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Post by Fiera Ferella on May 1, 2021 13:41:03 GMT -6
x SMT Smooth Talker x Breezy’s Wild Blue Yonder 0/3 Breedings for Patronne 0/4 Breedings for Matronne (Patronne’s) 20/20 Posts
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Post by Fiera Ferella on May 1, 2021 14:31:53 GMT -6
Fiera stood in front of the breeding center, her matronne houluh in tow. She wore a loose silk blouse and high waisted shorts, with ankle boots. Round sunglasses sat on her nose and a wide brimmed hat sat on her head, perched upon her ears. Skyler was similarly gussied up, her fur well brushed and her finest collar around her neck. The humanish could only hope her breeding partner had put just as much effort in. She had never met this Briar before, but what she had heard about her patronne houluh, Loki, was enough to convince Fiera to do a breeding with him sight unseen. He had similar colors and patterns to Skyler- a good thing for the breeding project Fiera was working on- and was a salonne champion to boot. Fiera could appreciate that, though she hoped they were able to find her here easily enough based on the description she gave them.
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Post by Briar on May 1, 2021 15:01:37 GMT -6
Briar didn't know how these people kept finding his contact information. Probably the registering body for these Houluh kept some kind of public record; he had filled out a good deal of paperwork over the years, though if he had known that it would be used like this, maybe he wouldn't have adopted any Houluh to begin with.
That ship had definitely sailed though, and now that the records existed, he doubted there was much he could do about it.
At least it wasn't Noa this time. Almost anything had to be better than being stuck in an engagement with that man again, after the last time.
Briar had honestly considered turning the prospect down, just to save himself some trouble, but... Well, Joker had gone to the breeding centre the once, and nothing bad had really come of it. So he made the trip again, this time with Loki accompanying him.
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Post by Fiera Ferella on May 1, 2021 16:46:42 GMT -6
She kept a steely gaze on people approaching the breeding center, scanning each one as they came in. She admittedly didn’t know too much about what Briar looked like as she hadn’t really thought to ask, but she knew Loki on sight by now from the registry pictures. Skyler looked out into the distance too but... she might have just been staring into space. Or maybe just sleeping with her eyes open again. She was a pretty strange houluh. Hopefully her future mate wouldn’t notice though- Fiera wanted this breeding to go as smoothly as possible. She didn’t have all day, after all.
As if on cue though, Fiera saw a houluh with a familiar pattern of red splotches come toward the breeding center, being led by a... fae? A scruffy kid? Whatever. “Oh hello!” Fiera chirped, crouching down and holding her hand out for the new pet to smell. “You must be Loki! It’s so nice to meet you in person! Aren’t you a pretty pup!” She cooed, before glancing up at the person. “Oh, and you’re uh, Briar, right?” She said flatly.
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Post by Briar on May 1, 2021 17:06:12 GMT -6
The woman looked as if she came from money, or as if she was aping the lifestyle of those who did. Briar didn't know which it was, but it didn't improve his mood either way to see it. He hadn't known it was her until she began attempting to greet Loki, at which point he realized she must have liked dogs - which he grudgingly considered a point in her favor. She didn't look too pleased to see Briar himself, but considering the feeling was mutual, he wouldn't begrudge her that.
Unfortunately, Loki's temperament was more in line with Briar's own. He tensed, and Briar had to give him the hand signal to be easy; even then he only gave the woman's hand a cursory sniff, still on guard around strangers.
-Fiera?- Briar signed. It was a shot in the dark as to whether she would know sign herself, but he figured he ought to try.
