The sun is low over the waters of the big serpent. The docks along the Haven Waterfront are fairly quiet, with only two small clippers tied up. It's the heart of a tropical winter, which means the wind has a little bite to it at night, especially when the skies are clear. When the sun finally goes down today, it'll be very cold, as the sky is a brilliant, crystal clear blue.
Simtra shivers as the wind blows through his fur as he walks along the street.
Chastity sits on the edge of a wharf, looking out into the water and thinking. This world has been a number of surprises for her. She seems to remember a time, long ago, when it had been difficult for her people to get any sort of housing. That had changed, in time... but changed into what? She sighs and shakes her head sourly. Blast it all! She was getting tired of her memory failing, and she really didn't know if it was age (which she doubted), the lingering effects of what brought her here (which was more likely), or... something else. She stands, and looks around -- a bit forlornly -- for one of the felitaurs.
Several of the city custodians are out lighting the street lamps where Simtra is strolling. It's kind of interesting to see a small otter teen teetering on a small ladder to light the lights along one section. Up ahead, someone seems to be riding what looks like a somewhat short and very fuzzy horse. The street lights are not on over there yet.
Chastity cranes her neck around, peering closely at the silhouette. -Could- be a Felitaur, since she hadn't seen any riding beasts here. She walks quickly to catch up to the shape.
Simtra looks up and tries to figure out who might be riding on the horse.
Simtra stands by one of the lit lamp posts, waiting for the rider to come by so that he will be able to get a good look at them.
Simtra wishes he came into town with more then just a vest. "If I knew it was going going to be this cold when I was here I would have worn a coat."
As Chastity pads forward, the form of Copernicus becomes apparent. He seems to be strolling quietly, apparently thinking about something.
Chastity slows, but only just a little, coming up on Copernicus. She doesn't want to barge in on his thoughts.
Copernicus stops, and sits on his haunches and uses a hind leg to give his flank a good scritching for a moment.
Chastity grins softly, and calls out quietly, "Coper..."
Simtra blinks at what he just saw the 'horse' do and walks slowly towards them to check it out.
Copernicus twists his torso around in a manner that seems painful just to look at and purrs, "Oh, Chastity. How are you this fine evening?"
Chastity blinks at the felitaur's range of movement. "Oh! Oh, not terribly bad, thanks. I found a place to stay, I think..."
As Simtra gets close enough to see Copernicus clearly, he is shocked and just stands there and looks at the Felitaur, not believing what he is seeing.
Copernicus nods and stretches a bit, and turns his whole body around now to face Chastity, thankfully. "That's good to hear. Going to set up your herb shop?"
Chastity smiles softly, 'I would, except they want more than I was able to get for the two pieces of Swan's-Eye I had with me."
Copernicus hrrms, "Going to be hard to raise money if you don't have a place to set up shop, won't it?"
Chastity tilts her head to the side. "Not to mention getting stock. I found I was good at scrounging up herbs on Nimby, but unless I'm willing to wait a year to grow some herbs here, I don't think I'll be able to make much headway." She sighs. "Do you still have that job open? As a liaison?
Copernicus nods, "Though I don't want you feeling like you are trapped into taking it. As far as stock, there are places along the equator where plants will be growing."
After the shock of seeing such a strange creature, Simtra works up his nerve to at least say hello and resumes walking in their direction.
Chastity nods, "I know, but frankly it's the only work I'm likely to find." She taps her bum leg meaningfully. "And I don't think I can afford booking passage to the equator.
Simtra notices that the felitaur is talking with an older fox and stands off to the side as not to interrupt their conversation.
Copernicus's ears flick as he notices Simtra, but turns back to Chastity, "Well, if you do become our liaison, we'll be happy to give you some trips to the equator. Doesn't hurt if we learn more about this planet either. If you're sure about this, lets go get you your shop."
Chastity smiles softly, "I think the county clerk's offices are closed. we could go take a look at it now, though. By the way, what's the 'spreading madness?'
Simtra pulls his vest close as he shivers again as the wind whips through his fur.
Copernicus hrrms, "Not sure I've heard of that. Where did you hear it?"
Chastity shivers a bit, and hugs her arms around herself. "Blast.... Does it always get this cold here? Apparently the previous owners of the house died from it."
Chastity's ears finally twitch, and she blinks, then turns, and sees Simtra. She waves to the cold-looking figure in the twilight.
Copernicus smiles slightly and twitches his tail, "Greetings gentlefur. You look like you could use the warmth of the First Mother's bosom on such a cold night?"
