Soneya acknowledged Lise’s introduction with a smile and was quick to wave off her apologies, grateful for the words as they somewhat kept her focused on the here and now. “No need to apologise, it could easily slip anyone’s mind. It’s nice to meet you.” She was also grateful to the woman for helping her into the building as she was beginning to really feel weak. This was awkward, very much so. She hadn’t had a headache in a long time that made her feel this completely out of it, almost as though she were floating along on a cloud.
“Thanks, I appreciate the help,” Soneya returned Lise’s smile, for the first time noticing the woman’s features as she had only now taken off her hood. Her eyes were so extremely blue, deep like a lake and so... Shaking her head, the girl realised she was staring and quickly glanced around the room to hide her embarrassment. The novelty of it all at least made her forget her headache for a bit.
It wasn’t much to look at and there was a definite feel of extremely meticulous organisation to it, which Soneya couldn’t help but organise. Chaos was something she generally frowned upon though it was something she couldn’t quite keep out of her life either, so she had to live with it as best she could, whether it was to her liking or not. She had never set foot into the shop before but she had seen the store front on numerous occasions, waking past on various errands. Now, she wondered why. After all, she had been so excited to see Iarei’s collection and yet she had never walked into Agrio Thrios despite her interest in animals.
“Is your collection in one of the other rooms?” Soneya finally asked as she turned to face Iarei, having noticed no animals in this one. “Oh and, I don’t want to be a pest, but if you could please...” She gestured to the wound in her arm, which was still bleeding but at least not as much anymore. Soneya could definitely feel a constant throbbing in it but it wasn’t hurting quite as much anymore. She merely wanted to make sure that it wasn’t infected or anything. After all, the animal had been roaming the streets for a while, there was no telling where its beak had been before it had bitten her.
Say Hello To My Elven Friend
-
Jacel Varti
- Citizen
- Posts: 57
- Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2013 6:17 am
- Name: Jacel Varti
- Race: Elven
Re: Say Hello To My Elven Friend
Jacel was beginning to wonder if he shouldn’t just head back to the Bite with Cerranel. He should have figured they would have a front of some sort; it didn’t look like he was going to learn anything to important here. Iarei was too experienced to let much of anything slip. Then again, he was somewhat sure that he hadn't had the specific store written down anywhere. He might be able to sell the info later, if Iarei's people angered the wrong folks.
Iarei handed him the tinder, and Jacel was obliged to help. He shrugged. He might as well stick around. It was either that or head back to the Bite for late night paperwork. Adam would do it if he wasn’t there, after all, provided he had an excuse.
He tied the dog’s leash around his wrist and wandered over to the lamp and set it alight. She did seem awfully found of giving him menial tasks. The lamp closed with a faint creak and a click, and Jacel wandered over to a seat. All this walking wasn’t easy on a man of his tastes.
Growing quite thoroughly disinterested, he chose to play with the dog for a bit. He pet its head grabbed it by the ears. One would never guess he regularly sent canines just like this one to their deaths. He looked around for a small object for the dog to chew on, but finding nothing he simply leaned back and let the dog sniff about the store.
Iarei handed him the tinder, and Jacel was obliged to help. He shrugged. He might as well stick around. It was either that or head back to the Bite for late night paperwork. Adam would do it if he wasn’t there, after all, provided he had an excuse.
He tied the dog’s leash around his wrist and wandered over to the lamp and set it alight. She did seem awfully found of giving him menial tasks. The lamp closed with a faint creak and a click, and Jacel wandered over to a seat. All this walking wasn’t easy on a man of his tastes.
Growing quite thoroughly disinterested, he chose to play with the dog for a bit. He pet its head grabbed it by the ears. One would never guess he regularly sent canines just like this one to their deaths. He looked around for a small object for the dog to chew on, but finding nothing he simply leaned back and let the dog sniff about the store.
