The Great Hall

You see Cleo, Gazali, Leonard, Wineskin, Jengo, and Alisha here.

Mhairi, Melrika, A'suil, Phaeton, Juldaen, Simkus, Ardal, Raenel, Dominique, Karlon, Jerad, Anki, and Andreia are here.

Dominique murmurs softly to herself, striding out amongst the other candidates and batting a little at the skirt encompassing her long legs. She fidgets before taking a seat off to one side and crossing her legs, not much else you can do with them. A polite nod goes to the one rider, and she self-consciously tucks her feet beneath the chair. Her pail blue eyes scanning the others filling the room and she sighs softly.

Anki smiles hesitatingly as she steps into the Great Hall. She nods to Juldaen as she passes, dipping a quick bow. "Pleasure to meet you, Juldaen. The name is Anki." She straightens, gives a hesitant smile and heads over to the low podium she had a few drudges put up. She climbs on it, quite eyecatching in scarlet, standing tall to observe the crowd for a few moments. A smile is given to A'suil, along with a nod and a wink.

Phaeton leans against the back wall nonchalantly, tipping his head to Dominque and flashing her a quick smile. With a pat to the pouch at his side he mouths to her, "You are mine." One can almost hear an evil laugh sweep the room.

Andreia smiles softly at Dominique, remembering her from somewhere. "Domi?" she says with a whisper in her voice, finally getting near her and looking up. "Here she is, and a healer too."

Simkus moves closer to where Anki is speaking.

Ardal leans against a wall, fiddling with his hair again in an effort to get it to lie flat. Listening to Anki, he has one of those 'what have I let myself in for?' expressions.

Simkus walks over to Ardal. "Greetings Ardal."

Jerad slowly opens his pouch and realizes waht little money he has is not worth counting. He pulls a chair back and sits down with his legs stretched out in front as he prepares to watch the festivities.

Dominique swivels her head around and narrows her blue eyes at her foster brother, than dropping her gaze to the pouch at his side. A smile begins to spread across her lips, but then it turns into a slight scowl, this is just not her day, what torment will he do her now. "Hmm?" Comes the soft throaty sound and she looks toward Andreia and smiles faintly. "Yes..thats me."

Melrika bows her head, from her seated position. "Melrika." She states, matter-of-factly. Pausing for a moment, she crosses her legs, fiddling idly with her hair.

Andreia grins that she now found the healer and candidate, all in one. "Hi, a Journeyman told me that you were here!" she squeals with excitement. "I've heard so many good things about you."

"Oh, hello Simkus..." Ardal recognises a Herder, glancing to smile at the lad though swiftly returning his attention to Anki in a state of nervous worry.

Juldaen walks toward Jerad

Karlon sits down to watch. New Appys don't have marks, so...even if he /wanted/ to buy somebody's 'services', he couldn't. But it might be amusing to watch. And he's got no chores or classes. He's bored.

Juldaen grins, "A wallflower are we?"

A'suil catches Anki's wink and returns it with one of his own, still fingering the pouch of winnings from the races earlier. A sly smile spreads across his lips. Oh he has a plan, he does. Indeed.

Mhairi waves at Zella from her comfortable seat and grins, her feet still hogging a chair to themselves. She shifts slightly to see who else has entered and grins at the looks of nervousness of people's faces and she wonders if they are the victims.

Simkus follows Ardals attention. "You are up for auction as well?" Simkus looks around the crowd gathering. "I was hoping to see some people I knew here."

Raenel stays close to his fellow 'blocks' as he awaits the inevitable - the beginning of the auction. What kinds of duties could he possibly be in for? Time will tell. He clears his throat, a nervous flush colouring his cheeks.

Juldaen says, "hello, I'm Juldaen"

Melrika grins slyly toward Simkus. "I'm up for Auction, indeed." Clearing her throat, she becomes rather...nervous. Who shall by her? She sinks deeper into her chair.

Jerad smiles broadly. "That would be me." he says with a grin. "Well met Juldaen, I'm Jerad."

