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 Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 7:14 pm
The streets of Arkenvale were busy as ever. It seemed everyone always a place they were coming from and a place they were going to. It was rare when someone would simply sit and people watch with nothing in particular to do, and Fritz always made sure to keep well away from those types of people. They were too observant to be made any use of. It was the bustling ones, the tourists, the business owners that he liked most. They were always very preoccupied, eyes and ears focused on things other than their pockets. Today was slightly different, though. Fritz wanted a challenge, since lifting wallets and watches and the like was getting a bit dull. He glanced from his position in an alley that looked out at a fairly busy street lined with shops, one in particular catching his eye. It was a little out of place among the other fancy shops, no windows and only one dingy sign to announce its presence. He'd seen no one leave or enter for the past twenty minutes or so, and he doubted there was much business in there at all. "Wot'cha say, girl?" he murmured quietly. From the shadows a shape emerged, a large hound with brightly colored spots. As far as Hellhounds went she was actually small, but even still was far larger than the average dog. She moved to stand beside Fritz, surveying the scene as well. I think it's as good a place as any. It smells weird, that's for sure.Fritz gave a little laugh and nodded, pushing himself from the wall. "A'ight then, let's see wot we've got." He moved away from the alley and into the crowd, curling his fingers in an odd way as he passed an obviously wealthy gentleman. A little coin purse floated out of his pocket and hung in mid-air, which Fritz palmed and placed in his own pocket as he walked. It didn't hurt to show the shop owner that he had some money. That way he wouldn't suspect anything. Fritz and Fijora paused outside the door for just a moment before the human pushed it open. "'ello, guv!" he called out to announce his presence. "Wot you got 'ere?"
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Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 4:19 pm
Business was never steady for Cassius. People came and went in odd little trickles, some stopping just to ogle, and others to haggle ridiculously over already fine prices. He made enough to put a few meager morsels in his belly, and no more. He suspected that, someday soon, he wouldn’t even be given that opportunity. Valoch had not been kind to his constitution since the two of them… bonded.
The hound himself was lazily draped across the sales counter, his two great tails flicking and fluttering like a panther’s. Eyes shut, breathing slow and steady, he looked for all the world like he was sleeping. But Cassius knew better. He could feel his bondmate’s mind driving into his actions; nails in a coffin.
So he busied himself as Valoch wanted him to do. Cleaning shelves. Rearranging artifacts to hopefully better draw the attention of customers. Putting the dangerous objects on lower shelves – sharp blades and needles nicked with poison – right where a child might manage to grab. He had no choice. Valoch wished him to, and so he did.
He was dressed as usual in nothing more than grey rags and bandages to hide the hideous scarification (disease) riddling in his skin. His hair was lank and greasy, his skin sallow, and eyes sunk deep and dark into his skull. Cassius looked like the walking dead.
He perked up at the sound of the door, straightening himself to his full – unimpressive – height. The new customers caught Valoch’s attention, too. The hound lifted his head a fraction and flicked his ears toward the noise, gleaming eyes narrowed to slits.
/Another hound./ He dropped down from the counter and loped up to Cassius’ side, pushing his head under the human’s hand to make it appear as if they were a sweet, loving pair. Valoch let a lick of flame ghost up from under Cassius’ hand, scolding him.
But Cassius didn’t dare move, even through the pain.
“All manner of unusual things,” he said, finally, through pain-gritted teeth,” From the useful to the merely aesthetically pleasing.” He wrenched his eyes up and down the young man and his hound. They didn’t look particularly well-funded. Cassius cast a glance at the back of the shop, where the truly valuable items were kept.
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Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 3:30 pm
Fritz and Fijora like were too caught up in the odds and ends in the store to notice the other Hound right off the bat. Fijora bowed her head to sniff at some of the more dangerous items on the lower shelves, wagging her tail in delight. Fritz, Fritz this one looks awesome!"Eh? Oh, right, don't touch nuffin', sweetheart," he said absently, drawn to a rather expensive looking pocket watch that was sitting behind a display of glass. Finally the shopkeep spoke up, and he turned to look at the man. He visibly recoiled at the sight, and he had to laugh at his own reaction. "Good God above, guv, you all righ'? Look like the walkin' dead, you do. Oh!" That was when his eyes rested on the other Hound. There was something slightly off about the two of them, he decided, and for the time being didn't approach them, instead poking around in the shelves that weren't lined with pointy objects. "Nice lookin' friend you got there," he said, nodding his head towards Fijora. "Nice to know I ain't the only one, you know? For a while I fought I was jus' dreamin' it all. Imaginary dogs and all." Fijora snickered softly and glanced up at the other human and Hound, tilting her head to the side. Their positions were very stiff next to one another, as if they disliked being so close. I bet he smells pretty bad, she said to the other Hound, wrinkling her nose. My human is kinda dirty sometimes but at least he bathes when he finds enough water.
