A Perfect Society
Characters: Tagger, Kentar, Klic
Location: Panov
Its the next day. Near morning, but more like afternoon if one was truly counting. The ocean off in the distance make its quiet lapping sound against the beach. And maybe a seagull could be heard hopping around the beach looking for anything that washed ashore. Near the Inn, where the group stayed last night, on the porch in the exact spot where Aik was standing all the years ago when he first found out he was going to be a father of the twins. Is Tagger. He leans against a post as he looks toward the village. Looking around at all the beasts. Woodlanders. Vermin. And even an odd lizard are living in peace. Tagg smiles as he chews on his jerky.
Kentar had been gone for the most part. Pretty much all morning, off trying to get a boat, but nobody wants to travel those waters that he needs to take. He too is leaning on a post, though off out of the otter's field of vision. "You look so much like your dad." Kentar states aloud so that Tagger can hear him. "He stood. Right there. A long time ago. Kind of bringing back memories." he smiles a little. "And I came up to him, just like this." he nods, walking over, placing a paw on the otter's shoulder. "And I asked him what was on his mind." he grins a little. "So....what's on your mind?" he asks.
Tagger blinks before looking around and looking at the stoat. He chuckles and shakes his head, "Aye. I get that a lot..." Not knowing what he really meant. Or that Aik stood in the exact place before. He just. Likes it. Right here. He watches the stoat and chuckles, "Did he? Right here?" he raises an eyebrow. Though it wouldn't really surprise him. He grins at the stoat and then laughs, answering the old stoat, "Oh... I'm just surprised about these Woodys and Vermys living together. Its odd. Refreshing. I like it..." he shrugs, moving the jerky around in his mouth, "I guess i want to take a look around. Just dont know where to start..." he chuckles.
"Yep. He did. And its just...weird to see it again is all." Kentar smiles before glancing out over the streets, smirking. "Yeah, its quite...odd. It was never like this before. This was vermin as vermin got." he nods then shrugs. "Well, lets go then! I can show you around. Well, I can show you what I remember at least. Nothing like it used to be. SO it will be new to me too!" he grins. He's left his cane behind yet again, not seeming to really need it, though he is slow, and there's a very tiny limp to him. "Lets see what there is to see!"
Tagger chuckles, "Eh. Like father like son then..." he snorts and shakes his head then being surprised, "Really? Lets go then! I would like to have a look. Maybe get something for Garo while im out?" he grins and makes after the old stoat thing and then asks, "Ummmm. Dont you need your cane?" He has been noticing it being gone a lot from the stoats paws. Though never bothered to ask till now.
"Nope, Don't need it! I walk with it cause I'm never feeling good enough to really work to stay upright!" Kentar grins, jumping up pathetically. "See? I only broke ONE ankle!" he laughs before groaning, rubbing at his side. "Heh, I guess I shouldn't over exert myself." he sighs before motioning on. "Right! Lets go down the street then."
Tagger chuckles and nods, quickly following in step with the stoat, "Eh. Alrighty then!" he snorts and then looks around. Having no clue where anything is, "Only one? Darn..." he smirks, "So. Where we going first eh?" he asks the old one.
Kentar laughs and then shrugs. "Well! We could go down here." he says, moving down the street, glancing around. There's a bunch of buildings. The first few are clearly houses, beast living inside, plants in the window, curtains and the like. The next few buildings are shops! Signs hang above the doors. The first one looks like a general goods store, while the second is a flower shop. The one just past that is a blacksmith. "Hmmm! I remember the goods store...but not the other two." he says, stopping just outside the bookstore, glancing between all stores.
Tagger follows the stoat looking at all the buildings. All these stone buildings were so... Modern. Or old? Tagger couldn't tell which. Though they were really neato, "Eh. Lets stay away from the residence quarter" he chuckles following the stoat toward where the shops are, "Hmmm. We could go visit the other two if ya wanted? Always could get something at the flower shop." he then glances to at the bookstore. He has never seen one before. What an odd concept. Though now he gets what Chris was talking about. He laughs to himself.
"YEah, we could. But nah, lets not! Not yet. After!" The stoat replies, bypassing the stores slowly, glancing around. There's a small cafe on the other side of the street, with a little stall just outside that hold various fruits and vegetables, several beasts, a mouse, two otters and a rat browsing the selection. "Hm. This place is so busy." he chuckles a bit. "Seems like a paradise really. Its perfect! Almost too perfect."
Tagger pulls at his chin fur as he looks around at all the stalls, "Wow. This place is pretty jumpin. I never seen so many woodlanders and verminy so close without killing each other. Its really nice... Aye... Perfect..." he then gets what the stoat might be saying, "Too prefect..." he walks up close and then asks, "I'm guessing you haven't meet jasper yet?" he might know whats going on here. IF something is going on here.
