Sloop and Stoop

Log Info

• Title: Sloop and Stoop
• Emitter: Kristups
• Characters: Kristups, Slixvah, Pirkko, Venom
• Place: Alexandrian Docks
• Time: December 5th, 2022
• Summary: It's an icy day at the docks, Kristups being curled up under a blanket in his small boat, staring at folks coming to and fro on the docks. Slixvah, disguised as Jeski, slips and falls tail first into the ground, as Pirkko and Violet come to make sure she's okay. The former meandering about and the latter stepping off a sloop. Discussion is half in Goblin-Talk, half in Trade as Kristups is still doing their best to understand the common tongue. Names are thrown about. It's way too cold out. Five robes is enough, right?

The dock hasn't escaped the coldsnap but the large body of water has done something to mitigate it, with the constant traffic in and out of landings and berths making sure no ice has any time to form. The moisture on the wooden planks and metal plates of the footpaths are somewhat slippery in places and entirely trecherous in others. It doesn't seem to slow commerce or travel, however, and just means pedestrians are moving extra-careful (or left rubbing sore joints and rumps as they go about their business).

The bulk of the Alexandrian navy is anchored in port and most of the artifice-powered spots lining the southern walls keep the assorted ships well-lit as their crews drill and see to their duties.

On the other end of the run are rows upon rows or slots for smaller-to-medium-sized privately-owned ships. Craft meant for business or pleasure. One of the larger berths is vacant and the decking between meaty iron mooring posts are stacked with abanadoned crates painted with Khazadi runic markings. Whatever their contents were, they've been emptied and left to be collected (or rot) with their straw- and rag-stuffings strewn about. Inconsiderate!

In a much, much smaller berth is a humble little rowboat. The rowboat bobs lazily in the water with a lean-to style canvas windbreak erected. Beneath the windbreak is a strange, seafoam-green gobber huddled in and looking out from under a blanket as the people pass by. Staring, really.

It's always the cold weather that makes this charade never fun.

A short goblin woman with floppy ears and wild red hair is wrapped about in a number of heavy robes, the othermost a simple boring brown. A rainbow ribbon is keeping their hair down, and their ears pinned under the do to keep them warm. Hands are shoved into outer pockets as they do their best to not stumble on ice and meet a watery freeze on a bungled tumbled into the waters.

Knowing her luck, it'd happen.

Which, she does. "Ack!" Slip! Lands right on her backside just in front of the staring gobber. Not really noting them as she's getting herself sorted with some pained grunts.

Through the busy crowds, Pirkko weaves and cuts lazily by the bulk of people without seeming to worry about the ice covered planks. Her path is meandering, allowing her red hued eyes to linger over the work and labor that it takes to keep such a large port running. She wears a winter's cloak of grey, and a dark blue coat that buttons to her chin is worn under it.

At the sound of someone slipping, she turns to see a familiar face, Pirkko recognizing the rainbow-bow goblin as she's already pulling herself up, wincing at the fall that was taken. "Oh, that sounded nasty!" her squeaky and high pitched trill comes, and soon she is shuffling after. That's when Kristups is noticed, his blanketed form and peering eyes met with a raised brow. "When I said we'd all meet again. I didn't mean when Rada and Dana were threatening to freeze us." offering Slixvah a hand of help.

Kirstup's face tilts up and then down to track the floppy-eared gobber's unfortunate trip. 'Aua,' he winces aloud-- just before his eyes dart to Pirkko. He watches her intently and offers a curt nod, holding the blanket around his face like a hood. A seen-better-days bedroll is bundled up beneath him as a sort of nest.

"Merchant likes a good deal, hates bad business. Leviathan loves seas. Calm and chaos. Weather... is weather." He might've shrugged but it's hard to tell the way Kristups is bundled up. The intense creature studies the rainbow-appointed woman as she gets back to her feet. "Break something? I can fix it."