Re: Say Hello To My Elven Friend
"Is it that bad? My apologies," Iarei said, a frown overtaking her smile. She was distracted in her own way; it was exhilirating ordering the old bastard around. "Let's get you fixed up, and then I'll show you fine folks the collection."
She plucked the lamp from its stand and headed out the small office into a narrow hallway. It opened up behind them, to the left, into the front of the store. The hallway was short; there was a closed door directly across the one they exited, and it ended in a doorway not far from the one they exited. There was an open doorway without a door to the right, leading into a spiral stairwell that was terribly steep, but Iarei took them instead to the door at the end of the hallway. The lamplight flickered over paintings of animals as she struggled with lantern and knob, making the pictures seem to writhe in the shadows. It was a quiet place that smelled slightly of musk and fur, the type that might seem spooky if you were alone in the dark.
Iarei didn't much care for the dark, not after her experiences years ago, but neither was she interested in having to light and put out all the lamps in the rooms as they walked. The door opened under her fumbling, her skin heating with a familiar frustration that came with being one handed. The room that opened up beyond was small like the office, though slightly bigger. It was packed with cabinets and featured a high table in the middle of the room. There was a counter on the left wall, and it was scattered with various bottles and things Iarei surmised were medical tools, though she had no idea what they did and had no desire to learn.
"Accidents do happen, both to the animals and the people. Serious incidents require a more professional setting, but for little things . . . " Strix still held aloft, she searched until she found the bottle she was looking for. She set it on the table, then looked for the linen strips and clawed clips one of the lesser peons kept stocked. "Most of our supplies, the medical ones, are purchased through the hospital, so I can happily assure you of their quality. Now, if you'll step closer to the lantern?"
Iarei deftly uncorked the bottle, and the smell of iodine came out of it. She'd lain a strip of cloth flat, and used another at the top of the bottle. She wrapped her fingers around the bottle with one over the top, and flipped it over, holding it for a few seconds and then turning it right side up. She held the soaked cloth at the ready. "I'm afraid you'll have to undo the bandage, or if someone could help her with that?"
She plucked the lamp from its stand and headed out the small office into a narrow hallway. It opened up behind them, to the left, into the front of the store. The hallway was short; there was a closed door directly across the one they exited, and it ended in a doorway not far from the one they exited. There was an open doorway without a door to the right, leading into a spiral stairwell that was terribly steep, but Iarei took them instead to the door at the end of the hallway. The lamplight flickered over paintings of animals as she struggled with lantern and knob, making the pictures seem to writhe in the shadows. It was a quiet place that smelled slightly of musk and fur, the type that might seem spooky if you were alone in the dark.
Iarei didn't much care for the dark, not after her experiences years ago, but neither was she interested in having to light and put out all the lamps in the rooms as they walked. The door opened under her fumbling, her skin heating with a familiar frustration that came with being one handed. The room that opened up beyond was small like the office, though slightly bigger. It was packed with cabinets and featured a high table in the middle of the room. There was a counter on the left wall, and it was scattered with various bottles and things Iarei surmised were medical tools, though she had no idea what they did and had no desire to learn.
"Accidents do happen, both to the animals and the people. Serious incidents require a more professional setting, but for little things . . . " Strix still held aloft, she searched until she found the bottle she was looking for. She set it on the table, then looked for the linen strips and clawed clips one of the lesser peons kept stocked. "Most of our supplies, the medical ones, are purchased through the hospital, so I can happily assure you of their quality. Now, if you'll step closer to the lantern?"
Iarei deftly uncorked the bottle, and the smell of iodine came out of it. She'd lain a strip of cloth flat, and used another at the top of the bottle. She wrapped her fingers around the bottle with one over the top, and flipped it over, holding it for a few seconds and then turning it right side up. She held the soaked cloth at the ready. "I'm afraid you'll have to undo the bandage, or if someone could help her with that?"
