Don't Call Me Spike [Shade]

[Lucca]

It was another lovely day in Selkie Lakes, and Felix was at the local market. A bustling center of trade where locals came to trade fish, and merchants from all over came to trade just about everything else. He had grumbled quite a bit when his mother had asked him to go that morning, because it was such a long walk. It took him nearly a half hour to get here! His mother had objected by saying that he could always use his Spade running ability, but that would have tired him out too much. It wasn't until he was promised some extra money to spend however he wanted that he finally agreed.

He'd just sold the last of the trout and watercress his parents had sent him with, and was busy counting the coins into a leather pouch, smiling in anticipation of what he could buy with his share of the profit. By now he was suitably recovered from his walk, and there as plenty of time to relax before going home.\

Job of counting finished, he made sure the string of the pouch was secure around his neck and hopped to the ground, wincing as his quills scraped against the side of the stall that had been reserved for them that day. This was another reason he hadn't wanted to come: it was getting close to the time when his quills would shed out, and the spikes were very sensitive right before that process, though the shedding itself was never painful. With a shake of his head, quills flopping oddly, he lumbered off, brightening as he took in the sights and sounds of what was a nice, busy day at the market. At least his parents were good judges of the best days to come.

[Shade]

Lucio had been wandering for months. Not that it was bothering him, it's what he did. But every so often he did wonder what was going on in the Kingdoms, and missed seeing other Cards. He was also getting hungry. The foodstuffs he'd purchased last time he was in Capitol City had run out weeks before and he'd become tired of foraging. He'd struck out on one of the main roads a couple of days before thinking to head back to Capitol but he'd passed a sign a few hours ago pointing the way to Selkie Lakes and decided to visit. It was a region he'd always heard good things about. The Selkie's he had encountered in Capitol had always been friendly, and it was somewhere he had not yet been. Those were good enough reasons for him.

Entering the region, he came across a market town not long after. He wandered towards the middle where most of the shops and stands seemed to be set up. He watched as people hawked their various wares and junk and traded for other peoples various wares and junk. Smiling, he decided that it was, indeed, a nice place all around.

Continuing his stroll, his stomach suddenly rumbled again, reminding him of the main reason he'd headed towards civilization again. Looking around, he saw a handsome Selkie porcupine selling fish and headed towards his stall. He'd made it about halfway through the crowd when he noticed the fellow putting his coins in a purse and hop off of his stool. Trotting a bit quicker now, Lucio weaved his way in between the other cards, hoping to catch the man before he'd gotten too far.

Finally finding a break in the crowd, Lucio approached as the porcupine was just setting off. "Excuse me Sir, I know I'm a bit late but do you have any fish left? I'm a bit tired of wild berries and field mice."

[Lucca]

Before he had gotten very far from his stand, a voice hailed him, and he stopped, glancing around to see who had spoken. At first, he thought there was no way they'd been talking to him, since this would only ever mark the second time in his living memory that someone had called him 'Sir'. But today, having been hawking fish all day to travelers, he had trained himself to respond to any raised voice. His eyes fell on a curious sight. A winged...weasel? From the Sorgaire Range. He looked a little thin, the porcupine thought, and his face fell a bit at the answer he had to give this poor fellow.

"I'm really sorry, but I just sold the last one." He walked over with his waddling sort of gait, ears back in distress...and then they perked up at a sudden thought. "But hey, there are plenty of other sellers here you could get food from! I can even show ya who the best ones are. Come on!" Smiling hopefully, he gestured with a paw and began walking again, hoping that the other would follow.

"I'm Felix, and I really am sorry all my fish were already sold, dude...rotten luck, truly." Assuming the weasel was following, he would begin to lead him toward another Selkie booth, this one looking much larger and with an even greater selection of fish. This family, Felix knew, lived on the edge of one of the more fish-heavy lakes in the nearby area, and, to make things better for them, owned the entire lake. They were, understandably, rich, and usually gave a nice discount to fellow Lakers.

