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 Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 6:02 pm
 So, this was it.
Tihrak had bought a nice little clay house in Babylon - with the help of his father, of course – and the hound had travelled all the way to Babylon in order to acquire his first slaves. There was much to do in order to properly maintain a house and having a good number of servants was definitely the first assignment on the young Hound’s list. Still, Tihrak didn’t know Zanzibar very well and as far as he could tell, this was the strangest, messiest and dirtiest city he’d ever seen. There were shabby huts on every side of the confusing streets and dodgy-looking Hounds (and cats!) eyeing him from dark corners… at least that’s what it looked like to him.
Considering his goal, Tihrak had a good number of stones in his pouch but they wouldn’t do him any good unless he found the right place to spend them and right now they were probably drawing a little too much unwanted attention. So, here he was. Lost in a busy street of this confusing city, with absolutely no idea as to where he would find the black market and with the dream of every thief hanging around his neck. He wasn’t keen on asking for directions either, lest he be pointed to a deserted location only to be robbed more easily. The Hound stopped walking, looking around for an honest Hound or slave that could help him. Perhaps he should search for an open business…
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Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 4:25 am
 Paws were light as the young slave made his way from the market district back to his master's bar. He was a reasonably simple cat, his face usually sporting a goofy smile that belied the strength that he possessed. He was thick-skulled, which was good considering his current residence. Living in Zanzibar with hardly a scrap of common sense, Suzuku needed to be tough, and it was that attribute alone that had got him his job as a bouncer at his master's bar. Sure, it was idle work, broken up during the day with his cleaning duties and also his little errands where we was sent off to get fresh supplies of brain-rotting booze, but hey, he wasn't one to complain, nor, it seemed to take much note of where he was walking!
In his quiet musings, the bizarre looking cat bumped straight into the behind of someone far taller, and with a sturdy, if slim frame. That could only mean one thing in this place, being the large brute Suzuku himself was! He had just walked into a hound! The canvas bag he had been carrying around his neck dropped, a few of the bottles rolling off down the street. The cat darted after them, fearing more his own master's whip then whatever damage this fellow could deal him. All the time he chased the bottles and rounded them back up to the feet of the white and brown hound and into the bag, he apologised profusely.
"So sorry sah, so so sorry! Shoulda been lookin', but was away with the fireflies, oh yes. Always away with the fireflies sah, so sorry!" He finally had all his bottles back together, and rolled them with a little trouble into his bag once more, sliding his face into the loops and lifting the heavy sack. His two-tone eyes looked up, wide, to the hound, and he bowed his head a few time, nearly loosing the bottles again! "So sorry sah! Didn' see yer standin' there all confused like, sah! Not from these parts, eh sah? Tell you what, come with me, sah! We'll put you right as sandstorms in The Speakeasy, sah!" The little slave smiled jovially, showing somewhat blunted teeth and a dumb expression. "Come, sah! I ain' gonna hurt yer, jest a little kitty me, sah!" He laughed, and started off, his tail swirling happily.
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Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 11:06 am
Tihrak let out a brief startled growl as something hit him from behind. He quickly realized it was a slave, the size and quick apology always a good indicator.
“Watch where you’re…” he started as he turned to face the cat, a little upset at being caught off guard quite so easily. His words were cut short when his blues eyes finally landed on the talkative cat. The pretty blue merle coat got his attention first and then Tihrak’s gaze became almost greedy as he noticed the cat’s strange bicolor eyes. Very rare, very interesting. “My, my, aren’t you a remarkable little kitty…”
The cat spoke quickly and about strange things and Tihrak had some trouble keeping up with him but it did annoy him that his outsider status had been so noticeable that even a slave would assume he was not from around these parts. Fireflies? And when were sandstorms a good thing…? And honestly, the thought of being injure by this cat had never really crossed his mind. Tihrak could probably hold his own against at least three slaves… probably. It’s not as if he’d ever fought one before.
“Hey, hey. Slow down!” the flustered hound’s voice rose just a little and he asked after a brief pause, curiosity quickly getting the better of him. “What’s a Speak Easy?”
