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 Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 12:28 pm
 Business was going well enough, well enough for Ottah to have a nice little home and office right near the banks that Giza was so well known for. He quite liked it there, really, as the atmosphere was pleasant and the sounds of the waters lapping against the sands were relaxing. He'd been getting along well enough with the two slaves he had purchased last time he had visited Zanzibar, only neither of the two were what he had in mind when he came.
Don't buy the first cat you pity.
Don't buy the first cat you pity.
Don't buy the first cat you pity.
He repeated the chant mentally as he gave the hyena a nod and entered the market, where cage upon cage upon cage were displayed for viewing. See, though he could be a bit stiff or gruff, he also had a bit of a weak spot for most all creatures. Flint was old and he didn't like the thought of any creature dying under Hyde's care, let alone an old, loyal, hard working cat. Akila... Well, Akila had promise, though she was stubborn and tough. She obviously had spent so much time there, something he couldn't fathom. This time, however, he wasn't going to let emotion rule his decision. He brushed off both of them as needing a calm receptionist and a guard for the office for some reason or another, though most hounds wouldn't have given them a second glance. This time, he needed a young, capable cat to assist him around the office, one that would outlive Flint, when it came down to it.
The doctor minded his paws, avoiding the muck and filth that lined the walkway, his sharp, blue eyes going over each occupant of the many cages.
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Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 4:36 pm
The grey-patched cat heaved a loud sigh, still shocked at her drastic change in setting. The warm, cozy and clean environment she had been used to for all her – admittedly short – life had vanished without a trace leaving her in this cold, damp and smelly Gods forsaken hole instead. Her cage hadn’t been cleaned for over a week and the female sat in the only corner that hadn’t been graced with mud and filth, desperately trying not to taint her coat with the market muck.
Kara had very little idea of how she had come to this dreadful place. All the hounds she’d met had said she was pretty to look at and she had always fulfilled her duties as a servant and entertainer to the best of her abilities. She couldn’t understand how her master’s financial troubles had landed her in this smelly dark hole. In truth, of all her former master’s slaves she was by far the youngest and most useless of the lot so when the her master started running out of stones, he decided to get rid of everything that was not indispensable. Apparently, Kara was very much dispensable.
The blue-eyed cat sighed looking down at her paws with a rather miserable expression when she heard the familiar sound of pawsteps. Hoping it was a hound and not that horrible hyena thing, the slave moved to front of the cage at once and spotted a canine with eyes that resembled her own. It was fate! She needed to get his attention, hopefully without looking too pushy.
“Good afternoon, sir.” Kara said with a small smile, eyes wide with poorly concealed eager anticipation as she tilted her head a little to side. She dare not say another word before knowing a little more about this hound and what he was looking for at the market.
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Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 7:13 pm
Nope, nope, nope, next, not what he's looking for, too old, too much of a ruffian, nope.
The hound made his way amongst the rows, mentally checking off which ones didn't really strike him as what he wanted. There were a few candidates, but he had to be picky. Or at least act picky. He'd made his decisions too swiftly last time and he didn't want to lose face. Truth be told, he had pity for the cats, being forced to live in such unsanitary conditions. Even slaves, in his mind, deserved better. Then again, he had been an aberrant youth, cracked in the head or something. His best friend had been a cat, after all, until things were forced to change.
“Good afternoon, sir.”
He paused as a voice caught his attention. It was young and pleasant, as well as quite polite. She was a few cages ahead and he quickly padded towards her. She was as young as she sounded, and pretty to boot. If she was always so well mannered, this could work out. And he wouldn't have to feel guilty, right?
"Afternoon. Been here long? And what do they call you?"
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Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 8:27 pm
“No, thankfully not long. Almost two weeks now, sir.” Oh, he’d answered her greeting, how very polite and kind! And he seemed interested in her as well, it was most fortunate. He didn’t seem to mean hound – though it took a lot of mischief for Kara to label any hound as “mean” – and the young slave’s hopes grew exponentially. Perhaps he’d be the one to take her out of this dreadful place.
“I have carried the name Kara since birth but Mr. Hyde call us all sorts of interesting things.” She spoke lightly and with a friendly grin but quickly toned down to ask a more serious question. There was, after all, an important matter at hand which was the purpose of the hound’s visit: what he was looking for in a slave and whether or not she was anywhere near the type he’d come to the market for.
