Molly and Levin on the Hunt Part 1 - RPLOG
Participants
Date
29/2/479
Log
The Diseased Pig is at least as unpleasant as its name. A haze of foul smoke floats about the exposed rafters and the tables don't look to be much cleaner than the oily looking floor. And the patrons don't look much better, to be honest. All sorts of beings are gathered here, but they all have a similar hungry look to them. This is not the place to go if you are looking for a good time. But this is where Levin's contact said he would meet them. . .
"Listen lil' Miss, it'll be just fine. See? It's not THAT bad!" Levin breaks into a grin as he enters the Pig with Molly close behind, the otter stopping to take in a deep breath of the rotten, alcohol soaked air and letting it all out with a content sigh. It's been a while since he's visited the Pig, or met with his contact, Alkaios - Or Al, as he liked to call him - A forgien shiphand he had served with in his years on the seas - The crow was a bit of a rotten sort, but trustworthy. "Mind where you step, lil' miss," he muses as he saunters about the room, his eyes gleaming as he takes in all the sights of his favorite drinking hole as he makes his way towards the booth the two had agreed upon "People kinda puke where they want, so watch out for the sticky bits!"
"I have no idea why you would possibly agree to meet in such a place," the rabbit says, unenthused and clinging to the otter's arm as she walks in. She's dressed down to her old set of patchy rags, looking plain and brown in a tunic, trousers, and heavy boots. "Euhhh.." she grumbles, looking around at the floor and trying to dance around the dirty bits. A fruity scent still lingers around her from over-applied perfume that she couldn't quite wash out, providing some respite from the bar's stench.
The crow in question is hunkered down in a private booth, away from the entrance. He inclines his head at Levin, beckoning the pair over to his greasy little table. "Levin," he croaks, "Been a Skrith's age! I thought you was dead by now!" He turns a leer on Molly, "Who's the eye candy?"
Levin can't help but let out a soft chuckle at Molly's little remark. "Because who would ever come here?" he's quick to reply "Well, aside from me anyway." When the otter spots his old friend he puts on a grin spanning from ear to ear as he tugs Molly towards the booth with him. "Ah, Al, you have -no- idea! I'm honestly suprised I'm still up and walking myself." He gestures for Molly to sit down as he says "And this here's Molly - A lovely lil' lass, ain't she? Molly, this is Al - Nobody knows the waters better then this ol' fella."
Molly's gaze drifts over to the crow as he waves them over, giving him a bored stare while he's greeting the otter. She reluctantly takes a seat after Levin prompts her to, sitting up straight with her hands folded in her lap. "A lovely little lass," she mimics him, rolling her eyes. She pauses, but does give the crow a bow of the head after he's introduced to her. "Hello, Al," she mumbles, turning her head away to look around the tavern with increasing disgust.
"Charmed, I'm sure," Al says with a lascivious grin, "Now what is it I can do fer you two lovebirds?" He looks at Levin. "You got coin, I got whatever dirt you need," he says.
"Heh, do I got coin? Let me see..." The otter makes a face as he darts his hands into his pockets, rummaging around for a few moments before pulling them out with a shrug. "Hmm... hrmm... Oh! Well, here should be enough for drinking money, I suppose." Levin pulls out a single coin - a single, one hundred crown coin polished to a shine, the face of the Good king stamped onto it's side glinting in the low light of the tavern as he casually tosses it to Al. "I'm sure I left my wallet somewhere on me, maybe you can tell me 'bout what's going on down at the docks lately while I look for it - Molly can tell ya' more."
Levin spends 100 Crown for RP reasons.
"Charmed," Molly says with another lazy eyeroll, laying her albows on the table before she leans in and props her chin up on her hands. "We're interested in the vessel named Vengeance, and some folk who have been botherin' with it," she says in a flat tone, looking to Levin for approval as she explains. "Bunch o' beings ransacking the place and one of the warehouses that ship works with." She idly runs a finger in circles over the surface of the table, wrinkling her nose as her fingertip becomes a grimy brown. "Know anything 'bout it, or should I get more particular?"
The crow snatches the coin from the air and makes it vanish like magic. "That'll earn you a word or three," Al says, "There's always something going down near the docks. Yer gonna have to be more specific, mate."
His grin slips a little bit at the mention of the Vengeance. "Yeah," he admits, "I heard about some of that. Some of those sailor boys run around in circles I know. The got no idea who's been targeting 'em. First guess is Longtails moving in on Lockedjaw shipping." His eyes narrow a bit, looking between the pair. "You two takin' up with the Lockedjaws?"
Levin lets out a bit of a chuckle as he leans back into his seat, his big dumb grin not even fading an inch as he sees the tension flicker in his old friend. "Nah, taking from is more accurate." The otter slips his hands back to cushion his head as he gives Al a few silent nods... It takes him a moment to think up what to say next. "See - A friend of mine, they had somethin' fancy going on with one of the crew there, if you get what I'm sayin'. People just can't resist salty sea rats like us, eh?" he says with a wink "I figure I'm killin' two birds with one stone here - no offense - I get to help a friend and pilfer some pirate booty so to speak."
