Who

Karysha, Tzajal, Hullis(NPC)

What

Karysha and her father are trying to find a turnday present for her, sort of…and Tzajal offers helpful advice.

When

It is early evening of the tenth day of the first month of the sixteenth turn of the 12th pass.

Where

Auction Yard, Igen Weyr

OOC Date 17 Jan 2019 05:00

 

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Auction Yard

Here is a place of two extremes. Either packed full of men and beasts or else nearly vacant. When busy, animals bellow and the sounds of lively barter fill the air. The pens are completely packed and it's a wonder how they all got into one location in the first day as herders try to sell off as many as they can for the best price, while buyers fight for a steal. But when there aren't auctions scheduled for a given day, the yards might as well be a ghost town occupied by nothing but sand and herdbeast patties.


It's getting to be close to supper time and the crowds around the auction yards are thinning, the sales of the day have been finalized and people are leading their new beasts, whatever species it may be off to their new homes. Some peolpe are still browsing, notably, an older man, recognizeable as Hullis Steen to anyone who spends time in the Bazaar, a merchant of some success and wealth, impeccable dressed in cold weather attire as he browses along the runner paddocks, eyeing beasts obviously bred for racing with a keen eye. Following behing him dutifully, his daughter Karysha, her entire form obscured under a thick woolen cape of creamy white with a deep cowl lined with spotted grey fur, a tumble of blond curls framing a youthful face, a bored youthful face. "Rysha dear, how about the white one back there, she's a pretty thing!" He calls and points, which pulls an overly bright smile to her face as she nods her head with exagerated enthusiasm. "Yes Father, she is pretty," the teen parrots back in a sugary sweet voice that almost sounds sincere.

Cooler days mean better business in animal trade! There's no risk of stock overheating and the animals are a little more livelier despite the "cold" by Igen standards. The white mare pointed out by Hullis and commented on by Karysha has seen a fair amount of admiration and some near bids, though no one seems to have claimed her. Tzajal was just one more among that number, having paused briefly to gauge the mare. Something in her leaves him wanting, however and, with a shake of his head, began to turn back to his little nook among the chaos of the yard. He's hear both as a Journeyman and for his own personal means; as is evident that he has his stallion penned nearby. Iapetus is a bit of novelty as a flashy, metallic-coat coloured (i.e.: http://www.squee.com/2017/04/20/the-golden-horse/), not only for his rare colouring but by the knowledge that Tzajal is doing his best to replicate it… and has so far succeeded with ONE yearling, Taver, also on display (but not for sale, though it wouldn't be hard to imagine the colt already has a waiting list for covering mares). Tzajal frequents the Bazaar, the various families and Trader's often enough that while he is not familiar on a very deep level with Hullis and his family, he does recognize (if distantly) the man. "Afternoon." he murmurs politely, while dipping his head respectfully. Karysha is similarly given a small, but warm smile.

Hullis leans in to say something to his daughter when he hears a greet and straightens to look at Tzajal. His more serious gaze softens when he spies the man herder's knot and grins. "Afternoon Journeyman. Would you care to give us your professional opinion on her?" He asks, inclining his head in the direction of the white mare. "I'm looking for a beast for my daughter here. She's turning nineteen in just a few months," he puts his hand on Karysha's shoulder and turns her slightly towards the other man, almost as if putting her on display. For her part, Karysha looks up at the herder from under long golden lashes, and offers him a warming smile as she gets more of an eyeful of him. "It's to be a gift and a lesson in how the right beast could be an investment, and with the right care be able to earn their keep and more." The man seems really proud of his clever parenting, but it's a good thing that Karysha's cowl is so deep, it hides the subtle roll of her eyes Karysha makes before dropping her gaze down to one more proper.

For his part, Tzajal's expression is unreadable beyond being pleasantly neutral and welcoming. Even if he's screaming inside, none of it is expressed outwardly. Normally he doesn't mind offering advice, but even he has limits! He's not as surprised anymore either, on how quick the Bazaar families are in putting every eligible daughter they have on 'display'. Never mind Tzajal is well past the typical age where he'd find a wife. "Ahh, that so? It's true, the right runner could be invaluable as an investment. Is that why you're seeking a mare and not a gelding?" He'll miss that eyeroll from Karysha but he's perceptive enough to catch on that the girl might not be as enthusiastic about this as her father. He'll listen, nodding at times to Hullis' explanation before giving out a little sigh. "I'd been eyeing her myself, truthfully. She's not a bad mare, but I'd not say she's the right fit for a young lady." He smiles wryly. "She looks calm enough now, but she's from racer lineage." Moving closer to the fence of one paddock, his gaze shifts from Hullis to Karysha, whether or not it is entirely proper for him to address her directly. "Do you have experience riding? Or handling a runner?" he asks gently.

