It was the eyes, mused Vera, that truly captured the imagination. Not able to bear it anymore, she dropped the instrument she fiddled with and grabbed her sketching things from her large purse. Quickly she began drawing those eyes in bold, strong lines, determined to capture the emotions within. "Look, I don't care about any of that! I just want to draw you, paint you. Or at least aspects of you." She finished the drawing by adding a slight depth to the eyes by shading them. They dominated the page, staring out from the glaring white with a disturbing intensity. Turning the book over, Vera shoved it towards the edge of the cage where the man could clearly see the illustration. "Those are your eyes. See how much emotion they show? That is why I will convince you that nothing will deter me from bringing you home with me, because you seem to exude the emotions I want to capture so very much." Vera now sat on the floor and regarded the man while removing her white gloves, now stained with lead.

[ Which slaves, exactly, are still not taken? Maybe Holleh can put up something on the front page about which masters have which slaves or whatnot. Storm needs one, and I don't want to have one of my charries interacting with only the other one before that! It's so boring! ]


Jewel nodded obediently as Raek left to get the picture of Storm. She immediately began to panic. What if Storm was a mean-looking man, or one that didn't take proper care of his slaves?

What if he was like that old man earlier? What if he... took advantage of her?

When Raek returned with a picture of the assassin called Storm, she saw the expression on his face and relaxed. If Storm had been a mean-looking man, then surely Raek's expression wouldn't have been so relaxed or controlled. She noticed how Raek hardly glanced at the picture the whole way back to her cage, even when he set it on her lap, facedown.

She was still afraid, nonetheless.

Hesitantly, she pulled up the corner of the picture and flipped it over, nearly gasping aloud at the man in the picture. He could be a male model, for Christ's sake! she thought. His eyes were slightly slanted, suggesting that he had an Asian background, but the rest of his facial features told her that he was something more than just that. And speaking of his eyes... Even though they were gray-black in the picture, they seemed to reflect every color of the rainbow.

Now that she had seen this man, she was scolding herself for being afraid of his looks. She was even doubtful that he was an infamous assassin, for how could a man with so gentle a face be as evil as her peers said he was?

She didn't notice that she was staring and gaping at the picture until a slight jingling sound interrupted her thoughts. When she looked up, there was the said man, in all of his majestic glory.

x x x

Zenja Storm had pulled the door open, and sidestepped out of the way as the door swung back on its hinges. He gave an inward snort of some kind - the small jingle of the bell seemed like an entrance that an angel would have, and this man was no angel, unless it was one of darkness and evil.

He was dressed in some of his best-fitting clothes - his navy bluish-black denim jeans, a loose-fitting belt that slung from the top of his left hip to the bottom of his right (which held two sheathes for two of his smaller knives), his black cowboy boots, worn over his pants, and his black kangaroo-leather jacket (complete with white and golden lining around the sleeves, and a chain which held a black-and-blue pendant, connecting in two different places on one shoulder) that stopped midway to his bare chest. That was all.

Immediately after stepping into the slave shop, he sought out Raek, who was currently sitting by one of the slave's cages. Said slave was currently staring at him, mouth ajar, eyes seeming as if they wanted to jump out of her head in that same moment. His lips twitched as he fought a smile of amusement, but took a few steps toward Raek and the slave anyway. Humans. Always so amazed by what they see.

"Raek. Long time no see," Storm called to the other man in acknowledgement. He stopped just short of arm's reach of Raek - he was sure the other man knew as much as he what exactly would happen if Storm allowed himself to get too close. While he was blooded, the urge to pounce and feed was always there. Storm tucked his thumbs in his pockets, and his eyes blurred and blended into a medium-blue color, meaning he was calm and collected, but slightly on edge. He hoped that Raek and the other humans had been studying in on a mood color chart or something of the likes.

His eyes widened a moment, only to narrow back, and he grunted, his features turning back to their normal appearance. "Whatever... you may think I'll treat you kindly once getting to know you, but I will not. I wasn't someone meant to have a master." He told her, crawling to the back of the cage again, staring at her. "Make any sort of move I dislike and I wont hesitate to hurt you."

