Not what he was Expecting
Characters: Tagger, Garolyn, Christopher
Location: FV:Marketplace
Who knew that snow would be SO cold! Well guess what! It is! Most of the beasts are wrapped up tightly, in their sweaters and heavy linens. The same goes for a certain not verminy otter. He has taken the chance to get away from the bakery for a little while, while his boss isn't looking. He has forgone is armor in favor of thicker warm things. Though boots are still missing from the otters appearance. A thick brown cloak drapes over his as he walks through the marketplace. Crunching the snow with everystep. Looking for the weird odd and end. Something that might just catch his fancy.
Garolyn is doing...the normal mysterious things the ferret does. She walks briskly through the marketplace, head and hood up, and the cloth obscures her face, though the odd breeze flutters her veil out. The cloak flutters out behind her, swishing with her step. Another ferret, not as tall as her, but close to it, keeps pace with her, but slightly behind. The only noticeable thing about her companion is his tattoo- a large tree winding from his uncovered paw all the way up his forearm and to his ear. His posture is not unlike hers, and they 'dodge' the beasts that get in their way. A better way to put it is that the beasts around them create a little bubble for them to walk through. Seems that Garolyn may have created a bit of a reputation already.
Tagger has been living in the village for awhile now, and frankly never really liked it all that much. Its the constant snarls he gets from the other beasts that bothers him. The otter has gotten used to it, but does have a bit of homesickness for the camp in the south. He picks up what looks like a jade necklace and looks at it. He unlike the others, has no idea who the ferret is. nor her entourage. He puts down the necklace, much to the relief of the rat. Before he takes a quick right, staring at the snowy sky above. Not noticing the ferret at all it seems. And unlike the others, does not create the bubble. In fact, it looks like he is going to run right into them. He needs to look down more often.
Garolyn stops in her walking, an hidden look flashing across her eyes, though what, it would be hard to say. "Ye should watch where thy paws are put." She speaks in her usual slow and precise manner, accent and all. Her words contain no malice, though is that a hidden undercurrent of amusement? A few beasts stop to stare- the bubble! That poor otter, who knows how Garolyn will re-act. But after Garolyn turns her shadow-ed hood to them, they turn and quickly walk away.
Tagger gets the feeling that he is being watched. He has learn this particular trait very well as he is going partial deaf over the last year. This, is one of the moments where he feels very awkward. He stops quickly and looks down. There is a ferret here... And she is looking at him... Oh crap, did she say something to him? He didn't hear it. He hopes it wasn't terribly important. And he REALLY hopes it wasn't a threat. He kinda stares back. He has never seen her before. And he cant really tell if she was one of the snarlers. He takes a short cold breath before saying, very cheerfully i might add, "Hello Miss." He tried to be at least a little charming. For an otter. She then sends her cohorts away. He his eyes go wide as dinner plates, "Er... Did i do something wrong?"
Garolyn lifts a gloved paw and tosses back her hood, showing her face. She blinks slowly. "Nothing wrong." Either this otter was not listening, or he's deaf. She raises her voice a tad as she straightens a glove. "There is nothing wrong. I suggested that ye watch where thy paws are put."
Tagger tilts his head as she takes off her hood. Noticing some of her more... Distinguishing features. What mostly catches the otters eyes, is her slightly nackerd ears. He gulps a bit, as he remembers his late father losing an ear to his brother. He shakes slightly to rid the memory before looking back at the ferrets eyes, a slight smile creeping across his face. He holds out his paws, non threateningly in front of him, like a beggar asking for coin, "I will miss... I'm not looking for any trouble." He can read lips pretty well. And if it demands it, he can hear a few louder things. When he raises his paws, his cloak separates. And any traveler who has been farther south then the abbey, will know that he is wearing a Camp Willow uniform. And i pretty high ranking one at that. Also at his back is a small bone sword, once belonging to a wildcat. He gives another Tagg sized smile before asking, "What can i call you Miss?" he seems to have got his confidence back.
Garolyn copies his movement slowly, unfamiliar with this 'pawshake.' The ferret behind her takes a step forward so she can see him, and makes a few, odd, quick motions with his paws, and Garolyn growls faintly as he steps back behind her. She waves a paw, claws making a quick shape, before letting the paw fall back at her side. She does recognize the Camp Willow emblem, and she doesnt comment, though she looks at it for a moment before coming to the name question. "Most call me Garolyn. What title do ye wish to go by?"
