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Post by Trebias on Oct 20, 2007 2:06:35 GMT -5
 A muttering greenish dog made his way through the crowded streets. Well, crowded compared to the countryside, which was crowded enough for Elias. He had had his fill of asking where Rai was. He actually had some uppity 5 that looked like he was still cutting his teeth turn his nose up at him! He'd boxed his ears good for that and moved on. Shinrai apparently wasn't making enough of a name for himself yet, and El was getting tired of looking. If he didn't find the blasted horse soon, the ungrateful ingrate, he'd just take the message and go home. He turned a corner and saw a change in scenery, or rather the residents. They looked a little cleaner, a little better groomed. A little hoity toity, which was just where he expected to find that ship-jumping equine. Then he’d give him a good kick in the knees for his trouble. |
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Post by seraaches on Oct 20, 2007 4:05:33 GMT -5
 The Eight wasn’t too far off; another Josiggy Marsh resident was relaxing at a sidewalk café, enjoying a chai tea and trying to leave his troubles behind him for a time. Yeah right. His troubles rode him like a flea. Or maybe a tick. Yes, ticks; his troubles were the bigger bloodsuckers. He gave a low sigh, ears flopping outwards and sideways for a moment. He was worn out; the city thus far had not proven an easy mistress to one so used to the great outdoors. His nightly sojourns, while good for his knowledge of the city, were not so great for his sleep schedule. He roamed almost every night, working to forget his memories. Why did the press of the capital bring his nightmares to haunt him every night? His best guess was that it involved the mixed crowds and that he was daily presented with the faces of those he abhorred the most. His hide twitched in hatred and distaste. Why were those lowly beings even allowed in the city? His eye caught the sight of a disgusting Lowlander, dripping along the road way and his lip curled to show his teeth. The rat saw his hatred and hissed back, though when its loathsome eyes dripped to his chest, it swallowed its reaction to scurry quickly away. Wow; the lowly creature actually had –some- sense of survival. Wot were the chances it would have any sense at all? Rai snorted under his breath, just daring it to come back again. |
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Post by Trebias on Oct 20, 2007 19:08:21 GMT -5
Elias caught a hint of green languishing in a café and made for it like a hound on a fox. “So there you are! Enjoying your stay in the Capitol? Maybe you’d like a fresh crumpet while you now doubt sit here and feverishly reflect on how best to accomplish the goals that led you away from your business in the first place! No, don’t get up, I couldn’t handle you taking a break from relaxing! No doubt your legs have withered to sticks anyway, as it’s apparently too much of a task to send a messenger telling me how to find you!” Spent, the canine sat for a moment catching his breath and staring fiercely at the Jack. He never would have been as open about his feelings that way to a stranger, but this wasn’t a neutral stranger, this was an ungrateful sprout that he’d only helped to raise, another fact he took great liberty in reminding Rai.
“Good to see you again, Whip.”
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Post by seraaches on Oct 20, 2007 19:18:41 GMT -5
Initially still distracted by the exit of the Lowlander, the harangue caught the stallion briefly off guard. He hadn’t turned to see the canine yet, though he recognized the voice instantly. His ears flopped down and his face showed resigned annoyance, before he turned to stare at his fellow Josiggy Marsh dweller. He waited pointedly for the diatribe to end, knowing that he shouldn’t interrupt. No feelings of love, of course, simply the fact that history had proven many times over that if he cut Elias off, the dog would simply go on another way for even longer. It so wasn’t worth it.
”Good to see you again, Elias.”
The pair were getting quite a few stares; despite the suit difference, the rank difference meant there was no way Shinrai should allow the dog to get away without some sort of terrible backlash. But Rai had the best revenge already.
”Look, Elias. I saved you my tomatoes.” He grinned darkly, before gesturing towards the chair across from his. ”Sit down, El. Wot brings you out here?”
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Dark
Five of Diamonds
Bladed Hare
You are not prepared.
Posts: 2,105
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Post by Dark on Oct 20, 2007 19:34:21 GMT -5
 Minh’s sensitive ears twitched at the sound of indignant ranting, happening not far from the table were she was hunched over the latest issue of Mad Science. Her coffee was down to the last dregs, and it was horribly, depressingly sunny out—could people not respect the aura of angst she was currently generating? Technically, she was supposed to be shopping for groceries. Mnemosyne had sent her out with a very detailed, lengthy list of ‘staple’ items which Minh’s cupboards were apparently lacking. Minh had never really noticed before, but not cooking might have something to do with it; and while she’d be perfectly happy to continue living solely on takeout, Mnemosyne was a little bit more picky about what she digests. So, instead, she was sitting in a café feeling sorry for herself. Or she’d been trying to, before someone came along and interrupted the peace. Looking up, she stopped short—wasn’t that the stallion Mnem had been chatting up the other night in the bar? What had been his name… "Shinrai?" |
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Post by seraaches on Oct 20, 2007 19:45:24 GMT -5
Fear. Definite fear. Distinct, utter, complete, and nearly overwhelming fear. His eyes rolled white again and Rai’s ears flattened against his head as any joy from teasing El was leached right out of the air by that voice. “Minh!” he gasped out the name and almost immediately looked perplexed. He recognized the feline, knew her from somewhere, but he couldn’t place quite where, which was odd because he really didn’t know a whole lot of people in the Capital yet.
