Picasso flies along through the night sky toward Haven. She is a bit apprehensive about the reception she'll get but she presses on
The first subtle rays of dawn start to peak up and over Haven. The 10 mile flight doesn't take long, but Picasso lands outside the city walls, trying to be cautious. As she finds the main gate, she sees two sleeping skunks in armor.
Picasso checks to make sure her saddle bags are still in place and walks up to the gate.
One of the guards is snoring slightly, and the other skunk is scritching his ear while he sleeps.
Picasso clears her throat softly (at least for her) to try to get the attention of at least one of the guards
Picasso chtorrs, "Excuse me?.........."
One of the younger skunks snorts and hmmms?, then stretches and yawns wide as he gets to his feet.
Still half sleep the guard asks, "Ya, what do ya want?"
The guard starts to wipe the sleep out of his eyes.
Picasso chtorrs, "Um to go into the city. It looked as though you were here watching the gate and I didn't just want to walk on past. Sorry to have to wake you up."
The other guard stretches, "Was not sleeping. Just resting our eyes. My name is Graffi and...and...what the heck are you?" as he finally sees the griffin and grabs his spear.
Picasso takes a step back as she sees the weapon.
Picasso chtorrs, "A visitor to this world. Don't be alarmed, I won't bite."
*Clank* and Graffi curses as he tries to pull his visor up to see. He realizes she's probably right, she could have easily attacked while they were asleep. He pokes Japphel, the other guard, "Wake up, ya gotta see this."
Picasso isn't sure whether to be amused or insulted. She's not used to being a curiosity.
Japphel, now awake, looks Picasso over, "What is this thing?
Picasso chtorrs, "My name is Picasso. I don't think my races name for itself would translate well."
Graffi gets his visor up and peers, "You look like one of the Avianians. What do you want in town?"
Picasso chtorrs, "I don't know who or what the Avianians are. As it looks like I'm stuck on this world I thought I'd do a bit of exploring. I was told I'd likely need to find a job if I came here. I can fly and carry a fair amount so that's what I thought I'd try first"
Graffi nods and whispers to Japphel, "Sounds like an Avianian to me. Should we let her in?"
Picasso chtorrs, "The ones who found me indicated that I might well be able to earn some money doing that."
Japphel nods and whispers back , "I don't see why not. I don't think she'll do anything"
Picasso waits even though she easily heard the whispers
Graffi finally nods, "Sure, you can go in, market will just be setting up. Might want to try the stores along the docks. What's your name?"
Picasso chtorrs, "Picasso"
Picasso chtorrs, "Thank you for the information."
Japphel backs out of the way of Picasso and raises his spear to let her pass.
Picasso tucks her wings close and heads through the gates
Picasso gets a short way into the city and stops to get her bearings and to look around. She's never been in a city like this before.
Japphel steps back next to Graffi, "Hey, have you every seen an Avianian with the body of an lion before? I can't say I have."
Graffi blinks, then slumps against the wall, "Gah. I'm NEVER going to get that promotion at this rate."
As the bemused griffin walks into the city of Haven, she notes the early morning bustle as people wake up, and start walking about the town, setting up market stalls, opening their shops and going to work.
Picasso decides she can sightsee later and looks for the market area.
Picasso continues wandering, working her way towards the side of the town near the water she saw from the air. She's somewhat oblivious to the reactions toward her as she's trying to keep track of where she's been so she doesn't get lost
A lot of the townsfolk are very busy, and the ones not paying attention just think it's one of those weird spacers. But a couple do startle a bit.
Picasso tries not to bump others but she's obviously larger than most of those she sees.
Picasso continues on trying to work her way to the docks and not get too distracted by all the sights sounds and smells.
Along the crowded and busy edges of the main south market street, a single stone building is set back from the bustle, a smaller wooden structure, apparently some kind of shop, seems almost to be propped up against the solid stone wall behind it.
Picasso starts to walk by the stone building....
A bright series of colored, flashing lights erupts from the windows, lighting the shadows aside the small wooden structure, and the odor of ozone wafts across the plaza before it.
Picasso startles a bit and turns to see what the commotion was.
The crowds nearby jump back at the sudden reaction, then mutter to themselves and shake their heads as they stare in accustomed bemusement at the little place.