Re: Say Hello To My Elven Friend
Anna followed the two women easily, interested only in Soneya. Such a delicate little creature, so polite... so... dare she say cute? Like a little pet. Her lips curved upwards before she stepped forward when the mention of removing the bandage. "Allow me." She purred, peeling the garment away gently. She didn't want the girl to think she was hurting her intentionally - yet. But oooohh the scent of her blood... Anna stepped away, behind the girl and out of her sight before lifting the scarf slightly to sniff it discreetly. So... sweet. She fought back a purr before watching to see what Iarei would do next. Changers she hoped it involved the girl whimpering... or screaming. Ahhhh...
Re: Say Hello To My Elven Friend
“Well it isn’t as much that it is terribly bad but I would quite like to have the wound cleaned. The animal has been in the streets after all, and who knows where its beak might have been during that time,” Soneya apologised for her whinyness, sincerely hoping that the others, or at least Iarei would understand her worry.
But fortunately, the woman was already waving them along, showing the way through the building and up some stairs into what could only be described as a sort of medical room. At least they were prepared for all sorts of eventualities, which was good. After all, there were animals here, and accidents could always happen. As if Iarei had been reading her thoughts, the woman explained exactly that to her visitors as she was looking through the equipment to find exactly what she was looking for.
It pained Soneya to watch her fumble with everything one-handed and she couldn’t help but wonder how she did it. Though she was impressed by her dexterity. Blinking repeatedly as she tried to focus her attention on what Iarei was doing with the bottle, she could feel her grasp on her focus dwindling again by the second. The act of merely mounting the stairs had sent her head throbbing painfully once more and it was making her wish she could just lie down and sleep it off. But she couldn’t. Not now, not here.
Lise willingly offered her hand in pulling of the bandage, for which Soneya once again thanked the woman in a quiet voice, straining to keep her eyes open and her head somewhat clear but she was failing more and more rapidly at her attempts. Taking deep, steadying breaths, she forced herself to calm her heartbeat and the throbbing, hoping that the headache would wear off again a little once she had fully recovered from the stairs. Ridiculous that the few steps had taken her out so quickly. Without a sound however, she endured Iarei taking care of her wound, shooting the woman a grateful smile every now and then.
And to think that she had considered that these people might want to do her bad. Here they were, taking care of her as though they had known her for years already. It was heart-warming to know what it was like to have others take care of her for a change, instead of it being the other way around. Friendliness amongst strangers was not such a weird concept after all. No harm had come to her. Everything would be fine.
But fortunately, the woman was already waving them along, showing the way through the building and up some stairs into what could only be described as a sort of medical room. At least they were prepared for all sorts of eventualities, which was good. After all, there were animals here, and accidents could always happen. As if Iarei had been reading her thoughts, the woman explained exactly that to her visitors as she was looking through the equipment to find exactly what she was looking for.
It pained Soneya to watch her fumble with everything one-handed and she couldn’t help but wonder how she did it. Though she was impressed by her dexterity. Blinking repeatedly as she tried to focus her attention on what Iarei was doing with the bottle, she could feel her grasp on her focus dwindling again by the second. The act of merely mounting the stairs had sent her head throbbing painfully once more and it was making her wish she could just lie down and sleep it off. But she couldn’t. Not now, not here.
Lise willingly offered her hand in pulling of the bandage, for which Soneya once again thanked the woman in a quiet voice, straining to keep her eyes open and her head somewhat clear but she was failing more and more rapidly at her attempts. Taking deep, steadying breaths, she forced herself to calm her heartbeat and the throbbing, hoping that the headache would wear off again a little once she had fully recovered from the stairs. Ridiculous that the few steps had taken her out so quickly. Without a sound however, she endured Iarei taking care of her wound, shooting the woman a grateful smile every now and then.
And to think that she had considered that these people might want to do her bad. Here they were, taking care of her as though they had known her for years already. It was heart-warming to know what it was like to have others take care of her for a change, instead of it being the other way around. Friendliness amongst strangers was not such a weird concept after all. No harm had come to her. Everything would be fine.
