The Vixen passes on Cashara's message:
She then crosses her arms and makes an expression of mock envy.
Her hammy tone makes it apparent that the Vixen is not at all offended.
By the look on her face, VV is enjoying herself, though exactly why is anyone's guess.
"Sure nuh bad looking fi a savage"
Rorx chuckles again, offering a polite bow to Cashara. Then calmly looks VV up and down, and offers a shrug.
"Nuh really much to sey bout yuh looks mi tink - mi sure yuh understand dem too plain"
The Vixen admits,
'O'course, ain't lost on me ye might be referring to the split second I'm in-adorned when I reshape me glamered spider silk. I suppose I can't complain about yer reaction. The ol' lady quite clearly implied I was being a bit of a floozy.
'But she's an elder, so I'll treat her with kindness rather than hold a grudge.
'Oh... Fashion Bug's wondering how Sonix is handling the ride. She'll revert to fox form for a bit when we go ashore. I need Uncle Henry to see her as me pet Kitty. Which reminds me, I've a question for the cap'n.'
She then passes on a message to Cashara—
'I do find his tribal trinkets rather intriguing meself.'
—then asks the captain:
'If so, fair warning: I need to perform a bit o' fairy magic prior to arrival.'
Cashara looks over at Rorxx as he bows and gives a smile with a shrug.
what's not to like she says I know people who would love you for just your honesty and ability rather than your looks
She gives s wink to Rorx at the end of her words
The Vixen passes on the message:
'And that's like I as in she, so we're clear. Um... lemme start o'er:
'I know people who'd love ye for just yer honesty and ability rather than yer looks.
'Which've already been established to be savagely handsome—just me two copper, that last bit.'
"In-adorned? Yuh mean naked? Mi cya gi yuh mi opinion pan dat eff yuh want?"
"An wah does handsome mean?"
Rorx raises his eyebrows at VV questioningly.
"Sonix sleeping sound - yuh nuh hear him snoring?"
He adds, opening his satchel, for Fashion Bug to peer in at the hedgehog completely rolled up into a ball.
The half-orc acknowledges Cashara's mouthed whisper directed at him, and replies directly at her, even if the whisper is heard only by VV.
The Vixen has to laugh at herself a little.
'And by handsome, I may be interjecting me own take on this exchange o' compliments. The word's the sort o' thing a lady says to speak of a man she finds attractive. I ain't the sort o' lady with a use for the word.
'Love in the other hand... the word comes up in me prayers on a daily basis, directed at me best friend. Did I tell ye about avenging her death four years ago?
'Vikki and I were never more-than-friends, if ye take me meaning, but her Uncle Henry knew we were close. Like sisters, he figured, back when I was barely in me teens, if that. So even in me invite to this island, he signed the letter Uncle Henry.'
She passes on the message to Cashara:
'Oh, and that he's never known Love.'
The Vixen ponders the last few words spoken to Cashara. She then asks her a fairy a question.
Seated in the palm of VV's hand, Fashion Bug looks up at her friend, gives a shrug, and casts a spell.
The spell creates a pale pink light that resembles a ballerina, complete with a wispy tutu and a ball of light atop her head that resembles hair in a bun. The vaguely feminine silhouette dances at a pace matching Frogmouth's hum.
It's not clear whether this Dancing Light answers the Vixen's question, but the dancer remains for about a minute before separating into several shimmering stars that fall and fade like a gentle snow. The fairy casts immediately, replacing the dancer with four floating lanterns—red, gold, pink and green—and in near a minute, the lanterns converge to form the dancer, this time in periwinkle blue.
As long as Frogmouth sings, the fairy remains cupped in VV's hands, puppeting her dancer across the surface of the water, leaping over the boat, changing from stars to lanterns to another color of the rainbow.
Her intent is to keep the show going until either Frogmouth ends his song or the island is in sight, at which time her dancer will curtsy before vanishing in a shimmering cascade.
