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Post by Ry on Mar 20, 2008 3:59:28 GMT -5
Souris inhaled sharply, surprised, as she unexpectedly came face-to-face with a irrepressibly cherry feline from Torquehelm, bound in fuzzy pink handcuffs, broken, and a chain attached to his tail, who jerked away from her, his ears pinning back against his head, as his fur fluffed up, making him loom over her a little, even as he greeted her civilly and dipped his head politely at her.
She nodded back, slightly, charmed in spite of herself, stepping aside to offer him more room, as he slipped out the door and onto the streets, looking beyond him to observe a doe, slender and graceful, but fearfully serpentine. Yet she was friendly enough.
"Thank you,"she answered Ophelia quietly, as she entered slowly, taking a good look around. The sitting room wasn't as elegant and well-appointed as she was accustomed to seeing, but she politely refrained from commenting. Instead, she found a well-worn armchair, and snuggled down, turning to face the black and green doe as she did so, her gaze quietly assessing, waiting.
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Post by Vyn on Mar 20, 2008 7:13:19 GMT -5
Work. Glorious, distracting work. Ophelia almost could say she lived for it. For work and for her family, however odd it was, but they were to be thought of later. Usually it was family that came before all else, but Maxwell was taking care of their concerns and so she was free to focus on work and, for a short time, forget about the concerns of her home.
As Souris would quickly come to learn, Ophelia was not lavish or gaudy even despite her fame. She kept her house and her living space simple, even a little run down. It would have been a tad nicer if Maxwell had been living there recently, but he'd been out and about and Ophelia was terribly neglectful of the place without the children to keep her focused.
Ah well, at least her research was flourishing.
The doe gathered up a notepad and settled into an armchair across from Souris. "So, tell me about yourself and what you want. Have you decided already?"
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Post by Kiki on Mar 20, 2008 8:43:29 GMT -5
Rynnie, Shini and Vyn...nie
receive 1 token each, to be redeemed in Ashwin's Shoppe.
This will automatically be added to your recorded totals in the shoppe.
Congratulations, and keep up the good RP!
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Post by Ry on Mar 21, 2008 6:33:50 GMT -5
Souris turned that assessing gaze inward, considering the question carefully. She didn't think the no nonsense doe would tolerate or appreciate a shallow, flippant answer. And the vague ideas floating around in her mind would not produce an adequate answer. Truth, then, the mouse decided, as she returned her attention to the doe across from her.
"You already know my gender, name and region. My suit and rank are clearly visible to anyone who cares to look." she answered, puzzled. "What else do you want to know?" She didn't quite understand what Ophelia was asking for. "I have a few ideas here and there about what I want." she continued.
"Retractable claws would be useful, I think, as would improved eye sight." she tried. "Along with directional hearing, and the ability to move one ear independently of the other, and walk precisely." Subtle differences, but...
Ophelia had asked, and she had done her best to answer.
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Post by Vyn on Mar 21, 2008 9:34:21 GMT -5
The usually relaxed and casual doe was, admittedly, quite tense at the moment. She sat stiffly in her chair, as if it was hard to simply sit and talk, and her gaze was absently scathing. Studious and thoughtful, the gaze of a devoted scientist. On most occasions, Ophelia tried to bond a little with her clients as she was about to scramble their DNA.
"There is more to a person than gender, name, rank, and region. There are few things less deceptive than the things you can see with your eyes." The doe waved her hand at the building around her; dilapidated and uncared for. Once Souris saw her lab, she would understand why. It was not because Ophelia was a derelict, but because she put far much more store in her laboratory than she did in her own comfort. "Nevertheless, we can go from your wants and just work from there. Retractable claws, improved eye sight, and the rest... sounds like feline traits on a whole. We can start from there."
She scribbled notes as she spoke, her hand dancing over the pad before coming to a rest again. "As I must warn everyone before I begin: this is an imperfect science, there are still...mishaps...and you may not get what you bargained for. Are you prepared to take this risk?"
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Post by Ry on Mar 26, 2008 4:56:05 GMT -5
The mouse considered the unusual request carefully. No one had ever thought the Spade was worth the bother. Not in her family. "A Heron I once met said I was timid." she offered weakly. She hadn't agreed, but Ophelia, perhaps, might.
Otherwise, she only had the one comment from her mother, who appreciated her sleek, soft lines. She didn't think physical appearance would interest the doe, though.