Phaeton notes his sister's reaction and throws her a kiss from across the hall. "Gonna get you blue-hair!" he teases loudly to her, trying his best to make her blush. She always looks so sweet when she blushes.

Ardal takes a deep breath before answering Simkus. "Aye, well, most of us Candidates are." That's /his/ excuse.

Dominique purses her lips a little and arches a brow, her fingers playing with one stray curl that refused to stay put in the runner tail. "You have heard about..about me?" She asks in her mild mannered voice, rather curious as to /who/ would talk about her in her absence. "A journeyman?" Now her voice is almost comical and she pats the seat beside her for the young woman to sit. "Take a seat, please.."

Zella ambles leisurely in, flopping bonelessly into a chair to Mhairi's right. "Heya... You're gonna try to buy a servant?" One hand darts up to absently rub at temple, a loose drift of hair partially obscuring wry grin. "This whole thing is such a hoot..."

Juldaen walks toward Melrika, "You're Mine!"

Anki mentally counts off the unlucky..slaves as eyes scan the hall. Hmm. They're still a few short. She'll wait, seeing as people are still streaming into the place. She steps off the podium to the knot of Candidates, smiling evilly. "Form a line right along there. Grab a chair if you wish, but be prepared to hop up here pretty quick."

Simkus smiles. "Well, my excuse is that I thought it might be fun."

T'irnan walks from the central hall.

Flopsy) Elisa steps gracefully from the central hall.

Simkus nods towards Anki. "May I take a seat as well?"

Juldaen walks towards Melrika, "You're mine."

Mhairi laughs softly and nods "If one catches my eye I will, never hurts to have someone extra to help me weed the garden." She shrugs and winks and leans forward to Zella "Though with the captive candidates its not as if we are at a loss for help at the moment anyway." She leans back and spots ELisa and gives her a wave as well and then turns back to Zella "How about yourself?"

S'tan walks from the central hall.

A'suil stands up from his seat in the crowd and takes up a spot toward the back of the ones being sold.

Raenel does as he's instructed, but he makes certain he's a ways down the line. Best to let others take the plunge first, get the crowd warmed up. He pulls up a chair and once again scans the crowd with apprehension. "Oh my.." he mumbles. "I had no idea there would be such a turnout.."

Ardal is happy to stand, hopefully in the middle of the line. "Just sit down anywhere - not with us though!" he suggests to Simkus, shoulders squared as if waiting for a blow.

Alisha squeals and escapes from the nanny-herded contingent of the Hall and races over to S'tan as soon as she sees him. Wham! At least she's just a wee bit of a thing. Be worse if she could knock him over.

Anki nods kindly to Simkus a moment before she turns and steps onto the podium. Eyes flick to Mhairi, then the woman she waved to. "Ah, Weyrwoman. Step right over to the line there, if you would?" she asks loudly enough to drift over the crowd. That should pique their interest. She motions off to the line forming to her right, mainly composed of nervous Candidates. "You too, Rider T'irnan."

Simkus moves away from Ardal, towards the front of the line. He comes to a before he gets to the beggining of the line and stands against the wall.

Juldaen pulls up a seat, "This should be interesting."

Zella chuckles softly, eyes scanning the ranks of potential 'slaves'. "I thought it might be funny... the candies are free help anyway, I s'pose, but I don't want to make their lives /completely/ miserable." Just mostly. "The spring games have been a blast... Glad we're bringing 'em back. Not all the old ideas are bad ones." She slouches a bit farther into the chair, tossing Elisa a flick of the wrist.

Juldaen sees Elisa, "Hey! Didn't know you were coming!"

S'tan grins down at the child clutching his knees, then reaches into his jacket to remove a pouch. "Here you go," he notes, handing it to the girl. "As promised."

Mhairi laughs and nods "Some traditions are good." Her smile broadens "Especially have free help from candidates. Not that Elisa wants them completely miserable and worn out by hatching day but have to give them some training on how hard the work is to be a dragonrider. Right?" She nods in agreement "I came mostly for the amusement value in it all."

Phaeton spots the seat the lanky greenrider evacuated to join in the line and makes a dash for it, flumping gracefully onto it, beating out several other chair hopefuls in the process.

