| Logs |
2000-10-29
| Starfall |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
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"Fiestaaa!"
Rosita finds the coatimundi and soon Horatio, Valencia, and their
translator are deep in a discussion of what this odd tree sap might be
good for. Carroll and Alex decide to leave them to it and head back into
the town.Punta del Oro Harbor
By night, Punta del Oro is a fairyland
of lights, torchlight and magelight sparkling off the bright yellow
and white buildings. The streets are crowded well past midnight, with
merchants hawking their goods, young couples strolling together, deals
being struck, and children running around playing loud games. Music can be
heard in the bazaars as traveling players entertain the locals.
Alex's eyes light up with fascination, and she gets a delighted grin as she gazes around, ears alertly pricked up, entranced at this new and wonderfully interesting side of the formerly sleepy city. She grins hopefully at her brother, "So... after we've paid our respects to the local authorities that the colonel's letter introduces us to... maybe we could do some exploring here?"
Carroll looks around and murrs, "Having done those things, and having left Horatio off investigating something, I think we'll have done plenty to spend some time poking about, yes. Let's find the locals."
Rosita smiles at Alex's comment. "There is much to see here, Senyorita. We go where now?"
Alex says, "Okay!" She grins happily at Carroll, then turns to Rosita, "We'd like to visit the local authorities, if you could guide us there please, Rosita?"
Carroll concurs, "Yes, it would probably be prudent to stop in and introduce ourselves at the Mayor's offices before anything untoward happens. Then we can explore this new city."
Rosita is quite impressed that her employers are important enough to want to seek out the city officials, and takes them to the large square dominated by the Palacio de Justicia. His Excellency the Mayor is not available immediately, but Carroll makes an appointment for the next day. Alex bouncies cheerfully on her toes once the appointment's made, "So! Now we can go explore?"
The square is crowded with furrs of all descriptions, and musicians are playing a lively tune as Alex and Carroll step back outside with their guide. There is dancing to go with the music, but of a sort more energetic than Alex has ever seen before. Alex's eyes widen -- what interesting new dancing! She asks Rosita curiously, "Is it a party?"
Carroll nods and murrs, "Yes, we can." Seeing his sister's obvious interest, Carroll murrs, "This, for instance." and is prepared to see whatever comes along.
Rosita shrugs. "I am not sure, Senyorita. Sometimes the musicians, they play for donations, and sometimes they are hired by someone for a... how you say, fiesta?"
Alex's head tilts, her ears cocked at a quizzical angle, as she thinks about that. Doubtfully she says, "Well... I think it means party... Carroll, d'you know for sure?" A moment later she adds happily, "So... what's the occasion tonight?" She glances around, looking for a pot or hat or something being passed around for donations.
Rosita shakes her head. "Party is small group, yes? Fiesta is... big party, important time? I ask for you, si?"
Alex grins happily, "Okay -- si!"
Rosita trots off cheerfully and soon returns. "They play for donations tonight, senyorita. You wish to dance?"
Carroll laughs, and murrs, "I've never heard her not want to dance."
Alex's eyes widen and her mouth opens at the prospect of dancing just for the pleasure of dancing -- what a wonderful way to spend one's nights! Her teeth flash as brightly as the golden earring in her ear as she glances hopefully at Carroll, "Well... um... do we have some time, Carroll? Oh!" She blinks, looking back at the dance a little worriedly, "Um... well... what if you don't know this dance?"
Carroll chuckles and adds, "Let's go see if we can figure out how this goes." He looks at his sister and shakes his head, murring, "I have the feeling, Alexandra, you'll have little trouble finding someone who can show you."
Alex beams, her eyes bright with excitement, bouncing slightly on her toes again, "You think so? Wouldn't it be fun to learn?" She grins cheerfully at Rosita, "Okay, so where can we go to learn this new type of dancing, Rosita?"
Carroll answers his sister with, "Yes, we have all night," and rummages around to find some appropriate coinage to share with the musicians. He chuckles and hands his sister several shining coins, murring, "Go and give those to the band. Take Rosita. If nobody approaches you, she can ask someone. If someone does come up, give Rosita a glance to see if she thinks it's a mistake. Learn the dance. Relax."