Re: Say Hello To My Elven Friend
"I understand," Iarei said, after a long and considering look at Anna. As she positioned herself to clean the wound, she spared a twitch of an eyebrow towards Jacel. She counted on him interpreting the look correctly as she flicked her eyes towards Anna and then back towards the job at hand. "Better careful than cursing, as they say!"
She asked for help re-wrapping her wound, which Soneya provided, and then tucked the first aid supplies back where they'd been found. "To the menagerie, if you'll follow," she dipped her head back towards the door and moved forward after taking up the lamp, slipping between people with the ease of long practice.
She took them to the cramped stairwell, a sly smile gracing her lips as she considered the steep, twisting stairwell and Jacel's bulk. She hoped he strained something. Twenty-three stairs later, they had reached the upper floor. another short hallway graced it, nearly duplicating the floor below but only two doors graced it, opening into a room beyond whose door had been propped open. There were few sounds coming from that room, but the spill of lamplight glinted off cloth, a bit of glass here and there, and wrought iron. As she walked into the room, the smell of musk and fur would rise up. While the cages were cleaned regularly, there was no disguising the lingering smell numerous animals made. The cages were for the most part small, and some of them had been covered.
All in all, the room boasted 40 separate cages; the majority of them were small. Immediately visible to the left, light glimmering off of jewel-like colors, were snakes, amphibians and other reptiles. To the right, nocturnal birds fluttered within their cages. Strange looking rodents, weasels, and other small mammals filled the broad length of the room. The strix stirred from its silent perch on her arm, but did not do much more than shuffle and croon in its owl-like voice. Iarei handed off the lamp to Soneya, took a taper and lit a second lamp from its perch on the wall. She gestured to it, taking a post by the door, and said: "Feel free to look at your leisure. The larger animals and larger predators are kept in a separate enclosure in a different district, and those may be seen by appointment only." She smiled, and gestured for Lady Lice or Jacie to take the second lamp.
She asked for help re-wrapping her wound, which Soneya provided, and then tucked the first aid supplies back where they'd been found. "To the menagerie, if you'll follow," she dipped her head back towards the door and moved forward after taking up the lamp, slipping between people with the ease of long practice.
She took them to the cramped stairwell, a sly smile gracing her lips as she considered the steep, twisting stairwell and Jacel's bulk. She hoped he strained something. Twenty-three stairs later, they had reached the upper floor. another short hallway graced it, nearly duplicating the floor below but only two doors graced it, opening into a room beyond whose door had been propped open. There were few sounds coming from that room, but the spill of lamplight glinted off cloth, a bit of glass here and there, and wrought iron. As she walked into the room, the smell of musk and fur would rise up. While the cages were cleaned regularly, there was no disguising the lingering smell numerous animals made. The cages were for the most part small, and some of them had been covered.
All in all, the room boasted 40 separate cages; the majority of them were small. Immediately visible to the left, light glimmering off of jewel-like colors, were snakes, amphibians and other reptiles. To the right, nocturnal birds fluttered within their cages. Strange looking rodents, weasels, and other small mammals filled the broad length of the room. The strix stirred from its silent perch on her arm, but did not do much more than shuffle and croon in its owl-like voice. Iarei handed off the lamp to Soneya, took a taper and lit a second lamp from its perch on the wall. She gestured to it, taking a post by the door, and said: "Feel free to look at your leisure. The larger animals and larger predators are kept in a separate enclosure in a different district, and those may be seen by appointment only." She smiled, and gestured for Lady Lice or Jacie to take the second lamp.
Re: Say Hello To My Elven Friend
When Soneya’s eyes caught sight of the stairwell, her first thought went out to the man in their company. Would he managed to get up them? They seemed rather steep and were somewhat twisted too, and he was rather sizeable after all, to say the least. Alas, she shouldn’t worry so much, but sometimes she couldn’t help but keep glancing at him nevertheless when they were going upwards. He was in front of her as well, so she couldn’t help but briefly fear from time to time that he might actually keel over and crush her. It was a silly thought really, but she just couldn’t help it, and she did feel a little ashamed for it too.