T'irnan makes his way to the line of those being 'sold', the frilly sash proclaiming him the Winner of The Special Pagaent gettign somehow tangled up with the armband that says he has "Pern's Fastest Bronze." He settles a pat pouch against his belt, but declines an offer of a chair.

Elisa, on T'irnan's arm, tosses a look at the bronzerider in some surprise before she giggles a bit. "You, too?" she asks, waving to Zella and Mhairi before the weyrwoman goes over to the line as well. "By Zivath's sufferance, I am here, Anki." ((I get her back!))

Ardal gives Elisa a startled look, making room for her. "Would you like a chair, ma'am?" he asks in all sincere politeness.

Raenel blinks several times. Will the surprises never end? "Elisa?" he mouths, glancing towards Ardal, eyes searching the lineup for Dominique. It seems that some candidates were smarter than them. Nervous fingers tug on the edges of his jacket, and he shifts his weight from foot to foot, like a little nervous boy. It's a nerve wracking situation - at least it seems that way at this point.

Anki coughs and clears her throat. She takes a sip of the ceremonial citron juice before waving a baton in the air and banging it down on the gavel before her. "Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye! Everyone, loosen those pouches, the bidding's about to begin. Pipe down so that I can hear the bids." Bossy wench, right? "Now, the auction goes like this. I bring one of the poor unfortunates over there onto the podium. You bid and the highest bid gets the body." She winks, enjoying this too much. "Bids accepted by show of hands."

Alisha giggles and holds it close. "Thankee, S'tan!" she carols. Then she looks at the pouch and back up to S'tan. "Do I give it all to 'em now?" She doesn't know how this all works, she's never gotten money in her life.

Simkus stands against the wall looking over the crowd, wondering who might buy him.

Melrika slips over to the line; She sways back and forth, a nervous finger twirling her hair.

A'suil raises an eyebrow. The body? Ah, so she only sees him as a piece of meat, eh? He can live with that.

S'tan shakes his head. "Nope. You only say you'll give 'em something like..one mark to start. Then, when other people say they'll give more, you say, I'll give more than that. But you can use everything in there, if you want," he explains.

Elisa laughs and nods to Ardal. "My thanks," she says to the candidate before taking a seat.

Juldaen Grins, Glad I saved up for this!

Anki takes another sip, then motions from the baton. "Bids accepted from the line too. Marks to be paid promptly before you go off with your prize. Now, to begin." She runs an eye over the rank and hmms, then points to the blue-haired lass. "Domi! Come up here."

Zella sifts through a soft leather beltpouch, chomping thoughtfully on lower lip. Mhairi gets a considering glance. "I won ten marks the other day, but I don't know if I wanna spend it /all/... How high do you s'pose the bidding'll get to?" Of course, there's no telling just who she has her eye on. Elisa's position gets a gape. A junior weyrwoman repairing her treehouse? Now, /that/ would be something...

Jerad smiles at Juldaen. "I wish I had."

Juldaen gives Jerad a few marks, "Here ya go."

Phaeton grabs the pouch at his side and sits forward in his chair.

Mhairi recovers from her surprise at seeing Elisa in the line and she frowns in thought "Well someone like Elisa will command top mark of course but some of the lesser knowns will go for less unless they look sturdy." Mhairi is very knowledgable about this, or at least appears to be. SHe grins "Why spend lots if you can get it for free?" She winks and eyes the first victim and wonders if she will put a bid in, not that she has really anything outstanding for people to do.

Jerad holds up his hands and refuse. "Sorry, but my Ma and Da would be mightly unpleased with me for taking another person's marks. Besides, I'm only thirteen Turns."

Simkus watchs the blue-haired lass called Domi, seeing how she reacts.

Juldaen frowns, "Ok, Your loss."

Karlon is only twelve turns. And is watching...just for the sake of avoiding the Hall. Bored-looking Apprentices tend to end up sweeping the workroom.