Kentar chuckles a little bit and nods. "Yeah, I know. Its pretty nice." he nods a little bit as he moves along the path slowly. "No, not yet. I haven't been able to find him. Which is a little odd but he's probably just hiding away or something." he grins. "Might already know we're in town." he chuckles. Off in an allyway that they pass, is a hooded figure. Same figure from the night before, watching the two as they move down the street. Whatever it is steps out into the open behind the otter, and the stoat, following them, ducking away whenever either look around.
Tagger is still a little concerned. Venei told him about utopian societies. And what usually lies behind them. Its was creepy. The otter continues to follow the stoat at they walk around. Though that feeling that somebeast is watching him starts to crawl up his neck. He blinks and quickly turns around. AND SEES nothing. He blinks and shrugs before still heading off after Kentar, "Well. Hmmm. So! Where we off to now?" he asks.
The stoat shrugs. "I don't know. I guess we could go down to the port and see if there's anyone selling fish or something there." he teases the young otter, giving a nudge with a wink. "Or we could...visit the town hall or something. OR...uhm. Well, I don't know."
Tagger chuckles, "What? BUY FISH? That's just crazy talk. Quit talking crazy!" the otter chuckles before pulling at his chin fur, "Awell! Town hall sounds nice. Though it does also seem kinda boring." he grins, "Come you used to live here. Whats all the cool stuff?" HE THEN quickly turns around and STILL SEES nothing. But this time the otter just stops and looks, "Ever get the feeling that you are being hunted..."
"What?! That's not crazy talk! This is crazy stuff...habblebabblegribblegrab!" he says quickly with a weird, cooky look on his face, grinning, even sticking his tongue out to the side, looking almost as derp as possible. "You forget that I lived here many, many seasons ago, I don't recognize ANYTHING." he says before turning to look around, scratching his head.
Tagger could bet his left butt that they are being followed. Or maybe his mind is playing evil tricks on him. Either way. He dont like it. He looks back to the stoat and says, "Hey! Its still more than i know this place!" he laughs and then points in a random direction, "Fine! Lets go to town hall, oh leader of the pants-less" he laughs..
Kentar just smirks before glancing downward. "Hey, I'm wearing pants!" he laughs, turning to head down the path, unaware they're being followed. In fact, he just think's Tagger is being crazy, as usual, and doesn't bother paying any mind to him at all. "Right! The town hall should be down this way. Its not far! C'mon."
Tagger glances behind him one more time... Before heading after the stoat, "Hey. Get back here you... And you are wearing pants today. Thats news to everybeast" he chuckles before making after the stoat. Still not recognizing anything around him. He still gets the feeling that he is being watched, but just ignores it... for now.
The stoat leads the otter down the cobblestone path, right into the town hall. Stepping up the stone stairs, he enters, glancing around. There's a long, narrow hallway, with several doors. Some are labeled, others aren't. He moves down the hall slowly, reading over each label. "Lets see...marriage hall....clerk...tax office?" he pauses a bit at that and rubs over the back of his head with a smirk. "Oh jeez. I hope there's no stoat tax. I'd be drained out of house and home!" he laughs.
Tagger follows the stoat into the town hall. This place is a lot different then the skippers office which has like... 3 rooms. This one is massive in comparison. He looks around, reading each label in turn, "I think i like the skip handling everything... Tax office?" he chuckles, as he knows what it means, "That will never take off. Have to pay? For just living here? Thats silly!" he grins and chuckles at the stoat, "You would have nothing left! You would be bare payed and you will have to live with me!" he snorts still following the stoat.
Kentar chuckles a bit and then a look of almost genuine horror appears at the idea of having to live with Tagger. "Ergh, I think I'll not move here in that case." he says, turning to continue on down the hallway. What neither of the two notice though is that figure that's followed them, has followed them inside too. Kentar gets down into the end, where a large, chapel like room is. Casually, he steps inside, glancing around. "Hm...nice here. Might take a nap." he laughs.
Tagger chuckles, "Its alright. I don't want you anyway. Sides. I live in a cave mostly. I don't really care for living with Vee." he snorts. He continues to follow him, not noticing the beast following them as he has just pushed it from his mind. He follows the stoat into the chapel like room, and chuckles, "Ah. I guess this is the eloping room." he laughs as he enters and goes to sit on one of the pews, "Eh. Seems a little. Quiet. For me." he chuckles.
"Yeah, well. That explains a lot then." Kentar chuckles as he settles down next to the otter, closing his eyes, pretending to snore. That's when the door shuts loudly behind the two, causing Kentar to jump, standing up quickly, paw already to his sword. Standing in the doorway is a beast. Tall, brown...clearly a rat, and clearly young, but his face his hooded, covered by some...black cloth, and only eyes peer out.
Tagger sticks his tongue out at the stoat, "My cave is my home. You would like it!" he grins and sticks his footpaws on the next pew, closing his eyes as well. Its. Nice. Cozy. Though the door slamming makes him alert and ready. He quickly stands but doesn't have any of his weapons with him. Except for his paws! He holds them out in front of him as he looks to the rat thing, "Who are ye?" he puts on his southern accent.
