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RESPITE FALLS AIRSPACE - MID-MORNING
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Shirley is all smiles at the moment as she captains the wheel of her pride and joy: the airship she'd built with her own two hands alongside her engineering partner, Robin. She speaks into a voicepipe with a cheerful lilt to her voice, alerting the few semi-well-to-do folks that have booked passage for this flight from Bairnell to Respite that they're about to reach their destination. "Good morning, everyone! This is your captain, Shirley Cawlin, speaking to let you all know that we are just about in visual range of Respite Falls! We'll be landing in a short while, so be sure to collect your belongings in preparation for disembarking!" She pauses, then adds, "And, of course, if you wish to see the town from above, you're all welcome to come up to the deck and enjoy a nice, breezy morning!"
Sylalle would rise up from a book, hearing the announcement. Ah. They were close then? It would be for the best then to see this 'border town' from above. She was going to need to be familiar with where she would be working for the foreseeable duration. As such, she'd leave her cabin- tucking small book into a pocket- made for the purpose of carrying such cargo. Making her way to the main deck, the familiar brush of the wind was a comforting force upon her. Yet she kept sharp and would try to find where this settlement was, looking over the railing with a firm grasp of the railing... and perhaps the sunrise as well. No reason to waste a beautiful visage if it presented itself.
Shirley waves to the passengers as they filter onto the deck after the announcement. She calls out as best as she can from her spot near the back of the vessel, and gestures towards the port bow side of the ship. "I'll be adjusting our approach in a minute or two, but if you look towards the front, you should be seeing the town just off into the distance! I'm estimating another thirty minutes or so before we start our approach!"
Narrator: The town sits about where Shirley directs attention to, located a little ways out from the mountain ranges and more into the foothills and plains beyond. However... in recent months, the town has really begun to look more like a city, with the sudden growth it's been experiencing. Indeed, from such a high vantage point, one can already pick out several notable locations such as a bathhouse, a sizable marketplace, a central generator structure (with an odd, though clearly purposeful thin metal spire reaching high above it), the town guard training area, and several noble manors nestled within the confines of the town's walls. Beyond the walls lie well-tended farms closer, on the eastern side of the town, and what seems to be a lot of new housing construction more on the western end.
Sylalle would pull out her pocketwatch, ever particular to the time. Flicking it open with merely a motion of the wrist- she'd quickly glance... and close it back up. All she needed. A practiced gesture really. So the front then? She'd wait until the adjustments were made. It would be embarrassing to be knocked to her feet from so simple a thing.
Shirley lets the passengers just enjoy the morning air for a little bit before she lets out a melodic whistle, signalling anyone on deck to brace for the turn. Even with the warning, though, she takes the turn quite gently, and the ship lazily turns to give folks a better view of the town, all while following her usual approach path towards her ship's landing site just north of town.
Sylalle would direct herself through the crowd- not unused to moving through a busy locale, but certainly not moving through it like water. The plumage alone made this an ordeal, but she would steal a front visage from the skies of this Respite Falls. Looking over to gaze upon the town to be- she'd tap her talon against the railing. Hm. They /were/ expanding rapidly. Then their information was promising indeed. This was a welcome sight. She'd then pick out a few buildings... Filing it away into a mental folder for... Later investigations. Along with a few house calls to the higher nobility...
Shirley guides the airship along its path towards a visible landing site that she'd arranged with the town's administration. The approach is peaceful, and a breeze keeps the ship's deck nice and comfortable, though it's clear the town sits at the edge of a savannah and a vast desert to the southwest. "If anyone has any questions about the town, by all means, feel free to ask! We're on approach to the landing site, but it's a simple enough process."
Sylalle would think about that for a moment. It was debatable how much she would know, as a pilot. but perhaps she knew the common lore's of this settlement. That would help expand her repertoire and not leave her the stranger. Using the back of her wing to push someone into her former spot and to pivot, she'd once more swim the sea of people- before aiming to seek this pilot down... If she was not mistaken, the dress code and voice came from over... Ah. There. Speaking with a practiced and temperate voice, she'd try to make herself pronounced enough to catch the blue jays attention. "Excuse me. You are taking questions, then?"
Shirley smiles cheerfully as she spots Sylalle approaching her. She nods at the question, though she does spend a moment checking various instruments before answering properly. "That I am, Miss! What would you like to know?"
Sylalle: "Yes. Indeed. May I ask for a brief history of this... Town?" A deliberate tactic. She was measuring how she'd respond. How she'd take that. How prideful she was. She'd already read up on a basic briefing, but someone 'closer to home' was always more genuine. Opinion, or otherwise.