Simtra waves back and walks up to the two, "G'eve. I would be most grateful if I could but if I could ask, Are you one of those felitaurs that I have heard about?"
Chastity grins softly at the question.
Copernicus bows his torso slightly, "I am Copernicus Skygazer Talorn of the Chirr'T'Thar. We are often called winged felitaurs, yes."
Simtra bows slightly in greeting, "Oh, I am sorry, my name is Simtra and I am glad to meet you. I could not help but notice ya but you are so stran. . . err different looking."
Copernicus's muzzle curls up into a rakish smile and he purrs, "Yes, I've noticed that myself. It's hard being one of the very few around with spots in their fur. ;)"
Simtra chuckles softly and then shivers again.
Copernicus hrrms, "We need to get you someplace warm, and soon. You seem to not have thick enough fur for this weather."
Simtra nods, "No I was never quite blessed with that trait. Kinda strange being part snow fox."
Copernicus hrrms at Chastity, "Shall we check out your intended shop and maybe warm up our friend too?"
Chastity nods,"It's only a little warmer, I haven't set up home there yet or anything...
Copernicus hrrms, "And I doubt it would have central heating from the coolant of a fusion plant either. Oh, what do they call those things where they build fires inside?"
Simtra keeps quiet, trying to be polite even though he is really feeling the cold now.
Copernicus shakes his head, "But I'm being rude. The First Mother would be ashamed of my not helping someone out. I can at least warm you up a bit right now." and spreads a wing to curl around the cold fox.
Chastity starts leading the fox and felitaur through the now-lantern-lit streets. "'Fireplaces?' 'Franklin stoves?'"
Copernicus ahs, "Yes. A fireplace or a wood burning stove. Does it have one of those?"
Simtra happily lets himself be wrapped up in Copernicus's wing, but is still a bit wary of this strange creature.
Copernicus pads along, noting with satisfaction that the insulation of his wing, along with the heat from his flanks is helping warm up the fox.
Chastity shakes her head, leaning a bit heavier than usual on her cane. "I think it does, a fireplace at least, but it's not mine, at least not yet."
Copernicus shrugs, "We'll take care of that tomorrow. For tonight, we'll make sure you both are in a warm place."
Chastity ohs, as she rounds a corner, "I'll be fine, Coper, nights on Sanctuary got a lot colder than this...'
Copernicus turns to Simtra, "Feeling better I hope?"
Simtra says, "I am glad that ya will be able to take me in, I was not sure what I would do tonight since I did not have a place to stay tonight."
Simtra stops shivering, "Oh much better Mr. Talorn. Thank you for the lending of your warm wing."
The three finally reach a slightly tired, run-down part of Haven, and Chastity leads them to a two-story corner building, holding the door open for them both.
Copernicus chucklepurrs, "Copernicus, or Coper for short."
Copernicus erfs, "I think you had best go in first Simtra. One of the first things we'll need is a wider door. ;)"
Simtra chuckles and unwraps the wing from himself and enters the building, "Ok then, Copernicus"
Copernicus sighs and moves his wings towards the middle of his 'taur back and squeeeeezes through the doorway, barely.
Chastity grins softly, watching Coper squeeze in, then follows behind him, closing the door.
Copernicus hmms, "So, where is the fireplace Chastity?", course, he's also noting how some of the floorboards creak when he walks on them. Hmmm.
Simtra stands off to the side trying to stay out of the way since he is a guest in the house.
Chastity looks around, then ahs, "Over there," she points to a dark depression in the wall with a chimney leading up, a brick monster of a hearth. "I think there's some wood near it..
Copernicus nods and tosses some logs into the hearth and then rummages through his plumage for a second before removing a feather.
Chastity blinks at the feather. "Aaaaand... now what?"
Copernicus hrrms as he breaks the tip, "Oh, just a flare" and the feather ignites with a bright flame and he tosses it onto the wood. "We were designed to be ships tools. Comes in handy now and then. ;)"
Simtra jumps as the feather bursts into flame ,"What the heck?!?"
Chastity eepes! and blinks. "Designed...?"
Copernicus shrugs, "A bit of history we dislike. An ancient race of genetic engineers, who we only know as the "slavers" created us from some normal race long ago, to be ships engineers. I guess they decided this was more efficient than having to lug a tool box around."
Copernicus wrinkles his nose in distaste and purrs, "Well, now why is this house abandoned Chastity?" as he feeds the growing fire some more logs.