The reptiles and amphibians and whatnot of those creepy crawly animals weren’t something Soneya much cared for but she had a look nonetheless for politeness sake, despite the shivers running down her back. After all Iarei had taken them in, showed them everything and the girl felt so much better after her wound had been cleaned, thus she didn’t want to offend her hostess. In addition, it was her who had asked to see them and she really, really still wanted to. But those cages on the left.. no.. it wasn’t for her.
She did however take up Iarei’s offer to look around as much as she wanted, and now that she had a lamp in her hand, she could pay better attention to where she was going without having to depend on someone else. The nocturnal birds were fascinating, though some had a rather vicious gleam in their eyes so that Soneya made sure that she wasn’t getting too close to the cages, lest one of them tried to peck at her like the strix had done. One bite wound was enough for the night.
“Really? Only by appointment?” she asked slightly disappointed. “And there is nothing you could do about that?” It may have been silly to ask but she figured if she didn’t ask, she wouldn’t know. It was odd how bold she suddenly felt, especially since only moments prior she had been worried about them doing something to her. She was looking from one to the other of these adults she had met on the street in the middle of the night and all of a sudden, the nagging sensation of something being wrong came rushing back and she felt an icy shiver crawl down her spine with terrifying slowness.
In an attempt to hide her discomfort, she turned back to a particularly odd-looking weasel before straightening up again. “Maybe I should be on my way now though. It is starting to get rather late.”
The reptiles and amphibians and whatnot of those creepy crawly animals weren’t something Soneya much cared for but she had a look nonetheless for politeness sake, despite the shivers running down her back. After all Iarei had taken them in, showed them everything and the girl felt so much better after her wound had been cleaned, thus she didn’t want to offend her hostess. In addition, it was her who had asked to see them and she really, really still wanted to. But those cages on the left.. no.. it wasn’t for her.
She did however take up Iarei’s offer to look around as much as she wanted, and now that she had a lamp in her hand, she could pay better attention to where she was going without having to depend on someone else. The nocturnal birds were fascinating, though some had a rather vicious gleam in their eyes so that Soneya made sure that she wasn’t getting too close to the cages, lest one of them tried to peck at her like the strix had done. One bite wound was enough for the night.
“Really? Only by appointment?” she asked slightly disappointed. “And there is nothing you could do about that?” It may have been silly to ask but she figured if she didn’t ask, she wouldn’t know. It was odd how bold she suddenly felt, especially since only moments prior she had been worried about them doing something to her. She was looking from one to the other of these adults she had met on the street in the middle of the night and all of a sudden, the nagging sensation of something being wrong came rushing back and she felt an icy shiver crawl down her spine with terrifying slowness.
In an attempt to hide her discomfort, she turned back to a particularly odd-looking weasel before straightening up again. “Maybe I should be on my way now though. It is starting to get rather late.”
-
Jacel Varti
- Citizen
- Posts: 57
- Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2013 6:17 am
- Name: Jacel Varti
- Race: Elven
Re: Say Hello To My Elven Friend
Jacel frowned when they began to ascend up the stairs. This was going to be a pain in the neck for multiple reasons, and the first one he had to deal with was his most loyal companion. He looked at the grey hound, its happy tail wagging in blissful ignorance of the establishment he ran, and looked around for a moment before finally deciding to tie its leash to a table leg. “Lie down” he commanded the dog. It just stood there, nuzzling his leg.
He breathed deeply. Iarei was right about one thing: the mutt was poorly trained. Jacel made a rigorous effort to reach down and push the lower body of the dog into a sitting position, keeping one hand on the table for support. When the dog entered a sitting position, he enacted one of the keywords coded into nearly every dog, no matter how poorly trained. “Good boy. Now stay.” He backed up slowly, keeping his eye on the pet and holding his hands out with flat palms. A moment of inactivity from the dog led him to believe he had succeeded, and he followed the rest of the cutthroats, and one sweet young woman, upstairs.
