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Ginger Climber
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You spend the rest of the afternoon talking to Ezekiel about the city, which is a subject he is eager to talk about.
He tells you that there are two major sections of Wharftown, the 'Outer' town consisting of the Docks, Locks, and Stocks; and the 'Inner' town consisting mainly of the Rows and the Reaches. There aren't really strict boundaries for most of the districts, just general descriptions of what most of what you'd find in the area.
The Docks are, well, Docks. Ships are constantly entering, unloading, loading, and leaving whether they carry cargo or passengers. It is the largest port in the world, after all.
The Locks are a bit too disjointed to be a real district, more of a series of smaller ones. With the amount of shipping and trade that goes through Wharftown, there's a large amount of freight that is simply there at any given time. The 'Locks' are large groups of warehouses where things are stored.
The Stocks are, perhaps, Ezekiel's favorite part of the city. While the docks have plenty of bars for sailors just stopping in port to pick up freight or refuel, the Stocks are where the travelers seeking longer berths, as well as most of the dock workers, tend to live. Taverns, Inns, and many stores and shops and other types of entertainment are all found there. It's somewhat difficult to say where the stocks end and the rows begin, since ...
The Rows are where Most of the people who live in wharftown but don't work in the Docks or the Locks live. Mostly residential, with the odd business throughout. Compared to the residencies in the Stocks, the Rows are quite comfortable, though still fairly humble for the most part. Nothing like ...
The Reaches, where the wealthy people live. The reaches are mostly populated by Hillmen, who founded Wharftown and own the land it's on. They have their own parks and recreational areas that they tend to close the 'common folk' out of.
You: "Wow, you really do know a lot about the city. What part of it are you from?"
Ezekiel: "I do have some extended family in the Reaches, but I don't think I've ever met them. I have my own little house in the Rows, born and raised."
You smirk and lean in towards him "And I don't suppose you'd be in need of somebody to make it a warm and comfy place to come home to after a long voyage?"
He chuckles, "While I'd love such a thing, I don't really have need of such an experienced maid. Even if I did, I doubt I could afford one. This vacation I'm on is costing me quite a bit of what I had saved up - while there's enough in Wharftown that I'd not regret it if I never left, I suppose I've enough of a wanderlust that I couldn't pass by the opportunity."
You: "Ah well, I guess I shouldn't expect things to be that simple."
Ezekiel smiles, saying "I'll tell you what, though. My vacation should be over in about two weeks, which should give you time to get settled. When I return, I'll be playing at a music hall in the Rows called Timothy's. If you meet me there on some night; I'll play you a song, you can make me dinner, and we'll see how things go from there."
You: "Maybe so. Sounds nice, at any rate."
Ezekiel: "I quite look forward to it."
You: "Why wait until Timothy's, though? You do have a cabin on the ship, right?" You lean in closer, grinning widely.
Ezekiel stands for a second, staring blankly before he breaks into laughter. He has a deep, throaty laugh. You stand shocked for a second, but then start laughing along and back away a bit.
Ezekiel: "As much as I appreciate it, my heart belongs to my lovely Loretta. And as much as I know you're joking, you are a bit ... manly for me"
You: "Naturally." There's a bit of an awkward pause for a few moments while Ezekiel chuckles, which you decide to break, "Shuffleboard, then?"
Ezekiel: "Shuffleboard? That, my friend, is a game for old people. I still have a long ways to go before I'm ready for shuffleboard."
You look at him incredulously for a few seconds before he continues "Don't worry, everyone makes the mistake. The grey started growing in when I was 15."
You: "Wow, that sucks."
He shrugs, "It isn't so bad, really. At least I look distinguished."
You: "I suppose so."
Ezekiel: "Though one thing I do have in common with older folks, at least for now, is an early bedtime. I must be retiring soon for the evening."
Do you have anything else to say to or ask Ezekiel?
and
Night has fallen again on the boat, and you should be arriving at Wharftown in the morning. What do you do with the rest of your night?
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