Wonderland?

Sah

The forest never sleeps and the wolf never dies

Sah had come down to the hidden lane to deliver a fox fur to a client at a brothel. He'd never been to one, but she wished to meet outside anyway, so the hybrid didn't see any harm in it. What he hadn't seen coming was the woman coming out without a shirt, throwing the fox fur around her shoulders, and then skipping away after giving him a tight hug and a kiss on the cheek.

Nudity was nudity. Nudity and nearly breaking one of his ribs with shocking strength was another. Feeling out of his depth, and slightly bruised, Sah shook his head and decided that he might as well enjoy the shops that had caught his eye on the way there. Turning on his heel, the colors and smells of the Last Whisper were nearly overwhelming. Where in the world did he start?

Dantalion

// there's shadows on the walls //

Start as you mean to go on, Danta might have suggested had he been capable of reading Sah's thoughts. Alas, as the hybrid starts to meander along the shopfronts and boutiques, the Maverick is a little busy himself. And to the surprise of everyone, it isn't in the brothel either. No, he lands in The Last Whisper from the steps leading down as if in a hurry, shifting from his corvid form back onto two feet at the very last moment.

Adjusting his coat as he straightens up (a few feathers twirl to the ground in his wake, one still caught in his blond hair), he heads directly for the store that Sah is lingering out of - one selling fine sets of crockery and an assortment of tea blends, it looks like. Just as he's about to head inside, someone calls for his attention from the Dusklight just across the lane, and Danta turns without quite stopping, such that he unfortunately collides with the Wild Thunder's shoulder.

"Ah - fuck. Sorry about that," he says, before turning to gesture dramatically at one of the open windows of the brothel as if to ask what the issue is.

Dantalion

// of moments far too troubling to recall //

Sah

The forest never sleeps and the wolf never dies

Sah feels someone collide with him and instinctively reaches out to help steady the stranger if needed. Thankfully the man seems fine and his arm drops. "No worries. I was the one standing still in a walkway." He watches with some amusement as the man engages in some kind of disagreement with the brothel that the Wild Thunder had just made his delivery.

Turning to the shop window, he resumes window-shopping the different teas. Hot chocolate had a special place in his heart but one of the teas was being advertised as spiced chocolate of some kind. Giving the stranger one last glance, he goes to open the door only to realize that the man is blocking it. "Sorry to interrupt, but do you mind scooting over?"

// there's shadows on the walls //

"Well I didn't leave it anywhere - ask around downstairs," Danta is calling up to the person shouting from the window, a mixture of amusement and annoyance on his face. He's just about laughing off whatever conversation he's just had (and the person disappears and shuts the window, chuckling) when, once again, he's apparently in the way of the stranger he'd bumped into.

"I'm doing a terrible job at minding my manners today, aren't I?" he says with a flash of fangs in a grin, his tail flicking at his heels as he steps in towards the shop doorway rather than away from it. Opening the door and stepping in, he holds it open for the other man to come inside as well. "The burdock root tea is pretty good," he says, nodding to the front display.

He knows more about tea these days than he'd ever wanted to, but when considering the identity of his head of security, it's not all that surprising.

Dantalion

// of moments far too troubling to recall //

Sah

The forest never sleeps and the wolf never dies

"No worries." Sah waved off Danta's apology and stepped into the store. He hadn't expected the vast array of scents that hit him. A few, yes. But clearly, this store was of high quality if the teas were so distinct, even in sealed containers. The hybrid tilted his head at the recommendation, "Burdock? I've never heard of that one." Browsing the shelves near the front he spots the tea not far from the spiced chocolate that had caught his eye.

Turning the container over Sah read the description. "Earthy, mildly sweet, and bitter?" His brow furrowed. That seemed too contradictory for a single-root tea. But there was no mention of sugar already being added.

// there's shadows on the walls //

"It's a vegetable, believe it or not. Comes from a weed - an acquired taste, but you can sweeten it with honey and lemon if you like," Danta says, the words quiet and cheerfully recited, as though he'd learned them by heart from someone else. (Guess who). "Otherwise, I have it on very good authority that that one is a best seller." And he points - yes - to the spiced chocolate tea Sah had originally been looking at.