Molly stares at Levin, mouth hanging open as he explains their apparent motivation. She leans back in her seat with a resigned sigh. "Yeap," she says, half way through the otter's explanation. She simply folds her arms and looks expectantly at Al, waiting for the conversation to continue itself.
Al shakes his head. "Not sure which idea is dumber," he sighs, "Joining the Lockedjaws or tryin' to steal from 'em." He does not look especially convinced by Levin's explanation, though. "So what do you want from me?" he asks, "You want me to point you toward the Longtails? I mean, I can, but I don't want my name showing up in nothin!"
"It's not really stealing if they're payin' me, now is it?" Levin asks with a sagely nod. "And don't worry, the lil' miss and I will forget you were even here, don't worry." Levin pulls his hands out from behind him as he leans in to the table, a hand quickly darting into his vest to pull out five of the same coin he had given his friend just a moment before. He lays out two hundred crown pieces out on front of him, leaving the final three caged behind his fingers. "I want you to point me towards the truth - Names, Al, I need some."
"I'd certainly like to," the rabbit mumbles, nodding in agreement with Levin. "Well, we're specifically looking for two groups of beings.. we've got a trio of a shark, red panda, and a tiger," she taps her chin as she searches her mind for the other details, "and a second group with less accurate descriptions, but it was two light and sneaky folks and one in heavy armor. Guards got involved in that one." She bites her tongue as she watches Levin hand away the money. "Aren't we rrrich."
Al's tongue licks along his beak as he looks at the coins on the table. "The shark I know," he says, "I mean, I probably know the shark. There's a shark that does wetwork for the Longtails. He's captain of some ship. Lady Luck, or Fortune or something like that, I can't remember. Goes by Serin Thatch. Might be your guy. Definitely sounds like Longtail work, though." He leaves the coins on the table, not moving to take anything until it is all freely offered. "I can get you an audience with some Longtail bigwigs," he says, "But if it IS their hit, then they ain't gonna take kindly to snooping."
Levin lets out a soft huff as he pulls his attention away from Al in order to give Molly a look, "I'm willin' to pay, lil' miss. My friend lost his squeeze after all, still all torn up 'bout it and cryin' on my shoulder like the drunkin' fool he is. Cats." Turning his attention back to Al, Levin raps his fingers against the table as he listens to what he has to say, the otter eventually shaking his head and saying "Nah, they were all gals, weren't they lil' miss? In the first one, anyway - The second, he still might be, so lets play it safe for now. For all of our sakes, Al. We don't want to stir the up the cat nest now do we?" The otter's grin widens a bit, showing off his yellow stained teeth. "But we know about a third still, a plant and a blue pegasus - A blue pegasus, of all things."
Molly nods to Levin. "That too," she says, scratching her chin nervously. "Well, yes, the first three were all female.. there was that third group.. on the second group, one of the men thought that one of the attackers had been a mouse, or a rat, or somethin' like that, with a symbol on her armor that glowed when she fought." She taps her fingers on the table and squirms, glancing around the bar. "Lots to remember, sorry."
The crow frowns at the pair, seemingly in deep thought. "Don't sound like any crews I know," he says, "You sure you're lookin' on the right side of the tracks?" Al scoops up one of the coins and nibbles on it, making sure it is not a trick. "With the Lockedjaw clan, I wouldn't be surprised if you were dealin' whi the law."
Levin can't help but shrug. "It was something I considered when I heard he was a Lockedjaw - The fella just went by 'Mister O' up until then. What I don't understand is why they law would go after him so..." the otter lifts his hand to gesture idly for a moment "... Well, not like this, ya'know?" The otter mumbles something under his breath before letting out a soft sigh which is followed the sound of metal clinking together as stacks up the remaining three coins and pushes them to Al. "Alright, one last question - I heard this Lockedjaw was into something real shady. Being trafficking. Honestly, I don't know what to think about rumors like that - There could be something to it, or it could be a Longtail or some pissed off noble trying to pin some dirt on 'em. You know anything about it? And Molly, you got anything else to ask?"
The rabbit shrugs. "All the rest I know is that a jaguar was part of that second crew, too, but Al doesn't know 'em," she mumbles. "I don't think there's muched to be gained by stayin' in here. Thanks Al." She fidgets and squirms some more before settling in to wait for Levin.
The crow makes the rest of the coin vanish as well. "Pleasure doing business," he says, "And I couldn't say one way or the other, Lev. All I know is that the Veangeance comes in to Firmament with a skeleton crew, and they leave with twice the crew they need. All signed on with contracts and everything."
Levin spends 500 Crown for RP reasons.
Levin gives Al a slow nod, his grin fading into a rather degected look. "Hrm. Well Al, you've helped close some doors for us at least. Thanks mate, and treat yourself to something nice alright?"
Molly stands up, eager to get out of the bar. "Nice meeting you," she says aside, grabbing Levin's arm and trygint to tug him to his feet as well.
The crow's dark eyes follow the pair out of the bar. And his isn't the only gaze on the pair. It is nice to get out into the fresh air again and almost surprising to find that it is still daylight outside of that dim dive.