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Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 4:11 pm
The bizarre little kitty took a moment to stop his pace, his head turning lazily, as though he had already forgotten his task, though the weight of bottles on his chest was enough to constantly remind him of at least his task in carrying bottles for Kangara. He pursed his lips, remembering briefly what had just occurred, and he smiled once more, his slow, easy smile that lit up his obscure, two-tone eyes. He wandered back to the hound, and sat, his tail twitching at its end as he comprehended the words spoken to him, his mind working on some responses that would befit that which had been asked of him.
"Ah, yes sah! I sorry again there sah! I gets meself muddled sometimes, when I has a task see, sah! These 'ere bottles of booze are for the master, see sah?" The way the cat spoke the words 'bottles of booze' was a direct imitation of the voice his master used on his slowest slave. Slow, deliberate wording that seriously could not be confused for anything else but what it was. "See sah, the Speakeasy is my abode, if you like, sah! I sits on the door, cos I'm big y'see sah! Master says I is good for bringing in the punters with me easy grin, y'see sah?" The cat pulled his most charming of smiles, and waved with a paw. "Come in, sah, missus! Y'look thirsty t'me, and the Speakeasy 'as all y'need for a good drink! Come on sah, missus, don't be shy!" He spoke the words loud, like he was doing the job for real, and a few stares were drawn their way, derisive giggles aimed at the slave cat's antics.
"Oh yes, sah! That's my job, y'see? Speakeasy is nowt but a good ol' bar! Good drink, lousy food if y'ask me, which y'didn't, did ya sah?" The cat tapped his head with a paw, forgetting his place. He was a talkative soul, and couldn't help but babble when someone responded. He had always enjoyed chatting, to both cat and hound alike, even though his Master, Kangara, was known to beat him upside the ear for getting on the patrons' nerves. He didn't mind so, he'd just wander on outside to get another customer to natter to, till the cycle was repeated again. "What was I sayin'? Ah yes, sah! I sorry, I away with the fireflies again, sah! Do forgive little Suzuku, I sometimes get carried away, sah! Master just 'its me to remind me of my task... what was I sayin' sah? I seem to 'ave forgotten..."
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Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 8:23 am
Ah, it was bar then…
“Easy there, cat. You talk too much.” Tihrak said slowly, his eyes not quite so greedy any more. He wasn’t sure he could handle this kind of interaction on a daily basis and he’d never really taken to the whip (the young Hound didn’t plan on starting either). Of course, this looked like a nice, sturdy feline and Tihrak might need someone to guard the house… he supposed a grounds keeper could talk as much he wanted too as long as he quieted down when he entered the house so perhaps he could use a handsome slave like this. It wouldn’t hurt to see how much his Master was attached to his slave. “Slow down, cat… what is your name?”
It was odd having a conversation always calling the creature “cat” or “slave”. He’d always used names with his slaves (or more accurately, his parents’ slaves) so it felt strange addressing the cat by anything other than that. When laughter erupted around them, Tihrak had a little trouble keeping his serious expression but he made sure to remain somewhat aloof, which would hopefully earn him some innate respect from the slave – though at this point, he doubted he could get any other kind of reaction from the merle feline. For one so used to the utmost calm reverence from his slaves (especially in the presence of his mother), this cat was certainly not the most polite one he’d encountered but he didn’t seem to have an ounce of ill intention in his furry body. Tihrak could be mistaken, of course.
“Mmmm. Does your Master hit you a lot?” which in Tihrak’s brain easily translated to “Would he mind selling you to me?”.
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Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:16 am
The cat scrunched up his two-tone eyes and tapped his head, muttering under his breath something akin to 'must stop talkin', sah! Must stop talkin'!' When he had readied himself again, he caught the last of the hounds words, and merely grinned his amiable grin with a twirl of a paw in the direction of the bar.