Shirley laughs a bit. "Depends on how far back you'd like to know, I'd say. I can't personally go further back than about a year, when I first arrived here." She pauses, then continues, "But, to answer your question, as far as I know, the town's experiencing a bit of an expansion boom after the conclusion of a small-scale war. I wasn't there to witness it, but I've heard enough of it to piece together a lot of details. That aside, the town's got a bit of a history of odd goings-on... like it's a "weirdness magnet", in a way."
Sylalle: "A... Weirdness Magnet. Following a war. Most would call that tragic." She couldn't help but join her in a bit of a chuckle. Not what she was expecting. "...I suppose you now have me curious. Tell me what makes this history so strange."
Shirley shakes her head a bit. "Oh, no, the weirdness has always been a bit of a thing, as I understand it, even before the war. Nothing especially concerning on a large scale, but occasional magical mishaps are a particular catalyst for a lot of those things. As for what, hmm... let's see..."
Sylalle: would gently tap the side of her coat with a talon. Ah. It sounded as if the town was on some active Magical line or something. If such mishaps were common enough to be noted, then it would explain a fair bit. Still, she'd wait for her to think.
Shirley spends a couple of seconds checking instruments again, just to ensure the approach to town is as smooth as she said it'd be. The airship shifts a little underfoot as Shirley adjusts its heading just a bit before looking back at Sylalle with another smile. "Let's see... I've heard tell of a couple of elementals around town that popped up not too long ago... One works at one of the town's bigger forges, and the other helps out around the local clinic. The town's generator was built entirely from the ground up by the current engineer after the old one apparently exploded from neglect a year or two ago. There've also been the occasional rumors about people physically changing forms on occasion, usually due to odd plants that grow outside of town."
Sylalle: "And the local constabulary finds no concern with these odd plants? Even if there is but a rumor?" She'd fold her wings together, gently scratching her chin as she thought about this. The elementals werent so strange. Either bound to service, or willingly wished to be where it was concentrated. She had no formal study of this, but it was in the name, wasn't it? The Generator being neglected so throughly was a concern, but again- the town was booming. So perhaps that was one of the factors that gave way for this rapid expansion...
Shirley shrugs a little at the query about the plants. "I've heard that it's mostly a result of the town's herbalist and a guard getting tangled into things together. The effects were also... temporary, I guess?"
Sylalle: "Temporary, but still sounds as if it could be replicated..." Or maybe she was just paranoid. The difference that, and being savvy- was if you were right or not. "Still. I do appreciate the... Information." And the concern if she needed future medical care.
Shirley nods amicably as she gives the ship's wheel a bit of a twist and pulses a button set on a console next to the wheel, letting the airship start a slow, spiraling descent to the landing site as she also vents the airship's floatation gasses back through some condensers and into their storage tanks below the deck. "Of course, Miss. Anything else you'd like to know about the town?"
Sylalle would let the organism that was the airship breathe and function. The sounds were fascinating to her, for even she was not immune to the marvels of technology. How everything moved as one. Rather Efficent that... When the groaning quieted down, she'd speak up once more. "Yes. Whom would you say- it be wise to stay in the good graces of?"
Shirley gives another shrug at the next question. "That, really, I don't know off-hand. There are a few noble families that live here, of course. You can see their manors from here." She gestures towards some of the larger houses above the walls of the town, "And the guards have a pretty good presence here in general, so... maybe talk to their captains? The town's leadership is, of course, available to talk as one would expect."
Sylalle: "Of course. It is the duty of the civil servant to answer to the needs of the citizenry, does it not?" Which meant that perhaps the Lords did not have the sharpest influence, away from town. She'd need a bigger sample size, but if one was ascendant, one would only hear whom they /shouldnt/ consult with.
Shirley hums in agreement as she continues to check her ship's instruments. Before long, the ground slowly comes up into easy viewing, and several workers around the landing site can be heard calling out to each other to coordinate securing the ship as Shirley continues to slowly empty the ship's flotation bladder of gas. "Yup, especially out in a frontier town like this place. Folks tend to just support one another, best as they can. Some folks are better off than others, naturally, but... it's quite a friendly place to be."
Sylalle: "I see." Looking over the habour prepare for their arrival, she'd breathe in gently to herself. It meant there wasn't yet something important enough to risk a war over. Powerplays. But that could not exist forever. The Frontier would always push out. Need, as well as greed was an inevitable fact. Its why she still had a job, after all.
Sylalle would however, kept those thoughts internalized, and gave a... professional smile to the blue bird, eyes closed as she did so. "I am glad that people are able to cooperate together. I am not used to that, So it should be a welcome experience for me... Should I leave you be? We are soon to be in port..."
