Nikky cools her heels at one of the two-seat tables. As Nicora, she let Captain Soldano know that she and Mave would be staying at the Temple of Inala in town should he need to reach them about a departure time. She also snuck up behind Orca and gave him a fright before telling him that Nikky wanted to meet him here. In hindsight, she should have chosen someplace she knew, rather than just the first place a street vendor recommended.
"This place is amazingly tacky," Nikky thinks as she sits in a chair with her feet up on the table. Her be-pierced ears swivel about as she listens to the chatter and her ratty nose twitches like crazy. "And I have to let him down nicely somehow. I can't see myself being under him for the rest of my life. How would I explain that? How do I get myself into these messes?"
Someone is whistling badly but jauntily, and a familiar black-and-white Skreek struts down the street. Orca has a bouquet of flowers, even, along with a bottle of wine (or something stronger, most likely). He perks up even more when he spots Nikky, raising the bottle to wave as he comes towards the table.
Nikky waves while inwardly she cringes. "Flowers? Ugh! That makes this worse," she thinks. She kicks her feet off the table and sits upright at least. "I see tall, dark, an spooky gots the message delivered, eh?" she comments.
Orca uses his tail to pull his chair in under him as he sits, and reaches across the table to brush Nikky's cheek with a flower. "Oh, no, I was just naturally able to find ya," he claims.
Nikky sniffs herself. "Really? I did bathe not too long ago," she remarks and cackles. "An sorry fer de location; it wuz recommended. No really my style, but eh. So, how're you doing?"
"On pins an' needles!" Orca says, and sets the bottle in the middle of the table. It looks like.. rum? "I sure you called me here to say 'yes', right? If you not interested, you'd just scarper with your loot!"
"Or mebbe I jus wan t' cause you more grief," Nikky suggests and waggles her brow at the other skreek. "See, I been t'inking I can't jus' say yes. Dat be far to easy. I gots to make it challenging."
"Challenging?" Orca asks, not entirely disheartened. "What sorta challenge? You mean I don't satisfy you already?"
"Oh, but you coul' always be better!" Nikky cackles, "Like, I hear some men get jewelry in Mr. Happy to better please dere ladies." And the gril that follows that is downright evil. "Or go on quests t' prove demselves! Some even do both!"
"What.. I got a tattoo for you though, dat's gotta count!" Orca notes. "And.. what's a quest?"
"De tattoo wuz for you, no me!" Nikky claims, "An a quest is taking a dangerous journey to far away lands and getting something neat! Like a toga from the temple of Ashtoreth in Olympia."
"Othwerwise how's a girl t' know iffin a guy really means it or woul' just sell 'er off to some slavers when he got bored, eh?" Nikky adds. That last bit has a definite teasing tone to it.
"I don't think we fly to Olympia though," Orca says, rubbing his chin. "Can it be something more local? And I'd never sell yas off! Maybe just rent you out, iffen you still wanted to be a tail.."
"See? Dat makes it mean more if it's aplace y' can't get to easily!" Niky points out. "Plus, I dunno, mebbe you woul' get bored wit me, y'know? Are you really sure inna month y' still woul' want me?"
"Well, you'd be all fat and full of babies by then!" Orca notes, waggling his eyebrows. "Now.. I'm sure we'd need some sort of scheduling thingy, since I can't get out of my contract with the Drake and you couldn't just be my wife on the ship w'out doing some work. And not sure I'd want you to be the tail again!"
Wut iffin I can't have kids, though? Haven't gotten pregnant yet!" Nikky points out, grinning, "And dere wuz lots of tryin'." She pauses, then taps her chin. "'Ow long is yer contract?"
"No kids?" Orca asks, deflating a bit. "Well, couple more years at least, until.. well, it's complicated! Political stuff," the Skreek claims.
"Den mebbe y' should wait until de contract is done, den hunt me down when I kin be the focus of your world, eh?" Nikky suggests, grinning. "I kin be a jealous girl and if yer loyalty is mostly to a ship ... I might get miffy! It be unlikely anyone else grab me in two years. I be a weirdo, even fer a skreek, eh?"
