Kystilan/Rubekysil and Thomas Delatori

[DarknessDawning]

The day was hot and muggy, the sun shinning above the auction market and baking everything below. Pressed together, the bodies in the crowd were sweaty and ornery, pacing in their respective places before the items, creatures, or slaves they were interested in purchasing. The market had been open since early that morning, but these cages had come in late. Over the drone of the auctioneers' calls and the bids and the banter came the slightly squeaking of wheels and jingle of metal chains as they bumped over the dirt path to the auction stage. The sound across the wooden platform was momentarily deafening to those near the front, forcing the callers to pause for a moment until the large metal cages settled in their place. Once their rolling was silenced, the noise picked right back up.

There on the platform, the two large metal barred cages sat, settled in place with blocks around the tires to help keep them from rolling if some commotion were to perhaps rock them. Each cage was easily over six foot tall and at least ten long. They took four large men each just to roll carefully without fear of losing control of them in the crowds. Those men were tending to the checking to chains and bolts and clasps that hooked into several of the bars. One, presumably the auctioneer for their set, walked up, grabbing a thick burlap looking cloth that draped the first cage, hiding it's contents from view and pulled firmly, dragging the cloth down and allowing it to fall into a crumpled heap on the ground. There, laying in the floor of the cage was a magnificent creature the likes of which this auction had certainly never seen. The red dragon appeared calm and serene in her sleep, certainly kept under some spell or powerful tranquilizer. Her blood red scales laid smoothly over her skin, the edge of each one just touched with a rim of black that made them stand out against each other. If one were to look closely enough, it would appear that the scales were moving almost. In fact it was visible blood coursing through capillary like tunnels in the scales, boiling as it passed along it's course. Protruding from her brow was a horn to either side, sloping back gently and leading a trail of spikes that ran sharply down the ridge of her spine, ending in a pointed tail.

The calm beauty of her form was broken by the view of her bindings. Her jaws were held shut by a thick iron shackle that cut in around the curve of her muzzle. Her forelimbs were bound together with similar shackles and chained to one side of the cage. Her hind limbs and tail were bound and chained to the other side. Around her mid section were two rings, tight enough that they tore at the delicate skin of her wings, binding them to her back so that they could not unfurl. The man did not stop here though, he proceeded to the next cage, pulling free the cover that hid the cousin dragon behind it. This dragon was awake, bound much more lightly than the first. Her jaws were bound shut, and her forelimbs bound together and chained, but she had enough room that she was backed against the far wall, huddled in terror as her eyes darted across the members of the audience. Her tail had been bound to one hind limb, likely more for her own protection than theirs as her hind limbs were still free. Her body longer and leaner, more serpentine looking. Rather than simple spikes down her spine as the other, spines, thinner and more bony protruded, held together by thin layers of skin like that of their wings. This, small sail of sorts, led all the way down to where her tail ended with these protrusions on both top and bottom, creating a wide paddle like shape that allowed her to move more efficiently in water. This dragon was a beautiful sky blue in color. Her scales tipped with a ridge of sapphire, but not moving like the first. Every time she huffed a fearful breath, tendrils of smoke rose from her nostrils like that of a human's breath on a freezing night. Her eyes were a rich sapphire that matched the tips of her scales, a ghostly almost white blue rimmed the pupil and burst into the iris around it.

The auctioneer turned to the crowd as the other men continued to tend to the cages, constantly making sure things were secure, watching the red dragon much more intently than the blue. The man raised his hand as he began to call... "Ladies and Gentlemen, Ladies and Gentlemen... if you'll look this way I've got a real treat for you... Never seen before here, and you ain't never gonna see it again! This here is last two remaining live specimens known in these parts! That's right, the last two living breathing dragons. I'll start the bidding with Miss blue here!" Her turned and grabbed the bar on the front of the cage and shook it slightly. She winced as though he would hit her before raising her eyes curiously at the crowd again. "Little miss blue is a real beauty, and safely trainable. You won't need tranqs... just keep her chained up and won't be no time before you've got her eaten outta your hand for sure! Perfect for a pet, a companion, hell a trophy... true beautiful specimen! Who wants to start the bid eh? How about a thousand gold pieces? A thousand anyone? Wasn't easy bringin you these girls alive and well, a thousand! Who's got a thousand for the blue one?"

