2017-07-07: Gears and Fuzzy Friends

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  • Log: Gears and Fuzzy Friends
  • Cast: Layna Manydays, Sephilia Lampbright, Morgan Newkirk
  • Where: Lacour - Market District
  • Date: 07-07-2017
  • Summary: Layna and Dahlia invites Morgan and Sephilia to a tavern to discuss repairs and parts acquisition for the Gear they found in the Leck Mines. Morgan takes the opportunity to introduce them to a new friend.

========================<* Lacour - Market District *>========================

The Lacour Market District does not rival that of the major commercial powers of Filgaia in terms of volume or value of trade, but it the class of the world in traditional weapons and protective gear. More than a hundred individual shops line the streets of the district, each bearing its own name, specialties, and branding. Almost any kind of weapon or armour can be found in Lacour, and odds are good that anything innovative will be found here first...or make its way here in short order.

The merchants of the Market District are proud and competitive, and walking down the streets is an exercise in patience, as they bombard passersby with litanies in praise of their work and curses for the rust-ridden works of their neighbours. At no time is this competition more fierce than during the Lacour Tournament of Arms; this annual exhibition to name the World's Greatest Fighter includes considerable prestige for the merchants sponsoring their entries, and talented fighters will find their services heavily sought-after.

<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

A while ago, Layna, Sephilia, Animal, and Victoria(the Lead Artillerist for Layna's ship) ventured into the Leck Mines, and at the bottom, they found something fantastic - an ancient Gear, abandoned at the end of an obscure path. Unfortunately, it was missing a few key parts, preventing it from running.

Fortunately, however, Layna knew one person who knew a thing or two about Gears, and might be in a position to help them find the parts they needed - Morgan Newkirk. With the Tournament in a bit of a lull until the next round started, she had enough free time out to arrange for a meeting.

Layna was at the meeting place now. A small tavern she had found, fairly empty even with the festivities going on. Perfect for arranging business without having to worry about shouting over anyone.

Victoria, however, was not present. Perhaps she felt it'd make things go more smoothly without her around, considering the tension there seemed to be between her and Sephilia.

Instead, sitting not too far from Layna was Dahlia: a short, stern-faced woman who acted as the ship's Quartermaster. She likely would have needed to be present, anyway. Layna was under no illusions that Gear parts were something that could be procured for free.

They had both ordered their drinks, and were now waiting for the others to arrive.

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

Sephilia slips in, dressed in her usual shapeless poncho, and not her recent cheerleading costume. That's just for when she's at the arena cheering on her friends. Chauncey dangles from one arm as she spies Layna and waves excitedly, then hurries over to join the Captain. "Do they have meat pies here, do you think?" she asks without premable. "Chauncey's really hungry today!"

The girl sets Chauncey up at his own spot at the table and motions for the waitress to come over when she has a chance, then rummages through her satchel for her journal. "I brought my journal," she says, flipping through the pages. She flips past the page with the sketch of the gear by mistake, revealing a series of sketches of some unusual flowers, before turning the page back to the broken gear. "See? It's here."

<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.


The arrival of one Morgan Newkirk is usually not exactly quiet.

Today is no exception.

"Boss, I sware we didn't know! If we knew we wouldn't have done business with him!" The words come from just outside the door. "You know we wouldn't have!"

"I know, Hank. I know." The door is pushed open as the easy voice of Morgan's floats into the tavern. The fox has a bemused look on his face, and a odd mid-sized box tucked under one arm. "Its the other ones fault."

The words are for a very put upon looking human. Mid-thirties, dark hair, rough but not-that-descript clothes. Behind him are a pair of more quiet figures. Rough lads, the kind Layna and Dahlia would have seen before.

They don't scream smuggler, but...they might whisper it a bit.

Morgan raises his free hand to wave at the pair at the table before looking back to Hank. "Right, here is what you'll do. Go back round to the merchant, tell him he'll get a refund." A smirk. "Twenty-five percent of what he paid. And we are keeping the cargo. That should teach him not to try to put one over on us when he knows the rules."

"But, Morg. He'll complain..."

A grin flashes to the Foxes face. "Then send him to the complaint department."

A shake of his head and Hank just throws up his hands and starts out with the other two even as Morgan slips into the seats and sets the box on the table.

There are airholes in the box.

There is also something moving in the box.

"So! Sorry about that, merchant friend o' mine tried to break my rules. Had a confiscate part of his cargo. Didn't mean to intrupt you two, good ta see y'all again." A flash of a grin at Dahlia. "And a new face as well. One day captain, I'll get ta meet all of yer crew. But...not today. Today you two mentioned something about a Gear?"

