T - Xenon, Nako, Harps, Vyn

[Nako]

Brandy trotted along after the others, lagging quite far behind as his investment in the chase was… negligible at least. Instead he focused more on the nice night and the clean air as he strolled down the riverside to catch up….

Was the water rippling? In an odd way, at that. And there Suvius was, pouring something… interesting into the water.

Brandy watched silently, arms crossing in front of him and a frown going across his features An ace pelt? Well that was certainly fashionable, but what was she going to do with it? His expression went quickly to that of disgust as she dipped the thing into the now stinking river, and when it was pulled back out it... wasn't right.

"Oh. Ew." He pinched his nose and moved slightly further away from Kaden, who had been tossed the stinking thing.

"Augh, nasty. What was the point of that?"

[Vyn]

Kaden's eyes sparkled a little with interest but slowly that interest darkened a bit. It was still there, he really couldn't help himself, but something more was dawning on him and he wasn't really liking what it was. She was poisoning them. Not out of scientific interest but out of regional prejudice.

His heart pounded as his thoughts sprung to Eurwen and her charming Selkie boyfriend. That strange group, the man with the eye patch... They could have been working with Suivus... Which meant the reason that Josiggy woman had Ayden's note.... Kaden shivered a little. To most it would seem like excitement but in his mind he pictured Ayden returning home... and this... This could happen to him.

His bright green eyes never left the water as she tipped the stopper in, the look of interest never leaving his eyes though secretly a wave of horror was sweeping over him. He hated prejudice. It turned kind, interesting Cards into hateful monsters at the drop of a hat. It made people who might have been his friend, turn their heads and sneer when they saw the mark on his chest. It was what made that dark look flit through his father's eyes every time he brushed over that black mark. It was horrible to hate something for something they could never change. It was wrong...

But, at the very core of his being, Kaden was still a scientist and this was amazing science no matter how terrible. And maybe... just maybe it wasn't toxic, just gross? That would certainly bring the Selkies down a peg and Kaden could almost be okay with that. So, for the time being, he put on his best poker face and simply let the scientist take control as he caught the pelt on an outstretched wing.

"That's amazing... And it just targets the genes? Doesn't destroy the ecosystem, harm the local fish?" He turned it over, sniffed a little in disgust and returned his gaze to hers. "What does it do to a live Selkie? Is it Toxic or does it just give 'em an awful case of 'Bad Hair Day'?" His poker face was damn good. She'd never see how desperately he needed her to say no to that question, only a true and proper Corvie's scientific curiosity.

[carcinoGeneticist]

The curious spark in Jordan's eye took on a bit of a worried note as she also noticed the look on Kendra's face and actually started to think about it. Water did flow from here right into the Benyan lands, it was true. But surely, the other Marten understood that! After all, they were riverfolk, they knew the way water flowed! All the same, it was a nagging little concern in the back of her mind that stuck there, waiting to be removed by whatever Suvius said next.

And sure enough, there was that relief. Jordan's smile picked up slightly as she considered it. "Damn, dat's quite de specificity.[/b]" She remarked, glancing back at the others.

They wouldn't understand. How would they? They'd never had their livelihoods trampled all for the sake of Selkie greed, watched people starve because the rivers had all but dried up thanks to the extensive bottling operations that had their root here, never had someone laugh in their faces and explain that it wasn't their business because they still had water. Selkies never considered the large-scale effects of what they did, and Jordan felt positive: if any of these people had ever been wronged by a Selkie, they would be feeling just as giddy as she.

Besides, Suvius didn't really seem the type to do anything that would be harmful in the long-term. Just something to startle them a bit, shake things up a bit. That would get the Selkies thinking.

At the same time, though, that little rock of concern had anchored into Jordan's mind and it had only been chipped away at. Small fragments of concern remained, and she watched with a somewhat thoughtful expression as the pelt changed. "Oh, wow. Dat's jus' about de ugliest color you could fin', isn't it?[/b]" She chuckled slightly, a grin tugging at her lips. Then she listened to Kaden. Well, if it was questions time, maybe she'd let lose a few of her own. "How's it affect dose who've got Selkie parents, but aren't Selkie 'emselves?[/b]" After all, there had been some extensive inbreeding between the Lakes and the Rivers, and she couldn't imagine how awful those colors would look on her own people...