Dominique darts a slightly nervouse glance to her foster brother, than around the room. No one else she knows here, he is bound to win. She shifts a little in her chair and stands quickly a sharp glance toward Simkus and she arches a brow moving on down to her fellow candidate. Flouncing around in the nice dress, might as well have fun if you have to wear one of these things. "Ok I'm here.." She announces.

Melrika watches Domi or the 'Blue-haired lass' as she was called. Another nervous finger twiddles with a string from her tunic.

Raenel's eyes follow after Dominique as she's called to the auction block. The cacaphony of talking voices and the din of the gathering only reminds him of the quantity of people present. Of course - there's quite a quantity in the lineup too. That reassures him. In his pocket, he fingers the marks he collected and grins secretively.

Ardal watches Domi walk up to become Anki's first sale, one hand drifting to pat his pocket with his small stash. Should he? Turning to look for Raenel, his glance skims over Elisa and the rest of those to be auctioned.

Juldaen frowns in thought and says quietly to himself, "Yes? or save the marks for another?" a difficult decision.

Mhairi puts up her hand since no one else seems to be starting the bidding "One Mark" she calls out loudly and clearly and then hand drops and she grins at Zella.

Anki inhales again, making her outfit dance. "Now, ladies and lords, this is Dominique." She shivvies her to a good vantage point and grins evilly as she begins to point out good points all over. "Nice and young girl, perhaps..seventeen Turns at that? Solid worker, quite the looker and has a lovely personality." Luckily she didn't ask Domi to show her teeth. "For this fine Candidate, I think we'll open the bidding at half a mark. Do I hear that, Ladies and Lords?"

Phaeton stands and undoes his money pouch, fairly bulging with marks. Growing up in a bar you tend to catch alot of change spilled on the floor, and he's saved every bit of it for a rainy day. It might not be raining, but he's ready nonetheless. "Two marks!" he calls in his crystal clear voice.

"Looks a fine lass... not sure about the hair color though," a gruff-looking brownrider says to the equally elderly bluerider next to him... Who replies, thoughtfully, "You're right: doesn't look natural to me."

A'suil abstains. Nice enough girl, and her slippers are very interesting for some reason, but other than that she doesn't hold him any real appeal.

T'irnan leans against that wall, seeming indifferent, but as green eyes scan the crowd, his hand slips down again to check the heft of the purse at his belt. He notices J'na in the crowd, and he nods in the rider's direction, then also nods at A'suil whose Sindrath own the sprint race.

Elisa crosses her arms, fingers covering the grin that is too clearly reflected in her eyes. Great Faranth, what has she gotten herself into?

Zella shakes head, kicking legs out in front of her and sitting back to watch the proceedings. "Nah, Domi's a candie... she's already doing a zillion chores. Good luck, though, Mhairi." Now, who else is in that line? Gaze flicks from visage to visage, narrowing thoughtfully at one or two. How interesting.

W'esson, his hands dyestained, looks the girl over with approval for the blue hair. "2 anna half."

Dominique was a former healer and has perfectly fine teeth, though the attitude comment might be less than true. As if to directly disguarde Anki's comment she narrows her eyes at the brown rider and then looks back up at the sound of Phaetons voice. "Geesh.." She says between gritted teeth, her lips pealing back into a slight smile.

Anki blinks. She didn't expect the bidding to up this quickly. "Two marks! We have two marks for Domi up here. Look at that peachblossom skin, those sturdy fingers..!" Eyes dart to W'esson and she waves the baton at him. "Two and a half! Do I hear three?"

Mhairi winks at Zella "Little premature with my bid there." She grins and sits back to watch the bids go, she smiles at Zella "Oh I am keeping my options open, just like to hurry things along so we can get to people, like well say Elisa, I am sure I can find lots of nice things for my clutch sister to do." She winks towards Elisa and then grins at Zella "Who have you got your eye on?"

Phaeton will not be overbid by some dyestained rider. "You here three and a half, your honorable hostess person!"

"Two and three-fourths," calls out the elderly brownrider, with an aside to his companion: "Don't mind if her hair color's not natural..."

Melrika watches the bidding. Reaching in her pocket, she grins as she feels her marks. Ha, what a stash.