"I wonder if the woods have snow," he adds, seeming apropos of nothing. <goblin-talk>

Another figure about the docks, this a human bundled up in well made, if modest and sensible clothing for the weather, bearing a couple of buckets, filled with brushes and the like.

In her wake is 'The Balance', a sloop with a white and a black sail, with decks freshly swabbed, and her canvas secured in it's storage state.

Violet, her streaked black hair wound into a bun under her scarf, seems fairly pleased with herself as she walks through the crowd, an otherwise demure air about her as she 'pardon's and 'excuse me's around the other passersby.

At the sign of mishap off to the side, there, she draws to a bit of a pause and asks, "Oh my, are you alright?", dark eyes ablinking.

Jeski, the floppy eared goboo on her rear, cranes her head up at the sound of fallen commentary. "Was on purpose!" she readily lies off the cuff before her brows shoot up in recognition. "Oh! Uh... Pirkko, yea?" The hand is readily taken, Jeski pulling herself up to her feet.

Wait, all of us? She twists her head about until- "W-woah, whatdaheck?!" she exclaims in surprise from the hidden sailor. Rubbing her face all asmoosh, a sigh leaves her. "I'm fine, I'm fine, just my pride's ruined..."

More concerned folk? Sky blues crane up past bushy red hair to spy the human woman. "I'm fiiiiine. I'm just glad I didn' tumble inta the water." Speaking of it, she takes a few steps away."

"Weather is not just 'weather'." Pirkko hefts a halfhearted laugh as Kristups words bring a toothy grin. "But that's a discussion for another day." <Goblin-Talk>

Pirkko's attention is then on Jeski, offering a nod that causes the small woman's mohawk to wobble. "Well you look alright, and got my name right. Can't be too bad." her tone pleased as she helps dust the other goblin off, briefly.

"I'd wager it is, though I've not looked outside the city's walls." Pirkko says in <Goblin-Talk> to Kristups, the chiming's of Venom finally catching her attention as the sloop is too hard /not/ to notice pulling in near. Her eyes are more locked on the vessel than its captain for the moment. "Look at that nice boat..." trailing off.

Jeski's shock elicits a quick blink from Kristups and a jerked turn to look back over his shoulder. The water splashes quietly beneath the boat as he bounces on his rump more than once to look this way and that. Finally, he turns back around to stare at the floppy eared woman.

"I am not a brigand," he explains in deliberately-paced Trade. He offers that familiar, overly-practiced and strained smile to put her at ease. Then the gobber steals a look back over his shoulder one more time to make sure nothing is behind him.

Then people are greeting Violet and complimenting her boat. He might be thinking about how nobody complimented him on his boat. Or he might be thinking about the nature of the gods, their portfolios, and their consideration of the lesser races.

Or he might just be staring and not thinking at all.

His large, amethyst-purple eyes narrow subtly at Pirkko when she speaks the newest of the conversation's languages. He quickly jerks his head in a tremor of a shake; likely indicating he doesn't understanding.

"One... mmm," he looks down to think, "... at a time." He nods, satisfied.

The little ball of blankets, bedrolls, and boblin-- *G*oblin shifts and an arm extends out to snatch up a book. He opens it and glances between the three individuals standing above him on the planking. "A... man--" he looks down and then back up, reading aloud in a halting and uneven meter. "Asks a sa-eye-lor... do thees s'ink of-ten?"

Kristups clears his throat and looks up again, making sure he hasn't lost the trio's attention. Assuming they're still standing there he looks back down and clears his throat again. "No, say'ess the sa-eye-lor." He scans the line a few times before looking up to stare as he delivers the punchline. "They only s'ink one-ss."

The human looks between the gobbers with some lingering concern, though she dips her chin, "If you say so, miss. I wouldn't want to fall in, either." If she's smiles, the scarf mostly obscures it.

The remark about the boat prompts a look back, though the chill's had her rosy enough that any blush is likewise preemptively subsumed, "Ah, yes, thank you!"

Ahem.

"It's not mine, but I know her captain very well."

Very well.

