Bryn nods to Hugh and smiles warmly as he hands over the shirt; 'He's got a lady. Good, he deserves a bit of companionship....well unless that's his blouse.' For a second Bryn pictures it, then blanks it from his mind.
Turning to Mittens, he looks seriously to the amazing Helmet-cat; "We'll find your balloon!"
Finwa nods to Leo and smiles at him for the suggestion, "Yes please, Leo."
The lady looks at the group and hands Charlene then Bryn a map but looks confused. Three men sit at a table behind her playing cards but at least one keeps a look at the front now and again, "New to Fair Raven? Here is a map for you with this location marked off in red. Is there any questions about our town?"
His thumb brushes the soft hairs of Finwa's hand as she passes across the map; "Thank you." the rolling tones of his voice hold warm promise. "You are too good to us."
Slightly surprised at the size of the town he can sympathise with Leo's dislike of the hurly-burly. "So, at least they'll be plenty of opportunities here."
The map on the wall is this one COSIMA 01
The woman nods, "There are many opportunities. What exactly were you looking for?"
Leoian smiles and moves to lift Finwa so she can see into the booth leaning his head against her as he holds her up. When he sees all the people in the market his eyes widen as he starts to realize how big the town is "Wow... this place is huge" it doesn't sound like that's a good thing in Leo's opinion. "I hope we can find Meowsie's balloon."
When he lets Finwa down he takes her hand and squeezes it lightly looking apprehensively about the crowd not knowing which way to go. "Does your map show the way to the mayor?"
"The mayor? Oh you would go to Quinton Park to see the mayor. All you have to do is go straight up Main Street to Tempest Avenue, hang a right and you'll soon be there."
The lady behind the counter says as she looks at the group, "Would you like any other directions?"
"That's lovely thanks. Is there any boarding houses.... near the outskirts of town?" Bryn asks softly, his melodious voice rolling softly. He looks to Leoian knowing that the man is itching to get out of here, Mittens too...
"Ah, yes, just getting to the mayor is fine by me," says Mittens, licking her lips lightly. "I heard that he might have found a balloon. Very exciting."
Charlene takes the opportunity to change quickly into the new, strange clothing, then hurries to join the others at the maps, shaking her head in disbelieve. "Well, Toto, I think we're not in Kansas anymore. Let's go see if the Mayor has our balloon. Be sure to wait until everyone's aboard before casting off!"
Though her words are slightly loopy, she seems to have hysteria under some measure of control.
"you have been so kind to us, map mistress. I thank you and wish there was more I could do to compensate you for your troubles, unfortunately I am fiscally insolvent in this instance." he says smoothly.
Turning at the managers words Bryn is concerned with the edge to them; 'I know she is grounded in reality and the need to be in charge of her own destiny.' he guesses.
The Norseman tries to get Charlene's attention. "I need you," he looks away for a second smoothly, "not in that way. But I am slightly lost here, we will need to get some work or finances. Now, Finwa can craft excellent items for a market...." As he speaks he starts to move off towards the Mayors house, since Mittens seems very excited.
Leoian blinks a bit and looks up towards Bryn "Map Mistress?" That seems a strange thing to call someone. He hops up grabbing hold of the edge of the booth counter and scrambles slightly as he lifts himself up high enough to look over it at the lady with warm and curious brown eyes. "What's a mistress? And what's your name? you've been really nice, do you want to come with us to find Meowsie's balloon?"
He furrows his little brow a bit as if trying to work through something "Hope we didn't trouble you... I don't know what Bryn was trying to say, he talks kinda funny sometimes saying things like fizzy soul vent. But it would be really fun to have you with us."
The lady smiles at the group with that smile of "the customer is always right" or such an attitude of "smile and wave" as she gives a little wave of her hand to say goodbye but when Brynjård speaks she smiles, delighted by his voice and visage.
Leoian bouncing up to look at her makes her actually chuckle and one of the men behind her stands up and looks at Bryn and Leo grumpily. She tilts her head and smiles, "This is my job so I can't go anywhere no matter," She winks at Bryn, "What temptations come my way." There is a harumph behind her and she glances back then looks to the group, "I am here to give directions so you did not trouble me. I hope you find what you are looking for with the mayor."
