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[forbiddenlore]

Who: Azul Ashengrotto and you
What: A lone octopus's struggle against the environment
Where: Various
When: Throughout the month
[Home is Where the Heart Attack is]

[Azul had been hoping for at least some semblance of peace and quiet to gather his thoughts together and figure this whole situation out. The rooms left much to be desired, but it was better than nothing. Or so he thought.

It would take only minutes before a blood curdling scream came from his room, and anyone that walked in would be met with what looked like the brutal massacre of a fancy pen set. The bed was covered in a black inky substance, and there was a formerly white fluffy creature hissing from a spot on the ceiling- also covered in ink.

Azul is still standing there with his hand over his mouth, his cheeks turning beat red now that he's got company. He is so not ready to try and lie his way out of this one.]

[Sunspire Docks]

[Well since he can't bear to show his face in the residential area again, nor will he ever manage to sleep there without the paranoia of being jumped by fluffy cotton balls, Azul hunted down the nearest body of water and hunkered down there instead. He could be found laying on the docks with his feet in the water, and his coats draped over his top half to keep the sun out.

He wasn't sleeping, just trying to get his thoughts in order. ]

And bottlecaps of all things- bottle caps! THIS WHOLE ECONOMY IS IN SHAMBLES- WAH!

[And he nearly jumped out of his skin seeing someone there. At least he didn't have another ink-cident this time.]

Hello there, to what do I owe the pleasure?

[Grand Theft Coffee Shop]

[Two km probably doesn't seem like much to most, but Azul had all the stamina of a two year-old at the mall without a stroller. While he had a good reason for it, he wasn't really willing to openly admit he's only had human legs for two years. He probably shouldn't have even come on the little adventure, but after many rests he made it. No one would take the opportunity for a quick buck away from him.

He would happily offer advice on the sugar least likely to result in a lawsuit, but most of what he'd be pillaging was cutlery and cookware... and an espresso machine that looked minimally damaged? He'd be taking that and anyone that wanted it could pry it from his cold dead tentacles. So with that heavy bundle of metal in his arms and a heavy bag of supplies, he hangs out by the door with a cheery grin on his face.]

Ah, ready to go are we?

[Very bold words coming from someone who was panting and wheezing like he was going to die on the way over.]

[Diner]

[Given his family experience with restaurants, and the unclaimed diner right by the water, Azul decided to take it as a sign and started cleaning the place out. He could be found sweeping and cleaning the place out, or alternatively cooking some fish he caught on the docks. The stoves may not work, but a bit of fire magic could go a long way. ]

Hm? Oh, I'm sorry, the stove isn't actually working, it's just a spell. [He pauses, considering something, them smiles oh-so-pleasantly.] But I'll be willing to cook your catch up for you for a trade.

Comments

[rugpull]

[that feeling when you and your Other Boss make eye contact while looting the cafe

Awkward.

He has bags of cutlery, another full of dead snakes, and as the eye contact continues....crunches down on the handful of coffee beans he has in his mouth. Yeah, this is in fact extremely awkward.]

Yeh m'ready alright.

[forbiddenlore]

[There's a moment where he looks at Ruggie. There's so many things he could say. Just... so many questions. But no. It's fine. It's honestly no stranger than any other day running into Ruggie (or so Azul is determined to convince himself).

In fact, he smells a business opportunity.]

Ruggie, are any of those snakes venomous? If you would be willing to let me extract the venom, I'll cook the snake up for you.

[Because he knows what you're planning for those things... and he's a good cook. He's sure he can manage something palatable for... desert snake.]

[rugpull]

Eennhhh....I know how t'cook so I ain't really need the help. Ya can have the venom, I ain't need it. But I'll be wantin' something else in exchange, ya know?

[slow tail wag, looking skyward as he thinks. What does he want here? Honestly compared to his classmates he's best suited for this place. Fitness aside, he's already practiced at scraping by for a living and fighting to survive. They're all going to need HIM. But if they ever return back home somehow he'll be back to a bottom rung hyena. Lording over them in this moment isn't the best long term plan. What DOES he need Azul for? What can AZUL do that he can't?

Oh right.]

Now if ya wanted t'perhaps get into a sort of snake snack sellin' situation where we could collaborate for maximum profit and both get ahead...

[forbiddenlore]

[Well honestly he should have known better then to try and lowball Ruggie. Not to mention he just shoved ancient coffee beans in his mouth, that boy would eat those snakes raw with no qualms whatsoever.

He paused to think the amended offer over for a moment. He didn’t know how in demand such a snack would be, snakes could be a taboo to eat for all he knew. He’d have to research before agreeing to that… but it was a bit more on the right track. Trade was the best he could offer right now though.]

I would need to do some research on the local tastes when it comes to snakes. How about a free meal per 3 venom sacs to start?

