A day at the Aclidian Harbor

Not all the things going on in the world involve political intrigue, assassins, thievery, or violence. Some stories start with just a simple call for help.

The harbor is a busy place, filled with the cries of sailors and sea birds a like. Ships prepare to leave as well as nose their way in to a fitting spot. Sitting back, away from the hassle and bustles of the crowd, sits Vassilus. She is seated with her back against one of the warehouses and her knees pulled up to her chest; her face buried in her arms. Besides her is a small satchel.

Not too far away there is an adult wildcat. His fur is well groomed, gold in color with spots. He is talking with a fox near one of the many lamp post of the boardwalk. He hands off a small leather bag and he gets an envelope in return which is hastily shoved down his vest pocket. The two part ways and the wildcat begins to whistle a pleasant tune. He stops not too far away away from the ferret to gaze out at the sea.

It is at this moment that Vassilus chooses to look up. The fur under her red rimmed eyes is sodden with moisture though she does her best to dab is away. She slowly stands up, snagging her satchel as she does so, and starts to look around. She needs help and she's not planning on asking one of these shady looking sailors for it. Her eyes fall upon the wild cat. He's not exactly the sort she'd been looking for, but he seemed trustworthy enough. She starts to push through the crowd, heading for the cat.

The feline continues to gaze out yonder at the sea. He gives a quite little sigh then turns on his heal. He pays the ferret no more mind than to nod his head and say, "Good day." Before continuing to walk on.

Vassilus reaches the cat and is about to tap him on the shoulder when he turns and starts away, paying her no mind. She stays where she is for a moment, not sure if she should go after him, or simply give up. But the decision is made for her when she looks around at the world around her. If she didn't actively pursue help, it certainly wouldn't be flopping into her lap like some kind of fish. She wheels on her heel and starts after the wild cat, calling out in her foreign sounding voice, "Wait! Please!"

Hands in his pockets the wildcat comes to an abrupt halt and turns his head around towards the ferret. "Is there something I can help you with miss?" The wild cat turns fully around and smiles. It might be noteworthy that he keeps his legs spread out almost in a fighting stance, almost as if he is ready to dash off to the side...or forward towards an adversary.

Vassilus tries out a smile as well, indeed noting the way he stands. On the inside she becomes more cautious, telling herself it will be alright. Just ask the question and move on. She straightens her shoulders, asking in the clearest voice she can muster, "Da you 'now where I can ge' a place ta stay? For not much money?" Her way of speech is slightly broken.

The cat looks down at the ferret and blinks once, then twice. He cracks into a smile and chuckles, his posture loosening up as he begins to walk. Just some crazy forigner looking for directions. Maffeo is jumpy these days. "Sure thing. It would be easier to just show you rather than tell you where the nearest inn is." He adds quickly, "A good inn, these inns down here are..." he wants to say trash but politely adds, "Not the best in town. Also too expensive."

The ferret is slightly confused as to why he starts to laugh, in fact she's very confused, but she continues to smile obliviously. She starts to follow him, listening intently to his words and nodding now and then, "Cheap is good! Wherere we goin' 'new?" It doesn't really cross her mind that she's trusting a complete stranger.

Maffeo has such a trust worthy face though. Who /wouldn't/ automatically trust a spotted wildcat? Several beasts pass by them on the street as the sun begins to set behind them, lighting up the ocean in a red and orange brilliance. "There is an inn just up the hill, a few actually. Not all of them are the best to stay at though. They get a lot of sailors and it can be a bit hectic." He walks around a heavy set rat then asks, "So what do you do for a living miss...?" he leaves the end open for the ferret to fill the gap.

Well, his trustworthy features have certainly won Vassilus over! She nods at the passing beasts, keeping her eyes averted. She smiles at the cats description of the inns, honestly feeling as though he's looking out for her. It takes her a moment to come up with an answer to his question concerning her job, "Vell, I am an painter at tha' moment. Vhat do you do for a living?" She uses his same phrasing, though it sounds foreign to her.

Maffeo mistakes her accent for her name, "Vell? That's a pretty name. Guess I shouldn't be surprised since you are a painter." He smiles and pauses for a moment to bow his head slightly, "I am Maffeo the tailor. I own a shop up north of here. I have clothes for nobles, workers, and painters alike." The wild cat rubs the back of his neck as he chuckles, "Sorry, I guess i'm a little opportunistic. Hazard of the business."

Vassilus quickly relizes her mistake and waves her paws and shakes her head in unison, No, no. My name is Vassilus, not Vell. She smiles brightly, I like zat name! So, you make clothz?" She laughs, a happy trilling sound, "Itz all right. I vill need new clothz sometime and you vill be my first choice!" She smiles again, obviously relieved to be getting along with someone.

The wildcat gives deep seated chuckle. If he is bothered by the presence of a forigner he doesn't show it. Years of business have taught him that in the end all that matters is the whether the gold in their pockets can be convereted to Imperial currency. "I look forward to it. It's the Golden Sea Tailor shop near the Victa Square." He turns again and motions the ferret to follow, "Are you hungry? After I show you to the Fat Sea Dragon I was hoping to check on the tavern next door, see if a friend was there."

Vassilus smiles, oblivious and naive to any of the tailors intentions for her money. She steps around a small, rather whiny weasel who's trying to sell fruit, and then continues to walk with the feline, "Yes, I do vind myself hungry. Is ze food good at zis 'Fat Sea Dragon'?" She nods agreeably, "Yes, yes, go and zee your friend! Sank you for all you've done."

Maffeo wavers a paw back and forth, "I've had better. But they give your monies worth. Eat their too often and you begin to look like the inn logo." To give a visual illistartaion to points to the inn not too far ahead now. THe wooden three story building sits on the square at the top of the hill. A small one story tavern has been built into the side. The round tavern stands out against the other wise rectangle building. A wooden sign post hangs near the front door with the picture of a faded blue sea dragon leaning have out of the ocean against the shoreline. The happy looking dragon has a very pudgy looking light blue belly. "Viola! The fat dragon inn. Cheap, and the owners like to keep her clean."

Vassilus smiles as the cat speaks and looks as he points to the tavern. She is rather skeptical at first, but Meffeo seems to think it's a good place, so it must be so! She raises a slim eyebrow when confronted with the picture of the dragon, which she finds most interesting. Personally, she'd of changed things up here and there, such as causing the scales to all move in one direction, but it doesn't look half bad. She stands in front of the building for a few moments, taking it all in. It really does seem like a nice place, all things aside. She turns to the cat and offers a paw, a gesture that she is accustomed to, "Sank you for everysing, mister Maffeo. If you evar need a picture painted, I vill be around!" She smiles again, then heads into the building.

The cat watches the ferret leave after shaking her paw. He folds his arms across his chest and strokes his wiskers. "I wonder if she is good at apprasing artwork?" The feline shrugs. He has work to do and then a lizard to find...

It pays to have a trust worthy face when you are not a trust worthy person...