Garnet looks to either side of the landing: there are plenty of mooring poles where the boy can tie up his longboat but they are narrowly spaced, designed for the sleeker canal-craft rather than a wider, more seaworthy craft like this boy’s longboat. Despite that, her plan of pulling the longboat off to the side of the landing seems very feasible, so long as she (or someone else) can get the halflings to lay off their harassment of the boy long enough to accomplish it. And not far down the walkway she sees a length of wood that would serve as a makeshift gangplank.
Heinrich exits the inn and is moving towards an open spot just to the side of a young, wiry woman when she conveniently (for Heinrich anyway) takes a step forward clearing the path for him. He steps into his spot just as the young woman threatens the halfling gondoliers with some sort of vial or flask; he can't quite tell what she holds.
Ashleigh's threat doesn't have the impact she might have hoped for; the closest halfling snorts obviously not worried, the other two don't seem to even notice. The cluster of gondoliers off to the side murmur amongst themselves and Ashleigh can catch snatches of their whispered words, "…izzat an oyster?" His companion snickers. Not quite the desired effect but a particular thought comes to Ashleigh: amused men don't generally start brawls.
Pari catches the halfling man's reluctant attention and it's clear he's more swayed by the clear implication that Pari isn't acting alone than by his words. And the jingle of coin seems to make him all the more receptive to what Pari wants.
The halfling is on the verge of making a slightly less hostile response to Pari when the unearthly beauty, Mariah, steps out of the crowd and intercedes. He grumbles, "Trouble is, he's not supposed to have that thing here. Barely got's it under control and that brute could tear the side out of these crafts. These're heirlooms, they are!" As Mariah continues to ply the halfling with placating words it is clear she's winning him over. He calls out to the leader and loudest of the three. "Yo, Mossimo, leave off trying to bean that fellow and nudge his boat over to the side, there. Let 'im get his business done. We could use a drink, don't ya think?” He winks at Pari.
The halfling, Mossimo, seems surprised that the other is giving him orders but when he takes in the crowd on the landing he helps the second halfling push the boy's boat over to the mooring posts.
The boy seems a little less unsteady now that he doesn’t have to worry about getting clobbered by an oar and he manages to tie off the longboat. It is moored at a right angle from the posts and blocks off several slips causing a few of the gonoliers to sigh from the persecution but the lad doesn't seem to worry about that. He does seem in a hurry to get ashore and he grabs an old canvas sack that's wrapped around some obviously heavy object. He stands near the edge of his craft and sizes up the distance as if he can't wait for Garnet's gangplank and has to jump to shore right now.