Finwa doesn't pay attention to the lady who gave them directions once she knows where to go and walks slowly down the street before the others, her mouth open in an "o" of surprise. She had never been in a market like this and there was so much to look at. The little lady touched some soft fabric then peeked over a counter at some trinkets and took a look at some ripe apples.
The market has many stalls up and down the street with people selling so many different products that it is hard to not look at something. There are many people bustling about already in the early day but not enough to be crowded. There are products ranging from clothes on to food stuffs, daily living items, musical instruments, tools, carved items and many other products.
"Should we try to sell the things here?" Finwa tries to ask the others as she turns around. Her musical voice can be heard but she feels lost among the people as she is so small.
"You can try, but I have nothing to sell... except myself," Charlene mutters pensively, "NO! No, not that." She shoots Bryn a look. "I mean as a sell-sword. If they need them here. Or I could see if any of the merchants need a bookkeeper. I wonder if there's a bank in this town..."
She looks around carefully at the various signs as they go, but stays close to the group, particularly the smaller people so they don't get crushed in the crowd.
When the map-lady says that she cannot come; through thick lashes his downcast eyes seem to say "a pity". Before he leaves with a bow.
Bryn nearly trips over his own feet at Charlene's first words. Then as he regains composure he points out; "I wasn't meaning some fixed job, necessarily. Oh, a bank job. I've done a couple of those." he says with a twinkle in his eye.
Heart soaring with the mere sound of the ladies voice, he tries to locate her. Only being able to see glimpses of her gorgeous form amongst the crowd. "That'd be grand." the words slip off the tongue. Moving through the people chasing after the cute cat-lady, he follows in her wake. Whilst they dutifully head towards the mayors house.
Leoian looks somewhat confused "Job?" He doesn't have time to find out what she means as he sees Finwa is starting off without him "Ack, don't leave me." he hops down and hurries after the small woman with a waves towards the lady in the booth "Bye lady, I'll talk to you later"
He gets bumped and jostled trying to make his way over to Finwa, talking to the map lady was fun, but going through the crowded market sure isn't. "Erk... ouch" He managed to catch up to her "I don't like it here... There's no room to move and I feel like I'm going to be squished." he moves over to take Finwa's hand "I don't want to lose you in this mess." He shakes his head about selling "I don't have anything to trade either, and I'm not very useful to town people... maybe I can sell myself too?"
"No. We don't need money, I'd rather have you about than off doing who knows what." Bryn says in a rush to Leoian. 'He's too young and naive, he might get into trouble.'
As they move through the busy streets; he lean into the halfling ensuring that he can speak quietly.
"But we have those items I made yesterday! They're in your backpack, Charlene." Finwa indicates the pack then pulls down a bit, "We can sell those. There's two sets of bowls, three dollies and a dozen of the utensil I created for eating with. We can see what they will fetch."
The little lady backs up from a couple and settles in closer to a table, "Yeh it's pretty rough here for us." She admits to Leo and nods her head as Bryn tells him he'd rather have him with them, "It would be hard for us here."
She looks about not knowing what exactly to do then walks behind Bryn, pleased that he made a good barrier for them to go behind and with Charlene there too it made it easier for them. It would have been a lot easier with Alexander or Eldon in front but they weren't there. She wondered what happened with the rest. Were they in this world too or were they dead? She stopped thinking of it.
"Oh here's a table with bowls and such. Maybe he'll buy them."
Charlene pulls off her pack and looks at the table for a moment, then back at Finwa, obviously thinking. She hands the pack to the smaller woman.
"I think they'd be more likely to give a better price if you did the selling, Ms. Finwa. I don't see anybody else like you around here, and there might be some - pardon me - novelty value to your wares. Go on, give it a try. He looks friendly."