Tagger would not normally wear his uniform, but it was the only thing that would keep him warm, and not weigh 20 kilos. His eyes follow the two ferrets. With their weird claw motions. He guesses that its a silent way to communicate with each other. Neat, might have to learn something like that someday. His ears do go back as the other ferret moves back. He blinks a bit before going back to her eyes, "Garolyn, its a pleasure to meet you." he gives a light bow. What kind of otter is well versed and has some semblance of manner, this guy! He gives another warm smile before tiling his head, "The name is Tagger, Son of Aiku..." he gulps deeply before remembering that his dad is still technically a wanted criminal, even he is dead. And the fact they look EXACTLY alike doesn't help, so he goes with his mothers "Err... Son of Fira, the Scholar" Another quick bow, "At your service!"
Garolyn watches him blankly. Partly because that is what she does all the time with everybeast, but also because she doesnt know Fira. Not personally, anyway. She folds her arms in front of herself, across her chest, cloak billowing behind her. "Tagger. I have heard of ye. I am in need of no service, though should I require one, perhaps I shall consider thy offer."
Tagger is still pretty much all smiles. Like he always is, though he does take a chance glance around the marketplace. Its... Pretty much empty. Say for the merchants and a fewer older beasts. This strikes the otter odd, but he guesses that this is not a beast he should cross, "You have heard of me?" he asks. That's a new one for him. He tucks his paws back in his cloak against the cold, tapping his black claws against the snow. Almost nervously, "How did you hear of me?" shall he start packing soon? Though her offer quells of any thoughts that she is after him. It still doesn't ease him.
Garolyn waves a paw in the air. "Ye are an otter in Ferravale." Her accent causes her to say Ferravale like 'Fer/ra/vale. "I have been informed this is uncommon. I have also only met one other otter. Part of the information was that ye are called 'woodys.' I do not know why- the ways of this settlement are...interesting." The ferret behind her shuffles his paws in the snow, and she turns to give him a look. She rarely talks so much, and her companion is a welcome distraction.
Tagger opens his mouth like he was about to say something. Then closes it. He keeps forgetting that the whole world isnt woodlanders in Ferravale. And its true, he has only meet one other otter here. But its still hits him like a hammer, "Heehee... That is very true. I guess i do stick out like a sore claw." he gives what some would call a goofy grin, "I guess i am a woodlander. Woodys..." he holds out his paws in front of him, palms toward the ferrets, "I'm not like other woodlanders though. My uncle is a stoat, and my brother is a rat. I have a very weird family." the otter could talk for hours if he put his mind to it. Something he got from his parents. The shuffling makes him tilt his entire body so he can see behind her, he then asks Garolyn, "I don't mean to be rude. But who is this gentlebeast behind ye?"
Garolyn doesn't turn to acknowledge the other ferret. "A beast who I work with. He has lived here for many seasons. Your family. I take it some are not blood kin? Explain how this does not make ye like others. Does family matter in Ferravale?"
Tagger likes talking to this beast. He is not sure why. But he could talk to her for hours on end. She might not feel the same way. Is she wanted too, she could put a drink in front of him. And that would shut him right up. Its a little known Tazan secret. He leans against a the nearby cart. Whose owner has long since left with all of her wares. Not wanting to be in the crossfire. The cart slightly buckles against the weight of the otter, "Hello." he nods to the other beast, then back to her, "Aye. We are not directly related by blood. I wouldn't even know how that would work!" he grins with a small chuckle, "My Father was a weird one. When he ran from his home. He adopted a rat... Making him my much older brother" he points to the pottery shop, "He currently works there. And for my uncle. My father and him saved each other so many times. They become, as he calls it, 'Battle Brother'" even making the claw quotes, for good measure. He then points at the bakery, "The stoats son now works there. So. The vermin..
. The vermin... They tend to stay away from me, as they know whom I'm 'related' too" more air quotes.
Garolyn nods, keeping up with this new 'family lingo.' "Aye. T'would be complicated." Her companion taps her shoulder, leaning forward to whisper in her ear. She shrugs his claw off irritably, snapping. "Fine. We shall dally no longer." turning back to the otter, earring's and veil swinging, she excuses herself. "Until another day, Tagger. I have business to attend to." She sweeps off in the snow, cloak rushing behind her, exposing a few of her items on her belt before she draws the cloak back about herself.
