The Corner Booth [Ku-chan] *Finished*

[seraaches]

The stallion slipped into a corner booth, hidden slightly in the masking shadows. He notoriously made ‘new friends’ when he came drinking and he was attempting to limit such interaction tonight. His mind was full of ideas and concepts and quite a few plots that weren’t fully developed. His interview with Queen Serafino was coming up very soon and the stallion didn’t feel the least bit prepared for the upcoming meeting. He was pleased he wouldn’t have to relocate out to the Highlands just to get into the Court, but he was meeting with THE Queen of Hearts. Wot was that glorious Majesty going to be asking him? And wot in the world would be the correct answers?

Shinrai soon had a beer sitting on the table before him and he was sipping it thoughtfully when he thought a familiar figure had stepped into the bar as well. His eyes narrowed and he wondered if that was indeed a red mouse with antlers or if it was someone else entirely and the haze and smoke simply made it appear to be the man he knew.

[Kasatsu]

Ah, one of his favorite spots the red mouse thought as he neared the pub in bi-pedal form. However, upon entering it his glee quickly ended. The place was full. It was not so much as packed as there appeared to be no seats where he could sit by himself. Giving up on any of the obvious places to sit by himself, he decided to head to the seats farther in the corners and darkness, though he did not really have all that hope.

The first three booths were taken. Heaving a little sigh he decided to check the last one in hopes that maybe, by chance, it would be available. Upon reaching the edges, his eyes met those of a gray-green variety, a very familiar gray-green.

Smiling, he greeted the horse. “Hello there, imagine meeting you here. Do you mind terribly if I happened to join you this evening? There are not any other seats in this bloody place.” He looked back towards the more crowded area of the pub with a look of disgust.

[seraaches]

While rather introspective tonight, the mouse was likely one of the few people the stallion wouldn’t have shunned entirely. Plus, the mouse had a surprising new air. ”Congratulations on your new form,” the stallion said lightly in greeting, then gestured towards the other seat with his nose. ”Be my guest.” He signaled to the waitress so he could purchase the mouse a congratulatory drink. He waited until the little ferret waitress took the order and walked off before continuing the conversation.

”It’s been awhile evidently. Wot have you been up to, Aderlass?” Besides, evidently, working hard to gain power and prestige, as his higher rank and bipedal form attested to. The stallion suddenly wondered just wot it was the mouse did for a living. He, of course, lived off of the profits from his tour guide business that Elias was still manning for him back home in Josiggy Marsh. Not that the mouse was aware of these facts; Shinrai had certainly never gone out of his way to spread that information around.

[Kasatsu]

“Thank you.” He took the seat that the horse had motioned to, across from the horse, gratefully. He crossed his legs - in a manly fashion- and then leaned back in the seat, relaxing into the atmosphere.

“It is about time that this form bothered to show itself. It has some lovely advantages.” He paused and watched as the green horse waved down a waitress and ordered a drink.

“It has been a while. I have been busy running here and there.” He answered the horses questions, not letting the horse on to the fact that he was currently working as a partner to Mnem, running errands to pick up her supplies whenever she needed them. From the horse’s history he greatly doubted that he would appreciate the information. “How about yourself, wot has been keeping you busy?”

The waitress returned, drink in hand. He took it, nodding his head in thanks, then returned his attention to his seat partner.

[seraaches]

The stallion nodded his head at the mouse’s brief extolling of the advantages of having bipedal form; the horse could hardly wait for the day that he might be able to get his own. Someday… he fought a desire to give a low sigh; it seemed everyone was getting their new forms besides him. It wasn’t jealousy, it was a blow to his pride. Bipedal bespoke power, and by lacking the form it implied –he- was lacking. He would attain it, however. Somehow. Someday.

Here and there said little and nothing all at once, but the stallion could not begrudge the mouse’s desire to not share his business; Rai was often the same way. ”Much of the same,” the stallion said easily, tossing his head up for a moment. ”Trying to keep an eye on the Courts.” It was a feeling type of statement, though the tone was kept at the same level of smoothness as his earlier words. He certainly didn’t want the other man to realize that he was being felt out on the subject.