From a safe distance away, Sophie watched in mute horror. Her expression was fairly blank, but then, it generally was. For once, she felt thankful for that blankness.

Oh, Suits, what were they doing?!

She couldn't let her fear show through. She needed to just be patient, and get back to her mother, and tell her what she'd seen. The Queen would be the best person to fix this. Sophie herself couldn't do anything but try not to piss off the obviously insane Benyan woman.

[Harpsdesire]

Kendra did her best to wipe the look off her face and replace it with an easy smile. ”Let's see it then.” She tried to sound playful, and might even have succeeded somewhat, but the distinctly uncomfortable look on her face returned when she saw the pelt turn a terribly unappealing color. ”Oh, ew.” She echoed Brandy's sentiment.

Was it some sort of ugly dye-job? She hoped so, but suspected not. Just in case, she pulled her paws back a little further from the edge of the stone. Genetically targeted potions were a tricky, touchy business, and frankly she couldn't remember what realms her parents were from. If she even had parents. She was a full Corvie, of course, but genes were more complicated than just what was outwardly expressed on the body. ”That's, um, pretty powerful stuff.”

With no particular affection towards either Selkies or Benyan's, Kendra's feelings seemed to default in favor of the realm she had not just seen poisioning the waterways. She looked at Suvius askance, although she tried to keep judgment out of her face. After all, she had to admit that was pretty cool trick, and it might not be out of the realm of possibility that she would want to try such a thing out on a real, live Selkie, if she should get her hands on such a powerful serum. For scientific interest, of course. But, at least in her mind, that was rather different than attempting genocide of an entire realm.

Alicia had watched the proceedings with undisguised revulsion and horror. ”You cards are... are monsters!” She declared to Kaden under her breath, ”You kill your own kind indiscriminately? Even the young?” It was barbaric, and it both made her forget her own internal drama and despair of ever being safely free. ”She speaks as if it's a game!”

What if this dreadful stuff worked in the same was on Selkie rabbits? It was as if these horrible beasts had no sense of morality at all!

[Nathalia]

((Suvius didn't seem to notice the small ripple of unease passing through her little crowd.
Her grin still in place, she waved off the concerns with a small "Psssh, dangerous t'others? Watch dis, den." With that, she slipped off of the stepping stone into the water. And under it.
As they watched the water slowly turned back to normal as the woman re-emerged, popping her head up to laugh lightly and flip onto her back.
"See? Fine for everyone but de Selkies, yeah?" She grinned at the prissy Yarrow. "Ah, come on now. What was de point? Yeh ain't never had yer land stripped o'de resources so o'ters could have even more riches, 'ave yeh?" She asked, slapping some water in the Yarrow's direction, though far from being able to hit the Horse.
She clambered out of the water and shook, her slick fur standing up a bit, as she grinned at Kaden, who was practically shivering in excitement.
"Thought you' like et, mate. Smart thing like you'd unnerstan' whit we go through 'n why a little prank's all in good fun, eh?" She said, giving him as charming a look as she could manage. "Nah, don't 'urt de fish any more'n it hurts me. What'd be de point of killin' off the food, eh?" She shrugs. "Bit toxic, yeah, but not bad 'nough to be takin' yer worries away. Gotta admit tae likin' that new color, though. Strikin', I tink dey calls it, eh, Pallie?"

She glanced at Jordan and practically beamed. "Targets de 'genes', like Kaden says, dis do. Only works if yeh got Selkie in you, iffin' it was in your parents, den yeh gotta dunk dem in tae see any results, ye ken? Dun work or yeh'd see some o'dat nasty color in me, wouldn't yeh?" She pulls a long face, flexing her claws for a second. "But, dat bastard ran out on my Mum long time ago, show'd us how dey really be, eh?" She asked, voice softer, before she seemed to bounce back to her happier self.
"So! Ha! Powerful stuff don't begin tae cover it, girl." She turned to Kendra, grinning. "It's got more up in it den many gonna see in a long, long while. Corvies like dis stuff, I know it, s'full of 'intrigue' and all dat fancy stuff. Ere, you young'uns like toys, right. You have dat." She said, grinning, handing over another small figurine to this girl.
She looked over to her Pallie, and grinned.
"Wish y'all could see it used onna live one, though. Twere really somehtin'."
She heard the Corvie's git kid mutter something at him, but didn't catch what it was.))


