"Perhaps opposite personality traits?" He gives him a faint, self-deprecating smile. "I enjoy cats because they're independent and willful. Whereas I've been known to be too stubborn and too loyal for my own good, not unlike a dog."

A pause, then he adds: "I also like the purring, though. That doesn't match my hypothesis."

"I didn't think much of cats at all until I spent time with a hairless bastard of a tomcat called His Majesty. No idea what his yowling meant half the time but I felt intellectually challenged."

Esquie, meanwhile, has unlocked Special Interest mode, so they're getting the full tour whether they want it or not. Barcus seems quietly excited just to talk about the types of stone they have, where it's come from, the mineral composition and what it's destined to be used for. Esquie seems interested, so a lot of the commentary is directed at him, but he tries to include Verso, too, often turning back to him with an encouraging smile. The dogs run around as they take their tour, thrilled to have company at an odd hour, and occasionally running up to one of them for pets.

As they round one corner of the yard, finally, there's a glint of something on the ground next to the dog kennel. Crystals catching the light, and possibly a shimmer of runes? Barcus hastens to pick it up and hold it out to them. "Well the Ironhands didn't order this. Friend of yours?"