Dionysus Bartleby takes you to the animal sellers.

• Aurelia follows his lead.

Dionysus There's a lot of animals here.

Dionysus Every kind of African animal you can think of, Indian animals, Asian...

Dionysus Some are in cages, some are in pens, some are running free.

Dionysus Some are clearly well treated, some are abused.

• Aurelia prefers the free, pretty ones to look at, though she murmurs poetic and bizarre comments on more than a few of all sorts.

Dionysus Bartleby says, "Look at that one!"

• Aurelia looks.

Dionysus A large dog-like creature with strangely colored fur runs free in a pen.

Dionysus It's reddish fur, with tinges of copper, gold, & bronze.

Dionysus It's about seven foot at the shoulder.

Dionysus And it runs in a strange lope that shows off muscles that are clearly incredible.

• Aurelia smiles. "Powerful... garbed in silk of flame and metal..."

Dionysus "You like it? It's a grand dhole. My great uncle used to breed them."

• Aurelia nods. "It shines."

Aurelia I can't feel animals, correct?

Dionysus You cannot.

Dionysus The dhole takes down an antelope in full run.

• Aurelia blinks, watching, leaning for a heartbeat towards the pen in a subconscious effort to feel it.

Dionysus There's cheers from other spectators.

Dionysus Bartleby says, "They're exceptionally loyal to the one who guesses their name."

Aurelia "Are they made named?"

Dionysus He smiles, "They are born with special names."

Dionysus "But all the names are similar. I can give you a close proximity, & you can try to guess it. What do you say?"

• Aurelia smiles.

Aurelia And nods.

Dionysus He whispers something to you. "Kshj."

• Aurelia repeats the sound quietly.

Dionysus "Try variants on that, until it comes to you. Sing it to it."

• Aurelia blinks up at him. "Sing?"

Dionysus "Well, if the others think you're singing at it, they won't guess what you're really up to."

• Aurelia tilts her head, then smiles an actual smile of delight at the game and moves to the edge of the pen.

Dionysus Gimme yer three best guesses on variants of that.

Aurelia Aside from the original, Jshk, Kzsh, and... Ksch?

• Aurelia , after a few moments of thought, sings the original, and anything the comes to mind as a variation or even sounding similar to the tune of an old nursery rhyme.

Dionysus Bartleby laughs as you try these, "No, add stuff to it. Like Kishij, or Kooshoojooo or something."

• Aurelia blinks. "Simpler words..."

Dionysus Gimme three more guesses.

Aurelia Is it always the same sound added to each gap?

Dionysus Nope.

Dionysus Any sounds added to the gaps.

Aurelia Kaeshaj, Koshaji, Kashij

Dionysus The second one gets very close, you feel. It looks your way

Aurelia Kosheji?

Dionysus It looks away.

Aurelia Koshaja?

Dionysus It's ignoring you again.

Aurelia Kashaji?

Dionysus It stares at you a moment, then quietly pads over to you.

• Aurelia reaches through the pen's bars, holding her hand out as she might to a strange dog and sings the name again.

Dionysus The seller walks up to you, "What the hells was that about?"

• Aurelia blinks up at the seller in confusion.

Dionysus "How did you do that, miss?"

Aurelia Is it a he or a she? Can I tell from here?

Dionysus The dhole is a he.

Aurelia "I called his name..."

Dionysus He frowns, then spits, "Then he'll cost triple."

Dionysus Bartleby says, "He's useless now, though. You can't sell him to anyone else. We'll give you a third."

• Aurelia looks back and forth between the two.

Dionysus They begin to haggle.

Dionysus Finally, Bartleby pays 3/4s.

Dionysus The man is feeling /very/ angry, but Bartleby is delighted.

Dionysus The dhole jumps the fence to stand next to you.

• Aurelia stares at Bartleby and the seller a moment longer, then turns to put her arms around the dhole's neck, smiling.

Aurelia Hugging it that is. It suddenly felt like I was claiming to strangle it.

Dionysus It licks your face from chin to hairline.

• Aurelia blinks up at him.

Dionysus The dhole just looks back, happily wagging his tail & panting.

• Aurelia strokes a hand down his shoulder, fumbling with the other for a kerchief to clean a bit before looking back to Bartleby

Dionysus Bartleby is watching with pleasure. He feels strong affection.

Dionysus "So you like him?"

Aurelia "He is beautiful."

Dionysus "He's not a tenth as beautiful as you are, m'lady, & you pale in comparison to your own music."

• Aurelia lowers her eyes, blushing.

Dionysus He kneels beside you, petting Kashaji, as he looks into your eyes. He frowns a moment, feeling curioisity. Then he smiles, "I thought for a moment I saw a flash of red in your eyes. Must have been the sun."

• Aurelia blinks, then said eyes widen and a hand goes to the corner of one for a moment. She shakes her head.
• Aurelia half turns away. "His kiss... I should repare its work... A moment..."
• Aurelia starts to a place she can be out of the way for a moment, first with a mirror, then to actually repair her makeup.

Dionysus Your eyes are fine.

• Aurelia breathes a sigh of relief. A moment later she returns, smiling.

Dionysus He looks concerned, "Everything okay?"

Aurelia Does he feel concerned?

Dionysus Yes.

• Aurelia nods. "You caused the seller rage."

Dionysus He smiles, "I'm not called 'the Rogue' for nothing. If I can't steal it, I get it at a bargain."

Dionysus "But somethings are worth too much to bargain for. So I guess I have to steal you."

• Aurelia blinks. "Me?"

Dionysus "Didn't I mention? I'm starting a new band."

• Aurelia shakes her head wordlessly.

Dionysus He smiles, feeling delight & affection, "And I can think of no one better suited to play oboe for me."

Aurelia "I can't leave the Colour of Sound..."

Dionysus He feels disappointment, but he fights it, "Why not? Aurelia, we're made for each other! Our music is perfectly complementary. And I'm building a band finer than any that's ever been! We /need/ you!"

Dionysus "/I/ need you."

Dionysus He leans in to hold your hands in his.

• Aurelia doesn't resist, but doesn't move towards him either. "The Colour is family."

Dionysus He feels definite frustration. "We could start our own family..."

Aurelia "Jeck and Arlie might let you come with us..."

Dionysus He laughs, "And Avery Colzayre?"

Dionysus Slight bitterness, definite jealousy.

Aurelia "Why does he harm you?"

Dionysus He looks confused, "It's okay, I understand. Who would want an old man like me when they could get a rich, handsome young noble? It's all right. I'll let you two be. I was being foolish..." He trails off, hurt flowing off him.

Dionysus He turns to go.

Aurelia "/I/ do not understand..."

Dionysus He stops, "How not? Haven't I been clear?"

Dionysus He walks over to you & takes you in his arms, then leans in to kiss you.

• Aurelia just freezes in shock and confusion.

Dionysus He pulls away from the kiss quickly, shaking his head. "When you understand, when you decide, I'll be waiting, m'lady."

Dionysus Then he turns & leaves.

• Aurelia has quit (Ping timeout)

Aurelia Last I saw was:

Aurelia <Dionysus> He walks over to you & takes you in his arms, then leans in to kiss you.

Aurelia * Aurelia just freezes in shock and confusion.

Dionysus Dionysus He pulls away from the kiss quickly, shaking his head. "When you understand, when you decide, I'll be waiting, m'lady."

Dionysus Dionysus Then he turns & leaves.

• Aurelia stares after him until he's out of sight before turning to start slowly back towards the inn.

Aurelia If Kashaji walks with her unsummoned, she leans on him a fair bit of the way.