[Old Shoppe ----- Closed]

[Jaguara Katial]

“You really are quite sweet Ashwin, and of course I would love to stay over again.”[/b] He did not know just how much staying there in his home meant to her for so many reasons. She would not tell him why in either case only that she loved doing so if he asked. Some things were just better kept in the dark. Perhaps that was one thing she had learned from being around Sebak. Thinking of Sebak, she needed to try and locate the drunken canine if she could. It would give her something to do and it would keep her in town. She picked up her new bander and her papers. She started to walk out and turned back around and lightly stroked his chin lightly “Till tonight Ashwin”[/b] and with that little movement, she pivoted back around and exited the shop until she would return later that evening.

[seraaches]

The large canine stepped carefully through the shoppe’s door, tail tucking slightly between her legs in a moment of unease. It had taken a great deal of thought and searching, but she had finally decided upon the perfect gifts for her girls… at least, she really and truly hoped so.

Aroha had a Bander, Meezer, though the little female wasn’t as often around the girls since she took a liking to Zibwe and followed the ferret instead. Since neither Phyr nor Kare seemed to have a problem with the creature, Haret hoped that perhaps a Bander could take the part of a bodyguard for her nightmare-inflicted daughter. Kare deserved some assistance in keeping tags on the mix, and there’s was a hopeful possibility that a Bander companion might give Kare someone to start talking to again.

Haret’s hidden ears flicked backwards briefly as her worried gaze slipped to the shoppekeeper. She only hoped he could help. ”Hello,” she offered softly. ”I’m hoping to purchase to Banders… one as a companion and one as a sort of bodyguard. Do you… have anything that might fit that?”

[The Jenn]

Ashwin lifted his eyes from brushing Treasach as the pretty... no, quite gorgeous biped walked into his shop. He remembered her from his contest a little ways back. Hadn't she managed to win a bander? Lucky thing. At least it had earned him a repeat customer, as he'd hoped it would. She had looked so miserable with herself and the world around her before, but now just look at her. That hair was really quite stunning and she was as curvy as they got.

The pine martin smiled, going for charming but probably hitting a bit closer to leer since he was still busy eying her up. "Companion and bodyguard... yes, I've got a few on the gentler and feistier side of life. Here are the banders we have in stock now." He pulled down a sheet of paper with images and names, showing his currently available stock. "If none of them seem to appeal, I can always search the breeders I know for one that better fits what you're looking for, though it might cost a little more. What kind of a price range are you looking at, Miss..." He raised his eyebrows hopefully.

On the counter, the khaki bander didn't grace her by turning around, just sort of twisted his head until he could get a good enough look at her. Staring.

[seraaches]

Haret remembered Ashwin from before as well, though her mind certainly didn’t linger on that contest from so long ago. He was supposed to be quite the expert; the only real expert in the area and previous experience had said the rumours were all quite true. There were other rumours floating around the man, but the canine was too distracted with wot she needed to fall under any sort of ‘spell’ today.

”Haret,” she gave her name softly, eyes pulled immediately to the list as she skimmed it thoughtfully. She wasn’t entirely certain if these would be the best ones for her girls, though her eye kept skimming back to one of them. ”Number 9?” she made it a question. ”Can you tell me more about this one?” She wondered if perhaps the pretty little creature would be good for Kare… it looked as though it had a calm, sweet air; something Mekare could well do with. The fox tried so hard.

[The Jenn]

A brief flicker of disappointment, but he didn't let it show on his features. Just business, then, and she seemed quite settled on what she wanted. He could work with that.

He pulled the list closer and found nine. "Ahh, Boo. Yes, she's actually a sweet little thing. Her name wasn't ironic there. I think the three year old in her breeder's house named her and it just seemed to stick. Periwinkle pointed tabby in color, a very nice shade if I do say so. Her breeder prides himself on bringing out the most vibrant colors in a coat. If you're looking for companion material, perhaps for a child or someone housebound, she would be a decent choice. I can see her finding her 'person' and bonding in a way. She's just seems the type. May or may not work out on the field. I haven't tested her much in that area."

