How may I help You? [Done!]

[Tigeress]

Her head lay on her paws heavily, a sheen of bubble gum pink hair sliding over her face though she tried to brush it away now and then. The room was silent except for the dripping of a tube somewhere in the back, 'drip.... drip drip... drip' which made her ear twitch in annoyance with every sound. It was hard to find willing participants these days, and she honestly had nothing she could do until someone volunteered themselves to her current cause. She'd reached step 4 in her current process with no setbacks, and was eagerly looking forward to pushing on.

Or, rather, she had been last week. Now she could only sit here day after day and batt the flies with her tail, as if they were solely the reason for her boredom and frustrations. It may have been selfish, but Besaba didn't use herself for any of her experiments. Though, to be fair, what would happen should she fall ill or worse? Her mind was much more valuable than most others and she'd be a fool to risk it.

Her bitterness towards those around her stemmed from a few unfair events in her childhood. It always seemed that the brilliant died while the useless did nothing with their lives. Kind of like she was doing right now, except, she didn't have a choice, for the most part. No, her flesh was too precious, there were too many infections and diseases to be caught these days. She needed to stay firmly intact. Everywhere. All she needed was a small sample... hmm... maybe two, in case the first theory didn't work out. There was always a back up, she was just genius like that.

And did she ever love to hear it. It was really unfortunate that her sole aide in this endeavour had passed away just a month ago, he had been so useful and enthusiastic about the whole thing. And her, of course. That's why she kept him around even when he was lame and unable to be of any real use to her. Perhaps she had been fond of the worshipping mouse. But more than likely not. She began to tap a claw impatiently against the counter, a huffing breath being let out as if that would let the world know just how much they were trying her patience by taking so long.

For one who wasn't royalty, she sure knew how to act like it. Her confidence was really all she had left, though. Not that she'd let anyone know that. She was confident because she was brilliant, simple as that.

[seraaches]

He was afraid he was becoming psychic; as he wandered the run-down little district on the far edges of the Capital City, a chill ran briefly up and down his spine. There seemed to be a cold wind threatening to freeze him in place, though he did refuse to let it define his actions. He was on an exploration quest, per usual. Part of his almost paranoid need to know the Capital stemmed from a need to be well-versed in it for the use of his ability. It wouldn’t do to frighten anymore random housewives with horse ghosts.

His ears flicked sideways, catching the sound of something in a nearby, if worn-down, building. It appeared to be abandoned, but there had been a rash of children wandering the streets alone and the stallion was rather afraid this might be another case of such an instance. As he stepped carefully into the building he called out, softly, ”Hello?”

[Tigeress]

The same old sounds of pitter pattering feet running past were momentarily interrupted by a more purposeful stride. For a moment it sounded as if- no- yes! Someone was coming this way. She bit her lip, tail whipping about behind her in excitement as she tried to keep herself plastered to the seat, not wanting to jump up and scare the visitor. Just as she thought, the footsteps came closer, though they slowed a little in caution, understandable in the particular neighbourhood she'd taken residence in.

At long last she saw a form, and look at that lovely skin! So plush and... green. She liked green. The muscles beneath his form were strong, young, he had a good solid body. Plushy, as bodies tended to be, but she was making a remedy for that. She had already considered a few things that would have the elasticity of muscle, but the development was an issue. And, she hadn't really any idea what some of her current in-the-process skin modifications would do if left in place for too long. Sure, they'd attached to the seperate skin grafts she'd scrounged up, and even managed to stay connected, but they hadn't been in long enough to deduct any long term effects.

Hm. How much did he value that hide of his? "Greetings! To what do I owe the pleasure? I am Besaba, and I am sure I can help you with whatever it is you need. You are a fine specimen indeed, but I'm sure there is something you would desire... upgraded?" It didn't cross her mind for even a second that he was lost, or that he might have been expecting someone else. No, surely he was aware of exactly who she was and he had a reason for being there that could benefit them both.

[seraaches]

The area was worrisome and something of a mess as the golden and yellow hooves stepped carefully through the rooms and finally came upon a most surprising sight. The pink stripes dancing across the black fur were dizzying to the eye and she was simply completely unexpected. Certainly not a lost child, this one.

He listened to her introduction and that chill tickled down his spine again. She ran a store here? Well, a glance around actually disproved that idea. She ran a –lab- here and now the stallion knew he was very much in the wrong place. ”Excuse me, Besaba. It appears I have stepped into the wrong… building.” He was about to turn and leave when it occurred to him it might be useful to know wot her expertise was. Perhaps she could help him with wotever it was Minh and Mnem had done. ”Wot exactly do you do here?” he asked instead.

[Tigeress]

Uh oh, it seemed he was starting to become skittish, darn it! It was just her luck. Hm, perhaps she was coming on a bit strong? She was far too excited, but gods was she bored of just sitting around in here! She listened to his words and was about to follow after him when he turned around, a thoughtful look on his face. Ah, yes, curiosity! Her saviour of the day. She silently thanked human nature and coyly wrapped and unwrapped her tail as she considered her response.

"Well." She began, putting a paw to her lip and pondering just where to start. "Right now? I experiment with skin alterations, and hair. I would like to expand into the realm of flesh and meat, for I feel the body could be much improved from its current delicate, plushy state. I can make you any colour of the rainbow, I can give your skin an elasticity that is practically untearable, I could give you hair, anywhere..." She smirked at this, unable to notice his unusual... hmm... lack of it in places where it should have been.