Cashara looks at Rorx with a sad smile
love is real, and it's a shame you haven't had it yet she says
I just hope you don't experience it the same way I did. Because, as beautiful as love is, it can still hurt
Cashara seems to look close to tears at this point with the thoughts of her late partner
The Vixen nods at Cashara. She knows the story behind the words and the saddened tone.
—then asks the captain:
** spoiler omitted **
Cap'n Naylar looks up from the horizon and glances around. His eyes settle on The Vixen before asking,
"Did you say something?", out loud.
As for the conversation in the Decussion tab, I'm not very rules savvy so... Good luck!
"Understand now - yuh did nuh naked yuh just look naked"
Rorx chuckles, but then he becomes more serious.
"Vengeance a waah word mi understand - wah happen to yuh best bredren?"
"An wah ave pass wid Cashara? Wah mek did shi hurt?"
The Vixen whispers her story to Rorx, if he wants to know...
VV tells of her childhood friend, taking visual cues as to whether she should maybe downplay the feeling she had for her. Her emotions remain under control, even as she tells of the dead brides, her murderous trap for the killer, and his she beat him to death...
After telling her story, she says, 'The boots I'm wearing now won't break when I kick someone. At least I expect not.
'As for Cashara's story, she's told me. I can whisper it to ye, if she prefers. If ye've a story to prefer to be told to only Cashara and meself, feel free to whisper it and I'll pass it on.'
Cashara sighed as she seemed to think on what to say. She looked strait at Rorx
Anyone watching could see she had bowed her head so she was looking at her lap and she was starting to grip her skirt as tears swelled in her eyes.
The Vixen offers a shoulder to cry on, or simply puts her arm around her, if Cashara permits such contact.
She goes on to whisper, 'Cashara's exact words:'
Cashara does permit a friendly hug, and seems to calm down a little bit although not much.
The Vixen pats Cashara on the back, lightly and rhythmically. She has a tune in her head—one that's among the few that she likes that are popular in Westedge. Judging by Cashara's taste in clothing, VV thinks, she might like this... whaddayacallit, Greengrass? Or is it Greenhorn? No... ain't no horn section in any o' them Westedge bands. Oh—BLUE-grass! F!#~ yes, definitely, Bluegrass.
That's what it's definitely called. Cashara being into it's a maybe.
...which is not to say VV's about to break into a song. She simply says the name of the tune, "Ye're in good company." And even though the Vixen gets the title wrong, her meaning is clear to Cashara:
She then tries to cheer Cashara up by whistling the whistling part of a popular song from a band that the Vixen thinks is from Westedge, but is in fact from the southernmost frontier town on the continent of Arcadia. The Vixen doesn't know the name of the town or the band, but of the tune she's whistling, she has the name partially correct: In Hell I'll Be In Good Company.
Cashara wipes her tears as she sniffs
She seams to be doing a little better as she seems to regain her composure.
She then looks at Rorx with a teary eyes and a smile
The Vixen passes the whisper onto Rorx:
...And with that our hero’s “conversation” was cut short. It felt like they had only just left port but they find that the mainland is out of sight and a new land mass was coming into view before them. This new island was surrounded by fog but one could clearly see the large jagged black rocks rising from the ocean blue.
Naylar grips the tiller and presses something on the motor. The roar of the engine begins to slow and the boat begins to serve through the landmine of rock that would have ripped apart any ship bigger than the one you're in.
As you round the last big rock the fog lifts and a sweet smelling breeze blows by. Up on high the sun smiles down across a beautiful island and a clear blue sky. The shore of the island is a wonderful beach with palm trees and crabs dotting the shore. On one half the beach seamlessly changes to a dense and dark rainforest, the trees having vines curl up their trunks. Behind the forest, you can see a single mountain rising to the heavens. On the other side of the beach is a small dock that has a boardwalk, that changes into a paved road, that leads to a flight of stairs, that stretch up to a hill, with a grand manor at the top. You can see a large garden that seems to wrap around the entirety of the bottom of the hill.
But the main attraction is the figures standing on the dock. As Naylar pulls the boat up to port and kills the engine you are able to get a better look at them.