“I hope you don’t mind the question sir, but what kind of worker do you need? If indeed you have come to buy a slave.” But he must’ve! No other reason could drive any creature to such a horrible, dirty place willingly.
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Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 12:11 am
"It is not a slave's place to ask a master questions."
See seemed well mannered enough and had a pleasant disposition, as far as he could tell. Two weeks wasn't long, really. His other two slaves had been stuck there much longer and he was sure there were others here that were just as deserving as this one to find a home, but if she was an ideal choice, there was little reason in passing her up. She looked healthy and as well cared for as one possibly could under Hyde's possession. She'd fill out nicely and it was always good for business to have healthy stock, or at least that is what he told his patients if any bothered to inquire about them. Sure, Akila looked a bit worse for wear... But even she was looking rather well after leaving this place.
"But, I am not your master yet, am I Kara, so I will forgive you of this little mishap. Other hounds passing through might not be so quick to excuse. But never mind that, I shall ask you this. Have you any experience with reading or writing? Or with caring for other creatures, hound or cat alike? Your assumption that I have come to make a purchase is a correct one, else I'd have no business being in a place such as Zanzibar." Of course, unless I am on a house call. He truly doubted she was learned, as that was a rare thing amongst felines, but it would be more useful to him. Yes, it was considered that a learned slave was a dangerous slave, but it was dangerous in this world for a cat. Why run if they were being well taken care of? That was his reasoning. If she wasn't, that really was no matter. Perhaps he could teach her in the future.
"If you are not, how intelligent would you say you are? Quick to learn? Be truthful with your answers, Kara, because I cannot abide liars or cheats."
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Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 8:34 am
The cat’s ears sank at the small admonishment and she looked up apologetically. But the hound did not seem angry with her and even went as far as to excuse the little faux pas so the slave would certainly have perked up if had not been suddenly bombarded with questions.
“I’m afraid I cannot read nor write. It was… forbidden.” She was a little worried now, afraid she’d just stepped on a deal-breaker. She was quickly growing fond of this hound. The way he’d promptly forgiven her question (with a hint of humor perhaps) and used her name casually and not a careless “slave” or “cat”. It gave the slave the – perhaps mistaken – impression that there was a soft side to this canine and even if he didn’t seem very open or expressive, Kara found herself very much wanting to be in his care. She liked the next part a little better. “In my previous homes I was a servant and entertainer so I often took care of my master’s company and the young pups of the house. I don’t have experience with kittens… I’m afraid I was always the youngest cat in the house.”
“I don’t know if I’d been quick to learn but I do have a good memory. I can memorize songs and poems almost instantly. But I don’t know if I can be called intelligent when compared to the other cats, sir.” She tried to be as honest as possible, mostly because it was in her nature to do so but also because it was very easy to catch a liar and she did want to fail any test that he could come up with on the spot. “And because my services were not always required, when the master didn’t need company I would, very rarely, help in the kitchen. I can cook a little, not much really. Just simple things.”
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Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 10:16 am
"Never mind that, either, it was preposterous of me to even consider the possibilities of finding a learned cat in Hyde's possession. It isn't common practice to teach. We don't want our precious little slaves thinking for themselves, do we? Hm. But if your memory is as sharp as you say it is, I could have some use for you. Bedside manner is of the utmost importance, as well." He hoped she was being truthful. He was well aware that a cat might say anything to get out of such a stye, but he thought she was telling the truth. He felt the sudden need to threaten her, or to attempt to intimidate her, just to see how she would respond. Thus far he had been pretty even, as he nearly always was, but he didn't want to be seen as completely soft.
Especially as Hyde wasn't that far off, either. He could hear the hyena skulking around, probably waiting for the "Doc" to make a decision.
And a cook, a cook. Well, if she couldn't cook, that was no matter. He still often made his own meals, despite finally acquiring his own slaves, simply because he enjoyed it. Eh, that probably wasn't something he ought to admit. It wasn't very "houndly" of him, eh? Maybe he ought to take the time to find a slave just for cooking, to save face.
