Sweet Little Doggie... (Feliciano)

[Ren Kondou]

"I'm a hungry spider and you're a beautiful butterfly" ☒ Feliciano Vargas ✐ 693 ✉ I hate writing starters omg. MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS

The dance part of the festival was one that Ren was happy to avoid. He really was never one much for dances, though he did wear his outfit just to show up so he wouldn't be out of place with the others. The mask however was not one he was going to wear, not liking anything more than his hair blocking his already handicapped view. His naturally black hair and Asian look overall earned him some glances, and an invite from females here and there, but he just outright refused. Politely, of course. Sure some was because they stunk (seriously, too much perfume...) and others because he was simply not aqquainted with them (and he rather not dance with strangers if possible), but it was mainly because he just didn't like dancing. Not one to be able to easily get onto the beat of the musics playing, he rather just watch others enjoy themselves and relax. With that portion finally done however, he was told there was to be an event with mutants, and that made him drop his thoughts on going back home right away and strip off the heavy clothing. Before the fights however... There was just the time provided for people to look around. Buy flowers, treats, glance at mutants, and just basically socialize. After a few polite bows of denying offers to people buying him a drink, Ren decided to take some time to himself and take a good glance at the available mutants. He had no intentions of taking one home, of course not... But it wouldn't hurt to see what was around. When he reached the section where the mutants were kept in the sun and some in light shade, Ren first noticed it to look a lot like what he used to see back in Japan as stray animal adoption fairs. Rows and rows of cages lined on the ground and there was a desk at one end, where people (he assumed guards of the underground) spoke to potential interested people, telling them about individual mutants. Ren sighed softly and took a step forward, glancing over some of the pets up for 'adoption'. With simple padlocks on the gate for some to what seemed like extra locks and chains on the mutants themselves, it was clear to see which ones were the submissive ones that had no potential worries from the guards about acting up and those who were a bit more risky. Each cage had what seemed like a bottle of water, so that was good. If he'd seen otherwise, he would have had to ask the guards to provide water for each and every one in the cages, seeing it could lead to several growing weak, which pubically he could not allow as an officer. Being the main man in charge of the mutant control didn't mean he had to make sure all the mutants were suffering, no. It meant he had to protect people, and knowing some mutants could get violent without basic care, that too was needed to be provided. Surveying the cages, he also made sure each one had a blanket to help them for the cold weather when the wind blew to their thin frames. He passed several on the 'risky' list before he stopped suddenly in his tracks, raising his brow in question. A mutant had caught his eye, who just leaned against the bars of his cage, seemingly spacing out. He glanced at the water bottle that still had plenty inside, and after seeing he also had a blanket over his lap to most likely keep himself warm, Ren gave a small glance at the file that was hung from the cage for people to read up on the mutant inside. The man used one hand to flip the first page of three (one stating basics such as name, age, gender and so forth, second page being about their power, and third page being their danger level and cost to buy), reading the name out loud. "Feliciano Vargas..." He let the files slip from his hand, going back to hanging from the bars, "Are you alive in there?"

[Feliciano Vargas]

The downside to getting fed extra half-meals the past few weeks meant that once he was back on his normal feeding schedule, the brunette was starving during the long hours before and after his his meager lunches. It was an uncomfortable reminder of those first few months out of the Academy and trying to adjust to the Underground's management; if not worse because Feliciano knew how bad he'd felt the first time, and still let himself get suckered into dealing with it a second time. He'd told Ludwig he was fine when this first started, and that was the truth of the matter even when it really, really wasn't, but the temptation combined with his friend's fervent, earnest insistance, the smaller man let himself cave. It was nice to cave, for once, and let himself enjoy the decent meals the blonde was kind enough to share despite the fact Feliciano hadn't earned them like Ludwig had. The Italian was more alert as his body eagerly absorbed the nutrients it'd been starved of; for once completely full, content, and energized like he can't remember feeling in years. Even his powers had been easier to wrest under control and keep that way. Trying to ignore the ache of a constantly-empty stomach gave him headaches, and he had suffered from a fatigue he hadn't realized was there until it was gone. It had worn down on his mind until he was constantly straining to keep himself contained when all his mind wanted to do was wander, bringing nothing but more agitation and pain that continued the vicious cycle he'd been unknowingly trapped in. Now, the mutant could block things out much easier, keep himself bound to his flesh and bones, while still sharpening his focus on the things that attracted his attention. He just felt better in those few weeks (at least until the very painful conclusion of his last Arena match).

