[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Fm7e2DV.png?1[/img][/center]

[hider=boop][color=slategray]“Haa,”[/color] Mie let out a tired sigh, shoulders slumping as she tilted her head to the side. [color=slategray]“You’d think, but with all the bandits and general trouble recently, it’s difficult for even an honest merchant to sell anything.”[/color] She continued, ear twitching irritably. [color=slategray]“Hard for a little innocent fox merchant like myself, for example. Not even my vast amounts of womanly charm could get them to come. Humph. People have no taste these days.”[/color] She mused as the rabbit servant could only nod a bit dumbfound at her words, letting the thought trail off for a few seconds before she started speaking again. [color=slategray]“So you just gonna let this little fox stand out here in the hot sun all day or are ya gonna be a gentleman and lemme in? I may or may not have some exotic vases Lady Vertti would be interested in!”[/color]

And thus the reason she was here came out finally. Not that she was trying to hide it in the first place, really. She was bored and looking both for someone to pester and someone to [s]swindle[/s] [s]relieve of their money[/s] do honest business with. That said...it looked like Grisaia was troubled by something...well, it was probably nothing.

The blonde in question squinted in minor confusion, his mind unable to comprehend the events unfolding before him until a moment or so later, leading to him releasing a faint gasp and motioning a pearly gloved hand into the estate.
[color=lemonchiffon][b]M-My apologies please do come in."[/b][/color] He spoke up after quickly clearing his throat. Had he been so lost in thought that he didn't even ask her to come in? Too surprised to think back on it, Grisaia closed the door behind the fox girl who was grinning impishly as she was let inside the house, said girl not taking much notice of Grisaia's confusion or lack of politeness and preventing anymore heat to make its way into the main hall.

[color=lemonchiffon][b]"I might not understand the struggles that come with being a merchant, especially one as esteemed as yourself, and I'm sure the Mistress would love to accommodate any of your products to her always growing collection, but...she isn't here right now."[/b][/color] He explained as he casually placed his hands behind his back, one clasped inside of the other. He wasn't in the mood to make someone else disappointed in the span of an hour or so, so he continued before the girl could go into some weird monologue about her [s]lack of[/s] womanly charm or something. [color=lemonchiffon][b]"However, if it's alright with you, I could look at what you've brought with you and buy what I think would suit the Mistress' fancy? We could do it in the dining hall for more space if needed?"[/b][/color] He questioned with the slight tilt of his head.

The bunny didn't exactly enjoy buying things for Mistress Vertti, especially since he always either buys too little or misses the mark in terms of what she's looking for, but he could at least try, right? Plus, it was Mie. She was a girl, and so was the Mistress, so she'd know what the former would be into. She always did after all.

Once indoors, the fox made herself relatively comfortable as she listened in on what the rabbit had to say, glad to be inside. Swishing her tail back and forth in a pleased manner, she stretched. Traveling all the time had its perks, but nothing ever beat being inside of or lodging in a great place like this.

[color=slategray]"Hm…Not here?"[/color] Mie mused, one of her ears twitching playfully. Well that certainly put a damper on things. Oh well, Grisaia likely wasn't going to be buying much. Stingy rabbit. [color=slategray]"Aha, I've already closed up shop though, so no expensive Kararagi pottery on me right now. Officially done for the day."[/color]

Hearing that his attempts at being nice were in vain, the younger boy’s normally parallel ears drooped ever so slightly, creating an obtuse angle at the top of his head.
[color=lemonchiffon][b]”Uh...huh…”[/b][/color] He mumbled as he furrowed his brows, now trying to think of something to break the bit of awkwardness Mie left him submerged in.

Without waiting for Grisaia to give her the go ahead or show her around the place, Mie walked casually away from the door and walked further into the mansion. It didn't seem like she was there for business. If anything, it seemed like she thought she owned the place judging from her casual demeanor.

[color=slategray]"So what have you been doing all day, rabbit? You look stressed."[/color]

Great...just great. The one question he didn’t want the woman to ask about. Grisaia seemed to almost freeze at that moment, unblinking and unmoving for a few painful seconds before he finally leaned back on the front entrance, a quiet, much more audible sigh escaping his lips this time. Upon hearing said palpable pause and sigh from the rabbit, Mie turned as he replied.

[color=lemonchiffon][b]”...When I said earlier that the Mistress wasn’t here at the moment, it was less of that, and more of she’s been missing for the past few days.”[/b][/color] He explained as he began picking at the hem of his shirt. [color=lemonchiffon][b]”I spent quite a while talking to someone from the Adventurers’ Guild about helping me out, which would explain why I’m so...stressed.”[/b][/color] The last word came out a bit awkward, foreign even, but it wasn’t like he could rewind time and take it back. Instead, Grisaia tried to move the subject along. [color=lemonchiffon][b]”Aer Pacifica was her name. Maybe you’ve sold her something or catered to her in the past?”[/b][/color]

Looking at Grisaia now, he seemed utterly worn out and stressed. Mie exhaled, making a clicking noise with her tongue. Hmph, well that wouldn't do at all, now would it! Not that she really cared at all for the rabbit's mental health. No quite the opposite. He was emotionally vulnerable and made an oh-so exciting target for playing with.

