Two Sides to Every Card (Varde!)

[Lucca]

Colin couldn't help but jump at the sudden sound as the door slammed, hard, and he eyed the other half of the rat's tail a little warily. Before he could remark on this, though, the rat answered all his questions. He had a rather odd expression on his face as the rat claimed it was one of his successful experiements...he knew a lot of Corvies did test their theories on themselves, and that had been his best guess for how the tail had gotten that way, but he couldn't deny it was a bit creepy. He feigned interest as the rat went on to explain, glad that he didn't go into all the technical details. It probably would have gone over Colin's head besides, but most Corvies wouldn't hesitate to expound upon their methods in gruesome detail anyway. So at least Fenzik was more polite.

He couldn't help but raise a skeptical brow at the names he had given the two halves of his tail. But he wasn't one to pass judgement, given that he'd never had to name a...sentient tail before...

"I see..." he said sagely, unsure how else to reply for the moment, frowning at the tails in question. He considered the other Card's words. "What makes you so sure that good and bad are caused by chemical reactions?" he finally asked, eyes glinting curiously. "I mean, seems to me it's a choice people make. You aren't born evil." An interesting thing for the highly-prejuduced Card to say. "I mean, I'm no scientist," he added, holding up his wings in a gesture of surrender, not wanting the other Card to take offense. "I don't pretend to know how the brain works or anything but...I dunno, you're the expert." He looked at Varde hopefully.

His beak twisted in a slight grimace as his family was brought up again. "It's fine," he said hastily, in no hurry to get back and watch them all coo over his poor, sick sister. "They're not expecting me back just yet, and you've piqued my interest with this whole...good and evil thing." He considered the other for a moment, an odd look in his eyes. "You know, you're one of the politest Corvies I've ever met, actually." He himself seemed surprised by this revelation. The fact that he wouldn't mind continuing their talk.

[Varde]

Fenzik listened attentively as Colin explained his own views on the topic at hand. "That's a very common view," he granted, smiling, "and I agree, to an extent. It is a choice, yes. But!" Here he raised a finger into the air enthusiastically. "You see, there are ways to influence that choice! Certain... imbalances that make the brain lean one way or the other, and certain substances that cause or magnify those imbalances. I've discovered a few myself over the years," he said, beaming, "and I'm always trying to find new ones."

"Take this irebloom, for instance," the rat continued, gesturing to the small jar he had just purchased. "A rare herb that --" He abruptly stopped, glancing around warily to ensure nobody was eavesdropping on their conversation. As he did so, he happened to notice the figure of another Card who seemed to be approaching the shop. They were probably out of hearing range, but Fenzik lowered his voice nonetheless. "A rare herb that, when prepared properly, can ignite sparks of malice in even the most kind-hearted creature," he practically whispered. "Which is, as you'd guess, a rather dangerous thing to do, if you're not... careful."

[Lucca]

Colin frowned slightly as he listened to Fenzik's words...as nice as the Corvie was, he seemed to have a rather creepy obsession. Plus, he hated being proved wrong, even when he knew it was a subject he wasn't knowledgable on. Or even...being...half proven wrong. Whichever it was.

For all the it was weird, though, it was actually interesting...so much so that Colin found himself leaning forward slightly to better catch the other Card's words. The expression on his face as Fenzik explained himself was somewhere between horrified and skeptical. He tapped a claw on the ground thoughtfully. "And...you believe that you're responsible enough to...ignite malice in a careful way?" Colin muttered back, himself catching the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps. "What exactly are you planning to use that on? Surely not yourself..." His eyes narrowed. This Card didn't experiment on other Cards, did he? Colin had heard some Corvies liked to use Aces in their experiements, or even CHILDREN...both of which were disgusting. Aces may be lesser beings...but they were still sapiant! Well...most of them, anyway. And the children...well, that was just something Colin never wanted to think about. Bad enough they tested their crazy theories on themselves, let alone subjecting someone else to the same treatment! If Fenzik was one of those types...

"I do hope you aren't someone who--" But before Colin could finish the sentance, he was rudely pushed aside.

"OUT OF MY WAY!" stormed the biped horse, throwing open the door to the shop with uncessary violence.

All Colin's feathers fluffed up in indignation. "EXCUSE me, Sir, but you can't just--!"

"SHOPKEEP! I NEED THE STRONGEST TRANQUILIZER YOU HAVE!" the other card continued to yell, ignoring Colin completely.

[Varde]

Fenzik was in the midst of formulating an answer to Colin when, abruptly, the bird was interrupted -- and, indeed, nearly bowled over -- by the newcomer on his way into the shop. The rat gaped. "How rude!" he cried, staring with disbelief as the horse -- a Corvie, like himself -- disappeared hurriedly into the shop. "For the record, I don't know him," he felt obliged to point out. Although Fenzik was acquainted with his fair share of the 'Towne's residents, this particular one was an unfamiliar face.