Now? Not so much.

It hadn't been as noticeable before, distracted as he was by the sounds and sights of the festival and the people bustling around him, either perusing stalls or looking over and speaking with the mutants in the cages around him. Other than the Icelandic teen and his interesting companion, none took much interest in Feliciano and he didn't feel very interested in the crowds, either. Distracted by their shiny buttons and jewelry, maybe, but not interested the way the pale blonde had captured his attention. Now, his stomach gurgled unpleasantly in his abdomen, and Feliciano desperately wanted a distraction from the pangs of hunger only exacerbated by the too-tempting aromas curling in his nose from all the food stands. However, his discussion with Kári made it...difficult to want to speak with the humans who's most interesting topics were "how are your powers even remotely useful to me", "can you cook/clean", and his favorite, "can you stand staying outside to sleep?" Normally the Italian tried to be polite and considerate when telling people that no, his powers were useless to everyone, he can't cook or clean (utter lies, but they don't need to know that), and of course he can't handle the cold, he's a human just like them and wasn't made for it; today he hadn't even bothered looking at any potential buyers, let alone tell them they were just wasting their time and to buzz off. If these people really thought he could survive being outside, exposed to the full fury of an Arctic winter, then they were insane. Not to mention cruel.

Then again, even with more incentive on Feliciano's part to be friendly and cheerful, no one would buy him anyway. Not for lack of people trying--not only did the guards try to sell off all the mutants as better than they really were (or maybe less, depending on the mutant), but if Ludwig had any say in the matter, he'd be trying to convince everybody and their mama that he was worth taking somewhere with decent heating and food, considerate owners who treated their mutants more like helpers than slaves or pets. Just like Feliciano tried to for Lovino, Ludwig, and soon-to-be Gilbert (whenever he got out of this lackluster mood and started talking to the kinder strangers offering other mutants treats or small trinkets to amuse themselves with)--really, all the mutants he wanted out of the Underground and somewhere better. But he had long since gotten over the idea of being taken in himself. It would be hard enough to find truly good, hopefully permanent homes for his friends and family to settle into, where they would be treated with all the decency and respect they deserved. There's no way he could burden such generous people, whoever and wherever they may be, with himself as well. A useless, extra mouth to feed.

Feliciano really needed to stop thinking about food.

A quiet, displeased little grumble escaped the brunette and he tugged his blanket more firmly over his lap. There was no way to tell when the guards would come around with food, and the mutant didn't have any special tricks like the others, or a cute, fuzzy form like Lovino, to earn himself snacks from the children and adults wandering around. The mutant may not want to be bought, or discuss inane topics he had no interest in, but he wasn't immune to the desire to snag something yummy to tide his stomach over until his meal came by.

As the minutes trickled by into an hour, Feliciano hadn't realized that most of his attention stayed firmly rooted on the food stall directly in his line of sight until he heard the flutter of papers near his head. Someone had approached his cage, a man from the scent cologne brushing over his nose and settling uncomfortably atop his tongue, and seemed undeterred by his lack of focus. "Feliciano Vargas..." he murmured, almost to himself, and Feliicano cringed a bit at the mispronunciation. He swallowed down the saliva building in his mouth both at the warm smells of cooking pastries and the discomforting tang of bitter chemicals from the stranger's cologne. "Are you alive in there?"

"Veeee, Feliseeano isn't, no," the Italian quipped, stretching his legs out in front of him and his arms above his head. Throbbing ribs protested the movement, making him wince again, but his muscles were happy to move a bit. Sitting still was doing him as much harm as it was good, in the end. "Felichiano's still kicking, though. Haven't they put the proper pronunciation in there, yet? It's been fourteen years already, the administration can't be that disorganized." Feliciano snorted to himself, gaze still lingering on the various stands on the other side of the square; a couple had just been handed fresh-made blini filled with fresh apricots and honey, and he could smell the sweet treat from here. Dio, what he'd do for something sweet right now, rather than making questionable comments to this stranger he hasn't even glanced at yet.

