Open The Slups The Bright-eyed Engineer's Arrival

[Adelina Laska]

Her wide grin playing open testament to Adelina's gleeful exhilaration, the she takes in the sights and sounds of the harbor. She would be enthralled by the bustle of activity even if she hadn't been severely under-stimulated by the last couple weeks of travel. As is, the idea of not just getting to see but to explore the 'heart of the empire' has her practically vibrating with excitement.

Belatedly she realizes that she has almost missed her opportunity to say her goodbyes and, as the ship slows and the boatswain barks out orders to the line crews, Adelina finally tears her eyes away from the scenery, scampers down from her out-of-the-way perch halfway up some of the rigging, and ducks below deck to find and embrace the few beasts not on duty for docking procedures. Then it's more clasped paws and hugs as she makes her way through the crew who are finishing tying off and beginning to unload the ship's cargo. Finally she hands over the second half of her payment, gives the skipper a final, almost correct, salute and joins her luggage on the dock.

A whole city, so much to see! But I really should find this 'Ministry of Innovation' first and hopefully make a good impression.

Searching suspiciously through her odd collection of hand tools, surveying instruments, glass baubles, and mechanical toys, the customs officials seem likely to give her trouble but they stamp and hand over the relevant papers quickly enough once she shows them her instructions to report to the Ministry of Innovation.

Odd, it's only a personal recommendation from the professor. And he's not even from the Imperium himself... is he?

After a quick chat with the harbor master or customs master (or perhaps that was just a deputy?) she is oriented and, mulling over the directions he gave, persuaded that she ought to hire a room for at least one night so that she can clean up and make herself presentable instead of showing up sea salt-encrusted and sweaty from dragging her things halfway across town.

She is pleasantly surprised by a couple of the transport's crew waiting for her outside the customs house. They are more than happy to carry her luggage and escort her as far as their favorite (at least among the semi-respectable establishments) dockside inn. Well, it's just up this street. And they probably rent rooms. In any case it comes highly recommended!

The sailors drop off her trunk and suitcase and then are quickly lured away by the calls of old acquaintances demanding that they gamble away at lest some of their voyage's pay before spending it all on booze. Adelina is left alone to, hopefully, make herself just as at-home.

Meanwhile more then one of the local denizens have turned to take stock of the newcomer. Despite her modest stature the young vixen does tend to draw the eye. Her blue sweater, visible beneath her oilskin jacket where it hangs open, brings out the blue of her inquisitive eyes and her strawberry blond coat remains striking, salt-encrusted or no. She stands with confidence despite clearly being in unfamiliar territory. With one paw thoughtfully pressed to her lips, she gazes around taking in the sights of the Bilge in the Bucket...

 

[Mina Rose Brewer]

The Bilge in the Bucket, at the present moment, happened to be comprised of a large common room with an overhanging balcony level for private parties; a kitchen and storeroom in the back accessible via a small passage that also led to a back set of stairs and a door to the outhouse; and, on the second level, accessible by the back stairs or a set at the front leading to another balcony landing, a limited set of rooms available for rent for a modest price, though a more recently constructed bridge over the back alley led to a former tenement that had been annexed in a fit of opportunism by the current proprietor in hopes of expanding the 'inn' side of the 'inn and tavern' on the sign above the door.

Of course, this configuration, like all layouts of the Bilge, was inevitably impermanent. A tavern with such rough and boisterous clientele inevitably invited barfights, accidents, murders, acts of industrial sabotage, and out-and-out arson from time to time. As it had traded paws between proprietors, the Bilge had undergone dozens of renovations, to the point that the present architecture was designed to be entirely modular. Many a regular had entered to find that their favorite seat had moved to a different corner, a different level, or even a different room altogether, with the most ambitious restructure being the occasion in which, apparently as a Soggus Fools' Day prank gone wrong, they had managed to turn the entire Bilge literally upside down. The reverse balcony layout had proven so popular that, in fact, the present configuration was only a mild alteration of that structure, which would explain why the railings and banisters of the balcony and stairs hung like icicles from the edge.

