"Well, I haven't even introduced myself yet!" Chokra said with another hearty laugh. "The name is Chokra Rustfire! From now on, though, yer to call me Cap'n!" He looked between the two of them. "Or just call me Uncle Chokra. Whichever one ye prefer." He then looked at Berchar. "If ye do be a mouse, ye got the biggest ears I've ever damn seen on a mousie!"
Open The Bilge In The Bucket Under His Wing
- Thread starter Chokra Rustfire
- Start date
Cordan’s manners seemed to align well enough with those from his childhood; Berchar warmed to him swiftly. It was a peculiar balance: these foxes were both dangerous yet friendly; he was safe with them, he believed, provided he kept himself useful. He made note to re-read some of his older notes from the academy later.
“I’m a jerboa, actually,” he replied with a flick of the ear, the only outward sign that the mouse comparisons, as so often made, touched a nerve, “but you are right, there are…few of us here, if any. Probably for the best but that’s neither here nor there. Might I ask where you last saw your nephew, Chokra – sorry, Cap’n? What sort of trouble do you suppose he’s in?”
“I’m a jerboa, actually,” he replied with a flick of the ear, the only outward sign that the mouse comparisons, as so often made, touched a nerve, “but you are right, there are…few of us here, if any. Probably for the best but that’s neither here nor there. Might I ask where you last saw your nephew, Chokra – sorry, Cap’n? What sort of trouble do you suppose he’s in?”
"Yes, Captain!" Cordan enthused, straightening his posture a bit. "I'm sure that Corda will want to call you Uncle Chokra, though, if you'll excuse her familiarity." He listened to Berchar's explanation, a hint of embarrassment crossing his face at the misnaming of the species. Well, now he knew. "Whatever the trouble he faces," Cordan remarked regarding Chokra's nephew, "we shall rescue him from it!"
"Right, my dear nephew." Chokra clapped his paws together. "He's in a 'spot of bother', as yew fancy beasts might call it. We ought to find him quick. A horde of angry pirates have chased him across the seas for the past two years, and just recently landed 'ere. So, I reckon we 'ave some time to find 'im before the pirates try an' raid this place lookin' fer 'im themselves."
“Oh my word...” Berchar’s long ears wilted at the prospect of such threat, leaning back on his long tail to better steady himself. Living within the security of the famed Imperial fleet, he hadn’t given a thought to piracy in some time. If a known crew had slipped past and were in the city proper, they could be particularly dangerous…
“I suppose we better had,” he replied, “for everyone’s sakes. Well, we’re ready and willing. Do either of you have any clues where they might be now? Any names, any, what’s the word…?” He looked to Cordan, paws gesticulating for a moment “-leads! Any leads?”
“I suppose we better had,” he replied, “for everyone’s sakes. Well, we’re ready and willing. Do either of you have any clues where they might be now? Any names, any, what’s the word…?” He looked to Cordan, paws gesticulating for a moment “-leads! Any leads?”
Cordan considered carefully for a moment, pacing. "Hmm, let me think... If I were on the run from a group of pirates, where would I go? ...a ship! Wait, no, that's idiotic, if you're on the run from pirates, a ship is the last place to hide. I know!" His eyes lit up. "I would join the city watch! The last place that pirates would go looking for anyone is in the company of the law."
"The City Watch, Eh..?" Chokra rubbed his chin. "Nah, that ain't right. Because me nephew, as much as he tried to stay out of trouble, ended up fallin' in with a different pirate. So, guilty by association. So I reckon he wouldn't be goin' to the law unless he wanted to make acquaintances with a noose... let's find this Bilge in the Bucket place. I could use another drink, anyhow!" He laughed.
Trying to suppress the lurch of anxiety in his stomach to think that he was crossing paths with – and potentially aiding – pirates, Berchar added quietly. “I think I need a drink, myself.” Straightening up, he took a quick squint at the street to re-orient himself and began hopping in the general direction of the Bilge. In doing so, he looked to the two foxes as he spoke.
