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THE THIRSTY MINNNOW - EARLY AFTERNOON
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Fiora is sitting at a table, sans armor once more, finishing up the last of her late breakfast before she prepares to stretch and do her morning workout routine.
Brunilda walks in, though a more appropriate term would perhaps be 'trundles' - she's definitely not being as careful as she usually is. She gets herself a pint and only then looks around, giving Fiora a nod as she notices her. "Hey."
Fiora grins, giving Brun a wave, "Heya tall stuff. What's the good word, today, hm?"
Brunilda gives a wry chuckle: "Anywhere except the barracks or the generator, is the word."
Fiora chuckles. "Telling you, going freelance is way better then any of that stuff~. I set my own hours, never have somewhere I have to be, and the uniform is way cooler."
Brunilda laughs a bit: "You might have a point." She lifts her beer containerdu jour: "Or a pint."
Fiora sticks her tongue out, "Nah, too early for me. I just got out of bed. I got my morning routine, then..." She pauses a moment, "Then I gotta check in on my cousin. If it's a drinking partner you're looking for, come back tonight."
Brunilda shrugs: "Fair enough. I'm already done for the day." She sits down at the table: "Your cousin... Erika?"
Fiora nods, expression shifting a little, "Yyyyeeeahhh. Guessing if you're still working with the guard you've heard about that."
Brunilda takes a sip of her pint: "I know her boyfriend better than I know her, actually."
Fiora narrows her eyes. "Well, let's just hope he gets his head on straight before he makes Erika cry anymore, or else I'm gonna have some words with him." She pauses. "Who is he anyways? I never heard about a boyfriend from Erika in any of my letters, so it must be a new thing."
Brunilda shrugs, leaning a bit on the table: "I don't know that much. Cavro and Erika were clearly something of a thing before I met either." She takes a sip of her drink: "But last I saw Cavro, he was running off to Erika, desperate to make amends."
Fiora laughs, "HA! Good! Cavro... her little friend? Huh... Guess that's a thing." She shrugs, "So, you're done for the day. What're your plans? I mean, you're already drinking this early in the day, so I'm guessing 'not much'?"
Brunilda shrugs with a lopsided smile: "Yeah... not much." She looks aside: "I'm not used to having so much free time, time without anyone telling me what to do, I guess."
Brunilda blinks as though this fact only now occurring to her.
Fiora grins, "I'll tell you, I do not miss some bossy captain who thinks they know best shouting at me. Don't know about engineer stuff though. Books and such probably. Who wants to be bossed around books, eh?"
Brunilda chuckles: "I enjoy reading, but can't do it all the time. Probably."
Fiora shrugs, "Some folks like reading. So what do you do for fun, eh?"
Brunilda pauses, glances at her pint and sighs a bit wryly: "...read?"
Fiora rolls her eyes. "This town, I swear. I have no idea what I'm gonna do for fun around here."
Brunilda shrugs: "I've never had time in my life for much. Now I do, and no clue what to do. So... guess I read and drink 'til I do."
Fiora shrugs, "You do you, I guess. I mean, no one's gonna stop me from doing me." She grins, "Be fun for them to try though."
Brunilda smiles a bit: "Fair enough. So what is it that you do, being you?"
Fiora raises a glass, though there's nothing in it but water, she still wants the gesture to seem big, "Eat, drink, and dance! Live like it's my last gasp and fight to ensure it isn't! Ha!"
Brunilda laughs, Fiora's energy lifting her own mood at least a bit: "...I guess I can get behind that way of thinking."
Fiora nods, "I'm not gonna pretend I don't live dangerously, so I gotta live life big to make up for that! What's the point of throwing myself into stupid crazy adventures if I don't come back and celebrate that I made it through alive!"
Brunilda smiles, nodding: "Definitely a life worth living, that." She lifts a hand to her chin, musing: "Not that I've ever really done that. I mean, I can fight, but adventures..." She shakes her head: "Can't say I've had any of that."