The rat eyes Tagger carefully, but raises a paw, pointing at Kentar. "This is not about me. This is about him. And who he is." Kentar returns the glare of the rat carefully before tilting his head slowly. "And? Who am I?" The rat slowly steps forward, not making many threatening motions. "You're Kentar. Kentar Grodenchek, yes?" And the stoat just nods slowly. "I've been expecting you." he reaches up, starting to undo the hood that covers his face, revealing a young, though slightly scarred, rat. No more than 8 or 9 seasons old. "I have news you must hear."
Tagger raises an eyebrow at the rat thing and then blinks. Putting down his paws, though they still make fists, "Well... Well you could have just asked nicely... WAIT!" he looks at the rat intently, "YOU were the one following us, weren't ye?" he asks and then shakes his head, "I dont like being followed." he shakes his head and then looks between the stoat and the rat, maybe they know more to what the heck is going on then he does.
The stoat hms a little bit and tilts his head. "News? What sort of news? And yeah, I'm with him. I don't like being followed." Kentar replies before humming a bit. "I'm sorry but it was necessary." he nods. "Let me explain. My name is Klic." he says, though pronounces it 'Klish'. "I am son of Jasper. This city is...new. Ruled by a tyrant. Everything seems okay, but only because beasts are scared to say anything. Two seasons ago, Jasper, my father, was killed." he nods. "He left in his will that Kentar must be made aware. But we had problems of our own. When I saw you in the streets, I overheard your names."
Tagger still has his eyebrows raised at the beast. Going to cross his arms in front of him staring at him. Up till the point where he says that his is Jaspers son that his eyebrows move back down onto his face, "Son? Tyrant? Hah. I knew it. Knew this place was to good to be true..." then his ears go back, "Well. Darn." he shakes his head before looking back at the rat, "Killed? Uhoh..." then when he mentions that they overheard their names he gulps. Maybe he should have been a little quieter about that.
Kentar blinks a little bit. He's not too surprised though, yet he's forced to wipe away a tear. "What? Dead...how?" Klic glances around for a moment. "He led a rebellion to the underground bunker where the city's leaders stay. He managed to kill one, but...was killed on his escape. Betrayed by his second in command. Who now rules. Everything seems happy. Though anybeast who speaks out against disliking the regime vanishes in the night." he glances around. "Be careful here is all I must say...if you get into trouble, I can't help you." he puts the hood on again before turning and leaving, not even bothering to say goodbye. He served his purpose and informed Kentar of Jasper's death. Leaving the stoat sitting down, sighing a little. "Nowhere I go seems to just...be fine..does it?" he rubs over his face.
Tagger listens to the rat and hums quietly to himself. When the story ends and the rat leaves, the otter goes to sit back next to his old friend. Its a moment or two before the otter says, "Well. I guess its just part of this crazy world we live in. Come with the territory of having pretty much anarchist wilderness" Tagg is using that fancy book learning that he got from his mum, "Where you can have a coup without any provocation because of a beasts ultimate desire for power..." he then slaps his paws across his mouth at the realization of what he did, "Better. Better be quiet mate... I shouldnt have said that."
The stoat just seems to think. He doesn't say anything for a few moments before he blinks, turning towards Tagger with a little smile. "Sorry, what?" he asks. The stoat doesn't seem to have heard, or at least, understood him. "Whatever...I just want to find a boat. And get out of here. I know a few ports we can return to down along the shores that we can avoid this place for." he shakes his head, standing up slowly. Suddenly, he's feeling his age again. "C'mon, I'm sure Will and the others will be wondering where we are."
Tagger rubs the back of his head, "Eh. Just that beasts are always free to do what they want, even for evil purposes..." he then stands up after the stoat, "Aye. That would be best. I was thinking about staying here after we got back. But. But not like this..." his ears are still back as he sighs, "Aye. Lets go find them, and the faster we find a boat the better..." he shakes his head making for the chapel archway.
Kentar rubs away a few tears when Tagger stands. He leads the otter back into the hallway, and then the street, glancing around as he gets a few suspicious looks from the other beasts. He just smiles as best he can and waves before turning to head back towards the inn. "So...boats. It should be a big one...quick...and we need a captain who is willing to navigate the reefs that are about the area." he nods. "Without crashing into them would be nice. "
Tagger ears are still back, and they will be for awhile as he follows the stoat out into the street. A few beasts give him a few odd looks too. But Tagg doesn't change or say anything to them as he walks next to the stoat back toward the inn, "Aye. That would be good. Though I'm not good for anything particular on a boat. Only been on one, and i was younger then one when i was..." he would normally chuckle. But his chuckle box has been depleted, so there is a bit of silence before the otter continues, "Where we gonna find one... Just hire them off the street? Maybe we could just charter a ship or something..." he shrugs.