Simtra mouths the words 'genetic engineers' trying to understand what they might mean.
Chastity shakes her head, then looks ready to speak.. and stops. Then she sighs and holds her head. "Oh, -dammit!- I -hate- these little snippets of memory coming back and not meaning anything to me!"
Copernicus frowns, "Are you ok Chastity? We don't have the type of doctors that would deal well with your memories I'm afraid, but we may find a race that does."
Chastity sighs and rubs her hand, looking sad. "I just had a sudden image of a white-furred feline, as soon as you mentioned 'designed,' and for the oddest moment I thought of her as my daught-- no, my stepdaughter. But I can't even remember her name." She looks at her hand, waggling her fingers as if she expects something to be there that isn't.
Copernicus pads over and gently headrubs Chastity, "I hope your memory returns soon malady."
Simtra folds his ears back as he is very confused with what the two might be talking about.
Chastity sighs, and nods a bit, padding over to the fireplace and standing there. "I can only hope. I feel like there's so much I should remember...."
Copernicus curls a wing around the elderly vixen and nods, "Memories make up who we are, and to lose that is a sad thing. I was going to just check on a couple of things and then go head off to see my mates. I would asked you both to sleep with me and my mates, but this is not a night where we will be sleeping."
Chastity chuckles softly. "I think we confused our other guest....
Chastity says, "I'm sorry, Simtra. My names Chastity, Chastity Wa-- er... DeLameter."
Simtra bows to Chastity, "Glad to meet ya Chastity, but what are ya talking about. Genetic engineers? I have not heard of anything like them.
Chastity says, "Er... I'm not sure why the house is abandoned, but there are papers upstairs saying something about the house being up for public sale because of the owners dying form the 'spreading madness' or something. It sounds like some sort of plague."
Chastity smiles quietly to Simtra. "Nothing, really, Simtra. A 'genetic engineer,' I guess, is someone who can.. change the way a living thing grows.
Copernicus softly purrs, "Consider yourself blessed then my friend." as he looks at the younger fox, then purrs to Chastity, "Oh? I'll check on it in town, odds are the virus has gone inert by now, or whatever it was. So, either of you need anything before I leave to fulfill my family duties tonight?"
Chastity blinks at Copernicus. "'Duties?' You make it sound as if you're being forced into it."
Simtra ohs and shakes his head no, "I am ok."
Copernicus chuckles, "Forced? Never. ;) But I have been so busy with everything, that they have made it clear they feel a tad neglected. No one has ever accused our race of being subtle. ;)"
Chastity chuckles softly. "Well, I'm all right. I have a bedroll over there for myself.. but I don't know what I can do for you, Simtra....
Simtra looks around the room, "I am sure there is something that I would be able to curl up on."
Chastity nods, "Upstairs there's something, I'm sure."
Copernicus nods, "Well then, I shall be off for the night. Oh, Chastity, I'll probably be back afternoon. We'll take care of the ownership on this place then. And I can get some of my crew to help you fix the place up."
Simtra heads up the stairs to see if there is anything up there.
Chastity nods slowly, "Thanks, Copernicus. Oh, I think I'll be able to fix it up, I've a few miles left in these bones!"
Simtra comes back down the stairs with a couple of old blankets in his paws, "This should be ok for me."
Chastity smiles quietly, "Then you're welcome to stay the evening, Simtra."
Simtra says, "Fix up the place? If you want I can help ya out. I have nowhere else to go for a while, and I need to pay ya back for me stay here.""
Copernicus taps a fore claw on the floorboards, "Well, if you are going to have the occasional four footed visitor, we need to reinforce some things. You two have a good night. Good hunting." at which he BARELY squeezes out the door again. As he leaps into the night sky and spreads his wings, you can clearly hear him purr, "And a bigger door too!"
Chastity smiles warmly, "That would be fine, Simtra, thank you!:
Chastity chuckles softly as Coper leaves. 'Good night, Copernicus!
Simtra lays the blankets down on the floor and waves good night to Copernicus.
Chastity sets her bedroll near the fire, leaving more than enough room for Simtra's own blankets, and, yawning, slips into the 'roll.
Simtra places his pack and fox figuring down on floor next to his blankets which is has gathered into a small round like pillow.
The stars are brilliantly clear this night as Copernicus wings home to his mates, and does his best to make it clear that he didn't mean to neglect them. Simtra and Chastity have a good nights sleep, though at one point Chastity thinks she hears a girls laughter from upstairs, but puts it down as a dream.