Open [Baroque Bay] In a Clamshell

[Aerer]

 

Aerer – 5th Bell – ….or dinner?


Sunberth, 13, Fall, 514 A.V



An eyebrow arched. His head cocked like a dog hearing a sharp whistle. Mystified. Were they running a con? He was aware his concerned citizen cockamamie tale was far out in left field but their reactions were equally preposterous. He took the time to shake the sand from his clothes and using that time to weigh his options. In previous scenarios he might've found himself snatching a coin purse and bolting but the new and improved Aerer tried his best to make acquaintances and foster solid relationships for his fledgling information network. Even the slightly insane ones might be useful he noted with slight exasperation.

A pleasant smile for the audience, a mask to hide the bewilderment.

First off he was uncertain if the blue behemoth was truly friends with the bird. He seemed almost too eager to join in with her story but that just made things worse. Was he trying to bait him? Lure him into a false sense of security? Perhaps this was the Avaladas history catching up on him once more? It seemed sloppy . Sloppy, but paranoia knew no friends and he wasn't ready to dismiss those concerns just yet.

Secondly, the little bird was more then willing to open her home to them, sans bowls. The more the merrier? Perhaps she was in shock. Then again, perhaps she was working for a slaver, ready to whisk him off to gods know where after she poisoned his clams. Delicious clams of no return.

Okay, Aerer, perhaps a tad too paranoid. Lets reel it in.

Finally this had all been impromptu. While not much of a planner, the mark was merely an entertaining distraction to amuse him, a frivolous toy to tickle his fancy until he grew disinterested and wandered off for sleep or drinks. This sudden parade of individuals and possible ghost sightings interrupting him was not on the agenda.

“I...well.” It had been a while since he had been left speechless. He was so adept at running his mouth that when tasked with mulling over the words he all but seized up. “You see I might be able to...” Trailing off once more, he continued close scrutiny, learning petching little except for the finer details of catching clams. Clams! Come now, even he had more dignity then that. Digging around in the sand like some sort of dog.

Which made the day all the stranger when a dog did arrive, whining and looking for affection. Fingers pressed lightly against his skin to prove he wasn't dreaming. Those same fingers also trailed down to pet the dog affectionately. Moments like this made him miss his pet from his childhood. Moments like these also put him more on edge as he realized additional actors were arriving on scene, unknown actors with unscripted lines.

“Well now I wouldn't want to intrude...” He managed politely, trying to keep up the facade of the upstanding concerned citizen.

[Lo'campo]

There he was, like a child digging in the sand to protect yet another tenant that didn't know how to defend themselves. This woman better have known how to cook, or he was going to give her a piece of his mind about going out without protection, let alone knowing how to protect one's self. A slight notion from the woman telling him how to properly dig made Lo'campo stop his tongue from spitting blades at the woman's throat.No, he had to calm himself. It was his job to protect the tenants of the Quarter and that is what he was to do. Taking her advice he changed position looking for the signs and digging like she told him. He didn't think that it would work, he would probably have a better chance doing it how he was going about it than using this technique. He knew that she was trying to make a fool of him. Giving a huff Lo'campo looked up to the "Good Citizen" who had not come down to the sand to join them in there search. What was he planning? Was he going to attack? Lo'campo paused realizing that he was in a vulnerable position.Where they working together? The thought never occurring to him before this point. Shyke he had let his guard down. He went to reach for his lakan pausing realizing that the man would probably reach his sword before Lo'campo could get into position, or the woman would pull out a dagger. Basically he was out of luck with no way out. He needed a distraction as he kept digging trying to play the part. The woman sat next to him, that was good, it meant that he had gained her trust. Now he just had to work on the male. He had to admit it he was nervous now, the sweat rolled down his forehead dripping onto the sand. He was stuck with nowhere to go. The man flinched and Lo'campo braced. This was it, the man was going to try and attack, he had to be ready for woman as well if she was going to strike as well. Moving quickly he rolled away from them both barely bumping into a four legged animal. Gaining his ground he noticed two more people walked up to the small circle that started before. He was sure of it now, this had to be an ambush. He had walked right into it. Standing where he could see everyone and everything Lo'campo put his hand back behind his robe grasping his lakan. He needed to be ready for anything.

[William Hart]

The dog's tail wagged with every ounce of his enthusiasm. His butt swayed and bobbed with the ferocity of it, and his red tongue lolled as a hand reach out touch him. He whined excitedly, basking in the attention. For a dog, he was surprisingly ignorant of the tension of the group. He was too caught up in the excitement of new people.

