I'd rather stand tall than live on my knees. [Glob!] [m]

[Rhindeer]

"You're up, honey. Shake a leg," Gwendolyn said, and gave Khero a push between the shoulders to get her moving. "Remember to smile!"

Gods, Khero hated that woman.

And though she hated violence, she didn't hate it as much as she wanted to slide a blade between that bitch's ribs.

It was that hatred that she focused on, to chase away the fear, as she took a deep breath and climbed the steps of the auction block, which was a little awkward since Gwen had placed her manacled hands behind her, to make it harder for her to run. Still she climbed and soon reached the top where the other slaves, men and women and children alike, were already lined up. Some of them were sobbing; some of them were staring listlessly, all the fight gone out of them; some were glaring defiantly, daring someone to choose them.

But Khero chose to smile, as serenely as she could, as she stood there with the other slaves in the long, plain brown tunic they were all wearing. She'd given this day a lot of thought. She'd had nothing but time as she traveled with Gwen's party, locked up with the other captives, which meant she had a lot of time to think and plan. Oh, she was terrified out of her wits, but terror and stress had only ever made her more thoughtful and calculating.

Only someone very confident and strong would choose an openly defiant slave, and she didn't want someone confident and strong to pick her. A sadist would likely pick the crying ones, someone who was already heartless or who maybe even got enjoyment out of others' misery, and she certainly didn't want that. She was hoping that, if she at least looked compliant and submissive, she might attract someone who was hoping for exactly that--a slave that would be easy to handle.

Because that sort of person would be easier for her to handle, too.

[DaGlobster]

Elaros stared at the carriage wall between the two bodyguards sitting across from him, ignoring the view as his carriage rolled along the streets. They glanced around, before one of them spoke up in Drakkonan.

"Is something the matter, Master?"

Elaros looked somber for once in his life, and it was an expression his guards would never have thought to see on their usually ecstatic master.

Elaros sighed, and took a sip from his wine, offering his bodyguards a weak smile.

"I remember when she sat there on her first day... Between the two of you."

The two bodyguards frowned lightly.

"Master, I speak with the utmost respect, but--"

"It doesn't matter. I'll have a new one before the day is over."

They spent the rest of the carriage ride in silence, before it pulled up in front of the slave auction. Elaros' guards filed out of the carriage, and flanked him as he stepped out. He was wearing clothing more suitable for Adela's cooler weather. Although he didn't like covering up too much, he still found a way to make a fur coat look provocative and elegant at the same time.

He motioned for his guards to stay at the carriage, and they put the bases of their short glaives against the ground.

Elaros joined the growing crowd of moderately wealthy men and women, sticking out like a sore thumb on fire. He made his way to the front, and began glancing over the slaves, one by one.

[Rhindeer]

All around her, men and women were selected and auctioned off. Khero watched it all, struggling to keep her breathing even and steady and calm even as her heart raced and chest tightened with anxiety.

She felt like she might explode when it was finally her turn.

The auctioneer motioned her to step forward on the block, and so she did. She rolled her shoulders back and stood there, proud and tall (well, all five feet four inches of her!) and gazed out at the crowd as fearlessly as she could, putting on her most vapid smile--

A smile that faltered when she caught sight of a...a strange creature in the crowd.

A creature dressed in the clothes of a man, but looking like...

Like a walking lizard or dragon or...something...

Her eyes widened briefly, and she jerked them away, only vaguely aware that the auction had begun. No eye contact with that one! She definitely didn't want that one!

[DaGlobster]

Of course, Elaros wasn't the most accustomed to Adelan culture, but he knew that dragons were pretty much pigeons in this country, and he knew his appearance might come as a shock to the citizens. After all, Drakkonans did have dragon blood in them.

He took some pleasure in the shocked or awed expressions of the people around him, reveled in the tiny bubble of empty space they left him with among the crowd.

Slave after slave, Elaros watched silently, unmoving.