The first is a large hulking monster. It’s at least 8 ft. tall with an ugly frowning face. Reddish shaggy fur sags from every part of its body. Its forearms are much larger than the rest of its arm. Not only did it have that but it also an extremely large pair of feet. It was standing slightly hunched over wearing a baby blue suit and pants, that was barely big enough to fit it.
The next individual was also wearing a baby blue tuxedo. He too was hunched but in more of a-cringing-up way. He looked to be middle age, as evidence of his receding hairline, and also had a pencil thin mustache under his wide blue eyes. He seemed to bite his lip a lot and also seemed fond of wringing his hands.
The Vixen runs up to Vikki's uncle and embraces him. "Uncle Henry!" She pats her purse gently (which is open, allowing its passenger to breathe) and says, "Ye remember Kitty, the fox. I got her collar off. I'll let her fly out in a bit, but just a fair warning: if ye think me new look's a bit... different... wait'll ye see hers!
"Anyway, thanks for the invite. Lovely place ye got here."
The Vixen takes in her surroundings. She knew the Finns were loaded, but Henry is Vikki's mother's brother. She knew nothing of the Splorers' wealth... or maybe it's just Henry himself who amassed an apparent fortune. Or did he just claim an island no one happened to be using.
Either way, Whole E. S+#@!
Fashion Bug doesn't want to stay in the purse.
"I am the fox you rescued from the cage, Mr. Splorer."
She politely curtsies as he hovers before the trio.
"I am known as Fashion Bug in this form, and Miss Lane is to be addressed as the Vermilion Vixen. VV or Miss Vixen will do.
"It is a pleasure to meet you and finally, with my own voice, to thank you for rescuing me. Thank you, Mr. Splorer!"
Cashara tries to keep her distance of Mr. DeVille as she make her way to the gather at Henry.
Mr. Splorer, it's a pleasure to see you again. I assume you've gotten sleeping arrangements and a schedule all planned. she reaches out for a pleasant hand shake, but expects that she will get a hug from him.
She seams to have mostly regained her composure, but you can still see a hint of sadness in her eyes if you look closely enough.
"Gud to si yuh again masta" - Rorx nods at Sir Henry.
Cashara is a little reluctant to be releaved of her gun back, but consents none the less.
Cashara tries to stick close to Addy or Rorx as she knows them best and are possibly the most stable and reliable people there besides Henry himself.
age doesn't seem to have been so kind to his looks she says but he hasn't changed much on the inside she goes into a quick account of her work with Mr.Splorer. how he always had a gleam in his eyes, even while under fire.
I sware, even under some of the worst sercumstances, he would not stop smiling
The Vixen starts to wonder about Henry, but chalks up his new look as: The years ain't been kind.
She agrees with Cashara's assessment. "Maybe the death of his niece took its toll, and missing her funeral made it that much harder. O' course, that's only me thinking 'cause Vikki's death left me in a state o' depression for some years. Me whole world revolved around me BFF, and I don't regret loving her. She's in me prayers every night, and I pray we'll meet again in Shelyn's paradise."
"Speaking of paradise, this island is very beautiful!"
Fashion Bug flits about excitedly, taking in the sights and aroma, zipping from flowertop to sky to VV's shoulder. She says to Cashara and Rorx,
"It seems everyone here is connected to Mr. Splorer. Miss Vixen was close to his niece, Miss Vikki Finn, and as I said at the gathering, I was rescued from my cage.
"Miss Cashara, Mr. Rorx, how did you come to know Mr. Splorer?"
It seems the fairy likes to address people with a certain formality, even when she is unaware of their surnames.
She looks at VV with sad knowing eyes
eye, I understand. she said its not easy losing someone you love
Cashara looks over at Fashion bug
simple really, she said he was a good tracker. So, during my time in the police force, we contracted with him on certain cases were a good amount of tracking skill is required. Really helped, too, especially in a gun fight, even though he didn't shoot much, he gave us insight on where the baddies where shooting from
"He's always had an eye for detail," the Vixen notes.