Further down the beach William followed the dog's wild tracks in the sand. By the time he saw the group in the distance, he was too exhausted and annoyed to be defensive. He saw the hound prancing and circling around what looked like the most hodgepodge group he'd ever seen. Akalaks were rare this far east, and the man and woman with him were about as different as day and night. The young woman had an intelligent look to her. Not the kind of street smarts that people in Sunberth had, but an actual intuitive light glinting in her eyes. There was a brain in her skull.

The man, he seemed like the usual lot. As Will came closer, he raised a hand in greeting.

"Oi!" he called, not wanting to surprise them. People didn't usually like surprises around here.

Will stopped several safe yards away. His mouth set into a natural frown, and with the exhaustion etched on his features he looked thoroughly unhappy.

"I hope he isn't bothering you," he said, stabbing a finger in the direction of the dog. It sat next to the young woman, panting and thumping its tail on the sand.

"I was taking him for a walk but he got away from me. I've been chasing him all day." He looked at all of them closely and his brows knitted together.

"We're not interrupting anything, are we?"

[Nellie Hawkins]

The dog's fur felt gritty against her fingers, but the girl continued scratching and petting the wriggling animal. It was ridiculous how much safer Nellie felt with a dog around. Not all dogs were trained for protection, of course, and this one seemed to be far more interested in garnering as much attention as possible from the assorted bunch of strangers, rather than chasing any of them off - still, teeth and unthinking loyalty were worthy weapons to consider, and Nellie immediately decided she would have to see about getting herself a dog.

Then, perhaps, she wouldn't find herself stuck in the middle of comical, dangerous, unstable situations like this one while she went about her work.

Another man spoke up, from a safe distance away, claiming the animal and Nellie fixed her eyes on the newcomer in mixed relief and exasperation. Was the big guy about to invite this one to dinner, as well? While she didn't much relish the idea of adding one more person to this little impromtpu beach party, the dog was a strong incentive to at least not chase the man away. And possibly to not piss him off; thought the animal looked a bit simple, who knew what it was capable of?

"Not interrupting at all," she assured him with a polite smile that was more reflex than welcome. Thank you for interrupting! The thought followed immediately, heartfelt, but luckily stayed inside her head. Quickly eying the man, she could see no easily detectable weapons; though his face had settled into a frown, he stood apart, clearly not eager to place himself in the middle of the odd trio. Smart, then, or at least not stupid, she decided.

Something about him looked vaguely familiar, but most people who'd spent any length of time in Sunberth were painted with the same layer of dust and hunger; most looked vaguely familiar. And she'd never 'met' his companion before, that she'd remember.

Turning her attention back to the dog, Nellie offered it the only genuine smile that had fit her features all morning, though she directed her words to the newcomer. "This your dog, then? Friendly one, ain't he?"

Nellie found it impossible to be leery of the man when his dog was such a welcoming, friendly sort. It was illogical, and went against most of the life lessons she'd learned while growing up in Sunberth, but much of what had happened this morning could be described that way. She never engaged in random conversation with dangerous strangers - that was foolish. She never claimed friendly relationship with even bigger dangerous strangers - that was petching stupid. She sure as shyke didn't invite either category over for a home-cooked meal - that was foolish, stupid, and bordered on the suicidal.

So, why not pet a strange dog and add another unknown man to the conversation? At least she could be fairly certain that the dog wasn't plotting anything nefarious.

[Amora Jade]

Congratulations, you've been awarded!

 

Nellie

Skills

• Observation +4
• Foraging +2
• Digging +1
• Intimidation +1
• Planning +1
• Subterfuge +2
• Rhetoric +1
• Teaching +1

Lores

• Gathering Clams From the Sand
• Pretending you Know Someone to Avoid a Potentially Dangerous Situation
• Unintentionally Making Dinner Plans

Earnings/Expenses

• +4 Clams

 

LoCampo

Skills

• Observation +3
• Subterfuge +1
• Rhetoric +1
• Foraging +1
• Acrobatics +1

Lores

• How to Properly Dig for Clams
• Acrobatics: Rolling Away From a Potential Ambush

 

William

Skills

• Observation +2
• Running +1

Lores

• This Dog has too Much Energy!

 

Aerer

Please update your ledger to reflect the Fall Living Expenses then send me a PM and I'll release your grade to you!

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to send me a private message! Also, please remember to edit your post requesting the grade as "Graded."

With love,
Miss Jade