[KRI] What Does the Fox Say (Venser, Rowan)

[Verin Rush]

*

7th Day of Summer, 514AV

Verin’s shifts at The Malt House were invariably later shifts; he would normally work from late afternoon straight through to when the family-friendly tavern closed, in the early hours of the morning. Only once had he started working before noon, and that was they day of the burglary, where he had arrived shortly after the eighth bell of the day. Given his late shifts, he was often late to bed, and later to rise. But today was different, he had plans for the day, plans which involved waking just as Syna’s light began to shine through his window.

It was about forty chimes into the fifth bell of the day when he knocked once on his brother’s room door and entered without waiting for a response. As he expected, he found his brother lying on his bed, a notebook sprawled across his face and writing charcoals, having fallen out of his hands, marking the bed. He raised a brow and quickly crossed the room, where he raised the notebook off of his face and read what he assumed his brother had either been reading or writing before he passed out.

" Auras are the representation of a subject's djed. An Aurist can identify auras and, as their skill in the magic increases, garner more information about it. Drawing understanding from an Aura requires focus on the part of the Aurist, more information drawn from it as focus increases. "

The elder of the Rush twins raised a brow, interested to discover something more about what his little brother had been up to at the Institute of Higher Learning. Auristics was one of the disciplines of magic that he was studying, it would seem. He nodded in approval and closed the book as he digested the information that he just read. Then, he slapped the book down on his brother’s nose, not hard, but it would sting enough that it would hopefully wake him. "I should have known that you would spend half the night awake. It must have slipped your mind, then, that we had plans for today? Get dressed."

Leaving his order with his brother, he flung the notebook onto his brother’s small desk and left the room to wait for him downstairs. The two had made plans to rise early and make their way to the Lakeshore, and to the Kelvic Research Institute, on one of the first ferries out of the city. Because of the Fish crisis, which had now been blown to nigh on epic proportions, not many ferries were leaving the city, and it was difficult to barter passage aboard one of them. If they were early, there was sure to be less people around, and they might just get lucky. He also wanted to ensure that when they arrived at the KRI, which would undoubtedly be well past the tenth chime, there would be something left worth buying. He was not about to waste his mizas on a worthless creature.

Eventually, his brother emerged into the main room of Tarsin’s, "Welcome to the land of the living, brother," Verin euphemised as he rose from his seat and the two left the tavern to head to the edge of the docks. The walk was short, and the crisp air quickly woke them both up as they strode along the wooden walkways that ran throughout the lake-based city. The white shirt he wore was hidden by the cloak that had been gifted to him two Seasons ago by the Black Sun; it was quite probably the finest garment he owned, and he was keen to make a good impression on those he encountered today.

The first that the Rush twins met was the ferryman, who wasn’t best pleased to be having to leave the city. He had been expecting for this, and had spent the walk from Tarsin’s in silence, breathing deeply and clearing his mind, preparing his mind and body for what he thought he might have to do. "Your vessel is sanctioned by the Black Dawn, yes?" The ferry man hesitated but nodded, "and, being the 7th day of the new Season, you are expected to ferry those who wish to the Kelvic Research Institute, yes?" The man opened his mouth to respond, but Verin already knew the answer to the question. He took as step forward, so that the ferry man was no longer focused on the pair of brothers, and just on him, and he steadily met the man’s gaze. "My brother and I came here expecting passage across Lake Ravok," his voice took on a distinctly soft, melodic quality as djed laced his words, "and you are going to oblige."

[Rowan Rush]