As Windser searched the isles, he found many creatures that he loved, some quite familiar, others not so much. But one, a rather dark looking lady with a chain for a collar. He examined her charms and colours. Perfect, he thought. The way she scowled at him, the way she advertised herself, then sat dejectedly. She was.... attractive, but the Dawg was no fool, he knew her type. She would probably rather die than take orders, and almost definitely try to escape. He thought he would try his hand at befriending this creature, this bajang, s o that she wound want to live with him, for if he did not oppress her, she would not resist, right?
With this in mind, he went to the cage and spoke, at once friendly and strong,
"Hello there. I am going to take you home. You will love it, you may have whatever you desire, as long as you're with me."

[[just to be sure, Windser is talking to Akira]]

A funny expression crossed Vera's face as she regarded him. "Well isn't that a coincidence. I don't really want a slave. As for treating me kindly, really as long as you don't do anything horrible we should get along just fine." Vera didn't really care how he treated her, as long as he agreed to pose for her. She wouldn't ever bring someone with her against their will. The young woman planned on 'owning' her 'slave' in name only.

He grunted again, and closed his eyes, leaning against the wall of the room. "We'll see. My instinct and power tend to have a mind of their own when I'm angry or upset about something... and I get upset easily. People don't exactly understand my ways." He told her, beginning to lightly doze off. "Now go away girl, I'm tired."

Akira looked up at the male in surprise. She didn't like the way he addressed her. What made him think she'd go with him? She sniffed at him, but couldn't figure out what he was. She had never smelled that scent before. Glowering at the man, she asked, "Anything I want? Does that include my freedom?" She looked the man up and down. What an odd creature? His face seems to be a pale green colour while his hand there is human colour. The bajang was getting outrageously thirsty for blood. She thought about grabbing the man by the neck and drinking him dry, but he smelled weird. Anyone who smelled weird couldn't be good to drink.

He pondered her words. "Freedom is such a strange word, sometimes sweet to the tongue, other times quite vulgar. Whatever freedom you want, take me with you on your travels. Wherever you go. But first, you really should give me a chance. You don't have much choice, now do you? One more thing, you may drink of my blood." He put his chin up, exposing his neck. "You will find my blood sweeter than that of humans, and it will not harm me even if you cut my head clear off.' He knew this much because he had been attacked in the past by vampires, bajangs, and other blood sucking creatures, all of whom loved his blood--or whatever liquid flowed under his skin--more so than any other creature they'd tasted.

When Makoto had suddenly heard that they were heading back to the slave shop to get another compainion. He just tilted his head slightly and began to follow her out of the clothing store, he wasn't expecting that she was really planning on having two slaves since that would mean she would have to watch two people and have to basically also care for them. Hearing the reason she was getting another slave was so that he wouldn't get lonely himself when she would go to work; his eyes just widen up slightly once more. Truly, this girl was full of surprises to him; it was just one shocking thing after another to him. As they walked to the shop once more, he had just given a little warm smile as he watched how she began to walk backwards toward the shop. Makoto couldn't really do that, but originally when he could fly; he was able to fly backwards, but not so much when it came to walking. Speaking about flying, it wasn't as if he could even fly anymore anyway; due to his wings looking torn the way they were now, just trying to flap them at all wouldn't really get him anywhere. Suddenly as they continued to walk, Makoto felt P-KO grab his hand for a moment than out of no where began to bolt to the slave shop. Barely being able to catch up, he had almost fallen to the floor a couple of times as he turned his head to look back at what they were running from at all. It just seemed to be the officers that she was talking about. By the time they had both made it back into the shop, Makoto was also panting quite heavily as he looked over at her hearing how she was also just as tired. But hearing the command she gave for him to look around, he just gave a quick nod and began to search around the shop for anyone that was still in cages.