[Shade]

"Good deal" Lucio replied as the other explained that he was out of fish, but had offered to show him where he might get something to eat. "Just no place to fancy", he added with a chuckle. "have a few coins but nothing to really brag aboutI "

Following the porcupine, he caught the others name. "Well Felix, I'm Lucio. It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm sure."

"And, yea. Rotten luck indeed, but I'v had worse. And it's not so bad. At least you're willing to show me to a good vendor. It's not something you have to do, and I really appreciate it." Lucio continued with a smile.

"I'm glad I decided to come by here. I was originally headed for Capitol City, but this is a pretty nice place. And not quite so frantic. I like the more laid back atmosphere." "I'v never been out here to the Lakes before. Is there anything you would recommend?"

[Lucca]

Felix was glad to see the other following, and he led them over to the booth with no particular rush. After all, they had enough fish to last them until sundown, even with all the people coming through. "Lucio," Felix said, as if to himself. "No one ever calls ya 'Lucy', do they?" He chuckled slightly, though he did like to give people nicknames, that one would be a little over the line, even for him. "Hey, man, hospitality," he said in answer, with a small shrug. His quills fell a bit oddly, and as they passed a mirror at one of the clothing vendors, he stopped for a moment, looking at his reflection with an annoyed grunt. Muttering, he tried to fix his quills with a paw into something resembling their usual 'do, but it seemed a lost cause, and he turned with a shake of his head to continue in the direction he had been going, also continuing the conversation as if there had not been an interruption.

"Yeah, I like it too, though the Capital has a great night life." He made a happy sound as they got to the booth they had been reaching. Laid out in a wonderful arrangement was just about every sort of freshwater seafood that existed in Selkie, and appetizing smells went up from a small kitchen set up in the corner. These vendors would even cook the fish for you for just a small amount of extra cash.

There was a line, since this was a popular place, and Felix got behind it, motioning Lucio to join him. "It shouldn't be too bad a wait," he said, smiling. For him, of course, waiting wasn't bad at all, it just gave him a chance to relax more and gather his thoughts. "As for what I'd recommend, well, some really like swimming or fishing, and the Lakes are great for that as long as whoever owns the particular lake allows non-residents in. My family does, so you're more than welcome to swing by." He paused, considering, and then a delighted smile spread across his face. "Of course, my favorite thing is to sit and watch the sunset. Nothing beats a Selkie sunset, with the water glowing pretty colors and the sky above it all pink and purple...true beauty." Nothing he'd ever seen, anyway. Though one of these days he did want to get to Midori...when he wasn't too lazy to book the travel plans...he'd never get out of his region at all if it weren't for a public carriage service that ran several to and from there every week.

[Shade]

Happily following the porcupine, Lucio tilted his head when he heard the other say his name. "Not as often as I suppose you get called Spike, my pointy friend."

Grinning and looking around at all the wares being hawked, Lucio settled in line beside Felix, slowly shuffling forward as the line progressed. As they got closer, he could smell the fish being grilled in the kitchens and shook his head. He couldn't wait to get a bite to eat.

"Swimming is fun, but I'v never tried my hand at fishing. I guess I should some time. It would probably help my reaction time. And I can't wait to see the sunset off the waters. No matter where I am, I always love the sunsets. It's always a peaceful and relaxing time. I was traveling through Torquehelm once, and the way the sun set in that forest almost seemed to be enough to lift their curse."

Looking over at his new friend, Lucio raised an eye in curiosity. "So, do you ever get to travel much, or do you stick pretty close to your lakes?"

[Lucca]

Spike. Felix's ears went back. That was one thing the normally laid back and anything-goes porcupine was adamant about: he didn't like anyone calling him 'Spike'. It was a nickname that had...very bad memories attached to it. Things that Felix never, ever thought about, because honestly, who likes being depressed? "Nah, man, I don't like it when people call me that. Too obvious, ya know?" He grinned, easily mellowing out his thoughts. No need to think about the past, or at least, the bad of it. It was all behind him now.

