Taking The Next Step [Finished]

[Vyn]

And just like that they were back in front of the jewelry shop.

The canine's jaw slackened for the briefest moment and then slowly he shook his head, thrust away his bewildered confusion and simply climbed the stares with the unusual stallion. He should have seen that coming, but he honestly didn't know the back alleys around the jewelry shop to recognize it. He'd have to keep that in mind in case this ever happened again.

With another whirlwind of confusion, Toli was brought to Ignatious -- Iggy, Ira had called him --, introduced, and abandoned. What was that about umbrellas?

The canine sighed to himself, finding a smile despite the oddity of everything, and relaxed easily to watch the mouse-bull work.

"Not a problem, go ahead and take your time. I'm in no real rush." With a welcome grin, and a slightly admiring glance at Iggy's work, Anatolius sat down and took a look at the sandwiches that Ira had dropped into the room with Iggy. Good thing he had a decent memory.

"We have here, courtesy of Ira, three sandwiches..." he paused to recollect the list. "two pickled rye sandwiches with... cheese, lettuce, cucumbers, and a hint of pepper. And a Turkey and ham sandwich with mayonnaise and two types of cheese... Don't think he actually specified what type of cheese." The canine laughed a little. "Ah yes, and three bags of chips."

If they were all for Iggy, then the boy must have a rather large appetite. This didn't really surprise him, of course, since the young male had Corvie in his blood and the people in that region were all but notorious in their negligence to eat. He should know, living with Vana like he did.

"Since he dropped 'em off here, I assume one or all of 'em are for you. I've got my own lunch," the canine motioned to his bag, "so I'm set, whatever the case." A brief pause and the canine smiled. "Have you gotten a chance to eat yet today?"

[Kasatsu]

Placing aside the diamond he had been working on in exchange of food he thought over which one he wanted. Either of them could honestly be for him or for the equine. Deciding that he wanted the turkey and ham sandwich, he pulled it out of the bag along with his serving of chips. If the equine had wanted it differently then he could just deal with the consequences of up and leaving.

Raising an eyebrow at this brother he wondered what this situation was really about. Why had this canine come with him?

"We had breakfast," he offered in the simple way of an explanation, offering nothing more.

Finally realizing that his brother had left without completely explaining the situation at hand, he turned his head to the door to yell after him. "Why is he really here?" He demanded, this time hoping that a real response would provide some sort of a real explanation. The equine really could be a trouble when one wanted a simple answer and he was not in the mood to just give it.

[Vyn]

Anatolius watched Iggy debate over the sandwiches. Apparently Ira was just as much a mystery to him as he was to the canine. Good.

So Toli took out his own sandwich and took a contented bite, chewing as Iggy thought. His vague answer received a nod. If that was the case, then a sandwich now would make a good lunch without too much lost time. Not that it was his business to concern himself with that sort of thing.

The mouse's sudden onset of confusion and his attempt at catching the equine's attention caused Toli to faulter for a moment before chuckling warmly.

"Well, he was actually pretty on spot...despite all his confusing talk around the core of it: I'm here to take you back to the Court of Clubs. Have no clue what the umbrella bit was about and I don't intend to do any real stealing...but he had the gist of it."

[seraaches]

Teal ears perked upright to show just above the counter top, flicking once, twice, before going still. The lady browsing the store froze so she could stare in surprise at the pair of appendages hovering just in sight. Her head tilted as she heard shouting from upstairs, but she wasn't prepared for the sudden explosion of stallion from behind the counter. She gave a sharp shriek, but the young man didn't seem to even hear her.

In a flash he was at the door, his nose sticking just a bit so that his face stripes were still hidden by the door jam. "He brings forth the Apocalypse through the macaroni and cheese noodles."

A long moment of silence then the stallion trotted in and took a sandwich to mildly munch away on. He looked from one to the other as he chewed then announced to Iggy, "Mommy dearest says hello, but could not attend. He's meeting with Daddy darling's family today."

Pale lavender eyes went to Anatolius. "Hallo, Tollie. Aren't you supposed to be gone by now?"

[Kasatsu]

"He can do so, but just make sure that he packs a light jacket and fork." The mix replied, not really blinking. This was the kind of answer that he had been expecting from the horse-boy in the beginning, this was an answer that made sense to him.

