10 Oix 4385: MOAR INVESTIGATION

[delight-in.livejournal.com]

Not Standing for This

As I was leaving the guild hall, the clerk called after me. "Wait! I almost forgot -- you should schedule a time to stand the test." He started leafing through a book of days.

"I should?"

"Of course! I can schedule that for you. Would the morning of the 13th work, or would you rather the afternoon on the 16th?"

"No?"

"Hmmmm ... noon on the 21st?"

"No? I don't really want to schedule it."

The Cani clerk dropped his jaw, staring at me.

I waved. "I can always stand it later right? Bye!" He was still gaping when I stepped at the door. I guess people don't usually put off invitations like that? But I'm not sure I want to be master in a guild that tried to kick me out just last month. Er, two months ago. Stupid Chirreb.

Lush, Luxurious and Lovely Again

Since I still didn't understand what was going on and there still weren't tickets to the ice dance available, I went to LLL for MORE INVESTIGATING.

Blushvine wasn't there and two other girls I didn't really know were busy with customers. I asked the brindle Cani boy taking appointments if Scarletbloom was in. "No, she's no longer with Lush, Luxurious and Lovely. Mistress Chenthery is here now if you need to talk to a manager."

"Noooooo that's all right I really need to talk to Scarletbloom. Where does she work now?"

The boy tucked his grey-and black tail between his legs. "It's not my place to say, miss."

"I just want to talk to her I'm not going to ask her for money or anything."

The Cani boy made a sort of piteous whine and shook his head.

"Ummmm ... right. Is Blushvine going to be here later?"

"Blushvine no longer works here either."

"Really where'd she -- " I started to ask, and the Cani boy cringed. ".... nevermind thanks bye!"

The Perfect Carapace Again

I went down the street to the Perfect Carapace. The pretty Herethroy man was putting the finishing touches on a filigree inlay for a middle-aged co-lover. The design was lovely and distinguished and matched her carapace well so I admired it for a bit and made both of them happy-embarrased. "I didn't know you did inlays here no wonder you have your own guild," I told the stylist after she left.

"It's not wholly different from painting, but it's got its own challenges," he said. "Oh! You're that Orren that was in a couple of months ago. Have you changed your mind about apprenticing?"

"Noooooo not yet. Actually I just came to see if you knew what happened to Scarletbloom and Blushvine? They used to work up the street and their old shop is being really weird about them being gone."

He laughed merrily. "That Chenthery! She's terrified about them getting any of 'her' business. Scarletbloom and Chenthery had a falling out, and Scarletbloom started a new shop. 'Flowering Beauty'. I do believe some of LLL's employees went to work for her, too, so that's probably where Blushvine works now too. It's just three blocks rollward of here, on the left."

"Ohhhh thanks! Do you know what they had a falling-out over?"

"Not exactly, sweetie, but I do believe Chenthery didn't have enough respect for furstyling as an artform. You know what I mean?"

"... no not really?"

He giggled. "Oh, I think you do, shimmerfur. I've seen your work!"

"Um all right? I'm Delight-in-Surprise by the way."

"Chicory." He held out one of his truehands and we shook. "Nice to meet you!"

So now I'm headed rollward to look for the new shop but I don't think this investigation thing is working -- I'm not getting any less confused!