"Feline traits?" asked Souris, musingly. "That would be quite a transition. Feline would be very different from Vermin." She commented thoughtfully, as she watched the graceful hand movements as the biped wrote.
--
An imperfect science, the doe said. Fear clutched at her, cold, but Loreta's accusation hung in her mind.
Timid.
She didn't want the heron to be right. But neither did she want to be a mishap. "Can you detail the possible risks involved?" she asked quietly, playing for both time and information. "What are the mishaps that could happen?"
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Post by Vyn on Apr 10, 2008 12:00:37 GMT -5
Timid? Somewhat. Ophelia didn't quite agree with the statement, but she also didn't know the mouse well enough to put her finger on the quality fully. So she shrugged it off.
"Just as serpent is different from deer. You get used to it, though, and besides -- it's what you asked for." The doe paused thoughtfully, lifting her pen to tap it to her chin in thought. Well, there were other things closer to her breed that could be used...if she preferred. "There are Viverridae -- mongooses and civets... Which also have excellent hearing and vision and the retractable claws you desire."
The Yarrow's stalling caused Ophelia to pause and slowly arch a brow. Had she not researched before she came? Had she not figured there would be risks? Ophelia sighed a little, tapping her fingers on the clipboard she held.
"I only mean to say that you may get more, or less, than what you're asking for. Some of those features can't be guaranteed through genetics alone. For example, I couldn't make your ears move independently without changing your ears entirely. Mouse ears aren't built for it, and I don't know if you'd be willing have your ears removed for the process?" Ophelia flicked her tail, eyes narrowing on the mouse. "Likewise you may also get more than you asked for: a trait may be too feline or too Verridae if that's what you so choose. Whether or not you consider that disfiguring would be based solely on personal presence."
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Post by Ry on May 21, 2008 7:25:40 GMT -5
Souris looked up sharply, at that. Mongooses and civets...mongooses looked fat, and so do civets, she thought, and just managed to catch the words before they exited her mouth, changing her thought into a more passable,"Indeed." Non-committal, but not discouraging.
She didn't want to cause Ophelia to do more than raise that eyebrow. Somehow, the deer was vaguely reminiscent of Reine, the grande dame. She took a long slow breath, as the snaky deer tapped her fingers on the clipboard, somewhat impatiently, listening intently.
More or less than what she was asking for. She slumped in relief, her mind racing as she considered the implications. "I'd very much prefer not to have any body parts removed for the process - yet." She vetoed immediately, worrying that the removal and alteration would leave her very much scarred, but compensated quickly,"I doubt." She didn't think being given a trait that was either too feline or Verridae would mar her appearance that badly, and said so clearly. "Traits too feline or Verridae would hardly be the same as disfigurement."She answered earnestly. Besides, she could always try stylistic adjustment, if needed.
Not that she'd say that to Ophelia aloud.
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Post by Vyn on May 30, 2008 9:08:31 GMT -5
Ophelia eyed the mouse and granted her the brief raise of a brow that she had expected.
She would assume the girl wasn't interested in Viverridae and simply stick with feline. There would be plenty that did what she wanted without adjusting her appearance too heavily.
"I didn't imagine you would. There are other scientists better suited for that." She rose to her hooves then and motioned for Souris to follow. "Shall we get started then?"
There was no point in beating around the bush. Unless Souris had any last minute adjustments she wanted to make to her desires. In case that would become a problem, Ophelia ran over the list before pausing once more.
"I've chosen feline for the splicing process, since you didn't show an outward interest or disinterest in Viverridae. If that's the wrong choice, speak now or we can begin whenever you're ready."
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Post by Ry on May 31, 2008 0:37:26 GMT -5
Souris flinched slightly, almost invisibly, as Ophelia raised her brow again, exactly the way her Great-Aunt would. "Other scientists who would be able to adjust my ears? And maybe my tail?" She asked eager to change the topic. Her eyes opened wide in wonder. She hoped Ophelia would be able to recommend someone.
Souris gathered herself up from the armchair reluctantly, careful not to foul a claw in the upholstery, and started to follow the serpent/deer, listening carefully as Ophelia went back over the list, then paused, considering. Did she want to be Viverridae? She didn't want to offend this beatiful biped, or give her any problems. "I think, Viverridae would be acceptable, too, if the breed you spliced me with had a sleek form, as I'd prefer to retain or enhance my natural agility, if possible." she said, qualifying her statement with,"although I do admit, I'd personally prefer Feline. Either way, I'm ready."
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