By the time Daigo had walked to the entrance of the shop, hearing what Sumiko had spoke about the clothing. He just gave a little nod smiling softly. Right as soon as he was about to speak to her however, Daigo had nearly fallen forward onto the floor when he had heard the shop doors suddenly barge open and two people running right on in. Stumbling forward quite a bit, he turned right around to notice it was a young girl and a male with strange white torn angelic wings. Both of them seemed exhausted from running from something or someone as Daigo just tilted his head curiously to them. They had seemed alright to him, especially the male since he seemed to had been able to still walk. So taking his attention right back at Sumiko when he heard her confirmation question, he just gave a nod in return. "Yup, I'm sure. I have a feeling that you wouldn't really want to call me that anyway." he said with a little chuckle before scratching the back of his head playfully.

Vera wondered how anyone could fall asleep in a cage. She supposed one could get used to anything if forced to endure it long enough. A small smile flitted across her face as she thought of some enticement that might interest the young looking man. "Maybe a nice , soft, feather bed might be something you'd be willing to come home with me for. A room all your own, not at all cramped like this cage. There's even a lock on the inside of the door, so if you really don't want me around you can lock me out. All I ask in return is that you become my model. Is that so much to ask, when I will be providing a room and food for you, as well as near freedom within my home?" Vera had no idea what else he liked. She'd only made the suggestion because of how drowzy he seemed. Which reminded her his name was unknown to her, as well as hers was unknown to him. "My name is Vera," said the woman simply as she regarded the man with speculative eyes.

He opened his eyes, looking over at her. "A whole room to myself, with no disturbance?" He asked, then grinned, coming up to the cage bars again, looking her over, that grin not fading. "Give me everything you've just listed, with free meals of my choice, and we've got a deal." He said, going to put his hand out, but was stopped.. these bars were too close together to do that.. and he lookd at her. "First.. put your finger through the bars." He told her.

Jaycie sat back, aching for sleep, but realizing that she'd never fall back into it with the level of noise in the room. Her eyebrow jerked up against her wishes as the girl came back in with Ma... Maki, or something similar. They both seemed out of breath, but Jaycie was more curious as to why they had come back, especially Maki. Certainly the fallen angel would want to stay as far away as possible?

"Hey Maki!" Jaycie called out, standing and getting a bit closer to the bars before resuming her previous position. "Would you come here for a second? I want to ask you a question." The other girl who had taken in the fallen angel was rather curious, giving off the air of a renowned and proud trouble-maker. While Maki would potentially ignore Jaycie's first question, he may perform her request. He was too nice to avoid doing so in her opinion, but if he didn't come over, it was rather moot.

((Yes, Happy, that's your character. :D))

While Makoto walked down the path to look for another compainion to go with P-KO later, he turned his head looking left and right at all the cages. Just seeing them, reminding him that he was just in one of those a few minutes ago. The life of being behind bars was almost too unbearable to imagine. Suddenly while he walked down the path; Makoto's ears had caught the voice of a young female. Turning his head to the side, he just happened to noticed that whoever had called out to him, used his nickname. His eyes just widened up when he noticed that it was Jayce. She was another slave that was also in this shop; Makoto remembered speaking with her a couple of times before while here, so why she was calling him now; wasn't much of a surprise. Running right over to her, he gave a little warm smile and tilted his head to her saying she had a question. "Yeah sure Jayce. Whats your question?" he asked sounding much less shy with her; only because he knew her a bit more well since they were both slaves here at the shop anyway.

((whoopies. sorries ^^; didnt realize you talked to me earlier. :sweat: Wait. :shock: did you?))

"I'm curious as to why you came back," Jaycie explained as he walked over, her usual blunt nature peaking through a bit. "She paid for you, didn't she? Why would you come back anyway? Didn't you hate this place?" By the end of her stream of questions, Jaycie leveled off, figuring she was being a bit too nosy for her own good. And it wasn't like she knew Maki all that well, just a little bit from their occasional conversations between the cages.

Almost imperceptibly, she began drumming her fingers on the bar, trying to build up the courage to ask Maki to do her a favor. "Hey, Maki?" she asked, a crimson hue descending upon her visage as the words tumbled past her lips. "Would you ask Raek to send a package of Pull-ups over to the cage? I'm all out, and really need some more."