[Flamelord]

Thomas Delatori grunted as he shoved through the crowd at the auction, trying to get a better look at what they had just brought in. He'd been here for the better part of a couple hours, and he was hoping there was finally something worth spending his money on. Thomas was of an average height, with black hair and green eyes. He was currently clad in jeans and a blue polo, not inclined to get his better clothes dirty, but also needing to show his status as a higher member of society to the people around. He was one of the upper class, newly risen to that position through hard work, a bit of financial wizardry, and other various methods, and so he was anxious to show his status, to shut out some of the scoffing of the older blood in the city

Finally, he got to a vantage point where he could see into the recently revealed cages, and what he saw stunned him. Dragons, real live dragons. Not like the skeletons they had in the city, but actual, live, dragons. And as the auctioneer spoke, he knew he had found his prize. With them, the old blood wouldn't dare mock him again, unless he horribly failed, in which case he'd accept it with good sportsmanship. Judging from the amount of restraints, the red one would be harder to deal with, but he figured he'd be able to get through, given enough time.

But now, the bidding was starting on the blue dragon. It was apparent that she was shy, but he wondered what might be lying behind that. Well, he'd find out in time enough. For now, he actually had to win the bid. He quickly raised his numbered placard, calling out as he did so. "Thousand Five Hundred." Time to let the bid war commence, and he promised himself he would come out on top.

[DarknessDawning]

The auctioneer raised a hand to point at Thomas' raised card. "I have fifteen hundred... I have fifteen hundred, who wants to go two? Two anyone? Two? This is for this beautiful girl here on the left, the blue dragon. Who wants to go two?" It was a fast moving auctioneer, and the bids would move well also. The crowds withering back, seperating those who had the kind of money needed to make a purchase like this from those who didn't but simply wanted to see who ended up with one or both dragons. Certainly the auctioneer was selling them seperately to increase the price and push on the second as the very last chance.

Kystil's eyes darted around the faces in the crowd... the cards... she'd seen plenty of humans, but not like this. She'd never seen a market like this. They were selling her? For a moment her eyes narrowed at the thought. It was one thing to be skinned and used as a trophy... another to be held a living trophy. She shifted her weight slightly, making the cart shift as well and the chains jingle with the movement. Her eyes finally caught the cage beside her with Rube shackled inside. She whined loudly, drowing out the auctioneer for a moment as she pressed her face against the bars on that side, the tip of her snout fitting through and blasting a visible mist of chilled air from her nostrils. It touched Rube and disipated into the hot day sun, but still Rube did not move. Did they kill her? No, she wouldn't be on market dead... not like this. Kystil watched her closely to see the rise and fall of her side even under the constraints of the metal bands... she was sleeping, very deeply. Kystil whined again, dropping her weight into the wall of metal bars enough to toss the cage slightly, coming down with a loud crack on the wooden floor. The auctioneer didn't seem to bat an eye though. "I have three... three thousand gold pieces... three thousand gold pieces, can I get thirty one hundred?"

[Flamelord]

Thomas internally grimaced, the price reaching up as time passed by. He had shifted with the crowds, to the cluster of people who could actually afford this, and he was bidding as best he could under the circumstances. He was glad he had some money to spare, or this could end up painful indeed. Still, he kept up. He was determined to win this, because he could, and because he wanted to.

There was a slight disturbance on stage, the dragon they were bidding on apparently trying to be with the other one in the cage, lending credence to the idea that they were related somehow It didn't change that much, since he wasn't going to settle for just one anyway. But, it did appear that the blue one had some sort of relation with water or ice, judging by the mist she had breathed out. That was worth exploring later, but for now, it was still the bidding war.

