[ P ] Sea and Sand

SORCHA Sorcha wrinkled her nose at the salty stench of sea water that wafted up from the beach. Of all the highland cities, Aberdeen was likely her least visited. The seaside town was the most open of all the cities in the north, all beach and open grasslands and nary a tree in sight, let alone the forests she was so used to. But she was a hunter and a tradeswoman, and she had to make her living somehow. Even if that meant spending the next few days smelling like salt and seaweed. She had travelled with Iona this time - her mother, of course, more than happy to travel to the markets of their highland kin. She had gone off to find some of her herbalist friends, leaving Sorcha to set up her wares, and see what the locals had to barter for. She was never too interested in fish, though it could make a nice change from her usual meals. And the nice shells that the locals sold could fetch a pretty penny down south. She had a few cuts of deer left, that should get her something nice to take back to Perth. "someone speaking" "speaking"

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caspian "The sky is blue today," he murmured to himself as he peered out of the den. He tried to brighten his voice and adopt a smile that his mother might believe, but of course she was sleeping... or pretending to. He glanced to the left and watched her sides rise and fall in a peaceful but shallow rhythm. His heart ached. Gone were the days when she would be the first one up in the morning and cowing her children down to the beach for a bout of fishing or swimming practice. Those had steadily started to slip away during the war. And now they were gone. Just like their father. "I'll let you know if I see any of those Imperial Soldiers," he offered but knew that there would be no response. With a sigh, he left his family home. ... Out on the bluff above were two little dots. They seemed to have more dots around them, and as he drew closer, he recognized the sweet smell of venison and hare. The two dots, wolves he could see now, worked to set up their wares on the windswept grass. Although Caspian was no official police force, he felt as though he had inherited his grandfather and father's role as a naval officer of sorts. He watched for storms, both from the ocean and from the damned Imperial Soldiers that dared to drift near their shores. Unfortunately, the ocean scared him less these days. Making a beeline for the wolves, he sprinted only to slow to an amicable trot before arriving before them. "Mornin' ladies," he said glancing them over. "What brings you to Aberdeen?" Dark ears twitched as he looked them over. At least their eyes weren't violet. "speech"

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SORCHA Her mother was the first to notice the young man approaching them, Iona watching curiously until he slowed to a trot towards them, before giving Sorcha a nudge to take over while she finished setting up. "Mornin' ladies," He began, his sea green eyes flicking between them and their stall. "What brings you to Aberdeen?" Sorcha gave him a bright smile, any disdain for the coast at their back quickly vanished as her customer service mode was activated. From his introduction he did not appear to just be a customer - not a soldier either, but he spoke with a slight air of authority that Sorcha knew it to be best to stay on his good side. They were just here to trade, after all. “Good morning! Just here to trade today. You’re welcome to have a look while we set up; we have game and herbs from the Perthshire forests.” She nodded to the setup before them. "If you have any questions, just ask." "someone speaking" "speaking"

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caspian A bright smile warmed her features and turned the earthen hues of her pelt to honey and cinnamon. Caspian's emerald eyes took in her own and, as he canted his head to the side, he lightly surveyed her wares: pelts and long lashes, toned shoulders, a the subtle swell of her hips. The woman beside her was not so bad to look at either, though he was careful to keep his staring interspersed with glances down to the product at hand. He appreciated a beautiful vision but was not so keen as to be chased away for any lecherous leering. Besides, his mother had raised him better. Perthshire. Coastal ears twitched at the mention of forest. It niggled in his brain, flashing with yellow lights of warning. He fished around for it, searching for the nugget of understanding that had been lost save for the faint traces of awareness that still remained. Perth, perth, perth, perth... Ah! Caspian clicked his tongue as awareness popped into focus like the cork off of a carbonated bottle. "Clan Kinnard's wares are they?" He glanced down with a little more distaste than he'd had before. Of course, he wouldn't be chasing them off: pelts helped keep the folk of Aberdeen warm in the stormy months. Still, he had his own personal grain of spite. Highlander purists, the lot of them. "speech"