Shrugging Vera plunged a few fingers trough the tightly set bars, and into the cage. "I'm not the best cook, but we can order out too. Sometimes you may not want to model for me, but I will bug you to do so. I'm telling this to you ahead of time so you know what to expect." She wanted to capture that expression of his in a drawing as soon as possible. Turning her head, she caught sight of the store owner speaking with someone. As soon as things were figured out she would have to go speak with him about this intriguing young man.

He thought for a moment about her words. "Hm.. Well, it better not be mornings or afternoons. Night is the time I'm more active than usual... so as long as you don't pester me in the day.. perhaps this will be acceptable." He told her, then looked at her hand.. he needed her to agree to him to make this a deal between the two of them...

[[ I have such small replies x.x; ]]

When Jaycie had seemed to wonder why Makoto came back, he just gave a little nervous smile and scratched the back of his head. "I do hate this place..b...but it seems that when she bought me, she also wanted to get me a friend." he stated, really he didn't like this place on bit; especially since the entire place itself wasn't exactly the cleanest shop in the entire world. While speaking with her however, the conversation seemed to slowly head toward something as it seemed Jaycie wanted a favor from him. So just tilting his head slightly, he awaited for her request; only to hear that it was for a box of pull-ups. Giving a slight blush across his face, Makoto just smiled nervously still. Before he could even give a nod to her, his eyes widened right up when he just thought of a plan. "Hey wait a minute. I got an idea. How about, I ask that girl if you could become one of hers too?"

((You can always had descriptions of things))

Sea green eyes regarded the man as she pondered what he had said. Vera was not a morning person, though she did prefer working during the day. Considering the facts, she weighed her want of painting him against her normal schedule. It would be inconvenient at first, but she would get used to it. "Alright, but at first I'll be cranky simply because I will have to change my sleeping habits to comply." Vera's fingers brushed against one of the cold bars and a shiver ran trough her body. The white clad woman was beginning to regret removing her gloves.

Sighing she sat on the hard floor, still leaving her fingers within the cage. Vera had the feeling it would take some time simply to get trough these negotiations. "Tell me your name, and perhaps what those dangling charms on that collar of your means. I can't make heads or tails of those things, and hopefully will never have to look at those again! The moment we get to my home I am removing that contraption, it cuts your neck in pieces which makes for a horrible composition." Vera's work was all about colors and lines, shapes and swirls. All these elements dancing together in order to create a wonderful piece of art that others would pay dearly for.

Sumiko had followed Daigo towards the door it was nice to finally be able to walk around in a larger space. When she saw him starting to fall forward she reached out to help him but pulled her hand back when she saw that he was fine. She looked around at the two that had run in one looked familiar but only because of his wings but the girl didn’t seem to be. When she heard Daigo talk again she looked back at him then said “Alright then, it was a little weird to say.” She looked around at the two that ran in and then back at Daigo to wait for him to leave she didn’t know where they were going so she would have to wait for him. She looked down at the ground then at her note pad and flipped threw some of the pages before looking back up at him.
{Sorry it took a while had a busy night}

He nodded. "Well then.. before we get into things, just moment." He replied, suddenly scrathing one of her fingers, enough to draw blood out. When a single drop came out, his own hand came up, capturing it with the same finger he'd scratched her with.. he brought it to his lips, and his tongue slithered out, licking it up. His pale green eyes moved to look at her, and he grinned. "Deals made then" He said. "Better keep your word." Juu leaned back, supporting himself with his arms. "Now then, Vera, my name is Juu. Each of these charms placed on this collar tell you about the things I take interest in. He pointed to the gun. "This one means I love to play with dangerous toys." He said with a grin, now pointing at a rose. "This one tells you I can manipulate others, and have them agree with me rather easily." His finger then tapped the bed. "This one is painfully obvious, I'm sure you can figure it out... and lastly, this one, the Pencil. I suppose this is a good skill that slaves can know. It tells you I know how to read and write." He said, finishing them.. intentionally leaving out the fifth. "Now do you have a basic understanding of what I am like? Or are you one of those people who love digging into others pasts?"