"Why is he going to do that? Usually he is always going off about how he hates that part of the family. Never a kind word uttered." He contemplated that for a moment before shrugging his shoulders. Nothing that concerned him, nothing to worry about.

So Tolius was here for something? "Why you and what would they want me over there?" Usually he visited at least twice a year, but from what he had previously understood his Father was busy at the moment so he had not been around to bother the old man.

[Vyn]

Anatolius listened to the odd conversation for some time, trying hard to follow the quirky banter between them. Apocalypse? Macaroni and Cheese Noodles? Did this...really have any meaning? Well... Ignatius seemed to understand it all just find and Toli wasn't entirely ready to debate any of it with either of them.

When at last Iggy turned his attention back to him, Toli cocked his head a little to the side and chuckled once he'd swallowed his last mouthful of sandwich.

"Well, I'm specifically here because Her Highness Anoushka" The canine resisted the urge to touch his chest, longing for the J that would hopefully be there soon. "And you, because the Court of Clubs is under staffed and they are in need of another high ranking Club's assistance such as yourself."

The canine flashed a charming smile, tail wagging jovially. "So, will you come back with me then? Just hear Lady Anoushka out at very least?"

[Kasatsu]

Oh . . . Well that seemed easy enough.

"Well if you really want me to then I suppose I can visit the Club Court for a while." He replied easily enough. It never hurt to just visit, it was not like they could force him to stay. He had other important things that he needed to have done daily.

"Well then let's go." Standing up he gathered the rest of his sandwich. "I will see you later Ira, take care of our Brother while I am off, kay?" He was pretty sure that Se would be taken care of . . . if not then, he gave a small mental shrug, he would have to just clean up - or get others to clean up - the remaining mess.

Ready to go he headed out the door, expecting the canine to follow behind him. If anyone were to mention to the strange mix that he had picked up such habits from Ira and Se he was not sure he would be able to deny it.

[Vyn]

Anatolius's smile fleshed out into a warm grin, eyes bright. He loved when things came together well and, from the looks of it, Ira didn't appear to be protesting his 'stealing' of Iggy. Very well then!

"Wonderful, we can leave whenever you're ready." Which would, it appeared, be right then. Well that worked, didn't it?

Anatolius appreciated the male's promptness and offered a friendly nod and wave to Ira before following the mouse/bull out the door. From the look of it so far, Iggy really would make a good addition to their small but ever-growing Court.


The ride to the Court of Clubs was rather quick via carriage and Anatolius was happy to fill it with casual banter. He had never been one to grow awkward in a conversation, though he would wizen up and keep his mouth shut if Iggy were to grow tired of the talking. Upon arriving, the canine paid the driver and made his way toward the gates with Iggy.

"Do you want to rest before meeting with Anoushka, or shall we go straight there?"

[Kasatsu]

The bull-mouse mix did not really remember a time spent with a more chatty fellow. El was never one to waste his words, and oddly enough Father-Rai was the same way. Everyone else that he had spent any real time with seemed to fall into the above mention category.

Still not really sure what was going on, only knowing that there would be no harm to himself for it, he allowed the canine his chatter, answering easily whenever a question was posed to him.

Arriving at the Court he took it all in with a calm approval. It had not been too long since his last visit so only a few things had changed, and those of no major importance.

"It does not really matter to me. We should probably get the task done and over with" He would allow the canine to lead the way to wherever it was they would need to go from here.

[Vyn]

While Anatolius was good at reading the responses of others, he didn't find Iggy too uncomfortable with his chatter or, of course, he would've knocked it down a notch. There was no use being a nuisance when you wanted to make friends, after all, and Anatolius enjoyed making friends whenever possible.

"Ah, very good! I'll take you straight to her, then." He liked a prompt and decided sort, especially in these business situations, and Iggy appeared to be just that. Steadfast, too, and pleasantly friendly without excess chattiness. He liked him already.

Relatively more silent inside the Palace than on the trip over, Anatolius was quick to lead him to Anoushka's chamber and knocked soundly upon arrival. Hopefully he had timed their arrival right and they wouldn't be interrupting anything special that the King might have to do today. He wasn't exactly sure when Anoushka had been expecting him.