The horse proceeded to shout obnoxiously at the shopkeeper, and it was impossible, even from outside, to keep from overhearing his order. Fenzik's face screwed up suddenly into a look of deep concern. Something about the whole situation at hand seemed more than a little suspicious... and somewhat less than scientific. He cast Colin an uneasy glance. "Erm. This probably isn't our business," he confided softly, "but... I'm sure I don't like the sound of that."

[Lucca]

Colin was still doing his best impression of an exploding purple feather pillow, blue eyes narrowed in RAGE. "GET BACK OUT HERE, I'M NOT DONE WITH YOU, INFIDEL!" He shouted at the door, trying to raise his voice to a volume above that of the equine in the shop. He made an angry squawking sound under his breath, not glancing at Fenzik. "That's good to know. But also for the record, THAT is how rude most of your Townesfolk are to me. Though not usually to THAT level!"

Because of all the yelling, whatever reply the shopkeeper gave went unheard, but the rude horse's next words were just as loud as his past ones. "YES yes that's FINE! I want three bottles...YES I said THREE, what are you DEAF? Do you think one is really going to be enough? Do you have any IDEA?...yes, the money is right here!" There was the sound of a hand slamming onto a counter impatiently, and Colin's frown deepend as he finally turned to face Fenzik.

"...I don't either," he replied in a low, tight voice, rage still boiling in his eyes, wings twitching angrily.

[Varde]

Fenzik was astonished -- and almost a little frightened -- to see Colin looking so angry. Sure, he hadn't known the bird for more than a few minutes, but until now Colin had come across as being rather mild-mannered and tactful, if a bit terse (but that was perfectly understandable, what with the rat being a total stranger and all). Abruptly, however, the bird had become downright livid and was shouting threats at the horse.

Fenzik winced at all the raised voices and was visibly relieved when Colin turned back to him and resumed speaking in a more reasonable tone. "I'm sorry to hear that," he offered sympathetically as a general apology on behalf of his realm. It was true that many Corvies were stereotypically... less than stellar when it came to social interaction. The rat hesitated. "Do you think w--"

"WHAT?!" roared the impatient voice again, interrupting Fenzik, who looked toward the door. "Only enough for TWO bottles? I didn't ASK for two, you incompetent buffoon, I asked for THREE!" There was a pause, during which the shopkeeper must have actually been given a chance to speak, before the horse's ranting continued. "Wait? You think I have time to WAIT? What kind of second-class establishment IS this? I'm the customer; I shouldn't have to wait!" Another pause, and then the horse let out a loud, exasperated breath. "Well, you'd BETTER make it fast, before I decide to burn this pathetic excuse for a shop to the ground!"

"Okay, that does it," said Fenzik as he turned back to Colin, clearly upset by the horse's threat. "Somebody has to put a stop to this."

[Lucca]

Colin merely gave a sharp nod at Fenzik's apology, it being all the civility he could manage when he was still seething about the horse and his unforgivable rudeness. He turned back towards the shop as yet another tirade burst out, eyes narrowing to slits as he listened.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Colin demanded, and pushed his way back into the shop, not caring if he knocked anything over this time--and not sure the owner would either, given the alternative was apparently his entire shop going up in flames. He swept right over to the horse and, unintimidated that the guy had his biped form and was quite a bit taller than himself, jabbed a wing at the other guy's chest.

"LISTEN, pal, you can't just storm in here, acting like a huge SELF-ENTITLED JERK, DEMAND services, and then MAKE THREATS AND THROW A TANTRUM WHEN EVERYONE DOESN'T BEND OVER BACKWARDS TO DO YOUR BIDDING!" He clicked his beak angrily. "YOU'RE NOT THE FRIKKIN' QUEEN OF HEARTS."

The horse frowned down at Colin, gaze flicking briefly to take in his rank and suit, after which he made a disgusted noise. "This does not concern you," he said firmly, before turning back to face the door where the canine shopkeeper had apparently dissapeared to. "Ugh, HURRY UP, THIS AVIAN SCUM IS HARASSING ME."

Colin squawked loudly. He could barely ever remember being this angry. "AVIAN SCUM? I'LL SHOW YOU HARASSMENT!..." He drew back a claw to take a swipe at the moron's stomach.

The shopkeeper hurried back into the room, looking stressed. "Okay, calm DOWN, we..." He paled at the sight before him, skin going white beneath his fur as he saw Colin about to do something rash.

[Varde]

"Wait --" protested Fenzik as Colin barged headlong back into the potion shop, but it was too late. The rat sighed resignedly. "Well, so much for a plan," he muttered to himself, before following the bird's reckless example.