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Post by Fiera Ferella on May 1, 2021 17:38:38 GMT -6
Hmm. The houluh was polite, but the owner’s attitude seemed stiff, standoffish. It was only now that Fiera actually took a proper look at the houluh’s owner. Small, but clearly an adult. Scruffy in every form of the word. A scar across the cheek. Weird hair. Fiera would wonder what a person like that was out breeding houluh for, but shit, she was here too wasn’t she? And goodness knew she had more than a few scars of her own. She raised an eyebrow at the sign language. Ah, perhaps that explained the stiff opening. She wasn’t exactly looking at him while she was taking. -That’s me.- She signed back, suddenly glad she had taken those classes. She originally learned this with the intention of using it with her intelligent pets that couldn’t learn speech, but it looked like there were plenty of other opportunities to use it too. -Can you hear, or was I talking to myself there?- She said, before gesturing to his houluh.
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Post by Briar on May 1, 2021 17:47:09 GMT -6
-I can hear,- Briar replied, mildly surprised that she could sign back. The shopkeepers knew it, but past that it was always a toss-up as to whether or not he would have to resort to labored pantomime to get his point across.
Now that he was looking at her more closely... The ears made him wonder for a moment if she might have been a Sprite like him, but her tail said otherwise. And her Houluh was staring off into space, which Briar had never seen his own Houluh do, unless there was some threat that he hadn't yet become aware of in that direction.
Briar followed her gaze, but found nothing.
-This is your...- He had to think to remember the word. -... Matronne?- The terminology still confused him, but someone who had gone out of their way to look up registered listings had to be more familiar with the ins and outs of Houluh, right?
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Post by Fiera Ferella on May 1, 2021 18:13:19 GMT -6
The feline humanish stopped glaring quite so hard at the mention of her own houluh. -Yes!- She signed emphatically, practically flapping her fist up and down. “Got her registered for breeding just this month. You got in before anyone else, lucky you.- She chuckled. -I went through the trouble of making us an appointment, so all we should have to do is check in.- She gently tugged Skyler to her feet. The houluh snapped back to attention and glanced around, only just now noticing the other houluh standing next to her. She sniffed at him a couple times, her tail wagging hesitantly, but Fiera was already guiding her toward the door. She opened it and stepped in, bowing dramatically as she held it open for Briar. “After you!” She said, with Skyler still peeking around her hip. Who was this new patronne? He didn’t smell like any of the ones back home...
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Post by Briar on May 1, 2021 18:22:45 GMT -6
Briar didn't know whether she was joking or not, or what to make of her comment if she wasn't, but fortunately she seemed content to take the lead on this whole breeding business. Given the fact that he still didn't really know his own way around the breeding centre, that was probably a best case scenario. Maybe this wouldn't be as bad as he'd thought. He didn't need friendliness from other people, and this Fiera hadn't asked him any uncomfortable questions - not yet, anyway. There was time for this to go south, but even so.
Briar walked in after her, holding the door open for Loki to pass through. Briar kept a careful eye on Loki; he had been a stray at one point, and tended to be wary of people, but Briar wasn't sure how he did around new Houluh. But so far it seemed to be okay. He was even showing some cautious interest in the other Houluh.
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Post by Fiera Ferella on May 1, 2021 21:13:13 GMT -6
Fiera strutted toward the front desk, shimmying in between some others that had been millions around it. They didn’t LOOK like they were in line, ergo they weren’t. “Excuse me!” She said, not wanting to leave Briar alone for too long. If she was inattentive to her guest, why, that would make her look bad! “Fiera Ferella and Briar here, for a houluh breeding? We should be on the schedule.” Once she had commiserated with the receptionist and acquired the appropriate paperwork, she strolled back over to Briar, nonchalantly flopping a clipboard in their general direction. She filled out her own paperwork with the speed and grace gained from doing many, many breedings here. Briar on the other hand, well. If she was being polite, she’d say he looked like he’d just crawled right out of the nearest gutter. Perhaps there was a delicate way to address it though... “So, the boho look, huh?” She said, gesturing with a pencil to Briar’s... everything. “That hasn’t quite come back into style yet. Very daring! You must have good reason for it, yes?” She continued, keeping her eyes dead set on her papers in an attempt at being casual.