"Fishing's not my thing, but it can be kind of relaxing sometimes, y'know? Or, you don't know...but you should. Try it. After all, buy a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach a man to fish and he'll sell you one next time." He grinned slightly, tail wiggling, still pondering what he wanted to buy with his share of the day's earnings. His eyes strayed to a booth where several Midori were selling an array of strong smelling...plants. That was a possibility that made his head spin with delight. Hmm...oh, wait, he was being talked to still!

"Yeah, man," he started, before he belatedly realized what he'd actually been asked. "Oh, well, nah, not really. I stick close to home. I'm sure other places are cool and all, but really, they're so far away!" He regarded the weasel with a sort of awe. "Do you...walk everywhere all the time? Don't your paws get tired?" He could never imagine that. His eyes strayed to the wings on his back again. "Or can you fly?"

[Shade]

Noticing the effect the nickname Spike had on his new friend, Lucio was quick to offer up an apology. "Didn't mean to offend. It won't slip out of my mouth again. Sometimes jokes leave my lips before my brain has had a chance to sort them out. I suppose there really is some Heart blood in me" he explained. "And yeah, I will surely have to try my paw at fishing one of these days. Could really come in handy."

"Nothing at all wrong with sticking close to home. Especially if you have a job and a purpose. I'v just never really found mine yet, maybe. I don't know. And I like the adventure. Never know where I'll end up, what I'll see, or who I'll meet. Yesterday, I thought I was going to be back in Capitol City, and yet here I am"

"Oh, yea, I have to walk everywhere, not that I mind too much. I'm pretty used to it by now. Well, not everywhere I suppose. I have this really awesome cloak that can teleport me to anywhere I'v been, as long as I picture it clearly in my mind. Though I'v never had reason to try it. Hmm."

"Oh, you mean these old things?", Lucio asked giving his wings a small flutter. "Nah, I can't fly, but I can glide for quite a bit if I jump off of something high, or for a few feet if I just jump."

Raising up onto his back legs for a moment, Lucio tried to get a view of the crowd ahead, pleased to see they were only a short way from the booth. "So, do you think they will have salmon? I'v always wanted to try that. I have heard it's quite tasty."

[Lucca]

"Nah, no big deal, man," Felix said with a grin and a shake of his head. The easy going Spade had already put the offense from his mind, so thought nothing more of it. "Well, other than days like this...I don't really have a job. It's just too much trouble to go out and work, you know? I mean, it's great that you're an adventurer, and I'd love to hear some stories or power ballads or whatever ya got, but that kind of life just isn't for me." Really, Felix fell under the stereotype of being very lazy...and he didn't really care who knew it. It was just the way he was, and if others had a problem with it, well, too bad for them.

"Whoa, man, that sounds like an awesome ability!" He turned to gaze with admiration at Lucio. If he had something like that...why, he'd never have to walk to makret again, and the Capital would just be a thought away! Wow. "So just...poof...and you're there!" He snapped his claws to illustrate, seeming to get quite a kick out of the idea. It almost made up for the fact that the poor guy couldn't fly.

"Well, at least they look cool then. Kinda like my horns, but without the headaches." He pointed to his head and the two curly horns there, which he was very proud of. After all, his Mother had always thought they'd looked very handsome on him. "Oh, yeah, they got salmon! Good ones, too." It wouldn't be long now before they would be at the front of the line and the weasel could buy some...and then...well...perhaps Felix would wander over to the Midori booth. Hmmm.

[Shade]

Lucio smiled. His new friend seemed pretty laid back and did not take things to the heart too quickly. If more Cards were like him, the world would be a calmer place, Lucio thought to himself.

"Yeah, I guess that's the way it works. But I'v never felt the urgency to use teleportation before now. Though the way you put say it, I'm surprised I have not, just to see what it's like. And I'd also imagine those horns could come in pretty handy if you ever had to but heads with anyone hmm?"

"All right Salmon!" Lucio exclaimed. He was getting rather more than just hungry, and the smells were getting stronger. He could not wait to lay into a nice juicy fillet. Then he noticed his new friends eyes kept wandering to a booth a little way down. Following his friends eyes to a Midori booth.

"The Midori's eh? Something about the beach catch your fancy? Or maybe it's one of their pastimes you're considering." the weasel asked with one eyebrow raised in good nature.