Fiora shrugs, "Adventure comes as you find it! I mean, it doesn't have to be facing down a Roc that's been terrorizing a town, or winning a bar brawl with drunken pirates, (They fight better when they're drunk, by the way). Adventure could be... I don't know, doing something stupid just to say you've done it! Trying something new and embarrassing just because it's embarrassing! Eating something gross on a bet!"
Brunilda pauses, looking up in slight wonder: "You... you can actually do that? All I hear is stories, but..." She trails off, thinking of the very strict excitement quota of the Guard experience.
Fiora flexes. "I am Fiora Wess! I can do whatever I want! And if I fail, at least I knew I tried my hardest! I can always try again!"
Brunilda takes a sip of her pint, actually impressed: "...I wish I could do that."
Fiora settles back down at her table and shrugs. "Nothing stopping me. Nothing stopping you either. Not telling you to go run off and start fights or something like that, I mean, unless you want to, but what's your Captain gonna say if you do something crazy that they never find out about?"
Brunilda hums: "I guess nothing. I just... never done anything. I'm just... me."
Fiora grins, "Sounds awfully impressive to me." She looks over Brun, "Looks pretty impressive too."
Brunilda blinks, looking up as she's genuinely taken aback for a second time: "Huh?"
Fiora: "You're, what, seven feet of muscle and ass-kicking potential? Who's gonna say no? You just gotta find something to be passionate about, grab life by the throat and dare it to fight back!" She reaches out as if strangling some imaginary opponent. "You're... what's your name again? Burnadette! Brunna? Something like that!"
Brunilda laughs a bit: "It's Brunilda, but Brun is just fine."
Fiora raises a fist, "Alright Brun! Ha! Now shout it to the world, and don't let anyone mistake you for ANYONE else!"
Brunilda chuckles softly: "That's pretty hard. As said, seven feet of me. Only elephant in town."
Fiora laughs, "Guess so. I could certainly pick you out from a crowd here, that's for sure." She shrugs, "I'm just saying, do what makes you happy, Brun! And don't be ashamed of it. If that's reading, then read! Have fun! You can tell me the short version of whatever you read."
Brunilda nods, smiling: "Fair enough! Although I should first figure out what I want to do." She pauses, frowning a bit: "...how does one end up on an adventure, anyway?"
Fiora shrugs, "It usually finds me. I just go places I'm not supposed to and meet people who really, really don't want to meet me. Or sometimes, I just do something randomly. Go down that random street you've walked buy a million times but never gone down."
Brunilda tilts her head, curious: "...that's like the opposite of what I was taught."
Fiora grins as she lifts a finger, "Well, life lesson one for adventure. Ignore any lessons you learn." She pauses. "Except this one. I think."
Brunilda laughs a little: "Fair enough. But, well..." She shrugs slightly: "I grew up as a Guard, in a Guard family, to be a Guard."
Fiora scrunches up her muzzle a bit, "So they really ingrained that crap in you good, eh? Eh, well, I wanted to be a Guard growing up, but not like I came from a family of it or anything. Guess I'm not defying anyone by doing what I do." She chuckles, "Well, not exactly 'anyone'. Guess I'm defying a few people."
Bracvar makes his way through the door of the Minnow, carefully stepping past the threshold. He looks about the room, spotting Brunilda and waving with a booming, happy. "Hello, Brun!" as he makes his way to the bar to order his usual tankard. A coin purse produced from his smock jingles happily as he payd his tab from the day before.
Brunilda nods, leaning on the table: "I'm defying my 'family tradition' so much that I'm honestly afraid if any of them come here. Though..." She brightens a bit, smiling: "What's a bit mor- oh! Hey there, Bracvar!"
Fiora waves at the newcomer, "Bracvar! How are you doing! Hi! I'm Fiora! Join us!"