And if I can get the diner up and running again, we can supplement regular payment alongside trading any meals returned during the day, and anything growing close to expiration?

[While Azul was generally good about keeping such losses to a minimum, this was a foreign market so there was bound to be some trial and error.

If he could load off the “error” onto the resident food hoarder… they both get what they wanted.]

[rugpull]

Sounds like a good start t'me. But I wouldn't worry entirely about locals. There's people who ain't from here like us. They're sure to be confused and needy, right? And if a nice diner was comfortable for them to be themselves they'd probably be ever so grateful.

Not to mention how many of those newbies gotta be softies who ain't know how to work a stove or weed a garden.

[lets fleece em boss 2]

[forbiddenlore]

[Way ahead of you auxiliary henchman! There's a reason he braved the toils of having to physically exert himself in a desert.]

Precisely why I'm here! I've already begun to clean out the diner, some cookware and I can get right into business.

It will no doubt be a slow start, but using our fellow new arrivals as a starting point, I'll have time to gauge the local specialties and incorporate them into the menu to broaden the customer base! There's hardly even any competition!

[And he's got an espresso machine. That's going to be his pride and joy and saving grace in all this. Caffeine is a popular commodity.]

I don't suppose I've already found a willing employee?

Home is Where the Heart Attack is

[heavyliesthecrown]

[It is not the little shipping container he has claimed for his own, but it is near the one where he hears the blood-curdling scream. His abilities may not be working, for whatever reason, but he still has a sword.

Rushing inside, sword drawn, Tsukasa searches for the source of the problem. Only to find... ink? Everywhere?]

I apologize, but... is everything alright?

[forbiddenlore]

[Of course. Of course someone heard him and he couldn't just wallow in shame in private. Ugh, he hasn't had an inking incident since middle school, this is so embarrassing!

But no. Calm down Azul. Everything will be just fine. He just has to look his would-be savior right in the eye and lie. Just lie really really convincingly.]

Yes, everything is perfectly fine.

[His words come out muffled behind the ink-stained hand clamped over his mouth.]

[Nailed it.]

[heavyliesthecrown]

You appear to be embarrassed, but unhurt.

[Sorry, Azul, he calls that out. At least he doesn't seem to understand the entirety of the situation. He glances toward the ink covering him, the bed, and the little creature currently cowering. His ears twitch in curiosity.]

Need a little help...? You have something of a situation here.

[forbiddenlore]

[Ugh alright, now he had to pull himself together. No one would suspect him more than the creature, he can just pass the blame!

So he clears his throat and when he speaks again (still behind his hand of course) he at least sounds more together.]

My apologies, I was merely caught off guard by that little...[Straining to find a polite word to call it.] creature up there. I mistook it for a pillow, which gave both parties quite a shock it seems. Next thing I know I've got a mouthful of this black substance, and my "pillow" is hissing at me from the ceiling.

[And the pillow is hissing at him again, almost as if it resented being blamed for this mess.]

I don't believe it's venomous at the very least, but tastes rather... poor. If you would excuse me for a moment for me to wash up?

[heavyliesthecrown]

I see. What a strange situation you have found yourself in.

[Sheathing his sword since it seems there isn't too much of a threat, he doesn't imagine, he instead leans against the wall.]

I can try and keep an eye on it while you do so, and we can figure out a method for its removal once you are done. Unless you prefer to deal with it alone? I feel bad for barging in, but the sudden commotion had certainly been alarming, especially with our... lack of proper doors.

[forbiddenlore]

Thank you, I would appreciate the help. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be just a moment.

[and he slipped into the washroom where he washed the ink off with practiced ease. It may have been a while since the last incident, but it certainly happened often enough growing up that he knew how to handle the aftermath. It gave him a moment to calm down as well, his heart was still racing and he needed to compose himself.

When he returns he’s put together, calm, picture perfect! Outwardly anyway. Internally he’s still screaming, but that wasn’t going change anytime soon.]

My apologies for the wait, let alone the poor greeting. Azul Ashengrotto, it’s a pleasure to meet such a gallant individual.

[or foolish. Honestly, if he heard some stranger scream he’d have had the opposite reaction! Who just runs into potential danger aside from fools or those that just like fighting things. Granted, both have their uses, he just doesn’t get it.]

Diner

[embracingsun]

[Fishing is one of Estelle's favourite hobbies, and she had arrived with her trusty fishing rod set in her bag of holding. She comes trotting into the diner with a big haul in her hands and she brightens]

You can cook? I'll be happy to share my catch then.

[forbiddenlore]

[There's a moment where he's doing some mental math before deciding beggars can't be choosers and maybe now is not the time to haggle how much it worth what- as much as that physically pains him to think. He just needs enough to eat and trade.]

Certainly, how would you like them cooked? Fried, steamed, or smoked?

[embracingsun]

Frying sounds really good right now.