Raenel touches the marks in his pocket and glances conspiratorily towards Ardal before his attention is drawn up onto the stage and Dominique. Though he seems unable to stand still. Always rocking on his heels or tugging at the edge of his jacket. Definitely nervous. The bids that come don't do much to ease him either. Hazel gaze flicks from face to face, some noting familiarity, others none at all, befure the bidding once again returns his attention to Dominique and Anki.

Juldaen rocks back in forth in his chair...

"Two and three-fourths! Three...three and a half from the weirdly grinning harper!" Anki shouts, eyes alight. Comes from appying for a Trademaster. "Domi, you lucky gel. Four? Four, anyone?"

Jerad grows frustrated watching the auction with empty pockets. He leaves determined to save all his marks for the next auction whenever that may be.

Zella's grin widens. "Domi's gonna go fast... I think it's the hair. So many people like blue, doncha know..." Whatever, Zells. She turns to Mhairi, shrugging, and lets mouth-corner quirk upward a little farther. "I dunno. You'll see."

Phaeton nearly shouts four before he realizes that he is the aforementioned weirdly grinning harper. Oh.

Juldaen looks up at Domi. should he bid? no, he'll save it for someone he's met

Melrika eyes pull away from Anki and Domi as she hears Jul's rocking. Blinking for a moment, her attention returns to the Candidate and Anki. A giggle arises at Zella's comment, yet is stopped abruptly by nervousness.

Mhairi nods "Indeed, blue is sucha lucky colour" Mhairi is not at all biased or anything "THough I think I have enough blue around the weyr at the moment. I will let others wrangle for her."

Dominique just blinks, staring out at all the crazy money spenders. She lifts a hand and rubs at one bare arm and starting to look a bit uneasy. Her mind drifts to what she could do with so many marks and her grim smile slowly turns to a much more pleasent one.

Anki is grinning like a card sharp. "Three and a half, going once!"

Raenel's uneasiness turns to good humor, the drawn line of his mouth forming into a smile. Yes, this is /fun/, not some horrible canine-and-runner show. If it was anything, it would be a /good/ canine-and-runner show. He seems to relax, fingers no longer fidgeting with his clothing. He has to admire Dominique for going first.

Phaeton gazes about the room, patting his bulging money pouch and grinning like one who's got a sure thing in hand.

Anki waves the baton in the air, winking sideways at Dominique. "Three and a half, going twice!"

Ardal isn't so sure Domi got a choice about going first. Head tilted, he grins at Dominique's sold, craning his neck to try and see her buyer. Madly-grinning-Harper, Anki said?

Zella rolls eyes at Mhairi's comment, sure as clockwork; fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly, and 'riders gotta defend their colors. "Now, if her hair was /green/, then maybe I'd think about it." She cocks head at Anki's baton-twirling, blinking up at the candidate. "Well, looks like that's that..."

Elisa leans back and waves to a drudge, who brings her a glass of wine. She may need the extra fortitude.

Mhairi waves a hand airily "Green, schmeen, that colour is too common, too much green around here." She winks, a glint of amusement in her eye, course she got to defend her colour, tis the best. She nods "Looks like we are on to the next victim."

Anki raps the baton down on the stand before her before pointing it at Phaeton. "Three and a half, sold to the gentleman over there! Come on up and introduce yourself and take your buy." And leave the money. Definately leave the money.

Dominique tilts her head a little, catching the wink and grins. She tilts her head back around and looks toward Phaeton. "You..." Said between laughs and she lifts her skirts a little ready for her que to step away and over to her /master/. Oh, how this is going to make her foster brothers head swell.

Phaeton fairly bounds exuberantly up to the podium, offering the crowd an elaborate bow. "Phaeton, Harper Apprentice and foster brother to the victim here." He gives Domi a wink and empties the contents of his bluging pouch into his hands. A large pile of small pebbles and /four/ marks. "That was awfully close, don't you think?" he asks as he counts out the payment and takes Dominique's hand lightly. "This way dear, my boots need a good once over." With a final laugh he drags her away.