At the moment, P-KO was actually outside arguing with the officers. She herself thought she had done nothing wrong, but apparently, the officers were suspicious of her seemingly innocent acts of kindness at Makoto.

"I didn't do anything bad! Stop accusing me!" She yelled, throwing her hands up in the air in frustration. The one day the purple-headed girl did nothing extreme, is when the officers threaten to arrest her. Which, to her, was not a good reason to do what they were doing. So, since she really have no respect for most of the government, (she was dead, P-KO doesn't give a damn abou those other people if they're rude at all.) and since the officers were pretty rude to her, she gave them a complete death glare before walking back into the store, a triumphant smirk on her lips as the cops bashed on one another for being so stupid.

Walking back inside the shop, she blinked, her multi-colored eyes having to adjust to the lighting of the room. Being herself, she started meandering, looking for a possible slave, as well as looking for Makoto.

A sharp hiss left Vera at the unexpected drawing of blood. Fascinated she watched as the man licked up the drop of blood, sealing their agreement with the strongest of ties. "I would rather learn about someone's personality then their past. Though with some people I do want to know more, there's no denying that you're one of them. No need to worry though, I won't pry." His grin was contagious, a wide smile slipped across the woman's face before she knew it. Instead of leaning back as Juu did, she moved forward closer to the cage.

Peering between the bars she regarded he manipulative man, and wondered if she might have wanted to speak about her own safety before making any deals. She shook her head as her smile turned wry. "Well Juu, I'm certain our acquaintance will be an interesting one." Smile still on her face, Vera stood to glance over at the store owner. She wasn't quite sure if he was still speaking with someone or not.

A sigh of relief escaped her when she saw him speaking with one of the slaves. Vera nodded to Juu before walking away. She was all too aware of the ludicrous amount of money in her purse. Quietly she stood behind the dark haired man and waited for him to notice her. Vera wasn't about to interrupt, not even if the conversation was with a slave. No matter how much she wanted to return to her home with Juu, she would not barge into another's conversation.

Juu watched her get up and leave.. and sighed in relief. Finally, he could rest again.. he scooted back onto the 'bed' and lay on it, having to scrunch up a bit to fit, breing too tall for the cage when full laying down. As he lay there.. thoughts of being in a soft, warm bed filled his mind, making him smile. Though he disliked the thought of living with a human woman, the living arangments she had given him were rather wonderful, and at the current moment, he wouldn't change them at all. The way they were suited him perfectly. His mind running blank now, he closed his eyes, and dozed off.. not paritcularly waiting for the woman to return...

Hearing what Sumiko had said about how saying that word was weird to her anyway. Daigo gave a little nod as he chuckled lightly, it was understandable to him why that word would be so weird. It wasn't exactly the most polite thing to call a random person someone that they just met. So when he had noticed how the young purple haired girl had walked back outside arguing with a couple of officers while the young male had began to look around the shop a bit. Daigo was completely confused as he just headed right on out of the slave shop, turning right on around for a moment to see if Sumiko was still following him. "Well, lets get you something to eat first. hmm?" Daigo said with a little smile coming across his face than heading away from the shop and toward a random direction.

((it otay ^^;

and i can't really post for Makoto, sorry about that. Since im still waiting for Angelo to answer. :sweat: ))

Jaycie's shoulders had been taut as she asked her embarrassing, yet necessary request. Upon his nod, she visibly relaxed and smiled. His mention of a plan intrigued her, but when he asked her what her decision would be, she went tight as a bowstring again. After a few moment's of thinking for a way out, Jaycie found it in how the question was worded. "It's up to you," she replied, thereby placing the decision on him. "I trust you enough." Having successfully avoided making a decision herself, she sat back and waited for Maki to do something.

((Sorry, I have to be up at five-thirty every morning for school, so I don't always get a huge amount of time to post. :)))