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THE THIRSTY MINNOW - EARLY AFTERNOON
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Maecy sits at a table in the corner of the bar, using some of the larger table space to work on the wedding outfits for Maybelline and Louma. Her sister's suit is both easier due to the size, and harder due to the style, which Mae is unused to working with (she usually doesn't sew her own designs either, but here we are). And so she's sitting in the booth cutting fabric, measuring cloth, etc.
Florian carefully opens the front door to the Minnow and peeks in for a moment just to make sure no one is standing on the other side. When he sees it's clear, he opens the door more and steps in, though he doesn't move much beyond the threshold, though he steps to the side to ensure he doesn't get in the way of anyone else entering or leaving. A lithe and somewhat short snow leopard with a very fluffy tail and somewhat long red hair, he looks around the bar's main room with a bit of a lost expression on his face.
Maecy finishes a cut with the blade she got from Mia, then carefully tucks it away, looking towards the door, giving the newcomer a wave. "Hello! I like your hair! The red is very bold."
Florian startles at being addressed so directly out of nowhere, but turns with a nervous little smile. "Oh! Um... th-thank you! I, er... I like to keep it all well-maintained."
Maecy chuckles at Florians start, shaking her head, "Oh, sorry! Didn't mean to just call you out like that. Been working all morning... Needed a distraction, and then you walked in! Hi, I'm Maecy!"
Florian makes his way over to the table Maecy is sitting at, his tail idly swishing side to side as he walks. "Good to meet you, Maecy. My name is, er... my name's Florian."
Maecy leans back in her seat (with a booster to help her reach the table), "Florian, cool. Err, you can join me if you want, but I've made a bit of a mess. I'd ask you not to put any food on this table, please."
Florian shakes his head with a soft smile, though he takes a seat after a short pause. "I only just arrived in town, so... no food on hand at the moment, but I've got my suitcase here." He lifts the case up into view for a few moments before setting it down on the floor, "Are you a seamstress, Maecy?"
Maecy points over to the Bar, "Well they serve some pretty good food here, which is what most folks come in for around this time of day." She glances at the briefcase, then nods, "Oh, new to Respite, eh? Me too! Relatively. I'm here on business. I'm more Designer by trade, but Seamstress out of necessity. Juggling a few projects, including my sister and her fiance's wedding outfits."
Florian perks up as he listens to Maecy talking about what she does. "Oh! That sounds like you've got a lot to do. Congratulations to your sister, too!" He smiles a bit more brightly, "So you're here for kind of the same reason I am, with the whole sister thing."
Maecy chuckles, "Guess so! Is your sister getting married too? Must be the season for it."
Florian shrugs. "I don't know. She might be for all I know right now... I heard that someone that sounds like her is working in the guards here in town, so... here I am."
Maecy hums, "Ahhh, so... you're looking for her, hm? Can't say I can help much... my sister's fiance is a Guard Captain, but I'd wager you're not related to a big snake coatl, are you?"
Florian chuckles quietly and shakes his head again. "I don't think so, since I doubt any snakes could tolerate Vamas weather. No, she's a snow leopard like I am... same sort of hair, too, just..." He pauses, thinking for a moment, "...Shorter, I think she liked to have it?"
Maecy shakes her head, "Sorry I can't help you, but I've not seen anyone like that around town. But like I said, I'm pretty new around here as well. I do a lot of sketching in the little park they've got... so I'm guessing she doesn't show up around the park much!"
Florian sighs with a nod, though he's not surprised considering Maecy is relatively new to town as well. "She wasn't much of a park person, the last I can remember. Do you happen to have a name for that guard captain your sister is engaged to? I might be able to ask them."
Maecy nods, "Oh, sure! Captain Louma. I'm sure you can ask for her at the barracks. She seems a bit tightly wound sometimes, but so long as you're not planning to cause any trouble she seems pretty kind."
Florian hums as he gets a little frown on his face. "My sister's the one that usually causes trouble, really... She was always the one watching out for me when I was younger." The frown fades as he looks back over at Maecy, "I won't be causing any trouble, though."
Maecy giggles, "Then you'll probably get along just fine with Louma. As long as you're not a long-lost sibling come to drag your sister back home."
Florian laughs a little. "Almost the opposite, I want to say. She left home years ago, and I've spent the last year trying to find her now that I'm old enough to go searching for her."
Maecy frowns just a little, "All you folks... hmph. Kinda makes me appreciate my sister... remind me to give her like, slightly less of a hard time next time I see her."
Florian sighs with a small shrug. "I don't even know why she left in the first place, which is why I'm here now." He gives Maecy a look with a nod, "You and your sister are on good terms, so... I can say it's not fun losing that sort of connection."
Maecy thinks it through and shudders. "I give my sister a hard time, but I would never want to lose her... I really do hope you find yours and can make amends with her. You seem like such a good person, Florian."
