You Ain't Nothin' But a Hound Dog [EM, Thoroughfare]

[Jewel]

"I suppose some would call him a rat but that conjures negative images and downplays his worth to me. A mere wisp of a thing though, I doubt you would even notice him."

[Kezia]

Wait... some guy slinging pistachios has this rich guy's pet rat? That's... okay, he's very plausible in his delivery, but... so was Aunt Milga when she was selling those cure-alls...

[Aydi al-Qais]

"I may see what I can do, Sidi, though this goes beyond my usual duties." Aydi made a pause to get filled with expectable meaning. "How can you be contacted if there's a necessity for it?"

[Kezia]

"And how did you come to lose this pet?"

[Jewel]

"I may see what I can do, Sidi, though this goes beyond my usual duties." Aydi made a pause to get filled with expectable meaning. "How can you be contacted if there's a necessity for it?"

"Ah, you have my deepest thanks my good man. You, or he if you wish to just deliver the message, could ask for me at Nahr'umar's Kiss in the River Quarter."

"And how did you come to lose this pet?"

Though he still delivers a smile there's a hint of frustration behind it, perhaps at the memory, "Oh, you know how such things are. No matter how certain you are that you have thing settled if there's even a little gap sometimes they find a way to wriggle through."

[Kezia]

That... is not how people talk about losing pets. That's how a grifter talks when their mark loopholes out of the deal.

[Aydi al-Qais]

"I'd better get back to my duties then, Sidi." There was more than a bit odd about the man, but Aydi couldn't pinpoint it.

[A chance to roll something again, or do I have to keep buying bull?]

[Jewel]

(It's valid to think he's an eccentric weirdo, and Aydi is fully in his rights not to follow through on the request, but given the difference in rolls he still believes that zuK is being honest in his intent.)

[Aydi al-Qais]

Once the man was gone, Aydi rubbed his face before he looked back at Kezia. "That was... strange."

[Kezia]

"To put it mildly. But if he's lying, he's very good at it. I... think I know the peddler he's talking about."