Mittens glances back from her position on the hoverboard and says, "Money, huh? Is that something that we're going to need? We can't get by on the forces of our personalities? So be it, then. I am a performer, after all! You've all seen my many talents, as I participated alongside you at the Deathmatch, even if I was your terrible and terrifying hostess with the mostest." She considers that for a few moments and then says, "I figured it would all work out in the end. The ends justify the means and all that. I am also a genius engineer, but I'd need more manual dexterity to craft anything, and my hands attachment is unfortunately back in my balloon. That's one of the reasons we need it so badly... because even if my inventions are non-functional, I'm going to need hands in order to build anything else. Finwa's hands might do, though, you're a scientist, aren't you? But what kind of scientist? Sonics, correct? Did you do much building?"
Finwa takes the items and goes to the table, peeking over it, "I would like to sell some merchandise to you sir."
The sounds of commerce goes on around them and anyone versed in it would understand the language. It seems to be that this society works on the old golden standard but runs as penyard, 100 penyards to a copper, 100 coppers to a silver and 100 silvers to a gold.
The business man and Finwa talk and if someone knows anything about banking and money they would be able to tell that this man is screwing Finwa over for the quality of the goods and the little cat like woman has no clue that is what is happening.
The little woman sighs, "If you are sure, sir." She definitely has no clue how to barter.
Bryn moves forward and places a hand comfortingly upon Finwa's shoulder, seeing that the beauty is out of her depth. "That's an interesting opening offer, however you may wish to triple it." His blue eyes crystal clear, but behind them is a depth of discontent with commercialism. 'I caused her to do this, to be involved in this despicable crass consumerism. I should have kept her away.' he rebukes himself, whilst stroking her shoulder reassuringly to try and cure her nerves.
"Sir, you can obviously see the quality of the product. Crafted by this unique and amazing woman here." the tone warm and saccharine; "Now, you are not just buying her bowls but the potential of supplying them again."
Looking down to the cat-women, his thoughts race and he thanks his lucky stars that he met her; "Let alone the fact, how many of these items have you got created by someone so wonderful and unique."
Charlene steps up to the table and picks up one of the bowls, returning it to the backpack.
"There's no point in trying to bargain with such a sharp businessman, Bryn. The gentleman obviously knows what he is doing and is far too shrewd to triple his offer."
She picks up another and places it with the first.
"We'll be better off setting up our own market booth for Finwa's work."
She sets another in the pack.
"After all, that way we won't have to pay a middleman here. We'll have pure profit. It won't be triple what we can make selling to this gentleman, it'll be quintuple"
She reaches for the remaining items.
"Yeah... actually, with our good production costs, we could probably corner the market and make ridiculous margin, whatever money system they use here. Chaching. If we didn't have a balloon to look for," says Mittens.
"I don't care how many peddlers I've gotta put out of business to get my balloon, just gonna have to do it quick!"
The man looks taken back and growls that he will only pay two times more, trying to claim a chip in one of the bowls when the craftsman across from him yells to bring the items over to him as the guy they were at was a shyster.
Finwa takes the last items and runs them over to the other salesman, almost being trampled by a larger human in the process and this man immediately notices the quality and offers what Bryn requested and starts talking about a deal for more in two days.
The first peddlar yells at the second one and they start into a yelling match which makes people look until the first one backs down.
The little lady waves to Charlene to bring the other items over to sell them and grins happily, "I had no idea." She says quietly to Charlene and Bryn if all of them had come over, "How did you know that it wasn't ... oh! Look at that stringed flute-ish thing. Bryn that's almost like the one you played in the Frozen Viking album music video."
She points to a table with instruments which does have an instrument that looks like one Bryn had used in the said video, a norse instrument like a Langeleik.
Bryn's eyes light up; "You saw the video? Upon the Ice lake?" there is obvious pride in his voice, along with a joy that she has seen his work without hating it. Memories are sparse of the video, mostly it seems like it happened to somebody else - the performances though shine clear in his mind.
Joyously he places a hand upon her shoulder and gently strokes the fur. "How about we come back here after we visit the mayors?" he says softly. "I am sure I could write a song for you....or a thousand." Bryn then looks to the impatient Mittens and tries to manoeuvre Finwa down the street towards the town leaders.