“So no city watch, but we might find some answers in the taverns,” he reflected. “I suppose it’s a bit risky asking around too many other beasts, then?” His gaze flicked briefly to Cordan, and his curiosity got the better of him. “Do excuse me, I simply need to ask…your sister. Is she..is she going to be joining us as well, or…?”
“So no city watch, but we might find some answers in the taverns,” he reflected. “I suppose it’s a bit risky asking around too many other beasts, then?” His gaze flicked briefly to Cordan, and his curiosity got the better of him. “Do excuse me, I simply need to ask…your sister. Is she..is she going to be joining us as well, or…?”
"Hmm?" Cordan looked surprised at the question. "Oh. Yes. I suppose she might. Probably should," he allowed. "Er... would you permit me a moment to fetch her?" He hurriedly ducked down a side alley and, pulling off his hat, took a deep breath before closing his eyes.
Corda awoke. She glanced down before hurriedly unbuttoning her brother's jerkin, then, embarrassed to find herself in his trousers, traded out the belted scabbard, jerkin, and hat with the current contents of her backpack, that being her crimson skirt. It was a bit ruffled and dirty, which was worrying; her presence in this alleyway was certainly not a good sign, given she'd had a few more hours left in her shift. Finally, smoothing her skirts, she ventured out of the alley.
"Oh!" she remarked in surprise as she recognized the two beasts from the bar. "Oh, apologies, I wasn't expecting you." She looked about, trying to discern from context what was happening. They'd been waiting for her, so...? "Were you looking for my brother?" she inquired. "I'm sure I can go find him, wherever he got off to." It was rare these days that they handed off control unintentionally; they'd grown to have a certain harmony about when one was needed and the other could rest. Still, this had been a rather taxing evening.
Corda awoke. She glanced down before hurriedly unbuttoning her brother's jerkin, then, embarrassed to find herself in his trousers, traded out the belted scabbard, jerkin, and hat with the current contents of her backpack, that being her crimson skirt. It was a bit ruffled and dirty, which was worrying; her presence in this alleyway was certainly not a good sign, given she'd had a few more hours left in her shift. Finally, smoothing her skirts, she ventured out of the alley.
"Oh!" she remarked in surprise as she recognized the two beasts from the bar. "Oh, apologies, I wasn't expecting you." She looked about, trying to discern from context what was happening. They'd been waiting for her, so...? "Were you looking for my brother?" she inquired. "I'm sure I can go find him, wherever he got off to." It was rare these days that they handed off control unintentionally; they'd grown to have a certain harmony about when one was needed and the other could rest. Still, this had been a rather taxing evening.
"No, no need fer that. I sent 'im to, er... fetch ye." Chokra said. It was still strange. Why was he playing along with this delusion. Perhaps he had gotten too soft. Perhaps the kit reminded him of some other beast. Regardless, he had to play along now. It would be too awkward to change his mind on the matter.
"Ye know the way to the Bilge, aye? Care ter lead the way then, little lady?"
"Ye know the way to the Bilge, aye? Care ter lead the way then, little lady?"
Corda brightened at the instructions. "Yes, I've been to the Bilge a few times now," she confirmed. "I stayed there when I first arrived. Unfortunately it's very hard to get a server position there, hence my... recent... employment." Somehow she suspected that she wouldn't be welcomed back at that particular bar. Cordan, this better be really important to you, she thought ruefully.
It wasn't a long walk to the Bilge in the Bucket; the famous tavern was, as always, quite busy, light and conversation both pouring out the open windows. Numerous additions piled onto the structure to accommodate larger crowds in increasingly perilous arrangements had been made over the years, with one adjacent flophouse being absorbed whole as rooms for rent. Corda recalled reading an article in the Smelt predicting that, based on the current rate of expansion, by the year 2400 the Bilge would grow to encompass the entirety of Bully Harbor. "If there's anyplace in Bully Harbor where beasts of all walks of life gather, it's here," Corda noted as they approach. "It can be a bit rough at times, though. Barfights are practically a tradition." As if to prove the point, a rat went sailing out the second story window, soaring all the way across the street and crashing through an open window there. Given the cheers from the Bilge, it seemed more likely to Corda that this was a drunken stunt than a true barfight, though. The vixen looked to Chokra, raising an eyebrow. "Maybe this time," she suggested meekly, "we try making friends before enemies?"