Bracvar receives his big-ol-crab sized ale, nodding his thanks to the barkeep before scuttling over towards Brun and Fiora. He grins under his tendril beard, nodding to the elephant before turning to the new face. His uncovered eye examines her for a few moments, before crinkling with a new smile. "Good afternoon to you, miss. Thank you for the invitation!" He sets the large tankard on the table, holding his hand out in greeting. "Bracvar of the sea, pleased to make your acquaintance."
Brunilda smiles upon Bracvar's arrival to the table: "How are you doing?"
Fiora blinks, "Whoa, the whole sea? Cool."
Bracvar chuckles at Fiora, turning to Brun. "I am a happy crustacean, with a cup full of ale and a pocket full of money. How does the day find you two?"
Doc Plume walks into the bar, looking fairly relaxed. They get their usual seltzer at the bar and then take a look around, nodding to Brun and Bracvar.
Brunilda shrugs with a noncommittant smile: "Eh. It is what it is."
Fiora pffts. "But it could be so much more, Brun! So much! That's what I'm trying to tell you!"
Brunilda looks at Fiora: "Yeah, but more of... what?"
Fiora clenches her fist, "Life! Or something!"
Bracvar waves to Plume as they enter. "I agree! Are we talking about adventure?"
Brunilda raises an eyebrow at Fiora before turning to Bracvar: "Something along those lines, I think."
Bracvar laughs heartily. "I never understood how anyone could just stay in one place for too long. Perhaps it's just the nature of my raising, though."
Doc Plume walks over to stand near where the others sit. "Neither of you are in the condition for strenuous adventures yet."
Fiora nods, "Plenty of places to see and people to punch." She glances at Doc Plume and raises an eyebrow, "Hi! I'm Fiora! Good to meet you!"
Bracvar turns to plume, mock hurt in his voice. "Whatever do you mean? I don't know what you consider adventure, but fishing could never be called that, even the way I do it."
Brunilda looks at Plume and shrugs: "Not like I have much of a call to it. Can barely swing my halberd without flinching."
Doc Plume leans against a post. "You're both still in recovery and I'd rather not have you back in the clinic because you went and made things worse."
Bracvar gives Plume a bit of a look, lifting the eyepatch to reveal a completely milky eye. "I think It's too late for that, doctor." He drops the patch back in place, smiling. "But you did your best, 'ts likely my own fault. Depth perception is overrated anyways!" He laughs, turning to his tankard and missing it on his first grab.
Fiora chuckles, "Heh. I like your attitude, Bracvar."
Doc Plume frowns a bit. "Sorry to hear that." They sip their seltzer and look to the giraffe. "Evening."
Bracvar picks up his tankard on the second try, raising it to Fiora. "Aye, even if mine's been long, life's too short to worry much." He takes a deep draught of the ale, humming contentedly.
Brunilda glances at Bracvar, taking a sip of her pint: "Perhaps a point there." She looks down, growing thoughtful.
Fiora raises her water, "I'll drink to that. Not a proper toast, but eh it's still to early for that."
Doc Plume raises their mug in the toast and drinks with the others.
Bracvar turns to the giraffe. "So what sort of adventures do you get on with, Fiora?"
Fiora grins, "Oh, the usual kind. Finding ice cream, exploring frontier towns, fighting, hunting folks."
Doc Plume blinks. "Hunting folks?"
Brunilda looks up to Fiora, curious.
Bracvar nods. "Ah, you don't have that air about you, but a good bounty hunter can blend in nicely."
Fiora gives a half-hearted salute, "Fully certified and proven, yep! Not that I'm hunting anyone here." She frowns, "Here for family. Especially right now."
Doc Plume nods a bit. "You're Smithens-kin then?"
Bracvar relaxes slightly, smiling. "That's noble of you."
Brunilda hums, nodding even if she's not sure she'd do the same for her own family.
Fiora nods, then hesitates slightly before speaking. "Yeah... Cousin. Her cousin. I was coming to visit anyways, then I get here and learn she's... sick or cursed or whatever. So I'm staying 'til she's better, at the least."
