Money Talks [End]

[Tigeress]

Besaba stood in the corner of, surprisingly, a classroom. Yes, she was tight on cash and the prospect of getting paid to do what she did at home was a bit enticing. Of course, what she did was a bit advanced for the age group she'd been assigned to, but she was young herself... though her patience was that of a woman twice her age.

On the table in front of her a small furred creature walked, albeit stiffly, the newly conscious example of a chemically reinforced substitute for muscle tissue. The tendons had been replaced, and the creature was obviously a bit confused as to how to function. It probably wasn't going to live too long, being a quick job, but it hadn't become lame or crippled yet so obviously this stuff was pretty resilient. She immediately labelled two vials with important looking labels and stuffed them into her case. They were her prizes for a week's worth of work.

Now she had to pull out something basic for her lesson. Strangely, her on-the-side projects all seemed to result in glamour. Her hair potions had become very sought after, frustratingly enough. She'd made a name alright, but not doing anything she was particularly proud of. Oh well. She patted the small rodent almost affectionately. "You just might change that, now won't you?"

The door opened and she turned with a slight 'mm?' of interest, seeing who her students, if any, might be for the day. Yesterday had been a no-show, but she'd still been paid for it.

[Spiderfly]

Evaline sat in the library, pouring over more books. She glanced towards the front desk and scowled back at the librarian. No matter how many hours she spent in here, the lady still assumed she'd bleed all over the books. The young girl sighed a little, flipping the book shut with a claw delicately. "Cell Structure in Lesser Mammals"

It was a piece of overwritten, pompous Esterberry drivel, but at least it went over how cells split. There really was no different between the smaller mammals, and Cards. At least there wasn't at the level she was reading at. Then again, she was only 10 and certainly higher level material would get more indepth. Afterall, Cards could morph, other animals couldn't. She still wasn't sure if that was a magical anomaly or a physical one.

The small cat began to leave the library before she noticed the clock and started, it was nearly class time. A small burst of adrenaline shot through her body and she padded quickly down the hallways. It was a new class this term and she had no idea what to expect. She had never been overly interested in anything other than her own pursuits, but perhaps it would be interesting. A small thrill of childish excitement ran through her. She really did enjoy school.

Carefully she pushed open the door and was startled when the teacher turned directly to her, she must have been the first, or only, one here. Quietly she slipped onto a cushion and got ready for the class.

[Tigeress]

The green Corvie was an interesting first sight. Was that... blood? How curious. Besaba, perhaps by Suit or by nature, didn't mind blood in the least. In fact, it was rather fascinating, though in a bitter sense. If only bodies ran on something a little more reliable, but that was just memories of her mother getting to her. After the girl entered, two others joined, though each spacing themselves out a fair bit. She smiled to herself, remembering the awkwardness of the first day.

"So this class is a bit different from most you're used to." She started, bringing a metal table with her newest specimen to the centre of the class. "My name is Besaba, and this creature here has a very interesting physical profile." She allowed it to scamper around a bit, watching as it jerked now and then awkwardly, stumbling and then walking strongly as it became more confident with it's new... additions. "I have studied the use and structure of things like muscle, tendon, and organs extensively for about five years now." She was still young in the grand scheme of things, just over 20.

"I have found it to be displeasing in that it is fragile, outdated. I propose the idea of making a stronger, more useful substitute. Metal has been done before, I want to fuse chemical properties together as more of an... upgrade." She paused and took out three darkly colored vials and a sealed container of what looked like tissue. "Is this easy to understand?" It was a bit more advanced than she'd been asked for, but in a way she was using this as part of her own research. Some may look at them and see useless kids, but she saw an opportunity for discovery.

"If you would care to pair up, I have a few samples of organ and muscle here for you to inspect, familiarze yourself with. I will be teaching you how these meaty tissues work in the body, but I want you to also understand them out of the body." She tapped her lip at the uneven number and nodded. "As there is an uneven number today, if anyone would like to work alongside me, I can work as a partner. I won't be commenting much though, so as not to hinder the learning process." She clasped her hands behind her back and looked between her audience.