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Post by Briar on May 2, 2021 11:48:35 GMT -6
... Right, so the other shoe had dropped then, Briar thought, as he processed Fiera's words. He didn't know what 'boho' exactly, but based on her tone, it wasn't anything good. Honestly though, he didn't care whether she liked his appearance or not; it was more that she was asking questions about him that was the problem.
-It's comfortable,- he signed back - not that she was looking at him to see it at the moment, so maybe it was futile. Still, if she was hoping he would elaborate, she was going to have to be disappointed.
Briar really didn't care for small talk. He wasn't good at it and he didn't enjoy it. But he disliked talking about himself more, and Fiera seemed like the type that preferred to talk rather than listen. So despite the fact that he would have preferred to get this over with in stoic silence, he signed a question at her instead. -You... like fashion?-
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Post by Fiera Ferella on May 2, 2021 14:17:48 GMT -6
Fiera glanced up just in time to see Briar's response. "Me, fashion? Dear, have you even MET me?" She said with a laugh. "But of course! I have to be a bit thrifty considering that I... hm. Let's say I don't have much of a foundation to build on. But how could I not be? Fashion is how you present yourself to other people. If there's something you want them to know about you- or not know about you- how you dress yourself is the first step on that journey. A decent outfit is the social equivalent to an impenetrable shield if you hold yourself right." She said, her eyes sliding over Briar's face again, picking him apart with her eyes. His outfit was certainly saying SOMETHING.
Meanwhile, Skyler peeked out from behind Fiera's legs again, stepping toward Loki carefully, sniffing him some more. She raised her tail hesitantly. Was this new guy... nice?
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Post by Briar on May 2, 2021 14:29:25 GMT -6
When Fiera began to talk in earnest, Briar felt... not relieved, exactly, but as though he was back on familiar ground, dealing with something he knew well. The masters of the old house had been like that, enchanted by the sounds of their own voice, and he was well practiced at being a captive audience. He nodded, as if he agreed and understood, though the state of his own clothing suggested otherwise.
-Do you have any advice?- he said, because she looked rather as if she wanted to give some. Anything to keep her talking.
Loki had stayed at Briar's side, not on edge exactly but still alert. This place was full of smells, most of them unfamiliar. When Skyler approached him, Briar's attention went to Loki again. Briar didn't actually know how Loki was when he was around unfamiliar Houluh. But to his surprise, Loki leaned in toward Skyler, sniffing her in return, tail wagging gently. Apparently he did better with other Houluh than he did with people.
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Post by Fiera Ferella on May 2, 2021 14:49:18 GMT -6
Skyler seemed encouraged by that. She wasn't the type of houluh to get down on her front legs and invite the other houluh to play, but she did come sit next to him, sniffing him gently and giving a quick lick on the cheek. He seemed nice! Fiera was quietly grateful for how calm she was being- she didn't want to cause a scene in the front lobby. "Oh, well!" The humanish chirped. "I suppose I can do that for you. Let's see, you like comfortable clothing, right? Well, who doesn't. What exactly is it that you want to say to people when they see you, then?" She was pretty sure that "scuzzy hobo" wasn't what he was going for, but she wasn't going to say that to him... in public, at least. As she waited, she clipped the pen back to the clipboard, ready to turn her half of the paperwork back in.
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Post by Briar on May 2, 2021 15:03:39 GMT -6
Briar watched the two Houluh with some amusement. Loki seemed a little at a loss himself. The two pups he'd been raised with were both the friendly, playful type, leaving Loki as the calmest member of their little pack. Apparently he didn't know what to do with a Houluh who was more laid back. Raising a paw, he didn't quite make contact with her, but pawed at the air as if he wanted to.
His attention turned back to Fiera at her words, however, and he thought on the matter a moment. He didn't really want any advice, and he didn't want to give too much away about himself, but a bald-faced lie like saying he wanted to climb the social ladder would probably be too much. -I want them to leave me be,- he signed, figuring that was at least less incriminating than to say he wanted to be beneath notice, or forgotten.
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