The dancers do not seem to be very formalized, different couples doing different things at any given moment, but it seems to involve lots of leaping, occasional clinches (with usually the female of the couple bent over backwards and supported by the male), and lots of spins, often fast enough to lift skirts with the centripetal effect -- perhaps the spinning is supposed to be enticing. Alex is almost glowing with excitement as she accepts the coinage, but she does pause long enough to ask, "Don't you want to come learn too, Carroll?"
Carroll chuckles and murrs, "Yes, I'll come too, but I'm going to watch for a bit." He has this feeling that an energetic, attractive, apparently rich young lady will have no problem attracting a dance partner, and he's happy not to loom interferingly. Anyway, he wants to see whom she winds up dancing with. He also keeps an eye on where Skeee has gone; she's probably able to keep track of both of them, and she seems to speak the language. Between his own skills and Skeee's, he's not worried about much, even if that does make him a fool.
Alex says, "Okay!" She takes Rosita's small paw and grins cheerfully, "So! Show me where I give a donation, and who you think might be an acceptable dance teacher, please?"
Rosita looks a bit stunned by the idea that she could give that sort of advice, but gamely leads Alex over to where the musicians have what seems to be a collection point. Some cash is there, and some donations in kind, as well. Alex's addition of several League dollars to the cash basket, though, is quickly tucked away out of sight by the spotted cat who seems to be handling things for the musicians. "Gracias, senyorita, muchas gracias!" Rosita translates as he continues... "He wants to know if there is anything in particular you would like them to play, senyorita."
Alex grins at Rosita, "Tell him that what I'd most like is some advice on how I might find a partner who is willing to teach a foreigner this wonderful way of dancing?" She glances up for a moment, then laughs delightedly, noticing that Skeee is certainly nearby -- she and several other fliers are swooping about gaily in the darkness to the entrancing music, holding a dance of their own up above!
The ocelot smiles, and his eyes light up. "Si, senyorita!" He looks around for a moment at his own group, then calls one of the percussionists, a young fox with sandy fur and rather large ears, over. They confer for a moment, and then the fox rather shyly comes up and bows deeply to Alex.
Alex brightens and bows politely in return, then whispers hastily to Rosita, "Can you tell him also please that I'm sorry but I don't speak the language?"
Rosita nods and starts to tell him that, but the fox smiles. "I speak, a little, senyoritas."
Alex looks even more pleased, "Oh good!" She grins cheerfully at Rosita, "Okay then, can you make sure Carroll's okay, while I'm dancing?" She turns happily to the young (and somewhat oddly marked, to her) fox and offers her hand, "Could you teach me this dance, please?"
The kit fox grins. "Si, senyorita! This dance, we call her samba, she dance like so..." He begins by leading Alex slowly through the patterns, speeding up after one try to the tempo of the music. She nods, listening intently, and follows his lead carefully. She's not the fanciest dancer there, of course, but she picks up the steps creditably. She brightens at the relatively straightforward movements -- she can do this! She happily practices with the young kit fox, who'll probably realize soon that he's got a very happily interested student indeed on his hands!
Carroll is watching the highly energetic band and the dancers. He's looking at what people are wearing and the jewelry and styles. His vain streak is trying to figure out how to blend properly, while his merchant side is gauging value and goods. Most of the furrs are not wearing much jewelry -- an occasional ring or earring, if that -- and most are wearing the minimalist white clothing that the Starfallers noted earlier in the day. A few are dressed in more formal wear, apparently, with brightly colored and embroidered clothing, and the musicians are quite fancifully attired in dark blue vests and skirts with elaborate red and gold embroidery. Carroll's eyes sparkle and he mentally plans a trip to the marketplace, perhaps in the cool of the morning. He smiles and shoos Alex dancewards, and circulates around the edge of the crowd, watching intently.
Alex happily practices until she's got it down well enough for the occasional flourish... and is almost surprised to find herself idly wishing at one point that she had one of those nifty flaring colorful skirts! She laughs delightedly, then grins gleefully at the young man during one point while they're dancing, her emerald eyes and scarlet fur shining in the flickering torchlight, "My name is Alex! What's yours?"
