RP:Twitchy Witchy

Summary: Lanara is browsing the wares for sale in Larket, when she is nearly robbed by an adorabolical fermin, Twitch. Instead of a public brawl breaking out, the two form an unlikely friendship and share their woes about remaining in Larket for too long.

Twitch spent a lot of time in the streets of Larket. Her work was never done... she had over 70 starving mouths to feed, and no haul was ever large enough to see them through. Fermin were in danger in Larket... even harmless mousy fermin, like her. She'd be killed, if caught. Worse, no matter how good her steals, to trade her loot in for good food and other needed supplies, she had to go through human and were-rat dealers... who knew they could abuse her, and did. Horribly. She didn't get a fraction of the value of what she stole, coppers on the gold. Therefore, she worked very hard every day, for very little. On the plus side.... she was extremely good at what she did. Without a trace of magical enchantment, she stole until her pouches bulged with loot, and flitted about in the shadows of the city. Eventually, Lanara fell under her radar, and passing by, concealed by a thick cloak and cowl, little fingers dug into one of Lanara's purses...

Lanara is perusing the many stalls at Lucy’s Crossing, her big brown eyes wide with wonder as she gently fingers the fabric of a scarf. “This is lovely…” However, upon seeing the price tag, she quickly withdraws her appendage and shakes her head in disgust. “Not –that- lovely.” And so quickly moves to another stall, and eventually arrives at one that is more in her price range. The woman had seen better days, since dying and being revived a year later. At one point she ran a shop for the legendary crustacean and realm-renowned designer, Kreekitaka. She was always dressed in the finest of fabrics, and she took fashion very seriously. But now? Though her beauty remained, the gold had not, and she couldn’t go back to working at the shop that cost her her life. And so, she was here, in Larket, purchasing horrible faux-replica of the crab’s clothes. A pale blue skirt catches her eye, and it’s at this precise moment that the brunette lowers her hand to her satchel, only to feel fur beneath her fingertips. “What the he-… HEY! How did you get in there?!” Chocolate hues narrow on the fermin within her purse, and at first the elf looks as though she’s going to hurl the rodent across the path, but then a small smile sweeps across her face. “You’re kind of cute, actually…”

Twitch was caughted! Well, it was because she hadn't timed her steal very well... the woman had reached for her purse right when Twitch had. She froze, hand touched by Lanara, and looked up, shocked that something hadn't gone as planned. Twitch recognized that look that suggested she was about to get hurt, and was about to flee, then Lanara spoke. Twitch froze, and blushed bright red. "C-cute? Awww, sh-sh-shucks..." She scratched the back of her head, pulling back without taking anything, and grabbing her pink ribboned tail in her hands, and fidgeting with it. "You're r-r-really pretty too, m-m-misses lady person." Twitch wore rags, and only rags. She'd never had a fashion day in her life, and didn't know the first thing about fashion. For fermin like her, dress up came when you had the time and resources to make something to dress up in.

Lanara finds herself smiling so bright that her lush lips nearly extend to her tapered ears. Compliments were often offered to the elf, and she would casually brush them off, though coming from a fermin, she finds the compliment rather endearing. Those that knew Lana closely would know that she didn’t make friends easily, as she could be rather stand-offish. They would also state that she preferred companions with fur, rather than those in mere flesh. And so it comes as no surprise that instead of accusing Twitch of attempted robbery, she instead removes her hand from her purse, opens it wider, and engages in conversing with the seemingly well-mannered fermin. “Thank you! You are so kind to say that, Miss…? I’m Lanara. It’s nice to meet you.” For a moment she struggles with what to say next, and their attention is momentarily diverted as a gypsy approaches with her wares. Lana gnaws on her lower lip and looks over the offerings before she steals a glance at Twitch, and then points to an item that looks as though it were made for a child’s small doll. A silver coin is exchanged, and the elf gently moves the fermin from her purse, and onto the curb, at which she sits on the edge of. “Here. This is for you. I think it should be a perfect fit. I… Um…” Lana pauses, not wanting to offend the little rodent, as she was wearing nothing more than mere rags, and so she clears her throat, a new idea hatched. “I saw that we were both reaching for the same skirt, and that must be when you fell into my purse! Sadly, the item was bought before either of us could make the exchange and to make it up to you, I… I just had to buy you something pretty!” It was a lie, truth is told, but a kind one.

Twitch was mystified by Lanara. The woman was being very nice to her... she even bought her a nice scarf. Twitch held the scarf, and stared at it in awe. But she couldn't lie to someone nice like Lanara... she liked her, and she didn't lie to people she liked. "I'm s-s-sorry. I'm a thief by t-t-trade. I won't steal f-f-from you, though, promise! You're v-v-very nice. I have to steal, though... It's a-a-all I'm good at, and I have to f-f-feed my family." She wound the scarf about her neck, and snuggled up into it, hiding her shameful expression. She really liked the scarf... and really liked this nice lady. She hoped she didn't hate her for trying to steal from her.