[Ren Kondou]

"I'm a hungry spider and you're a beautiful butterfly" ☒ Feliciano Vargas ✐ 466 ✉ I'm not even sorry with how long this took or how crappy it is. >_>;;;;;; Nope not sorry. Not at all.... omg i'm so sorry i swear i will try to post better posts than this... MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS

Seeing the mutant react to his voice at first by stretching and wincing by its effect, Ren felt himself at least be able to give into some sort of relief knowing he had yet to see dead mutants out in the cold. That definitely wouldn't have been a pretty sight to see; bone and skin creatures just laying on the dirt, eyes dull of all light of life and hair only moving with the breeze that blew by every now and then... No, not something he needed people to see, especially children. He laughed softly when the brunet mutant corrected him of how to pronounce his name and glanced at the laminated booklet once again, shrugging his shoulders. "Obviously not. It doesn't matter anyway, though... Once someone gets the heart and money to buy you, you are pretty much free to be called anything by them at that point. This weird name you go by right now is nothing but a temporary one." Ren knew people who bought mutants and decided to name it numbers, sport names, car names, and some even colors. He once stopped a woman who was walking her mutant as well, asked for its name and was told that it was "Cookie" at one point. Obviously there was no 'parent' that would possibly name their child such name, so it was no doubt that the mutant was renamed once bought. And of course, these creatures had no choice but to accept their fate. "Such complicated names usually get changed to things much simpler." Ren concluded with a light chuckle. His hand reached up to open the booklet again, scanning his eye on the description of the power the mutant inside possessed. It caught his attention, but was not particularly surprised at all. There was a reason they were called 'mutants'. "Care to give me a quick introduction of yourself? Surely you have nothing better to do, having just been sitting in this tiny cage... I would like to know a bit more about your power." Unlike the other mutants that had great powers but were out of control, or pathetic powers to render them useless to begin with, this one seemed relatively submissive with a power that Ren didn't mind investing some time to get to know about. The price also showed that he was rather new in a sense that he hadn't been bought before by other humans; that itself was a good thing as well in the Japanese male's opinion. If he decides to one day actually buy this very mutant and train him to what he needed him to be, then he rather have a blank, fresh start of a mindset rather than one that was already tainted with either fear or expectations of owners being nice to them.

[Feliciano Vargas]

A quiet laugh at his admittedly ill-intentioned quip told Feliciano that he hadn't yet been left alone. A quiet groan escaped him as he shifted again, forcing his ribs against one another. However, that helped put him in a comfortable-enough position for him to finally, unwillingly, drag his attention from the blini stand and towards the man standing near his seated form. A cursory, disinterested glance took in black hair and spectacles glinting brightly in the sunlight, and a kind enough looking face. There were wrinkles between his eyebrows, only the faintest divots that the average eye couldn't take in--he was sure that if he were to touch the deceptively smooth skin there, he'd feel a dent in the muscle lying beneath. The same could be said for the corners of his mouth, though if that was from frowning too much or smiling would depend--they were too faint to discern without straining his eyes even more.

It was a pleasant enough face, but there was something in the way he smiled that screamed wrong. That strange feeling only intensified after the stranger spoke. "Obviously not. It doesn't matter anyway, though... Once someone gets the heart and money to buy you, you are pretty much free to be called anything by them at that point. This weird name you go by right now is nothing but a temporary one."

Indignation bristled up inside the Italian, leading him to sit up without concern for the flare of pain at the movement. His name isn't just something that can be tossed aside. He had no objections with nicknames, he encouraged them because it induces a sense of familiarity and makes a connection between people easier. And with his name, yes, sometimes it was better to be called "Feli" or some other (preferably cute) name rather than listen to these silly people butcher his name into something terrible-sounding, rather than the lovely lilt his mother had always spun upon the syllables. There wasn't much he could remember of the sweet woman who had risked so much for himself and earlier his brother, but hearing her whisper his name with nothing but love was something he could never forget.

To have that memory mocked, knowingly or not, by this stranger was insulting.

"Such complicated names usually get changed to things much simpler," the man finished, either unknowing or uncaring of Feliciano's response to his words, which was infinitely frustrating.

Frowning was unpleasant, but for the life of him, the Italian couldn't bring himself to stop. "Veee, my name is not complicated," he replied sourly, crossing his arms over his chest. The movement was careful, despite his irritation--there was no need to injure his healing forearms any more than necessary. His ribs were a pain he couldn't avoid, if he wanted to breathe, let alone move, but his broken radii and ulnae were avoidable, so long as he was cautious. "And I have nicknames--no one can legally change my name without my permission, ve--it's how the government keeps track of everyone. Anyone who tries to buy me will learn that."

