Jinse pt.2

Ankha saunters into the atrium, awash in an ocean-blue silk dress hemmed with gold and with a tight-fitted, low-cut bodice. Hanging heavily around the jackal's neck is an elaborate necklace crafted of colorful beads and stones, creating the likeness of an immense bird with wings spread across her collarbone. Mahogany hair pin-straight and braided with trinkets and the soft jingle of bells, a leftover from the merry Yule holiday. One of the Empress' hands is gripping the mangificent aurelian mane of Jinse, her husband's four-legged companion and retainer. Lightly scritching behind one of his ears, Ankha settled into a cushioned chair, emerald eyes cast on the untrained pen. "Good evening, slaves, I hope some of you are not as disappointing as the day prior's stock."

Gwenevere seemed on the alert. Despite what some may think of her disability. Tripps was given a small smile as Gwen bowed her head. "I understand." She was new to this place, but that did not mean she was new to this life. Hands folded neatly in her lap, and she twitched her wings slightly, rearranging them to sit flat against her back. They seemed to leave a small trail of dust wherever she went, glittering in the low light of the Atrium. "Hello Ma'am." She spoke up when Ankha spoke to them. She could no see her, but that was not a reason to ignore her.

Tripps merely passed a soft grunt of a note back to Gwen, nothing entirely dismissive but as he well figured she couldn't catch his nod it was the simplest means of showing his consent. But as life sprung up beyond the cages he tried to set to some alertness. The possum knew enough of his station not to slack when there was an active eye on him, and the moment Ankha's voice opened in call to them his weight shifted from the slouch he had settled into. The push off left him rigid for a moment as he tucked his shoulders out towards the free woman in a manner that could only yet still be called awkward. He might have understood the means of aping formality but he was never quite practiced in actually putting it on display. "Goo' evenin' m'la'y." He well assumed her 'hopes' to be entirely for her own musing and amusement, there was likely little profit in trying to answer to them yet. He looked a bit off as he kept his head lowered, not particularly expecting any kind of proper reply, but snapping back to attention too hastily seemed like it would be yet a more improper breach of decorum. And, well, he could still keep a beady eye watching easily enough even at the angle.

Jinse padded along beside the Empress. The glint of golden foliage illuminating at the touching passes of brazier light, reflecting off the metallic bits of him. He stood about waist height to most beings; around 4ft at the shoulder. A lofty poise as his ornate skull was lifted into the pat. Glimmering sabered teeth jutting from lower and upper lips connected like razors. Whip-ish tail trialed behind him with coiled motion. Whiskers too flowed with life and the scent of pleasant incense roiled off his willowy figure. He seemed a perfect match to the woman's own bejeweled self. Fiery eyes shifting to those within the pens for now without much interest. Keeping in tandem with his Mistress until she obtained her seat. He'd slink about her feet watching those things around him. He would keep his intelligent and sentient-ism to himself for now as he could speak but choice to only listen and to keep tabs.

Ankha's free hand idly combed through her hair as she got comfortable, mussing a few strands around the bases of her ears. Earrings caught the flickering firelight, precious gems and silver hoops further complementing her lavish appearance. Of the handful of slaves currently occupying the pen, only two acknowledged her, Tripps and Gwen, the latter being quite curious to behold. "A moth, it's rare to see any of the insect kind here. What is your name?" A pause, "Actually, what are both of your names?" She amended, still petting and stroking along Jinse's head. "I wonder how Zongshi would take to a moth for an attendant." Musing only loud enough for her retainer to hear.

Gwenevere was aware that there was something... with her. She could hear shuffling around, something like maybe claws on stone? But she wasn't sure. Damn these eyes of her's. That's what she got for getting too close to flame. As the woman spoke, Gwen bowed her head. "Gwenevere, My Lady." She spoke. There was a light accent to her voice. It was hard to tell what, though. She shifted slightly, turning her head so it was easier to hear. It was odd that only she and the boy beside her spoke. She was sure she could hear the breathing of others in here. Maybe they were intimidated? Gwen didn't know. She wondered what the boy to her side's name was, so she listened intently. She would be glad to have a name to refer to him with, even if it was only in her own thoughts.