[Spiderfly]

The young girl blinked slightly at the two others that wandered into class. She hadn't seen them in over a year. Different streams of classes she assumed. Evaline still couldn't understand how all the children were lumped together in other realms during this age. She would have been driven crazy if she'd had to take a metals course, or a course on flight. But muscles, tissues, at least those had cells. Once it seemed as if no one else was on their way into the class she settled back a little, getting comfortable.

She was a little startled when the teacher mentioned lab work, already. Normally they had to go through much theory before they actually go to play with the things they were studying. Her nostrils flared just a little and she stood, motioning that she'd work with the teacher. It'd be a challenge, and she was sure she'd learn more than from the other students.

Softly she padded over to the brightly-coloured female and and looked up, her still childlike voice speaking up.

"My name is Evaline. . ." She almost mentioned her father, but she'd rather be graded on her own achievements and not his. Besides, she'd found out a few years ago that some teachers were threatened by a child of a successful scientist, no matter what their field.

"Excuse me for asking, but your, experiment over there? Is it upgraded. . as in. . is it's cell structure the same as it was originally?"

[Tigeress]

Besaba raised an eye curiously as the child stood up. Her methods were a little reversed. They'd all had an intro to biology and anatomy last year, as developing corvistowne children were opt to have. Advanced little buggers they were, no wonder people were so... jittery around them. She smiled a half-smile at the girl and nodded her head as she lowered the table for the girl and her both to gather 'round.

"Pleasure to meet you Evaline, I'll be back in a moment." She took another silver table over to the two students who had hesitantly lumped together, giving a few instructions on the three simple substances she'd given them. Nodding her head, she walked back over to Evaline and took a seat of her own.

"Not at all, that's the beauty of it. I don't want to use something simple like metal which replaces natural biology entirely. The chemical compounds I applied to it actually mutate the cells to gain different properties than they normally would. It's risky, because muscle works in a very stable, predictable fashion, and when the tissues have new properties added, you never know how they'll function as a working system once blood and the rest comes into play." She began to lay out the strip of muscle for herself and Evaline while still thinking it over.

"In a way, it's a bit like the transition to a bipedal or human form. Though I'm trying to steer away from magic influences as much as possible, it's a little hard to do considering how helpful it can be in stabilizing the new.. materials." She smiles and lays out the three tubes for Evaline to consider. "These two are basic acids, and this one has magical properties. Apply it to the tissue as you will and watch and consider what it does." She sat back on her heels, studying the girl carefully for a moment.

"So where exactly do your interests lie most heavily? I'm going to assume cell structure?"

[Spiderfly]

Evaline looked down at the lumps of. . meat. . . in front of her while the teacher went over to get the other two students on track. She . . wow, that just did not look appetizing at all. She wondered briefly what the flesh itself had come from. A livestock animal perhaps, or, an Ace. Even that was a little past her comfort zone. Something in the back of her head told her that Ace's were Cards, just like everyone else. But it wasn't time to think about that.

She straightened as the pink and black cat strode back over and listened intently. Perhaps this course wouldn't be as bad as she had originally thought. In fact, it almost seemed like the teacher was gearing in the direction of her own interest. Though really, everything was just cells at some level right? She twitched her nose in thought a little, curious if there was anything that wasn't made of cells. Atoms? She had no idea what those were honestly, just that they were very small. With a small shake of her head she tuned back in to the conversation around her.

The cat listened carefully, intrigued, then considered the tubes carefully. With a small tap of a claw she chose the second acid and picked it up with two claws. It was rather precarious, but she was starting to get enough practice that it wasn't too bad. She was secretly glad there was no cork in the top though. Eva nodded lightly, answering as she gently poured the liquid over the strip of muscle placed in front of her.

"I find it. . interesting. I guess I mostly know what they look like? I've looked at a lot of diagrams." She was a bit sheepish, she hated admitting how little she really knew.