Picasso wanders over a little closer to see what the shop actually sells
Closer up, its still difficult to see what, if anything, this shop sells, but those colored lights are flashing again (or still...), but at a much reduced brightness.
Picasso is curious and has to find out what those lights are. She moves to take a look into the building
Through the darkened windows, an upright figure can be seen toying with some kind of box, from which many colored lights are blinking on and off. The lights reflect and glint off the sparkly objects on the walls.
Picasso continues to watch.
The figure appears to poke at the box, and quickly recoils as a shower of sparks erupts from the object and the lights go dead. Through the window can be heard a series of muttered expletives.
Picasso wonders aloud just what it might be that the weird contraption is supposed to do.
Picasso realizes she's close enough for the individual in the building to have possibly heard her and moves to continue down to the docks before she gets into trouble
The figure twists his face a little and thwaps the box, which gives no more than a slight flash from the lights. Disgusted, he finally looks up and sees the griffoness peering through the window.
Picasso peers in the window at the apparently malfunctioning machine.
Michael pulls his head away from the slightly smoking box, which he seemed to be making an attempt at repairing. He thwacks it soundly on the top, an action responded by a faint flicker of light on the window.
Picasso Starts to turn away and continue her search for some kind of employment.
Michael looks up at the movement as he pushes the box away, noticing the griffin turn.
Picasso starts to walk away.
Michael makes a peculiar face, and walks over to peer out the door. "Hello?" he asks.
Picasso turns back. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been looking in windows. I guess I got distracted by that machine in there whatever it is.
Michael brightens and smiles, rubbing some of the soot off his nose. "Do you know what it is?"
Picasso chtorrs, "No. It sure seems to add to the atmosphere though."
Michael says, "I could do without that addition...What brings you all the way out here from the forest?"
Picasso tilts her head and realizes she's seen you before.
Michael smiles in recognition of the (rather distinctive) face, but not the name.
Michael nods.
Picasso chtorrs, "I wanted to see a bit more of this world. This place sounded interesting enough so I decided to start here."
Picasso chtorrs, "I was told I might be able to find a job doing air deliveries if I checked down by the docks"
Michael ah's. "You should be careful. People around here have trouble believing things with four legs have enough wits to bang two rocks together."
Picasso chtorrs, "I'd heard something about that. I suppose I could take my other shape but it's not easy and I can't stay that way long."
Picasso chtorrs, "The guards at the gate were a bit surprised when they saw me."
Michael would lift an ear, if the small fleshy things were capable of it."Other form?"
Picasso chtorrs, "I can take a two legged form. It's difficult for me and somewhat dangerous. I'm hoping to avoid doing so if at all possible"
Michael leans against his doorway. "You may have trouble finding work in that form. But perhaps you might be able to run deliveries between here and Northern Reach. They and their CatPilliars are a bit more accepting."
Picasso chtorrs, "Ok. So any idea who I might talk with about arranging a job doing that?"
Picasso chtorrs, "I don't know my way around this city and was more or less just heading in the general direction of the waterfront."
Michael gazes at the griffiness, sizing her up. "The only person I know at the docks is Tylen. You probably do not want to see him."
Picasso chtorrs, "Oh? Why is that?"
Michael smiles toothily. "He can be...impatient."
Michael looks off distractedly to the docks.
Picasso chtorrs, "Well, if he's unpleasant then I might be best looking on my own"
Michael says, "Although he is the lord of the docks, so you will probably have to meet him eventually."
Picasso chtorrs, "Wonderful."
Picasso chtorrs, "I won't take any more of your time. If I can't find anything I can always fly elsewhere I suppose. Good luck with that machine of yours"
Michael says, "He's not so bad. He did give Copernicus' clan an island."
Michael bows. "Good luck to you, and you are welcome back anytime you desire."
Picasso chtorrs, "Thank you"
Michael smiles and nods. "Of course!"
Picasso wanders on down toward the waterfront, feeling better that she at least knows one person in the city
Michael starts back into the shop, looks briefly at the smoldering box, then decides to go for a walk instead.
Picasso continues down toward the sound of the waves and the smell of....well the smell one usually associates with docks.