He wasn't sure if the man was even listening, though, which only made him feel worse. He didn't think this was a man he could speak with, at least the way he wanted to. The black-haired stranger--obviously not Russian given his bone structure and the slight accent he could hear in the other's words--simply chuckled again, looking over the increasingly insulting sheets dangling from the bars of his cage. "Care to give me a quick introduction of yourself?" the bespectacled man asked calmly, politely, and Feliciano felt his frown deepen, sinking down a little against the bars. "Surely you have nothing better to do, having just been sitting this tiny cage... I would like to know a bit more about your power."

The brunette scoffed, looking back towards that ever-interesting food stand across the square. "Maybe if I knew who I was talking to, I'd say something, ve," he mumbled to himself, stretching his legs before him and crossing them at the ankle. He had barely enough room to lay them out fully in a sitting position--he could only hope he wouldn't have to sleep out here, alone...

[Ren Kondou]

"I'm a hungry spider and you're a beautiful butterfly" ☒ Feliciano Vargas ✐ 628 ✉ My gosh Ren you are so full of yourself xD MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS

The way the young mutant on the other side of the bars sat up at his words caused Ren to raise a brow in question. Oh, so he could move? Of course he could; though painfully. It wasn't hard to see the occasional winces the boy displayed as he moved, showing clearly that he was not in the perfect condition that he might have wished to be in. Pushing the glasses up against the bridge of his nose once he noticed them sliding down, Ren flipped through the pages as the boy spoke words; words that the Japanese man found himself doing his best to not smirk at. Ah, he really didn't know anything, did he? Sure, people who bought mutants on short or long term contracts had no right to legally change the name of their beloved pets, but it was a different story for permanent contracts. Once led to that, the mutant was no longer anything more than a full-time pet for the rest of their lives, or at least until the owner decided to dump them in the garbage known as the underground. All they had to do was turn in a few documents, and it didn't require a mutant's consent. What consent could they give anyway? Their words meant nothing. "Shows how much you know..." Perhaps this lack of brain was the reason the boy had yet to be bought by humans. Why waste money on a dumb mutant who was so full of his own fake confidence when they could spend the same amount and get a smarter mutant who knew their place as property? It all made sense. Humans by nature were lazy when it came to doing things on their own; if things were going to be done for them, such as training a mutant, then they'd rather have it be done without them having to step in and take the responsibility. All they would have to do is wait a couple of months or years, and the same mutant they were looking at right now would be much more obedient due to the work of another individual. That was, unless, the individual enjoyed the training task on its own; someone like Ren himself. The interest of taming this animal in front of him was what led him to his curiosity about the powers the boy possessed, which is what finally made him question the mutant personally. Papers could have so much information, but it would be much faster to speak and receive answers on the points of curiosity other than looking for the very answers while running the vision through countless numbers of words. The question, he saw, made the brunet frown and sink down slightly against the bars that kept him trapped in the limited space provided. The next words he heard coming from the boy made the man blink, chuckling right after. "Maybe if I knew who I was talking to, I'd say something, ve." "That really shouldn't be any of your business, but since I'm in a kind mood, I suppose I can introduce myself to a lowlife as yourself... Ren Kondou is my name; I am in charge of mutants staying under control in public... I'm important for times like this very moment when you can endanger people at any given second." He stated, letting the pages from the laminated book slip from his hand, "Though in all honesty, I don't think mutants should be allowed to call superior beings by their names... I suggest you refer to us humans as sir or ma'am, or when you get bought, 'master'. Didn't they teach you these in school? I swear teaching you all how to talk and respect humans in your speech was part of the curriculum..."

[Feliciano Vargas]

"Shows how much you know..."

Feliciano bristled at those words, toes curling into the cold floor of the cage in agitation since tightening his hands into fists wasn't an option without hurting himself some more. What was that supposed to mean? Did he and other mutants really have so little power that they couldn't even keep their own names if some human wanted them changed? That's...that's-- Bile rose up in Feliciano's throat at the very idea. That was disgusting. He was a person, not a...a thing. A name is more than just a label--it's part of your identity. To take that away on a whim...how dare they. How dare they.