It wasn't a long walk to the Bilge in the Bucket; the famous tavern was, as always, quite busy, light and conversation both pouring out the open windows. Numerous additions piled onto the structure to accommodate larger crowds in increasingly perilous arrangements had been made over the years, with one adjacent flophouse being absorbed whole as rooms for rent. Corda recalled reading an article in the Smelt predicting that, based on the current rate of expansion, by the year 2400 the Bilge would grow to encompass the entirety of Bully Harbor. "If there's anyplace in Bully Harbor where beasts of all walks of life gather, it's here," Corda noted as they approach. "It can be a bit rough at times, though. Barfights are practically a tradition." As if to prove the point, a rat went sailing out the second story window, soaring all the way across the street and crashing through an open window there. Given the cheers from the Bilge, it seemed more likely to Corda that this was a drunken stunt than a true barfight, though. The vixen looked to Chokra, raising an eyebrow. "Maybe this time," she suggested meekly, "we try making friends before enemies?"
Polite curiosity remained stamped on the jerboa’s face as he watched Cordan excuse himself to return, shortly, as Corda. A myriad of questions blossomed in his mind he felt were far too impolite to voice at this early stage, but there was just something about them he felt drawn to.
Of course, beneath his genuine liking for the well-spoken and caring beast who had accepted him so readily there was an innate clinical judgement. He’d seen something like this before many seasons past. Though he never had spent more time than necessary in the asylum near the Academy when he was in training some of the names and beasts had stuck with him. Thinking now that this friendly individual could have been committed to the same such institution for little other reason made him feel suddenly uneasy. The whole asylum always had.
Berchar shook the thought from his mind as he followed the foxes to the Bilge, eyeing the bustling chaos with no small amount of wariness. It was often a toss-up in these places whether he would attract mockery or remain invisible. Unconsciously he stood a little closer to Chokra. “Mmh, a wise point,” he added. “Unless…unless you’ve something to serve as a reward? That tends to get results when you want something done in this place.”
Of course, beneath his genuine liking for the well-spoken and caring beast who had accepted him so readily there was an innate clinical judgement. He’d seen something like this before many seasons past. Though he never had spent more time than necessary in the asylum near the Academy when he was in training some of the names and beasts had stuck with him. Thinking now that this friendly individual could have been committed to the same such institution for little other reason made him feel suddenly uneasy. The whole asylum always had.
Berchar shook the thought from his mind as he followed the foxes to the Bilge, eyeing the bustling chaos with no small amount of wariness. It was often a toss-up in these places whether he would attract mockery or remain invisible. Unconsciously he stood a little closer to Chokra. “Mmh, a wise point,” he added. “Unless…unless you’ve something to serve as a reward? That tends to get results when you want something done in this place.”
“A reward?” Chokra scoffed. “Why ought I reward anybeast?”
He rubbed his chin a bit, before reaching into his pocket, and pulling out another small cloth bag, shaking it in front of Cordans face. The jingling of a plentiful amount of coins could be heard within. “Ye think this’ll work, lad?”
He rubbed his chin a bit, before reaching into his pocket, and pulling out another small cloth bag, shaking it in front of Cordans face. The jingling of a plentiful amount of coins could be heard within. “Ye think this’ll work, lad?”
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Corda started at how the fox addressed her. She stared at him, trying to swallow her affront. "I'm sure my brother would see the sense in it," she stated, letting her words speak for her what she would not let enter her tone, "though I think it's more likely to get us a false positive. Better that we find someone who knows something first, and then encourage them to remember more clearly after."
Still the jerboa kept himself close to Chokra as they discussed their plans. Whether intentional or not, he had seen the older todd fight with impressive ferocity: at least at this close proximity he felt a little safer than he usually would in somewhere as rough and ready as the Bilge.
