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 Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 2:27 pm
Well, he had decided on one slave, despite his best senses telling him not to. She was a fixer-upper, that was right, but he had a feeling that once he won her over and had her trained properly, she would be a loyal addition to his office. Of course, she wouldn't actually be doing much work around the office, save for chores here and there. What he really needed her for was her brawn, to scare off possible troublemakers.
He sighed quietly as he padded down the walkway, quietly observing what other slaves were up for sale. There were several nice ones, of course, but he had to keep in mind how many stones he had, seeing as he was renewing his permit and upgrading the new building he had purchased for his office. His relocation was going swimmingly thus far and he didn't have many complaints. Giza was a lovely place and he was certain he would do well enough there.
Finally, he slowed to a halt. A rather pretty feline caught his eye, the silver pelt showing nicely from between the bars. He looked the fellow over for a moment before speaking.
"Hello there, slave. What are you called?
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Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 10:53 pm
Flint looked up in shear disbelief that a hound was standing outside his cage asking for his name. His age was quite obvious from his graying body. He quickly replying praying this was the chance he had been waiting for. "Flint. Flint Sir." He didn't need to add more conversation then that. He was mealy a slave. And he wanted the hound to know he would be loyal- if only allowing him just to live out his last years in peace.
He did hope in his heart of hearts that the hound was a nice master. He couldn't tell just from looks alone. He could be anything from looks. He wished he could tell the hound that he would serve till his bones gave out. But he wasn't asked that question, only his name. And as much as he wanted to tell him his undying gratitude it would be rude to overstep his bounds. After all he was still only just one old slave looking for a home.
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Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 11:09 pm
He clearly wasn't a young fellow, but it wasn't hard labor he was searching for. Still, was he to take two slaves in one day that would be more trouble than they were worth? That thought flashed through the hound's mine as he looked past the bars, over the silver furred fellow. He responded to all that was asked of him, although he seemed to be eager to continue. That restraint was a good sign, if any.
"Flint, you say?"
One ear swiveled towards the distance, to the sounds of Mr. Hyde preparing his earlier purchase for the travel to Giza. He would be distracted for some time, which was just fine by him. He didn't necessarily care for the company he provided, preferring to browse alone. It was somewhat more pleasant without him hovering over every move Ottah made, and much less pungent, to boot.
"How old are you, Flint? And how long have you been in Mr. Hyde's possession?"
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Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 12:11 am
The grey cat peered out threw the bars and cocked his head. He couldn't mathematically answer that question because he couldn't read. What would he say about his age to the hound? He looked at his paws then up to the sky at the sun.
"I'm many sunrises and sunsets old sir. And I have been with Mr. Hyde for quite some time."
He looked about at the empty cages stacked around him haphazardly as if the hyena had just forgotten he existed. Like he half expected the cat to die in his cage. And with the debris around him it wouldn't matter if he cleaned up the body for quite some time. It was quite a sad exsitance really. Flint almost found this would be his last chance to get out of this horrible place. 'Please take me' he almost begged with his silent eyes.
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Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 12:22 am
"You're past your prime, I can tell." He glanced from the pitiful old feline to the squalor that he was being forced to live in. Yet another cat that would have to have a bath before entering the clinic, if he were to choose him. His cold, blue eyes seemed almost calculating. If he were to purchase the old cat, it could be true that he might not live much longer. The flip side was that if the cat was older, there was a slimmer chance of him taking off in the night, attempting to find freedom.
"Have you any particular skills? What are some things you are good at, old fellow? It really isn't in my cards to purchase two less than par felines in one day. One that will take some work is more than enough. I need to get my stones worth, if you will." He bobbed his reddish tinted head slightly, as if to accentuate his words. He hoped his intuition was right, but time would tell. First, he would quiz this old fellow until he was content.
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Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 12:30 am
The old cat perked at the question. Finally he would be able to talk about himself in great detail. "Oh yes. Yes sir. I am very good at picking up anything taught to me. Ye only need to teach me once! And I have good steady hands sir. Good fer doing even the most complex of tasks. And I will werk on whatever ye need sir till this bones wear out." He pointed to his lose skin and greyish fur. He really wanted the hound to know he had no intentions of running away. Mearly that he wanted something to do with his old self.
