"You don't wanna trade?" Jess blinks in surprise at Mindy's sudden reversal of her offer. "But you just offered... and the boots... they're<span style="font-style: italic">comfy</span>..."<br/><br/>The huskygal looks down at her fancy new footgear, then back up at Mindy, then over to Yuki, giving the latter two her best hurt puppy expression. Yuki, familiar with this routine, turns away with a "not my problem" sort of shrug. It doesn't keep Jess from glancing back and forth between the elf and tiefling at least twice more before she finally slumps her shoulders in defeat.<br/><br/>"Oh, alright." Muttering something under her breath, Jess stuffs the potion vials back into her pockets and plops herself down to remove 'her' boots (a process that takes about twice as long as it should).<br/><br/><br/><br/>The remainder of the walk to the arena is slow and uneventful, with three successful preds (including one textbook example of beginner's luck) content to stroll along at their own pace. Mindy's massive girth earns her more than her fair share of looks from the marketplace crowds: some fearful, some jealous, some simply incredulous, almost all hungry. Fortunately for the telepath, her stomach seems to deter as much as entice any would-be-predators.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Spot checks to notice the following:</span><br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">DC 19: One of the marketgoers, a raven-haired elven woman wrapped in a heavy cloak, allows her gaze to linger well beyond the others, seemingly unconcerned with drawing the party's attention. If Mindy meets the woman's eyes, she's treated to a glimpse of pupil-less obsidian before the woman winks at her and turns away.<br/><br/>DC 28: Half a block from the arena, a sallow-skinned warrior watches the aftermath of the arena skirmish from between two stalls. A heavy darkwood mask covers the his face, save for the black dreadlocks spilling from his scalp. As Rihyan strips Buso of his gear, the warrior's hands reach for the two fine kukri strapped at his waist... then, apparently thinking better of the act, the warrior turns and stalks back down the narrow alleyway. He doesn't appear to emerge from the other side.</div></div></div><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Jess and Yuki's responses:</span><br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">Jess's Spot: 1d20 (10) + 3 = 13<br/>Yuki's Spot: 1d20 (17) + 8 = 25<br/><br/>Yuki notices the second elf and offers her a glare in return, dropping the show of toughness when it's apparent she's not the target of the cloaked woman's interest.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">~A friend of yours?~</span> she asks Mindy.</div></div></div><br/><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Meanwhile, in Mindy's belly...</span><br/>Koren squirms as another drop of elven digestive acid rolls down her side, drawing a thin burning line across her already-irritated skin. The act of movement jars another patch of feathers loose from her outer wings, and the half-melted plumage joins a similar pile sizzling away in the juices at her feet. The preyish enthusiasm Koren felt a few minutes ago is beginning to melt away as well, faced with the less kind reality of the digestive process. It isn't the pain itself that dampens her mood; if it were, she'd gladly endure for the sake of pleasing Mistress Mindy. But her Mistress has been silent for some time now, leaving the harpy to wonder if she's disappointed her as a meal. But, what else can she do but digest?<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Mistress said she wanted to be in control,</span>Koren thinks.<span style="font-style: italic">Maybe if I act really submissive, she'll enjoy this more...</span>Giving herself a mental pat on the back, the harpy lets out a pained whimper and squirm before calling out to Mindy through a layer of taut elven flesh. "M-mistress? It's starting to get really hot in here... it kinda hurts..."