The sun coming through the window of her kennel had long since woken the little fox up, but, as usual, she didn’t move until she smelled food coming. They came at the same time every day, to feed her and clean her cage, letting her out every couple of days and bathing her every couple weeks. Their faces changed, though, over the seasons, but it didn’t really matter to the fox. She never talked to them, they never talked to her except for the occasional order, and she was always in the cage at the end of the day. Brown eyes open to stare at the men as they opened her cage, her ears twitching toward the sound of them unlocking the door before flattening against her skull. It had been well over a year since any of them had touched her, but she still remembered the pain, and it frightened her to know how these men could hurt her small form so easily. Rowan pushes herself up on her paws, her head and tail both staying near the ground as she approaches the food they set in the corner, but it wasn’t time for her to eat quite yet. One of the men grabs her, pulling her back so that they could clean her. Her fur was washed and brushed, every speck of dirt scrubbed off of her body until every streak of color in her fur shown, reds, silvers and even the blacks. Her collar was also removed, another sign that it was a special day. Only then was she allowed to eat, but she knew from experience that they would be angry with her if she wasn’t careful to keep herself as clean as possible. She considered herself lucky once she notices the food they brought her, some assorted berries and acorns along with some relatively small fish. Easy to eat without making a mess, and she proceeds with a few happy little yips as the men leave her once again. It isn’t long before her ears perk up again, catching many new voices coming through the door at the end of the row of kennels. That answered why she had been cleaned, it was another day that people came in from outside to take some of the others in the cages around her. Men and women, young and old, came in to pick someone to take with them when they left. There was always talk of preferences of sex, type and age, and Rowan had remembered the words for some reason. They had to be important, if the un-caged people were speaking them, so she had put the words with what they meant in her mind. It was not an easy task, as her mind was wont to wander and search for something that was not there, but it had kept her from feeling overly restless as she was locked in her cage. Rowan retreats to the corner of her kennel she prefers to sleep in, where the first rays of the morning sun can touch and warm her, curling into a tight little ball. This time, as people enter the corridor speaking to each other, her ears stayed perked up, listening to the words. Her fear was not gone, it was never far if some of the un-caged were around, but her curiosity was the stronger of the two. Maybe she would learn new words today, if she could concentrate on them well enough. That simple hope kept her nice and calm as she watched the men and women looking at the caged people, every once in a while looking at her, too, but always moving on when all she did was keep her head on her paws, her eyes closed as though she were asleep.

[Venser Rush]

The dream played on, just as it had before. Three nights it was repeated, though still it mystified him. He forgot it, then experienced it anew...

The body of a human being materialized into the Rush twin's mind, the pathways that layered within the body appearing before him. Much like veins, though much smaller and located within the nerves, the pathways illuminated as glowing lines akin to a spider's web. The movement of djed made itself obvious to Venser, the transference of the essence weaving through the body. But, there was something else... Circles superimposed over the spidery lines, carved into the body and rendered in red. Sliced into the torso and adorned with intricate, sigil-like markings that adorned the circle's line.

The letters were in Common, though the intricate and highly-stylized nature of their engraving into the bones and flesh of the body made them difficult to read. The Rush twin struggled to read the words, though clarity bloomed upon the third read, a story painting itself into being, visible as pictures in the blonde's mind.

Violated. Vilified. Vituperated. Exonerated.

There was no clear pattern to the words, though the beginning letter of each one was curious to him.

Enthralled. Enraptured. Negated. Nullified.

The words continued on, the Rush twin unsure of their significance, though theory began to stir.

Non. Sepulcher. Secrecy. Silenced.

The pictures that painted the stories of each word made themselves clear, the entirety of the circle that was superimposed over the pathways of djed making themselves known, Venser curious as to what was being turned into Legacy. Was this his work?

What...?

Embalmed. Embossed. Ruptured. Ransacked. Revived.

Destroyed.

The Rush twin shook as he slept, the notebook moving upon his head, sliding somewhat, though he remained asleep. It was only once the last word was read that the Rush twin was allowed an entire look at the form that was being Maledicted.

His body. His form. Sigils were carved along his arms and legs, bones exposed to be utilized as well, though flesh still clung to his structure. His eyes were closed, his mouth open, tongue gaping out. The body began to shake and shudder before a scream burst from the Rush twin's lips, interrupted by a sudden burst of pain which stirred him from the nightmare.

Venser Rush's eyes slid open as his brother spoke for the second time. His first words registered as little more than foggy memories, though he had spotted his notebook in the elder Rush's hand. When it was given back to him, the words painting the vivid picture of his Maledicted corpse in his mind, Venser shuddered. He had seen the product of his own creations, the magical form of Malediction used upon his own body, and it bothered him. A single moment of unrest before he decided to let the thought slide, a chill coursing through his spine, festering thoughts returning and tainting him as the image did not relent.