The slightly chill tropical winter wind is relatively clean smelling, though the far end of the docks do smell of fish. There are numerous street vendors set up for this clear day, and nearly everyone stares at the odd bird animal walking down the street.
One of the more curious fox kits bounds away from his mother and pounces Picasso's tail tuft.
Picasso tries to ignore the stares as she looks for any sign of possible work for her
Picasso smiles and pulls her tailtuft out of the way
The kit barks happily as the catbird joins in the game, but his mother rushes in and scoops him up, "You should be more careful Jonathan. I can't believe someone would let such a large animal wander on it's own!"
Picasso chtorrs, "Pardon me m'aam."
The vixen whirls and stares at the griffin, "Who said that?"
Picasso chtorrs, "I did. Why shouldn't I wander about on my own?"
Picasso turns and continues on her way before the vixen can get over her surprise
The vixen starts, and looks around to see if someone is playing a joke on her. When she finally notices Picasso wandering off, she blinks, then mutters, "By the maker. Next thing the mice will be organizing a protest or something."
Finally, the docks along the Big Serpent come into view, and the number of people hurrying around increases, though a few do start at Picasso's appearance there.
The ships are loading and unloading a variety of goods, including furs, leather, silks and some linens, along with wood products, furniture, salt, spices and even some vegetables and fruits.
Picasso Is beginning to feel less sure of herself in the milling crowd. She keeps her wings folded tight and continues along
A frustrated looking otter is arguing with a feline in heavy clothes who is standing next to two heavily laden lizard's, which Picasso remembers the Beiters having called "Gambzars".
Picasso pauses to hear what the argument is about while trying to look like she isn't listening in
The otter growls, "A few pieces of paper are not going to break your lizard's backs. They have to get to Turning Point soon, or my brother will lose the claim to his mine!"
The feline hmmfs, "I already have a full load, Kyrimis. To take anything else, I'd expect a lot more than you are willing to pay."
Kyrimis sputters, "That's bordering on robbery, taking advantage of my situation like that!"
Picasso's eartufts perk up at hearing this.
Picasso wanders closer
Picasso chtorrs, "Um, pardon me?"
The feline hisses, "Then find someone else to haul your papers!" and grabs the leads to the gambzars and heads away from the docks.
Kyrimis growls as best an otter can then turns around abruptly and bumps right into Picasso. In his start, the bundle of papers in his hands drops, and the wind starts scattering them, "By the maker no! My brothers claim papers!" and he starts scooping them up as fast as he can, shouting, "Help me! My papers! Help me!"
Picasso uses her tail to trap a couple of the papers and pins another few with a front paw
Picasso chtorrs, "These are safe, you'd best catch the rest before they blow away"
One of the sailors, not hearing Picasso from upwind shouts, "Hey, that bird thing there has grabbed some of that otter's papers. She might wreck 'em!"
The otter is frantically grabbing papers, and hearing the sailor's shout, turns to see the large...whatever it is, clutching his papers and he shouts, "Someone please help save the papers!"
Picasso carefully picks up the papers under her front paw and holds them out to the otter.
Picasso chtorrs, "Take these before the ones under my tail blow away"
"What's going on here?!" shouts a shrill voice. Its source appears to be a portly female badger approaching from the main marketplace.
Kyrimis starts as he sees her talk and asks "What are you?" before Tanna barges in on the scene.
One of the sailor's calls out behind Tanna, "The big bird thing went after his papers!"
Picasso chtorrs, "I'm a
Tanna, the badger council member in question, glares at the otter and demands,
"What's going on? Don't you know we have litter and leash laws in
Haven?" A ways back along the badger's path, her twin brother makes slower
progress as he has to stop and apologize for his sister at every other
step.
Kyrimis blurts, "But I didn't....it's not my...but..."
Tanna crosses her arms and taps a foot. "No excuses now! These are your papers
littering the dock, aren't they?"
Kyrimis nods, "They were knocked out of my hand, and I have to get them
back..."
Picasso finally gets impatient and puts the papers in her paw down on the
counter and sets the first object that comes to paw on them to hold them
down and then catches the ones her tail has been holding down and adds
those to the stack.
Picasso chtorrs, "There. That's all of them I could save."