[Kasatsu]

The horse gave off only the slightest sense of discontentment. Shrugging it off for it being something that the horse was not willing to talk about, which was fine with him, there were definitely things he also did not wish to talk to the horse about. His attention was caught when he mentioned the courts, however.

The whole reason that he had come to the Capital was because he had heard rumors about the chances that it had to offer. His being a Morganberry had only added to his interest and as soon as he had finished his training he had headed out without much of a goodbye to his family. Well except for the promise that he would write.

The mouse snorted at the idea. Yeah, like I would actually write them. He thought to himself. There was nothing that he wanted much more then to leave them. Especially after that incident years ago. He gave himself a small shake to dislodge the memories.

“The courts you say? One of his ears twitched, the only outward sign of his deeper interest.

[seraaches]

The ear twitch was a welcome sign that there –was- deeper interest going on beneath the surprising exterior. Though the snort was certainly unexpected; the stallion didn’t inquire, however; he didn’t want to distract them from their potential mutual interest in the politics of the Courts. The stallion kept his expression of distant awareness, keeping the same nonchalant air that the Morganberry mouse had on.

”Yes, the Courts,” the green Josiggy Marshdweller replied easily. ”You seem to be aware of them as well.” He sent the other man a brief, wry glance. ”I’ve been keeping an ear in that direction for I have some interest in getting into the Court of Hearts. And you?” His ears flicked towards the mouse as a faint smile flicked across his face.

He was counting on the mouse having at least some interest in getting into the Courts; he was, after all, a Morganberry, and now he was a Ten. Surely there was some ambition rising beneath that yellow chest.

[Kasatsu]

“Of course I am aware of them, well as much as one can be about them, anyhow.” He replied to the horse, a little offended at the thought that he would have been thought of as ignorant to the courts.

“The Court of the Hearts, huh? That seems like a big goal you have there then. How far do you think you will make it up?” he asked his partner quietly, interested in just what his goals were. “The Court of my suit, the Clubs, seems like the most reasonable for me to enter, do you not think?” He asked the horse, a teasing tone mixed with his voice.

While he had been making plans to enter his suit’s court ever since he had heard about it, he had not yet made any appearance and to be honest he was not sure exactly how to successfully go about it. Maybe Whip, here, could help him out.

[seraaches]

The stallion snorted at the mouse with inner amusement at the indignant response. ”I don’t know,” the stallion said idly, tilting his head to one side as his grey-green skimmed the bar’s crowds again rather uneasily. Despite his rather laid back demeanour, he was still almost paranoid about the random and unusual ability of certain females to find him when he didn’t want to be found. Fortunately, there was no sign of her or any of the other females already in his acquaintance. Very fortunately, actually; he didn’t like very many of the females he already knew.

”I think the Court of Hearts just might be a better option than the Court of Clubs. I’ve heard such lovely and nice things about the Queen Serafino.” The stallion smirked at the mouse. It was hardly possible for anyone to have not heard of the eccentric and frightening Queen Serafino. And it was just Rai’s luck to get to meet the man. Hoy.

[Kasatsu]

“While you might be right there, my friend, it should also be noted – and definitely not forgotten – that a Court can only as good as those who occupy its seats.” The mouse countered the horse, just as playful. Man, it has been a while since he had had this sort of connection to anyone. he thought, slightly surprised at the realization.

Continuing his teasing reply, he added somewhat more seriously, “As for your Queen Serafino, I have only really heard the speech about him from wot is said on the streets. He sounds like a very fascinating person to meet. I hope to have the pleasure in the future.” He was silent for a moment while he contemplated something. “Just wot are the regulations on the joining of different suits to the Courts?” He asked, scratching his head with a paw.

That would actually a good answer to know, he thought to himself as he waited for Whip to make his reply.