The kit fox's sandy fur and dark brown eyes make quite a contrast to Alex, and vice versa, and more than one set of eyes follows this newest couple with interest. "I? My name ees Hulio."
Alex whirls happily, then is dipped (with a graceful flourish of her tail and one small paw) by the young man. When she comes back up she giggles, "Hello, Hulio, nice to meet you!" then lightly almost prances, head high, into the next steps of the dance with him.
Carroll makes sure his sister is dancing happily -- is there any other kind for her? -- and decides he'd better dance too, or she'll poke him later. Looking about for Rosita to translate, he also looks about for what might be an appropriate partner. He's not sure he'll know what to look for, though.
As Carroll steps forward to look around, several femmes do the same... they've been watching him and Alex and have apparently decided that these are people who it might be advantageous to meet. Rosita hisses at the first one who is bold enough to step forward, though, and a low and angry exchange follows. Carroll looks at this interchange, and looks over to the others, smiling a bit. He murrs softly to Rosita, "Not a good partner, I gather? Who is better?"
Rosita mutters something under her breath... it might be 'saucy punta', but it probably isn't. "These are not proper ladies, Capitan. They think only of your money. You are wanting to meet someone of your... how you are saying? Also important, si?"
Carroll nods and murrs, "Very true, Rosita, very true. Thank you for not letting me make a foolish choice." He then asks, "How can I tell the good from the bad?"
Rosita considers this. "Ees not easy, Don Capitan. These mostly honest folks, but not knowing you. The putas, they are not really honest and not caring eef they know you. You weesh to learn the dancing too?"
Carroll nods and replies, "Yes, I'd like to learn the dancing."
The armadillo nods. "Maybe best we ask Hulio, then. When they feenish thees dance, si?"
Carroll smiles and murrs, "That would be fine. Or perhaps the cat who knew Hulio?" to his guide.
Rosita shrugs. "Hulio might be better, Don Capitan."
Carroll nods, "Then we shall wait," and smiles.
Alex is in fact at that very moment high-stepping gleefully as she whirls back and forth in the promenade, paw-in-paw with Hulio. Her eyes are bright, her earring glittering like a spark in her rich fur as she laughs delightedly, reveling in the gloriously high spirited enthusiasm of this wonderfully unabashed music! But all good things come to an end, and eventually the music does, too. While the performers rest, Rosita and Carroll head over to where Alex and Hulio are waiting.
Alex beams and curtsies gracefully, "Thank you so much, Hulio -- that's a wonderfully fun dance!" She sees her brother and Rosita approaching and waves happily, "Carroll, come meet Hulio! Hulio, this is my oldest brother, Carroll; Carroll, this is Hulio."
Carroll works his way through the crowd with Rosita. He overheard Hulio, so he knows he speaks his language, at least somewhat. When he gets close enough through the press of people, he smiles and asks, "How is the dancing, Alex?"
Hulio bows. "Senyor Carroll. Eet ees good to meet you, si?"
Carroll smiles and murrs, "It is good to meet you too, Hulio."
Alex laughs delightedly again, giving Carroll an exuberantly enthusiastic hug up on tiptoes for a second, then cheerfully gabbles (once she's released him), "Oh, it's wonderful, Cara, really! There's a real lightness to the routine of the steps that I think is a little freer than some of the court dances at home, don'tcha think? and ooh, the whirling and that bowing thing -- no, dipping, that's it -- oh, that's so much fun you must try it Cara it's really neat and I'd like to be able to dance it with you too and you'll love it I'm sure you will, really!" She pauses then, but mostly only because she's run out of breath.
Carroll laughs cheerfully at Alex's exuberance, and murrs, "Yes, I must try it." He looks at Hulio and asks, "Do you think you can help me find a partner, too?" of the fox.
Alex bounces slightly on her toes again and laughs happily again, "Hulio, who'd be a good partner to teach Carroll, d'you know?" She adds happily (and a bit proudly), "He's a gentleman and a peachy dancer and all the girls love him at home!"