"Thirty five hundred," called Thomas, raising his placard yet again. Bumping it like this might mean he'd pay more than needed, but he wanted to make sure he won, and this was the best way to do it. And if he controlled where it ended up, it meant he had more of a say in how much of his money he used. Once he won this, there was just the other one, and then he could work out the transport details later. Now, time to see who'd match him, or if he'd finally won this thing.

[DarknessDawning]

"Thirty five! I have thirty five! Do I have thirty six? Thirty six? Do I have thirty six? Thirty six?" Most of the others had already backed out before the jump. This was getting a bit high ticket and they assumed that he would be satisfied enough if he took the blue one, they would hold their money to try again on the red. "Goin once.... Goin twice.... Sold for thirty five! Sir I'll meet you on the side when the sales are completed to make the exchange."

With that one of the keepers grabbed the crumpled cover and threw it back up over the cage, eliciting more whining and shaking in the cage of the sold dragon. The auctioneer proceeded to the red cage, knocking against the bars firmly to make loud metallic banging trying to stir Rube just a bit. "Alright ladies and gentlemen... On to miss red. Miss red is a feisty beautiful girl. She would be an excellent guard pet, needs perhaps a little firmer hand to guide her. She is a strong willed and passionate creature, loyal and protective. Let's start the bidding at.... Say 1500? Fifteen hundred gold ladies and gentlemen, who will give me fifteen hundred for beautiful red here?"

[Flamelord]

Thomas grinned as the bidding closed in his favor. One down, and one to go. He did some quick calculations, thinking through to what the max he could offer here was. Hopefully it would be enough. It would have the benefit of increasing his prestige, while making sure the two dragon's weren't separated, which would probably make them easier to handle since they wouldn't be as lonely. Or it could make it harder, since they'd have each other for support. Well, enough time to worry about that later, the bidding was about to begin.

He had thought up a new tack for this one, going on his finances. Stay out, see how high they got, and then swoop in at the last second to win. That way, if they got too high, he could seem like he wasn't interesting, but if they didn't, he could win the bidding. and that was what he did, listening in stoic silence as the price rose, until they hit the ceiling of bidding. With the auctioneer counting down until the sale, he raised his placard to best the price there was. Since that was already the apparent ceiling of what people were willing to pay, he found himself the winner yet again.

Riding out the rest of the auction, thomas made his way over to the side to work out the paperwork, and to arrange transport to his residence in the city. This had been a good day, if he did say so himself. Money wasn't everything after all, and he could afford to spend what he had. He was sure it would be worth it in the long run.

[DarknessDawning]

The auctioneer took a minute to pass off the floor to the next man, apparently running sales of trinkets, skins, and other items likely gathered during the expedition where they procured the dragons he met Thomas on the side while the keepers double checked the chains, covered the cages, and began to wheel them off the show floor. "Congratulations sir. That's a fine pair of pets you got yourself there." He pulled out a ledger and a bag to gather the purse of gold into at the exchange. As he rifled through his pockets he pulled out a small syringe with a thick, sharp looking capped needle and two small vials. "Ah here... Extras... We weren't sure how long the other ones would put the red girl out. The blue one I don't think you'll need it for. Just be careful when you remove the muzzle... Don't wanna loose a finger to frost bite or a quick snap. The red one... She'll be a great protector, but I'd give her a few days to be sure before you take the muzzle off... Maybe save the tranqs for that day."

He slid over the sale papers and release of liability, setting a pen on the paper for him to sign the marked lines. "You'll get a handle on her. Probably best their together anyways. The red one seems real protective over blue. She might be calmer with blue close by, but you understand, I couldn't bank on someone buyin em both. " as he completed the papers the man took them back and tucked them away, taking the payment as well and holding out his hand to shake on the deal before he would turn and head back to the selling stage to assist with the rest of the haul. Behind the stage the men would be loading the cages for transport, waiting for him to lead or tell them where to take the dragons for drop off.

