To market, to market
Modesty
Raid Queen
Master Navigator (306)
Master Intellectual (260)
Fleet-footed
Professor
5 Years
Female
54
NachoMumma
Modesty had sent her bird ahead to give Sirius a warning that she meant to visit the market. With things between their packs as they were, she had more sense than to just arrive unannounced, especially with her new position and the fact she wasn't alone. Flurry had asked to join her and she had no reason to say no, and Jael was here to assess any livestock they might decide to purchase. They reached the edge of the market and she paused, waiting for someone to arrive and let them know if they would be permitted to enter, or if they would be turned away.
“Speech.”
Modesty
Raid Queen
Master Navigator (306)
Master Intellectual (260)
Fleet-footed
Professor
5 Years
Female
54
NachoMumma
They didn't have to wait terribly long for a patrol to come by and let them in, and Modesty was on her best behaviour, giving them a smile and a dip of her head in thanks before they entered the great cavern that housed the market. Natural light filtered in from cracks and crevices in the ceiling overhead and lit up the mottled stone, highlighting streaks of grey and red. The soft soil under their feet still held a grittiness to it, the result of centuries of erosion no doubt. It was a bustling place and the noise echoed around the chamber making it seem so much larger than it was. There were stands for alcohol and armour, trinkets and herbs, but the one that caught her attention was closest to the entrance, with small pens set up and seemingly run by stocky, blockheaded dogs in varying shades of red, blue and black. No point beating about the bush, they'd only come here for one reason, really.
She approached the stall, the earthy and musty scent of livestock permeating the air. She understood why any food vendors were at the far end of the market. Modesty paced along the pens, taking it all in. Black faced sheep with their wool falling off in chunks, ornery goats, bleating distinctively, others with stranger pelts, curled and shining. She couldn't fathom what they might be for. Finally, they came to the cattle. Some far too large and imposing for their tiny isle, (she was sure she had seen cape buffalo on the archipelago before, no reason to bring more home).
No, the ones that caught her attention were a short and shaggy breed. Most seemed to be almost as red as the cattle dog manning the stall in colour, but there were lighter ones, and darker ones too. They were starting to bud horns which would help them to protect themselves from the numerous predators that called the islands home. “Thoughts?” she asked Jael, also noticing other varieties a bit further along, white with black or brown splotches, and others the colour of caramel that seemed to be marked 'dairy', whatever that meant, while these ones were marked 'mixed'.
“Speech.”
Modesty
Raid Queen
Master Navigator (306)
Master Intellectual (260)
Fleet-footed
Professor
5 Years
Female
54
NachoMumma
Modesty knew nothing of livestock, she knew how to hunt prey and eat it, how to fend off a predator, and surely these animals probably knew some degree of the same. They didn't seem to have the same visceral reaction to Jael that they did to her, so Modesty stood back and let the smaller woman make her assessment.
There were all manner of wolves milling about in the cavern, and to the back it seemed to narrow into what would mark the territory proper, she assumed based on the posted guard. She had lost sight of her daughter in the hustle and bustle and sighed, surely the girl was up to no good, but at least it looked like someone was keeping an eye on her. She smiled pleasantly and sat on a clear patch of stone, near to the livestock, but far enough removed that the traders might not think her interested, just finding a crack of light to sunbathe in after a lengthy journey. She turned her eyes upward and considered that the motes would probably give her a yellow tinge and her expression soured ever so slightly.
She was pulled from her brooding by the return of Jael, grateful for her large, feline ears that angled to catch the sound slightly better than the ones she was born with could. A contemplative “Hmm.” was offered in return for the comment about a drippy nose, but she didn't turn her head to look, she trusted the woman to know her stuff in this regard. “Well, we've certainly earned it, it was a longer journey than I remembered, but please, let me pay.” She tipped her nose to the back of the market where the food vendors were set up. “Anything in particular catch your fancy? We can come back here to eat if nobody moves in while we're gone, it's a nice little patch of sun.” And conveniently close enough to keep an ear out for any coughing among the livestock.
“Speech.”
Wylan
Heir Apparent
Master Fighter (300)
Master Intellectual (250)
Marauder
Professor
1 Year
Male
69
Seadragoness
He had a lot of conditions for being allowed in the market. He wasn’t allowed in there for more than two hours, so he couldn’t overly harass anyone. He wasn’t allowed to ambush customers, and he had to acknowledge that he was under watch, and if he wasn’t on his best behaviour he would be booted.
He was absolutely on his best behaviour. His wares were being carried by his miniature polar bear, who walked about on two legs beside him. His tail was wiggling a hundred miles an hour behind him, and definitely in danger of knocking things over. He just overheard some wolves say they could eat when he turned his attention on them. “Hi, Hi Hi! He said, stopping before them both. Did you want some honey candy? I made them myself!” He beamed
As his 'companion' Krakarak may enter any of Wylan's threads without warning
The hustle of the market stalls is... unnerving. It's hard not to be jumpy in an environment like this. At least there are so many differences among them that she's hardly the biggest spectacle. With the proximity of the cattle dogs, it's the most ordinary she's felt since arriving. That's a comfort. A sheepish smile to Modesty as she hovers near the woman's shoulder, nodding softly. It had been a long walk, and she wouldn't complain but... yes. Food. Lightly wagging her tail, the wolfdog is cut off by a child's voice before she can answer.