Scratching his whiskers, Berchar shrugged ruefully at the astute comment on the reward. “Ah, you do have a point there,” he murmured to Corda. “Forgive me: I’m rather new to all of this. Big surprise, I’m certain.” An awkward chuckle followed before he again adjusted his spectacles out of nervous habit, long tail curling and tucking in close before one of the patrons could trip. “So we, what, look for a likely fellow and ask a few questions? Start with the picture again?” His nose wrinkled. "I'd say the proprietor might be of help, but after the last one..."
Scratching his whiskers, Berchar shrugged ruefully at the astute comment on the reward. “Ah, you do have a point there,” he murmured to Corda. “Forgive me: I’m rather new to all of this. Big surprise, I’m certain.” An awkward chuckle followed before he again adjusted his spectacles out of nervous habit, long tail curling and tucking in close before one of the patrons could trip. “So we, what, look for a likely fellow and ask a few questions? Start with the picture again?” His nose wrinkled. "I'd say the proprietor might be of help, but after the last one..."
Chokra was unsure of why Cordan was reacting this way- "Oh right." He thought to himself. "This is 'Corda' I'm speaking to." He sighed, getting down on one knee. "Look, kid. Ye know the age old sayin', right? You can't edify an old fox incipient artifices. I'm an old fox, okay? I am. I'm almost sixty. It's gonna take yer Uncle Chokra a minute ter... tell ye and yer brother apart. I'm sorry I got the two of ye mixed up." He placed a paw on her shoulder, smiling. "Okay?"
Corda relaxed a bit at the older fox's words. "It's alright," she allowed. "I know with twins, it can be hard to tell us apart, even fraternally. I appreciate the apology, sir." She gave him a more relaxed smile as she inquired, "If we do find a lead, sir, may I ask- what is our goal? Are we to whisk your nephew away to a vessel, or find sanctuary in the Harbor somewhere?"
"Don't ye worry yer little head, little lady. I have a plan for when we find 'im. An' this time, perhaps it would be a good idea fer us to go about it more... diplomatically." Chokra said, as if he had just come up with the idea himself. Despite the fact they had both suggested it beforehand. "Sometimes my genius even amazes meself." He chuckled, shaking his head. "Now, let's go get a drink, shall we?" He stood back up, clapping his paws on Corda's and Berchar's shoulders each, before walking into the tavern.
The tavern was lively tonight, as it seemed to be every night. Chatter sounded through the room, the clink of flagons and the soothing burble of ale being poured from the tap all sounding in open space. The Bilge had expanded over the years, adding stairs to a balcony level above a back room for private events, and a small hallway added in the back leading to the privy and the new bunkhouse. There were all types drinking in the Bilge, from a company of off-duty Fogeys to a group of sailors in the navy, to another, rougher group that looked like they might be of the more piratical persuasion, if going by stereotype. Mixed in there were plenty of Bully Harbor workadays just come for a refreshing drink and good conversation at the end of another taxing day.
Corda scanned the assembled beasts, worrying her lip a bit. "Where do you think we should start?" she inquired of the other two.
Corda scanned the assembled beasts, worrying her lip a bit. "Where do you think we should start?" she inquired of the other two.
Chokra’s evasive answer gave Berchar some pause, though he knew by now he was in far too deep to start asking questions of the intimidating todd. Silent, the jerboa let himself be steered into the inn, eyes down to avoid the hostile or questioning stares of the patrons. Of all the inns and taverns, the Bilge made him especially nervous as a woodlander.
Still, he was with a pair of foxes now and that had to count for something. Maybe if he was fortunate, he could even get one of them to have a word with his co-renter. Hollow though they always were, the threats to be eaten were wearing rather thin these days.
“Start?” He’d never been one for information gathering, but Berchar was determined to do his best. “There’s…a lot of beasts here. What about dock workers? Maybe a beast who sees all the ships come in and go out might have seen or heard something?”
Still, he was with a pair of foxes now and that had to count for something. Maybe if he was fortunate, he could even get one of them to have a word with his co-renter. Hollow though they always were, the threats to be eaten were wearing rather thin these days.
“Start?” He’d never been one for information gathering, but Berchar was determined to do his best. “There’s…a lot of beasts here. What about dock workers? Maybe a beast who sees all the ships come in and go out might have seen or heard something?”