Shirley does one last check of the ship's instruments, then chuckles as a subtle thud marks the ship's final contact with the landing site as the workers lash the ship in place. She turns to face Sylalle with a grin, leaning happily against the wheel with one arm looped around one of the spokes. "Soon? We've arrived, Miss. You're welcome to ask more questions as you like, or head out to experience the town for yourself!"
Sylalle would gently wave off the statement! of course, of course. They had just arrived. "Ah, I think I will experience the town for myself at this point- but thank you graciously for your help! You have been most delightful."
Shirley dips her head with a cheery grin. "Happy to have been of service, Miss! You've been a pleasure to talk to, yourself. I hope you find your stay in town to be a good one, and... if you need to get back to Bairnell's Foothold, you know where to find me!" She chuckles a bit, clearly happy she's left a good impression.
Sylalle would curtsy with all due grace afforded to her station, before leaving the blue bird bee. Stepping with a gentle motion, once she was out of the birds sight- her gaze hardened once more. Right. Then where to start... The Lords would want to know she was here, but how fashionably late could she be...
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THE THIRSTY MINNOW - LATE EVENING
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Victoria was at the bar, sampling a light beer, along with a lovely tray of finger foods "You'll want to be careful Anny~, Foxes are always something of lightweights when it comes to booze" The Snow leopard was dressed as she ever was, in very little, and leaning over the table to the fox opposite, and now offering a piece of sausage. She gives her a smile "But, foregive me, how was your day?"
Annika is dressed in comparatively more, almost modest: "It was fine? Perfectly fine. Definitely didn't feel like strangling anyone. How about yours?" The fox takes the piece of sausage and eats it with gusto: "Mm, always good stuff. Not as good as hunted, but you know. Close enough."
Victoria: "It was weird. Everyone kept looking at me funny" She takes a sausage for herself "Hunted doesn't have spices though..maybe it's about the thrill of it? I should give it a go again. We can go hunting" She chuckles "But..I've been trying to scowl, how do I look?" Her scowl seems..playful almost, Annika understands what the angry scowl should look like, but she's never been afraid of Victoria, so, she can't quite the intimidation factor behind it...
Annika giggles: "Maybe needs some work. Do I really look like that?" Pause. "Er, besides the obvious." Her tails swish, the fox clearly amused by this when she probably should be worried.
Victoria: "Uh, well..I don't think I'm getting the reaction you'd think the scowl would get though" She hmms, before giggling "Maybe I need to think angrier thoughts!"
Annika laughs: "Maybe. Think about the way you uh think... wait, are you ever actually angry?"
Victoria: "Well..." She thinks "Once, but..no, not anymore"
Annika shrugs: "Oh well. Probably not a problem? I think." She muses, tails swishing: "Suppose I give that image though, so you gotta keep it up."
Victoria: "I dunno..I..well" She took a breath "It..happened to Annika, right? Maybe you should know"
Annika tilts her head: "Know about...?"
Victoria: "Back when I first got my job, my first one, Not in the city, down the country" There was a certain..detached nature to it all "Well, Mom and Dad had gotten sick, and there was just me, and Olly. The Big House was the only place that would hire a teenager with no experience, and well. The Lord there would hire Maids with no experience" There's a pause "You could say that he preferred maids that way"
Annika frowns: "That doesn't sound right... but then again, I was holding a bar together at seventeen." She sighs, glancing aside before looking back at her girlfiend: "Sorry. Continue."
Louma slithers in through the door, dressed up a little and ready to wait for Maybelline to join her. Their plan is to have a silly night as if on a regular meet up date, mostly because May is having a relatively late stay at the generator. Louma makes her way across the room until she spots Victoria and Annika together, pausing for a moment. "Oh, good evening Victoria, Annika. I hope you two are well tonight."
Victoria: "I..think that maybe, well, I was young, most of the other maids they were older. I was..maybe..fourteen? Something like that anyway. It..wasn't okay what he was doing, but the rest, they were old enough, people could look past it, say that they were..." She pauses, as Louma comes, and makes a snap decision...just rush it. Stop dancing "He tried to force himself on me, and I cut his throat. It was covered up because if it got out what he was doing, the business would have been ruined when it was being inherited" Then she lets out a really excellent scowl, which Victoria gets to enjoy being on the other side of, very much a 'I'm a microsecond away from tearing spines out', before she turns around, and gives a smile to Louma..before catching herself, and settling into a..frown, yes frown "Ah. Louma. How are you?"
Annika blinks, having just enough time to process what the leopard just said, before turning to Louma with a... not-scowl. It's nearly a smile. "Oh. Hey, Louma."