The pub was reasonably busy for a Friday, and one of the waitresses on staff, a young vixen wearing a newish-looking green dress under a leather corset, was harriedly trying to fulfill a dozen drink orders at once off a precariously balanced tray. "Be righ' wiv' ya!" she called to the newcomer, reaching to retrieve a flagon without toppling the haphazard pyramid for which it formed the peak.

Amazingly, the entire tray was soon empty and tucked under the vixen's arm as she dodged between the tables, only slightly breaking her stride to slap away a paw that reached for her tail, and finally arriving, a bit breathless, before the newcomer. "Well 'llo there," she greeted the newly arrived vixen with a smile. "Mah name is Mina Rose, an' Welcome t' th' Bilge in the Bucket, th' oldes' an' proudes' establishmen' tin alla Bully Habbah." Her accent was thick Tookumberry Keys, some of her consonants sliding between syllables and words, or simply vanishing altogether. The vixen's eyes landed on the far from miniscule amount of luggage packed up, and her eyes widened slightly, her face dropping in clear apprehension of possibly having to carry it all the way to the rooms. "Er, ya lookin' fer a room righ' away, or can I si' tcha dahn atta table fer a drink anna hot meal?" Implicit in the inquiry was 'while I find someone else to carry all of that'.

 

[Adelina Laska]

The young engineer finds her eye drawn to the repaired, repurposed, and improvised elements of the construction almost as much as the bizarre design choices. A mix of appreciation, confusion, and concern play across her features... and overall she looks delighted even as her eyes trace the load-bearing lines of the structure with some calculation.

It's like field works in a way. Almost more like a military bridge or palisade fort than a city building. Or yes, a ship — returning to port with half or more of its timber above the waterline lost and replaced while it was away.

Looking around in amazement at the architectural oddities of the place, Adelina is in no rush, only aware of the wait for service once it's imminent end has been announced.

"Oh, fank you!"

Then she watches with admiration as the vixen in the green dress weaves through the space delivering her cargo, blinking as if swatted herself when the errant hand is knocked away from the same switch of tail that had just caught her eye. She tilts her head, squinting into the middle distance to hide her blunder, brain momentary uncharacteristically useless.

Then she is returning a smile and concentrating with relish on the waitress's lovely accent.

"Oh no, yes, a hod meal sounds lovely! Especially if you have any fruid or greens? Anyfink fresh really."

Her own accent is certainly much closer to the local but, focused like this, she can't help wondering how far from the mark her 'Court Vulpinsulan' really lands. After all, hearing the difference is the tricky part.

 

[Mina Rose Brewer]

Mina Rose's tail twitched enthusiastically as she chuckled at the request. "Frui'? I thin' kai myda seen a frui' taroun' once, bu' ti' weren' much worf eatin'. Lemme ge' tcha some boiled greens. Ya wanna baked cod wiv' 'at, or y' one a' 'em veggietaryin' folk?" She started leading the vixen toward a table in the back, her paw moving to preemptively slap away from her tail the paw of the same handsy customer as before.

 

[Adelina Laska]

"Greens! Yes! And Cod..."

Adelina pauses, wondering what a 'veggie-tear-ien' might be and then is further distracted by a logjam of thoughts as Mina Rose's active defense draws her eye down again.

"...will be very nice, fank you."

Settling in at the table, Adeline removes her jacket revealing the fine knit of her sweater, a practical set of work trousers, and an iron belt buckle that looks less like a status piece and more like it was hammered into submission by an amateur perfectionist. Her belt carries a coin purse and a knife, it's scabbard secured like a deckhand's but the hilt revealing it to be a fine craftsbeast's blade of some kind. Sitting down with a swish of her pearl gold and cream tail, she glances back at her luggage with just slight concern, as if only worried that it might be in someone's way.

 

[Mina Rose Brewer]

As they reached the table, Mina Rose flagged down a cook coming off shift in the kitchen. "Jannis, you mahnd haul 'er stuff up ta four?"