[seraaches]

Haret listened closely to the man’s words, but she slowly nodded in agreement, mind working over the description versus her needs. A vibrant colour, but not overly bright; the creature sounded as though she may be perfect for little, silent Kare. ”I think Boo would be excellent.” She gave a small nod, pleased to have that decision out of the way before returning her attention to the list. She wasn’t quite –as- certain about a choice for Zephyr. The tormented child was difficult to connect to as she grew older and more lost in the bindings across her mind. Another concern that perhaps a Bander was the wrong choice for Phyr, but… the young fox/hound mix needed something or someone looking after her other than just her sister. Both of the girls deserved more independence, whether or not they saw their relationship as obligatory.

Hesitantly, she let a black finger slip over the picture of a white Bander. ”And this one?” Light, she hoped she was making the right decisions.



Even as the black canine was asking Ashwin more questions, another figure slipped in, also in bipedal. Her muted colouring echoed that of the mustelid running the shoppe, though she refused to make eye contact with anyone in the store. Instead, the skunk carefully scooted into a corner and pretended to be looking at leashes even as she listened in on the conversation.

[The Jenn]

His eyes followed her finger and he smirked at what she pointed out. The last of his leopard stock until more came in, always a popular choice. An attention-getting pattern that was all the rage with current breeders, though battlers and showers didn't necessarily care for it. They felt that it masked too much of the bander's naturally vibrant color.

"Spot is... less of a friendly thing. Truer to his heritage in natural dominance, at any rate. He doesn't like taking guff from any of the other banders in the place and I've had to keep him separated from the other males a time or two. Never had a problem with the girls, though. He either respects their authority or is dominant over their submission. If you're planning on putting him in the same household as Boo, I don't see a problem. Just don't stick him with another male if you can help it. Purple tabby leopard. Very nice markings on him."

He considered pricing. "I'd normally charge twenty tokens for the pair of them. Are you up for the price?"

Ashwin didn't catch sight of Kelasia slipping in, occupied as he was, but Treasach noticed her and sauntered to the edge of the desk before jumping down. He approached her and stopped perhaps three feet away, staring, before he sneezed a challenge.

[seraaches]

Haret fingered her money pouch thoughtfully. After staying the night in the inn (thank goodness she’d gone to the Queen’s Tap rather than the more expensive one the Yarrow Gardens canine had first shown her and the Morganberry mouse yesterday), she only had 25 left in her budget for these gifts. Though, perhaps she could stretch ever so slightly more if she really needed to; but she could easily afford the pair of Bandersnatches, and that pleased her greatly. She gave him an agreeing nod, before another thought occurred to her. ”Wot about collars?” she asked gently. ”A matching blue or purple for the male and… perhaps a black or white for the female?” Now that she’d made her selections of the Banders, she wanted to be certain the pair could be well cared for and, well, controlled; at least in the case of the rather aggressive male. Perfect for her plans; here’s hoping that her plans were good ones. Thinking of the aggression, however, brought another question, "Perhaps you have bells as well?" she didn't really want to take a chance of not knowing where the male was.

Kelasia was listening in closely, pursing her lips as she heard the price for two of the creatures. She had money saved, of course; Theo paid her well, and she really didn’t have much to spend it on yet. Twenty for a pair? That might not be too bad….

[The Jenn]

"Collars... I think I have a blue and a white at the moment. Sold my last purple one a few days ago, and black isn't as popular as some of the other colors so I don't keep it stocked as often. I've got bells in copper, silver, gold... they're all small enough that I price them the same, because really, it's not that big a deal. Two collars with bells would probably run you an extra six, which brings your total to twenty-six." He raised an eyebrow. "Still interested? If so, I can pop up to nab the banders in question without too much trouble, and give you a temporary lead to go with them."

Treasach moved closer to the skunk, sniffing curiously when his challenge went unanswered. He moved so close as to be near her leg before sniffing... and nipping at one fluffy toe.

[seraaches]

Haret hesitated for a long moment then gave a sudden, decisive nod. It was only one more point than she wanted to spend, and she wanted to be equally fair to both of her girls. She couldn’t get something for one and not the other. ”The blue copper with a silver bell, and a white collar with a copper bell, then, please.” And that would certainly take the rest of her funds for the gifts. Maybe later she could get a nicer lead for the girls or they could save up for their own. Overall, she was very pleased.

Kelasia made a small sound of distress and pain when her toe got nipped and she looked down at the beautiful sand coloured male with more pleasure than annoyance. She’d been so caught up in eavesdropping that she had completely missed the little creature’s challenge, though she had certainly read up on the Banders awhile ago. The sounds were different in person, however, and she hesitantly knelt down to let the male sniff her… hopefully with less biting now that she was paying attention to him!