The look the black-haired man pinned on him was pretty disgusting, too. That inquisitive, cursory gaze taking him in like a piece of meat, or a pet, made the mutant's skin crawl. He couldn't even try to move out of the man's line of sight, not without making himself hurt more. However, he responded to that stare with a scowl of his own, trying to wrap the blanket more tightly about himself, keep himself hidden from the other's gaze. His scowl deepened, turning away to, once again, stare at the blini stand as his stomach growled. "It's not really any of your business, but since I'm in a kind mood, I suppose I can introduce myself to a lowlife as yourself... Ren Kondou is my name; I am in charge of mutants staying under control in public... I'm important for times like this very moment when you can endanger people at any given second."

"If you knew anything about anyone, you'd know most of us either couldn't or wouldn't hurt anyone, not without being provoked, ve," he grumbled, gritting his teeth at the insinuation. "If people didn't treat us so badly, there wouldn't be any reason for you or anyone like you to have to worry in the first place."

But that point was momentarily ignored, as this "Ren" decided to direct this mostly one-sided conversation into a condescending lecture. "Though in all honesty, I don't think mutants should be allowed to call superior beings by their names... I suggest you refer to us humans as "sir" or "ma'am", or when you get bought, "master"." Feliciano scoffed at the very idea, letting his vision slowly start to tunnel on the blini stand. At the moment, it wasn't enough to completely muffle out the man's words. "Didn't they teach you this at school? I swear teaching you all how to talk and respect humans in your speech was part of the curriculum."

"Don't act so high and mighty, ve," he snapped, hissing around the rush of pain as he clenched tight fists into his blankets. "I'll respect someone who earns that respect. Until then, I don't see much reason to talk."

[Ren Kondou]

"I'm a hungry spider and you're a beautiful butterfly" ☒ Feliciano Vargas ✐ 522 ✉ I am sorry so sorry what am I doing Ren doesn't come out ffff-- MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS

Three... Two... One... It wasn't difficult to analyze just watching the boy in front of him to be quite irritated with his presence. He tend to get that a lot with mutants who never met him before, and though Ren had the basic knowledge of mutants that were bought before seeing he had seen them in the town walking around with their masters before they were returned to the underground, the ones who were never bought unfortunately never was able to meet him in person until times as these. This truly saddened the man oh so much--wait no, it didn't. What was he even saying? The reaction was not an attack however, luckily. Instead this docile mutant attempted to hide from his gaze by wrapping himself tight and snuggle in the only blanket that was provided in this weather. It wasn't as cold as some of the harsher days, but that didn't mean they were warming up under the limited sunlight. That, added on with the thin, poor excuse of clothing that were provided to them, made Ren easily conclude that the blanket in fact was a necessity this very day. The face that poked out from the opening of this cloth cocoon however, Ren had to admit, was quite adorable. The scowl painted on the face like a childish pout, and that added on with his young features made him look like a desirable pet to keep in the house; perhaps one would really not mind caring for him like one would a new puppy if he would actually keep that look and be obedient at the same time. Ren however was unable to study that pout-like scowl for long, as the boy turned his face away as soon as it deepened. The raven haired male traced the gaze that the boy had given off to lead towards the blini stand nearby. Holding back a chuckle, he introduced himself, only to be responded with a slight bite in the words back, which he of course ignored and went on with his own comment about the schooling system of these mutants. "Don't act so high and mighty, ve. I'll respect someone who earns that respect. Until then, I don't see much reason to talk." Well then. Raising a brow at the words he didn't quite expect from this calm docile looking creature, Ren grinned at the scoffed snappy comments and slowly shifted his gaze towards the crowds studying other much more interesting mutants in the row of cages set up. "You better lower your standards of what you wish to 'respect', then, dear child. Or else you will never be taken in to a warm home... Or even if you were, they will torture you to no end until you finally comply and will actually lick their boots without their commands. Perhaps that is the only way you will really learn your place... I sure hope it happens to you quite soon, before you become much more thick headed. I would hate to see you scarred up with whips just because you refused to do what was taught to you in school."

