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 Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 12:32 pm
 It was Haqikah's very first trip to the slave market, and she was not impressed at all. The smell was overpowering, she couldn't keep her paws from getting dirty and the collected noise from all the slaves was starting to give her a headache. Her good breeding and excellent self control was all that kept her from gagging and running in the other direction. She tried to keep from stepping in the worst filth as she started to browse the wares. Everything was more or less covered in dirt and muck, and she supposed the cleaner cages held the more expensive slaves. And as much as she hated to admit it, she should probably try not to look at the more high-class slaves.
It was beneath her to go to this filthy place, and it would be much more proper to send a slave to deal with this, but the problem was that she was... ahem... between slaves. In the past her mate had handled these matters, or she had sent one of their market slaves with detailed instructions. But there was no getting around it. A lady of her standing needed slaves to wait on her, but since she didn't have any she would have to go - just this once.
"Just browsing, thank you," she said and put her nose in the air before Hyde could finish his sales pitch. She did not need any help from that hyena, and she did not need to stand too close to him either. She might catch something nasty. Fleas perhaps. Oh, the slaves better not have any fleas because she did not want cat fleas all over her house. Ew! Whatever she bought would have to get a bath outside before it was even allowed to look inside.
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Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 1:53 pm
 Akil wasn’t quite as affected by the heat as some of the other cats – after all, a good portion of his coat was a shielding white color – but he was keen to try the small mud puddle where he’d seen a rebellious slave drown his paws a few days before. He didn’t really like the idea of getting his white paws dirty but the brown and white kitty was very much curious as to what the gooey substance would feel like between his toes.
Which raised an important issue. He was stuck inside his cage and it didn’t seem as if he’d been getting out anytime soon. The orange eyed slave prodded the cage door with interest, first the keyhole and then the door hinges, looking for a weakness. He moved slowly with purpose narrowing his eyes when the door seemed like it was about to give in and moaning when it became fairly obvious the door was not going to budge anytime soon. And yet, Akil was so focused on this very much pointless task that he didn’t even notice the approaching hound.
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Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 2:14 pm
It was the sharp noise of metal against metal that attracted her attention in the first place, but it was the slave's behaviour that held her interest. She supposed she should alert the stinky caretaker so that this little escape artist could get his rightful beating, but she didn't. She told herself it was because she couldn't stand the thought of smelling that hyena more than absolutely necessary, but more importantly - she was curious.
She appreciated the tenacity and dedication the little critter displayed as it methodically tested lock, hinges and the rest of the door. It showed some initiative and energy at least, unlike some of the listless creatures she had seen in the other cages. Haqikah was well aware that a slave that wanted to run away could be problematic to handle, and she was not really thinking about buying this one.
Still, it would be interesting to see if it managed to open the door, and what it would do if it did. Escaping the cage was one thing, escaping the black market was simply not done. She crept forward and stopped where the muck underpaw felt solid enough. If the kitten looked up it would be able to see her, and that too would be interesting she supposed.
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Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 2:40 pm
Akil had just discovered how the hinges couldn’t be forced whether he pushed or pulled before he realized that perhaps he could get some kind of result by trying to raise the door from the ground. Easier said than done, lifting the door from the hinges proved to be a rather too much for his current strength and condition. He dropped on the ground and rolled on his back, fully intent on pushing the door up with four paws… and that’s when he saw her. A hound. Staring right at him and here he was, looking like some rebellious fugitive planning his escape. The hyenaman wouldn’t forgive something like that easily. Especially if he’d actually managed to damage the door.
“Ah… miss.” He looked shocked for an instant and very much unsure of what to say before he started spouting words. "I wasn’t trying to run away, please don’t tell him!” he said quickly rolling to his feet. He wanted to say more but he’d probably save that for when she started shouting at him and he was already visibly bracing himself for it.
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Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 2:15 am
Haqikah cringed inwardly as the slave rolled over in the dirty cage. It was a wonder that the white coat was still visible, but when she looked closer she could see that the white parts were stained and almost yellow here and there. Disgusting, but at least she could see the filth on this one. The others were bound to be just as dirty, but with a coat colour camouflaging it. She wondered if there were any cat grooming services in Zanzibar or if she'd have to drag whatever unsanitary slave she purchased all the way back to Babylon before she could get it cleaned up.
She flashed her teeth in a genuine but rather nasty smile. It looked as if the little rascal expected to be eaten alive for his stunt, and she was almost sorry she had interrupted him. It would have been interesting to see if he had managed to lift the gate.
"Really," she said, "If you weren't trying to escape, what were you doing?"
This was going to be good. Haqikah secretly took pride in being a good liar, and it took one to spot one, right? She was very interested to hear how the slave would explain his behaviour, and if he would try to lie to her.
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Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 9:13 am
Well, she might not be shouting yet but Akil cringed at the hound’s smile and instantly expected things to take a turn to the worse.
“I-I…” Think, Akil! This is not how you were taught. She’s never going to believe you if you act like an impolite fool! The brown and white (oh alright, yellowish) cat took one deep breath before sitting a little straighter, his tail curling around his paws protectively.