Florian smiles, but modestly waves a hand. "I'm not one to be rowdy or anything like that, anyway... My sister's the one with the rough streak a mile wide."
Maecy giggles, covering her mouth with the back of her hand, "Oh, my sister too! She's kind of a mess. But maybe... I should respect that, you know? Stop teasing her all the time about... or at least not tease her on her wedding day."
Florian chuckles. "It's a sibling's job to give their brothers and sisters a hard time here and there, but it helps to mix in good times, too."
Maecy: "Aye, just thinking maybe I should make sure she knows how much she means to me... we can resume the usual stuff after that, I'm sure."
Florian nods a bit. "Whatever 'the usual stuff' is for you two. I'm sure your sister will appreciate the gesture, though, on her wedding day."
Maecy laughs again, "Oh, probably yeah. Hopefully your sister will appreciate seeing you again too, and you can find your own 'usual stuff' again."
Florian chuckles quietly. "That's the hope... Of course, it's been a while since she last saw me, and I'm all grown up, now. Hopefully she recognizes me."
Maecy: "You'll have so much to catch up on! My sister and I were pretty much always together... it's kinda weird now that she's moved here. Though I guess I'm here too now... it's weird."
Florian tilts his head curiously. "But it's not as though you're moving here, right? You said you were just here on business?"
Maecy shakes her head, "Nope, not planning on it... but also, it seems like I keep getting delayed in leaving... First my business meeting, then been working through a test to seal a partnership, and then my sister's wedding... one thing after another. And this town... everyone says it sorta sticks with you. That's the weird part."
Florian 's tail flicks a bit as he listens, only to tilt his head a little further. "It... sticks with you? Is that a good thing or a bad thing...?"
Maecy leans forward to rest her chin on the table. "Yes? Sorta both? I mean, the folks are all pretty nice here. But I do miss the big city and all the networking. I was a pretty up-and-coming designer, you know? Starting to get my name out there, get some recognition. But now I've been here for so long and starting to worry about my career back home."
Florian lifts a hand and rests it against his cheek as he thinks. "Then... maybe it might be almost time to head back home for a while? You and your sister keep in touch, so you'd be able to come back soon enough if you have to."
Maecy hums quietly, "Yeah... I think I have to pretty soon."
Florian smiles. "At least you'll go back home with more connections than you arrived with, right? A new partnership, a successful business meeting, and designing the outfits for a wedding, all things you can use to improve your credentials!"
Maecy chuckles, "Yeah, I hope so. Hope the fashion scene didn't forget about Maecy Frecklemeyer."
Florian nods in agreement. "Here's hoping, then, Maecy. Though, even if it faded a bit, you can burst onto the scene with new designs from your time here!"
Maecy grins, perking back up again, "Oh! I do like the sound of that!"
Florian chuckles happily. "I might not know fashion as well as you do, but I do know a good design leaves a lasting impression!"
Maecy giggles, "Ah, you've never attended Sarn socialite events. But you're not wrong."
Florian smiles. "If you make things to last, people will remember, even if they may not act like it sometimes."
Maecy indicates the fabrics in front of her, "Well, at the very least I want my sister to remember her special day. So I'm going to ensure that first and foremost."
Florian looks over the fabrics that Maecy's been working on. "I'm sure she'll definitely remember the work you're putting into this, even if you don't remind her every chance you get."
Maecy gives Florian a wink, "Even if I don't, yes. But I probably still will."
Florian chuckles. "Hopefully your sister's sanity survives intact after her wedding, then."
Maecy pffts, "Maybelline? Sanity? Well, she never much had that to begin with, so we'll see."
Florian tilts his head. "Is she a scientist or something, then? I always hear that they tend to be the craziest ones of the lot, no matter where they're from."
Maecy lifts her hand to show a tiny gap between her fingers, "So close! She's a magitech engine lady."
Florian blinks in surprise. "Magitech? Wow, that's complex stuff!"
Maecy hmphs! "So is fashion design! But yeah, I guess she knows her stuff pretty good. She runs that big generator building towards the center of town."
Florian chuckles again. "I guess complexity is relative, anyway. I wouldn't know where to begin with you and your sister's professions, but I can carve my way through wood in a flash."
Maecy: "Ooo! I've seen that kind of work! Whittling?"
Florian nods happily. "Yes, on a professional level, like you and your sister. Woodcarving is something I really enjoy doing."
Maecy grins, "Well, I'd love to learn a bit about it. We can share professional insights!"
Florian smiles and settles in a bit more comfortably as he lifts his suitcase up onto his lap, though it's still out of sight under the table at the moment. "That would be a lot of fun! Since we're both designers in a way, we might even give each other an idea or two!"
Maecy grabs some of the fabric debris off the table to make room for Florian's work, as the two start to talk through their design process and exchange ideas and inspiration.