"But you're so.." Orca says, looking for a proper flattering term. "Squeezy!"
"An full of metal bits," Nikky adds as she laughs at being called squeezy. "Now, bein' serious ... I no too comfortable sayin' yes iffin yer contract bound fer a couple more years. Afterward, though ... t'ings might be a different. An nothing says y' can't mebbe see me during de time anyway. What ports ya frequent most?"
"Well.. here and Rephidim - Underside, that is," Orca claims, but the twitch of his whiskers probably means he's leaving one or more others out.
"Keppin' secrets from me, eh?" Nikky asks and waggles her ears.
"Oi, gotta have some in any relationship," Orca claims. "But can't let out certain things, y'know? For security!"
"Mmhmm. Now, does dat seem fair? Wait until yer contract is expired den ask me again?" Nikky asks and spreads her hands. "I canna compete wit a ship. 'Er bow is bigger den mine." She punctuates that with a bounce, making part of her upper anatomy bounce as well.
An I kin promise you dat y'always have first dibs on liftin' me tail if we meet each other in one of yer ports," Nikky adds.
"Well.. this is one of my ports," Orca points out, leaning across the table. "And we're meeting.."
"An we are in public," Nikky teases. "I know I like a group, but no a whole city."
"Well, ain'tcha got a room yet?" Orca asks, waggling his eyebrows. "Some swanky hotels here, y'know.. and you got paid well!"
"Nope, no room yet! Wuz thinkin' mebbe doing some shoppin' first," Nikky teases, "Mebbe getting me skreeky lover some more jewelry."
"Well.. if you get something for there.. then we can't do much tonight for fun!" Orca warns. "Least, not so fun for me.."
"I wuz thinking a ring fer your nosie," Nikky teases and reaches over to lightly tug on his. "Fer leading yas around!" She cackles.
"Oi, you want me to look like a pirate?" Orca asks and laughs. Then he picks up the bottle, and notes, "But then, I do gots the rum already! Need a nice cozy spot to enjoy it too."
Nikky laughs. "Or we coul' jus get a room, enjoy de run, and see iffin y' kin get me all preggers," Nikky relents, grinning.
"Ooooo, my mum says she always got knocked up after drinking rum!" Orca notes, and holds out a hand for Nikky. "I know a place with fancy beds stuffed with feathers.."
Nikky finally takes that hand. "I jus hope I don' sneeze too much since me face will probably be in it a lot," she cackles. "I do likes yas, Orca. Jus not the right time t' get married. We talk again after yer contract. Before den, well, Y' just have t' be satisfied beddin' me!"
"That'll be new!" the big rat claims. "Using a bed, that is.."
"Migh' no be as fun. I kinda like it rough an dirty!" Nikky cackles.
"Dat's for the cleaning staff to deal with!" Orca cackles, and pats Nikky's rear as he takes her to the hotel.
"Dis will be memorable since it'll be de last time fer a while," Nikky notes and licks Orca's ear. "An I intend t' do everyt'ing I can. Onward!"
The Free City of Zannara does not have a law against owning slaves. However, it does have laws against buying and selling them without a special license, which general requires knowing the right person and greasing the right palms. As a result, the slave market is will outside the city limits, at the base of the mountains and far from any farms. It's laid out like a camp, having to be largely self-sufficient.
It seems odd to Nikky that slaves would be kept in tents. The market itself is under the biggest tent, but there aren't many buyers. A few Eeee - mostly couples - sit on plain benches before the stage, where a somewhat rough-looking Eeee stands, along with several burly Fnerfs.
"Not very secure. Godo claws or a makeshift knife and it would be simple to escape," Nikky thinks as she sashays her way into the main tent. Ears and tail flicking, she saunters her way closer to the stage and plops herself down on a bench to listen for a moment; curious as to how they 'work' this unpleasant operation.
