"Sure, let's check out the beach."

The beach proves to be a very popular tourist zone. Lined with restaurants and equipment rentals, sections of the beach are marked out as private or charge admission and are much less crowded than the loud, teeming masses thronging the public areas in swimsuits. And a few nude. There are swimsuit shops and lifeguards and sailing ships coming into the harbor beyond a line of colorful bouys coralling the swimmers. The whole place does feel very happy and alive, tinged over with the jade wind combined with the aqshy floating off happy beachgoers.

Ame has seen beaches like this on TV but never been to one before. It seems like it'd be a good place to idle for a while.

After taking a walk down the beach's length to gain a passing familiarity with the area, the sun is close to setting so Ame and her party members head back to the inn to meet Theo and get some rest.

Elizabeth orders fancy room service. Theo is back by sunset, still dour but less - frantic about it.

Abyssia wants Ame in her bed for a while before they actually sleep.

And in the morning after rising early and showering and making her daily blood offering she comments, "The deep ones are telling me we're in the right place, and that the trouble has something to do with mist or fog. I suppose we should just keep an eye out for rumors."

It's nice when Bys is horny for Ame.

"Rumors of mist or fog. Alright."

Breakfast time.

The party sits down to eat with Isodore.

"So, Domino Petrocles," Ame says, reminding herself of the name. "Isodore, I know you offered but probably I should be the one to teach my party Ilsos while you focus on getting your, uh, portfolio together. We can do that for a few hours or until you're ready to send us in? Unless this guy's going to be complicated to find?"

"Yes, that makes sense. I don't think you'll actually meet Domino himself, but if you pierce the first layer of reception and find a manager you'll be able to get me an appointment for sure. Though if the receptionist grants you an appointment, that will hold, don't ask for a manager, then. Don't try bribes, that's an insult. If anything just mention how impressive the wall around that village looked and how I was forewoman over its construction and chief designer. Coming over in the afternoon but not too close to the end of the day could see them getting ready to finish things, but not too urgently wishing to leave yet, so mid afternoon feels right to me. For the appointment time, suggest early morning three to five days from now but accept anything."

"Right. Got it."

Ame makes a note in her Quest Journal.

Once they finish eating, Ame gets Bys, Liz, and Theo comfortable and starts working on teaching them Ilsos.

Theo tries to figure out some of the nuances of her language power briefly, but then shrugs and settles in to practice.

Everyone gets a level in Ilsos Tongue comprehension by lunchtime, except Abyssia, who it clicks for halfway through their meal.

Excellent.

Is Isodore done with her portfolio slash resume thing yet?

She is! She considered including a carefully cut marble brick in her application as well, but decided against it as trying too hard.

Then it's time to go look impressive.

In their shiny new adventuring gear, the four of them take the application and head out.

Domino Petrocles is the owner of the famous firm named 'Soul of Stone'. The building is impressive and elaborate, not large simply to be large, but still four stories with rows and rows of windows with hits of offices visible, and a facade of delicately streaked white marble. The reception area has lots of paintings of various buildings and a less blindingly white design, so as not to hurt the eye.

The receptionist is a neatly dressed androgynous human, who looks over all four of them without seeming to react, only a bare hint of interest in Ameron detectable by a minute pause in their gaze.

"One moment, Adventurers."

They finish writing something and set it to the side, folding their hands.

"Thank you for waiting. Welcome to Soul of Stone, premier architects and builders of Silversand City. How may I help you today?"

Ame, of course, notices the hint of interest, and subtly adjusts her stance in response. She knows how to take advantage of the halo effect when she needs to, even if she doesn't know to call it that.

"By making a connection that I'm sure Domino Petrocles would regret missing out on. We're here on behalf of a talented architect who could be very valuable to Soul of Stone, if Petrocles is willing to meet with her."

"Domino is often happy to meet those who share his career, but he is very busy, of course. You've been sent ahead of the lady to make her case that he should be interested, I presume?" They raise an eyebrow at the folder Ame is carrying.

"Something like that."

Ame sets the folder down and opens it.

"Isodore designed and oversaw the construction of a very beautiful village wall, and has only honed her Skills since then."

"Oh?" The secretary investigates the portfolio. "...Ah, it's nearby, yes? I believe he remarked on that place once in passing as we were flying over. Critically, but not acerbically. Yes, I think we can arrange something. Does she have a preferred time? Does the lady go by Isodore alone?"

"Early morning, in the next three to five days, would be most convenient, but the lady is flexible. Isodore Canto."

He writes something on a pad of paper, the ink disappearing immediately after.

"Of course. It will be a time before I have an answer, feel free to wait or return later..."

Ink appears on the paper again. 

"...Thank you for waiting. Six-and-quarter, on the tenth, would be Mr. Petrocles's preference." It's currently the sixth. "I'll note that down. It also says 'I would be interested how she would build it if starting again.'"

"Six-and-quarter on the tenth. And I'll pass along the message."

"The name isn't decorative. If the lady is professional, can learn, and has artistry..." They smile. "Good day, Adventurers. Thank you for visiting. If you wish to visit the courtyard here I would be happy to show you, though if you have other business of course feel free to leave and enjoy the weather."

They can visit the courtyard, why not.

And then it's back to Isodore to give her the good news.

It's a very, very fancy courtyard. It wouldn't be out of place in a palace, compared to the relatively plain front and reception. An elaborate twenty-foot-high fountain burbles pleasantly.

Isodore lets out a deep breath. "That is about what I had hoped for. I only hope my - soul - is up to standard."

"Good luck."

They've got a few days to kill, now.

Ame takes the party out to wander around exploring the city for the rest of the evening. Get a better lay of the land, and maybe pick up any rumors if there are relevant rumors to be had.

Theo would honestly rather take a nap or something but follows with minimal grumbling after asking Ameron for some magic vocabulary to play with. Elizabeth is noticeably glancing at some of the more... Or well, less dressed men on the streets, from large-framed dockworkers to a rakish and sculpted man doing a fiery stage show.

Abyssia finds a tattoo parlor! She doesn't find any Fischers - it's too hot here for her to be very comfortable, which is reasonable enough, but tattooing is still enough of a cultural institution that there's a couple. "The broken collar, for striking a blow against slavers, however small," she says to Ame. "And... just above my crotch. Are you any good at art and sketching, for an exact design?"

Ame finds a reason to linger any time she notices Elizabeth ogling a dude. Sometimes that reason is even just ogling right alongside her.

As for Abyssia's tattoo, "Short answer, no. Long answer, I know things about art and sketching in the abstract but have literally never actually used that knowledge before. So. I can make suggestions? But if you put charcoal in my hand probably all you'll get is a mess."

Ame pauses.

That was before, though. In this new life, she could actually... "Maybe I should add art lessons to my to-do list..."