Argent Or Victoria

[Jackn Jill]

Where to begin, oh where to begin?

It had been a solid year since Amelia had to replace a crew member and that was only one crew member, now she needed two. Oh well... I like meeting new people anyways.

If memory served her correctly, the marketplace usually had people scattered about looking for jobs. The lure of the Vigilance's cargo should be enough to draw even the most resilient applicant. The cargo was comprised of many treasures, amenities, and treats from different European countries, as well as the regular stock of requested items from returning customers. It was a nice little gig, and even though Amelia never set up a stall, they sold almost all their wares within a city visit. Of course, she hardly had the chance to sell nowadays. Mnezt was good at bartering. In fact, his one request, other then pay, was to let him do all the marketing. Amelia wasn't about to complain.

Upon arriving at the market, Amelia was again overwhelmed by the sheer number of people, conversing and bartering to get their desired item. Mnezt took the opportunity to slip away and began doing his own thing, selling and buying with whoever would give him the better deal. Amelia, however, took the time to casually glance at a few stalls to see if anything good was for sale. Nothing seemed to strike a cord, so she headed up to the local market inn to grab a nice drink and maybe converse with a few of the people inside. If anyone was looking for work, they would defiantly be washing away their sorrows with a few pints of alcoholic beverages.

As Amelia entered, she noticed the lack of people inside. There were two gentlemen talking to themselves on the far end, both of which look like they have jobs already, and the barmaid cleaning tables. The barmaid heard the doors open and turned up to face the new visitor. "Good evening, miss! What can I get ya?" Amelia sighed, she didn't want to dishearten the nice barmaid. "I'll have a pint of your lightest drink and whatever soup you have boiling right now." The barmaid nodded and headed back into the kitchen. Amelia plopped down at a table towards the center of the room and stared at the decor scattered all around the lobby-ish area.

[Drakonais]

Blake was in a moment of thrill. He had not heard anyone but the master talk in such a way. She had not only came up with improving ideas on the spot, but had also mentioned an invention of her own that surpasses his. He was not used to this, and the surprise was shown on his face, even slightly. "You are brilliant! I never thought of silk, though." He paused a moment. "Even if I had I would not be able to afford it. I am paid what I need to survive and look good. The rest of my payment goes to master for patenting my inventions for me. See you are right, in my circumstances I would most likely be denied a patent, being catfolk. However master had agreed to patent it for me when I first arrived here. He said if it was under his name, then I didnt have to worry about someone stealing my idea."

At that moment his master had come out of the back room. "Hello Miss, I am sorry if my apprentice has been bothering you. He is supposed to be sweeping the front of the store, he must not want to help me on the finishing touches of my newest invention." Blake frowned. "I am sorry master, but she is nice to me, even though my ears are out. It has been a long time, since I." "No excuses. You know you can not have them out." Blake nodded. He turned to Maia. "I would love to come see your home, and your many inventions, but I owe a lot of money to him for patenting my inventions in his name. "

[Dag n the Kitz]

Maia stood up and bowed to Blake's tutor. "M-my apologies, sir." Turning back to Blake, she wore a concerned face. "I've got plenty of money left over from my work..." She turned again to Blake's master and employer. "I don't mean to be flashing my Sterling every which way, but could I pay you to give him the weekend off?" She still seemed quite shy in the current situation, especially since she felt she'd put Blake in the hot seat.

"And, also, if you won't mind, may I watch you two finish your work? I'm very intrigued, if you won't mind me staying..." With this, she felt she might fall into suspicion. She worked herself into a frenzy with the thought. "I-I-I swear, I won't steal your ideas, I hate it when people try to steal my ideas, I'd never do it to someone else...!"

[Vesperan]

Erik woke a few hours later to a small boy trying to steal the meat from his pocket. He was on his feet with his knife half out of its sheath before he saw that his assailant was only a child. The boy stumbled back, looking terrified.

"Mister, I... I wasn' gonna take it or nothin, just..." He babbled incoherently. Something in his hungry eyes reminded Erik of the hawk he had fed the day before. Grimacing at his own weakness, he pulled the meat out.

"Take it. I can get more." The boy's face lit up, and he began thanking Erik as he stuffed the food into his mouth.

"Don't thank me. Now leave." Erik said gruffly, trying to make up for his lapse in severity. The boy nodded gratefully and scampered off. Erik sighed. He was getting sentimental and soft. Of course, he knew what it was like to be young and hungry. Maybe that was his motivation.

