Though Carley wandered the aerodrome on business, it was hard for her not to be enamored with the number of airships around. There were small, humble ships much like her own Luinista, but there were also grand beasts she couldn't help but be in awe over. Some resembled large war fleets and used a fair amount of tangible tech to keep afloat in the skies. Cogs, cranks, screws, steam, fuel. Some were flashy, with glowing panels and towers that operated purely on mana energy. Some were like hers, a combination of technology and magic, meant to harness the best capabilities of both. Some were used for business. Some were for pleasure, owned by people the little elf thought had far too much time and money on their hands.

With the Luinista working again, a fact proven by a couple test flights, Carley thought it imperative to get back to business. Even a small job would be better than nothing. After all, money was needed to cover the expenses of the repairs, parts, and employee pay. Maintaining a business was such a hassle at times...

"I know a place up north that could use some medical supplies. If you can find a doctor here to sign away some of their excess to you for cheap, I'm sure you could make a profit by sellin' it to the doctors up north."

"Well, we be havin' an excess from unloadin' the septic systems dockin' here. If'n ye can be able to take some off my hands to elsewhere, I can be payin' ya?"

"Off to the west, and off to the north, a couple weeks away. There's an uprising of goblins attacking the hamlets in that area. There's more people, sure, but they lack weapons. I don't have the proper permits to travel that way myself, and it's quite a bit dangerous, yeah? I know they could use some weaponry, so if you don't mind some risky business..."

"Eh? Well... Off at Dockside, some of the sailors caught a plethora of Craker Fish. They're valuable, but not here. Poison to most species. You know that already? Okay, well then I know you know that trolls are awfully fond of the stuff. I'd haul those fish up north, and see about selling in the villages along the river there. I even heard they had a Witch Doctor. He knows the Voodoo, you know."

Some leads were good. Some leads were bad. Carley spoke with as many as she could, which admittedly wasn't as many as it could have been. Many of the types traversing the aerodrome weren't entirely unlike what one would find at Dockside. Brusque. Rude. Swaggering. Rum-breathed. Men. It was insulting really, that so many took one look at her and dismissed her. Thinking her too soft. Thinking she was just a little girl in a man's world. It was also disheartening. Part of her wanted to drag Cy with her, as she was sure people would listen when he talked, but that wasn't in the job description. She was the boss. This was her responsibility.

Besides, if push came to shove? Carley had no qualms in making people listen to her.

Various leads and addresses were jotted on the pages of her clipboard as she wandered along under the hot summer sun. It was high in the air, uncovered by clouds. And it was miserable. She sighed, wanting nothing more than a cool dip in the glen's lake right now, but it wasn't time for play. It was time for work. Cy, the cargo workers, and even Orson had done their part. It was her turn.

Carley leaned against nearby railings that separated her from others' airships and idly fanned herself with the clipboard. Grumbling a little, bright blues shifted one way, then the other, as she considered her next move.

As Carley leaned against the railing and peered around, she couldn't help but overhear what sounded to be heated words. Pointed ears perked as she glanced aside, making no effort to hide her observation. Two strange dark women and a man. Many dwarves. That seemed a bad combination, especially if those women were kin to Drow at all. After her dealings with one Drow in particular, she couldn't help but wonder if those two women were wives to one another...

Straightening so she could wander that way for a better look see and so she could hear things more clearly, she snickered a bit at the sight of so many surly dwarves. When one happened to look her way, she very obviously mocked his facial expression, looking very serious. For a moment at least, before she laughed quietly to herself. She couldn't afford the dwarves too much attention, however, as there were more important things going on.

She heard the word 'shipments'.

She heard the word 'profit'.

Perhaps she had found what she was looking for. Perhaps not. But her interest was piqued. Even more so when the man in the trio turned to stalk away. It was then that she saw his face and recognized him. Carley leaned back on the railing, watching him and the two dark women walk. She waited until they were passing nearby before she finally spoke up.

"Heya, Al." Bright blues narrowed almost devilishly, contrasting with her very innocent and sweet smile. "Heard ya got yerself a problem there." Her gaze directed itself back to the dwarves, and the blowhard of a captain.

"That's what happens when ya get too many of them in one place." She shook her head and turned back to the trio.

Carley blinked a couple times when the dark women stepped in front of Alain. Did they really find her to be a threat? When he sent them on their way, however, she simply grinned as she watched them moving away. Odd. Really. But perhaps not so odd if they were anything like Drow.

Though she had been looking away, her attention had been on Alain, pointed ears picking up on each word he said. Straight to business and so quickly? Well, it'd be a lie if she didn't admit to liking that. Especially with her seeking a job for herself and her crew.

"Sounds like a whole lot of fun." Her words, while spoken with a smile, were still tinged in a hint of sarcasm. The politics of the situation was beyond her. And if dwarves were involved in those politics? She figured there'd be no reasoning with them. "Also sounds like yer tryin' to say it's dangerous without actually saying it's dangerous." She paused, considering. "Which is fine. Comes with the territory."

Would all her crew be up for this? If she was involved, certainly Orson would be. Carley figured she could count on Cy as well. Crao? He was a family man. She was uncertain... The little elf put the thoughts from her head before getting too distracted by them.

"How excellent is this pay yer talkin' about?" That was the heart of the matter, for her. "And how much liquor and tobacco and where to, exactly?" She lifted her gaze to Alain, expression all too innocent.

Twenty thousand in silver? Had she heard right? A five figured income for one run... There was no way Carley could justify turning down the offer now. That money could do so much for her and the airship and the crew. It was a lot of tobacco and liquor to transport, but it was doable. She just wouldn't be able to transfer anything else in the process.

Pushing from her lean against the railing, she turned to Alain with a big grin. "You got yerself a deal. Or will, when whatever contracts you talked about are signed." She made a dismissive gesture with her hand. "Definitely bring the maps. Gramps might already know where this place is since he's traveled a lot, but if he hasn't I'm gonna need 'em for navigation."

Carley took a moment to scribble something down on her clipboard before bright blues lifted back up to Alain. "Just send the stuff my way, and my crew will cart it up there to Hraalvingar lickety split."