When Khero came up, there was something about her that caught his eye. Unlike the other slaves, who were either unattractively sad or defiant, Khero smiled at the crowd, standing dauntless upon the pedestal. She didn't look too bad, either. She was a little underfed, but that was something Elaros could fix.

Her first impression reminded him of Luna, in a way and perhaps that small connection was enough to make Elaros raise his hand almost as soon as the initial bid was announced by the auctioneer. He locked his eyes onto her, and they never left.

[Rhindeer]

It was when the auctioneer announced the first bid that Khero looked around the crowd sharply, searching for who it was--and perhaps it was due to wishful thinking, but she didn't look back toward the reptilian man until she saw no other hands raised. And when she found him again...

His hand was raised. And he was looking at her dead on.

Khero paled, looked away again, and stared at the other bidders desperately. Oh gods! Why him?! Why the one that looked like he would eat her?! There were plenty of slaves plumper than her! C'mon, someone else, make a bid...do it...do it...DO IT! Don't let her get stuck with the monster!

But no other bids came. Many sets of eyes were on the reptilian man, and it seemed no one wanted to compete with him.

And so it wasn't long before the auctioneer called for final bids, going once, going twice, and SOLD!

Before Khero could even think "fuck me, I'm monster food", Gwendolyn was there, beaming brightly as she grabbed her arm and roughly pulled her along, escorting her down the steps. "Well, well. I can't say I envy you," she chuckled in her ear, and soon they were back on solid ground and Khero was left staring off into the crowd, searching for the monster that had bought her.

This...

Definitely put a crimp in her plans...

[DaGlobster]

Elaros was almost surprised with how easy his victory was. He was prepared for a fight, to come out of this having spent much more money than he just did.

Not that he was complaining!

Smiling victoriously, he walked through the crowd, striding proudly as he came out onto the front. His eyes glanced from Khero to Gwendolyn, and he smiled. He procured a blank bank note from his pocket, and filled it out to the appropriate amount. He folded it, eyes still locked onto Khero, and handed it to Gwendolyn.

[Rhindeer]

Gwendolyn snatched up the note, checked that it was legitimate and correct, and smiled a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Wonderful doing business with you," she said with a small bow, before she handed him a key. "For her manacles."

And then she was off, back to oversee the rest of the auction.

Leaving Khero with the beast.

She stared back at him as he looked at her, eyes humorously large, and licked her dry lips nervously. She swallowed hard in an effort to work moisture back into her mouth. Gods. What even was he?! She did her best to smile, but it came out more twitchy than she intended.

Fuck. Me.

"...Hi."

[DaGlobster]

[I'm assuming you need documents to own a slave in Adela, although feel free to PM me how much of a dolt I am if I'm wrong, and I'll fix it :P]

Elaros chuckled a bit at Khero's nervousness, holding the key to her manacles in his claws. He slipped the key into his fur coat, glancing about, before his eyes locked back onto Khero.

"Hello, er..."

His eyes widened a bit, and he looked back to Gwendolyn who was already leaving.

"The bill of sale, my good lady. I don't believe you gave it to me!" he called out, crossing his arms.

He wasn't going to be conned this easily. Without that proof of ownership, there was nothing stopping this lady from sending goons to take Khero back.

[Rhindeer]

[You're fine! 8D]

Gwen stopped, having almost reached the block, and gave the lizard-man a curious look--then startled, as though she had just remembered something. "Ah! I believe you're right! Thank you for reminding me!" she said, and produced a slip from her purse.

Heading back over to him, she held it out for him to take. "My apologies. The day has been long and my mind has been absent. I'm sure you understand," she said with an oily smile.

[DaGlobster]

"I understand," Elaros said with a fake smile, and peered at the document to make sure it was legitimate. Once satisfied, he slipped it into his coat. He pulled the collar up a bit higher, shuddering in the waning cold of late winter.

Elaros peered back to Khero, and approached her, giving her a friendly smile, before motioning towards his carriage with his head. He lightly grabbed one of her elbows with his hand, and started moving.

"Khero, I take it? Or is that just what the document says?"