"Heey, don't forget me! What do I count as? Cousin or brother, or nephew? Or something?" he asks, tilting his head a bit before humming a little. "Or am I a brother cause Will is my uncle too?" Christopher grins as he comes from the direction of the bakery.
Tagger blinks a little bit as the ferret quickly runs off, feeling slightly saddened at her leaving, "Goodbye Miss Garolyn..." Though he is not exactly sure why he does feel like that. She was no different then any other ferret. But on the other claw. She was completely different. His mind is filled with thoughts rushing all around. He hits the side of his head hard, trying to get his brain box back in order, "Come on Chap. She wasn't going to kill you..." muttering to himself. He takes a deep cold breath. He then hears the barley audible sound of a stoat, and he turns into the direction of the bakery, "Ah! Masterstoat! Hope you don't mind that i popped off for a little break." He sounds, very weird, "With our family. I have no idea. I guess ill just call you cousin. Thats fine by me!" he chuckles.
"I'd just call you my weird brother type thing." he nods his head slowly. "I mean...we share the same uncle right? So." he shrugs a little and hums. "Alright. Whatever." he grins a little before tilting his head. "You okay? You sound weird." he smirks a bit, patting the otter's shoulder lightly. "Nah, don't mind at all." he chuckles.
Tagger clears his throat feeling very awkward and even slightly red in the cheeks. Though that just might be the cold, "I'm not sure. I just a had a very one sided conversation with a Ferret miss... but she was really fun to talk to... For some reason..." he scratches his muzzle, then wrapping his cloak against the cloak. Confused. He then smiles as he looks to the stoat, "Whelp. Since you don't mind. Want to go to the pub for a bit of a warmer?" he is still talking weirdly. But that might be there for other reasons.
Christopher tilts his head a little bit, the stoat smirking a little bit. "Oh, I see." he says before reaching out to tap his shoulder again lightly. "You're in love, Tagger. I've seen that look everywhere." he grins. "You're in love with a ferret. Don't be ashamed!" he laughs as he teases his friend. "Sure! Pub sounds good to me!"
Tagger tilts his head with the stoat when he taps him. Then the words hit him like a tidal wave with an iceberg. His jaw must of unhinged itself as his mouth hangs open as wide as the otter can make it. His arms flail from inside his cloak. And if the world was in favor of comedic timing. His pants would also, would have fallen down. Luckily they don't, as its butt cold. His eyes are as wide as they can be. And even his pupils have dilated to mere speaks. Leaving nothing but the heavy green. He takes a few gulps before saying, or trying to say, "Wha? Na? Fa? Me? Loev? Na! Fer? Me? Na!" he blinks a bit and really smacks himself in the head. Its all clear now... Except for the stars he sees stars for a seconds, before heading off toward the pub. With great determination. Wrapping his cloak really tightly, "I really do need a drink..."
The stoat laughs and then nods his head. "Its clear you're in love." Chris smirks a little as he starts to follow Tagger to the tavern. "Hmm. I can't even imagine what the children might look like! Some weird...half ferret...half otter. Weird!" he laughs, getting the otter back from earlier teasing.
Tagger has a big ole frony face on his muzzle as he walks straight toward the pub. The snow crunching beneath his feet as he walks. Most of the beasts are still gone from earlier. But he thinks that's a great thing. Less he has to make eye contact with. He tired to remain silent. But, you know the otter. He just cant, sides. If he admits it, the healing can begin, "Okay okay... I guess i am... Infatuated with her." he will use that word, but the though still makes him cringe "But... I don't know why! Hell. At first she thought she was gonna kill me! The way she held the crowd when she was near... It was..." he sighs, "I dont know... My brain hurts..." he then stops and looks down at the snow, his now frony face turned into a sad face.
Chris tilts his head a little bit and slides an arm around Tagger's shoulder, laughing a little bit. "What's wrong Tagg?" he asks. "Are you like...scared she was going to try and kill you or something? Or...are you really in love? I mean...that's a little weird but." he shrugs his shoulders again. "Hey, how about this. I know the perfect way to make you feel better. The drinks are on me tonight." he grins. "How's that sound?"