“You saw me at such an improper moment, miss. I sincerely apologize for that.” He bowed his head respectfully. “I was trying to leave my cage but I wouldn’t run from Mr. Hyde. I am waiting for a master that finds me a suitable slave. Honest, miss.”
Akil decided that it was best not to elaborate on why he wanted to get out of his cage though one might feel that there were things purposefully left unsaid. Hounds weren’t too keen on dirty slaves as he was sure “playing in the mud” was the kind of answer that could easily earn him some scorn if not outright punishment.
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Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 2:19 pm
The slave was either a very good liar, or a terrible one with the sense to stick to the truth. Haqikah's best guess was the later, because he fidgeted a little after his speech and she had a feeling he might not tell her the whole truth. No matter, because despite what her hypocritical parents had preached truth was not always good or even desired. He had offered an honest and, more importantly, polite answer to her question. Let the slave keep his secrets if he wanted to.
"Just wanting to stretch your legs a little, hmm?" she asked, amused by the turn of events, "Do you really think you could have opened the cage given enough time?"
Opening cages and locks were not exactly desirable traits in a slave, but if one tried to think out of the box... It did show some intelligence and initiative, and properly channelled she might be able to find use for that. Besides, a bothersome slave might sell for less, and her limited funds would last longer if she went for the cheap but fixable slaves. This one was still young, and it looked as if he would clean up well. She might even be able to afford two slaves if this one wasn't too expensive.
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Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 4:32 pm
Akil looked a little surprised by the hound’s answer and one of his ears flickered a couple of times as if the little cat wasn’t sure he’d heard properly. She didn’t sound angry with him and her question implied a certain degree of curiosity or perhaps even amusement. Well, he was more than happy to indulge her interest and even a little excited to reconsider his little door problem.
“I don’t believe I could, miss. It seems too heavy to lift. Perhaps if I had some kind of leverage, like a pipe or maybe even chains. It might work if they’re long… and… strong… enough.” Akil’s last words had a rapidly declining enthusiasm and the slave’s mouth clamped shut by the end of the sentence. Telling the potential buyer what a great escape artist he might become did not seem like the best way to get himself bought. If she had had any interest in Akil, he figured he’d just ruined his chances. His head dropped a little and the slave’s sad gaze looked up to meet the hound’s.
“I wouldn’t run away though… from the market that is.” Or you, his eyes seemed to say. Akil could already see himself inside the same house as the hound lady in front of him waiting on her every whim. But such thoughts seemed too improper to speak out loud even though every fiber of tiny body wanted nothing else than to keep the attention of the hound on him and shout “Take me with you!” at her. "Am I in trouble?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 3:13 am
Haqikah cocked her head as the slave started to explain how he would go about opening the cage door. For all she knew it might work, she was never one to pay much attention to the laws of physics. It was obvious that the slave wasn't trying to lie or weasel his way out of answering questions, and if anything he seemed to think that he had told her too much. But slaves could be cured from talking too much with a little effort, and right now she appreciated the fact that she didn't have to second-guess him. When he told her that he wouldn't run she actually believed him. It was fascinating how much of his emotions showed in his voice, body language and eyes.
"All right, I won't tell," she said with a conspiratory wink, "But you will owe me."
Despite the playful tone it was evident that she was serious about him owing her a favour now. Was he in trouble? Maybe. An embryo of an idea had started to form in her head, but she hadn't figured out all the details yet.
"Do you have any skills," she asked, "Besides not running away."
She had almost decided to buy the slave, and she hoped he didn't have any unusual skills that might push the price up. It would be lovely to have a skilled slave, a singer that could entertain her perhaps, but those were rare and expensive. She wondered if one could send a slave somewhere to learn how to sing or dance, or if they just came that way. She would have to ask around discretely, because she didn't want to seem ignorant.
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Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 11:16 am
Akil’s tail uncurled from his body when the hound winked at him, his head tilted and he actually smiled a little, hope slowly rising.
“No skills, miss.” Akil answered truthfully, fearing that his chances might drop considerably with the revelation. His ears shot forward. “But I can learn! I’m a fast learner, miss!”
Perhaps that wasn’t entirely true. He’d spent most of his life as a pet and he might not have the kind of skills that hounds usually looked for in a slave but he wasn’t completely ignorant or useless. He’d picked up on a few things his in first household.
“I can be very polite, miss. I was raised by a little master of high standing. I’m afraid I can’t read or write but I’m familiar with the task of a servant. I can also adjust to… strenuous tasks if that’s what you require of me.” he was putting his vocabulary to the test now, trying desperately to show the hound he knew complex words and was eager to impress. He looked up at her hopefully, trying to read her expression. It didn’t take long for this cat to bond with others. In fact, the hound’s mild interest was enough for him to feel a connection and a desperate wish to serve.