Tripps was never quite sure whether it was good or ill fortune to catch the attention of slavers. And the fact that he couldn't quite parse that feeling still left him feeling a little awkward under their scrutiny. He'd been readying himself to rise to a silent stand when Ankha's adjustment seemed to pull him into at least her passing interest, catching him halfway back to his straightening as he held for a moment while clearing his throat. He didn't want to step on Gwen's introduction, allowing it to pass before adding in his clipped tone. "Tripps, m'la'y." Head alone tipped a nod to the matter. It was an odd situation to find himself in as the lady seemed far more interested in the odd moth seated at his side. He really couldn't put any blame upon that of course, the scrawny possum in less than flattering peasant clothes hardly looked an appropriate match to the finely bejeweled woman. It was hard not to take his measure of some of those adornments, old habits drawing to the glitter for a moment, but the beast Jinse that lingered at her side was as imposing a threat as station alone would be, and after finding his gaze drifting to it he let it drop back down to a somewhat respectful spot on the floor. I mean, he couldn't be sure it was really a properly respectful one, but seemed at least to be about right.

Jinse emanates a gentle warmth from his body. A light glow coming from his small cavities where throat met chest. It seemed to breathe softly dimming upon exhale and brightening on inhale. A purr building through his throat as Anhka's fingers played with the malleable strands of gold; as he shifted them to be petal soft. At her words eyes would lull searching out the moth within the pen. A break of a smirk forming across his fanged muzzle. "You know as best as I that ShengShang would see fit to find a reason to pull off those delicate little wings." Perhaps he spoke the truth or perhaps he just wanted to see how the moth reacted to hearing such words. Tail whipped about behind him with mild intrigue. The possom garnering hardly a glance but a light crinkle from his nostrils. it must have stank to him or something.

Ankha had an inkling thought to startle the other slaves into action but perhaps that is best left to the salaried Handlers. She would have to be content with a possum and a moth, "Gwenevere and Tripps, opposite ends of the spectrum arent you? Unique and simple, but combined, you could be quite formidable. What skills do you have?" At Jinse's remark of pulling off Gwen's wings, the jackal's muzzle curves with a particularly cruel smile. "Ah yes, he might enjoy the thrashing of pain she'd put up. Not too different from puling the legs off spiders." This is said quietly again, swallowing a chuckle behind a soft chuff.

Gwenevere lightly rearranged her wings, her fluff around her neck rising at the mention of pulling her wings off. "Ah, that would be... Most unpleasant. Though it is true, I have no used them in some time." Ever since losing her sight, in fact. It was harder to fly when one could not see. The creature almost sounded pleased, which chilled Gwenevere to her core. As for skills, she returned to that placid, accommodating expression. "I was a handmaiden for a high born lady before this. My skills mostly lay in caring for another. As well as caring for the occasional child." She was able to clean as well. Though that was not needed to be mentioned. She was sure all slaves within the Tether at least knew how to clean. "Though I can not see, I quickly learn where things are, and am able to recall a room in my memory fairly well."

Tripps didn't quite like the sight of Jinse himself, he could feel the chill cut upon the back of his neck that he was ever eager to listen to. He might not have been the most astute when it came to danger, he had been captured after all, but he still considered his instincts better on record than not even with that. Hand drew back behind his head, claws scratching along his neck lightly as a thought passed a slight wince across his features as he heard the odd beast speak, though he still kept his gaze lowered for the time being. His hearing was sharp enough, but when the free folks talked among themselves he tried his best to pretend he wasn't eavesdropping, just taking to an awkward shift in his weight when questions turned back his way. As Gwen listed off what he usually might have thought more useful skills he merely turned his hand down to touch at his chest, looking as though he quite often didn't know what to do with his paws in these sorts of formal exchanges while he kept his attention on Ankha. "Th' folk 'ere mos'ly got me cleanin's." He cleared his throat after, eye glancing aside as though pondering for a moment before he added. "I know m'maths, can do accountin's an' th'like. Keep books." He was illiterate, but self taught arithmetic hadn't actually been that hard for him. Even if he wasn't entirely sure he'd be up to the task of managing full books, he knew it was certainly a more presentable skill than the myriad he was still not daring risk copping to. Who wanted to bring a thief under their employ?

Jinse certainly didn't let his opinions go quietly. As Anhka was very soft voiced in keeping things private. The dragonic tiger was not so and fully intended for them to hear him. Or else what was the fun in it anyway? To see them hot and bothered. And see how they handled themselves under that pressure of stress would prove whether they might in fact be worthy of his Master's time or effort. A delicate shrug of shoulders was given. "Pft...she wouldn't last an hour and the other wouldn't last a minute." A light yawn came tumbling out of his maw at how boring they seemed to him. Eyes rolling up towards Anhka. A feralistic whine coming from massive maw. "I'm sure our time could be spend more productive elsewhere?" His tail whipping. Craning an ear to the lightly made defense of the moth slave. "Maybe a good grooming?...I think that would take an hour." The amount of time he figured the poor moth could take before succumbing to exhaustion from the delicate look of her. Jinse But he really wanted to test this theory. Tail swishing in large sweeps as curiosity rose. Head giving a light nudge into the side of the jackal's leg. Though when Tripps spoke of book keeping ears were quick to pin slightly. There would be no muscling in on his job of course. However a bit of help might have been nice if the possum hadn't looked like a complete outcast. Almost a hopeless fix up situation there. Where to even start? Shirt full of holes...ears punctured. he was sure the Emperor wouldn't even look his way at all. "Lost cause that one..." He didn't really hold any ill will towards the creature he just knew what the man would agree with and what he wouldn't. The moth at least would stand a chance, even if just a slim one.