The words that had been painted upon his body all held a sort of significance. Each one an aspect of his life, and part of him, no matter how small, faced the morbid, curious thought of what effect would be unlocked if Venser Maledicted his own corpse. Or the entire corpse of a human being. The thought plagued him as he dressed himself for the morning, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as his brother's words compelled them to go forth. The walk was unremarkable, Venser far too involved in the unsettling, wounding condition of the nightmare he had face to care about idiotic debate and rabble with the ferryman. Venser allowed his brother to handle the affair unimpeded, and when the ferry finally came cast off from the shore of the Ravokian docks, Venser did his utmost to keep himself steady.

Three chimes passed, the younger Rush twin deciding to address Verin's earlier observation as they progressed along the length of the lake. Venser kept his voice low as he spoke to his brother, leaning his body forward in his seat as he delved into a small lecture, his notes held in his left hand, for he rarely left home without them now.

"It's unbelievable, Verin. The art of Auristics has countless, countless applications, which are dispersed through an equally innumerable amount of disciplines. It can be used to look within structures, to divine the effects of artifacts as of yet unfamiliar. It can even be used to read the emotional state of a sentient aura. There are, of course, more uses, such as understanding the flow of djed within an object. Truly, it's an art that you should look into."

Venser wanted to help his brother along the path to magic, as well. The Rush twins, despite what else might transpire in the world about them, belonged at the top, pulled ahead and prepared for whichever threat the world could throw at them. Venser had let go of his love for his brother in the anxiety of the previous seasons, though with his enlistment for classes within the Institute and the sating of the knowledge he so desired, he found himself opening up and appreciating things so, so much more.

The subject matter would carry the Rush twins along the length of the Lake, the journey concluding at the Kelvic Research Institution, the ferryman motioning for them to leave him in peace, grumbling under his breath over being coerced to take a pair of damned kids along the length of the Lake, but Venser paid it no mind.

The two found their way into the research facility, the Rush twin's gaze cast about, a curiousity in his stare. He'd never visited this place in the time that his father lived, and after that, he had never justified a cause to come. Venser cast his gaze from side to side before he diverted his attention, the blonde looking over to his twin, akin to looking in the mirror save for Verin's slightly bulkier form as he asked,

"I know that we're here to pick from an assortment of Kelvics, but what do you expect to find? It is my understanding that these... creatures are rather... unreliable. Remember the one we met in the winter? Piraen? He was extremely eccentric. Crazy, even."

The Rush twin, of course, neglected to mention the animosity between the Rush twins at the time and his own desire to contradict Verin's words at every turn in that time frame. He elected to keep the subject matter more positive, but still, he would address his concerns.

"As long as we don't pick one from the avian variety. Perhaps a canine. Or a feline... You like cats, right?"

[Verin Rush]

As they sat on the boat, Verin’s arms were crossed, and he kept his cloak wrapped tightly around him, trying to trap as much warmth as he could close to his body. He was also careful not to look at his brother, preferring instead to watch the ferryman, to ensure their conversation was private, as well as trying not to appear too engrossed in what his brother was saying. But his aloof external attitude did not show how enthralled he really was, though his brother might have been able to recognise it. He listened quietly, waiting for his brother to be finished with his spew, and a small smile curled his lips when he realised that Venser was trying to build a bridge between them.

"So… with Auristics… one just looks? I look at things every day, brother; I can imagine its uses, can easily imagine that. But I can’t quite fathom how it works, how one is to use their eyes to see more than can normally be seen." It was an interesting quandary, and he knew the value of the eyes in disciplines of magic from his sparse knowledge of Hypnotism, and could see that Auristics was similar in that way. "I only read a small section of your notes. It was an interesting introduction to the art, I can assure you, but it was more about ‘why’ and less about ‘how’."

As the ferry docked, the two brothers left without another word to the ferryman – he was doing his job and, whilst Verin might have tipped had be been polite and willing, this was not the case for this gentleman, who had clearly spent the entire four bells seething. Now part way into the tenth bell, Verin could feel the warmth of the sun as it heated his black cloak. He was relatively surprised that it was not warmer, however, but they were only a few days into Summer, so time would tell. "He was an odd creature, wasn’t he," Verin agreed as they slowly traversed the shores of the lake, "I’d prefer not to get something too big – we have little room to spare at the moment."