It was obvious to that the cat had no strength for other tasks and if he had it then it was long gone by now. Flint didn't feel he needed to mention that fault of his. But he took pride in his brains and his paws- something that the great Ra blessed him with. It was too bad the other hound sold him for aging. He quite enjoyed complex tasks and brain games. Anything to get the old nogen pumping. He only hoped that this hound offered him something like that- though if he was told to fold sheets, then he would do it. Everything was better then dying in a forgotten cage in the hot desert.
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Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 12:57 am
"But I take it you cannot read or write?"
If that was the case, he would be little use at keeping records, but there could be time to teach him if he was as sharp of mind as he claimed to be. Steady paws, however, would be quite valuable if he needed help with menial tasks, such as sutures or setting limbs. If he was pleased, his cool expression only slightly hinted at it. On the bright side, that chipper attitude could be worth the stones. It could do to liven up the atmosphere. While he took pride in his work, it was common for him to come off as dour at times, and he knew this well enough.
"You have seen many seasons, that is obvious. Can you tell me what you have done over the years, Flint? About previous masters and tasks you were required to perform? I have a business I need to run and I need help doing it. Fortunately for you, strength isn't necessarily something I require. I have a rather tough youngster that can perform such menial tasks for me." He rapped his claws against the stone floor as he waited for a response. From the sounds of Mr. Hyde in the distance, Akila was none too happy with getting the dirt rinsed from her coat.
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Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 1:11 am
"No sir I cannot. My previous owner didn't believe in teaching cats either of those traits. He thought it would make them easier to corrupt to run away and the like...but-" He added quickly. "I dun run away. I'm loyal to my master." He was the perfect slave minus his age. Had he been in his prime he would have been worth quite a few stones- half the reason why his master sold him when he had the chance.
"Oh I, I used to work as an aide. I have fast hands fer healing. Lest thats whut master said back when I served as some use to him. He owned a hotel...I was at his spa. I made the hounds happy there. Then I got ugly and he dumped me here. Ugly cats don't work at fancy spas." He frowned missing at the love he gained from the travelers. They always treated him well and tipped him with treats from their plates. Those were happy days for sure.
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Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 1:22 am
"A learned slave is a dangerous slave, at least that is what I was told as I was growing up." The hound agreed with the silver furred feline, flat out ignoring the bit about running and not running. This fellow probably wouldn't get as far as Giza's borders before he was running out of steam. He couldn't imagine fleeing would be that big of a threat, not now. Perhaps when he was younger... But there was a sincerity to his tone that the hound was inclined to believe.
"Spa? What I am running isn't nearly as fancy as a spa, not nearly as comforting either, I am afraid, but it is a necessity. Healing is such, after all. I might require a slave to be able to read and write, one day. I am hesitant to teach such skills, especially after the disloyal riffraff I have seen in the past, but record keeping is important and to have help with such things would be most useful." He spoke quietly, his attention focused solely on the old feline.
"And really, appearance does not matter so much. I run a medical clinic, you see. Recently relocated to Giza and I need a few slaves to help around the office. Not nearly as pleasant as, say, working in a spa. More illness and blood involved, if you get my drift. Think you can handle that?"
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Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 1:28 am
"Oh sir? YES SIR!" He seamed to prance about in excitement. The thought of being out of his cage helping people again pleased him to no end. And it was even better as he heard WHAT he could potentially be doing. 'Oh please Ra, let me out of this cage and go with this hound!' He looked up momentarily at the sun hoping the little old slave would get his prayers granted.
"You can teach me to read or write only if it pleases you. I have gotten by fine without it." He gave a nod and understood that hounds weren't inclined to teach just any slaves these types of talents. They had to be special and loyal- and he was both.
"Sir I would most enjoy to work in your clinic with ye. I can be very helpful with whatever ye need. It would over joy me to help you with other hounds problems."
Flints day seamed to get better tenfold at the thought he would be using his paws and his brain once again.
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Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 9:58 pm
He was almost put off by the old fellow's exuberance. He was looking for someone eager to work, but this cat seemed a little too eager? He almost found himself doubting what the cat said, sheerly because of how quick and soundly he was to agree. Still, there seemed to be a ring of truth to his voice and he credited it merely to an old cat wanting to get out of the hyena's squalor. Goodness, if he were a feline, Ra forbid, he would be quick to want to leave as well. Whatever made Akila wish to stay, he could never guess.
