Blood from Stone [AU]

[Carver Amell]

Carver embraces her back, pats her on the back, but his muscles are all tense with stifled rage, and he pulls away before too long. "Let's get him, before he gets anyone else," he says, as he does. "C'mon, Hunter," he adds, with a short whistle.

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline steps back, expression uncomfortable before a professional mask slams down. "Actually no. You and Hunter are heading for the guard station. I'll check the shop. Get the list from Seeker Helene. Help them try to do whatever they can divination wise. I should be back before you finish there."

[Carver Amell]

"Sure," he says, with a nod, handing her the slip. "Make him pay." 

Then he's off, at a good jog he's barely holding down from a run, Hunter at his heels.

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline stares a moment, her mask slipping for just a moment to show a deeply proud smile. Well well. Look at that. Where'd that impulsive, hot-headed boy go and who's this man jogging away? Glancing down at Beka, she smiles faintly. "Time for us to do our part, yeah?" Beka wags her tail, pleased with how well her littermate has chosen. Not as good as my person, of ourse. But he's okay.

[GamesMaster]

The shop is wooden, indicating that it's newer construction, cheaper but less sturdy than the stone-based buildings she tends to frequent. It smells faintly of fresh ceder, under the chemical stings of the wares in the air. The front window display has no glass, but it shows vials of colored water, and there are hand-painted signs suggesting sales on various tinctures: a sale on sleep aids, a sale on digestive aids. The sorts of things people need the most. 

Right in the front, as she walks into the shop, she's hit with a countertop display of brilliantly-colored dyes: half for fur, half for hair. Of course they're right in front; the dyes are the most popular thing produced in Cattown, and any cat business that has any connection to dying will be selling them. Behind that, she can see displays lining the walls: fur conditioners, digestive aids, fertilizers and defoliants, simpler acids for cleaning stubborn stains. All above board, all legal, and all boring, though they are packaged in bright colors and displayed well. 

In the back is the counter, with a catfolk standing by the cashbox with a pad and pencil, taking people's custom orders. One customer leaves an order with him; the next is picking up, and he goes to the locked cabinets behind the counter to pull out her wrapped parcel to hand over in exchange for coins. Sensible, that, since the custom brews are likely to be more expensive and thus more tempting to steal.

[Tethras Clan]

Gesturing for Beka to take up a spot just inside the shop near the door, Aveline tries to casually make her way to the counter to wait for the clerk to finish with a customer so she can interrupt with only partial rudeness.

[GamesMaster]

The clerk, whose red-orange fur bears distinctive dark red spots along it, finishes handling the woman's packages, smiling at her as he wishes her a good day. When he turns to Aveline, his gaze falls first on her uniform, causing his eyes to dim slightly, though the smile stays in place. "Guardswoman! What can we do for you here at humble Clever Cat Apothecary?"

[Tethras Clan]

"Captain Vallen," she replies, offering her hand in a professional manner. "May I speak with a manager or the owner if possible?"

[GamesMaster]

He shakes it, his smile never faltering. "Sorry, I am the only cat in the store today. Is there a problem?"

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline nods, then glances around at the store. "There's a... concern regarding tainted alchemical reagents and some of those affected purchased their stocks here." She stops there, giving him time to react so she can see how he jumps.

[GamesMaster]

He keep smiling, though his tail twitches. "I can assure you, all of our tinctures are brewed in-house, and we only purchase the best of ingredients. You can see for yourself how high-quality our wares are."

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline continues to met his stare with an even gaze. "I'm sure. But mistakes can happen to anyone. I don't want to cause your business any undue hardship, but I have over a dozen files stamped 'deceased' demanding that I follow up every possible lead. One of which is a recipe for your shop, written out to one Juniper of Cattown."

[GamesMaster]

"I'm afraid I can't give out information on our customers," he says, his tail growing more agitated. "But I assure you, every remedy we brew we brew the same, and as you can see, our customers are healthy. We thrive on repeat business."

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline sighs softly, then steps closer so she can lower her voice. "I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to insist on seeing your sales lists and supplier manifest. I truly do not wish to cause harm to your livelihood but I cannot risk the lives of innocents."

[GamesMaster]

The man wilts, just a bit, his ears folding back onto his head as he shrinks back from her. "Of course, of course. Safety first," he says brightly, slinking a few steps down the counter so he can squat under it and pull out a ledger.