Leo looks really uncomfortable in this huge crowd, and much more so when the two merchants start a yelling match. He tries to be patient when Finwa talks about some flute thing and something called a music video.
Bryn starts talking about writing a song and Leo meekly pipes up "Can it wait for later? I really need to get out of here... I hope we can get Meowsie's balloon soon..." He sounds like he just wants to hide away from all this.
Chastised Bryn adds; "Sorry." He continues down the street, making as much room for the smaller companions. Until they come upon a huge building, ornate carvings in the wooden columns and an intricate filigree upon the eaves.
Rich dark wooden colours provide a natural beauty to rival Finwa's. Slowly he ascends the heavy steps and pushes the closed doors, to reveal a reception area. It's a circle of peace amongst the bustle of the town.
Bryn holds open the door and nods to the receptionist/clerk inside; "After you." he holds open the heavy doors for the others.
"I understand, believe me," Charlene whispers to the impatient hovercat, "But if this world is anything like ours, it helps to have some grease for the wheels, if you know what I mean. We have to have some reason for the Mayor to turn over your balloon, or we're likely to be caught in one of those I'll return your balloon, but first you must get rid of such-and-such a menace for me situations."
Leo quickly hurries inside to get away from the crowd, he is interested and often quite likes individual people, but is just totally overwhelmed by a crowd. With some space to breath he starts to calm down somewhat, this large building still feels unnatural to him, but at least it's less crowded.
Looking towards Charlene "You're talking about trading with the mayor for the balloon? That might be good... but I have no idea what they might want, or what's of value here. Back home I could trade pelts and herbs for bits of coin and paper," He furrows his brow "which I didn't think was very useful, but other people didn't want my pelts they would only trade for coins or paper. The people here seem to want to trade coins as well, but I don't know how many coins they'll give for a deer pelt here, it's probably not the same as back home."
He considers what the tall woman said about a reason for the Mayor to turn over the balloon. "Well... wouldn't getting rid of such-and-such a menace be a good reason for him or her to turn it over? I'll gladly get rid of whatever the mayor wants if it keeps me away from all those people."
Finwa accepts being moved along and stays close to Bryn and Leo, hugging Leo's arm as she notices he is nervous. She does; however, look around with astonishment at all the sights and sometimes stumbles while trying to see some objects or house decorations a bit better.
When they come into the building she looks about in awe and needs a little nudging to move into the reception room, hardly noticing the secretary sitting in the middle of the room behind a desk. At the moment she is caught up looking at some wooden columns. On top of one is a winged lady sculpture and it looks like other sculptures are intended to be on top of the other four columns.
The columns are two to a wall on each side and one on the back wall between two doors. When one looks closer they can see that the column is part of the two doors.
There are comfortable chairs and a sofa in front of the desk and Finwa holds onto one to keep her balance.
As they get in and the doors close behind them the group can see the room much better. It is a beautiful room with the same dark wood as they saw outside and the furnishings looked wondrous.
The receptionist looks up and smiles at the group then stands, waving you to the doors, "Mayor Alece Marbro is available. She will see you now."
As you enter the room you see that there is a balcony off to the side which the woman in question is standing in front of, just now coming back into the room.
Leoian being the first one into the room blinks a bit towards the Mayor, maybe she's not quite what he expected "Oh ummm hiya, sorry I hope we're not interrupting."
Interrupting or not there isn't any helping it now so he decides he'll just proceed and meet the mayor. He comes over and offers his little hand "I'm Leoian, you have a really big house, it's really nice, but would be too big for me. You have a kind face, I think I'll like you. Do you live here with the lady in the front? she was nice too. I'd like to have a home for me sometime, and Finwa too of course, but maybe a little ways away... there's so many people here. They don't scare you?" He seems to be doing much better now that he's away from the crowd.
Thanking the receptionist for her kind help, with a little squeeze of her hand and a soft smile. Bryn subsequently leaves following slightly behind the others; but he catches up with them just as they enter.