He forced himself to think practically. He smelled like garbage, but so did everyone else in the city. He was less tired after his brief rest, and he was hungry, but not unbearably so. He would head to the market district and try to find some work.

Plan in mind, he strolled out into the street, dodging carriages and busy people. Soon he came to the marketplace, the hub of activity, and began looking around. He snatched some bread from a vendor and chewed it thoughtfully as he examined the crowd.

[Drakonais]

Blakes master stood in silence for an entire minute. Then he smiled and patted Blake on the head. "Well if she is friendly, then I guess I can give you one weekend off. No pay necessary Miss Juniper. You will need that for more military contracts." He continued to smile as he turned around. "You may leave now, I can finish what I am doing here. Make sure to lock the door on your way out." "Oh thank you master, I really appreciate this chance to further my knowledge."

Blake couldnt help feeling a bit strange, as he was never given time off before, no matter how many woman had asked. And none offered to pay. But he shook the thought. "My master is good." He whispered softly, though he did not realize he had said so out loud. Then he turned to Maia. "You must be really something special Misses Juniper, for no one else could persuade him." He smiled and held out his arm. "Shall we go?" His ears, and tail then withdrew and could no longer be seen.

[Dag n the Kitz]

Maia flushed again, Blake's constant flattery getting to her. "He seems nice," she said, chuckling sheepishly. "Let's go," she said quietly, taking Blake's hand in her own as she started walking. "Oh, and... Lock the door behind you. Like he said," Maia said, stopping them both at the door and stepping out.

She felt a bit giddy at the moment. She was highly considering making this nice Catman her new beau. The way he talks about her, she thought he wouldn't mind the proposition. "Do you mind the cold at all?" she asked him, as the color of his face was coming back. "Because I think you might get more of those..." She wanted to put a cute little heart at the end of that statement.

[Drakonais]

He nodded, stopped at the door and turned to lock it. Just after he shut the door he could hear as the tinkering began again. Though most wouldnt through the thick walls of the back room. "He is nice, and he has been helping me learn a lot over the last few years. My grappling hook was nothing more then a rifle with a bit of metal at the end when I met him. He is the one that taught me how to do the air compressible." He blushed a little when she mentioned him getting more cold kisses. "Well no I dont Misses Juniper, I am used to having a very active out door life. The cold hasnt bothered me for a long time."

He turned and was prepared to follow her. "I havent left the city since master took me under, so it will be interesting to visit somewhere new." He was very curious about what was outside the city. He had always been, but was told never to leave.

[Dag n the Kitz]

Maia looked around the crowded streets. There were too many people watching. "You miss a lot in London. A nice balance of country and city makes sure one never slows down to the world." She spent most of her time in the country, though, only coming to London when she had to get a shipment or some other rubbish.

She took Blake's hand again and began walking down the street. She could've thought she had some more business... "What am I forgetting...?" She got a new contract, took care of the inventor of the camera-fly, got her parts shipment... And she needed food. "I need to buy some food for the month..." She bit her lip and looked down, then at Blake. "I'll come back into town with you to finish up," she decided.

[Drakonais]

Blake nodded and smiled. "I dont mind helping you on your errands." He followed her where she had to lead him. He couldnt help but once in a while think about his master. This is the first time he has been away from him in three years. However Blake did not frighten easily, so whatever was spooking him now must be something. He shrugged it off, pulling his attention back to the woman in front of him. He had flirted with girls before, but she was intriguing. "So Misses Juniper, do you share your home with anyone? Other then your inventions of course." He laughed slightly. He considered his inventions, a part of him, his intellect, and respect them as such.

[Vesperan]

Erik looked around. He saw a nearby inn. I probably have enough money for a small drink, He thought. He walked purposefully across the square, finishing the last of his bread.

The inn was dark and smelled of wood smoke and sweat. There was a fire burning in the hearth, making the room uncomfortably hot. Two men sat in the corner, talking in hushed tones, and one woman, surprisingly without a companion. The barmaid, who was just finishing wiping the last table, turned to Erik.

"Can I get ya something, sir?" She asked her commoner's accent thick, batting her eyelashes at him.

"Something light and cheap," he replied, polite but cold. A little put out, she bustled off to get his drink. He sat down at an empty table. Aeon jumped up on the chair next to him and curled into a ball.