"Suzuku, sah! That be me name, sah! I done got given it as a kit up in Caspia, where's I was born, sah. I then get's shipped down 'ere, sah, to the ol' Black Market. That there ol' 'Yena's a bit of work, ain' 'e sah?" The cat laughed a little, happy to be chatting again, forgetting his prior secret words with himself to stop talking so much. He just couldn't help himself, and this Hound certainly chatted to him more then many of his kind! Even other slave cats would buff him on the nose to his his chatter!
"Oh yes, sah, I is prob'ly the most beaten cat. 'E says its so's I learn to close me mouth, y'see sah? I does like to talk, sah, and Master doesn't like to, see sah? 'E likes a bit of quiet, and I breaks it, 'e says, sah. Never nowt bad though, sah, never nowt real bad. Just a cuff 'ere and there, to make's me remember my place sah!" Suzuku grinned amiably and motioned his paw again to a slightly rundown part of town. "We's can go to the bar, if y'like sah? Or did y'need 'elp gettin' elsewhere's? Y'seem like a busy 'Ound, sah! Don' let me keep yer from yer business, sah! Jus' like to talk I does!"
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Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 10:54 am
The more the cat spoke, the more Tihrak became convinced that he was not, perhaps, the type of slave he should be looking for. Another Hound, one with a heavier paw and a different disposition, might enjoy the challenge of… tuning this cat into perfection. But Tihrak was not such a Hound and he greatly disliked the idea of molding a slave through violence especially when it was so much easier to just buy a quieter one at the market.
“Ah, Suzuku. Yes, I’m afraid you do speak a little too much.” A little…? It was like he took the Hound’s words and multiplied them by ten every single time he spoke. Still, there was really no need to be unfriendly with to poor thing even if he had given up on buying the cat from his owner. There seemed to be other uses for him, at the very least.
“Not today, thank you.” He started slowly, carefully judging the feline’s reactions. He smiled, just a little, at the silly notion that he could be kept from his business by a chatty slave. “But I would like to know the way to the black market. The hyena… Hyde, isn’t it? What do you mean by “a bit of work”?”
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Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 12:50 pm
Suzuku tapped his head, thinking clearly in his mind the route to get to the Black Market. He knew it well enough, he had to pass it to get supplies for his master most weeks, so he was pretty certain he could lend the poor Hound a hand... not that he would ever consider the Hound as poor, oh no. There were no poor hounds in Suzuku's eyes, they were all very well cared for and of better standing them himself, of course they were!
"Well sah, I think's I can 'elp yer, if you so please it sah? I isn't good with directions, sah, but if'n I walk it with yer, sah, we may well get there in good time, and I be back in time for my master too, sah!" His face lit up with the prospect of helping another. If anything could be said for this slave, he was overly helpful and certainly polite; perhaps not in the 'keep silent and never chat-back' sort of way, but he always called Hounds 'sir' or 'miss', and always sought to aid anyone and everyone. At mention of Hyde, the young male's ears laid back, and his eyes became slightly harder.
"Evil beast, sah, even if'n I says so meself, which o'course I do, sah! Don't catch me near 'im if'n I can 'elp it sah! Beat me terrible 'e did, sah! Didn't like me, sah! Said me eyes was weird, and I spoke too much, sah!" The kitty shivered, his eyes unfocusing as he thought back on those times in that little cage, cramped due to his size. Hyde had laughed at his brutish size but kitten disposition and took great pride in giving him a sound kicking! "I don't like to brag of me life, sah, not at all! I took them beatin's though sah! I is a good slave, I don't mean to be a bit slow, sah! I means well, o'course! Anyways, sah, let me right my 'ead, and I'll imagine we is going to get the bottles of booze, and then's we can 'ead to that place, if yer so want it, sah?" The little cat looked up at the hound, eyes friendly, smile in place, tail waggling a little from side to side. Kangara wouldn't mind, not if he said he'd been helping another hound who he believed may come to the bar in exchange for help! He focused his eyes to the middle distance, altering his mind to think that he was headed back for bottles of booze. It took a few minutes of silence, a rare commodity with Suzuku, to get into the frame of mind, but a smile cracked through the serious gaze as he managed to rewire his plans, and he stood, tail erect for a moment with pride at his achievement.
"Would yer like the 'elp, sah?"
