The Corner Booth [Ku-chan] *Finished*

[seraaches]

Shinrai put on a burst of speed, hooves dancing across the cobblestones in a sharp cadence that betrayed his urgency. He took a final bound, shifting forms as he did so. With arms outstretched, Rai tackled the ram to the ground. The man gave a cry as the larger Card drove him to the stone-covered ground.

Ironically or not, now that the stallion had the other man pinned, Rai wasn't entirely certain what to do. He stared down at the blue tree that covered the other Card's back and frowned at it. An Avington. Why in the world had this man looked so strangely at him?

It wasn't long before Rai noticed that the man was absolutely quivering; with what emotion, the Josiggy Marshdweller could not tell, but the ram very distinctly did not want to look at him again. The ram seemed to be trying to keep his face covered and shoved in the ground.

[Kasatsu]

It only took a few moments, though they did not feel that way to the mouse, to catch up with his friend. Scampering in his animal form might have been easier, but he was too fond of his bi-pedal to think of it. When he had finally reached his equine friend he had cursed the male with the seven different types of tortures. Seeing his friend holding down the ram, he raised an eyebrow in question.

"Whip, wot are you . . .? Actually, you know wot, I probably do not want to know." He held his hands up, palms out, showing he wanted no real part in the situation.

He had never seen his friend react nor treat someone like this. The poor guy was practically shaking as his bi-pedal friend held him down. "Perhaps you should let the man go?" He suggested, not sure if it would be a productive offer or not.

Honestly, he was quiet confused about everything that was currently going on.

[seraaches]

He couldn't look, couldn't look, couldn't see. He knew; that was the problem, he knew. He knew what he should not, knew what no one should know. He didn't want to know! Especially not here, not this one, not this man. He was afraid of what he saw, afraid of the high-ranked Heart who even now had him pinned in the dirt. He had to not see.

The stallion slipped to the side, keeping a hand on the ram in case he tried to run again. He needn't have worried, however, the Avington didn't move from his spot.

Rai's face was drawn and stern. "Who are you?" he demanded. "Why did you look at me like that?" He gave the ram a hard shake.

The ram tried to curl tighter into a ball.

[Kiki]

Kuni and Sera receive 1 token each, to be redeemed in Ashwin's Shoppe. This will automatically be added to your recorded totals in the shoppe. Congratulations, and keep up the good RP!

[Kasatsu]

He was still very confused on what was going on here.

"You can not really blame the man." He contradicted the mood, "After all if I did not know you so well I would probably react the same way. Maybe he has something against you high up Hearts." That would make sense.

"Look at him, just the sight of you scares him."

His friend would be able to spot that his tone was mocking and playful - hoping to release the tension. Though Whip might not be in the mood to take it as such.

"Here, here. You take a good step back." If his friend did not easily comply he would push him away with a hand. He took up a position by the ram that would allow him to block any attempt at escape but would not be as threatening. Not that a fire mouse could do much to retain the ram.

"There now. Scary horse is away. Why do you not tell us what is wrong?"

[seraaches]

Ader pushed him away, but Rai hesitated for a very long moment. He didn't like this and he didn't know if his friend could hold the ram still. Of course, if needed, he could always run the other Card down again. It seemed rather apparent that the ram wasn't going to willingly talk to him, though he wouldn't have minded forcing a few answers either. Even the memory of that look made the stallion uneasy.

You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. With this thought, Rai stepped back, allowing the mouse to take point. For now.

Ladarius stayed in his little ball, though one ear flicked as he heard hooves deliberately pacing back a short distance. His eyes cast to the side, but he refused to even look at the mouse feet that stood beside him. "I need to go." His voice was soft and pleading.

[Kasatsu]

The mouse could only blink at the ram's reply to his question.

"Go where? If you needed to go that badly would it not have been easier to go at the Pub?" He replied in a confused manner, having misunderstood the ram's comment to mean he needed to use the water closet.

Now he was really confused on what was going on here. Apparently his friend knew the ram, at least well enough to recognize the male. Maybe he had done something to tick the horse off . . . then again considering how he was reacting now that seemed like it would not ring true. Not unless he was a real coward.

Looking to his friend he gave a helpless shrug. Maybe if his friend tried to talk to the ram from over there they would get somewhere. At least maybe if his friend keep his temper in check.

[seraaches]

Darius stared at the man in some bewidlerment before picking up on where the mouse's train of thought had gone. ffcc33]"No," he said urgently. "I need to leave. Quickly. Now!" Despite his tone and words, he didn't struggle.

Rai read the Morganberry's look and stepped back forward. "Now, look. . . . who are you?"

The ram flinched, fighting to keep from looking at the stallion again, though it wouldn't matter anymore. It was just that initial glance, the first blow. "My name is Ladarius. Please. I've done nothing wrong!"

The stallion fought to keep from snorting. "Explain yourself, Ladarius," the man nearly snarled. "Wot was that look?"

The ram looked to Aderlass again, but whatever he read on the mouse's face did not give him hope. He couldn't tell! He couldn't admit it!

"That's it," the stallion said flatly. "I'm beating it out of him."

"No!" Darius gasped in shock, golden eyes jerking up to the man's face. Secrets and lies, the man was serious. "No, no! I'll. . . I'll tell you." He whispered the truth, the words soft and filled with shame.

[Kasatsu]

Seeing that he had misunderstood the male's meaning in his words he made a silent "oh". That was definitely something good, after all it would have been quite strange for a grown male . . . anyway.

Standing by as the two of them went verbally at each other he titled his head to the side. The mouse rolled his eyes at the horse. Seriously, why did the man always have to resort to violence. Shaking his head at his friend he looked down at the male.

"All of this is over a look? Wot in the world did he do? Bat his eyelashes at you?" The mouse asked slightly exasperated. His friend often seemed to take everything a little too personally. "For the love of the Courts, he probably confused you for someone else."

Starring down at the male he finally realized that he was an Avington. Watching the male carefully he tried to recall everything he knew about those from the realm. Were they not all crazy or something of the sort? Perhaps they were just an eccentric sort.

[seraaches]

Rai froze at the softly spoken words, for now ignoring Ader's admonishments towards him. This was far bigger, after all. The King of Hearts stared thoughtfully at the man, gaze speculative. Well. Well, well. This was interesting and useful.

"When?" His own question was soft as well and he leaned down into the ram's personal space, looming inadvertently.

Darius couldn't meet the man's gaze now. "Not for a long time. He felt as though something was twisting inside of him; something dark and gross and horrible. He shuddered. He felt as though his tree was dying, twisting and turning as it went wizened and black.

Rai glanced uneasily towards Ader, but it wasn't his place to ask that. "Where do you live?" His voice still wasn't gentle, but it was less biting than it had previously been.

Near the cemetery." All of his will and fight seemed to have drained away.

"We're going to take him home, Ader," Rai announced to his friend.