Naturally using the light to show off his best side, the sun glistens off Bryn's handsome features as he observes the Mayor lost in thought at Leoians hurried speech.
"Mayor Marbro?" he adds a light shocked catch to his voice; "Someone so young and beautiful, to be Mayor. You must be very skilled." Keeping eye contact with the raven haired lady, he bows. "Whilst I am just Bryn, your humble servant." honeyed words slide from his lips.
Charlene snorts and rolls her eyes. "Really, Bryn. I'm certain the Mayor is very busy, so let's get down to business."
She strides forward briskly, offering her hand to the mayor. "Mayor Marbro? I'm Charlene Oftenseen. My associates and I are recent arrivals to the area and Ms. Meowselsworth has lost her hot air balloon. We've been told you might have it or know where it is." Charlene indicates the hovering helmetcat with a tilt of her head and gives the mayor a tight smile. "I hate to trouble a busy woman with such a trivial request, but we are at a dead end. We would greatly appreciate its return if you can point us in the right direction."
The mayor gives Leo a strange look, seemingly confused by the young halfling but it is mingled with some surprise. She seems somewhat confused by the little man then looks up at Bryn and gives him a half smirk that says she can tell that he is a silver tongued beast but that she isn't fully immune to his looks. Her eyes trail to Finwa who is partially behind Bryn and Leoian, peeking out at her curiously then she puts out her hand and grasps Charlene's elbow, clearly indicating that Charlene should do the same in a stronger hand shake than the normal one.
Alece Marbro takes a step back from Charlene and looks over the group once more before commencing with eye contact with the former manager. She listens intently before nodding once, "It was reported to me that your group had come into Fair Raven and I was hoping that you would come to me. You have wonderful timing as well. We just found the balloon a couple of days ago. Unfortunately, we have yet to be able to retrieve it."
She waves her hand to a sitting area and walks to a leather chair which looks extremely comfortable but business-like in it's upkeep. She pulls a rope and sits down, "You see, we have had some trouble getting to it but that may yet change."
Finwa seems nervous and she is as she is not pleased with seeing one who runs everything. Her experience with top guns had mostly been in response to inquiries about her work and she always needed a couple of days to arrange her information to give to said person and usually she had an attendant helping her. The little woman had never been pleased with being in front of one person judging her. If there was a group it would be easier. Tactics for one varied from tactics for a group and group tactics were more her style.
With the Deathmatch she had been able to act at the start because it was many people watching them but if it were only one she would have had trouble.
She followed the others but did not sit down yet as she noticed something was not quite right. What was wrong with them getting it? But she said nothing as she was too nervous.
Leoian blinks towards the mayor as she gives him a strange confused, or possibly surprised look. He's about to ask if he said something strange, but the woman has already moved on so he just frowns at being ignored. Bryn at least got somewhat of a smile, and a hint of that look that every woman seemed to give Bryn, what was so alluring about him anyway?
The little halfling is not very good in the bussiness meeting environment. With the Mayor paying most of her attention to Charlene, he finds his curiosity wandering, and he starts looking for an opportunity to slip off and explore, maybe find the Mayor's little friend that he saw earlier. When the mayor moves the meeting to a sitting area Leo appears to be missing if anyone notices.
"What kinda trouble?" blurts out Mittens, boldly stepping forward, "What's going on, is it something to do with the whole 'shadowy death' thing that you people are all on about? Well, whatever, we'll take care of anything in between me and my balloon. It's imperative that I get it! It's mine!"
Before Leoian can get very far and just as Mittens states that the balloon is hers the doors the group had come through bursts open and a middle aged man, still strong looking, stomps into the room holding onto the ear of a gnoll.
He gets closer then pushes the creature to the ground and wipes his hands in a clapping type of gesture as if he is wiping dirt from them, "This creature has stolen from me! I will no longer continue to keep this flea bitten beast on my property! I insist that you do something with him because I've had it with thievery within my own business. What will you do about this creature Mizz Mayor?"
The Mayor stands up and looks at the man with a glare in her eyes and he backs up a pace, "Please excuse me." She says to the group then gives the man a word but when she speaks to the gnoll it is gentled, "Tonkleson, keep your peace. Gnoll? Is this correct? Did you steal from your Master to whom you were apprenticed?"