"It might sound cushy, but the work is anything but. Sure, you won't be laboring out in the fields, but you will have to be on your utmost behavior at all times, and neat to boot. Your manners around other hounds cannot lax, it is something I simply cannot abide. There will also be blood involved at times, and many cannot stand the sight of it. I cannot have an assistant with a weak stomach. Sewing the flesh of a gash or removing a dead limb, it isn't pretty." His low, almost soothing voice seemed to grow cold as he spoke of the more grotesque side of his work, something that even he had trouble standing at first, when he began his medical career. Then again, he was also quite fascinated by anatomy and death in general, so it was something he got over rather quickly.
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Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 10:20 pm
He nodded quickly then straightened himself up to his potential masters first command. He had let himself get carried away. "I'm sorry sir. I will be on my best behavior sir." He stood perfectly still without even a waver of his tail as if trying to prove that he could take any command given. He needed to get out of this place- he hated the hyena. And he hated the care he was given BY the hyena. If only he understood the pain it was to be a slave and not just the joy of how much each one was worth.
"Sir blood dosen't bother me. I am not squeamish." Well maybe he was a little. Blood was a nasty substance; but he needed to get out and go with the hound. And he would teach himself how to tolerate it just so he wouldn't end up back in this place. Blood would be his new best friend. "No sir. I can serve you and your other hounds without disgracing you!" Tending to hounds wasn't a new thing to him.
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Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 10:32 pm
Perhaps he was sharper than he seemed? He caught on to Ottah's discomfort, which was enough to prove to him that the feline knew enough to know his place. He was older, after all, and if he was this experienced, for a lower price, what did he have to lose? Maybe he could teach future, younger slaves a thing or two about being an assistant. He seemed to close off to the world as he debated, studying his claws once more. His pouch was still heavy... But escorting two slaves all the way to Giza would be more than a paw-full.
Finally, he turned his gaze back towards Flint.
"You sound a bit hesitant? Regardless, if I take you, you will have to get used to it. Do you have any questions, old one? Concerns? Speculations? It would be wise of you to ask now and not to wait until I either pass you up or decide to take you. I have little patience for such things, as you will learn." He was growing weary, ready to retreat back to his newly built home and office, to possibly even take a day to relax in the sun, near the shores. He was quite fond of the sound of water, even if he wasn't too thrilled about getting in it, himself. The fresh, salty air was a wonderful thing, especially for recovering patients.
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Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 10:44 pm
He shook his head still standing in place looking up at the hound. "No sir I have no questions. I will be dutiful to your wishes till I die." His tail flicked once then lay still wrapped about his back legs. "I will do anything you ask of me even if it risks my own skin." Anything to get out of Zanzibar with Hyde. Anything. He then clamped his lips shut he was concerned the hound would think he was making it all up- even if he was serious in all his commitments that he had mentioned before. He would owe him with his bones if he rescued him from his hell with Hyde. Nothing could be worse then this place.
Only one question seamed to bite at the back of his mind. One that was more important then anything else. "You-you won't dump me here as I age?" He looked at his paws and rubbed one on the sand. "I could potentially die with you?" He needed to know he wouldn't be dying back with Hyde.
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Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 11:08 pm
"Your word better not be smoke and mirrors, cat, else you will regret it with every inch of your miserable life." A bit harsh, but his nerves were being tried upon by the stench and noisy atmosphere. He could hardly wait to leave, evident by his now pacing and grunting. His slender, well bred frame was dirtier than he wished and he hoped the stink of Zanzibar didn't cling too badly on the walk home. He tended to be grouchy at times, anyways, even if he truly did have a sympathetic heart and mind. He had been conditioned not to show it, no thanks to his closed-minded parents. It had been beneath their firm, uncaring paws that he had been reshaped to what he was today...
His ears flicked and his eyes narrowed almost angrily.
"You really think me to be some uncaring fool? No, I take pride in my stock and would not simply toss away a hard working slave. Too much time, too many stones invested. It is ridiculous to think in such a way, old fool!" Though he was fussing, there was a message under his harsh tone, even if he wasn't outright saying it. Hard work would be rewarded, and not with a death in the black market, where older felines had little chance of being bought over their younger counterparts. Hard work would almost ensure continuous ownership by the reddish tinted doctor.
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