Kyrimis greatfully grabs the last of his papers, "Thank you, er..ah, who
are you?" as he tries to avoid the glare of Tanna's eyes.
As Birnat finally reaches his sister's side, Tanna hmphs, and mutters under
her breath, "There are plenty of vendors that sell binders.."
Picasso chtorrs, "My name seems to translate as Picasso here."
Kyrimis stands there, his arms full of slightly mangled papers, looking a
lot like a little kid who knows he's in trouble, even though he didn't
do anything. He looks to Birnat for help?
Picasso chtorrs, "So that's probably what you ought to call me."
Birnat ignores the otter completely, and focuses on Picasso. "Are you one
of the Spacers?"
Kyrimis nods and softly says, "Thank you Picasso" and then turns back to
face Tanna. Many of the more burly sailors wince and slink off, wishing
the otter luck under their breaths.
Picasso chtorrs, "Not as far as I know"
Picasso chtorrs, "As far as I know I'm the only one of my kind on this world."
Birnat smiles and holds out his paw. "Well then, welcome to Haven.." Meanwhile,
Tanna explains about binders and document satchels in her own special
way to Kyrimis.
Picasso takes Birnat's paw carefully in one of hers and then lets it go.
Picasso waits for the tongue lashing to die down a bit before trying to
interrupt.
Kyrimis just nods in response to everything Tanna says, hoping she'll find
another target soon.
Of course, all the potential targets nearby who have heard of Tanna quickly
make themselves scarce.
Tanna finally runs down, and casts her eye on Picasso and her brother. "Hmph,
another alien?"
Picasso chtorrs, "I suppose I would qualify on that score."
Picasso chtorrs, "Now if you don't mind, this otter and I were about to conduct
some business {winks at Kyrimis}. Isn't that right?"
The badgeress just sighs, and says, "Well, you should probably go see the
others on their island out.. thataway.." She waves a paw towards the
river delta and sea beyond.
The otter, grabbing any avenue of escape, quickly nods, "Yes, some business.
You know, business that generates taxes for the city coffers."
Birnat speaks up this time, "Do you have a business license then, Miss Picasso?"
Picasso chtorrs, "A what?"
Kyrimis chitters, "Oh, we were on our way to get her one, as she is new to
the area. I'll get her all registered up. C'mon, let's go before the
offices close."
Picasso nods in agreement still not sure what a business license is
Birnat nods, "Yes, you should hurry.." then has to turn and try to catch
up with Tanna, who is already heading off towards another suspicious knot
of people..
Kyrimis watches the twins leave and slumps down on the bench with a heavy
sigh, "Finally. They're gone."
Picasso chtorrs, "Sorry about startling you and making you drop the papers."
Picasso chtorrs, "I hope you didn't lose any of them"
Kyrimis starts sorting them, "I think they are all here, and it probably
doesn't matter. I won't be able to get them to my brother in Turning Point
in time to save his mine anyhow."
Picasso chtorrs, "That was what I was going to discuss with you. I don't
know how far Turning Point is but I am sure I'd be a lot faster than a
couple of lizards"
Picasso chtorrs, "And if you help me get one of those business license things
I'd give you a more than fair price to get them there"
The otter turns and now notices the folded wings at the griffin's side. "Oh,
it's about two weeks travel, and part of that is by boat. That would
be wonderful Mr. Picasso! Yes, a business license is cheap. The taxes
are not quite so cheap, but not too bad. It's just a piece of paper saying
that you have the right to do business and pay taxes in Haven and
Turning Point. Oh, this is wonderful! I'll get you a map too. C'mon, c'mon!"
as the animated little otter pads off nearly as quickly as he was
talking, obviously relieved.
Picasso works to keep up with the otter without knocking anyone down
Well, after a few arguments about selling a business license to an animal,
and a bit of clarification on Picasso's real gender (for the paperwork,
of course), Kyrimis carefully bundles the mine claim papers into Picasso's
saddle bags, along with a detailed map of the route to Turning Point,
and a description of his brother, Beratis. After reassuring the hyper
little otter for the 12th time, Picasso finally takes flight on her
first job. It's just to deliver papers, it should be a piece of cake.
;)