Wandering Honor [Finished]

[Kari Muffin]

Ichigo blinked a few times at the sudden angry coming from the deer that was so obviously directed at the other female. He couldn't help but feel a bit smaller than he already was.

Very well then. He would just roll with it. The coyote was already gone by the time he found his voice again. That and he didn't know the coyote's name to give a proper farewell.

"Well, Miss Mephitisia, I suppose I can help you out then. You seem to be several steps ahead of me in court ambition." He smiled up at her. She was a very interesting woman, she could probably make it the courts without a body guard. Ichigo wasn't one to judge though. She wanted his help so he could give it. "Perhaps we could discuss my qualifications over tea?" He looked at her expectantly for an answer. She was the one who wanted to employ him, he could only make suggestions.

[Vyn]

Mephitisia sneered silently, baring her fangs quite clearly. Every thought directed to or about Mephitisia flooded her head and the serpentine doe was becoming increasingly displeased. If only the coyote knew her thoughts on the matter then perhaps she'd silence her hare-brained beliefs.

Paranoid, yes, and quite easy to anger. But bipolar? Aces no.

Her anger had a very pointed reason and, at the moment, it was grounded in a firm dislike for the Bog dweller. Disgusting creature but still...from such an interesting realm that she had never seen before. If only it hadn't aggravated her so! As it was, it was taking all her will power not to spat commentary back.

When at last the coyote had slunk away, Mephit closed here eyes and took a deep breath. Such annoyances..., if only she could eradicate them all. Ichigo's voice in all its polite mannerisms slowly cooled her burning frustration and gave her a source to focus on. Tea would be nice.

"I probably could..." She agreed with his unspoken thought of her ability to rise up without him. "...but the world is full of traitors and betrayal, it would be wise of me to keep an eye on my back or to have an eye that could do so for me, even when I am otherwise preoccupied." She inclined her head, a motion that said he was free to lead the way and also gave her a chance to truly study his gray form. Interesting. "Tea, though. Tea would be nice."

[Kari Muffin]

Wait. Had he said what he was thinking out loud? How did she.... what? He mentally smacked himself to focus. Tea, right. He had been told about a nice little tea house somewhere around here that had been one of his destinations if he was desperate for a job. He felt bad using his father's connections, but now he had a chance not to.

He nodded to Mephitisia and trotted in the direction of the tea house. It was actually a lot closer than he expected, and reminded him about home. When they entered, the tiny musical bell rang causing the few occupants to look up.

It was a quaint and rustic place. The strong smell of various different teas permeated the building and soaked into the wood structure. A Sorgaire Ranger stood behind the counter fiddling with a teapot. She looked up curiously. "Oh! Is that you Ichigo? I haven't see you or your family in ages! Sit down! You and your friend can have tea on the house."

"Thank you, Tira. It's a pleasure to see you again." The Mid-Ranger grinned as he took a seat near the counter. That was easy.

[Vyn]

Mephitisia liked him. Not in the way one would like their friend, lover, or even their pet but in a way one might like a vase. He was agreeable, not entirely unpleasant to the eye. She could stand his company and that was a considerable step up from her feelings toward others.

When they completed the brief walk to the tea house and had managed to slide into the corner away from the majority of the quiet patrons, Mephitisia spoke up again. Despite the fact that she had an undeniably young body, Mephitisia's mind was aged far beyond her physical form. At least, however, this strange break in physical and mental age was no longer so noticeable, so disturbing.

"So, Ichigo, tell me about yourself. What region are you from, firstly...? I dont' believe I've seen another of your region before." She didn't bother hiding the true question linger on her mind. What region was he? Why didn't she know more about them? "Do you have any rules or restrictions to your work, anything you wouldn't do for any circumstance? And, of course, what is your fee?"

[Kari Muffin]

"The Mid-Range," Ichigo provided with a cordial smile. The woman who had been the the counter slipped over and provided them with a pot of tea, and two cups.

"I know Ichigo likes his green tea, but what will the young lady be having?" She asked. The Ranger was a middle aged feline with a tied back silver mane. She waited until Mephitisia placed her own order before trotting off to fetch the other teapot.

"I suppose we've rather secluded region." He took a careful sip of the tea provided for him. "As for restrictions: I am a bodyguard, not an assassin. I will risk my life and limb for you but I will not kill someone on a whim. I won't do anything that would be dishonorable to me, my family, or you. If any of the circumstances occur I will leave without payment. As for payment, For brief services I charge 15 an hour for long term services I'm willing to haggle out a deal."

[Vyn]

Mephitisia nodded her head thoughtfully as she received his answer. The Mid-Range? Quickly her mind swept back through the endless archives of information that she had stored away for use. Ah yes, The Mid-Range. She'd heard of them and looked into the reclusive lot a bit but had never really paid them much mind. Honorable creatures, apparently, and with a habit of bloodletting. Ichigo didn't seem the sort to be a heavy bleeder, though, considering the pristine gray of his coat. Very well, that would suit her just fine for now.

"Ahh, I see. Then you'd be my first to have met from that realm. It's a pleasure."