Jeski chuckles, her giving a toothy yet thankful smile as she's dusted off. "Thankies," she coos. "Name's Jeski if ya forgot."

The chatter in Goblin-Talk, makes her look over to Kristups with a brow raise. "I mean, yeah, ya ain't one, but ya spooked me."

She squints at him. Tries to parse through his fumble tongue. Then gives a belated snort as she shakes her head. "Ok. That was a good one mister... uh... guy."

The rainbow ribboned gobber cranes her head up to peer at the towering human, gaze following to spy the boat in question. "Ah. Interestin'. Nice and handy ta know someone with a ride, yeah?"

Pirkko looks between the two before her, nodding as Kristup sits and bobs with the water on his small boat, his joke noticed with a heavy sigh. "You are still learning the trade tongue, yes? Did someone teach you that joke?" not knowing what Kristups understands or not in the non-native language. Well, non-native to Kristups. "Are you taking lessons?" Pirkko asks quietly.

"Jeski, yes! It's a good name." Pirkko affirms, grateful to have it announced. She'd only half-thought she was right, and the recognition of it was enough to bring up her mood. "Still, it is good to see you."

As for the human woman on the boat, her toothy smile is flashed broadly with a nod, but for now her concern seems to be on the blanket-wrapped kin.

"No." The goblin bundle shakes his head again at Jeski. "No 'Guy.' Kristups." He lets go of the blanket edges long enough to open his hands, cross his wrists, and bow his head-- though he does keep his eyes raised to watch the not-that-familiar people (and one stranger).

"Remembering to speak. Two years in the woods. Maybe three." He shrugs and reaches over into the piles of junk taking up the bow 'stowage.' "Was good deal. Until Draug-cult tried to eat me." 'Ah!' he vocalizes, lifting a black-bound tome with red felt edging. "Stole their magic book, though! Hah!" He snaps a finger and a little arcane spark flares with a *fssat!*

The wizard's tome goes back into the pile and he picks up the book he was reading from. He holds it out for all to see 'TRADE HUMOR: ~~the HARDEST LANGUAGE~~' the ratty book is stamped on the front with a 'comedy' mask beneath it. "Also:" he pulls another from the pile. 'Hippe Street Talke - Modern Trade for the Savvy Traveller' is this thinner, softbound book that appears to've been rolled up and used as a doorstop for a decade or six.

'Hmm!' he vocalizes once more. "Oh!" He shifts the pile over another book. One that didn't say 'COURTIN' 'N CAROUSIN' with a suggestive bit of artwork beneath. <goblin-talk>

"It is, yes." the human replies softly, with a look boatward, then turns her attention more fully to the congealed trio. Ahem, she doesn't offer her hands, as they're currently full with her buckets of tools, "I'm Violet, it's nice to meet you, all."

Her eyes flit to the spines of Mr Kristups's library, scanning the titles, then, "Certainly chilly out, isn't it?" she observes.

Jeski winks. "Thanks! Made it m'self!" she croons, hands digging into her pockets to find warmth once more. "Good ta see ya too."

Her attention shifts to eccentric man in his little boat, a bit of an uptick in her brows at the mention of such a cult. "Goodness me," she intones before smiling at the display of magic. Eyes flick about the books, a snort being elicited as she just barely catches the last one. "Hard at work," she babbles in the same tongue. <Goblin-Talk>

She turns to Violet. "Well ain't you sweet. Name's Jeski, Violet," she grins. "And yeah! It's freakin' cold as heck! I'm not used ta this!"

The more Pirkko tries to pry about Kristups, the more she seems to hesitate. "Ah. That explains it." the woman notes, giving a bobbing nod as she looks up as another name is offered. <Goblin-Talk>

"It's a pleasure, Violet." Pirkko echoes after Jeski, but a laugh comes as the human mentions the ice and weather. "That it is. Everywhere in the city is cold and damp." likely beyond too, but the woman is focused more on the greeting. "I am Pirkko." introducing herself, but stepping slightly away from the group. Likely making room.

