Open The Docks The Uncouth Arrival

[Helskyge Icinheart]

Helskyge takes in the words of Izakai, and after a bit, responds in turn: “let us go to immigration first, finally getting the pronunciation correct.

As he comes upon the office, he then decides to question Morgan in regards to Swiftie, speaking in his own language:“who was that fox? How do you know him?”

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

She stopped as something that he'd said to Swifttail finally registered in her mind, and something in his response. Was there some bad blood between the two that she'd missed? "Swiftie," she addressed the fox, moving closer to him and lowering her voice, "you alright? You seem a bit, well..." She shrugged. "I dunno. Is there something about this wolf I oughta know?"

Swifttail gave Morgan a small smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“I’m fine,” he said quietly, glancing toward the towering wolf. “Just… He’s givin’ off a strange energy. Like he don’t trust me. Or don’t want to.”

His ears tilted back slightly as he shifted his basket in his arms, watching the wolf’s movements with quiet unease.

 

[Morgan Liu]

Morgan winced as she caught enough from both sides to confirm that there was indeed some had feeling here. What on earth could create this kind of resentment? She knew that some groups had long histories of animosity; she'd certainly lived in locales where there was some neighboring group who were readily blamed for all the world's ills. It had never made sense to Morgan, and it still didn't now.

"You know what," Morgan commented, seizing onto the lizard's idea, "immigration can wait for now. Let's go relax a bit. Sit down, enjoy good company." She attempted to switch to the wolf's language, trying to convey her intent. "No fur beast with we go place no here. No here place we sit, we no act, we happy. He," she pointed to Swifttail, "friend mine is, friend you double is."

 

[Izakis]

Ferret’s words were rewarded by Izakis with a grateful and sincere smile. Already, in a feat of dexterity that was rare for most species, she reached her claws behind her and put them under her tail without having to bend. She swayed for a moment before producing a small coin purse. One that seemingly came from nowhere. Gesturing to the side she started padding delicately while her claws curled invitingly at the others.

“Come then beauties. I promise you won’t regret a moment…”

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail eyed the lizard again warily.

C'mon Swift. Treat every beast how you want t'be treated...

He glanced back to Morgan and smiled.

"Aye, I can use a drink. Me shopping is basically finished anyway."

 

[Helskyge Icinheart]

"friend..." Helskyge said, looking warily toward Swift again. After a few seconds, he then responded in turn to the proposition to Morgan in his language: "very well, it has been long since I have had any good drink. Let us be on our way."

 

[Izakis]

Izakis navigated from the market into the Trenches, walking the prettier streets she was fond of while making sure to be an eye candy. Later she would maybe come here to seek some work... for now she had a clear goal on her mind. A certain public house, or a pub, that was to her knowledge among very few that had professional singers and musicians for the entertainment. It wasn't cheap but she liked to indulge into the culture normally reserved for affluent... and she certainly had money to spare as of now.

Upon getting to the place, she took off her head wrap. Letting her frill to stand up slightly and blowing a kiss to the bartender. They knew each other and Izakis could always enjoy a place in her pub.

While she got the other sat upon the nice chairs, Izakis stood by the table and asked each of the beast with a loud whisper to their ears to make them hear her over the music that was playing. "Tell me what drinks you fancy darlings..." She asked each of them.

Most other patrons were listening or chatting softly not to disturb the music. Currently a soft notes of strings adorned by two voices, one male and one female, working in unison to harmonize. Unlike most pubs, this one was tranquil and perfect if you needed not the entertainment but relaxation. That is why the clever Lizard brought the others here.

 

[Morgan Liu]

Morgan exhaled deeply as the wolf at last agreed to come with, seeming to accept a truce for now. She didn't know what the disagreement was between him and Swifttail, and she certainly wasn't going to bring it up unprompted. She knew from the time that her Mother had forgotten their wedding anniversary and her Mum had spent the whole day slamming cabinet doors in the kitchen that even a fragile was better than an open war.

Morgan was surprised by the choice of venue; it seemed rather sophisticated by Bully Harbor standards, at least what Morgan had seen so far. She glanced to the lizard at the question. "Er, maybe tea?" she requested, trying to think what sophisticated people drank. There was no way she was asking for an ale in this place. She glanced to the wolf and tried her best at translating the sentiment. "She want she know you want drink* ??? what."

*In her translation, Morgan chose the noun equivalent of 'drink' rather than the verb.

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail stepped through the door and immediately hesitated.

His wide eyes scanned the interior of the tavern, tail giving a slow sway behind him. Polished fixtures, velvet drapes, carved wood paneling—this place wasn’t just clean, it was nice. Too nice. The kind of place where beasts like him usually got side-eyed by the waitstaff before being ushered out quietly.

And yet, here he was. Being invited in by a lizardess so elegant she looked like she’d stepped out of a noble’s drawing room.

Was she really offering to buy him a drink?

He shuffled in awkwardly behind the others, casting a hesitant glance toward the bar. Just to be safe he checked coil. He had a bit left over from today’s shopping, plus he considered his wage from the Urk voyage, tucked away in an Imperium Bank. He could risk it.

He straightened up and gave a small, polite smile to Izakis.

“Just the house whiskey, please.”

Please don’t be a week’s pay, he silently pleaded.

 

[Helskyge Icinheart]

Helskyge walked into the tavern, causing a few conversations nearby to cease as people considered his arrival before resuming again. He looked around, noting the unease, but he ignored it and turned to acknowledge Morgan’s question, remembering the name for the drink that many of the sailors he was with commonly drank.

“I would like rum,” he said in Vulpinsulan to Izakis. He then moved to sit down, causing a few tables to slowly be vacated by other patrons who were wary of this outlandish newcomer who was clearly of an unrefined sort. Helskyge gave one more wary look toward Swift before glancing away.

 

[Izakis]

Izakis left the three of her companions and went to the bartender, from a distance the trio could see her giggling and sweet talking the poor vixen to a certain level of fluster. That is how she learnt about this place and she enjoyed her frolicks whenever she could. She did however pay them a full price for all she ordered. It made her purse a bit light but to Izakis no wealth was worth being kept anyways.

She padded back to the trio, filling the role of a waitress with ease, bringing two glasses and two cups in a first round and then also bringing a massive teapot, alongside two bottles of rather fine rum and whiskey. Nothing extremely fancy but definitely not the cheap kind most usually had. She also brought two small plates with nuts and fruits.

She then did her job by pouring the respective drinks. Izakis' experience in servicing others was useful also in just being a nice person. Something she was quite proud of.

The whiskey was poured first, she added a few walnuts into the glass to enrich the taste without altering it much. Then putting it in front of the platinum fox with a wink.

Next was rum, she had very limited knowledge of the beast in front of them but... the more fur you have the further north it must be coming from. She added to the glass various forest fruits. Alpine strawberries, blueberries and blackberries. Those would go well together with a bold and crisp rum she chose for this hardy beast. She gave them their glass hoping they would enjoy this.

Lastly, a pot of Chamomile Tea. She poured it for the weasel and herself, but remembering she was a friend of the fox, Izakis assumed she was just feeling a bit overwhelmed. That is why she didn't mention that the tea was spiked with brandy and she served it by her with a zesty lemon slice in the cup and just as zesty grin.

At the end she also sat down. Enjoying the soft singing and music that were right up her valley. Listening to them more intently revealed that despite very posh and official execution, the songs were meant to entertain like in any pub, being adequately raunchy and humorous where it mattered. She took a sip of her tea and spoke to the others. "Please enjoy... and if you need anything more, do not hesitate in letting me know~"