[She's even gutted and cleaned the fish! She just needs someone to cook...!]

[forbiddenlore]

Put them down right over there, if you wouldn’t mind.

[He nods over towards a painstakingly cleaned counter.]

I can give you what I’m cooking now then, I’ll just replace it with one of yours for myself. Make yourself comfortable, I did try to clean off a few places to sit.

[embracingsun]

[Estelle sets down the fish, looking delighted]

Thanks. Being able to trade food is a big help.

[forbiddenlore]

[He adds some small bits of spice and salt for the sake of flavor, it wasn't much but it was likely more than most would be able to get for simple trades, so he expected it to be popular in the long haul.]

Of course! With so many new and trying to get on their feet, it would be cruel to rely solely on currency! Trade is far more accessible to all parties involved!

[Which means he does better business, which also means he gets paid more regardless. Easy win. Of course it was just a temporary band-aid for a larger issue, and he'd refine things later, but right now he needed just about anything that could feasibly be offered.]

docks;

[judications]

[ It would seem he caught the young man at a bad time. He had only meant to come to the docks to sample some of the local water and to see what manner of creatures live beneath its surface that could be fished out and given to those starving and in needed.

He pauses a little awkwardly just a feet away– ]

My apologies for interrupting. I was not aware this dock was already in use. I can return later if you would prefer.

[ "In use" is not exactly accurate, but he's not sure how else to characterize the young man's outburst or if he should even try and help in any fashion. ]

1/2

[forbiddenlore]

[Now Azul was aware that as far as the food chain went, he was generally pretty well off. He was large when it came to merfolk subspecies, he was clever, and pretty strong in his true form, and paranoid enough to circumvent anything else that might come his way preemptively. He was at least confident in his ability to wallop a certain pair of hungry eels if the need be.

However, seeing this stranger, he suddenly got the feeling that he was a very very very very teeny tiny little fish. Just that innate instinct in the back of his mind.

So there’s a solid moment of his just blatant starting.]

2/2

[forbiddenlore]

[aaaand a miraculous recovery with a smile. Please don’t eat him whatever you are.]

Ah, my apologies. This is a public space, by all means stay. It’s my fault for letting myself have such an outburst in public.

[judications]

Considering the situation, your outburst was not entirely unwarranted. In terms of the economy in specifically, many of the locals claimed there is a deficit in raw materials, including precious metals that are often used to mint new coins. They also do not appear to possess any archons or deities responsible for the general production and upkeep of commerce –unlike in my own world where such a responsibility falls on the shoulders of the archon, Morax.

[ He's sure the young man probably figured most of that out for himself (or doesn't care), but Neuvillette is trying his best to sympathize. He fishes into his pocket a moment later to produce one of the fanta caps he had earned from helping breed maahes earlier. The cap is then held out towards Azul for him to take. ]

It is a conservative start, but there is a well-known saying regarding this situation: "Every tree starts life with a seed."

[forbiddenlore]

[You know, if he had a bottlecap for each time a longwinded old man gave him a bottlecap for the sake of a nice chat (which he does), he'd have two bottlecaps (which, again, he does). Which isn't a lot but weird that it's happened twice.

So anyway he's accepting but... free is the most expensive price, and he can't just take it without returning the favor somehow. Well, as it stood there really was only one way he could do so currently.]

A kind and benevolent gesture, but I couldn't take something for nothing. Will you at least let me make a meal for you?

[Azul gets his socks and hoes on before getting to his feet to properly converse with the tall chatty stranger who was... apparently friendly despite having the presence of a very big fish.]

I've gotten the diner to a functional standard if nothing else.

[judications]

With resources so limited, especially food, there is no need to overtax yourself finding ingredients.

[ It is only 1 fanta cap, which he assumes is roughly equivalent to 1 mora. What can that even buy? ]

I have also kept my appetite well-sated since my arrival and feel no hunger at present.

[ Meaning he's just been drinking a lot of his own water, which is all he really needs out of life. ]

It was merely a symbolic gesture, one with no need for recompense. However, if it would put you at greater ease, you can tell me if you have yet sampled the water in the lake.

[forbiddenlore]

Please, fish is hardly difficult to come by. The offer remains should you change your mind.

[He was bound to get hungry eventually, hopefully he’d remember the offer… Then continue to come back with more money. Caps. Whatever.]

The water? [He looks over the lake briefly.] Honestly, no. Given how stagnant and hot it is, I have no doubt there’s a multitude of potential illnesses that could be contracted by drinking it.

[Granted, he would likely be fine, but given he came from the depths of a frigid northern sea… the glorified swamp water looked disgusting. Great for an abundance of life and fish… less for drinking or breathing should he take his true form.]

I’ve been summoning my own water to drink and cook with. Far quicker and more efficient than trying to treat the lake water.