Upon arriving at the Kelvic Research Institute, the identical pair were met by one of the facility’s handlers, who barely showed any hesitation when seeing double, and instead launched into an introductory ramble, “Hello there, here nice and early, I see. You’re early enough that you have the pick of most Kelvics here today, Sirs. Did you have anything in mind?”

Verin cast a sideways glance at his brother, who met his gaze. The look said it all, and he turned back to the Handler, "We’re looking for a female, young, if possible. Not avian… or bovine." The handler nodded, still smiling at the pair, and directed them through the large gates and up to the facility’s main building, explaining how they housed the Kelvics, separating by sex, and then species. "I’ve heard you generally prefer to keep the younger specimens, and sell only older ones, one which are no longer useful to your experiments?" It was a worry of Verin’s that whatever they bought would either be damaged or close to death, which is why he specified ‘young’.

“Yes, yes, that is often the case. Yet in recent years, we’ve seen a substantial rise in a few animal forms, and so some are considered surplus.” He led them down a corridor and opened a door, introducing them to the canine section, where long rows of small cages lined up against one another. “Most of these Kelvics are up for sale. Some young, some old. Feel free to inspect them.”

The handler stood back as he watched Verin slowly walk down the line of cages. For the most part, he didn’t like what he saw. Well, he did; many of the females had taken the opportunity to shift into their human form, and were confidently showing off their assets. Verin couldn’t deny that he was impressed at what he was seeing, and he cast his gaze back, curious as to Venser’s reaction, which brought a smile to his lips. But, whilst he could appreciate a work of art to admire, he was looking for something more, and the attitudes of these girls suggested to Verin that they would be hard to keep in line.

At one cage, however, he finally stopped, as he found a small, red fox Kelvic curled up in the corner. In that form, if was impossible to tell how old she was, or if she was damaged in any way, so he crouched down in front of the metal mesh of the cage door. “Yes, this one is a timid little thing. Unused… father was a goat Kelvic, seemed to produce nothing but foxes, no matter who we paired him with.” Verin nodded, and quietly asked for her to be removed from he cage so that they might have a better look at her.

[Venser Rush]

Of course the notes were vague. Brief ideas and tidbits of common curiosity brought up in the midst of lecture. Venser retained the information he had learned about Auristics within his mind. It was not a matter of secrecy but a matter of practicality, Venser inscribing his aside thoughts and his theories within the notebook in order to address them later rather than wasting precious space and diverting his attention from Thadeus Lazarin, (a harsh, strict instructor) which was imprudent given the fact that Venser much enjoyed situations that did not involve vast, personal pain.

It was a shame that Verin's question was unable to be answered in the midst of their entrance into the Institution, but Venser made a note to keep the question in his mind for a later time, for Venser both enjoyed explaining things and it was the sort of question that required thought. Still a rather foreign discipline, Auristics required a great deal of foresight to apply to the Rush twin, so reading his notes about the subject and allowing his thoughts to be consumed by it were welcome phenomena that he did his utmost to encourage. Verin, luckily, was of the sort who took active curiosity towards matters that could benefit, like he was (A shame that Verin's opinion as to what benefits him is less... open than my own.) and a powerful conversation piece was likely to last for bells.

The younger Rush twin had chuckled at Verin's response to him bringing Piraen into the conversation, nodding his head as the two passed through the entry way of the Institute. In a matter of brief moments, the two making their ascent. It was Venser's philosophy to leave the tedium of common conversation to Verin, who had the flair for such a thing. The elder Rush twin reveled in it, a trait that Venser, his childhood spent as little more than a recluse, the unwanted, unneeded son of a filthy Sylirist of a father, did not acquire. Rather, he invested his time paying attention to the subtle nuances of things. The mouth could speak and influence, but it was with the ears and eyes that Venser found his reverie.

He listened to the man as he spoke, the man's words unpracticed, unschooled and rather long-winded. It spoke of an inexperience in the position he was assigned, and perhaps an incompetence that was normally co-related. Venser could delve deeper. And so he chose to. As the man rambled, Venser whispered to Verin, knowing that his brother would hear him,

"Can you hear it, Verin? His tone? His words. The bead of sweat trickling along the fringe of his hair? The craft that you read about allows you to see deeper into this. Hear deeper into it."