Juldaen laughs

Raenel laughs and applauds as Dominique is sold. He can't help but wonder what 'duties' his fellow candidate might be in for. Can't possibly be worse than peeling tubers, weeding the bowl, or changing glows. "Good buy!" he calls, watching the hapless girl being dragged off by her sibling.

"Pebbles? You had pebbles in there?" She says in a scolding voice fallowing after her foster sib, oh he's gona get it now. Glancing back and waving to the others with a slight smile. But she is agrivated by Phae filling his pouch with pebbles just so he could buy her for the day. "I am not gona touch your boots.." Domi's rantings begin to fade as she fallows him away.

"Oh, her /brother/," Ardal says aloud as he watches Dominique led off to her day of duty. Pursing his lip slightly, Ardal scans the crowd: who will he be sold to?

Anki recieves the marks from Phaeton and scrupilously deals out Domi's cut before she turns to scan the rest of the line. Hmm. Who to pick for the next target. "Remember, you lot can bid as well when you're not on the stand." she mutters sotto voce. Hmm. The baton of doom points right at Simkus. "Step right up here, sir."

Poor girl. Karlon wouldn't fancy being the 'property' of any of /his/ siblings for the day. Uh-huh. He shoots her a sympathetic look through the crowd.

A'suil watches the harper count out his money and nods, appreciating the bluff. "Oh that was cunning," he comments to whoever might be next to him in line, patiently awaiting his turn in the meat market Anki's got going on here.

Melrika watches the Domi and Phaeton, giggling slightly. Wait. That could be her...A haunted expression appears on her face.

Simkus takes a deep breath then steps up to the podium, and looks out over the crowd.

J'na chuckles as Dominique's /foster brother/ pays for his "slave". that is certainly in interesting twist. She pulls the small pouch of marks from her own larger Healer satchel, and bounces it thoughtfully in the palm of her hand. Now that she thinks about it, her weyr /does/ need a good cleaning..and she can always use help with oiling Morianth.

Ardal's blue-painted face takes on a worried expression as Simkus steps up - should he be there? Does he know what he's letting himself in for?

Juldaen Wonders who he should buy

Alisha sits next to S'tan, intently inspecting 'her' pouch of marks. She pulls one out and examines it closely. The number is disregarded. It's the craft stamp on the back. "Ooooh, this pretty." She holds it up to S'tan. "Don't you think it's pretty?" she asks him.

Juldaen rocks his chair a bit too much, and he falls over backwards, "OW!"

Raenel's laughter continues at the display of pebbles. "Oh my." the next 'victim' is given light applause that's meant to be encouraging. It takes guts to get up there, most certainly.

Phaeton leads Dominique from the hall, wondering if he's purchased much more than he bargained for.

Phaeton exits the room for the smaller entry hall.

Dominique exits the room for the smaller entry hall.

Comrad flitters from the south corridor entrance.

Anki goes into the usual spiel. "This, ladies and lords, is Simkus, a senior journeyman from over Herder's way. Just look at him. Sturdy legs, good shouders and those hands!" She smiles, takes a quick sip of juice, then opens the bidding. "A quarter mark, ladies and lords, a quarter mark. Do I hear that?"

Simkus turns towards Anki. "Actually, I am only a Senior Apprentice."

A gruff voice is heard from the back, the source hidden in the mass of people. "A quarter mark."

Leimi, swooning teen extraordinaire, bounces up and down in her rickety seat, squealing giddily. "Ooh, he's a /cute/ one! Half a mark!" Boing, boing, boing.

A hand goes up in back. "I'll give a mark for him." The trader leans over and says loudly to his fellow, "The runners need a good brush down."

T'irnan slips from his position as wall-support; in a minute he's back, a stoppered 'skin and two glasses dangling from one hand. Stepping to Elisa's side, he offers her one of the glasses and holds the wineskin up for her inspection..it's Benden, of course. A fairly old vintage, 2862 burgandy. "Would you care for a glass, my dear weyrwoman?" he asks politely.