[Tigeress]

The muscle was all from livestock. Being that they were in a school, even if Besaba had questionable morals, everything was held up to a certain standard. She watched the girl with rapt interest, it had been a while since she'd seen another of her realm in action. Though the girl was young, the interest was evident. Besaba Liked that. Picking the second, Besaba leaned back and watched as the modified acid met the flesh and made it throb sharply, the meat suddenly seeming more elastic.

"This one gives a new property of elasticity. The muscle now has a more rubbery consistency, increased durability, and a slightly different consistency." Allowing the girl to get her comment in, Besaba smiled brightly. "No need to be shy. If you want to know a secret, I've yet to figure out a way to incorporate these three new types of modified meat into a living, functioning being. They are all a little... unperfected. It comes with time, even when you've been studying something for years."

One finger expertly flicked out a claw to seperate the two other strips around the area that had already been 'tested', giving her two other clean slates to experiment with. "Does it make you uncomfortable? Don't be shy if it does, I think it's that way for most that don't have a natural fascination with it. I was lucky, from a young age I was comfortable with the sight, smell, feel." She reached up to pet her furred example, which started scampering around the barred cage she'd secured atop it. Opening it up right now would hold no awkwardness for her.

"So what would you like to study most if you had the chance?" She had equipment that she leant out from time to time... for the right endeavors.

[Spiderfly]

Evaline watched with curiousity as she poured the small vial of liquid carefully on the muscle. Honestly, she didn't know what to expect, and because of that, nearly did expect it to start glowing or something equally ridiculous. The result was both disappointing and interesting. Elasticity would make someone more flexible perhaps. Would that be beneficial, or would that cause joint problems? The small cat found herself thinking rapidly about all the pros and cons. Yes, she believed she liked this class

She gave a small nod to acknowledge she'd heard the older cat before turning her attention back to the conversation.

"Is there a certain type of result you're going for with your experiments? More strength? Able to work longer?" Her eyes regarded the teacher as she waited for an answer. She wasn't exactly put off by the muscle, but she didn't quite know how to properly handle it. Things were always a tad awkward with her claws.

"Humm, I don't know. Cell structure?" She answered with a small quirk of her face. Eva knew that wasn't the most helpful response, but she just didn't know enough yet to know what exactly she was interested in. "I guess, I find how they work interesting. I'm curious if they actually change to help Cards to morph? I dunno."

She laughed a little at herself before falling quiet and moving her mouth uncomfortably. At times she felt so smart, and other times. . . she felt her age.

[Tigeress]

Besaba's gaze was focussed on the girl so intently, it could be described like watching prey. But it was just so very interesting to see how someone else reacted, and to watch the wheels turn in her head. Silence reigned for a time, until the girl responded to what Besaba had been babbling on about.

"Hmmm for me personally, something less fragile. Something that could, say, withstand more damage over the process of a battle. Or be more resilient against wounding." It would be easy to draw conclusions about that wish if her past was a little more common knowledge, but luckily it was kept very under wraps. She could chalk up her curiosity to being a natural-born thing. Idly, she wondered what passion she might have developed if those events didn't happen. Oh well!

"Ahhh, so how cell structure is modified and influences the morphing procedure. Very interesting." There was an evident excitement and interest in her voice. Very rarely did children at this age start to develop the specifics of what really made them perk. This girl had spent a lot of time considering the potential of being a cell structure specialist, and obviously was grasping the importance of finding a major passion to pursue. If this girl could influence morphing, she could make millions off of frustrated and downright desperate people who just couldn't pull it off.

"I say stick with it. Some people say getting an itching to follow something so specific at your age is kind of like... a life's calling." The words weren't meant just for enthusiasm, rarely did Besaba really care about other people's self-esteem and how they perceived what she had to say. Genuinely, though the girl didn't seem as confident in what she'd said, Besaba found it intriguing. She waved one hand patiently at the other two vials and the remaining strips of flesh.

"So tell me, what did you hope to get out of this class?" A small, interested smirk graced the biped's mouth as she averted her eyes to study the other group carefully. They seemed to be interacting a limited amount, more interested in keeping their findings to themselves. Typical Corvies.