Tagger begins to have a little smile creep up again, though still a small one, "I was never scared. Its just seems like she was gonna kill me. First. I'm staring at the sky. Then suddenly she is there. Everybeast gone! And she is telling me to watch my paws. I guess she meant for my sword. Then i guess we started talking. And... I really liked it... Even though i did most of the talking..." he shakes his head, "Then she left. And now my brain hurts...Maybe i really do like her..." he then chuckles at the next part, "I will hold you to that matey. That's a surefire way to get me feeling better." He doesn't drink often. But tonight... It warrants it.
Christopher doesn't drink either. Not much anyway, but he'll share a drink with his friend. "Alright! C'mon ottery thing, lets go." he smiles, leading the otter to the tavern and then in, glancing around, ordering a round of drinks to a table at the back of the bar, heading back and taking up a seat where most of the vermin that are here will ignore them.
FV:Tavern
Tagger follows the stoat still keeping his cloak wrapped around him tightly. When they do finally make it to the tavern. The otter is overwhelmed by the inviting warmth. He smiles as he takes his cloak off and holds it in his paws as he walks toward the booth in the back. Where the stoat is already there waiting for him. He is wearing, in full regalia. His Camp Willow Uniform. With full blown emblem on each shoulder. Which, causes some of the more verminy-vermin to eye him. But he ignores it as he sits down rubbing his paws together, "Mmmm. Its nice in here. You already ordered the drinks?" He asks, not knowing that the stoat already has.
Christopher nods his head and chuckles. "Yep! And everything we drink today is on me so don't worry." he says before leaning back. He eyes the other vermin species for a bit before finally saying something, but not to them. "Yeah. So! How've you been?" he asks. "Didn't really talk much the last couple of days." he nods.
Tagger leans back in the booth, getting comfy. Already feeling better, "Yeah... I'm alright. Been sick, as you know. But mostly... I guess I've just been getting homesick..." he taps his claws against the table. Its not EXACTLY what's wrong with him lately. But its a nice excuse for now. And he wasn't exactly a lie either, "How about you? How have you been? Oh new uncle thing!" he winks and chuckles.
Christopher hrugs his shoulders when the drinks appear. A rum for him and whatever Tagger's favorite drink is. "Eh, yeah. About the same really. I mean, I miss moledeep. And as much as I love my mother, I'm kind of thinking quitting the bakery thing...but other than that." he shrugs a bit, taking his mug of rum and sipping from it casually.
The otters drink is the same as his siblings. A small glass of Whiskey, with a ice cold mead as the chaser. An odd combo. But they like it. He sips gingerly from the small glass as he lets the warm envelop him, "Mmmm... Very nice." he takes a deep breath before tilting his head at the stoat, "Quitting the bakery business?" he raises an eyebrow, "Then what would you do?" he asks.
Christopher hms a little bit and thinks for a little bit. "I kind of want to open my bookstore." he says with a nod. "I mean...I wanted to when I came up but when I learned the bakery was without a baker...I thought I'd fill mom's dream...but its her dream. Not mine. As much as I enjoy baking...I kind of want to do the bookstore." he says, sipping at his rum again.
Tagger sips at his drink as well. Leaving the mead for now. He is a bit surprised when he hears this, "A Bookstore eh? I never knew that!" he chuckles his cheeks becoming a nice rosy color already, "I'm sure your mom would have loved you, oh aye, to do your own thing. Something you would enjoy!" he grins, his mind leaving what happened earlier, out to dry, "You should do it mate." his words are staring to slur a bit. And his otteryness is starting to show. Aye and Mate, are something he wouldnt normally say.
"I know, but now that mom's gone, she can't have her bakery...and well. I kind of want to keep going." Christopher says before looking around a moment. "Maybe we could do like...half bookstore, half bakery. OH! Maybe we could turn it into a cafe or something.' he smiles bright. "Oh, I like that lots." he chuckles before humming. "Yeah. Good idea, Tag thing." he smiles.
Tagger laughs and chillalxes, "Yay! I'm glad i thought of it." he gives another wink, "Whelp. If-i-am-ever around. Ill be more than happy to help ye! Cafe... Er... What would you call your fantastic invention?" He finishes the whiskey off in one, and clears another bit of the mead. Going into a nice little stupor.
Chris laughs and then tilts his head off to the side. "I dunno. Maybe a bookery or something. Baked goods and good reading!" he thinks and grins, downing his rum, and then half of another, not quite a lightweight as Tagger but eventually, he too succumbs to the affect of the alcohol.