The rough voice comes again, this time identifyable as a tootily grinning peddler. "A mark and a quarter! Ma ol' runner needs carin' for."

Melrika face pales slightly, as she watches the bidding. It returns to normal color, and a fake-smile is presented. Who will buy her? What chores will this hunk of meat, as Anki says, be used for? Gulp.

Anki's grin widens and she winks at Simkus. "A mark! I hear a mark for the senior apprentice here. Skill and looks, I'm sure the price can go up. Do I hear a mark and a half?" This is directed at the teen swooner, aka Leimi.

Andreia exits the room for the smaller entry hall.

Leimi puts on an ostentatious pout, frowning as prettily as she can at the peddler. "He's /mine/! And I say /two/ marks!" Take that.

Simkus glances around the room, trying to look at the different people bidding on him, seeing if he recognizes any of them.

Elisa looks up at T'irnan and smiles brightly. "Indeed I would," said dear weyrwoman replies. She eyes Anki and the block. "I think I'm going to need it." She raises an eyebrow at the vintage. "Where'd you come across this one?" she wonders in amazement.

A'suil wobbles back and forth on his feet, eyes locked on Anki as she gives the performance of a lifetime. His hand is nowhere near his money as Simkus is auctioned off. No, he has someone much different in mind.

Raenel grins brightly as he finds a spot on the wall to lean and watch the goings on. Most definitely entertaining. A wonderful idea, this auction. "Poor herder.." he leans over to mumble to a fellow candidate nearby. "He's either got hard labor or a squealing girl."

Karlon would definitely prefer the hard labor. The squealing girl...ugh-ick. She's one who might get too close to his little secret.

Anki clears her throat. "The lady must like you." is muttered to Simkus before the wooden doom-pointer indicates Leimi. "I hear two marks. Two marks, anyone willing to make it two and a quarter?"

"I'm not even sure which he'd prefer..." Ardal answers Raenel back in an amused undertone. "I wonder if the Masters know he's auctioning himself off!" Always the worry-wart is Ardal.

The peddler grins at Leimi, showing rows of dirty, rotten teeth. "I don' have much more'n that. Here's my last. Three marks!"

Melrika fingers her marks again, wondering if she should challenge Leimi. "Nah.." She mutters, waiting for another.

Leimi lets loose another high-pitched squeal, this time directed at the stage. "Three an' a quarter! Don't worry, Simmy-kins, I'll save you from grooming!" /Simmy-kins/? Oh, he's in trouble...

Raenel chuckles at Ardal's response. "Indeed. It is most certainly a rock and a hard place." he shrugs. "Well, even if they don't know, it is not our concern, hmm?" he grins. He's starting to enjoy himself.

Juldaen chuckles

The peddler tosses his hands up in the air. "Bah!" he'll save for cheaper labor.

Anki grins and motions. "Three and a quarter, going once..!"

Leimi peeks hastily over at the out-bidded peddler, flashing pearly whites. "Sorry, sir! He's really cute, isn't he?" Glance flashes back up at Anki, impatient. Hurry hurry hurry! She wants her Simmy-kins!

A'suil nearly bids just to do his service for PAOG, or people against obnoxious girls. Nah, better save his marks.

"Three and a quarter going twice....sold to Leimi over there!" Anki cries out, banging the on the podium. Come on, hand over the money.

Melrika hears the bidding end, and freezes. Will she be the next victim?

Simkus looks over the bidder as she walks up to pay for him.

Ardal winces a little as Simkus is sold to that girl - what sort of person is going to bid for him. An expectant look is directed at Anki: who's next?

Devious as a Bitran, that Anki. Raenel grins and applauds for the winning bidder. "Well, looks as if he got the squealer over labor." whether or not that was the better of two choices - one will never know.

Leimi flounces up to the podium, flower-embroidered mark pouch clenched in hand. She tosses the currency gleefully at Anki- what's money, compared to cute guys?- and bounces over to put a Death Grip on Simkus's hand. "Hiya! I'm Leimi... C'mon!" Bounce, bounce, bounce- down the stairs and towards the door. "Did I mention that you were cute?"