Lanara thinks Twitch is utterly adorable, and although she knew deep down that Twitch was likely stealing from her, she feigns ignorance. “You were?! I’m so naïve! I had no idea. And… I thank you for being honest with me. Not many would be so truthful. It’s refreshing. And… You’re family? Are they nearby, too?” At this, Lana rummages in her satchel again, hoping she didn’t close up a mouse in there while they were chatting away. The last thing she wanted was to hurt Twitch or her family, and having her purse reek of a decaying fermin wasn’t exactly something she was aiming for, either. Lana didn’t know if they hunted for gold in packs, or if this particular scarf-wearing rodent was running rogue, and she wasn’t taking any chances. “There is no need to steal from me. You need only ask, Miss…? I don’t think I’ve caught your name. I don’t have much, but if you need some bread or a few coins, I don’t mind helping someone in need. You went to great lengths to steal. What if I wasn’t an animal lover? Your family wouldn’t have someone as brave as you to look after them!” Her expression softens as she sees the mouse snuggling up in her scarf, and she shakes her head. “I don’t mean to scold you, but you have to look after yourself, before you can look after others.”

Twitch shook her head. "It's v-v-very complicated. I have s-s-seventy siblings to look after. They're all s-s-starving. Larket is s-s-so dangerous, because of... all t-t-the things that've happened. I have to s-s-steal lots every day, or they'll d-d-die." She had to do what she did, for her family. They weren't little rodents... they were all fermin, like her. "M-m-my name is Twitch. It's n-n-nice to meet you, misses!" A little bread or coin wasn't going to make much difference, and she couldn't carry food, now. She needed all of her pocket space for the loot she gained, in order to maximize how much she could trade for much needed goods.

Lanara listens intently to Twitch and frowns as the fermin finishes her story. “Well… I’m really sorry to hear that. I have a sister and I try to look after her as much as I can… I can’t imagine having seventy siblings!” Astonished at the mere notion of having to feed, forage, and protect sixty-nine other elves, the woman shudders at the thought. Keeping after herself and Talyara had proved to be a handful, and that was only for the past three years. “I can’t even imagine what you go through, every day. Is there any way that I can help, Miss Twitch?”

Twitch shrugged her shoulders. "I just h-h-have to keep working, r-r-really hard. It means a l-l-lot that you care, though! Not many h-h-humans in Larket do." Speaking of which, she was careful to conceal the nature of her fermin-ness when people walked by, hiding her tail, and pulling her cowl low. It was likely she'd be murdered in the middle of their conversation, otherwise. Larket was very... hostile towards its fermin population, these days. Especially after the recent massacres. "Wish we c-c-could find a way out of L-l-Larket. I'm scared, every d-d-day... that'll they'll f-f-find us."

Lanara scratches her chin, feeling sorry for the poor fermin, and for the heavy load the little mouse carried every day. “I wish I had a solution. I don’t even have a place of my own, yet, otherwise I’d offer you a place to stay. Well… What if you all dug a tunnel, leading out of Larket? Of course you’d end up in Sage Forest, but just head west of that and Kelay is a nice little town. There are a lot of fields near there, and they are neutral with politics and such…” At this, Lana shrinks back slightly into the shadows, knowing that if she were seen out in public, she’d be captured, and enslaved. Being a witch was even more dangerous than being a fermin, at this point. Though, being that Lana died and lost her magical powers, she wasn’t sure if Queen Josleen would even bother with enslaving or executing her. Still, why take any chances? So, instead, Lana casually braids her hair, trying to blend in with the bustling crowd. “Who is it that hunts you?”

Twitch shrugged again. "Everyone. All t-t-the people believe the f-f-fermin are the enemies of L-l-Larket. Maybe the rat men, b-b-but us mousy fermin don't h-h-hurt nobody. Were-rats give us a-a-a bad name, too. We c-c-can't tunnel through the sewer walls. N-n-need to be better fed, for t-t-that kinda work. And if we d-d-do get out, need ways to f-f-feed everyone. Need contacts... f-f-fences." Things that perhaps a guild could provide.

Lanara sighs and shakes her head, failure evident in her expression. “I… I don’t know of any fences, per say, but I do know a few individuals that walk a darker path and may be willing to help you. Or at least fund an operation that large. I have been out of contact with all of my old friends for quite some time, but if I run into any of them, I will send them to you, and they will say that Lana sent them, okay? I can’t promise anything, but I will try to help you. For now…” The elf turns to her side, rummages in her purse, and hands Twitch three gold coins. “It’s all I have. Take this. See that your family gets fed. I hope to see you again, and under better circumstances.” A faint smile is given to the brown-eyed mouse, as Lana rises to her feet.

Twitch feels her nose twitch, as she watches Lana rise to her feet. She's quick to hop to her feet too, after taking the gold, and throw her arms around Lana, hugging her tight. "Th-th-thank you, very much! I won't forget, yes yes yes!" She took a sniff, memorizing Lanara's scent, before stepping back, and snuggling back into that scarf. It seemed she'd grown fond of that scarf already.