An eye cast back to Kristups, Pirkko having noted the books that the goblin had flashed, and still puzzling over some of his choices. "Humor is a great way to ease situations. I didn't realize it was a whole category of literature. I guess it would have to be." she puzzles. <Goblin-Talk>

"Violet. Jeski. Pirkko." Kristups adds after parsing his way through the conversation. "Nice to meet."

The bobbin' goblin stares at Pirkko and nods, finding his native tongue a bit easier to follow even if her puzzled expression gives him pause. After some deliberation, he pushes the books under the pile as a whole in case they're giving offense. Leaning forward, he reaches out from beneath the blanket and snatches a tarred canvas tarpaulin to competely obscure his piled possessions. Just to be safe.

Then he goes back to staring.

Violet nods and probably smiles, enough to briefly close her eyes, "It's very nice work, miss Jeski." There's a soft, 'hmmm', and, "There's a few decent tailors in the lower markets. A couple oflayers of good wool can do wonders."

Jeski chuckles to Pirkko. "Yeah, lotta topics over a lotta things. I spend loads of time in libraries and shtuff. Ya'd be surprised what ya can find!"

She cranes her head up towards Violet. "Yeah? Kinda hard ta find stuff that fits me perfect. But that's why I wear like, five robes, 'cause it's real cold sometimes and all that wool, like ya said, works pretty nice."

"Five? That's a lot. I wear layers, but not just robes." Pirkko muses, winking to Jeski and Kristups as she takes another step back. "Most of my readings were in rites, and magic. Sometimes both." making a crossing motion with two fingers as she speaks. "I'm sure the library has a lot of things I'd like to read. Matter is time." a smile flashed.

"Speaking of time, it's one thing I don't have this day. Next time I'll have to by drinks and a snack, because again I must cut out." a dip of her head, her mohawk bouncing as she bids farewell to the three. "Sit and share stories. Something." she manages to muse, but then turns to be on her way. "We all have places to be, like the weather. Comes and goes."

Kristups has to look of a gobber trying to figure something out. When Pirkko makes her withdrawl he offers an unsure "good deal" in answer to her farewell; a short phrase he's been working slowly towards mastery.

Then he shifts out one of his books and opens it in his lap. The gobber pulls his blanket-cowl low and hunches over with his shoulders pushed forward.

The strange gobber does steal one last glance at Jeski and Violet before he pulls in even tighter on himself; folding in retreat around the tome. His social-mana reserves have been depleted for the day, apparently.

That must seem a little excessive to the human, as she cocks her head a little bit, "Five...?"

For the moment of distraction, she almost misses the sudden drive to depart of two of the three goblins, and she glances to either hand before setting one of her buckets down to wave after them, "It was nice meeting you both, take care and mind the chill!"

Back to the matter at hand, "There are a few people who would be able to make something sized for you for a reasonable price."

Jeski gives a smile and a wave to Pirkko as she departs. "Ctach you later, look forward ta that drink," she croons before looking to-

Aaand Kristups has checked out. Without pausing, she continues on towards Violet. "Yeah. I'm used ta bein' really warm."

She shifts a bit on her feet. "Less tha size and more the shape," she murmbles. "I'll keep tha' in mind. tho. Lower markets ya said? I'll keep my ears peeled."

Violet gives an uncertain little, "Ouch." at the notion of peeling ears, even as she dips down to reclaim her bucket.

Her eyes hint a smile behind the scarf, then the woman nods, "But, yes, the lower markets, mostly along the western side."

Jeski raises a brow. "Figure of speech, lady," she shrugs, moving some of her robes about to keep the heat in. "Western side. Gooooot it. Thanks for the info, Vivi. Well. I best be goin' that way. You stay warm too. Laters!"

The floppy eared gobbo walks off and away into an alley.

A beat later, a figure soars out from the crowd against the sky, massive wings flaring out. A black silhouette in the sky.

-End Scene-