"I am in the market for a cook, now that you mention it, my last had a rather unfortunate accident near the river. Won't be burning any more meals, thank the stars. Glad she's out of my fur, but that does leave me short a few paws." Alright, yep, that was a complete fabrication. He had to fight to hold a stern, almost smug look as he recalled the young kitten that had washed down the river. He had tried to save her, losing much of his tools in the process, but his failure had haunted him for weeks. He found himself raiding his own supplies for sleep aid. Maybe that was why he had gone so easy on Akila and Flint.
Gah, now was no time for analyzing his own actions. He was watching her closely for her own reactions, though. Would she call his bluff or take it to heart?
"But, that's not what I am here for, today."
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Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 8:03 pm
Unfortunately, Kara’s disposition and past experiences totally barred her from grasping the meaning of Ottah’s words. To begin with, Kara was momentarily thrilled that her lack of skills didn’t seem like an obstacle and that the hound seemed genuinely interested in buying a slave – maybe even her – but most importantly, she took the Ottah’s words quite literally even if the hound did not seem particularly bothered by the tragedy he’d described – she simply could not think any other way.
“Oh, that’s terrible. She didn’t know how to swim…?” Ottah’s lack of obvious concern for that awful loss could easily been explained by any number of reasons that she could bother to think up: maybe the slave had been very very old, maybe she had been the one to cause the accident or perhaps just a mean-spirited slave that had given her master many grievances (for all of Kara’s quick forgiveness of any dubious actions perpetuated by hounds, she had very little trouble finding faults within her own kind). “Poor thing though. And well… if it’s a good cook you’re looking for… I’m afraid I’m not qualified enough. I can make some good biscuits and pie… but maybe I could get better with a few lessons?” She appeared hopeful and very obviously not afraid as the small smile dangling in her lips clearly implied. Most of the masters she’d met enjoyed a good deal of raw meals so Kara hoped her feeble cooking skills wouldn’t stop the hound from acquiring her.
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Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 8:37 pm
"I suppose she didn't."
He was almost taken aback by the fact that she didn't seem too bothered by his explanation that he was, for a moment at a loss for words. What was it he was saying again? Oh yeah. Right. He needed help in the office. He really couldn't care less if the gray and white feline couldn't cook, so he simply shrugged off her final bit about lessons. If she wanted lessons, fine, he wouldn't deny her of them if it came down to it. He'd have to find someone or another who'd be willing to teach her, if he did decide to take her. Really, he had yet to find a fault that would cause him to change his mind.
"Yes, poor thing. Well, come, tell me, do you know anything of your parents? Or distant relatives? How are you health wise? Or do you know anything of diseases on down the line?" He slipped a slender paw between the bars of her cage and gently took her chin, tilting her head as he inspected her eyes, ears, and teeth. She certainly looked healthy enough. If she answered in a manner that he liked, he'd be hard pressed to turn her down.
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Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 9:18 pm
“I do not know much about my parents as I was taken from them when I was very young. I do know they are still alive and producing healthy kittens. And they are not very young for I know I have many older siblings that I’ve never met.” She did not appear bothered by any of it. The fact that this hound still seemed interested in her made her somewhat giddy and she was having a hard time keeping a composed appearance.
“But I was told I was of good breeding. I don’t know much about the health of my line but I’ve never seen an ill day in my life! Though to be honest, sir, I believe the hound who owns my parents is more focused on temperament and appearance.” The long hairs on her ears were somewhat matted with dirt that her dutiful tongue could not reach but Kara tried to shake her head to the sides just a little to show off her quirky little fluffy ears. She smiled brightly, hoping that Ottah’s interest in health would not prevent him from admiring her peculiar - though mostly useless - trait. “The masters do seem to like my funny ears.”
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Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 5:50 pm
"Hm, you're right, they are funny." He took a gander at her fluffy ears. It was a unique trait, if anything. He hadn't seen it in many of the cats he had come across. While they were a bit cute, he had little use for such things, other than eye candy for future patients. A pretty, young cat would be more appealing, anyways. At least more appealing than Flint.
"But if you are being truthful, I could probably trace your lineage by asking the local breeders around from where you hail. Do you at least know that much? It would be most useful in determining your pedigree. Still, I can't very well pass you up if you are of as good breeding as you say." He tapped the cold stones beneath his paws thoughtfully. He would have to get her, wouldn't he? He had trouble knowing a good deal if it bit him in the a**, but he thought this was a good one.