Venser tapped into the wellspring of his djed, a smile materializing upon his features as he closed his eyes. A single, momentary close, though as the young man's djed rose through the astral pathways of his body, welling within his thoughts, he cast it forth. He saw the aura in front of him, several feet in any given direction, radiating off from the man, pulsating with the life of living, breathing aura, coloured with djed, identity. Venser heard the beat of the man's heart sounding in his mind.

Thudthud. Thud. Thudthud. Thudthud.

Twenty and two times in a total of twelve ticks, Venser counting it off as his brother and the Handler exchanged words.

Female. Not avian.

Mere fragments of his brother's words stuck out to him as Venser's focus fully enveloped within the exploration of the aura.

Not merely nervous. But perhaps desperate, as well. He needs this sale. He hides that much, but there are underlying issues at hand.

The Rush twin managed a smile before he allowed the math to process in his mind.

22 beats within 12 seconds. So... in a chime, the man's heart beat a total of 110 times. This is definitely an accelerated heartbeat, which is likely why he's sweating, in order to calm the exertion and cool the body.

The Rush twin did nothing to keep the analysis to himself, but for the moment, he allowed himself to inspect the caliber of Kelvics that were available for purchase. A plethora of creatures wearing their female disguises presented themselves to the Rush twins, Auristics dying away, fading into the nothingness as Venser's focus dimmed. Mental fatigue hit him softly, though he was consumed by the sight of slaves. Naked breasts and exposed forms reminded Venser of carnal desire left untreated, his excursions with the opposite sex halted since that lovely woman in the Spring. But, it was irrelevant.

Venser's eyes cast lightly over the form of each particular woman, appreciating the site, though as his gaze rose, meeting smiles decorated with elongated canines and strangely cast, animalistic eyes, the welling desire that rose within the Rush twin was quelled.

They are, after all, mere beasts.

There was a single one left in her cage as the form of an animal, clearly unaware of what was going on. It was impossible to miss that both twins had made their way to the same slave at the same time, the nervous Handler quickly making his way over to the slave and rattling off about her status. Venser looked to Verin,

"I approve of this one. She can likely be shaped more easily than the rest. Though..."

Venser motioned for his brother to approach, and if he chose to, he would whisper into the brother's ear,

"Uncertainty, desperation. This Handler reeks of it, Verin... I think you could use such a thing to your advantage, correct? You always have been the talker. Perhaps we can fetch a slightly lower price. But, first, I think the Kelvic should be tasked to shift. We know nothing about her in that form... a conclusion that I'm sure you have already reached."

[Rowan Rush]

While Rowan had not truly noticed the two men talking to one of the handlers, she hadn’t missed their words. One talked to one of the men who sometimes came to look after her, not with the food, but to watch her when they went outside. He spoke two new words that she tucked away to try to understand later, repeating them a couple times to try to help them stick. "Avian.. Bovine.." The other man’s words drew more of her attention, however, quieter than the other two, but filled with words she had never heard before. They came quickly, the only ones she was able to catch being the ones she could put a meaning to. The uncaged one was called a Handler, and, after the Handler opens her cage and tells her to change, she realizes she must be the Kelvic. She wasn’t completely sure what that meant, but now she had the names, and that was something. Rowan clings to the words as she follows the Handler’s orders, pushing herself up on her paws to exit the cage. Her eyes finally open again as she stands up, flicking to the two men standing beside the Handler outside her cage. They drop back to the ground quickly, though not before her surprise and confusion can be read in them. The two men looked almost identical to one another, it was almost like she had been seeing double. They were both taller than the Handler, both blonde with the same face, even dressed similarly except for the colors. She steps out of the cage, almost hopping a few steps away from the door before she shifts. A brief wave of light flashes over her fur, and then she’s crouching there as a young, human woman. She arches her back, stretching, before pushing herself up onto her back paws. "No, not paws, feet. They are call feet in this form." Once she’s standing, she keeps her arms down at her sides, the fingers of one hand absently tapping in time with her thoughts. Once again, the words she had heard were slipping through her mind, repeating themselves so that she would not lose them. Rowan was sad to realize she had already lost one already, since she had not had a meaning to tie to the word, but the other she could still drag up, with only a little bit effort. "Avian." After a few distracted moments, she realizes the Handler is talking to the identical men about her. Seven seasons, timid but seemingly curious, never bonded.. It was a list she had heard a season ago, but most of it made little sense to her. He told them her hearing was better than average, but her eyes were purely human in this form. He also mentioned that she liked to hide when they let her out for exercise, but she always followed orders given to her without hesitation. Through all of this, she simply stands there, looking at nothing above the men’s feet as she patiently waits for the list to be over so she can go back to her sun-washed corner.