[color=slategray]"Ara? That's no good, dutiful little rabbit. Stressing over your mistress like that, heh!"[/color] She mused in a smug tone, turning on a heel and fixing him with a pointed gaze, one that had him flinch. She walked back over, poking him right on the forehead, practically forcing his eyes to stare cross eyed at said finger before looking back down at the fox in question. [color=slategray]"You shouldn't worry so much. Stress is gonna give you wrinkles. You really don't need those."[/color] Lady Vertti going missing was a problem for her too, though. She was one of her best customers! If she died…well, she'd be in a lot of trouble. Oh well, thoughts for later. For now funsies and messing with the rabbit.

[color=lemonchiffon][b]”B-But--”[/b][/color]

[color=slategray]"I have to wonder if you have certain other feelings for your mistress, with how worried you are heh. Not that I mind, I'll keep your relationship a secret, fufu!"[/color] Leaving the question in the air, Mie turned around and whacked him in the face with her tail as she walked off again, heading for the dining hall. [color=slategray]"Can't say I know of this Aer Pacifista though. Her name seems familiar."[/color]

[color=lemonchiffon][b]”...”[/b][/color] Grisaia didn’t want to admit that her question had him blushing like a schoolgirl awaiting her senpai to reciprocate their love for her, but with his face turning two shades pinker, he had no choice but to. His lips remain pressed together in a thin line, deciding not answer her question or how she might have met Aer before in fear of making a bigger fool of himself in front of the merchant; well, it couldn’t get much worse than her smacking him with her tail...who knows where [i]that’s[/i] been... Instead, he quickly followed after his fellow ‘companion’, with questions like where she was going and what she was trying to do escaping his mouth once he deemed himself proper enough not to stutter.

She seemed intent on making this place her playground for the next few hours. 

Did Grisaia have the heart to stop her silly antics?

...Nope.
[/hider]

[hr]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/1WCyWqw.png[/img]

location: The Golden Quarter (Alleyway)
tag(s): Hilda [@catchamber]
mention(s): Aaron, Ashton[/center]

Eiko held the precious coins close to her chest as her mind wander of the countless things she could possibly get for herself. It wasn't every day she got to indulge in the better things in life and she definitely had a few designs in her head she was willing to try and make from scratch; but of course, if worse came to worse she'd find some scraps of clothing and make things work from there.

Head in the clouds as her paced walking turning into happy skips, Eiko only really stopped herself when she noted a small commotion taking place further down the street. Emerald eyes squinted in attempts to get a better look at what was going on, only to see what looked like a bag swishing wildly in the air, a person cutting through a crowd of pedestrians with little to no sneakiness in the way they moved. Had they...stolen something? It was the first thought that crossed her mind as her eyes pulled back to gauge the original source that prompted the person to run off, only to spot two boys, one of which was trying to pull the other in the opposite direction.

Just by the way the two boys were moving, they were also in a hurry, just like the other person, but why were they going in opposite directions? Eiko wanted to think it was planned, but with such little coordination...maybe she was just getting ahead of herself. Slowly pulling herself out of her little stupor, the short brunette stashed her coins as she picked up her pace and hurried after the one causing more of a public scene, pink staff clutched tightly in her hands in case this person wanted to get physical.

Her emerald gaze remained trained on the gray blur as it bobbed and weaved down the street. There was no screaming or anything like that, which lead Eiko to believe this person was running to protect themselves...but from what? Curiosity peaking, the girl spread the dove wings on her back a little bit wider before flapping slowly, causing her to hover a bit and increase her speed as she moved. As she was doing so, the gray blur fled into an alley, which only concerned Eiko further. What was going on?

Eiko decided to stop at this point, only being a few yards away from her 'target'. She waited a minute to see if they would come out, knowing said alley most likely lead to a dead end, and they did, but only for a few seconds before going back in.
[color=#B5876F][b]"Huh..."[/b][/color] Maybe it wasn't her place to see what was going on. It kinda looked like they, she, was doing some pretty shady stuff in that alleyway. Was she really up for this?

Despite how conflicted her mind was, Eiko continued towards said alley, slow and steadily until she was then standing at the entrance. Quickly, she pinched her nose to avoid ruining the strange ambiance the alley had compared to the bustling street across from it. Tears pricked her eyes as she could even smell the rotting fruit when she breathed in her mouth. How could someone even stand staying in here for longer than five seconds?!

[color=#B5876F][b]"B-Blech..."[/b][/color] Eiko gagged, furrowing her brows as she slowly approached the woman sitting upon one of the main crates surrounded by other crates that were mostly stacked up upon each other. From where she was standing, Eiko could make out fair skin, straight brown hair, similar eyes... What really caught her attention was what she was wearing. It wasn't something she was quite use to seeing everyday, and to be honest, it made her want to talk to this woman even more, even if she might be crazy or try to rob her or something..

[color=#B5876F][b]"Um, excuse me, Miss? Are you okay?"[/b][/color] Eiko finally spoke up, her voice nasally since her free hand was pinching her nose like her life depended on it. Seeing as the woman didn't look to be armed, Eiko held her staff behind her back, as a means to show that she meant no harm.