|
Post by Noa on Apr 30, 2021 19:07:27 GMT -6
The fact that Water Node hadn't responded to Rhys's comment meant that Rhys had probably limited his message to Noa himself. But it wasn't especially strange that Rhys didn't remember this one, Noa supposed; Noa himself barely managed to do it, and Rhys wasn't with him every hour of every minute of every day. Besides which, the Faeron's memory was no more infallible than Noa's own, and it was entirely possible that where Noa had vaguely remembered this man - not enough to recall his name, alas - Rhys simply forgot him entirely.
By now Noa had put it together somewhat: this was one of those down on their luck souls who sold slivers of their souls for the right price, so it wouldn't be a surprise if he also hired himself out for other... errands. And Briar, using the money that Noa paid him, had apparently hired someone else to be here for today. The only redeeming aspect of this encounter was the fact that Nana seemed willing to menace the man if Noa only gave her the signal. He didn't, but the temptation was there.
Instead, he shrugged one shoulder, turned on his heel and said, "We might as well head inside."
|
|
|
Post by Linyü on Apr 30, 2021 19:11:08 GMT -6
San was aware that the man didn't care for his presence. There was more to it there, and he wondered at why he had been requested to come here to escort this dog. He had thought it simply a matter of the owner not having enough time at first, but now he wasn't so sure.
It wasn't his business to know, but... Now that he had a chance to think about it, the way that the man recalled him was also odd. 'The water node'...
... Ah.
Some time ago, Seveth had come into a great deal of money, and eventually it came out that he had somehow managed to create a node to do it, without either of them dying in the process. As San followed the man and his little entourage into the building, with Doc walking alongside, he mulled over that new piece of information, and now it was his turn to frown.
|
|
|
Post by Noa on Apr 30, 2021 19:15:17 GMT -6
The breeding centre was about the same as it had been the last time, but they had been here pretty recently, so it wasn't as if Noa expected there to be much change. It was a different woman at the reception office this time, a Mammalian who handed him the forms with disinterest, and went back to reading the novel she had open on her desk.
But then, it wasn't as if Noa was in the mood to... go through whatever it was he had done the last time he was here. At this point, he just wanted to get this over with. He filled out the form with the same level of disinterest that the woman was projecting, and handed it back to her. She sighed, rose from her seat, and led them down the hall.
"This room's fine," she said, opening the door to the first room they passed. Inside was a similar arrangement as the room that Noa had used last time, though there was a little less space in this one. Nana, having already been told to be at ease by Noa, padded into the room more comfortably, and began sniffing around the perimeter of it.
|
|
|
Post by Linyü on Apr 30, 2021 19:19:53 GMT -6
The other man seemed content to take the lead in filling out the forms, which was just as well considering San wouldn't have known what to do in that regard. It also gave San time to think on the idea more, that this man had apparently purchased a node from Seveth.
Revulsion was his first instinct. In Xinzhou, where nodes were made at the cost of a life, mages were a rare and court-sanctioned profession, kept under tight security. More common were the elementals, though even these were rare and treated with caution. The idea of a mage as... unfettered as this one seemed to be was an uncomfortable revelation.
But if you could create nodes without taking human life, then the situation might be different here.
Ignorant of his companion's turbulent thoughts, Doc pranced eagerly into the room that they were led to when San unclipped him from his leash.
|
|
|
Post by Noa on Apr 30, 2021 19:23:31 GMT -6
"And now we leave them to their business," Noa said. That really was it. There would be a wait, and they were supposed to stay on hand in case something went wrong, but surely Doc and Nana knew what they were doing by now, having gone through it once before - and with each other, no less.
Now that she was no longer faced with the immediate presence of the man she didn't recognize, Nana was more at ease, and began to be a little more receptive to Doc's invitations to play. That, surely, was a sign that all would be well. If anything, their continued presence might impede what was supposed to happen, even if Houluh weren't really intelligent enough to have that human sense of propriety.
At least the other man didn't make much of a fuss, Noa supposed. If he wasn't going to be entertaining, then at least he didn't cause more trouble than he was worth, or waste any more of Noa's time than he had to. There was something to be said for a business contact who wasn't a pain to deal with.
Still, he would be glad to wash his hands of this affair when it was over.
|
|
|
Post by Linyü on Apr 30, 2021 19:26:30 GMT -6
Now that the other dog was no longer so tense, Doc renewed his efforts to entice her into play - be that chasing him, or pulling on the other end of a tug toy, anything, anything at all. He certainly didn't seem to have any worries in his mind.
Watching him, San wondered what it must be like to feel that way. Seveth might have known it, but it had been a long time since San had been that carefree himself.
The bored man with the silver dog announced the end of their involvement. It really hadn't been a difficult job, in the end, even if he had run into someone who was used to dealing with Seveth instead. In this case, San supposed the man's clear lack of interest in either Linyü or the proceedings had worked out in his favor.
Would that all the jobs he took on could be so easy.
|
|
|
Post by Renathan on May 1, 2021 11:53:01 GMT -6
|
|