The cook, a stoat with a thick Varangian accent, looked over at the luggage and groaned. "I vas goink to get eine zigarette," he complained.

"Ah know," Mina Rose commiserated, patting his shoulder. "Ah'll ge' tcha a shotta Ol' Ironsides ferrit."

"Du hast Glück, dass du so ein süßes Mädchen bist," Janni grumbled, but he moved to grab the luggage.

"Danke very much, Jannis!" she called after him, waving, before turning her smile and attention to the new guest. "Ah'll ge' 'at meal ordah in fer ya," she promised, pulling a flip notepad out of her apron pocket and jotting down a bit of chicken scratch. "So, can I ge' tch' a drink ta go wiv' 'em greens?" She stretched out so to sound like soooooooooo'wa.

 

[Adelina Laska]

Trying to follow the stoat's banter leaves Adelina's brows furrowed for a moment but then she nods and turns her thoughts to drink.

The empire trades tea like mad right? But sailors are all about booze everywhere, surely? Maybe I should avoid hard liquor, first time out on the town, any town, by myself and all. But then, who knows what the local custom is, and they probably have amazing things in stock in a port-city like this!

After a moment she flashes a wide grin and nods again.

"I wand to try fe local favorite!"

 

[Mina Rose Brewer]

Mina Rose worried her lip between two of her incisor teeth as she considered the request. Her paw antsily tapped her pencil against the pad, leaving small scuffs on the paper. "Well, 'ere's allus grog," she assessed, glancing at where tankards of the watered-down mixture were sloshed about. "'S jus' ta cheap, wa'er'd dahn rum really, leas' alcoholic thing we go' nex' ta wa'er i'self, an' trus' me, ya don' twanna be drinkin' th' wa'er 'roun' deer. Nex' mos' pop'lar 's jus' tan ale, a reg'lar ol' Eye-Pee-'Ay: 'at' san Imperi'l Pai' Lale," she explained, "'ough I lookit 't an' ih' don' look so pale ta me. Any'ay, we getta lotta reques' fer 'at one too. If yer lookin' fer summat more fancy, I can allus try makin' y'a cocktail, 'r mebbe e'en a 'mocktail' as 'ey callit - 'at's a drink wiv' no alco'ol. I can make a real good Cer'ainly Cathedral," she offered.

 

[Adelina Laska]

Adelina's eyes sparkle as she hangs on every word.

"Oh, Imperial Pale Ale? I musd try fad! And I'll certainly have to try one of your cocktails before I go. Well, hopefully I'll be in town for some time."

With the last sentence her eyes dart away shyly for a moment, caught between too many uncertainties that only time can sort to muster her usual enthusiasm for the unknown.

 

[Mina Rose Brewer]

Mina Rose looked up from where she was jotting down the order and her eyes met Adelina's, their gazes briefly locking. Within a few moments the vixen was blushing nearly red enough to outshine the orange of her fur, her tail brush poofing a bit as she felt the flush run all the way down to her stomach, and a little lower yet. Since her night out with Ronan and their outing to the very interesting club he frequented, she'd begun to suspect that her feelings for vixens - or, at least, for some of them - ran outside of the bounds of what her mother would have considered 'proper'. She'd retreated from thoroughly examining those feelings quite yet; it was enough to handle her relationship with Kaii while working full-time at the Bilge without adding in elements of self-discovery as well. Still, she immediately knew that she was going to have some very interesting dreams that night.

"Can Ah ge' tcha anneh tongue else - anneh tin else, annethin' else," she stumbled over her words, her flush rising up her neck and prompting her to raise her notebook so she could hide behind it, trying to obscure her embarrassment.

 

[Adelina Laska]

Glancing back and catching enough of the heated embarrassment for what it is, Adelina is prodded into forcing some of her own thoughts to resolve.

Have to pay attention, she's noticed something, I can't just ignore it and work it out later. Noticed my wandering eyes probably, and she knows what that means even if I don't. Or... well maybe, but she's certainly taking it more to heart than that todd's wandering hand...and not in a bad way— Oh what am even doing? Running out of time, that's what.