Carroll murrs, "Alex!"
Alex giggles, her eyes dancing with mischief, then cheerfully adds, "Oh, you are and they do -- you can't deny it!"
Carroll murrs, a bit sheepishly, "That's not the point," but doesn't deny it.
Hulio is only following about half of this rapid-fire exchange, but he does pick up on the idea that Carroll needs a partner. "Bueno! Know good person, si? Come!" He starts off across the plaza.
Carroll smiles and follows cheerfully, encouraged by this young fox's enthusiasm. Alex grabs Carroll's paw in one hand, Rosita's in the other, and with a gleeful, "C'mon!" practically bounces after Hulio -- this is going to be a fun night, she can tell! Carroll already considers the evening a success, of course, because Alex is so terribly gleefully happy, which will keep her buoyed up for days. A round of dancing will be very good, probably followed by a good meal. He cheerfully plans on feeding both of their dance partners, their guide, and Skeee at the least, perhaps part of the band if they tag along with Hulio or his friend. Rarely has he found that sharing meals with people leaves them with a bad impression.
Rosita is still shocked every time Alex takes her hand, but doesn't object. Hulio leads them across the plaza to a stall selling some kind of seafood... the picture on the stand is an octopus. He speaks to the proprietor for a few minutes, a grizzled otter who grumbles at him, but eventually calls over one of his helpers... another otter, and apparently a daughter. When she comes over, the family resemblance is obvious. Carroll smiles, and murrs, "Hello! My name is Carroll," to the otter girl, and asking cheerfully, "Do you speak any of my language?"
The otter lass smiles. "Si, leetle beet. Yo comprendo mas aun." Rosita whispers, "She says she understands more than she speaks."
Alex beams, but does remember to slow down her usual exuberant tumble of words when excited, "Hi! My name is Alex, this is my brother Carroll... can you teach him to dance, please?"
Carroll nods and replies, "Good! Rosita will help us." He nods at Alex's words and murrs, "I would like to dance tonight," and he points towards the plaza and adds, "-but I am a foreigner and do not know how. Would you show me?" He hopes Hulio will fill in any gaps he's left out or that the otter lass has missed.
The otter girl smiles. "Oh, si, senyor. Hulio say thees." She looks hopefully toward her father, who looks carefully at Carroll and even more carefully at Alex before nodding. Rosita translates his parting admonition as "...but stay here in the Plaza."
Carroll smiles and bows to the girl's father, and replies, "Yes, sir!"
Alex grins and nods politely at the grizzled otter when she's looked at... and then, when Carroll seems to have passed some internal test for the older otter she gives Hulio a happily hopeful beam, "So! More dancing?" Hulio puts a small coin down and buys what appears to be a squid on a stick before they head back to the dancing. The elder otter nods approvingly at Carroll's courtesy as the group leaves.
Alex wonders idly as the cheerful group heads back towards the dancing... why'd the older otter look longer at her than at her brother? It was Carroll, after all, that the younger otter girl would be dancing with...? She files the question away to be asked later. Carroll smiles and murrs, "Yes, more dancing." He adds, "Then, I would be pleased to find dinner, and I expect so would our new friends. I know I would be pleased to repay some of their kindness to us with a pleasant meal."
Alex beams at Carroll, "Oh, good idea!"
Carroll asks this otter lass, "What is your name?"
Hulio nods while he nibbles on his snack. "Si, Senyorita. They play more soon." Rosita introduces the otter girl as Carmen, and they all look interested at the offer of a meal later on.
Alex says, "Oh, good, more dancing is always lovely!" She adds happily, "Nice to meet you, Carmen!"
Carroll nods and murrs, "Nothing like a good dinner after dancing." He smiles to the otter and makes quiet talk until the music resumes, asking about where they might go that wouldn't upset Carmen's father or seem untoward, letting Hulio and Rosita translate as need be.
Hulio, Carmen, and Rosita discuss that issue among themselves, Rosita translating as they go. "There are nice inns near here, but Carmen ees not wanting feesh. We can decided later, si?"
