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~"

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail watched as Izakis stepped off toward the bar, and with a moment of hesitation, he pulled out a chair and took a seat. His eyes flicked toward the wolf, then away again uneasily, but doing his best not to let it show. The sheer presence of the canid beast at the same table had his shoulders a little tighter than usual.

Still, Morgan was there. He glanced her way and offered a small, lopsided smile. It was quiet and supportive.

When Izakis returned with the drinks, his ears twitched at the sight of the bottle she carried. A whole bottle. Gates, he thought, trying not to gape. That didn’t look cheap.

Still, she seemed sincere in the gesture, not showing any intent to split the tab. He accepted the glass she poured and gave a small, thankful nod, the rim hovering near his nose for a moment.

Swifttail took a cautious sip.

The whiskey burned the tip of his tongue and rolled down like fire, making him wince just slightly before schooling his expression. He’d never been much of a drinker. He usually avoided it when he could.

Still… it was market day. He was among good beasts, or at least, beasts trying to be good. And sometimes, he figured, that was enough to raise a glass. Even if it tasted like biting a forge.

He swallowed once and rested the glass on the table, careful not to look as nervous as he felt.

 

[Helskyge Icinheart]

Helskyge nodded to Izakis to thank her as she brought his drink, taking slower gulps, every minute or so. After a few minutes, he turned to ask Morgan in Vulpinsulan “where can I find work… in this place? It is very large.”

 

[Morgan Liu]

Morgan blushed furiously as the lizard handed her the cup, and she was so distracted that she didn't notice the brandy until it hit the back of her throat. Her eyes bulged, and for a moment it seemed like she might spew the liquid over the table; but then she adapted to its presence and swallowed, remarking, "Refreshing. Quite some kick to it too." She glanced over to the wolf, who was drinking with far more moderation than the weasel would have expected from a beast of his size. She considered his question, assuming that he was referring to Bully Harbor and not the tavern.

"Well, there's lots of work for the ministries," she remarked. "The military is always looking for good fighters. Army, navy, marines, they would all take you. Government buildings always need security too. There's private work as well, if you want it. Get a job as some rich beast's bodyguard, protect their life with your own. It can be dangerous work, but I hear it pays well."

 

[Izakis]

While the weasel and the wolf seemed to enjoy their choice of drink, Izakis could easily spot the nervousness as well as... distaste of the platinum fox. She would take it very personally if she were to have anyone leave this place displeased. She didn't want to delve into personal reasons yet, but she could start with booze.

But first she wanted to add to the discussion. Albeit the weasel already said all that needed to be said. Maybe except for the one part she held true to herself. So she took a long sip of the tea and spoke genuinely, her tail curling around her and her posture slumping slightly. "Just don't get yourself into a job you won't like darling. Easy to get sssstuck doing ssssomething you'd hate here..." She pauses and gazes at them with caring eyes. "sssSecure and certain job is a luxury true... but not worth ssssuffering over."

The she leaned to the Platinum fox, pointing at the bottle she asked in hushed tone, almost a whisper. "You don't sssseem to like this. If you want ssssomething else... Do not hesitate to ask dear. I will just hold on the bottle for later." She leaned back with warm smile and playful tapping of her claws against the glass.

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail winced, ears flicking down at the edge in her voice. He hadn’t meant to offend, but he could feel her disappointment like a draft under a door, cold and creeping. His paw tightened slightly around the glass.

“Aye… that’s fair,” he said quietly.

He took a breath, fur bristling faintly as he tried to gather his words. Then he glanced toward her, tail dipping behind him in a nervous arc.

“It’s not the drink,” he admitted, voice lower now. “Truth is, it’s probably the fanciest pour I’ve ever had. Smooth, warm. Got a bit of a burn, sure, but… it’s a proper kind of burn.”

He managed a small, sheepish smile.

“I just...well, I got scared you’d paid for it and I’d end up holdin’ the bill. That’s all. Ain’t got coin like that. Wouldn’t even know what to do if I dropped it. Might not afford the glass, let alone the whiskey.”

He turned the glass in his paw, the amber liquid catching the light.

“And I know that’s a rotten thing, to assume. You were just bein’ kind. Generous. And I went thinkin’ there had to be strings.”

His ears tilted back slightly, more out of embarrassment than fear.

“I’m still learnin’, if I’m honest. Where I’m from, we didn’t have lizards. Just old stories. Bad ones. Scary ones. The kind meant to keep young foxes from sneakin’ too far off the path.” He gave a soft snort.“Turns out most of ‘em were rubbish.”

He finally looked at her, gaze steady this time.

“I’m tryin’ not to let the old stories decide what kind of beast I think you are. Just… takin’ me a moment to catch up to the truth.”

With that, he lifted the glass slightly, offering a lopsided toast.

“To strange ports, and even stranger kindness. I’m grateful. Truly.”