Louma looks between the two, only just catching the tail end of Victoria's story. She lets out a light sigh, shaking her head slightly. Glancing toward Annika before turning back to Victoria, she speaks quietly, "Victoria, please don't discuss such things in public, or do we need to discuss the damage it could do to the Guard's image again?"
Victoria: "I had been discussing it quietly with my girlfriend, in a corner of the room, until you turned up. Nobody overheard" She genuinely doesn't know how rude/polite she is to Louma, so she's settling for cranky. Good ol' dependable cranky
Annika blinks at Victoria's reaction, but nods: "Yeah um Louma, sorry. Were we too loud?" Polite. That's the thing to do, right?
Louma blinks, tilting her head ever so slightly at Victoria's response. "N... No, miss Annika, you two are right at the moment. My apologies." She narrows her eyes a little at Victoria before nodding to both. "Enjoy your evening, ladies." She slithers away, finding a table to coil up next to. She feels a bit of a needle at Victoria's behavior, but more because something seems ever so slightly off about it. She has no idea what, though.
Victoria: "Oh, May's going to be here?" There's a pause "Annika's good friends, so I'd..like to know her better" Good save Annika, Good save.
Annika nodnods hastily: "Good friends. Very good friends, actually." Accursed fox tails, swishing on her own.
Victoria: "Well, we'll keep an eye out in any case" She wiggles her own pair of tails in unity with the fox tails.
Annika looks at Louma go, then turns to Victoria: "Yeah. Um. That." She lets out a breath and whispers: "That was close."
Victoria: "Yeahhhh" She nods in return "We need to get our acting skills up" She leans in, whispering..but then can't help herself. Annika's nose is too close, and she licks it with her tongue.
Annika blinks at the lick... then licks back. "What acting skills? I don't have any. You're the one with all of them."
Victoria: "You mean you are, foxes are the actors after all" She resists licking back, or else it would just devolve from there, but..later. Her tails twitch thoughtfully "We can practice more, maybe.."
Annika shrugs, leaning back in an attempt to not have things devolve: "I mean, yeah, suppose we can. You tell me more what to do and I'm more like, well... is that me, or you, now?"
Victoria: "Well..for the time being, we're us, I suppose. I always assume people are nice, and good, and go about my day like that"
Annika: "I assume everyone I talk to is going to make my day either uneventful or worse." Pause. "...should I change that?"
Victoria: "I think that would help, yeah" She muses "And I should do the opposite?"
Annika shrugs again: "I have no idea. This all is so weird, so I'm just wingin' it."
Victoria: "Well, I could never get angry at you~"
Annika: "Suppose there is that. I guess I do appreciate you in that sense." She smiles, tails swishing: "Anything else I should know?"
Victoria: "Have you got used to the flirting?" She rubs her white ears awkwardly "It's okay if you haven't. I never really did"
Annika tilts her head: "Flirting?" She blinks: "Oh. That. I don't know. I don't really... react?"
Victoria: "Oh, that probably works too? If you act vaguely flattered you get better tips though, and..uh.." She reaches forward, and undoes the top binding on Annika's top, showing off a bit of cleavage "That helps too"
Annika blinks and looks down: "Oh. Never thought of it that way..." She looks at Victoria's top: "Kinda just do that, it's just there and people react? But I suppose with tips..." She shifts herself into a bit more sultry position and expression: "...maaaaaybe."
Victoria swallows a little "Yes, that's very effective" She blushes "Is it..uh...man, I have so many weird feelings right now, it's like..." She leans forward, and adopts a similar posture, and a smile "Does this make you feel weird feelings?"
Annika blinks, definitely affected: "...define 'weird'. And yes." The part in her head that says she should be weirded about this is not currently available.
Victoria: "Actually..." She leans in and gives her a kiss "If you don't see it, I don't want to ruin it for you" She leans back again, now rather fidgety "So..um..." She looks upstairs, or towards the house, which is a little away..or just the back alley.....
Annika blinks at the kiss, but definitely not in a bad way. "Oh. I guess I can... see that. Want to help me ruin or not-ruin it, maybe upstairs?" Subtle. Very subtle.
Victoria: "I'll book the room" She says quickly, before getting up to do just that. The room manager is probably quite used to this sort of thing...
Annika watches her girlfriend go, before getting up to share a room for... talking. Definitely just talking about their completely mundane situation and not doing anything else. Most assuredly just talking and maybe even some wine. Certainly just talking and wine and nothing else, absolutely no kissing involved. And even if there is kissing involved, it's purely chaste and...
Victoria wasn't sure what her girlfriend was thinking, but Victoria was planning to get naked and lewd very quickly...She's the direct one, right?