"Aye, a gelding would be of no use to me," Hullis dimisses gruffly as he moves closer to the fence and leans his meaty forarms onto the top rail, whistling softly to see if he can get the mare's attention. Karysha is a little more reluctant to move forwards, she picks her steps carefully around various piles of muck, but head always held up and her posture impeccable. The mare finally looks towards them, but seems to have no interest of coming along to say hi. When Tzajal turns to question the teen, Hullis cuts him off, "Oh this isn't a riding beast for her. Like I said, it'll be an investment. We want a racer, don't we Karysha? We'll hire a professional rider to train whichever beast we end up getting for the races. But Rysha will get to name it, and keep any winnings, minus the cost to keep it of course. And it will be all hers!" he beams proudly in his daughter's direction, awaiting her praise for his generosity, and she does a pretty good job of platering a simpering smile on her face, "Oh yes Father, it's such a wonderful gift!" Her smile is bright and full of teeth, but there's a tension to her jaw and she turns away slightly, a muffled sigh coming from the depths of her cowl, but ignored by her sire who is looking at the herder for further opinion.

Tzajal will wait until Hullis' focus is more on the mare to give Karysha a rather understanding and sympathetic look. He gets it, he's seen enough of this exchange before and not just from Bazaar families. Holder families too, where one thing is said but another is implied. "I'm afraid I'm not well versed in picking out a prime racer," he goes on to add. "I could tell you plenty on her confirmation and how she would do as a broodmare. There's likely some record of her races, but she's nearing the end of that life for her. That's partly why I was eyeing her, to see if I could add her to my breeding stock." His shoulders lift and fall in a dismissive manner, though he's likely holding his tongue on further comments. Racing is not a favoured sport of his and he's seen too many men like Hullis trying to profit off the life of an animal… but he's not about to start any bad blood with a Steen. Not when, if one believes the rumours, he holds some ties to Akzhan. "Truthfully, it may be the wrong time to be seeking out a true racer. They normally hold specific auctions for those or on Akzhan grounds." Meaning the racetracks. In the paddocks across, comes the flash of metallic coat that draws Tzajal's attention briefly. The runner in question is definitely a stallion, as he struts along the parameter of his "territory". Just the body language alone speaks volumes; he's pretty, but he's got attitude.

The Steen man snorts a little at the herder's admitted lack of knowledge, but frowns when the man speaks to how old the beast is. "No, we don't want an old beast that's for sure," he grumbles under his breath as he seems to consider Tzajal's last suggestion. "Mmmm, Right. Will have to find out when they are holding their next auctions then…" he trails off when he spies a business associate and waves at him, completely abandoning both herder and his own daughter with little more than a nod and a polite "Excuse me." Karysha lets out a sigh, maybe of relief, as she turns to look at what draws Tzajal's attention and audibly gasps at the sight of the flashy stallion. "He's gorgeous!" she says, mostly to herself.

'Old' isn't very old at all. The mare is truthfully in her prime, were she valued as anything more than a racer broodmare. Tzajal would likely have said as much to Hullis, had the man not made it clear he's not looking for a working animal for his daughter. "By the month's end. Usually how it goes but I can give you the names of the men you'd want to check in with." he offers, as if to apologize for his "lack" of knowledge. Then the man is suddenly gone and he visibly relaxes his shoulders, along with a long suffering sigh that almost matches Karysha's. When she compliments the stallion, he gives another wry smirk as he turns to face the paddock. "That's Iapetus," he murmurs, while the runner stops to paw at the ground, just before he wheels about and takes off to the other end of the paddock. "He's an ass? he's a handful." Which is a polite way to say the runner is aggressive and difficult to handle! "If your father had been actually looking for a runner for you," His gaze slides to the young woman, as if gauging her reaction. "I was going to mention I had a mare I was looking to retire. She's not a flashy as Iapetus, but she's unique. Never threw the colors I wanted, but she's a wonderful creature."

"He's stunning," Karysha ammends her previous statement as she watches him make a spectacle of himself, a soft giggle escaping her lips before she can stiffle it. "He certainly looks like a handful. And to answer your previous question, I would say I'm an intermediate rider, but I really don't do as much anymore. I guess I kind of grew out of it…" she trails off with a shrug that is muted by the all encompassing cloak. She scoffs at Tazjal's last, "Oh, but didn't you hear him? It most certainly is my runner, I get to name it and everything!" She puts on her fake smile and inserts a hint of sarcasm into her tone as well as another roll of her eyes before turning her gaze back on Tazjal, intrigued, "Not as flashy, but unique you say? You've got my interest journeyman." Flicking her gaze towards her father, she sees him heading back in their direction and grumbles softly. "Shard it. I would love to see her, but I'm afraid my father won't entertain a non-racer at the moment. Maybe I can come see her another time?"

"Of course." Tzajal will be quick on his reply to Karysha, though he's likely got plenty more questions for her. He's quick to mute the brief show of amusement for her little outburst too, less her father catch on as the man continues to approach them. "I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help in your search for a starting runner for your investment," he goes on to add, resuming a more formal and stiffer method of conversation that should reach the father's ears. Yet before the man can get any closer, Tzajal will brazenly flash a quick wink to Karysha. Dipping his head, he begins to excuse himself. "I should be going myself. I've got to check on the yearling I brought here and get him ready to transport back before I even think on coming back for Iapetus." Saving the best for last! With a polite and parting smile, he'll turn to walk away and unfortunately leave Karysha back to the hands of her father's whims.

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