Mina Rose's stumbling words could have given Adelina time to catch up with herself if not for that particular slip of the tongue being so specifically distracting. Her blush quickly rising in turn, her ears unsubtly alert, Adelina tries to be reassuring... to be friendly... to be open to—

"No, no fer's nofink... heh-heh nofink else I need, fank you!"

The nervous chuckle comes out as really more of a giggle... almost a teasing giggle.

Just like first year at the university; easier to get tipsy talking about alcohol than drinking it!

 

[Mina Rose Brewer]

Still blushing, her ears lit up like a bonfire, Mina Rose retreated to the kitchen, taking a minute to hide in the storage room. After a few deep breaths, she emitted a high-pitched squeal through the paws clasped over her mouth. Any tongue else? What was wrong with her? Sure, it had been a bit since her last night with Kaii and she was feeling the absence, but she didn't- she wasn't that kind of-

The chef poked his head in the room, frowning in concern. "Y'alrigh' 'ere Mina?" he inquired.

"Yeah, Ah'm fine Carl," Mina Rose responded, too distracted by the sound of her heartbeat thundering in her ears to bother correcting him on the missing part of her name. "Cod an' greens fer table twelve, Ah'll be back ta pikki' tup."

Doing her level best to compose herself, she filled a pitcher of grog and went back out on the floor to top up a few flagons between the kitchen and the bar, then set herself to a fresh pour of the house IPA for the mystery vixen. I'll have to figure out an excuse to get her name, Mina Rose decided, putting a small head on the beer before carrying it back to the table.

"Here ya go," she proclaimed, setting down the drink. "Our siggintuer Eye-Pee-Ay, wiv' note' sa orange pee' land honey. Yer meal'll be u' pin a jiff. Kinnai ge' tcha annehthin' else fer naw?" Her tail twitched, a touch eager for the vixen's attention again.

 

[Adelina Laska]

Left with some time to collect her thoughts Adelina takes a few deep breaths. She can't help but smile; intended or not, that was a very flattering reaction from the pretty waitress.

So it turns out that travel really does make some things clearer. Well, I've known that my appreciation for vixens is unusually... healthy for some time now. But I didn't think it meant that I... well, I never got flustered like that, or like this, around the todds at university did I? Not that I don't have a, well yes, a healthy appreciation that way as well. Perhaps I was just put off by the confidence they all wore like ill-fitting masks? And when weren't we all far too busy with readings and projects to think of such things anyway?

She lets out a wistful sigh and allows her eyes scan the room, taking in the throng of creatures at play, eating, drinking, and relaxing. So many different backgrounds, species, and, unlike the university mess hall, a range of ages too. Not the most glamorous crew but still endlessly fascinating. Perhaps that is what her peers at university had lacked — mystery?

Then, in a swirl of sweet citrus and malt, the waitress is back. It catches Adelina by surprise and she sits upright even as the scents bring a warm smile to her face.

"Fank you! Fis smells excellend."

She draws the flagon up, almost to her lips, to take a deeper sniff and considers for a moment.

Ah right, all that fuss and I hadn't even mentioned...

"Yes, jusd in case you need to pud the water on early, I should say I'll need a bath after dinner."

No hope of keeping her blush from rising again now. Perhaps she should have waited to ask someone else, it's only a simple practical matter after all. But no, that would be allowing her entirely-too-erratic blood to interfere with the vixen's work, however slightly. That was the line her father had always vigorously enforced among his charges at the fishery.

"Can I take fad in my room or do you have a, uh, a washroom?"

 

[Mina Rose Brewer]

Mina Rose blushed a bit, more at the other vixen's shyness in making the request than in the terms themselves. "Tis extra, an' a li'l more fer ho' water, bu' twe can do 't fer ya," she confirmed. "If ya wan' a sponge bath, well..." She blushed thoroughly as she lowered her voice. "'At ain' ta usu'l service 'ere, bu' I migh' be willin' ta 'elp once Ah'm off shif'."