[Verin Rush]

Standing, Verin stepped back to listen to his brother murmur his observations about the handler and make a suggestion. He looked over to the man in question and nodded briefly in agreement with his brother's words. Then, he addressed the man, who was removing the Kelvic from her cage. “Have her shift, please,” he said softly, and watched with a critical eye as she morphed from fox into human form in a bright flash of light. The two brothers stood at a distance, surveying their potential purchase for a moment. The Kelvic's eyes were downcast, her forehead lowered in a submissive stance, and her arms were tucked into her body. It was a promising start, he thought.

Verin approached her, and circled her once, appraising her unmarked, fit body. It was a good sign that she was healthy; Verin didn't want to have to spend time nursing her back to health, nor was he going to pay someone else to do it for him. She was young, appearing to be about sixteen winters, but his knowledge of animals was limited, and he didn't know what her actual age was, “How old is she?”

"About seven seasons. Just past adolescence," came the handler's quick reply, and Verin nodded in approval as he knelt behind her and ran a hand over her legs, checking for any signs of damage that his eyes might not spot. It occurred to him that his brother's new magic might be more useful than his limited surveillance, but he was still unsure as to how it worked, and didn't want to ask in case he appeared foolish. Standing up, he made his way around her and stopped directly in front of her. "She's good stock, nothing wrong with her - she's only being sold because of the sheer amount of fox Kelvics we have." Verin ignored the man's words.

“Look at me,” he ordered gently as he placed two fingers under her chin and guided her face upwards as motivation. Looking into her eyes, he was surprised to see that there was little trace of her true nature there; her eyes appeared entirely human, unlike other Kelvics he had met, which he imagined could be useful in the future, should he wish for her to hid her identity. Still holding her chin, he placed his thumb on her lips and gently pulled the bottom lip down, inspecting her teeth. He knew nothing of the anatomy of foxes, so it was easies to check her over in this form. If her body looked fine in this form, he knew it would be replicated in the other. Her canines were shared than an average human's, but other than that, they looked fine.

“What is your name?” he questioned as he dropped his hand from her chin and took a step back to make room for his brother, who no doubt also wanted to inspect their purchase. He liked what he saw, but it was not for him to decide alone. Glancing over to his twin, his expression silently communicated to the person who knew him best that he appreciated what he was looking at.

Most of all, he was pleased that she was so young, easily malleable, as her personality had probably not been fully formed. The submissive nature she was already displaying was just a bonus - possibly because of prior treatment here, it would result on obedience. "We named her after her appear-"

“I didn't ask you,” came Verin's sharp interruption to the handler's supplied answer; he was worried that her nature wasn't submissive, rather it was lifeless. He didn't need a slave that was over-confident and brash, but he didn't want her to have no proactivity or sense of self-worth. Some things he and his brother could teach to her, as if they were painting a blank slate. But an indifferent slave would not be susceptible to learning from them. Only time would tell them whether she was what the brothers wanted, but her answer might help them in their initial assessment, “What is your name?” He asked again.

[Venser Rush]

Venser was momentarily surprised by his brother's treatment of the Handler. Words were ignored, an arbitrary denial of a fool who was attempting to assist the Rush twins. It was, in other words,exactly how Venser would have handled the situation. Denying the words of an already insecure and discouraged person would render them more so and further incline them towards submissiveness. The younger twin inwardly chuckled at the situation and watched the interaction between Kelvic and Verin. A name. The Rush twin understood the significance behind asking the question, for despite the obedience that one desired, a sense of identity was required in order to gauge how truly useful the slave would become. Supplying an identity was one matter, but perverting an existing one and moulding it into something desired. It was the essence of what it was to be a mage, an observation that Venser kept to himself, but it was amusing to muse upon.