"And now, our specialty: domestic servants!" the barker on stage calls out, and gestures with his cane. One of the Fnerfs holds back a flap of canvas leading to the back stage, and out comes.. a rather frumpy Zerda woman, of all things. She's old enough to have some gray hairs. "Mida is proficient in several different cuisine styles, spanning both Ai and Ur tastes."
The middle-aged fennec bows and smiles, showing that she has most of her teeth.
The couple next to Nikky whisper between themselves, and then ask, "She's a bit long in the tooth - does she come with any hidden costs?"
The slave trader clears his throat. "A husband and two nearly grown children.." he admits.
"Huh. Older woman, older than Lucy, even," Nikky thinks as she lifts her right leg so she can rest her chin on her knee. "Husbands are hidden costs?" she wonders. "That's rather insulting."
"That's too many for us," the wife notes, sounding almost apologetic. "We've only got the one room available."
"I'm afraid I can't break up the set, as Mida is still teaching her daughters her skills," the Eeee on stage notes, and shoos the fennec off. "Perhaps if you told me your specific needs..?" he prompts the couple.
"Well, we have my elderly mother with us, along with our four-year-old," the husband explains. "While a cook or maid would make things easier, I'd prefer someone with a nursing or child-care background, strong and careful enough to carry an elderly woman if necessary.."
"It does sound like she needs a fnerf," Nikky thinks. "An it no cheaper to just hire someone t' live in and help?" she asks out loud.
There's a bit of consulting with one of the Fnerfs, who then dashes off.
"Dear, qualified help that won't run off if someone offers them a better deal is nearly impossible to find," the wife notes to Nikky. "Slaves or indentured servants are far more reliable, and have a real stake in the well-being of their masters."
"I'm sure we have someone who can serve your needs," the slave-trader says, noticing Nikky now. "And what sort of needs are you looking to fill, young woman? If you're hoping to join on consignment I'm afraid we're full up.."
Nikky's brow arches. "Join on consignment?" she asks. "As for me, nothin' in particular. I just curious an watching for de moment t' see whatcha got."
"Well.. this isn't like a farmer's market you know.." the man starts to explain, when the Fnerf returns with two people on his back. One is a genuine Savanite woman, dressed in a Himaatian (maybe Tizhar) style, while the other is a smiling Rath'ani man in travel wear. "Ah! Of course, may I present the lovely - and well trained - Hinata," the barker says, holding out a hand to help the Savanite down from the Fnerf's back. "And this gentleman is Doctor Heironymous, who trained with the famous Doctor Roho." The Rath'ani gets down by himself and doffs his hat in a sweeping bow.
"Hiya," Nikky signs single-handed to the Savanite. "Huh, they seem a little ... out of place here. How are they slaves?" she has to wonder. Her head tilts curiously, but doesn't actually ask anything right now since the auctioneer seems to be a bit snippy.
"Oh my, she's just lovely," the Eeee wife notes, looking at Hinata. The husband purses his lips, however. "Mother may have trouble understanding a silent caregiver, but.. a doctor.. I wonder what his contract terms are?"
"Savanites are easy t' understand an sign is easy t' learn," Nikky notes to the pair.
Overhearing, the barker explains the terms. "The good Doctor is seeking a five-year contract, with a 500 Shekel rejoinder and a weekly stipend, to be negotiated separately. Miss Hinata is available for up to a ten-year term, with marriage options given her young age."
"Ah, indentured servants moreso than slaves," Nikky realizes when she hears the terms. "Interesting."
"There's that man belonging to Sissy," the wife notes to her husband. "He can read and write, even. And we might get some free legal service from her husband.."
"Celi, please.. this is not the time for matchmaking," the husband notes. "We can't afford both, as nice as that would be - I know Muricile would just adore Hinata for a nanny - but I think we'd be better served by the doctor. Mother probably doesn't have another five years, but he could probably stretch that out and make her more comfortable, and you know how children collect bruises and broken bones.."
"An y' should consider dat both od dem are good catches, so iffin you don't get one, someone would grab de other anyway," Nikky points out and shrugs a bit.
"No help for me though, so you'll have do some of the cooking while I tend to our daughter," the wife says, bargaining. Zannara is a merchant city, above all else.