Alex nods, "Sure, that's fine."
Carroll nods and cheerfully agrees, "I can understand why she might want a change." Grinning mischievously, he adds, "Worst case, I suppose her father chaperones," and winks. "We can talk about it after the dancing, yes."
Alex leans to whisper to her brother, "I wonder if they have much beef or chicken here? -and if not, if they'd like it?"
Carroll replies to Alex, "Perhaps. Try and pay attention. It might be something we can ship in." Alex nods to Carroll, then gleefully dashes off for more dancing!
The musicians are just starting again when the little group gets back to the dancers. Hulio leads Alex back to continue dancing, while Carmen shows the steps and coaches Carroll through the first tune. Carroll pays the strictest attention to the otter's instructions, and laughs brightly at his own mistakes, when he makes them, which isn't too often. Picking the dance up, after having watched the first set, he proceeds to enjoy the evening, and to be as good a partner as he can be, being exactly the skilled gentleman that he wouldn't deny he was at Alex's claim.
Alex gleefully enjoys herself for as long as the dancing and her older brother allows! She does her best to learn swiftly and well, and to make a good and light-footed partner. She whirls joyously through the dancing, her eyes bright with excitement, glittering brightly as her golden earring. She revels in the warm, flower-scented night, the flickering torchlight, the exotic and exciting fascination of this strange new locale, and their friendly and helpful new acquaintances.
It seems that Carmen and Hulio are well known locally for their dancing, as this time fewer furs are dancing and more are watching the two of them dancing with the two exotic foreigners. The four take center stage, Hulio and Carmen carefully staying synchronized so the dancing looks even better together than an average pair would. When this tune ends, the audience applauds and cheers! Alex blinks startledly -- then laughs happily and waves a thanks to the crowd, paw-in-paw with Hulio, sweeping a graceful curtsy timed to his bow. Then she beams at her brother, almost glowing with enjoyment of the moment, "Isn't this fun, Cara?!"
Carroll smiles happily at the crowd, breathing deeply, not quite heavily, and also looks at the applauding crowd. He agrees, "Yes, this is fun, Alex." The fact they may be making a spectacle of themselves doesn't much bother him.
Hulio nods to Carmen, and asks Alex, "Would be all right if Carmen and I showed you this next dance? Is... hard to learn, need to show first."
Alex tilts her head interestedly and grins, "Sure!" Carroll also nods, ears up and perked forward curiously. Alex steps back, one paw resting lightly on Carroll's arm, watching with intent interest.
Hulio smiles at Alex, almost grinning, and goes to confer with his colleagues for a moment. When he comes back, he takes Carmen's hand and the two of them pose as the music starts, a seductive, almost sinister rhythm. The floor clears as Carmen and Hulio begin the dance, everyone watching the two of them. Alex raises a curious eyebrow... unwittingly her ears tilt even further forward as she watches avidly. She's determined to learn this dance well, if it has such an interesting buildup! She's also swaying a bit to the music, so focused she is, her hands move slightly as she unwittingly somewhat emulates Carmen's movements. Carroll watches the dancers, also trying to make sure he catches the movements. This certainly is different than the last one.
The dance is indeed a complex one, the dancers at times almost marching in step, sometimes appearing to act out a story of jealousy and reconciliation, sometimes moving independently across the floor. The grand finale has Carmen supported completely off the ground by her partner while the audience breaks into wild cheers. Even the bats have settled around the area to watch, an honor they rarely accord to groundling dancers.
Alex's mouth is open and her shining eyes are wide -- that was a marvelous dance! She wants to learn it, to dance it so well and with such passion! She bounces excitedly on her toes for a moment, hoping they'll play another one of those strangely forlorn/seductive pieces, so she can try the dance with Hulio! Carroll also applauds with the audience, quite impressed. He isn't sure he'll be able to do it if they do indeed ask, but he's game to try. He has the feeling little would keep Alex from it, given the chance.