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SORCHA "Clan Kinnard's wares are they?" He questioned, and the sense of pride she felt that he knew their name was quickly quashed as he peered down his snout with a look of disdain that had not been there before he mentioned their name. Although Sorcha managed to stop herself from bristling at what she was certain was a thinly veiled insult, she was sure the coastal boy would be able to see her smile tighten upon her lips. “That they are,” she replied, holding her head high and proud, silently challenging him to say more. “Best you’ll find in Rionnach, I’ll have you know.” Okay, maybe she was laying it on a little thick, but she believed every word that she said; they were good at their jobs, and it showed in the skillfully cut meats and skinned pelts - and she wasn’t about to let him get away with subtle insults to her family's means of living. "someone speaking" "speaking"

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caspian Something sparked in those green eyes and Caspian couldn't help but feel as though she would have grabbed him by the collar had she less to sell. Instead, she tipped her nose up and he couldn't help but feel as though his chain was yanked all the same -- and he liked it. It was a quiet challenge and he was always eager to take the bait. His smile grew more wry as he leaned forward, gaze drifting down to inspect the finely cut pelts of elk and bear and deer. "Very fine indeed," he conceded with a nod of his head. "The citizens of Aberdeen would be lucky to have these." Dark blue ears twitched and his smile widened a fraction. "Our royalists will be welcome to purchase these as well, I hope?" An expression of sweet naivety captured his face but notes of mischief and amusement still glittered in those sea-glass eyes. He could have a little fun with her, no? "speech"

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SORCHA A ghost of a smile remained on his lips as he leaned forward, a breath away from touching the pelts laid out before him. "Very fine indeed," He nodded, attention snapping back into her, "The citizens of Aberdeen would be lucky to have these." She hummed in agreement, relaxing into the compliment. "Our royalists will be welcome to purchase these as well, I hope?" Aaaaand there it was. Her nose wrinkled and the fur along her spine rippled in frustration as she met the mischievous glint in his eyes. “If they can pay, then of course.” Unlike her mother, Sorcha hadn’t completely ceased her sales to those who leaned more in favour of the crown. She wasn’t exactly fond of the fact - she’d rather avoid interacting with royalists entirely - but they had money, and she had to make a living somehow. She certainly wouldn’t push her lower quality wares on them, noo, never. "someone speaking" "speaking"

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caspian Tsk. His tongue clicked against his teeth, the subtle gesture like the fall of a gavel in a courtroom. Her ruffled fur and narrowed eyes betrayed her dislike, but her capitalistic greed would not kowtow to politics. Royalist? Jacobite? Porcupine? Toss a couple coins her way and she'd begrudgingly part with her hard earned furs. It was a shame, really. He had wanted a little... more? "What a fine little citizen you are," Caspian complimented as he reclined onto his haunches. "In fact, you are the model of proprietary priorities." Although his words were light, his meaning thwacked against her chest like punches from a playfight. Sucking in a sudden breath, he found his paws and turned to leave. "Well," A dark ear twitched and eyes of sea-glass found those of emerald. "I can't imagine you'll be starting any trouble here so I'll be off. Charmed." His tail twitched and he nodded before turning to make his way back down the hills to the water. - exit caspian unless stopped - "speech"

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SORCHA “Take care!” She called after him, all sweet smiles until he turned away from her. Once she was sure he wouldn’t see or hear, her expression dropped into a frown, eyes rolling. “Don't trip over that ego.” She grumbled, watching as long legs carried him in the vague direction of the beach. The cheek he had! To come up to her stall, sneer at her family’s name and turn up his nose at the fact she was just making sure they could make a living! She had half a mind to chase after and wipe the smug smile off his face. Maybe she would have, if not for the new wolves slowly approaching, chattering amongst themself. Actual customers, she hoped. Not all Aberdeenshire wolves were as charming as the coastal male, she was sure. Another smile spread across her face as the new wolves approached, curiosity in their eyes as they looked over the pelts. Despite the rough start, she was sure that today would go well. Exit. End thread. "someone speaking" "speaking"

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