Lurking - DONE

[Spiderfly]

Finally! He had gotten away from that BRAT of a foster mother. I mean honestly, he had hoped for a better home after. . . A flash of white and red eyes ran through his mind and he shook his head. No, it would not do to think of it. Already it was a distant memory as if it had happened ages ago down a dark tunnel and he had barely seen it.

Lleurela wasn't. . . all bad he admitted but how sweet does one have to be? It was sickening. Always with the questions of his past, of his pain, trying to get him to 'heal'. He grinned menacingly into his surroundings. Oh. . .he'd heal... He was healed.

And when he finally became part of the royal court, oh yes, he would be healed. Until such time he needed food. Using the smallness of his figure he slunk behind an anthro bull shopkeep. His nimble claws slashed out and grabbed a chunk of meat. Before the shopkeep could even turn around Pravus was down an alleyway with the delicious cut of meat firmly in his mouth.

A couple alleyways later he stopped and began to eat. A homeless card came up to him, a lowly club. Begging for food because he was so desperate. Pravus' eyes narrowed and he threw a chunk of inedible gristle at the lowlife before running back down another way.

Like he was going to share food with the likes of him! Gah... His appetite suddenly spoiled he sighed and left the meat in the middle of the alley and went back out to the main street. He ignored the sounds of the club sneaking up and finishing off what he had left.

Sewer trash... he sneered, at no one imparticular.

Pravus found himself in an interesting street. Various shops lined the sides selling all sorts odd concotions, lotions, potions and more. A glint through the window of an older rundown shop caught his eye. It was a single pendant of amber held delicately on a silver chain.

He stood there, transfixed.

[Vyn]

When at last Ophelia would part ways with the charmingly endearing Silvanus she would be forced to reconcile with the fact that she would indeed have to replace all the ingredients lost to her shameful spill. Her work was too important, she couldn't simply leave without the required materials she'd come to get. That, however, meant she needed more coin and in order to gain that she needed work. This was luckily not too much of a problem, however, for Ophelia was pleasantly acquainted with many of the shop owners and especially popular with the oddity shops in the less glamorous side of the Capital City.

As the shops took on a less ritzy and a more unique turn of appearance Ophelia would find herself smiling more and more. This was the atmosphere she was used to, this was where she belonged. If she ever did bring her talents to the Court of Spades, then perhaps this would be where she got her start. However, before any of these 'dreams of grandure' became a reality she would need a bipedal form. Silvanus had unwittingly impressed that truth upon her.

Sliding smoothly around a corner, Ophelia would nearly trip over a lump of silky fur before pausing to eye the mass of white, gold and red standing transfixed before her. Well well, what had she here? A highlander, apparently, and with an eye for unusual trinkets? She liked the kid already.

"Something catch your eye, did it?"

[Spiderfly]

Pravus jumped away as the larger form nearly stumbled on him. He realized she wouldn't have but still, why let anyone get that close? .. Honestly? He thought it had been the shopkeep from before >.>

His eyes narrowed as he look up at the strange figure before him "Who said I /liked/ anything... He stopped himself from again glancing at the necklace. Oh he'd get it one day for himself but. . . not through conventional means >.> Lord knows that Lleurela would nearly sell her soul to buy him a present of his choosing but no. He couldn't owe her like that. Neither could anyone know he was interested in it before it was gone, especially one that was friends with the 'wrongful' owner. heh. He snickered to himself a little at his own mental joke.

Standing up a bit straighter he finally paid a bit of attention to Ophelia. "I'm Pravus" He said as if it should matter. Pravus glanced her over in interest, such an oddity that he found her quite interesting. The next questions came out sounding a bit more innocent and childlike, the mask of his anger slipping somewhat. "What's your name?. . . and what are you? 0o

Ahh. Only children could get away with something like that.

[Vyn]

Ophelia snickered slightly as the feline jumped, amused by his reaction although it was understandable. Typically, however, when one was nearly stumbled over they merely seemed mildly surprised...the severity of his shock -however momentary- seemed almost, guilty? Her amber eyes flashed toward the shop, studying the insides as he spat out that defensive reply. Children were built like glass, a well-trained eye could see right through them.

Yet, despite this Ophelia found herself rather fascinated by this child. There was a sharpness about her that was absolutely entertaining. As she was questioned, Ophelia laughed with pleasure. She was finding she rather liked children. Or, she corrected, at least this child as she hadn't spent much time exchanging words with many others.

"I am Ophelia, head chemist of Corvistowne and proof of my success in my profession." She grinned wrly. "I was unable to find a subject willing to endure my testing, so I had to use myself; of course. All of this," the gorgeous deer flicked her tongue out playfully, allowing him to take note of the forked muscle "is my outcome."

[Spiderfly]

He raised an eyebrow slightly and looked her over though not rudely, just with interest. Do you do... any other experiments? Perhaps...

Pravus stopped, what was he going to ask anyways. Anything you can do to make me more powerful? HAH He could make it to Queen on his own, he didn't need anything /changed/ about him but yet. It was a tempting thought.... Perhaps, splice in some.. he thought harder. What COULD be added to him to make him better than he already was?

He was a feline, agile and sure-footed. As lucky as any cat too heheh He'd never been caught even once during any of his, less respectable excursions. He looked carefully at the doe again and asked a question out of curiousity.

Say I told you I wished to be Queen. What would you say to that?