<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

Layna returns Sephilia's wave with one of her own and a smile, while Dahlia simply sends a curt nod in her direction.

"They might, lass! Can't hurt to ask, I'd wager." Layna replies with a nod. She watches her retrieve her journal and her eyes land on the unusual flowers when Sephilia accidentally flips to them. She doesn't comment on them, but she does store this away for later.

"Aye, that's the one. Good lass. Should be a big help, aye?" Layna says with a grin, then glances toward Dahlia.

"It's certainly better than relying on you to recall them from memory." Dahlia comments. Layna just chuckles in response.

The waitress ambles over at this point. They do, in fact, appear to make meat pies here. Before they can get too far in their order, however, commotion from outside gets everyone's attention.

They listen in, and when Morgan takes his seat, Layna chuckles.

"Aye, that'll teach 'im. Thanks for coming all the same!" She says with a nod. She understood that perfectly. Even pirates had their own strict rules to uphold.

"Morgan Newkirk, I presume. A pleasure. I'm Dahlia." Dahlia greets with a nod toward him.

Layna then nods. Her eyes stray toward the box for a moment, obviously curious, but her attention soon returns to Morgan.

"Aye, that we did! The lass, one o' me buckos, another friend and I were looking through the Leck Mines and we found one. Old, clearly abandoned. A little worse for wear, but I'd wager it could be fixed up." She explains.

"That's where you come in. We'd need parts for that, see, and we think you might be able to help with that. Show 'im the sketch, lass." She says with a nod toward Sephilia.

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

Sephilia turns the journal with the sketch of the broken gear to show Morgan, looking a little bit shy as she does. "I hope it's not too clumsy a sketch," she says.

Chauncey observes without comment.

Sephilia's got nothing to be ashamed of, objectively speaking--she's got quite a talent for sketching, it turns out. Handy, for an explorer! There are some notes jotted in her neat hand around the sketch as well, pointing out features that the girl found to be of interest.

"Is it good enough to tell what we might need...?"

<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.


"Oh now that is a hell of a find," Morgan replies as he hears the news. Dahlia gets both a nod and a smile. But the man's attention seems to be taken primarily by the sketch in the book.

"Hrmmm, any o' ya figure out how old it is? Give me a better idea of what kind of parts it might need. Doesn't seem to be Z-era. Else it would look...sleeker. And the parts would be next to impossible."

A smirk at that. "The cost of trying to get energy weapons working on gears is years beyond what most people can lay their hands on. Besides Gebler, and they arn't ones to share."

One long finger traces a set of armor plating. "Looks to be an older model, more convenntional maybe...I think it could be possible to get something that might work, if thats the case. Working engines are the hard part. I got ta say though, Sephy. Ya got a good eye for detail. This helps."

At this point the box scoots across the table, just a little bit. Towards Chanucy.

"Easy there fellas," Comes an amused tone as the fox reaches out to place a hand on the box itself.

He did catch that look Layna and he looks towards the captain then towards the little mage with the pet fox. "Might as well tell ya two, merchant in question wanted me to 'ship' some crates. Goin threw them after a bit of a bandit raid we found this one..." He gently pats the box again. "...local critters. Pretty to look at, sells big in the pet trade, but they ain't pets. He was tryin' ta get me to ship em and get the blame off himself. But I don't do exotics like this...don't much care for cages myself, figure most other folks don't either."

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

Sephilia lurches back as the box scoots towards Chauncey. "Wh-what's in there, anyway?" she asks, nervously. "It's not...it's not bugs, is it?"

<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

"'Fraid I couldn't tell you that much." Layna replies with a shrug. Being from Lunar, she didn't really know much yet about the eras of Filgaian technology. Fortunately, the sketch seems to help Morgan figure something out.

"We won't ask you to do it for free, of course. 'Swhy I brought Dahlia here. She handles the funds." Layna explains, and Dahlia nods.

"Yes, if I let the Captain handle them, we would no doubt end up with some inane purchases..." Dahlia comments dryly. Layna chuckles, but from the fact that she doesn't try to defend herself it's likely that Dahlia isn't off the mark.

The conversation turns toward the box, then, and Layna studies it.

"Seems like more hassle than it's worth, y'ask me. Feeding them and keeping them locked up, and what-not. Better to let 'em go free, I'd say." Layna comments.

<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.


Morgan's laugh is warm as Sephy stares at the box. "No no, no bugs. I promise. Its a...well...here. I'll just show ya." He says as he pulls the box back towards him, starting to work the top off before he glances across towards Dahlia.

A flash of a grin.