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Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 2:57 pm
This just sounded better and better to Haqikah. The Slave seemed to be eager to serve, and that meant she might not have to break a sweat whipping him into obedience. She remembered troublesome cats that required hours of "training" before they could be of any use (and those broken slaves were not of much use at all if she remembered correctly). Back then her mate or one of his hired hounds had done the whipping, and it all seemed to be terribly strenuous. No, if she could help it she would not want high maintenance slaves
"This one prolly wouldn't hurt ah fly!" a raspy voice said behind her and she spun around, unable to hide her surprise. She quickly composed herself but her ear twitched, betraying how utterly humiliated she felt for being caught off guard by Hyde. His smell should have tipped her off, but she guessed her nose might have shut down to cope with the general stink of the slave market.
"I suppose not," she said, and looked to the side to avoid studying the hyenas face longer than necessary. The sight that graced her eyes in the cage she happened to look into was not much better. A scarred mean looking slave glared back with eerie red eyes.
"An' tha' one needs a good beatn'" he continued cheerfully when he saw what she was looking at. It looked like the exact opposite of what she wanted in a slave. She didn't much enjoy Hyde's "help" but she wasn't going to be impolite to someone who could easily up the price of any slave she wanted just to spite her.
"I'm afraid I'm not interested in that one," she said, "I need a servant, not a fighter."
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Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 6:02 pm
Akil inched away at the sudden appearance of Mr. Hyde, bristling a little despite his best efforts to not react to the smelly hyena. He didn’t really like the nasty hyenaman but as far as words went, the cat supposed he could’ve said a lot worse on his behalf. Not entirely accurate as he’d surely fight to protect his mistress if necessary but it was probably one of the nicest things he’d heard him say about the slaves in his… care.
The brown and white cat’s eyes lit up when the hound lady said she didn’t need a fighter but a servant. He could do that, he could definitely do that! His tail wiggled for a few seconds, lifting up a bit of dust from the ground before it quickly settled.
“I can serve.” He said but quickly rephrased his point, keeping his eyes down on the hound’s paws. ”I mean, I can be a servant, miss.” Oh, the anticipation was killing him!
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 3:45 am
The slave she had been talking to was either very eager to serve or very eager to get out of this dreadful place. Hopefully a little bit of both, Haqikah thought. She was starting to get really eager to leave too, and the white-ish and brown slave looked better and better for every heartbeat she stayed. But it was important to stay level headed and not seem to eager, all the same. The last thing she wanted was to push the price up by showing her true feelings. She forced herself to relax as if she could stand here all day, and arranged a properly bored face.
"He's not fantastic, but I think I'll take that one," she announced and nodded at the white and brown one. "Couldn't be worth much more than 150 stones, hmm?"
Haqikah had always believed that she was fairly good at haggling, but Hyde proved to be a real challenge, and in the end she had a feeling she might have ended up paying too much for the slave. She hadn't paid more than the spending limit she had set for herself before going in, but still. Hyde's expression made her suspicious and she wondered if she had paid more than the lowest price the Hyena would have accepted. Perhaps she should have started lower after all... But it was too late now, and she kept her face level as the hyena rummaged around for the keys to the cage and the chains.
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 9:40 pm
Akil tried to remain still during the haggling though he found it an excruciating task. But he had to be a good boy now and make sure he didn’t ruin his chances at the last minute and convince the hound she was making a mistake. That was simply a risk he wouldn’t allow himself to take. The minute the stones were exchanged he did a little twirl around his cramped enclosure before turning to few familiar faces and whispering quick goodbyes.
She didn’t think he was fantastic? He would become fantastic! He’d be the most fantastic slave Haqikah had ever seen and he’d be fantastically coveted by all the hounds around Haqikah. And one day she’d look at him and say “I really have one fantastic slave!”. She would!
“I will not disappoint you, miss!” the cat chirped happily, stretching his body discreetly as the hyena pulled him out by the metal collar around his neck. He didn’t struggle, on the contrary, Akil cooperated as best as he could. He would do anything to get out of this place as quickly and painlessly as possible. He eyed the place where Mr. Hyde sometimes “washed” the slaves who got bought, frowning at the disgusting liquid and hoping he wouldn’t have to go through that particular ritual.
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Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2010 2:12 pm
Now, her new slave did need a bath, but when Haqikah saw what Hyde's idea of a washtub was she had to bite her tongue not to gag. It was highly unlikely that a dip in that would improve matters, and she had no desire to see what colour the white parts of the slaves fur would turn from the murky water. Dirty white wasn't particularly attractive, but she could live with it for a little while. She'd sooner have him rinse off in a public fountain (and that would cause quite the scene, she was sure).
"I'd rather you didn't do that," she said, trying to stay calm, "I don't want to deal with a sopping wet slave on the journey home."
She motioned to the slave to follow and started to walk slowly towards the exit. Her instincts told her to run from this nasty, unsanitary place, but that wouldn't be very dignified, now would it? It might be prudent to know what this cat was called, she mused. Her normal approach to these matters was to yell "Slave" or "You there!", mostly because she couldn't be bothered to learn names, but she knew she needed to register the slave by name when she came back to Babylon. It was the first slave she had acquired herself so why not do it right this time?
"Do you have a name, slave?"
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