The Stacks are a marvel of architecture, engineering, and strong glue. They are so chaotic that the streets appear to be simply whatever space one can find between, around, above or even below the buildings; they are unmarked and unpaved. The buildings themselves have been constructed slap-dash with cheap wood and scavenged materials, and they have all the cohesiveness of a psychotic patchwork quilt. Above the street, drying laundry is strung between the second stories of the houses; the clothes look tattered and old. The college town is a warren of streets and walkways, with innumerable back alleys, hiding places, and escape routes.

Many business signs hang in the dark doorways, advertising various taverns, novelty shops, and convenience stores. The white glow of naphtha lamps shines out from windows onto the dirt street below, adding some cheer to the place.

Minke Labres sits on a bench near Onna Stick sketching passersby.

Ophus 24th-Noon

"I'm so knackered of sitting here and sketching The Stacks!" Minke Labres mumbled to herself. After living in The Stacks for 5 years, she had grown so accustomed to every building, person, and thing living in the town. Most wicks would envy the familiarity Minke had in her life, but Minke wasn't just any wick.

"Look at these people, their lives are so mung! Every day it's the same thing; wake up, run errands, cook dinner, go to bed. What good does any of that do when you've got no real future ahead of you? I'd give anything to go to school, or at very least be back on Surwood where I belong. We haven't made it to the festival in years." Minke looked down at her sketchbook and realized she had been scribbling in her anger. Her pen, once a solid metal writing utensil, was destroyed. The nib was bent and ink flowed over her hands and onto her pants. "Vrunta!" Minke cursed as wiped the ink on her hands onto her already ruined pants. "This was my last good pair of pants, too."

[Note: I wasn't quite sure where to put this thread, here or in Elsewhere. I'm sorry if it's misplaced. I'm really new to role playing so if there is any error with this thread I will gladly fix it.]

((You're doing great! The Stacks are in Brunnhold, so this is the right place. ))

Nearby, Ollie Zuckins was frying a batch of impaled meats. Over the sizzle of the vegetable oil, he heard Minke's frustration; sensing a business opportunity, he hustled over.

"Good day to you, miss!" he chirped. "Wot's a pretty young gal like yourself all miffed about on this fine day?"

Ollie stuck out a gloved hand, in which was a stick with a bit of brightly colored rock candy on it.

"Free sample for the lady."

Minke eyed the candy in the strangers hand unsure of what to make of such a character. While Minke was a bit suspicious of the candy, her sweet tooth wasn't and she shoved it into her mouth. "Well, first of all, I need a new life. I would settle for new pants instead. " she answered with the candy still in her mouth, ignoring her manners on purpose.

Ollie Zuckins seemed like a nice enough person, but Minke wasn't so sure she should trust him just yet.

"What's it to you, kov?"

Scarlet peered over from an ally and saw that good old Ollie Zuckins seemed busy with a customer... Of sorts. The girl didn't seem interested in buying anything.

Scarlet carried out her leira, Tilley, on her head like a hat and walked up to the cart. Tilley had fallen asleep there and Scarlet had given up trying to wake her. Perhaps some ham onna stick might get her reptile's tongue to flicker a bit.

"Hesta Ollie!" She pirked up with a smile. "I'd like one ham and two pickles onna stick, if you'd be so kind."

Although she was widely known to be a toft and would of preferred free food, there was little point in robbing Ollie Zuckin's cart. Everything was really cheap anyway.

<I know, it took me a little while to post, but I never post anything until I'm comfortable and I usually find someone else's thread that I can join. Well, that and I haven't actually RPed in a year.>

Ollie tipped his purple hat to Minke. "Ah, just lookin' after the well-bein' of my fellow Stacksians." He chuckled good-naturedly. "But a new life...that's a bit pricey. Why don't you go with the new digs instead, lass? You could pop on over to Wear an' Tear, I hear they're havin' a sale."

He smiled as she ate the rock candy, which was comprised entirely of sugar. It had taken him a while to get the formula right, but he had a feeling that the Crazy Crystal Kablooie was the next big thing!

As Scarlet approached, Ollie ducked behind his cart. "Hesta yourself, m'dear!" he replied, casually dipping the ham onna stick in the signature ham onna stick sauce, and spearing two pickles with practiced ease. "How are you and the lizard? Feelin' the effect of this cold, I'd wager?"

((Awesome avatars, you two!))

"Meh... Tilley has been a bit mung recently. Not that leira ent usually that way," Scarlet handed over a few coins and then held the ham onna stick up to Tilley's nose, poking it a couple time.

Tilley slowly awoke and licked at the air until it realized what was in front of its nose. Suddenly her frills went out and she quickly devoured the ham, along with part of the stick. After examining the blunt end of the stick, Scarlet stuffed it behind her ear to get it out of the way.

"At least she's been bitin' something other then customers..." Scarlet poked the reptile as it started falling asleep.

Finally Scarlet realized that this was just pointless and she let the lizard nap on top of her head. She then stood back and let Ollie finish his business with the other girl as she started in on one of the pickles. They seemed to be her favorite snack, though most people would rather chicken or something else onna stick. Still, comfort food was always good and Ollie was never out of stock when it came to pickles.

"A sale, huh?" Ollie didn't have such a bad idea. In fact things were looking a little brighter now. Minke wasn't sure if it was Ollie's rock candy or maybe the goofy lizard in front of her, but change no matter how small seemed to be exactly what the doctor ordered. Minke sprung up and shook the mans hand.

"Thank you, balach. I'll be sure to drop by your cart again." Minke said. As she walked away, finishing the last of her free candy, she couldn't help but think that maybe people weren't the tsuterly beings she believed them to be.

Scarlet watched the girl leave and her sudden personality change towards the end. It had occurred to her to try and fallow, but it went against her better judgment. Instead Scarlet finished her snack and went home. A portion of her caravan was going to Vienda and she had nothing more to do in this collage town. Still, the young lady she had seen interested her and she figured she might meet up with her later. After all, she too was obviously a wick.