[Feliciano Vargas]

Once that piercing gaze slid away, Feliciano let himself relax a little. He couldn't honestly explain it, but he felt incredibly uncomfortable around this man--even before he opened his mouth and started spouting out that rude, anti-mutant propaganda. Thankfully with his head turned away, that acrid cologne bothered him less. It couldn't be that big of a bother that he'd react so agitatedly to a complete stranger, though. Was it just the way he carried himself? The wrinkles near his eyes, maybe? There was something there and it bothered him.

However, the brunette began to speak again, and his words set Feliciano right back on edge. "You better lower your standards of what you wish to 'respect', then, dear child. Or else you will never be taken into a warm home... or even if you were, they will torture you to no end until you finally comply and will actually lick their boots without their commands."

The Italian grit his teeth at those words, glaring hard at the crowd around them. His hands clenched into tight fists, trembling under the force of his anger. Ren didn't seem to notice, voice lilting in thoughtfulness as he continued. "Perhaps that's the only was you will learn your place... I sure hope it happens to you quite soon, before you become much more thick-headed."

Whatever else the foreigner had to say, Feliciano didn't pay any attention. "They will torture you. Perhaps that's the only way you'll earn your place. I hope it happens to you soon." Those words resonated in his ears, tugging hard at his heart. He'd heard those words before--not in the same phrasing, but the meaning is the same. Over and over they'd been repeated to him--you're an upstart. You don't know your place. You'll get the truth beaten into you, if that's what it takes. No one will love you like this. Those words stung, because what kind of reality would make words like that so commonplace? Better yet--what kind of reality could mold a man into acting so pompous?! Advocating torture as if it were an every-day thing; how disgusting.

With a growl, Feliciano snatched up his half-full water bottle and chucked it at the man, feeling vindictively pleased when water splattered over Ren's clothes and even some of the other passerby nearby. "I don't have any reason to change my ideas, ve!" he snapped, bristling. "Torturing living creatures is wrong! And if you think it's alright, you're the one who deserves to be in a cage!"

If the only options Feliciano had to "legally" get out of the Underground involved tossing his own humanity aside, he'd rather stay down in the dark and rot.

[Ren Kondou]

"I'm a hungry spider and you're a beautiful butterfly" ☒ Feliciano Vargas ✐ 507 ✉ MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS

It would be a lie to say Ren wasn’t expecting for the mutant in the cage to act up at his comments, but the fact he used the water bottle instead of actually coming to him himself was what surprised him. He couldn’t duck or move away as the half full bottle was tossed at him, the contents inside splashing onto his suit and some to the nearby man who was innocently inspecting a different mutant on the other side across from this mutant’s cage. Clicking his tongue at the wet spot that was now visible on his expensive, respectable clothing, the Asian man sighed to keep his calm. No need to lose his cool here and now, he was an adult. The mutant hadn’t done anything but throw an item to him like a strengthless child would do to throw a tantrum to his parents. Ahh, so perhaps mutants stayed at the mentality of when they were taken. He faintly remembered reading in the file that this one was taken at a young age, mostly only there to insure potential buyers that he indeed went through the whole schooling system. Of which, Ren would have to revisit after this event and make sure all the curriculum was still being followed to the word. If so, this mutant wouldn’t be acting out in such way. He would’ve rolled onto his back like a submissive dog he was taught to be and begged for whatever leftover crumbs of food by passers may possess. He also made a mental note to check on this mutant’s records to see what notes may be on his files; was he really one that could be considered an obedient slave, or did he need a special sign on his paperwork saying he was extra work? Because nothing in the files suggested that, at least, not the ones hanging from the cell bars at this very moment. Kneeling down and picking up the now empty tossed bottle, Ren silently and mindlessly stared at it for a moment in thought before deciding to still just fill it and return it to the mutant. Can’t punish a mutant here, it would be practically useless thing to do. ”I seemed to have bothered your peaceful dazing time, haven’t I?” He chuckled, straightening his suit jacket in hopes to blend the wet mark away somehow. Of course it didn’t work as he pleased it would, but that just couldn’t be helped he supposed. ”I’ll take my leave now, then. There are more interesting dogs here anyway to examine… I hope you fair well with future owners, you little beagle… I would hate to have to see you euthanized for bad behavior.” He commented before he walked away, carrying the bottle with him and giving it to one of the guards on the way, quickly stating which cage it belonged to and telling them to refill and check all the cages for possible empty bottles as well, moving on with examining the troublemaking little doggies put up for show.