Small Figure: This little tin figurine looks like a Biped Bull wearing a half-cloak, how cute! It tingles a little when touched, but doesn't seem to do anything...wonder what it is? This item is not automatically assigned and can be traded or given away.



~Nathalia

[Vyn]

Relief instantly flooded Kaden as he listened to Suivus speak. she seemed like a goodhearted woman in the end, a bit of a spiteful type of prankster but still good natured. Of course, prejudice could do terrible things to even someone who meant well 90% of the time... especially when they had an honest reason to hate the majority of a group.

Kaden wasn't a books sort of Card, he didn't know much about what went on between the realms with who hurt who and who did what. He knew just enough to have a general knowledge of who disliked whom and to know that the fighting was, usually, unnecessary. What Suivus said, however, made him feel for her. Not enough to think Selkies deserved to be murdered but certainly enough to make him understand why the Benyans disliked them and certainly why she herself felt so strongly. Her Selkie dad had run off on her and her mum... That was enough to rub any child the wrong way and certainly enough to spark that first ember of bitterness.

"Well that's really quite somethin'! And, yeah.. If not for that oily stink," he chuckled "I'd say it's quite striking! Does it wash out with time? Or is it permanent?" He let his grin shine through his other thoughts, only fading a little when his gaze traveled to the doll Suivus passed to Kendra. ...Now this was certainly beyond coincidences... He'd seen that bull. It'd shattered poor Quicksand's leg! He probably shouldn't but... but he had to ask. "That's a neat toy, Suvius" he chirped slightly with his head tilted. "That an' the little fox... They keep strikin' me familiar. They someone important that I just can't place or somethin'?"

He would've said something about her comment to see it used on a live one (though he didn't really want to admit it, he was somewhat curious to see now...) but Alicia's snark jerked his attention back down to the Rabbit.

"Hey!" He hissed in a low voice so that their conversation could stay fairly between them. "You heard the lady, we ain't killin' anyone. I wouldn't ever kill someone for no reason, 'specially not a kid! It looks... off, yeah... but I think it's harmless." The concern and desperate conviction to believe his own words were for Alicia and Alicia alone.

He didn't want to let on to Suivus what he was thinking and feeling for fear that she'd stop talking. As terrible as it might be to play along with something that, if he was misunderstanding her, could lead to murder, it was better than not knowing anything at all. This way, maybe he could help if that time came? Maybe...

[Nako]

"Okay so… the point of this is to make Selkies turn a different color? Is that all it does?" He tilted his head to the side. "How long does it last?" He nodded in a sort of agreement that he wanted an answer as Kaden also asked the same thing.

Hooboy, if it was something that lasted forever, no doubt they'd be -pissed-. Brandy knew that if he turned that color, he'd have to get.. unladylike.

Brandy gave an 'eep' and took a jump back, tail lashing behind him with annoyance. Bah. He tossed his head in an 'ain't nuthin' but a hair flick' kind of way. Sure, she was swimming in it, but for all he knew, it might only be neutral for Benyans and they were -all- going to be a part of this prank.

He caught a glance of Kaden arguing with the "child", giving them a glance. "Perhaps it's past her bedtime. Is she yours? She's a cute… little…"[/goldenrod] What -was- she? Goat? what a funny little mix! But his face became somewhat puzzled when he couldn't find her rank.

[carcinoGeneticist]

Any nervousness that had been stuck in Jordan's mind vanished with that explanation. She knew the others had been more worried, but the Marten knew the Benyan mindset. A bit of a nasty prank, that was reasonable. Large-scale genocide of a realm? She was content to leave that to the Lowlanders and Josiggies, as were her people. That was just wrong, and would put them solidly in the same boat as the Selkies they hated.