Ain't nothing naughty about it, she tried to persuade herself. Her mother had given her sponge baths when she was young, and she and a few of her friends had sometimes gone out to the lagoon at the far end of the island and splashed about wearing nothing but their fur, and they'd helped to dry each other off afterward. Surely Kaii wouldn't mind her innocently helping a vixen out... right?

 

[Wiley Briggs]

The Bilge in the Bucket swelled and shifted in its usual way as the evening deepened, laughter and clattering tankards rising and falling like a friendly tide. Near one of the sturdier tables, a knot of older sailors had settled in with the ease of beasts who knew exactly how much space they were allowed to take and no more, their voices roughened by years of wind and brine but softened now by drink and familiarity.

Wiley Briggs sat among them, cheeks flushed and eyes bright, his laughter coming easily and often. He looked lighter than he had in years, shoulders loose, posture open, the faint stiffness that had once clung to him gone or at least forgotten for the night. A broad tankard sat before him, mostly drained of its former beverage.

The searat across from him, a grizzled old fellow with one ear nicked nearly in half and whiskers gone permanently yellowed from smoke, thumped his paw against the table hard enough to rattle the empties.

“To sea legs, then!” he barked, grinning wide enough to show a gold tooth that had seen better centuries. “An’ to stubborn foxes what refuse t’ die proper!”

A ripple of laughter followed. The older vixen at Wiley’s side shook her head fondly, lifting her own drink in a quieter salute.

“Just drink it before you start believing that nonsense,” she said, though her smile carried pride all the same.

The weasel jill leaned back in her chair, tail flicking lazily behind her, her Alkamarian accent rounding her words as she added, “I shtill shay they only cleared you because they were tired of the paperwork.” She clinked her tankard against his anyway. “But I’ll shtill drink to it.”

"Another round, then!” Wiley barked toward the bar, voice carrying easily over the din. “On me this time. We’re celebratin’, damn it!”

A ripple of approval went up. The older vixen beside Wiley lifted her empty transfer in a quieter salute, eyeing him sidelong. “Before you start glowing,” she said dryly, her pride no less evident for the restraint.

Wiley laughed, warm and unguarded, and pushed his chair back all at once, rising with perhaps a bit more enthusiasm than coordination. The bench scraped loudly, drawing a few glances, and as he turned toward the bar, already half-reaching for the promise of that next round, he failed to notice how close he’d drifted to the neighboring table.

His hip brushed the edge first, followed by a soft knock of knuckles against wood as the movement carried just a step too far, close enough to jostle the table where Adelina and Mina Rose stood mid-exchange. It wasn't enough to spill a drink, but enough to make a creature jump.

Wiley froze immediately. His paws came up in reflexive apology, ears flicking back as awareness caught up to motion, tankard still miraculously steady in his grip.

"Ah! Beg pardon, both o’ you," he said at once, voice easy and sincere, already stepping back to give the space he’d stolen. "My fault entirely."

His eyes barely lingered, polite rather than curious, before he tipped his head once more and turned away again, the interruption ended almost before it had begun.

Behind him, the searat snorted loudly. “Still takin’ up more room’n you need, Briggs!”

Wiley shot a grin back over his shoulder, already angling toward the bar. "That’s what celebratin’s for," he called, lifting a paw to flag down the barkeep as laughter threaded his words.

The group settled back into itself, voices rising again, the moment dissolving into the larger hum of the Bilge as their celebration continued.

 

[Adelina Laska]

Mind racing at the implications and possibilities Adelina's blush radiates up her ears. What can she possibly say to that? Her mouth is just starting to open but with little more than a stammer to fill it when Wiley's impact with the table mercifully jolts her nerves. She twists around to see the source and clutches at her drink violently, almost managing to turn the minor bump into a full spill.

"Oh!"

Seeing the greying todd's apologetic manner she relaxes almost as quickly as she snapped to attention. She actually finds herself coming to a more even keel than before the brief interruption.