Doc Plume nods a bit. "That's good... I'm sure Erika could use the support." They sip at their seltzer and frown a bit. "Sad to say that I'm not making much progress though. Magical illness isn't something that's had a lot of medical study..."
Brunilda glances at Plume: "I'm sure you'll come across something."
Fiora raises an eyebrow at Plume, "So you're the Doctor then, eh? Well, if you need anything, let me know."
Doc Plume shrugs. "I've sent away for more books, but it could take months for my letter to reach Westport and then for the books to get back here. I'm hoping that Mrs. O'Williams will be able to offer more help in the interim." They gives a little nod to Fiora. "Doctor Plume. And I'll definitely let you know. The guard are planning an expedition to look for more clues among other things..."
Bracvar shakes his head. "Poor girl, any idea on how she's gotten ill?"
Fiora crosses her arms, thinking a moment, "Expedition, eh? Yeah... yeah keep me updated." She shrugs at Bracvar, "All I know is what she told me. A flower of some sort, she thinks."
Gareth pushes the front door of the bar open with his usual gruff attitude, momentarily soured by an apparent lack of anything in the way of jobs around the town at the moment. He looks over at the crowded table and offers a grunt and a wave at folks he barely takes notice of, before stalking over to the counter and ordering himself a strong drink.
Fiora barely gives Gareth a half-hearted wave. It's how he knows she cares.
Brunilda leans on the table again, then glances at whoever Fiora is waving at. She finishes the rest of her beer, musing. "Expedition? Hmmh."
Bracvar runs a knobbly hand over his tendrils, humming. "A flower, hm? That's a bit vague. You've never heard of this sort of thing?" He turns to give a half-hearted wave to the newcomer, though his attention is focused on the table now. "What sort? Was it orange, with long stalks on top?"
Doc Plume sets down her empty mug on the table. "I'm hoping that we can get a few samples of the flower. If there's a non-magical cure, it will likely involve neutralizing some compound from the flower."
Fiora hmphs. "Hopefully these guards are careful with it then. Especially seeing what it did to my Cuz."
Bracvar: "The poison is also the cure, as it were. I've seen that in action, boiled some frosted sage moss to cure sage moss poison in a cut."
Brunilda muses, mostly to herself: "I guess I could ask Louma..."
Bracvar drains his tankard, grinning at Brun. "It is an adventure, but if they're just picking flowers, I can't imagine it will be much thrill." He laughs heartily, setting the tankard down with a thud.
Doc Plume shrugs. "Except that there's a massive bear too... who might be a missing guard."
Brunilda blinks, looking up at Plume in surprise: "Huh?"
Bracvar halts in his laughter, looking to Plume. "Ah, really?"
Fiora blinks. "Another victim to it? Damned guards had better be careful."
Doc Plume: Couple of guards went missing a while back. One was a bear. Erika was chased by a bear. It had armor. Seems like it might be a connection if he changed too."
Gareth listens in on the conversation from his seat at the counter as he just enjoys a bit of a quiet drink to soothe his annoyance with the lack of bounties around town. His ears swivel a little upon his head to better hear the flow of chatter, more out of habit than anything.
Fiora glances back at Gareth just to make sure he's listening, then turns her attention back to the others. "Maybe I need to go bear hurting then."
Doc Plume nods. "More folks couldn't hurt. You'd need to talk to Louma, one of the guard captains. It's her mission."
Bracvar grunts, turning to her. "Aye, I like the guards around here for the most part, would prefer they don't get torn asunder by some treacherous ursine."
Doc Plume walks over to the bar to get a refill on their seltzer.
Brunilda grunts in agreement, her decision made: "...if my help is needed, I'm there."
Bracvar turns to Brun with a bit of a frown. "Are you sure that's a good idea, with your injuries?"
Brunilda glances back at Bracvar: "No, but the right things to do aren't always the best ideas."