She bobbed her head eagerly, finally coming to understand. This Suvius, she had even more of a reason to have it out for the Lakelanders, lazy asses they were. "My sympathies, and to yer mother, too.[/b]" Such a delightful prank! The fat cats would have a few days to panic over their changed coats, and maybe even have a bit of a change of mind. It would be wonderful to see. Perhaps a bit cruel, yes, but entirely deserved. How many babies had starved because of that drought? Even considering it made her fur stick up a bit, upset. "'ow'd ya come across somet'in' like dat, huh? Magic like dat's not easy to find.[/b]"

There was so much building up in Sophie's mind that she couldn't keep it all in. She willed herself to keep quiet, to avoid attention. For a while, she just stared at the little figuring, almost hoping it would have some kind of mouth-shutting magic inside it to keep her from embarrassing herself. Alas, it was not to be, and the Benyan woman's last words to the group were the last straw, so to speak.

"What happens?" she blurted out, unable to hide the undertone of nervousness to her voice. She glanced up at the Marten, making eye contact for a second, then just as quickly looked away again. "When - when it's used on someone... Alive, I mean."

[The Jenn]

"Some nasty shit, dat," Uluani replied with an uncharacteristic glee, watching the Ace pelt change and grow diseased before their eyes. She had been treated to a bit more of the woman's intent with regards to the Selkies during their earlier frolicking and so remained entirely unphased by the biased rhetoric and prejudiced boo-hoo. The others seemed to be a mixed bag. No great surprise there.

She splashed a paw curiously in the river, grinning when it did little more than... gasp... wet her fur. "Crazy-pow'rful, eh? My Mamma'd be all up'in'er 'bout dis one iff'n she was here. Good t'ing she ain't. Spoil de fun. 'cept it's too late for dat."

With a swish of her long tail, she dunked it. Nothing happened. Hah. With a quick, sharp noise, she jumped off the stone and splashed around in the water, dunking herself several times and flailing her wing so that the water would splash. Sissies could put up with a little 'toxic'. Heh.

"Dese fish okay den? How 'little' you talkin'?" Experimentally, she tried to nab at some of the tiny, silvery fish that darted through the water. Minnows, if that. Barely. Scraps. If she could catch one, she'd throw it at Suvius. If she could catch another, she'd eat it. And laugh.

[Harpsdesire]

The fact that Suvius herself felt comfortable jumping into the tainted river and her explanation that mere Selkie heritage was not enough to affect cards of other realms was only moderately reassuring. Kendra relaxed a little, balancing more easily on the stepping stone now that her immediate fear of touching the water was somewhat reduced.

Although she couldn’t be sure, it seemed that Suvius said the potion’s results were not deadly, but merely unsightly. That kind of prank was something she could abide, even if it wasn’t in her nature to plan out elaborate schemes of revenge—her anger was quick, a sudden flame that usually dissipated as swiftly as it ignited. Long years of bitterness or grudges were beyond her experience, if not her capability.

Given what the Benyan said about her father, Kendra supposed she couldn’t blame her. Her own father loomed in her mind half-remembered, a vague impression of strength and safety, a gruff voice and being covered in a fuzzy blanket, next to… babies? She frowned for just a moment. The harder she tried to remember, the more those impressions seemed to slip away. It surely must be brain damage of some kind. It was worrying. Luckily for her, the girl’s troubling thoughts were interrupted before they had the chance to spiral any further downward.

She couldn’t help but coo in delight as Suvius handed her the toy. It was terribly cute and cunningly made, and Kendra smiled broadly in spite of lingering misgivings about the woman’s potentially harmful prank. ”Aw, thank you! That’s adorable!” A little self consciously, she hugged the toy to her for a second.

Alicia made huffy little noise in response to Kaden’s words. It seemed he trusted that big card with the barbells, and even if she didn’t, she hadn’t much choice but to go along with him. Still, he hadn’t hurt her, even when he could have, and his grip had never been so rough as to be harmful. Uncomfortable, yes, but it did seem he was making an effort not to squeeze her so tight that she would be bruised. At his slightly outraged tone, the leveret relented somewhat. ”I didn’t mean you,” She clarified, relaxing almost imperceptibly in his arms, ”But dumping something in the water like that… it’s horribly irresponsible! Even if it isn’t meant to be poison, there could be… side effects, or something!” She kept her voice low, and when Brandy spoke to Kaden about her, she nestled down in his arms and blinked big, golden eyes innocently at the horse.

When the little Midori… something… splashed in her directions, Alicia cringed back against Kaden a little. She wasn’t quite willing to assume that because the substance didn’t affect non-Selkie cards, that meant it was safe for rabbits, too.

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K 21
A 15