Once upstairs, Jacel couldn’t quite hide his surprise. It was a rather impressive collection, and Jacel had to admit there were animals besides dogs that could still retain his interest. Jacel wondered how some of the bigger lizards would fare against the smaller dogs; one of the creatures actually bore some resemblance to a komodo dragon, which was quite impressive. He was so focused on the animals that he almost failed to notice Annalise’s continued attempts at molesting the poor girl.
Iarei apparently wanted him to do something about it. He rolled his eyes and shook his head, confident no one but Iarei and Cerranel, now sulking with his arms crossed and trying to look mysterious and tough in front of the ladies, was watching. He had bailed her out twice, once in the owl situation and again for Annalise’s freakish interests, and been doing her favors and little tasks all night, and damned if he was going to keep playing errand boy. Maybe he would distract Annalise again in a moment, but he was going to let Iarei squirm a bit first.
The girl soon offered to leave, and Jacel figured it would be smart of his rival to let her. He kept his opinion to himself, waiting to see what she would do; there was little to be gained from attempting to control the events here.
He breathed deeply. Iarei was right about one thing: the mutt was poorly trained. Jacel made a rigorous effort to reach down and push the lower body of the dog into a sitting position, keeping one hand on the table for support. When the dog entered a sitting position, he enacted one of the keywords coded into nearly every dog, no matter how poorly trained. “Good boy. Now stay.” He backed up slowly, keeping his eye on the pet and holding his hands out with flat palms. A moment of inactivity from the dog led him to believe he had succeeded, and he followed the rest of the cutthroats, and one sweet young woman, upstairs.
Once upstairs, Jacel couldn’t quite hide his surprise. It was a rather impressive collection, and Jacel had to admit there were animals besides dogs that could still retain his interest. Jacel wondered how some of the bigger lizards would fare against the smaller dogs; one of the creatures actually bore some resemblance to a komodo dragon, which was quite impressive. He was so focused on the animals that he almost failed to notice Annalise’s continued attempts at molesting the poor girl.
Iarei apparently wanted him to do something about it. He rolled his eyes and shook his head, confident no one but Iarei and Cerranel, now sulking with his arms crossed and trying to look mysterious and tough in front of the ladies, was watching. He had bailed her out twice, once in the owl situation and again for Annalise’s freakish interests, and been doing her favors and little tasks all night, and damned if he was going to keep playing errand boy. Maybe he would distract Annalise again in a moment, but he was going to let Iarei squirm a bit first.
The girl soon offered to leave, and Jacel figured it would be smart of his rival to let her. He kept his opinion to himself, waiting to see what she would do; there was little to be gained from attempting to control the events here.
Re: Say Hello To My Elven Friend
Iarei winked at Soneya. "If you'd like, I could walk you home and have an appointment made? It might take a few days to get approved, but I'm sure my boss would understand. Besides, it could be good publicity for him! Stand up young woman like yourself would be a breath of fresh air compared to the old fusspots he usually gets."
She waved them towards the door. "Step light on the way down, now, and I did mean what I said, young lady -- old dodger like me has some tricks when it comes to walking home late at night. I'd be terribly remiss to just send you off."
She talked as they made their way back to the small office they'd first come through, shifting her expression to appear slightly embarassed at the prospect that it had ever even been in question that Soneya might have to walk the cold, dangerous streets alone. She even gave Jacel an anxious look, as if they shared this responsibility of Soneya being in danger.
She waved them towards the door. "Step light on the way down, now, and I did mean what I said, young lady -- old dodger like me has some tricks when it comes to walking home late at night. I'd be terribly remiss to just send you off."
She talked as they made their way back to the small office they'd first come through, shifting her expression to appear slightly embarassed at the prospect that it had ever even been in question that Soneya might have to walk the cold, dangerous streets alone. She even gave Jacel an anxious look, as if they shared this responsibility of Soneya being in danger.