Ankha may have spent a few minutes longer just imagining the writhing and painful squirms of a delicate moth without wings. She cleared her thoughts to refocus and take into account the skills of both; handmaiden and bookkeeper. Neither of which were necessary for her household, which was a shame. "Be certain to improve your knowledge while you have the chance, lest you both will be better off being bait." She gave Jinse another pat in emphasis, as though considering allowing him to have the two as a morsel. Her retainer's comments warrant a toothy smile and a chortle, "An hour, you think that is long enough to ensure you are properly groomed? It takes at least two and a quarter. She would collapse." Ankh shifted and moved to stand, "Come, Jinse, we can groom each other. I dont have the patience to supervise the new stock." Ankha wiggled her fingers in farewell to the slaves, "Enjoy your night, hopefully you wont end up in soup.~" She drawled, bells jingling a merry tune as the Egyptian departed.

Jinse joined Anhka in her chortling. A smooth as wine purring chuckle as his serpentine frame gracefully took to standing after the jackal did. He made a point to rub himself against the pen and give a gnash of his teeth between the two of them. Letting the golden sabers to click as a playful growling noise crept to the surface. Spindling body slinking and tail flicking at it's end. "Perhaps we shall meet again buggy." But for now the woman had given her verdict. Even on the downlow he had been trying to help get the moth atleast out of the pen but it hadn't worked this time around. Following after the Mistress off to the springs.

Gwenevere did not seem to be upset about how things went. But that was just how she always was. Gwenevere wasn't one to get upset. She bowed her head to the two, another small smile on her face. "Have a most pleasant evening." She would not mind the quiet. Once left to her own devices she would lean back a bit and sigh. There was something to be said for getting out of the pen. But to the Moth, in or out, as long as she had someplace to sit, she was fine. Jinse's rubbing against the bars would elicit a small squeak from the Moth. But he soon followed after his lady. Oooh. He was one to watch out for, for sure. But she wasn't sure if it was for unpleasant reasons, or because she wished to speak with him more. "It seems we've been dumped." She said to Tripps, a soft laugh in her voice. She doubted her first encounter with a slaver on the Isle would lead to her purchase. But she had hoped so.

Tripps certainly wasn't going to raise protest to Jinse's estimation, if the man wanted to idly muse on harming others little reason to make it seem like he was good sport. Fair odds it was all part of the show, but it wasn't as though the possum was in a fine position to go about testing any such theories. Tongue was held easily enough though, having little interest in the slightest in defending himself most especially when he wasn't being directly addressed. He'd lived a life underfoot and out of mind for most of his life and when things got dicey it was certainly a safe place to be. He certainly didn't mind Ankha's own agreement in the assessment, tucking his head down in acceptance of her 'suggestion'. It wasn't as though he had all that much chance to pick up new skills but he was at least trying to learn how to fit in best he could. He didn't seem to react in the slightest to Jinse's snap of a bite, he might have been a bit of a jumpy sort but physical threats like that rang hollow in light of the bars that secured him. He kept his head lowered till his beady eye turned and caught the trail of the lady out of sight, letting his slim chest fill and fall with a weighty sigh of relief as he felt rather as though he'd dodged something of a knife blade tonight. He might have been used to keeping post for hours but being on edge wore him out rather quickly, and he was more than happy to return to his recline against the bar beside him when the scrutiny had passed. His arms once more finding a way to lazy cross along his stomach. Gwen's comment on their station was met with a little sigh, glancing down to her while his frown set sharply. "Might'nt be f'th'bes'." Certainly he couldn't choose when he'd be retired for the evening, but he'd bellowed out a call already and entertained the eye of a renter for a little while, that had to be enough to meet his quota for the day didn't it? The thought lingered for a moment, before teeth grit in a soft tsk as he craned his head back so he could lift his gutter tongue once more in call. "'Nyone need 'nythin' else?" There, now he'd done his proper duty for the night. Surely he might have offended his penmates hearing again, but sadly he had little choice in the matter.