The band goes back to their more usual fare after the tango... no one else really wants to try it immediately after seeing Carmen and Hulio perform, since they're afraid they'll just look bad. Several furrs do add something to the collection basket though, apparently pleased just to have seen the two experts at their craft. Alex will happily continue to dance with Hulio, if he's still willing, but she'll whisper a query to him at some point -- will they get a chance to try a tango dance later maybe? Hulio smiles. "Si, we tango again later... teach you more then. Not easy one to dance."
Alex says happily, "Okay! It looks like fun!" Carroll chuckles quietly and understands that they probably didn't intend to do this dance with the crazy foreigners, despite their likely good-natured try. He does make a point to drift by the collection basket himself, and drop in a few more coins -- nothing larger than a quarter this time. He will also continue dancing with Carmen rather cheerfully as he does enjoy dancing.
The evening continues, Carmen and Hulio teaching the two Starfallers the local dances. Eventually the band plays another tango, and with coaching from their instructors the two foreign foxes do reasonably well at it... Alex dances beautifully and gracefully, with flair and enthusiasm, but hasn't quite yet mastered the almost sinuous seductiveness of the tango. She looks entirely too bouncily joyous, as if she's barely restraining herself from a gleeful, "Yippeeee!" -- not sensuous at all! Carroll isn't bouncy, but also lacks the inherent sensuousness of the dance, perhaps a bit stiff and formal, still used to the more restrained court dances from home, although he too does passably.
Around 1 in the morning, the band starts to pack up to go home, and everyone is feeling ravenous. Rosita suggests an inn at the far side of the plaza, not too far from Carmen's family's stand. "They make very nice chili con carne de cerdo." Carmen and Hulio are both agreeable.
Carroll nods and murrs, "Dinner would be wonderful!" He nods energetically and is happy to let the natives lead -- they'll know all the best places.
Alex happily agrees, almost dancing along next to her brother and her new friends, still feeling buoyant with pleasure from the night. She'll look up, searching the night sky for Skeee, to invite her along -- and she stands on tiptoe to whisper to Carroll, "D'we want to invite the band too, Cara?"
Skeee and the other guards reappear out of the night as the dancing ends... they'd taken advantage of the stands around the area to eat in shifts. They're not really expecting any trouble, but the events in Maidstone, along with MacKenzie's and Kerensky's training, have left them with the attitude of 'better safe than sorry'... Carroll replies quietly to his sister, "The band's a bit large; we'd not be able to talk to anyone much."
Alex studies the band, her ears perking up startledly as she sees more and more folks collecting into the band's group... she looks up at her brother and grins ruefully, "Guess so! Okay, let's just invite our folks and Rosita, Hulio, and Carmen!"
Carroll nods and gets Rosita, Hulio, and Carmen's attention, murring, "Show us where we can find dinner, please. I will be more than pleased to repay your pleasant company with a fine meal."
The guards have already eaten, leaving a party of six for dinner -- Alex, Carroll, and Skeee in addition to the locals. Rosita leads the way to a tavern at the edge of the plaza, with a slight detour to let Carmen check in with her father. The odor of spicy food coming from the tavern is enough to set everyone's mouths watering. Alex looks hungrily towards the little tavern, but waits politely for the elder otter to okay his daughter being invited to dinner by the strange foreigners.
Through the offices of Rosita, Carroll invites Carmen's father as well, assuring him that he certainly understands and respects any concern a father has over the welfare of his daughter, and that he would enjoy the older otter's company. The father thanks Carroll, but declines, pleading the press of business, as there are still customers buying food. Rosita translates Carroll's assurances that they will escort Carmen home if it gets too late.
Alex looks about eagerly once they're in the tavern. Its smells are very different from those she's used to. New spices, neat! Wonder how they taste? -and if they're importable? Carroll inhales deeply, himself, tasting the air, his whiskers twitching in tandem with the scenting of the unusual new things. Alex asks for the advice of the local threesome as to what would be tasty for dinner? When asked what he likes, in response to a similar request to Alex's, Carroll protests that he wants to try everything, and isn't choosy about where they start... and he is hungry. Alex grins, adding, "Drinks too -- I'm hot 'n thirsty!" Carroll nods enthusiastically as well.