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Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:50 pm
“Oh yes, that would be perfect.” Tihrak said quickly, the prospect of having guide more than a little tempting. Especially when he was pleasant company despite the over-active mouth. “As long as you don’t get in trouble, of course.”
So the hyena was cruel to his slaves… it was not exactly a surprising revelation. After all, that much could be said about the majority of the Hound population. Not the useful information he was fishing for but it was a little upsetting that such an eager and friendly cat would get hurt so much because of one nasty habit. He caught the feline’s tail dance and couldn’t help but to smile a little wider – he was kind of cute, really. Hopefully his master didn’t beat too hard.
“Sounds like a plan. Take me to the Speakeasy then.” Tihrak said happily as he stepped forward. “By the way, is there anything else you might be able to tell me about the market or the hyena?”
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Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 8:49 am
The young cat puffed his chest with pride at the prospect of helping another, unknown Hound, but knew his way well enough, and knew he could help this one not be so lost. Wagging his tail in an almost Hound like fashion, the young cat bounded on ahead, to be sure to get back to his master in time. The Speakeasy was easily recognised for its waving, decrepit sign of a beer mug, and the title being lazily painted above its door. Suzuku bade the cat wait a moment as he entered. It was before opening hours, and Kangara had a fierce temper when disturbed by patrons that were before time. Laying the bag carefully by the sleeping form of his Master, he scooted out again, puffing air from his lungs he hadn't realised he'd been holding. Kangara had a fierce tongue, and Suzuku didn't like to be on the receiving end of it.
As he exited the bar, he motioned to the Hound to follow him down another alley, and smiled happily as the were away from the Bar once more. "Ol' Master is sound sleepin', sah! He won't miss my bein' there till later, sah, so lets get on, sah! Black Market, sah? Oh, its nice enough, sah. Apart from stinky Mr Hyde, sah! That 'Yena is 'orrid sah!" The cat chuckled softly, feeling easy in the presence of the friendly cat. When the other insinuated he may get in trouble, Suzuku just merely grinned. "If'n yer come in for a drink, Master won' grumble too bad, sah! As long as I'm being helpful, sah, Master don't mind my being away a while. In fact, sah, I think 'e likes it, sah! Not sure why though, sah!"
Suzuku thought a little more on what he knew of the Black Market. "To tell truth, sah, I don' know much, bar it needs stones and patience with that fat ol' 'Yena, sah! 'E's a right dodgy sort, sah, or so my Master says. He puts lots o'stones on some 'eads, sah. More then they is worth sometimes, sah, or so Master says. As for 'ow it works, sah, I couldn't say." He cat smiled at his companion, all innocent happiness and friendliness.
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Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 10:40 am
The Hound waited at the entrance to the bar, eyeing the building with keen eyes. Not exactly his destination of choice but perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to pay a visit later… have a bit of fun and all that. Maybe with a new slave (or two!) in tow even.
When he returned, Tihrak listened to the slave very carefully – otherwise he’d only understand half of what the young cat was saying – and followed after his guide with absolute trust, completely convinced the merle cat had nothing but good intentions.
“Dodgy, huh?” Mmm, that could be a problem. Tihrak wasn’t used to dealing with that sort of character. A few had tried to befriend him on order to reach his parent’s pouches but his mother always had an eye for the calculating self-serving types and Tihrak had always trusted her judgment. Hopefully he wouldn’t be fooled into buying one of those overpriced slaves. Losing a few stones didn’t really bother the young Hound but while Tihrak wasn’t particularly prideful, he would certainly hate being taken for a fool. “Very well, I’ll careful. Thank you.”
“You look like a happy cat, Suzuku.“ he mirrored the cats smile with a smaller one of his one but the Hound’s tail wagged unmistakably: it was a relief to have found a willing and friendly guide so quickly. “I hope you didn’t spend too much time in the market. What do you think of this city?” It was messy and confusing as far as Tihrak could see, but he wondered if the opinion of someone who actually lived here would differ from his – even if it was just a slave’s.