"Oh come on, the Captain gets to have one or two bits of fun at times don't they? What good is it to be captain if they don't?" The man's eyes dance with mischief as he looks towards Layna a moment before continuing with the box.

"But yeah, we can leave the negotiations till later. I'll prolly need ta see the thing, if it needs a whole engine...that'll be a bit more if its just joints and gearwork. Weapon systems are likely gonna need a compleate overhaul too...espicially if its been sitting there."

The top comes off as he reaches inside.

"And I acree with ya there, most of the ones I could I let loose where they could at least make a chance of it. Some of em though, like this little guy, they declawed so they could get more buyers. I can't send him back out into the sticks with no weapon...I might just keep him..."

What he pulls out? Its a furry little creature. A triangular face, lepord spotted coat of short fur, and a long white fluffy tail banded with black at least the length of its body.

It blinks in the light, nose and whiskers twitching as it peers about cautiously.

Its obviously still not sure of things.

"I just had him with me when I got your message, and brought him along."


<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

Sephilia lets out a squeal of delight. "It's so CUTE! What's its name? Can I pet it? Where did it come from? It's not a pet, you said? Even though it's so cute..."

<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

"Trust me. The Captain doesn't need to have direct access to the funds to make her own fun...even when I'd rather she didn't." Dahlia replies, folding her arms in front of herself. Layna laughs.

"Hey, it's working out so far! No one's figured out who the Infamous Pirate Captain of Legend, the Scourge of the Seas, Aifread, really is. Least not anyone I haven't told, and I'd wager I can trust them not to tell anyone, aye?" Layna says with a wink toward Sephilia and Morgan. The former already knew, but the latter might not have.

At the mention of negotiations, Dahlia nods.

"Very well." She replies. It made sense that he would need to see the machine directly to figure out exactly what he'd need.

And then the top of the box comes off, revealing the fuzzy creature within.

"Poor fella's been disarmed? Shame, that. Would be irresponsible to just turn him loose, aye." Layna agrees with a nod and a slight frown.

<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.


Morgan's smile only grows at the sudden revelation of the pirate captain infront of him. "Well, seems like I'm in illustrious company. Should I bow?" He asks the pair there as he pulls the little critter out of the box to hold him carefully in one arm.

"But your secret is safe with me. Besides who would believe me, a pirate captain in the middle of a dessert?" Again that grin of his flashes to his face as he shakes his head.

"They would call me mad, more crazy than usual at least."

A pause.

"I'm just a merchant myself, but...I manage to get along with most pirate types. Since I specalise in low volume, high value goods that don't really need to be taxed."

In other words, a smuggler.

"If it needs a whole new engine, I might have to bring in a specalist. Thankfully I know one or two. Though I warn ya, if it need anything more than Kislev's level of Gear tech...it'll cost a lot. Gebler doesn't hand out spare parts."

To Sephy though there is a chuckle. "Well this little guy might have to be a pet, since he's been disarmed. Just careful, gently on the back and move slow. Don't suprise him, since his teath are still sharp enough. As for a name, I don't have one for him yet."

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

Sephilia slowly, cautiously pets the little critter on the back as instructed. "He's so warm, so soft," she croons.

Sephilia glances up. "If he's got to be a pet..." she begins, looking slyly up at Morgan, "who do you have in mind to take care of him?"

Sephy, you're so incapable of guile.

"Only Chauncey gets lonely sometimes and I can take care of him good and stuff and I'd be good to him and stuff!"

<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

Layna chuckles.

"Aye, seems like a tall tale, doesn't it?" She comments. She couldn't believe it herself sometimes, even...but it was something she had to live with. When he describes himself, she nods.

"You perform a valuable service, you do." She says with a grin. Yes, she could definitely get along well with a smuggler.

Dahlia listens to Morgan's explanation and nods.

"Understandable. However, as long as the price does not exceed a certain ceiling, that is acceptable. It would be very helpful to have a Gear at our disposal...particularly for freeing the Empress." She explains.

Layna looks between Sephilia and Morgan as the former fawns over the adorable creature. She doesn't comment, though, instead letting them work it out.

<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.


"Well if either of you lovelies need that sort of service, don't hesitate to give me a call. I have friends in most places." The fox replies with a wink towards the pair of pirates. "I'm a friendly type, if you hadn't noticed."

He nods though as Dahlia's mind stays firmly on the bottom line. A Quartermaster indeed. "I'll do what I can, and if we can't agree on a number I trade in information, favors, and services rendered too. So I'm sure we can come to some kind of arangement." His easy drawl amused as he glances towards Sephy.

A quirked eyebrow as she starts to turn sly.