Precarious beating of his tail and-- wings? Another one? Without a second thought, Jael ducked between Modesty's forelegs, peering out from beneath her to watch the boy. Nervous. The wings first and then the markings through his eye. The same as the man that had threatened to kill her not so many weeks ago. Swallowing hard, eyes going wide. Nervous. Far more nervous than she was a moment ago. Unable to even find the words to answer the boy, Jael's opalescent gaze goes to Modesty instead. Yeah, he was just a kid, but Jael has seen the damage just a kid can do. Cal especially, and the boy in front of her is every bit as big. Trying not to look outwardly afraid of a kid, Jael nervously tucks against her guardian.
“Speech.”
Modesty
Raid Queen
Master Navigator (306)
Master Intellectual (260)
Fleet-footed
Professor
5 Years
Female
54
NachoMumma
Modesty turned her gaze to the young boy, a small smile pulling at the corners of her lips and then twisting to confusion as Jael tucked herself away under her chest, much like she had at Sparrow's fight. It took a moment for the pieces to fall into place, the boy had those familiar eye markings that Dread also had, that Azure also had. She had mentioned her run in with the man after they had left the spectacle and Modesty wasn't surprised. Azure certainly had it in for the once Pirates, not that they gave him much opportunity to forget about them.
She relaxed and looked over the sweets that the bear had held out on a tray. “Made them yourself? They certainly do look tasty.” She finally addressed the giant winged child, he must almost be a yearling based on size alone. “How much are you asking for these masterpieces? We have some pretty necklaces my boy made, if you'd prefer a trade?” Some with seashells, some with feathers and pits of bone or scraps of fur. While her stomach growled for meat, the honey snack would get her to the other end of the market, she was sure.
“Speech.”
Wylan
Heir Apparent
Master Fighter (300)
Master Intellectual (250)
Marauder
Professor
1 Year
Male
69
Seadragoness
“Oh, yes! A necklace. Maybe two? How many sweets did you want?” He asked. Battering and trading was new to him. He had no idea what he should be asking for - but anything shiny would be a win with him.
As his 'companion' Krakarak may enter any of Wylan's threads without warning
Sirius
High Councilor
Master Fighter (240)
Master Hunter (275)
Bloodletter
11 Years
Male
51
Seadragoness
He paused just after speaking, and frowned a little at Modesty. “I’m sorry, you look familiar. Have we met before?” He knew his memory wasn’t what it had been in his youth.
The boy is innocent. Distractible. Jael is grateful for that, offering only a sheepish smile in return. Her ear still remains trained on the cows themselves, knowing why they lingered in the area. Eyes on the prize, right? Hyperaware of the situation, she can't help herself. Jael exists at the intersection of selective breeding and trauma (generational, otherwise). in a way that makes socializing hard.
Oh great, a second man that shared a face with the one who threatened to eat her for no reason. At least by now, Jael has fixed her face. Though her keen gaze flickers over him as well, she's reminded herself that the intensity... creeps people out. Dial it back. Be socially acceptable. Wear the mask for a little bit, you can melt down later. Abraxas help her, she wouldn't reflect badly on Modesty in public.
She would keep the boy busy while the adults did their talking. “Can we have two please? You can pick out two necklaces if that sounds fair.” Jael speaks to Wylan, her tail giving a little twitch. A different mask than the one she wears with Ken or Sid, gentler, though she still speaks to him nearly the same as she would a friendly adult. Moving to uncoil the necklaces from Modesty's bag while she dealt with alpha conversations, Jael is grateful she can at least be useful here too. Still, she keeps one ear out for the cows. Still listening for coughing, though satisfied she hasn't heard any yet.
“Speech.”
Modesty
Raid Queen
Master Navigator (306)
Master Intellectual (260)
Fleet-footed
Professor
5 Years
Female
54
NachoMumma
Modesty was about to offer the boy two necklaces when Sirius approached. Her tail gave a welcome wave and she smiled, pleased that Jael willingly stepped up to finish their bartering, despite being startled before. “Warlord,” she greeted the old man warmly, “I imagine when last we met I was emerging from a mud bath with Ophie, and barely a yearling at that. The years do get away from us.” She sounded almost wistful.
“I have recently stepped up to lead Raider's Hollow. My name is Modesty, my mother is Toxicity, and my daughter... is Deluge.” The latter was followed by a grimace, and a long suffering sigh. “That girl is a persistent thorn in my side, but she seems quite taken with your son, I believe they soon plan to leave us and start a band of their own.” There was a hint of humour in her tone, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.“Though you are always welcome to visit, I believe they have built themselves a treehouse out on the Archipelago.” It had almost seemed to spring up overnight. She had been quite impressed when she stumbled across it recently.
“I do promise, we aren't here to cause strife... today.” It was a tease, the wave of her tail and her smile betraying her. “We're here to look at livestock, Jael has quite a few plans for our little island home, and I'm excited to see where they take us.” She was genuinely excited to see the other woman's vision come to life, and she didn't mind who heard about it.
“Speech.”
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1. | To market, to market | Dreamer's Col | 09:23 PM, 01-31-2024 | 08:26 AM, 04-19-2024 |