He also knew that terror was associated with the cat and her companion…. But Minh had no one with her today. His ears stayed flat as he tried to fight his way through his confusion. ”Minh, wot are you doing… here?” Since it was a public thoroughfare and they were at an open café. But the question was less about her presence at the café or more at her presence near him. Because he had the feeling she shouldn’t be. By a lot.
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Dark
Five of Diamonds
Bladed Hare
You are not prepared.
Posts: 2,105
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Post by Dark on Oct 20, 2007 21:22:34 GMT -5
Minh was slightly taken back by Shinrai’s vehement reaction to her presence, but after she got over the initial shock she couldn’t help but be secretly pleased—she’d never inspired that kind of fear in someone before. It was rather…endearing.
Power trip aside, she took a look at his companion before bothering to answer. He wasn’t as striking as Mnemosyne—few were—but he was rather handsome in his own right, for a canine. The markings were rather intriguing, at least. (Minh was hoping to discover what caused variation in coat coloring, and possibly how to artificially alter them. Shinrai would look absolutely dashing with some additional facial markings. Yesss…)
“Oh, just out grocery shopping for Mnemosyne; needed to pick up a few things for a project of mine; you know.”
She gave him her best cats-got-the-canary grin, and meandered closer to his table.
“What are you doing here? And who’s your friend?”
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Post by Trebias on Oct 20, 2007 21:26:53 GMT -5
El began to sputter his response to the tomatos. Stinking tomatos, and those tourists bringing them in. He could SWEAR that Whip was behind it, now that he thought about it. Seriously, what kind of dog would want to eat a tomato?
Before he could get good and started, though, he caught a whiff of cat. And heard it, talking to them. Right on the heels of that was the stench of fear creeping off of Rai. That was interesting, maybe he should meow a little more often around his old employer.
Looking over the feline, he couldn’t really understand where the fear was coming from. Whip never let Elias put the fear into him, as much as El had tried. He had never mentioned anything about those Corvistowne types bothering him. Not that El wouldn’t take the liberty of reminding him later. And often.
The cat was acting a little creepy, and seemed to be taking some liberties with Rai that she shouldn’t have, given her station. El immediately liked her a little for that. "Name's Elias. And you know Rai how?"
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Post by seraaches on Oct 20, 2007 21:37:03 GMT -5
Project of hers? His eyes narrowed at the word and fear flashed through him again. He nearly bolted, but, if he did, he'd NEVER hear the end of it from Elias. That was likely the only thing keeping him here right now. Okay, it was definitely one of the things. Another was that Minh hadn't actually done anything to him.
Or had she?
The horse was still confused and baffled and he took a slow, deep breath to try and re-center himself. No panicking. Elias introduced himself so all Rai had to do was put in quickly, "We're just here, but now we're going. Good luck on grocery shopping. Give Mnem my...." He stopped that sentence cold with the feeling that he'd just given Minh the opportunity for a VERY low blow. "I mean.... Nothing. Just... We have to go. Now." He rose, knock a hoof against the ground to call the waiter so he could pay and leave. Quickly.
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Dark
Five of Diamonds
Bladed Hare
You are not prepared.
Posts: 2,105
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Post by Dark on Oct 20, 2007 22:02:41 GMT -5
She couldn't have let it go even if she wanted to—he might have tried to cover up her tracks, but she was riding on his tail and there was no way she was letting him get away with that:
"Calling her Mnem now, are you?"
Mnemosyne would be simply delighted to hear--for whatever reason, she'd taken a bit of a fancy to the emotionally crippled stallion. And, hey—at the end of the day who was Minh to judge?
She turned to answer Elias: “I don’t really know him—we’re just acquaintances through a mutual…friend.”
Minh gave Shinrai a wickedly quirky smile, regarding him for a moment before her desire to be mischievous overruled her survival instinct, whispering to Elias rather loudly, “Mnemosyne totally sexed him up, and now he’s in denial of his feelings. Poor troubled youth.”
She flopped down in the chair Shinrai had recently vacated, and flagged a passing server for another cup of java. Maybe if she was sitting down Shinrai would be less likely to try and kill her, being a helpless damsel and all?
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