[Flamelord]

Thomas met the auctioneer on the side, glad to finally have this done with. He glanced over to see the cages being wheeled away and prepared for transport, but most of his attention was focused on the auctioneer. "Thank you. It will be well worth it." He pulled a bag of gold coins from his pocket, handing it over to the auctioneer before taking the offered syringes and carefully putting them in his pocket. He carefully listened to the auctioneer, taking note of what he should and should not do. It'd be useful in the coming days, and he was hoping he wouldn't have to be too harsh.

With the sale paper and release of liability before him, Thomas picked up the pen and signed with a flourish before sliding it back across. "Of course," he replied to the auctioneers talk. One handshake later, and they were done here. He made his way behind the stage to find the carts that they would be using for transport. He walked up to the man who appeared to be in charge and handed him a paper with an address on it. "You can take them there. I will be shortly behind you."

With that done, he counted up the coins he had left and went out to go purchase supplies. He supposed the bedding he had for the horses was good enough for now, so he bought some food he assumed would be preferable to dragons, as well as some other stuff he might need, and then made his way to the location he had told them to go to. To be specific, it was a large house, multiple floors. Not quite the fanciest in the city, since he had a very egalitarian setup due to a desire to save up what money he could, but it had enough space for him and his stuff. Behind it were the stables, where the carts would be.

Once at the stables, he got one of the larger rooms ready for its new occupants, who were currently in the process of being offloaded. Time to get to work.

[DarknessDawning]

The men had already begun unloading the dragons. The process of getting the cages up onto and down from the carts difficult and annoying really. They kept the cages covered. Likely following some belief that this would keep the dragons calmer. They had the red cage down on the ground and set in an empty stable. "You planning on takin these two inside or keepin em out here?" One of the men pulled the cover from the cage, revealing the blue dragon still in the back of the carriage. "This one we can probably walk in." In fact the man was in the process of removing the chains from the bars of the cage with full intent of walking the dragon out as she was, forelimbs cuffed together, tail cuffed down, and muzzled. "Miss red... Well... We can try to wake her up if you want to try and take her inside. Otherwise I suggest dropping the cage in a stable and calling it a day until you're ready to deal with her. She's a bit of a spit fire. And when she wakes up you're better off with her little sister here or whatever by your side. Seems like when it comes down to it, she won't blow her flames around if this little girl is in the way." He gestured towards the blue dragon. Valuable keeper details that of course they wouldn't give out while selling the two. Whatever relation they had though, fire seemed likely to hurt the blue while obviously the frost she produced did little to the red.

Kystil's eyes were a bit wide, watching the man unhook the chains. She pressed against the back wall of the cage nervously as he moved to pop the lock holding the door shut and grabbed ahold of the now loose chains attached to the cuffs binding her forelimbs and gave them a quick yet reasonably gentle tug. "Come on blue. This is it... End of the line little girl" it seemed the men at least had some vague affection for the blue while they spoke of the red as more of an annoyance and frustration. Indeed "Blue" as they called her proceeded to hobble forward, hopping with her forelimbs as they were bound too closely to allow her to properly step. She kept her head low to avoid the cage cieling as she stepped forward with her hind limbs before hopping again to the door and raising her head out of it some, letting her talons clench into the edge of the wagon as she calculated the jump out while bound.

[Flamelord]

Thomas was pleased to see the men already at work unloading his two new acquisitions. "I'll keep them both out here for now. Best to not separate them on night one, for their sake and mine. Should help them adjust better." He listened with keen interest as they talked about his new prizes, the things that wouldn't be said on the auction block. "You can keep Red asleep for now.Just put her in the stable, and I'll take care of it in my own time."

The sound of the creaking door alerted him, and he turned his head in time to watch Blue emerge from the cage she had been put in. He had to admit, there was something eye catching about her, her shape and form, combined with the way she moved despite the bindings they had on her. She might be scared right now, but he didn't doubt he'd get through to her eventually. He walked over to the dragon, smiling but at the same time radiating an aura of confidence and command. He did have to look up, but didn't let that faze him in the slightest. Despite the whole height thing, it was pretty obvious who was in charge here. "Well then. I guess this counts as our first real meeting. Welcome to your new life."