Rather than muse further and render himself useless, Venser continued to delve into the practice of his magic. The Handler provided analysis that was biased and unnecessary, it was the nature of the game that his ilk was prone to. It was, for the sake of Venser and Verin's benefit, better to forgo it in favour of their own observations. Venser, as his brother had, allowed his gaze to sweep along the Kelvic's form. There were no obvious deformities to speak of, and even the eyes were normal. It was something that he had noticed with Piraen, that Kelvic eyes were different than a human's, though with this, Venser was brought to the conclusion that this was not a certainty, and whatever magic was at work in allowing a Kelvic to shift forms was by no means rigid.

Human-looking eyes are useful for disguising her nature. Secrets run amok in the Rush family. Some revealed upon death, others kept covert until light is brought to the situation in other ways. A Kelvic who is not obviously so is much more useful to the both of us. Let's just make sure...

To complete his analysis of the slave, there was one more thing to do. Once again, Venser Rush tapped into the wellspring of the soul. Djed flowed from the reaches of Venser's identity, his mind directing it, tugging at the identity of his awareness in order to broaden it. Venser pushed his djed from his thoughts and out into the world, curling it around the Kelvic's aura, grasping it in order to better read the girl. Verin's analysis of personality was better left to him and his orders. Venser wanted to ensure that the assessment was practical. One made from the perspective of utility. A slave was useless if misshapen or broken completely. Venser, with the assistance of Auristics, was better at making this assessment than his brother.

When Verin gestured in his direction, indicating that he approved of the current slave, Venser put it into consideration. His own analysis needed solidification first.

Venser would hear the kelvic's name when she answered Verin, but nothing else was picked up. Rather, Venser read her, the imprint of his djed upon his aura slowly feeding impressions to him. First, he looked upon the woman's structural integrity. Bones were unbroken and undamaged, her body possibly weak, but it was to their advantage that this was so. The most important impression, however, was one of incomprehension. Venser could figure that her life of captivity rendered her unaware and knowledgeable. There was a large chance that Rowan was unaware of what was going on.

"Would you like to come with us?"

It was, for the sake of what needed to be, better to begin this relationship as one that lacked fear. Venser disliked tedious social recourse, but in the case of something that would belong to him, it was better suited for him to extend an atmosphere of friendliness. It was a concept that he had learned whilst working for Mikayas the Sculptor.

To shape an interaction and a relationship just as one shapes wood... is a useful skill. Within reason.

Though, Venser purposely declined to use her offered name. She would become their slave, and as such, the old name would give way to the new. Change.

A painful thing it is to let go of part of one's identity... But she will grow into her new one if she comes with us.

Venser, after some time, finally showed marked approval for the slave. She was adequate.

[Rowan Rush]

As the slightly more talkative of the two men steps forward to start circling her, Rowan is very careful not to move at all. She had been through this before, and it simply went faster when she let them touch her wherever they wanted and stayed still unless they asked her to move. Instead of focusing on the man staring at her, she latches on to the word the Handler said that she didn’t recognize. "Adolescence?" She was wondering if he was referring to when she had felt the sudden need to breed when it had been cold outside, but she’s quickly distracted by fingers tilting her head up. Brown eyes meet blue, his words being the only reason she looks him in the eye. She watches him patiently as he checks her eyes and then her teeth, seeing the hint of surprise in his gaze at the first but not quite understanding it. Was there something different about her? If there was, she wasn’t aware of it. She didn’t think she looked any different than the other caged ones, at least not in a way that would stand out. Her eyes widen in surprise when he so sharply interrupts the Handler, bringing her back to the here and now, realizing a minute too late that he had asked her a question that the Handler had tried to answer for her. "Rowan, Sir. I’m called Rowan." Her eyes flick to the Handler as she answers the question before dropping quickly. Rowan didn’t want to look at one of the men she had feared talking back to for so long, especially after someone else had just shown her he was relatively low on the food chain. He was still above her, but she had the feeling that it wasn’t by as far as she had always thought. Rowan raises her gaze quickly once she remembers the one man’s order, locking her gaze on him just in time to notice a similar look on his face as she had when she was fed something she particularly enjoyed. "Happy..? No, that’s not quite right.." Her brow furrows as she tries to bring up a word that would describe his expression, her gaze dropping again so that her sight wouldn’t distract her, but nothing else came to mind. Happy wasn’t quite right, but it was the only word she knew that worked even a little bit. She had no idea why he would be happy, though, but the other man asking her a question brings her out of her thoughts, and her eyes to him. They wanted to take her with them? She didn’t have to stay in her cage anymore? She could leave this place? Happiness paled a little in comparison to what she felt at that idea, but it was still the only word that came close. She bounces on her toes a little bit, suddenly unable to stay still, as her head tilts forward in a few quick, short nods. "Yes, please, Sir. I would like to leave this place." Rowan was surprised to hear the bright tone of her, only then noticing that her lips had curled up into a smile at the idea of getting to leave with these men. She could barely remember the last time she had smiled, at least with any real feeling behind it. It made every part of her feel lighter, like she could have flown like some of the other caged ones were known to do. It’s only a few seconds before she’s relatively calm again, fear flicking in her eyes as she looks at the Handler again. Would he be mad at her for showing so much happiness at getting to leave this place? Would he stop them from taking her because of it? He didn’t look upset at her sudden happiness, though. In fact he looks almost as happy as she did about the situation, a hope in him that she didn’t understand, even though he had stayed silent since the first man had all but yelled at him. Did they want her to leave? Rowan would be quite happy if that was the case, she was more than ready to leave her cage.

