Lavender Ribbon

[Marrow]

"No way. You can't even get a decent meal in all of Filigree right now for that. That falcon is worth at least twice that."

Marrow looked down at the tiny etched glass teardrop in his hand, its facets gleaming in the sun that streamed in through the display window of the tiny fragrance shop. "It's all I've got."

The mouse shop-keep shook his head, a frown pulling down the edges of his amply bushy muzzle. His wife, hunched over her perfumier's alembic in the corner glanced over her shoulder.

Marrow sighed, looking around at some of the other bottles and phials of gently blushed liquid set out on the few shelves and display cases the little apartment could afford. "Well, have you got something smaller?"

The shop-keep scoffed, his pudgy paws akimbo. "Anything smaller would-be what clings to yer fur when you leave."

Marrow placed the perfume back on the little scale and it slowly tipped to one side. His brow furrowed, and he rummaged in his pouch a moment. The mouse's nose twitched as he craned his neck slightly to try and see better what the skunk was after.

"Ah, here we go!" Marrow produced a slightly larger glazed jug. He placed the little glossy pot on the other arm of the scale, and it slowly lifted the lavender-hued falcon. "A trade then?"

The mouse scooped it up and turned it in his paw. "Are you proposing an exchange of fragrances to a master perfumier?" His wife cleared her throat loudly as she worked, and the mustachioed mouse scowled at her turned back.

"One better. This is Blessing."

"Blessing?"

"Yes. It's an ointment we Bone Rattlers make by diluting and refining skunk donations for use in anointing your doorways and heels before you leave for the day. Still strong enough to act as an effective deterrent to those spirits who may otherwise cause you and your wife trouble."

The shop-keep pulled the little container away from his nose slightly. "Skunk...donations?" he asked flatly.

Marrow's shoulders dropped slightly. "Well yes of course. Unrefined blessing would be far too potent. A simple deterrent is all that is necessary to- "

"Oh seasons, no." The shop-keep placed the little bottle carefully back on the scale. "Look, come back when you can pay fer it in full."

Before Marrow could beseech him further, the tubby mouse turned on a heel and headed up the ladder to the couple's living quarters, mumbling as he climbed. "Never heard of such a thing. Usin' a beast's leavin's and weepin's to wipe all over home and paw. Feh, that's a skunk fer ya."

Marrow held his paws wide, calling up after him. "Oh, come on! It's not that bad!" with nothing but silence in return, Marrow slumped, grabbing the jug and turning to leave.

"Eh, 'scuse me sir, did you say you were one of those Bone Rattlers?" The wife's hushed voice stopped Marrow in the doorway. He turned to see her craning her neck to the ladder to check if the coast was clear.

"Yes, ma'am."

She crept over and swiped the little falcon from the scale and bade Marrow over with the wave of a paw, checking over her shoulder at the ladder once more.

"One a' your kind saw t' our nephew when we had t' lay him ta rest on account a' the grey lung he caught.", She whispered, "Meant a whole lot ta me seein' as how he did if fer nothin'." She glanced back at the ladder. "Meant a whole lot ta him too though you wouldn't know it." She sighed wearily. "Please don't think harsh of 'im. He's just worried like ev'rbody else with all these extra people crowded in the city. He wuddn't jokin' when he said it's hard ta get a decent meal sometimes right now. And with the stagnant flood water that took finny from us he's just tryin' ta look out fer he and I."

Marrow looked at the ladder a moment before he felt the little falcon pressed into his paw.

"wha? No, ma'am, I couldn't possibly-"

"It's generous folk like yer kind this city needs right now."

Speechless, Marrow tried to give the ointment to the mouse-wife, but she closed his claws over top of it with both her paws.

"Lotta folks here ganna need this more than us. Go do more good with it Rattler."

"Please let me give you somethi-. "

The perfumier put her paw up to silence him. "I'll hear nothing else of it. Now, while I box this up, you go and pick out a ribbon to wrap it."

Marrow, still taken aback, went to the little spool of differently colored ribbon arrayed next to the scale. He chose one, snipped it and brought it to the mouse-wife.

"Ooooh, lavender to match the scent. Lovely choice. Is this for a special someone?"

Marrow watched her practiced paws tie a simple yet tidy and symmetrical bow atop the little, slim box and stamp it with bright red wax. "Yes ma'am. It's her favorite. The lavender sooths her when she gets anxious."

"Oh, me too." The perfumier said, turning and handing the little gift to him.

Marrow looked back at the ladder, stroking the fresh seal with his thumb.

"oh don't worry about him. We're on retainer for Kastor's council and their retinue so we'll be fine, dear. Wanna know somethin' he don't?" she lowered her voice even further as Marrow stooped to offer an ear.

"I buy my perfume base from an old bever mum on the other side of town an' she makes it same way you stripe-cats do." She giggled with a wink. "ole mud-fer-brains up there would flip 'is lid if 'e knew!" Marrow stifled a chuckle as she gently shoed out the doorway.

He turned back one last time. "This means the world to me. Is there no way I can repay you?"

She smiled. "I already told ya. Go and do some good. Now get outta here before he catches wind of your thievery. Go!"

Marrow looked back one last time at the little Mouse in her doorway and smiled. Then he turned and melted into the crowded street.

The perfumier turned and headed back in to resume her work when she was stopped dead in her tracks. She smirked and shook her head. Looking down at her scale she saw weighing down one arm, the little glazed jug.