The tavern has only a limited menu, apparently with three main items ready to order... the pork chili that Rosita had alluded to earlier, something called 'poyo loco', which she translates as crazy chicken, and 'pulpo'... which turns out to be octopus when Rosita describes it to the Starfallers. Carmen turns her nose up at that one... for something to drink Rosita recommends 'sangria', which Hulio and Carmen both enthusiastically agree on.
Alex will happily try just about anything once -- twice if it's not painful the first time! Carroll decides to try some "crazy chicken" and some of the "sangria," inadvertently playing Jewish mother and encouraging people to eat, drink, and be merry. Rosita and Carmen ask for the chili pork, while Hulio orders the poyo loco and Skeee gets the octopus. The bat agrees on sangria, "It's red wine, with fruit in it..." and the table ends up ordering a whole pitcher of it. Alex eats much like the time with the Maidstone queen -- she enjoys the meal as much as the company and the conversation, with nibbles from other plates, cheerfully sharing tasty morsels, avidly trying new things, and giggling with the others at her and Carroll's enthusiastic but stumbling attempts at learning the new language!
Carroll cheerfully asks about everything, and also tastes as much as he can, both enjoying and setting a carefree and laid back atmosphere of companionable friendship and ease. The language is completely baffling to him, which he takes in good humor, and tries to remember to speak slowly and plainly for their translators, especially Carmen. The dinner party is quite a success, with the discussions continuing through a second pitcher of sangria, and then a third. Skeee and Rosita do most of the translating, as Alex and Carroll try to find out all they can about Hamasura in general, and Punta del Oro in particular.
Carroll is curious about what things are made or grown here -- what do people do, and what do they need, and what do they buy. He asks about the food and the spices and if they have or know about things that he knows he can get. He's not too specific, and doesn't expect really precise answers, but a nod and a smile or a blank look tell him a lot about how well something will sell. Knowing what he can get to export -- which they're much more likely to know about -- is also important, and over the course of the evening he manages to ask a lot of little questions. Alex listens intently and takes lots of mental notes -- but lets her brother do most of the conversation leading.
The two traders spend a lot of effort in the conversation, and are rewarded by getting a handle on local products. Things that are not in short supply here would be good export material, after all... the jungles are rich in spices, fruits, and nuts, some of which are nonperishable enough to ship back to Starfall and the League. Wood, of course. And most of their tools are made of bronze or just copper... which means they have copper and tin in abundance, as well as some precious metals, but little iron. The three know little of medicine or magic, so they are unable to confirm Hans' estimate in those areas, but the exotic materials they do know about from the jungle makes it likely.
Alex nods quietly to herself... so, likely imports would appear to be steel or machined goods, while exportables might be... spices, exotic foods, the wonderful, weird dance, copper and tin, and maybe some of the exotic woods... and if anything comes of it, that strange bouncy tree sap too. She beams at Carroll, guessing that he's having similar thoughts to her -- and that they'll both have a good time comparing notes later in his cabin, for his log book! She looks around, thoughtfully wondering if silk is known here... she'll have to watch and see if it's worn by the upper classes. She knows there's nothing that can get something imported faster than a lady thinking she's either about to set a trend, or out of fashion!
Finally, even the locals are yawning and the tavern keeper looks like he wants to close. Hulio and Carmen are delivered safely to their homes, and Rosita guides the foreigners back to the harbor. She appears to be expecting to be put up on board the Mare, so she'll be ready in the morning as soon as she is needed. Alex will murmur with Carroll, arranging for Rosita to stay in her cabin. Carroll approves this, but adds, "I expect we'll all be cooler on the deck, and as soon as the sun is up the interior of the ship will get extremely hot. I hope they've gotten shades rigged."
Alex raises a thoughtful eyebrow at a sudden thought -- has Rosita no family to tell that she's okay and not to worry that she's spending the night elsewhere? She checks with Rosita -- is there anyone she wants to send a message to, so they won't worry about her not being home tonight? Rosita shakes her head. "Only my sisters, senyorita. I send them a message from the Plaza so they know where eet ees I am."
Alex nods slowly, "All right then."