[Vyn]

Ophelia couldn't help but grin beneath the feline's heavy scrutiny, enjoying the way he stared and studied despite the fact that many would've been squirming with nerves at that point. She was odd and she knew she was. In fact, Ophelia absolutely loved it.

"I do quite a bit, honestly. Being in the position I am, I spend a fair deal of time doing requests for those who commission me. On my own, however, I focus mostly on genetics."

Filling in Pravus's thoughtful silence, Ophelia took his time of reflection as a chance to return his studious gaze. As far as feline's went and children at that, Pravus really was a lovely example of his kind; sleek and patterned with the stunning beauty of the Highlands. Very nice, even she had to admit.

"I would say you're a wonderfully suited candidate, if that was your desire. If your curiousity is lending itself to my abilities in genetics, I'm not sure what to offer in ways of improvement. Much could be suggested, but even for one who hasn't reached their full size, you're an impressive sight. Take pride in that, Pravus...I don't typically hand out my compliments so freely."

[Spiderfly]

Pravus watched Ophelia curiously as she grinned. Odd that she didn't seem to get that same flustered look when he 'studied' her as Lleurela did. He grinned right back, point for Ophelia. Though really... she had all the points from the first moment they met.

He laughed loudly then lowered his voice. "And what's the most interesting experiment you've ever done?"

Pravus lazily licked at a fluffed up piece of fur on his shoulder, grooming himself into immaculate perfection. His eyes languidly glanced back over the pendant and then firmly rested on Ophelia again.

"Well..." He drolled.

"I can't exactly argue with you. Heh. But.. onto other matters for now. Is there perhaps something I could assist you with? Were you heading into any of the shops?"

Yes, cover. He needed cover and he would get it. That trinket wouldn't leave him alone and he wanted it badly. Ophelia would purchase her ... 'supplies' and hopefully it would give him just enough of a distraction to grab what he wanted.

[Vyn]

"Other than myself, I assume?" The Corvistownien chuckled a little, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she pondered. So many experiments, so many adverse affects. "Successfully, I can't imagine anything that compares to my work with Genetics. I've made a quite a few bombs though, which are always intriguing to work with. Ah, but in the way of mishaps... I'd have to say the most interesting would be when a concoction I was testing caused a rather vain fox from Yarrow Gardens to lose all her fur. She was beyond sour with me, but oh what a laugh I got!"

Despite the way that Ophelia laughed and smiled there was really quite a deep layer of dissatisfaction. Without hands to work with Ophelia had a lack of notable work to hold to her name. So much of her younger years in chemistry had been spent trying to figure out the loophole that would allow her to work her passion despite her physical 'disability'. It had resulted in far more minor-scale explosions and quiet disappointments than it had in quality experimentation.

This, as usual, was yet another thing that Ophelia felt best kept to herself. No one needed to know her woes, they were her own.

Back to the subject at hand, Ophelia's gaze couldn't help but follow Pravus once more. To her unspoken fascination, she found him peering into the shop once more; studying something that he undeniably would not announce to her. He wanted something but obviously intended to obtain it independently. Ophelia, however, was well aware of how she could help.

"In fact, I was. Why don't you come in with me, a little company always does me well and perhaps...I could help you with something in return?"

Her tone was playfully aware, hinting that she knew more than he had let on and yet she didn't warn him to behave. No, she invited him right in. After all, she wasn't his mother.

[Spiderfly]

Pravus attempted to hide his snide snigger at the mention of the Yarrow Gardens fox. So gorgeous those of the Yarrows were. . . but so. . . unopen to better options. He sneered. Perhaps he'd have his own Yarrows girl one day. Hehehhe

He noticed the look of dissatisfaction on Ophelia's face but couldn't place what emotion it was. Glancing around the street he tried to ignore what he did not understand. Pravus never was good for any emotion but that of slight green and ambition, everything else was foreign. Oh, at one point he did have love and happiness, but his parents had ruined all that.. . Or was it someone else that had. He shrugged gaelically to no one at all.

"It would be my pleasure to escort you m'lady." He smiled, and not altogether falsely. Ophelia could be a real asset in the future, and Pravus wasn't opposed to having her as a friend either. She seemed to mesh well with his own goals.

He stopped as she offered to help him with something in turn. Inside he battled, tell her? Or not? . . . He opted for not and hoped his pause hadn't clued her in.

"Thank you Ophelia. But I don't believe there's really anything right now I need. . Though perhaps in the future, should I find it prudent, I might call on your abilities? Afterall it would be a boon for both of us would it not?"

He grinned at her a little and led the way towards the shop door.

[Vyn]

Pravus was such an unusual child. So adult for his age, but that was to be expected for orphans wasn't it? It was a pity, but she had a feeling that Pravus didn't entirely mind. He was happy in his world of mischief and mayhem and she was happy to indulge in his fun. Her grin never faltered as her thoughts momentarily darkened, and her eyes never lost that troublesome twinkle.

Pravus's mood was pleasantly contagious.

She bowed her head to his words, moving forward a few steps before noticing his momentary pause for thought. Ophelia said nothing though, there wasn't any need. If he didn't want to tell her, she was content enough to go in for what she needed without pestering the feline. When he spoke up again, she merely nodded and grinned once more as she continued toward the door.

"You're very welcome, Pravus. My home is always open to you, and I'd be more than happy to lend my skills to you, if ever you should call upon them."