Fenzik entered the shop as Colin was giving the horse what-for. He had to admire the bird for standing up to the horse in spite of the latter's attitude -- and the obvious size discrepancy. The rat's frown deepened, however, for he had hoped that there might have been some way to solve this without resorting to a shouting contest. He made his way across the shop to where all the action was happening, unsure of what he was going to do when he got there. Just as he came to the grim realization that he didn't have any more time to think, Colin issued a very serious-sounding threat, and Fenzik's eyes went wide as he realized the bird was actually about to attack the horse.

"No!" he heard himself cry, and his right tail whipped out in an effort to grab Colin's wing, hoping to stop the blow before it hit. His left tail stood upright, ready to block the horse as well if he decided to try and counterattack. "Stop it!" Fenzik pleaded, looking first at Colin, then at the horse, then back at Colin. "Violence isn't the answer," he said, immediately wishing he'd managed to think up something less lame and clichéd to say.

"You're damn' right it ain't," said the shopkeeper, leaping over the counter and forcing his way in between the two would-be assailants. "Not in my shop, at any rate." His color had returned, and his face was now quite red. "Break it up, you two. Now. There'll be no fighting, or neither of you will ever buy from me again. Understand?"

[Lucca]

The horse merely laughed derisively, nostrils flaring, not worried by Colin's threat and ready to take him on...

Colin was about to strike the horse when something grabbed his wing and he was thrown off balance, fluttering back and away from the hold. "LET ME GO!" he yelled. "I NEED TO TEACH THIS MORON A LESSON!" He frowned at Fenzik's rather cliche statement, though before he could decide to do anything...the horse snorted, clenching a hand into a fist and about to hit...until the shopkeeper jumped in front.

"He started it," the horse said smoothly, shrugging and backing off. He grabbed what he came for from the shopkeeper and started strolling for the door.

"I did NOT start it..." Colin began hotly, before blinking, realizing...how childish he looked. He turned red under his feathers and slowly lowered his foot, yanking his wing away from Fenzik's tail and frowning as the horse left the shop. "...okay. No fighting." He sighed, turning to look at Fenzik, the shopkeeper in the edge of his gaze as well.

"I'm...sorry," he said, the apology taking a lot of effort, but he knew it was necessary. "It won't happen again."

The shopkeeper nodded, looking satisfied, though frowned at the horse's retreating back, hoping he didn't ever come back anyway. What a hothead. Geez. At least the cardinal had been a polite customer. "See that it doesn't," he said, before turning to walk behind the counter. "If there's nothing else, then I need to get back to work," he said pointedly, hoping the other two would clear out as well. Though he gave Fenzik a grateful nod. If only he was always ther to break up fights...sadly this was not a one-time occurance.

The horse left the shop, then, though muttered under his breath before the door closed on him, "Finally...as if the damn Aces weren't enough trouble already..."

Colin was still seething at the horse on the inside, but was able to master it. Until he heard that last comment. What had the horse meant by THAT? He shoots a 'did you hear what I just heard?' glance to Fenzik. The shopkeeper, if he had heard this final comment, seemed unconcerned. It wasn't his buisiness what his customers did with his wares, after all.

[Varde]

Fenzik sighed, the seemingly imminent fight now narrowly averted, as he watched the horse make his way out of the shop. The rat didn't say anything, but kept his wary gaze fixed on the equine, hoping against hope that the disturbance had passed and that neither he nor Colin would feel the need to squeeze in one last jab at the other. Much to Fenzik's relief, when Colin spoke again, it was to apologize. He turned to the bird and gave him a weak smile. "It's all right," he assured him. "Apology accepted. After all, it's not your fault he was being so antagonistic."

Fenzik returned the shopkeeper's nod, acknowledging the latter's wishes. "Of course," he replied. "We're about to head out. See you again s--" The rat broke off abruptly as he thought he heard the horse's voice once again from outside. Frowning, he tried to make out the words.

It took a second for Fenzik to put two and two together and realize the implications of the horse's remark. Had he really heard that correctly? Apalled, he turned and stared at Colin; one look at the bird's face confirmed his fears. Fenzik had met a number of Corvies who used Aces as test subjects; it certainly wasn't a practice he personally supported, but it was a fairly widespread one nonetheless. The fact that this particular Corvie evidently had a need to tranquilize them beforehand, however, struck him as... questionable, at best. "That's not right," he muttered, shaking his head in protest. His mind was racing, trying to determine what -- if anything -- it would be appropriate for him to do, given this new information. "That's just not right. I mean, sure, they're Aces, but..." He trailed off, looking hesitantly at Colin, wondering whether the bird would think it was their place to get involved again. The last thing Fenzik wanted, though, was another fight...