The fox himself blinks for a moment, oh so innocent. "Why really I don't have anyone to take care of him. I mean, he's half wild and needs to be trained, but he's young and smart. So that shouldn't be too much of a problem. Hrmmm..." A glance at the little critter. "...what do you think, mate? You think Chauncy could take good care of you once you learn a thing or two?"

The little critter chitters at Morgan curiously as the fox himself grins teasingly at Sephy.

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

Sephy, wide-eyed, looks at Morgan. "What did he say?" she asks hopefully.

<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

"Aye, I had. I'll be sure to call you up if we end up with anything that needs to be transported." Layna comments with a chuckle and a knowing glance toward Dahlia. It was very likely that they'd end up with something like that sooner or later knowing their business. They couldn't lay low forever. Dahlia smirks at this, but only briefly before returning her attention to Morgan.

"Understood. In that case, I will contact you later to arrange an opportunity for you to take a look at the Gear." Dahlia replies with a nod.

Layna grins. Things were definitely looking up...and it looked like Sephilia was benefitting from the meeting, too. Everyone was winning here.

<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.


Its never fun to lay low. Sometimes you just get an itch to do something. Morgan knows that one better than most. Its bitten him in the arse more times than he'd like to count, and its been a blessing. So he won't begrudge anyone else their little bits of fun.

"Since were friends, I'll even give you the friends and family discount." He adds towards the pair of pirates. He gives most people the friends and family discount though, not that he tells people that.

It wouldn't be good business to tell now would it?

"Sounds like a fine plan to me, in the meantime..." A glance towards Sephy, her wide eyed and bated breath look. Then he laughs. "Alright, alright, he said he'd think about it. I need to give him a little basic training, but yes. Yes you can keep him, and you can name him."

<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

Sephilia beams, letting out a little squeal of delight. "Yay! Thank you, Morgan! What does he eat? How do I exercise him? How do I teach him? Will he play nice with Chauncey?" The girl has a whole host of questions. She leans over and smiles at the little guy. "Hi there! I'm your new big sister Sephy!"

<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

"A discount, aye? You're a perfect gentleman, Morgan. We'll be sure to repay you some time." Layna replies with a nod and a grin. Dahlia rolls her eyes slightly.

"Well, yes, Captain, that is the general plan..." She murmurs. It was clearly said loud enough that she could hear it, but Layna doesn't acknowledge it. Instead she glances toward Sephilia.

"Well, look at you, lass. Looks like you've made a new friend." She says with a grin.

<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.


"Well..." And the foxes smile turns wicked. "...not a perfect gentleman, that wouldn't be any fun at all now would it?" A glance at Dahlia a moment as his eyes dance with amusement before he sets the little creature down on the table.

He pads around in a few circles before Sephy starts talking to him. The little critter tilts his head slightly to one side, ears pivoting before he licks the tip of her nose curiously.

Which causes Morgan to laugh and shake his head. "I'll get him a harness, and he eats meat. Sometimes he'll eat grass but mostly meat. In the wild? Mostly rodents, and some bugs if they can catch them. Oppurtunistic little guys. And he likes to climb. A lot. So keep that in mind."


<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.

Sephilia nods eagerly and hugs Morgan impulsively. "Thank you SOOOO much! I'll take super good care of him! I promise!" she gushes.

<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

That gets a laugh out of Layna.

"Aye, that be the truth!" She replies with a grin. "Though 'perfect gentlemen' do make things easier for people like us, aye?"

Dahlia smirks somewhat, but doesn't comment. Instead, she turns her attention to her drink that had been ignored. It wasn't the best stuff, but it would a shame to let it go to waste.

"I believe that's everything, then, unless you can think of any other business to address, Captain." She says, lifting her mug.

"Nay, that's all. Thanks for coming, you two. Good luck with your new friend, aye?" Layna says with a nod and a smile toward Morgan and Sephilia.

<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.


"I'm sure you will, Sephy. I'm sure you will." The hug catches the fox by suprise though and there is a slight wooof as she does so. Outrushing air in suprise at the hug. He blinks for a moment, a bit confused...but then he gives Sephy a bit of a one-armed hug back. The other hand occupied with trying to keep the little genet out of Dahlia's drink.

"Just remember to treat him well, and he'll treat you well." A twitch of a smile then as he nods towards the Captain and the Quartermaster. "Easier, but not too easy. Cause that wouldn't be any fun either." He adds with a wink towards her before he starts to stannd. "And that works for me, I'll be around town when you need me. And now, I have a few more critters to attend too and a leash to find for this guy..."

He hefts the genent up so it balances on his shoulder, tail around his neck for balance. "...so I'll see you both around!"