She wished she could offer him more, but she'd really just started patenting certain bodily improvements. Of course, they were all leading her to her goal, slowly but steadily. Perhaps, if she could get this one under the knife, he wouldn't mind if she opened him up and poked around inside a little... she wouldn't even leave a scar if she used some of the improved skins she'd been growing. She'd run out of lab rats and her thirst for knowledge let her think this was a good thing, for now she would not be distracted from the flesh of those she wished to study in the first place.

"And, I'm always up for new... experiments. If you wished to be a participant, you would have no worries, I've been doing this for years, was even in the court of Diamonds for a while. That scene got old, too many pompous, non-adventurous nobles if you ask me." She snorted, so that was stretching the truth a little, and leaving a lot out, and, well, outright lying, but it was close enough. Besides, he wouldn't know the difference.

[seraaches]

Skin grafts! Hair growth? Perhaps surprisingly to this tiger, it had never really occurred to the stallion that he was bald and even now it didn’t immediately connect that wot she was saying was directed at –him- and wasn’t just her normal spiel for potential customers, few as they might be. He listened to her discussion about the Court of Diamonds with a larger glimmer of interest. Though why anyone would want a skin alteration was beyond him. No, he was quite pleased with the skin he’d been born in; it had been with him his whole life, after all. Though it might be good to keep some of her options in mind should his attempts to join the Court of Hearts succeed and someday someone had issues with his being there.

”That’s very interesting,” the stallion said rather politely, mind still turning over the options though he had no desire to take her up on her experiments.

[Tigeress]

He seemed shocked before considering her words, though the glimmer of adventurous interest didn't seem to be there. Damn it, had she left anything out? Anything to entice him? Oh! Yes! Revenge, she did that too. "If there's anyone you wished to play a little... joke on, my potions are a good price. I could package one up and look the other way as you used it on... whatever, or whoever." She smirked at this, noticing the mark on his chest at last. Ambitious, this one must be. Surely he would come up against some enemies in the future, and she could give him the upper hand.

Also, it would be good for her to make court connections again. She'd been having growing ambitions of her own lately... business left unfinished left a bad taste in her mouth. "Just keep me in mind for any future endeavours. I didn't personally think you really need any improvements, but, business has been slow lately." She sighed to herself, flicking her tail back and forth like a whip in agitation. "So... if you hear of anyone seeking services such as my own... please do pass them along. There will be discounts in it for you, of course." She had a bit of a failed experiment in the back room. She'd almost perfect making the hard shell of an armadillo into a smooth rock-like flesh substitute... except it somehow started a rehardening process after only a week. So it sat to the side to be recreated and improved at a later date. She had no use for it now, but someone else might with a bit of a twisted vengeance to carry out perhaps.

[seraaches]

The stallion’s ears pricked forward at her words; revenge was an interesting concept indeed, and he had just had a flash of some inspiration. But was he so cruel, so twisted and mean that he’d drop to her level for a moment or two of petty reprisal?

In a heartbeat!

And one heartbeat later, the stallion was inquiring, ”Wot sort of potions do you have available? I know someone who would just… love to experience something new and unexpected.” Perhaps simply a ton of lies, but it didn’t change the fact that he very much wanted a little payback and he was too nice, sadly, to do something overly vicious to her. Plus, he didn’t seem to have any real side effects from his bout with Mnem’s alcohol poisoning. He really just hated to not know wot had happened back then. Someday he would find out, but, for now, he simply amused himself with the idea of wot he –could- do in paltry vengeance.

[Tigeress]

She noticed the interest spark in his expression right when she was hoping. Ah- yes, this was good. Though she'd much prefer a little test subject and a few tissue samples, this would work just as well for now. She needed money, and if she could pay someone to be her test subject, that would make the process go along a lot faster, she imagined. No grumbling would come from a willing victim- er- participant if they were being paid for their services.

"Well, they could be in for a... treat, then." She smirked, a loud bubble of laughter rolling from her throat which ended in a purr of excitement. This would be fun! Oh what did she have in the back that she didn't need. A few failed experiments, and a few perfected ones that she would have to duplicate first before offering to sell. "Well, I have two potions meant to affect muscles and organs, all that thick meaty stuff, the first was meant to give the organs and muscles the properties of hardening lava, supple enough to move, but hard enough to create a shell around the precious meat... however, twice I've had instances of everything burning up and melting, and once it hardened completely... the second is similar, but meant to create the shell of an armadillo inside the body, but smoother of course, that one rehardened and caused suffocation." So, perhaps starting off with the ones almost sure to kill were not a good idea, but at least now he knew if he ever had someone he needed to get rid of with little to no evidence... it would look like someone with abilities to cause burning had killed the victim of choice.

"I also have skin modifying potions that are temporary and permanent, depending on the dosage. I have perfected the skin of an aquatic species, lizard, and snail... though the last was really just for amusement's sake. I also have a rapid hair growth formula, which works literally anywhere, even where there were no hair follicles before." She paused a moment before considering another deal she could make. "And if that doesn't please you, I can be commissioned for a small fee which of course would go to a willing subject and supplies." With a minor profit for her, of course.

[seraaches]

The stallion thought about this for a long moment, eyes roving the chaotic ‘lab’. The tigress was a little strange but the horse hadn’t met any Corvistowneian who wasn’t a bit crazy. He wasn’t certain about wot would be safe to try on the Yarrow Gardens canine; he didn’t want to kill her, just give her a little payback, preferably in some way that would teach her a lesson. Maybe something restricting? The woman might do well with a reminder that she was no god.

”Well, something for her hair,” the Marshdweller said thoughtfully. ”It’s very short right now, but something to make it long and perhaps binding?” The horse had never met Haret, but the Torquehelm’s notorious hair was almost exactly wot he had in mind. He needed to keep in mind the cost of this venture, though, because he didn’t really have a lot of excess funds yet.