Gareth turns a bit as Plume wanders up to the counter, fixing them with a curious stare with both eyes, blinded and not. "So, what's this about a bear, then? I'm not much for monster huntin', but if it pays I can lend me expertise in fightin'."
Bracvar leans back, crossing his arms. After a moment the crab laughs, resting a hand on Brun's shoulder. "Admirable! I could never say you weren't a good person, Brun."
Doc Plume turns to look at Gareth. "Capture alive, not hunt and kill." They then move back to their post before looking back at Gareth. "Talk to Louma if you want in."
Fiora giggles, "Gareth's just salty, eh get it? He's here because I'm his meal ticket, but there's not much to do around town, like I said. No real bounty jobs out this far from civilization."
Bracvar pauses for a moment, glancing at Fiora, then towards the bar. "Gareth..?"
Brunilda looks at Bracvar's reaction with slight surprise, but then nods. If she blushes a bit at the compliment, she at least attempts to hide it behind her (empty) pint.
Gareth recognizes Fiora's voice and turns a little more readily in his chair to snark back at her. "Still pushin' that angle, lass? We both know ye'd be six feet under by now if we were workin' solo! And another thing is that-- wait..." He's about to continue, when the hulking crab on the other side of the table catches his attention as well, "...Bracvar?"
Fiora glances between the two. "Eh? Fiora!"
Doc Plume watches the sudden turn of events in silence, unsure how to respond just yet.
Bracvar stands up slowly, scuttling around the table with deliberate, careful steps as he keeps his eye on the wolf. "It is you, you salty sea dog bastard..."
Brunilda looks up at Bracvar's reaction: "Hmm?"
Fiora just watches with interest, confident that Gareth can take care of himself if it gets violent.
Gareth hums quietly, his brow furrowing in... confusion? Or perhaps just disbelief. Either way, he likewise watches Bracvar from his seat at the counter as the crab scuttles a bit closer. "I haven't seen that old, barnacled carapace in years. So ye've been here this whole time, eh?"
Bracvar laughs a single sharp note. "No old boy, I've been busy as ever. You seem to be an awful distance from the sea, though, not to mention yer mates."
Fiora chuckles to herself at mention of Gareth's 'mates'.
Doc Plume moves a bit closer to the confrontation, taking a seat at a nearby table.
Gareth laughs harshly as he nods his head towards the giraffe at the table. "Thanks to Fiora over there, me former mates're all rotting in a Vamese jail."
Brunilda looks about the conversation, feeling like she's missing a few pieces of this puzzle. A bit of a deja vu, but she refrains from voicing her thoughts.
Bracvar glances towards Fiora, grinning as he turns back. "Ah, so you're here mostly alone, then? In that case..." He approaches the bar, reaching into the pocket of his leather smock.
Fiora stands up as the tension seems to die out between the two. She walks up to Brun and puts a hand on the elephant's shoulder. "You'll be fine, Brun. If you want adventure, just follow your heart instead of your head." She smirks back at Gareth. "Don't get killed or start any new pirate crews, Gareth! I'm going out for my run." She saunters towards the door, stretching a moment before she heads out.
Gareth casually leans against the counter, a finger just barely within reach of one of his pistols. He nods at Fiora and gives her a wave with his free hand, though he keeps his eye on Bracvar. "Right, lass. See ye later today, or somethin'. Don't get lost out there, ye hear, 'cause I'm not goin' to go huntin' for ye for a while!"
Brunilda gives Fiora a small smile, feeling at least a bit encouraged if nothing else.
Bracvar waves over his shoulder, calling out a simple "Farewell, hunter!" before he reaches Gareth, pulling his hand free of the pocket and reaching over the wolf's shoulder. There's a clattering of coins on the counter as the crab smiles. "In that case we drink!"
Fiora snorts at Gareth, but gives Brun a smile and a wave as she heads out for her workout.
Doc Plume watches the situation diffuse itself and decides to head back to the clinic without another word.