Even a demon could be cordial when she needed to be, especially when those agonizing fangs had finally grown to their full length and she could stop resiting with those mind-numbing headaches. When the woman returned to them, Mephit made note of the fact that she seemed to know Ichigo quite well despite some apparent time between them, and then ordered her tea as expected. She wasn't a big tea-drinker in all honesty, but a friend of Ophelia's was always raging about it.

Strange obsession, really.

Returning her attention to the business at hand, Mephitisia smiled in a way that was somewhere between frightening and not entirely unpleasant but which was definitely not sweet or even all too inviting. Perhaps it was the fangs, or those piercing orange eyes? Most likely one would find it was neither and just that sickening cold aspect of her personality that gave one the willies. Ah well, Mephit had long stopped caring if people were afraid. In fact, it rather amused her.

"Good, good. I will not require an assassin, a body guard is all I need. Just a trustworthy pair of eyes to watch my back." And, if everything she heard was right, then the Mid-Range would be perfect for that. Stabbing her in the back would be horribly dishonorable. "As for long term or short term use, I intend to keep you nearby until I reach Jackhood, at very least. By then I should be well enough established to forge my way without need of a bodyguard."

Mephit had failed before, so many times... This would not be one of them. She would not let herself be taken down whens he was so close to obtaining her goals!

[Kari Muffin]

"Well then, it seems like it would be classified as long term, unless you plan on going for your Jackhood in the next week," Ichigo said with a cheery smiled. As intimidating as Mephitisia was, she wasn't particularly scary. Scary was something entirely different to Ichigo. Dishonoring his family like his uncle had, that was a scary thing.

"It's a pleasure to be in your services," He offered her a paw to shake on the agreement. They would sort out a written contract some other time, for now they would shake on it. It was a good enough contract to mean he would protect her from here on out.

What realm was she from? Corvistowne most likely, but she didn't have random markings, just that blue treeish looking thing. Was she a mixed realm then? The mouse was never good at the whole realm thing. He never really did listen to that during his lessons as a child.

[Vyn]

(This should so be a 'you know you're addicted when...' scenario. "You're trying to leave for vacation and your character demands one last post." >_> [cough] I am here fulfilling Mephit's wishes while I eat XDDD)

Mephit cocked her head ever so slightly, listening to his thoughts on her person with quiet interest. Ophelia had been right, this bracelet was quite useful and it definitely helped to assuage some of the usually unending paranoia she faced. She could pick out the faces of her enemies quite easily now, without worrying about those who intended her no direct harm.

With honor as his lord and master, Mephitisia would be immune from the dishonorable practices of most...but it also meant she was to watch her own actions now instead of his. She had learned this the hard way with Xylia and had driven the one sibling she cared about away. Yes, she would carefully watch her actions and be sure Ichigo would remain true to his nature so long as he worked with her.

"As much as I would like it to be a week, I have some work to do still." She smirked then, extending her paw. "It will be a pleasure having you, Ichigo."

Withdrawing her paw, Mephitisia once more caught a strand of thought directed at her and, flippantly, she replied.

"Admiring my markings, are you?" Like a cat played with a dying bird, Mephit was playing with Ichigo. She liked hearing his thoughts, and announcing her knowledge of them without directly letting on to just what her bracelet could do. "I'm a mixed region: Corvistowne and Avington. Hence the tree laid out in such brilliant neon."

[Kari Muffin]

"Oh my," the mouse said with a bit of surprise, "That's quite an amazing mix I must say. Then again I haven't seen very many mixes. I've been couped up in the Mid-Range most of my life. I'm not used to seeing bright and amazing colors." Ichigo said with a slight bow of his head, "I apologize if I was staring."

Manners were something the mouse usually remembered. How on earth did the deer pick up on his curiosity? It's not like she could read his thoughts or anything. It didn't make any logical sense. Was he slipping up more often than he was willing to admit to himself. Ichigo sipped his tea in thought. He didn't want to dishonor his family with bad manners.

"Is there anything you're planning to do today and would need my assistance? Otherwise I may go to take a look around the city by myself if you don't mind. I've never been to a city like this before."

[Vyn]

Mephitisia smiled slightly to herself, inwardly pleased. So many could've been annoyed by the mouse's mannerly ways, but she took a silent comfort in them. After all, if he knew when to keep his eyes to himself then he wouldn't go peeking into her business when he didn't belong and she wouldn't have to worry about whether or not he would have to be 'removed' at a later date.

Unwitting, Xylia had stuck her nose in where it didn't belong and had thus removed herself from the situation. To honorable for her own good, but not so bound to her honor that she could stop Mephit herself. Ichigo, on the other hand, might be the sort to take action against her if he were to find himself in a place Mephitisia did not want him.

"No, not staring...but I could see the curiousity. If you've spent as much time without leaving your own region as you say, then I could say that's perfectly reasonable." Her tone remained casual, quite friendly, but ever present was that chilling undertone. Luckily for Ichigo, things were going well for Mephit and her mood was relatively high. "The only question I have left is how or where to contact you. Otherwise you're free to do as you'd like this evening."