"See, Kara, I am a doctor. I'm looking for help around the office. Reading and writing would be useful, but it isn't mandatory at this time. It's something that can be taught later, especially if you have a good memory. I need help with organizing and updating patient files, which also must be completely confidential. I need a cat that will be loyal to not only myself, but to all my patients, regardless of what they do or say."
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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 11:03 am
Oh! Did he just say he wouldn’t pass her up if she was indeed of good breeding? Kara smiled more widely, trying not to look half as excited as she felt.
“My former master was Anebni of Prussia who is bonded to his lovely wife, mistress Nushim.” Her tone implied she had been very close to burst into a song or poem – most likely related to her former masters – but the slave managed to hold it in. “My first master and breeder is the honorable Saho of Cairo.”
She was suddenly silenced by the new information. A doctor? And he would teach her to read and write? This was no ordinary master, this was an educated hound, a gentleman! The cat’s blue eyes shone like sapphires as she looked up at the hound’s face in clear awe. Her tail moved slowly to curl around her body and she appeared more solemn and composed. This was important, very important.
“If you would take me, sir, I would do my best not to disappoint you. I would never betray your trust or your patients even if my own life was at risk. I would be forever honored if you’d have me.”
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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 12:24 pm
Well, so good so far. He was vaguely familiar with the breeder's name, at least. The other two, he was unsure of. He didn't visit Prussia too often, but if she was being truthful, he should be able to find them rather easily. Part of him felt that such measures would be unnecessary, though. She didn't seem to have anything to hide, her manner and temperament seemed to be just right, and she willingly gave information. She seemed so sincere. He decided then and there that he would not bother, unless she were to arouse some suspicion later on. If she ended up being as faithful as she claimed, he ought to have no need.
He'd write down their names, just in case.
Her awed expression was almost amusing and he had to fight to keep a composed, almost icy demeanor. This was good, though. Very good. She seemed as though she'd be the valuable sort and, in his ears, her words rang true.
"I have decided that I will take you, but understand that it is extremely important that you keep your word. As I mentioned earlier, I cannot abide liars or cheats. You will also notice that there are no whips in my household. I am a healer, not a harmer, but do not think this makes me weak. Thankfully, I have had no issues yet, but I am not above sending a cat off to be "educated" if I find them to be less than satisfactory in their work."
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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 1:15 pm
Kara, as an entertainer whose appearance was considered of the utmost importance, had never been physically punished so the threat of the whip was not quite as strong against her as it was to other – more experienced – cats. However, she had seen other cats being whipped, usually a clumsy house servant or generally lazy slave and whether they deserved it or not, Kara found it to a most gruesome spectacle that always hit her quite deeply. The pained screams of a terrified cat was not easily forgotten and some images still haunted her to this day so knowing that Ottah ruled over his slaves without the use of a whip only served to confirm the merits of… her master!
“Thank you, sir! I will do my best not to ever disappoint you. And I will most certainly never lie or hide things from you.” Kara chirped, repeating her previous words, the very image of an excited kitten who is desperately trying to control herself. She had obviously no idea of what Ottah meant by “educated” though. “But if you ever find me to be at fault on any matter, I will gladly attend any place where my manners or skills might be bettered.”
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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 2:12 pm
Her naivety was almost endearing and he couldn't suppress a small chuckle, that time. He doubted that she'd willingly agree to go to one of the hounds that made a willing off of punishing cats. Chances were, he'd probably not have to send anyone there. He had good luck so far, both of his were fairly well behaved most of the time. Sure, there were some mishaps, like the scratches on his new floor from one of the cabinets, but it wasn't like they were trying to do wrong. He hoped that stern talking tos and expressing disappointment would continue to work.
He didn't want to hold a whip again, not if he had a say so in it.
"Very well, then. Hopefully this will work out, because I would hate to send any creature to a filthy place such as this. Especially such a well mannered cat, such as yourself. Sit tight and I'll go pay that hyena. It's a good walk back to Giza, but I imagine the chance to stretch your legs will be nice." He gave her a brief nod, before fishing out his stone-purse and heading towards the front of the market, taking care not step in the filth that lined the walkway. He wouldn't worry about having Hyde clean her, as he'd have Flint help her get cleaned up once they arrived home.
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