"An mebbe de auctioneer can manage a deal wit' a reduced cost fer both, eh?" Nikky suggests and grins at the auctioneer.
"Really Miss, they've already said that they only have one room for a servant," the Eeee points out. Hinata's ears blush and the doctor (who is much older) clears his throat loudly.
"Yet it sound like dis mother isn't very well, don' it? Mebbe the doctor should share 'er room for night-time needs too, and dat woul' free up a room, wouldn' it?" Nikky points out.
The wife, Celi, smiles at her husband at the suggestion. The husband, of course, looks put upon. "Well.. uh.. we can see how it goes, financially," he concedes. "The doctor first though," he insists.
Nikky grins at the auctioneer. "See? A double sale potential," she cackles.
The slave trader (or is he more of a facilitator?) escorts the doctor to the bottom of the stage, where he shakes hands with the two Eeee before leading them out of the tent. Apparently actual negotiations are handled elsewhere.
"Fingers crossed, Hinata," the Eeee asides to the Savanite, who looks a bit anxious.
"I'd buy you if I could afford you," Nikky signs to the Savanite while the negotiations are going on outside.
"Now then, you don't seem to be here to 'just look', miss," the Eeee notes, turning his attention back on Nikky. "As I said, I really can't take on any more consignment cases. Are you really here to look for a slave?"
"Y' make it sound like y' don't appreciate I may have helped you wit' a sale," Nikky remarks. "I don' have the right permit t' buy a slave and I wasn't sure I wanted t' get one. I wanted to see what was available, but i be boring t' just sit here."
"Well, this isn't the sort of slave market were they're paraded up for inspection," the man notes. "I'm Zimon, and I deal with experienced slaves, or those with skills who have to sell themselves to cover debts or other obligations."
"Y' also a terrible salesman. Y' say you deal with experienced slaves, yet y' don't even observe yer customers and look for hooks to close de sale," Nikky points out. "Like I jus' did by notin' de mother might need someone in-room, leaving space t' satisfy de wife's wants."
"That couple was middle-class," Zimon claims. "It isn't likely they can afford both the doctor and Hinata. It's not just about making the sale; it's about finding the proper home for my slaves. I can't negotiate too much on prices - after all, I had to buy off the debts of those who sell themselves to me, and pay for the experienced slaves. Some of those I had to get away from abusive masters, too, so finding the right home for them is even trickier."
"Y'never know until you try," Nikky notes, stands and stretches. "Still, I wish yas luck in finding dem good homes. I've seen m' share of bad homes around de world an I wouldn' want t' put anyone in dat situation either. I also hope yas no going to sell any to folks who might take 'em to Babel. Bad place, dat. Prolly going to get worse, too."
Zimon frowns. "Babel isn't all bad, and.. the demand is much higher there," he notes. "I still have to make enough profit to keep things going as well. We'll be heading for Babel in a few days."
"Y' a brave man, den. What I hear on de grapevine isn't dat good," Nikky notes. "And I can't imagine any Master in dat place would be kind t' anyone."
"The Noble Houses aren't the only ones needing slaves," Zimon claims. "The regular people are.. less horrible."
"Only passingly," Nikky notes. "Jus' be careful. Everyone jus' look out fer demselves dere. An wut wit de contention between de honorable Thath and de nobles, oy."
"Well, haven't you seen what you wanted then?" Zimon asks Nikky, with a hint of impatience. "Or would prefer to interview our charges personally?"
"Ah, de polite request t' leave," Nikky says and actually curtsies. "I wish yas luck an hope everyone finds a good home t' work in." She wiggles her fingers in a wave and heads for the exit.
On the way out, she hears Zimon talking to Hinata. "Why didn't you sign back to her? It's okay for you to do that now.."
"He is a terrible salesman," Nikky thinks as she leaves. "Doesn't know how to work an audience at all. I just hope he's better at picking good homes. Least I won't have to stage a rescue of these people on the road, looks like. Their choice, mostly. Tulani will be disappointed, though. No one to terrorize."