Brunilda gives an idle wave as Doc leaves, but stays at the table for the moment, half-listening to the crab and wolf converse.
Gareth laughs again as he finally completely relaxes and turns towards the counter again to tap his glass against the surface, indicating to the barkeep that he'll just take a refill of his current drink. "Hah, just like old times, eh? Well, the times when we weren't arguin' or actually fightin', anyway."
Bracvar doesn't notice Plume leave, settling at the bar as a fresh pair of ales are delivered. "Sure, except in the old times you would spoil my schemes and steal my ale, or I'd steal your schemes and spoil your ale!" He lets out a booming laugh. "Did you really let your crew get taken out by a bounty hunter?"
Gareth doesn't seem to care about the others departing as he grabs hold of his fresh drink. He chuckles a bit as he takes a sip of the cool brew, then sighs in appreciation. "Eh... more like I helped her take 'em out. Me mates were gettin' a bit too big for their breeches, if ye get me meaning, so I left." He shrugs, "Call it providence or whatever ye want, but about a month later, Fiora comes wanderin' in with a bounty on the entire crew for somethin' stupid they did."
Bracvar laughs, thanking the barkeep for a full tankard as he leans against the countertop. "I'll call it karma, if'n you don't object. I've received enough of that to believe it's true." He taps the eyepatch, and the scars on the back of his shell serve as further reminders.
Gareth laughs and shakes his head at the eyepatch. "I almost didn't recognize ye like that, but then how many crabfolk go this far out from the ocean, anyway?" He pauses, clearly about to say something, but veers away when he remembers there are folks still sitting nearby, "How'd ye even get that injury? Someone get the better of ye in a fight?"
Bracvar scowls slightly. "A kobold, of all things. Clever one, though, makes magitech gear and everything."
Brunilda glances at the conversation, then finally decides she's probably due to leave. She gives a nod to Bracvar and heads quietly out.
Bracvar turns as he hears Brun getting up, giving her a nod. "Have a good day, Brunilda. Be careful on your adventure, if'n you take it."
Gareth thrusts a thumb at the departing elephant, though more specifically towards the door. "So, what was all o' that about anyway? Sounded like a whole lot o' trouble with some kind o' bear or somethin'?"
Bracvar shrugs, looking about the mostly empty bar. "I didn't know a single lick about it until now. Apparently someone went and smelled or ate an infused plant, turned her and maybe one of the guards 'feral'." He shakes his head. "Ain't my business to stick my tendrils into. Just a risk that'll distract from the important things."
Gareth gives Bracvar a lopsided grin. "Like what, yer fishin' business and whatnot? But ye have to admit, it sounds like a nice bit o' work, right? Go out fer a few days, fight a bear, capture it or somethin', come back, get a nice bit o' pay..."
Bracvar chuckles, a certain glint in his eye. "Sure, fishing brings in a good bit of coin. Not enough to keep the family floating, of course. Drag a net, earn some coin, get some news."
Gareth laughs again. "Heh, fair enough. Still sharp as ever, I see."
Bracvar grins, drinking from his tankard. "Ah well, it's been 15 years coming to this little town now... Perhaps I could be properly called a merchant at this point. Laid a pretty thick veil here, though." He shakes his head, glancing around. "Not really the place for me to be reminiscing, despite the excellent ale, but you've got a whole new tale to share. This Fiora lass, get on with that one."
Gareth nods as he glances around as well. "Ahh, good point. Still, yer goin' to have to tell me about your whole merchant thing eventually. As for Fiora, well... long story short, this was back up north, 'round about the Westport area not too long ago. I just ditched me crew and was spendin' some time relaxin' in one o' the inns there, and in she comes stompin', full battle dress..." He starts to describe to Bracvar the events that connects his separate from his crew to their subsequent capture by Fiora, and the details that later result in him becoming a bounty hunter alongside her. The two spend a while chatting about this and that over drinks, and by the time they part company for the afternoon, they've both got a nice buzz going.