[Verin Rush]

Verin watched the girl as he listened to her speak. Rowan, yes, he could see why she had been named that. She was a pretty little creature, and her hair gave her a fiery presence that wasn't completely apparent in her current demeanour. He didn't want someone so filled with spirit that she was cocky, but there was life there, that much was clear. He could build her up to what he wanted her to be, but had not the patience to break her down. When she answered Venser's own question, he again noticed a change in her demeanour - she clearly wanted to leave the facility. Perhaps him removing her from this place would inspire some loyalty in her from the off.

“Okay Rowan, please shift back.” He didn't wait to see if she did as he commanded; he would no doubt see the flash from the corner of his eye, if she did, indeed, obey him. But he didn't want to be supervising her every action, to ensure she followed his orders in the future. It was, thus, a test, to see if she would obey him, even though she didn't know if he was going to put her back in the cage or if she was leaving with him. He glanced over to his brother, though he already knew that he liked the Kelvic from his own question.

Then, he turned to the handler, who was hovering over them all, hands held tightly around a small silver collar, which he was rubbing absently with his thumb. “How much is she?” he asked softly, even though he had already done his own research into the matter, but he wanted to do this formally, and exchange monies for goods so that he could spirit his soon-to-be property away soon. He had brought the money with him, carrying two hundred mizas in a large pouch. To his brother he had given another two hundred to carry, evening the weight - it was never sensible to travel with so much money on oneself.

"I, ah, well Kelvics are priced based on their animal form, rather than human. A fox is what he class as a small predator, which comes in at around four hundred gold mizas, sir." Thinking the man was done, Verin opened his mouth to respond. But he quickly hurried on, practically simpering as he spoke, "But you are required to leave the facility with a collared Kelvic, and this silver collar is an extra twenty gold mizas."

Verin raised a brow, not impressed by the required add-on to what was already a lot of money. Taking a deep breath, he cast a fleeting glance at the Kelvic, and then at his brother, before turning back to the handler. “Four hundred mizas is more than enough for me to pay for the fox,” he murmured, lacing Djed around each word as they left his lips, hopefully to cause a treated impression on the handler. “for the money I give you, you will exchange a set of clothes, the silver collar and the fox Kelvic I have just examined.”

It was a simple enough use, but never before had Verin's use of Hypnotism carried such high stakes. If he failed, or was caught, he would be seen as a swindler, which could damage the small, but good, reputation he had created for the Black Sun. Luckily, the handler appeared to be as weak-minded as Venser had originally suspected. He barely hesitated before blankly nodding his head and extending out the collar for Verin to accept. Turning to his brother, he handed over the half of the money that he was carrying for him to deal with that section of the exchange as. Verin turned to the Kelvic. If she had not already morphed, he would rebuke her and ask her to shift again. If she had done as requested, he would stroke her gently as a form of praise.

Then, in clasping the metal collar, he knelt beside his new property and encased the red-furred neck inside the cool, silver iron collar. He re-attached the clasp, making sure that it was a snug fit, and that she could not remove it herself, before attaching a medium length chain.