[Rhindeer]

Khero twitched when he grabbed her elbow, her muscles taut with tension. It had been easy to be smiley and fake when she thought another person would be buying her, but a monster? None of her plans had accounted for that!

It took her a second to realize he was talking to her, with her mind racing a hundred miles a minute.

"Wha? Oh, er, yessir. Yeah. It's Khero, uh...sir." She swallowed again, darting nervous looks his way. "Khero Takala. Or just Khero. That's fine. Uhm. Sir." She twitched and bit her tongue to hold back her babbling.

[DaGlobster]

"Settle down, Khero. I'm not going to eat you, despite what that look on your face tells me," Elaros said bluntly, and let Khero's elbow go once they were past the crowd and in front of his carriage. His guards, who were quite obviously a different species of Drakkon altogether (they were smaller, and overall less impressive looking), opened the carriage door, and waited for them to enter.

Elaros glanced back at the continuing auction, and grimaced.

"Such a sordid affair. Turn around, let's get those barbaric things off your wrists."

[Rhindeer]

Oh gods. There were more of them. Oh gods. Of course, it was nice to hear that he didn't plan on eating her! But, of course, that begged the question of just why did he buy her, then? Saying he wasn't going to eat her was just the sort of thing someone who was planning on eating her would say!

...At least, it was the sort of thing she'd said to the rats she tried to catch.

She turned around when instructed, though, because no one was more eager to get those manacles off than she was. "Whew. Great. That's good to know, uh...sir. Not bein' eaten. Takes a load off, that's fer sure. Not that I thought ya would."

Oh gods, kill her now, it was like everything that came out of her mouth was pure stupidity! But she couldn't help it. She was nervous as all hell.

[DaGlobster]

Elaros had the feeling she'd be like this for the first few days. She'd get used to him, though. With time.

"Just...get in the carriage," Elaros chuckled, and motioned for her to board ahead of him.

"And please, call me Master. It has a better ring than "Sir", in my humble opinion."

[Rhindeer]

Khero looked at the carriage with trepidation and paused, because it would be difficult to board--or sit--with her hands locked behind her.

"Ah...my hands?" she asked, wriggling them in case he'd forgotten, and pointedly avoiding calling him master. She...really didn't want to. Sir was one thing. Sir was respectful.

Master was...an acknowledgment of ownership.

[DaGlobster]

"Oh! Sorry about that. This cold has me sluggish."

Elaros unlocked Khero's manacles, and motioned for her to board the carriage again. The guards took up one side of the interior, so Khero would be forced to share a side with Elaros.

[Rhindeer]

As soon as her hands were free, Khero boarded the carriage and slid into the empty seat. She pressed against the carriage wall and tried to make herself small, feeling quite nervous and twitchy and not really wanting to touch any of the strange monster lizards. So she busied herself by looking out the window and massaging her wrists, even as her legs bounced, unable to sit still.

She just had to calm down and think. Think this through. Once they got wherever they were going, she could come up with a better plan then.

[DaGlobster]

Despite Khero's best efforts, the carraige seats were small. Even with her efforts to not touch Elaros, when he sat down, she was still basically within arm's reach.

The carriage driver began making his preparations, and as he did so, Elaros looked to Khero.

"I'm your first master, aren't I?" Elaros said, reading her expression.

"You need to relax. Nobody here wants to hurt you. Would you like some wine?"

[Rhindeer]

Khero nodded at that, risking a quick look over at the lizard man.

"Ah, yeah. Yeah, ya are. I was free but a week ago," she said, a sharp edge to her voice. "'Til that bitch jumped me. Er. I'll take some wine. Sure."

She scooted a little more, pressing her shoulder into the wall to try to put more space between them.

[DaGlobster]

Elaros reached into a wine cabinet built into the carriage, and procured a bottle, filling up a moderately sized wine glass.

"Please, don't make this unpleasant. Relax."

He held the glass out slightly in front of him. Khero would have to come get it.

"You're very fortunate that I purchased you. These humans can be quite barbaric with their slaves."