Fashion Bug zips around some more, fascinated by the two butlers, and Mr. Splorer himself.
” it is so nice to meet you again Master Rorx! It is truly a delight to know you received my letter! I was sure it wouldn't get to you, but, well, here you are!”...
"Here mi" - Rorx nods with an unusual smile - "Yuh different" - he adds, after looking Henry up and down.
"I ain't much of a shooter," VV replies, "but I've me talents."
The Vixen cups her left hand over her mouth. 100 feet east, a lion roars. 100 feet west, a duck quacks. Even further south, a seal barks. Just north of the fuzzy butler, a cat meows. And 100 feet directly above the Vixen, an elephant trumpets!
No, none of these creatures can be seen. But they are heard quite clearly.
"I can always lure a creature with a sound. Then one o' ye can take yer firearm and—"
The Vixen makes a 'hand-gun' of her right hand by extending her thumb and index. Her fingertip seemingly emits a BANG!
not bad Vix she says of course I brought a nice shotgun to the hunt. Got any Turkey running around here Henry?
"Thanks, Sweetie," the Vixen says to Cashara.
When she mentions turkey, VV wonders, "Do ye hunt yer own food? I'm so settled in the city life, I've forgotten how much wildlife there is on the outskirts o' Rooftopolis."
"I ain't much of a shooter," VV replies, "but I've me talents."
The Vixen cups her left hand over her mouth. 100 feet east, a lion roars. 100 feet west, a duck quacks. Even further south, a seal barks. Just north of the fuzzy butler, a cat meows. And 100 feet directly above the Vixen, an elephant trumpets!
No, none of these creatures can be seen. But they are heard quite clearly.
"I can always lure a creature with a sound. Then one o' ye can take yer firearm and—"
The Vixen makes a 'hand-gun' of her right hand by extending her thumb and index. Her fingertip seemingly emits a BANG!
As the group laughs at the trick the large hairy monster let's out a deep but loud growl and begins to approach you!
It reaches out when...!
on occasion, but I normally by it from a store like everyone else skinning and cleaning a nice kill takes its time, but is often worth it she says to VV's inquiry before Buckley moves
She notices Buckley's hostility, just barely, and has her hand on her revolver by the time Henry finally says "stop"
After the rule is place upon magic, Cashara turns to VV
Sorry Vix, and I'm not sure how much of a good idea it would be to use magic the hunt either
"I did no such thing, Uncle Henry. I merely altered and threw me voice." She then asks Henry, "Seeing how yer furry friend reacts to what looks like magic, would it be against the rules for me to—for example—make meself stronger? As opposed to tripling me height, which is clearly magic... but also clearly very useful against someone who's twice me size."
She smiles at Cashara and says, "I don't rely on fairy magic. It's nice to have, but if it's prohibited I'm willing to follow the rules." She does find the magic dampener rather alarming.
She looks up at Fashion Bug.
The fairy answers the Vixen's unspoken question aloud.
"Only our transformation is magic. If Uncle Henry activates the dampener, we cannot change our forms. It is best I remain as a fairy, and you remain as you are."
Cashara nods as she overhears
wouldn't affect me much she says, tapping her revolver.
Henry seems taken back, but then his smile reappears and he let's out a laugh."Oh yes, I do suppose the years have not been kind to me. But don't fret, I can still shoot a rhino a mile away! "
"Neva doubt yuh wudda" - the half-orc smiles.
----
As Buckley seemed to 'lose his composure', Rorx was ready with a hand on the hilt of his weapon, but fortunately things seemed to defuse quickly.
"Magic part of mi blood" - he shrugs matter of fact.
"Mine too," the little fairy replies. "I believe I can scout. Hopefully, Mr. Buckley does not object to the luminosity of my skin."
The Vixen seems to be completely calm, despite the big fuzzy guy almost assaulting her.
She says nothing else on the topic, but certainly expects answers to her questions to Henry.
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"Well, the hunt will be fun none the less" she says