As for the Maverick, he heads for the counter where the merchant has already prepared a paper parcel for him, which he accepts with a grateful nod. "First time in the Whisper?" he asks casually to Sah when he's finished, glancing over his shoulder and tucking the parcel under one arm. "You've got that overwhelmed look about you. I'm Danta, by the way."

Dantalion

// of moments far too troubling to recall //

Sah

The forest never sleeps and the wolf never dies

Sah nodded with a grin, grabbing one of each, "Only one way to find out. Thank you." After perusing the store and grabbing a few more items, the Wild Thunder headed to the counter just as Danta was finishing up. Chuckling, he placed his purchases on the counter when the merchant gestured for him to do so, still focusing on his conversation with the Ancient, "That obvious, is it?"

"But yes. I was dropping off a commission and thought it'd be a waste not to explore." The Whisper was a far more vibrant place than any rumor or warnings could have possibly prepared the hybrid for. It was overwhelming but in the sense that it pushed his curiosity to the forefront. As Danta introduced himself, Sah held out a hand, "Sah. It's nice to meet you."

// there's shadows on the walls //

"Not blatantly obvious, but I've seen a lot of newcomers," Danta says in Sah's defence, flashing him a fanged grin and stepping back so he might get to the counter with his two tins of tea.

The movement jostles a shelf behind him, knocking a small jar of honey, and the Maverick has to use his dart! ability to quickly catch it before it can smash on the wooden floor. "Ah - you can have this one on me," he says, tossing the jar from hand to hand before setting it on the counter next to Sah's purchases.

"A commission? What do you do?" he asks curiously, shaking his hand with one bedecked with rings and callouses both. "Danta," he introduces. "A pleasure. I hope The Last Whisper is everything you hoped it would be."

Dantalion

// of moments far too troubling to recall //

Sah

The forest never sleeps and the wolf never dies

Sah restrained a snort at the less-than-graceful movement. The teleportation recovery did earn a chuckle, however, "Thank you." Sometimes, the Wild Thunder wondered if his own brand of magic was too flashy. Not that he minded too much. It was far from inconspicuous, but it was a decent intimidation tactic at times.

The merchant began to bag Sah's items as he spoke. "I'm a hunter. One of the women at the brothel next door asked for an arctic fox fur. I think she intends to wear it as a scarf." He recalled the hug that she gave him, "She seemed pleased." He wondered if she'd spread the word and he'd be receiving more commissions from the establishment. Hopefully.

Sah noted the extensive jewelry. How fitting for someone who seemed so at ease in the Whisper, "I walked in without any expectations so it's safe to say that it's more than I hoped."

// there's shadows on the walls //

"Think nothing of it. A welcome to the Whisper, if you like." Danta smiles, leaning against the counter and slipping his hands in his coat pockets as he watches the world go by outside through the shop windows. "Oh, the Dusklight?" he says of the brothel next door, lighting up. "She's mine. Labour of love, you might say - I'll look out for that fox fur." Tipping Sah a wink, he straightens up as the man packages the last of the Wild Thunder's items.

"Well, more is certainly one way to describe the place," he agrees. "Stop by for more commissions if you ever get the chance, or if you want to sample our wares instead." With a sly smile this time, Danta can assure Sah that if he finds his fur on display as a scarf, it will likely be the only thing the woman - or man - is wearing.

Dantalion

// of moments far too troubling to recall //

Sah

The forest never sleeps and the wolf never dies

Sah raised a brow with a slight grin, "She's yours? Why am I not surprised." That certainly explained the minor argument earlier. The hybrid picked up his bags, unable to stop the snort of laughter that escaped him at Danta's offer. With his ears slightly pink, the Wild Thunder shook his head, "Thank you, but I think I'll stick to commissions. I'm not one for casual sex." The Wild Thunder had no interest in being so intimate with someone he didn't have an emotional connection with. However, that certainly didn't mean he was blind to beauty.

The merchant handed him his bags and Sah gave Danta one last grin, "I'll see you around, Danta. Thanks again." With that, he headed out, determined to find some sweets to try with his new teas.

-[FIN]