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Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 2:10 pm
Cassius was used to unpleasant responses to his appearance. He knew what he looked like. He knew what he smelled like as well, but thankfully could not hear Fijora’s comments therein. He remained stoic and still, apparently nonplussed by the violent display of disgust. He let his tongue snake between his teeth to wet his dry, cracked lips, before responding.
“There’s nothing wrong with me that I am unused to dealing with,” he plucked at the bandages of his free hand and cocked his head,” I assure you I’ll be fine.” Valoch wouldn’t let his slave keel over from disease, after all. He had much too many things left to do on earth.
The man’s accent confirmed Cassius’ earlier suspicions, as terrible as it was to play into stereotypes. He sounded despicably lower class. Unlikely to be able to afford anything of real value in Cassius’ little knick-knack shop. Valoch knew it too, but his interests were not of the monetary sort.
If only he were imaginary.
Valoch, of course, heard the thought and increased the temperature he was shooting into Cassius’ hand. Cassius muffled a yelp, squeezing his eyes shut against the pain, teeth grinding in exaggerated grimace. Finally Valoch cut it off and slunk out from under Cassius’ touch. Cassius snatched his hand up and pressed it to his side, trying to quell the blisters bubbling on the surface.
Valoch ignored him. Instead, he stepped toward the other hound, head high and tails arched up over his back. He cocked his head a little and flashed his teeth in a very unfriendly looking grin.
/ Why allow him to bathe when he could spend his time doing much more important activities?/ he sat, tucking his haunches neatly under his body / I don’t mind the smell. It suits him. /
Cassius, meanwhile, cleared his throat and addressed the other man with dour tones,” Is there anything I can help you with?”
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Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 7:48 am
Both Fritz and Fijora watched the play between the man and the Hound, Fritz out of interest and Fijora out of curiosity. When the man grimaced and let out a quiet yelp, Fijora's ears twisted back and she sniffed, catching the scent of burned flesh. Her tail continued to wag, even as worry started to fester in her chest. It wasn't something she was used to, as she didn't often feel it, but something about this Hound was off. She didn't fear for herself, of course. It was Fritz that she was now slightly worried for. "All right, guv," Fritz finally said to break the silence, giving a little shrug. He turned to look at some more little knick knacks even as he pulled a small purse from his pocket. It jingled pleasantly and when he opened the top, golden coins glinted in the dim light of the room. Whether it was filled with those coins or scraps of metal remained unknown, but there was enough true money on the top to buy a nice trinket or two, depending on the size. "So me 'ound likes shiny stuff. You got any little gems or somefin' I can look at?" There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the store, after all. Knives and little cases of poison were positioned right next to rather old looking dolls and smart cuff links. Fijora turned her attention back to the Hound as it approached her in a very confident stance. She continued to give off the 'at ease' signals, tongue out, ears relaxed, and tail wagging slowly behind her. She did tilt her head to the side at the wording the other Hound chose, however. If he's too dirty his smell alerts him to the upper class. Can't have that now, can we? she joked, giving a little bark of laughter. He doesn't have a nice set-up like your human does. No shops or anything like that to sell stuff from. He's more of a...what's a good word for it...opportunity seeker. So being clean - kind of - helps him bring home the bread.She paused, tail stopping for just a moment in its wagging. Allow him? What do you mean by that?
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Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2013 5:35 pm
Cassius shuddered, visibly shuddered, at the stranger’s accent. Funny how one can become tolerant to pain and humiliation, but still can’t easy the queasiness in one’s stomach from the lower classes waltzing about one’s shop. He didn’t miss the glint of gold in Fritz’ purse, though. And while Valoch could care less for earthly good, Cassius still needed money to live off of. ( His prejudice was truly an odd thing indeed, considering Cassius himself was never had much coin to his name. )
“Yes, of course. Near the back, “ Cassius turned swiftly, balling his burnt hand into a fist, and slunk passed the shelves to the far side of the shop. There, behind a glass case, was a scattering of jewelry. Rings with brightly colored gems embedded, a few small bracelets, a lovely ivory cameo here and there. A single pearl necklace was set on a black velvet cloth. Not terribly much, but hopefully something would catch the young man’s attention.
Valoch moved a step or two closer to the other hand, head and tail still held arrogantly high. He swept to her side, doing a slow, purposeful circle around her. He stopped once he was standing between her and the pair of humans further along the shop, then cast them both a quick glance over his shoulder.
/ I mean precisely what I say. Cassius may not do anything I don’t approve of, and he must do everything I require of him. Is there any other way to keep a human? / he flicked an ear back and flashed his teeth / Sad, weak little things. Wouldn’t you agree? /
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