The shaggy, towering creature keeps its eyes on the ground. "Yes, Mizz Mayor. I was hungry and those leather scraps were just sitting there. They weren't big enough for cobbling anything useful out of. I've been so good for weeks and weeks, but I just had to eat. He won't let me eat."
The creature's eyes flash for a moment to Tonkleson. Hackles twitch.
The return to its dejected posture emphasizes the beast's malnourishment.
When the doors slam open Finwa turns and jumps back, the entrance of the angry shop owner and the humanoid startling the little one enough that her fur on her neck and hair up to her ears stand on end and her ears flop backwards. She hiss, growls at the two then settles down beside the chair Bryn has chosen.
While the mayor speaks to the shop owner the small woman gets down to the ground and walks on her fours to Turble, her eyes never leaving the gnoll's as she gets closer.
When he answers the mayor she has gotten within a foot of Turble and sniffs the air between them, "You've had no food? What are you?" She asks, genuinely confused and curious.
As Finwa crouches down beside Bryns chair her heckles risen; he puts out a hand and skilfully strokes her behind her pointed ears. "It's alright." he tries to reassure her. Taking the new arrivals in his stride he nods as the Mayor discusses things with the gnolls 'owner'.
'Shocking, slavery and malnourishment....' his thoughts and vision trails off as Finwa moves towards the creature. Watching the lithe feline movements, the sway of her hips and the feminine lines; causing a smile upon his face.
As everyone else is concerned with the balloon and the new arrivals Leoian has gone off onto the balcony they mayor had come in from.
The mayor glares at the man who had brought in the gnoll and snaps, "You have been told time and again about treating your apprentices like abused animals. Fair Raven is not a home for slavers or abusive behavior and you know that, Tonkleson! The guards will take you for your punishment of starving an apprentice and ill treatment. You will be fined and all current apprentices withdrawn from your service and you will leave Fair Raven within the day."
"Mayor! You forget, I am your best ..."
Alece waves her hand and guards come to take away the man, hollering and screaming at her then she looks to the gnoll, "What shall we do with you?" She puts out a hand to Turble to help him up, "You will have to be trained into a new profession but there is nothing at this time." The mayor puts her hand to her chin considering how to fix the problem.
"Beauty; it's not appearance, physicality, gender or age; but her kindness, warmth, passion and intellect."
.
..
...
...
'Though she is hot.'
Fair enough, Charlene thinks, observing the scene in silence and nodding approvingly when Tonkleson is dragged off.
She wonders what a gnoll is, and watches the newcomer curiously.
"I am Turble, small one," the gnoll answers the odd little creature who has crept into his vision.
As his change of fortune registers, Turble risks a furtive glance at the company.
"So many females," he mutters.
"Turble." Finwa says his name as if she is trying to taste the letters and sits on her heals, "I am Finwa, Turble. The other woman in our group is Ms. Oftenseen. She's the pretty brown haired lady over there. This gentleman is Bryn and Leoian is ... Leo? He's here somewhere. So ..."
The little woman looks up at the mayor, "Does he have no home now?"
The mayor smirks as Turble and Finwa talk then breathes out heavily, "Turble has no home. I am ..." She stops mid sentence and looks at the other two then towards the balcony, "You have only two men to two women?" She looks to Charlene for confirmation then down at Finwa and then Bryn, "But you and the halfling, Leoian stayed by Finwa. Are you two Finwa's protectors?"
Managing to pull his eyes away from the beauteous Finwa and the gnoll, straight to the elegant Mayor. There's still a sparkle in his sapphire eyes.
"I'm sure she can protect herself, I would not presume." his tone caring; "However, I would prevent injury to her at any cost." 'I even have an idea, how I can restore her tail to it's full glory.'
Swinging out a presenting hand; "Then of course there is the genius, the glorious Mittens. Whose balloon we are looking for."
"Turble, do you play any instruments or cook?" Bryn wonders out-loud.