"No pardon needed friend. Enjoy your celebration!"

He seems, well, probably far from harmless at sea but like a sweetheart here, among friends. And that crew look like they've earned some celebration. And speaking of sweethearts among friends... I really mustn't leave this vixen hanging. I don't know what she intends but I certainly don't want to miss my chance to find out!

Turning back to her waitress, Adelina smiles, her eyes still shifting a little shyly but her ears confidently focused.

"Fad uh... all, yes, fad all sounds jusd lovely."

 

[Nicolas of Iron Pit]

Rue wasn't fond of retrieval tasks at all.

They were a Gamma Savant, usually tasked with dealing with those who didn't want to work with the Ministry due to their so called beliefs. As if those mattered to the absolute efficiency the science was attuned to. To them, the only goal of all life was death. By optimizing it with scientific thought, the limited time each beast had could be as valuable as possible.

As such they felt it was a total waste of time to task them with a job reserved for Beta Savants. Surely it was the misguided decision by the Positivists who try to ruin the Ministry, sending one of the more qualified agents for this task. Their idea that feelings mattered as much as logic were preposterous and Rue really wished they were not the case.

The fox however was also not going to go against orders. That would be even less efficient. Instead they were now going down the street, wearing their usual long white coat, covering them fully, safe for their head and tail. They were informed about the arrival of this new potential recruit about a week ago and had time to find out about them what was needed. The exact ship, the timing, potentially who they would've talked to already and who were they. Adelina Laska, twenty-three, smaller than most, promising and versatile engineer. Blonde, slightly redded fur. It was easy to ask and find where she went after leaving the ship, especially as she was wearing very flashy clothing that Rue was aware of.

Rue waited in front of the Bilge for a while however, mostly to not put the pressure and an idea of being tracked into Adelina's mind. Standing there with a watch in their paw, they've counted exactly eleven minutes, as the procedures called for, before entering.

Upon doing so, Rue took off the coat, their raven-black fur was glossy in the dimmish light of the Bilge, but it was the clothing that most would find unorthodox. Rue wore a white, frilly shirt. A blue, plain waistcoat and a white, wavy skirt. Rue find it a perfect mix of comfortable and professional, and since they've discarded notion of gender long ago, they had zero qualms about putting on what was comfortable, despite their naturally more masculine frame.

The target seemingly was engrossed in talking with a beast that seemingly was working here as per their clothes, whilst also flirting with them. Great, another emotional burden on the Ministerial Plan. Rue Thought while observing the two for a moment. Seeking to interject in an appropriate moment. And one happened naturally as one of the sailing beasts just run into their table. Perfect.

Fixing their monocle, needed for their perpetually strained and scarred eye, Rue confidently approached the table, with neutral and professional expression and firm voice, using Adelina's native language Rue specifically picked up to build-up good first impression. "Najmocniej przepraszam, czy mam przyjemność z Panią Adeliną Laską?"

Spoiler

My most sincere apologies, do I have a pleasure to speak with madame Adelina Laska?,

 

[Mina Rose Brewer]

Mina Rose was grateful for the interruption from an older todd, a grizzled sea-salt by the looks of him, who accidentally bumped the table, offering an apology, as well as a harmless but curious look. Mina Rose offered him a radiant smile and a quick flick of her tail. "Ain' no salt on th' dock," she affably responded to his apology, using a turn of phrase she'd picked up from some of the sailors that had frequented her parents' inn. The todd reminded her of the captains she used to fondly address as her uncles, on whose knees she'd listened for hours to tales of distant lands. Maybe she was letting those memories color her impression of the todd, but she liked to think she was a good judge of character, and she thought the todd had a kind face.

She blinked as a new fox arrived, speaking words that entered Mina Rose's ears and rattled around in her brain like loose fo' gilders. She laughed, relief evident in her mind, as the situation clicked. "Oh, yer speakin' sum other tongue! Ah though' mah wits'd gone four sheets t'da wind."