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Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 9:13 am
Suzuku lead the Hound a ways down the alley, before taking another, this one a bit dirtier then the last, with a few down-and-completely-out Hounds snoozing in piles of rubbish. Suzuku paid them no heed, as though seeing Hounds who were supposed to be better then him in such a state was too much to think about.
"Dodgy indeed, sah, and to be careful is most wise, sah!" Coming to the end of the alley, he looked back only briefly at the sleeping homeless Hounds and shivered a bit. "This city sah? Why, it is not all I know, sah, for I said before my birthplace was Caspia. I was worked harder there, sah, harsh Master. Here, in Zanzibar, sah, I feel happy!" As if to accentuate his point, he grinned once more.
"Oh yes, sah. I like the city well enough. Its not got that clean air of Caspia, sah, but it has its own charms, for a simple cat like me, sah! I sits in the garden of The Speakeasy sometimes, sah, and listen to the hubbub. Sometimes there are birds, sah! Its a strange place, but I like it well enough, sah!" The cat looked each way on the busy main street, before motioning with a paw to be quick, and crossed before any slave-drawn carriages or great crowds could sweep up his Hound-charge. "Not far now, sah, not far! Where did yer say yer's from, sah? Is it nice, sah?" The cat looked up with his two-tone eyes, and continued on along a narrow path.
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Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 9:04 am
“Caspia…? A city I don’t really know but I hope to visit one day.”
He looked at the cat curiously before finally deciding to answer him. Though he was usually friendly to polite slaves, Tihrak wasn’t exactly used to having a normal conversation with the cats. Still, Suzuku seemed genuinely interested and it would do no harm to humor him.
“I’ve lived my whole life in Giza. It’s a beautiful place by the sea. Good weather, friendly folk, a lot of fish.” The hound said with a warm smile, remembering his home town with great fondness. “I moved to Babylon recently. Mess of a city, all sorts of work and Hounds there. Much cleaner than this one though.”
He chuckled, looking around the mud huts on both sides of the street, feeling rather fortunate he hadn’t been born in such a place. It had taken a while for the young Hound to realize just how privileged and sheltered his youth had been. “Is it much further yet? The market, I mean?”
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Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 7:49 am
The cat smiled as the Hound spoke highly of his home town. How much he would like to see that mountainous region again, but alas, Kangara seemed to have no such thoughts, and it seemed the cat would be living out the rest of his life in Zanzibar! Rounding a corner, the cat motioned with a paw, sitting himself near the gutter of the path. The Black Market sprawled before them, its great taupe hangings, rudimentary wooden frame and cages between. Suzuku shivered, his eyes losing some of their life as he looked upon the place.
"There, sah! Not far at all, is it sah? I can wait, if you like, sah? Whilst you scout it out? I can wait and takes yer back to The Speakeasy, sah, if you so desire, before you leave, sah?" The cat wasn't the bravest, and he was loathe to go into that place where the Hyena resided, especially in the presence of another Hound. He might get rumours spreading regarding Kangara's power over his cats, and he certainly didn't want that! Kangara was a good Master, for all his downfalls; his foul temper, his sharp tongue, his over-bearing hatred of all that didn't fit within his way of life. Oh yes, Suzuku didn't want anything to be said about his Master because of him! Oh no.
"Giza sounds most lovely, sah. I finds meself jealous of your new slaves, sah! Never seen the sea, sah, never have!" Suzuku smiled at the Hound and seated himself a little more comfortably on the edge of the street, his menial, happy smile in place as he sniffed the air and looked about.
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Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 11:40 am
“Oh, no no… there’s no need to stay.” He had no claim to this slave, it wouldn’t be right to keep the cat away from his master any further. He seemed distracted, his focus already fixed on the task ahead. “I’ll handle it from here.”
He had already crossed the market’s doorjamb when he turned back again and eyed the cat with a gentle smile.
“Thank you for your help, Suzuku. If I’m in the mood for a drink later, I’ll definitely go see your master and tell him how helpful you were.” He gave the cat a firm nod before turning, his tail wagging ever so gently. “I do hope you’ll see the ocean one day.”
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