only sign that something was wrong. Kaii observed as Mina set the glasses and the bottle. He understood the first thing that attracted him as she struggled. Her honest being. She wasn't afraid to speak to him despite apparent difference in standing, nor ask for help, just like with him, she at least could put the pressure of social differences to the side.

Stuck corks were a problem that Kaii heard about often. He took the bottle from her paws and produced a pair of thin slip gauges from his bag. Those very narrow metal pieces were thin enough that Kaii could slip them between the cork and the glass. Efficiently popping it open. Only now however he felt the smell and realised what the drink actually was. It was sake that due to age got into dark amber. Already knowing how much it will cost, with a twitch of his ears Kaii decided to indulge himself. Before pouring, however, he turned to Mina again. "Tell me please, do you have a break to spare to sit down with me? I would like to have a few words with you Mina if you of course, would like to do so as well."
 
Mina's eyes widened as the todd took out a small metal implement and pulled some sort of clever trick that suddenly had the bottle open. "Well rustle me up an' take me t' bed," she exclaimed before her mind caught up to her mouth. She blushed scarlet as the turn of phrase, in context, flooded her with embarrassment, leaving her to nod mutely at the handsome todd's invitation. She sat herself opposite him, trying to remember how to sit primly like her mother had taught her. "Don't slouch, and keep your knees together," the vixen had chided Mina time and time again. "You don't want to look like you're inviting in every sailor you see."

Mina Rose's eyes widened at Kaii's comment about having words with her. Her mouth started moving before she could stop it. "I'm real sorry abou' the 'ole cake thing back at the Opry 'Ouse," she apologized. "Ya looked so fancy in yer nice garb, I figgered ya fer a minister. Still look like a prince t' me, anyway." She blushed again, embarrassment catching up with her once more.
 
Kaii very much liked his white fur. It did however nothing to hide any sort of blushing and he was not capable of stopping it upon her sultry comment. To smooth it out, he treated is as a joke and let out a small laugh. Mina was very much trying her hardest, Kaii now realised so he decided to even the playing field. Especially as she had very wrong impression about who should apologise who.

"I don't have any problem with it. In fact, I am quite flattered to be called minister or a prince. I am however but a humble gentlebeast. One whose title matters little. Please, do not treat me as anyone above your station. All beasts are equal, including you and me. I do not want you to stress over... mannerisms and whatnot." He allowed while pouring the sake for both of them, carefully making sure she was still at ease. "If anything, I am the one who should apologise to you. I should've figured out later and tell you, saving you from the embarrassment that followed. Also, I did fail to ensure that no harm would happen to you. But most importantly, I apologise for... well. Not being who you think I am." He finished slightly more flatly, taking a sop of sake. It was good which meant Kaii will have to quickly get some task at Occult just to pay for it most likely.
 
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