[FIN] Life is Like a Hurricane [Open/Private]

[Lucca]

"Of course, Mr. McDuck," Mrs. White said sweetly, though she thought the girl's region was reason enough. Really, this just went to show even more what an utter fool her employer was. After all, she remembered a nasty incident with a Corvie a few months back, who had tried to sell Scrooge a mechanical device that was supposedly to help clean his mansion, but had tried to make off with his money in the middle of the night. Surely Scrooge remembered it as well? He had certainly been angry enough at the time. Though she felt rather let down at the fact that the proposed experiment had little to do with blood, in all actuality. What a pity. At least the girl was rightfully wary of her. She turned that radiant smile on Aima.

"I apologize for not trusting your intentions. My name is Nellwyn White." Hah! Now, if Aima still refused to speak with her, she'd look like a real b!@#$. And Scrooge would not approve. She briefly entertained the thought of this girl making Scrooge angry enough to use his Jack ability. She'd only seen it once, and it had been a most curious thing...

[Esfiel]

Aima really really did not like It. That smile looked well enough, but her instincts told her the blasted creature knew something she didn't, or was thinking something she most certainly would not like.

But she smiled merrily despite her feelings and at last turned her eyes on the demon itself. "I find myself unable to speak accurately my pleasure at meeting the both of you." It wasn't a lie, although it had a different meaning for each of whom it referred to.

She looked back to Mr. McDuck after a decent amount of time had passed so it would not be considered rude. "Oh yes, I've heard of it. Your cousin has good tastes. I believe it's quite close, too." She recalled seeing that somewhere around here, but it was difficult to recall exactly where it was. She was usually too distracted to pay too close attention to the buildings she passed. Her short term memory was often quite selective when it came to remembering things that did not seem relevant or interested her.

[Lucca]

Whatever sinister intent Aima saw behind his maid's smile, McDuck obviously didn't notice it, as he beamed in a contented way when Mrs. White made her apology. He rubbed his hands together, looking from one woman to the other. "Well! Now that we all know each other, to business! After all, time's a-wasting and we could just as easily have this conversation over lunch." If there was one thing that had proved true in his life, it was the saying 'Time is Money.' So wasting time wasn't something he enjoyed doing (well...he allowed himself leisure time occasionally, of course, but usually only on Sundays, when most others were off work anyway.) He nodded to Aima.

"Oh yes, it's very close. Worry not, I believe I know which direction to take." With a flourish, he raised his cane and pointed it down the street. "That way lies our destination. Come along please, Mrs. White, Aima." Twirling his cane and setting it back on the street, he started off at a brisk pace, webbed feet nimbly stepping over the cobblestones.

[Lucca]

Again, there was that mingled rush of disappointment and satisfaction as the pine martin gave into her wishes and was shoehorned into replying. She met the girl's intense gaze with one of her own, smile still firmly in place, but something flashed behind her eyes. Oh yes, she caught the double meaning behind Aima's words, even if Scroogie didn't. It only made a sense of deeper satisfaction surge up in her, and she resisted the urge to purr. Instead, her smile widened, showing a hint of pearly white fangs. "I could say the same," she said. Are you scared, girl? You should be.[/color] This time, she didn't let even a flicker of her thoughts show on her face, but kept her intense pink gaze on Aima.

When McDuck called, her head snapped around, instantly at attention. Her ears perked, actually somewhat impressed that he remembered where this place was...or at least, thought he did. He'd never actually been there, of course, and she reminded herself of this as she followed, with a swish of her fluffy tail, silent pawsteps shadowing her employer's.

[Esfiel]

Fangs. It only figured It had fangs. Quite fitting, actually, when one thought about it. Evil Cat, Tulgey Wood, why shouldn't it have fangs? Oh, Aima just knew that I had picked up on the meaning of her comment, but why should it matter as long as Mr. McDuck had not? It probably got similar reactions to hers all the time. Even still, It probably enjoyed making people uncomfortable.

Although most people may have stayed clear of her, rather than plunge head-on into her company.

She turned in the direct that he pointed with his cane, and before she realized it she was following along side the creature behind Mr. McDuck. The test she had begun earlier was forgotten, and would only be remembered after she had finished with this new task. For now she carried the box in one hand, not wanting to get rid of it just yet, and kept an eye on It on their journey.

How gracefully and silently It moved! She may have been in awe if It wasn't so damned eerie.

[Lucca]

Grame was not unnerved by silence. Not that, indeed, it was possible for the Capital to be silent at this time of day and in such a central location within the city, but neither of the two ladies behind him attempted to make conversation, and neither did he. He whistled lightly, tapping his cane on the path in time with the tune, as they walked, and it was only a matter of minutes before they reached the restaurant in question, and the Duck stopped outside, tilting his head to examine the place for a moment before they entered. He gave a brisk nod as it met with his qualifications; the premises were clean and in good order, and the smells emanating from the building were promisingly enticing.

"Well! This is the place all right," he said at last to break the silence, pushing the doors open. It looked rather high-end, and he hoped that Aima had the money to back up her promise of treating them. "Look lively, there, Mrs. White," he admonished the maid with a smile as he held the door for the other two. He was, after all, a gentleman.

Upon entering, they were promptly accosted by a smartly-dressed waiter, who seated them and handed them menus in short order. He only gave a brief look over the three odd Cards, being rather used to serving all types. His gaze did linger long on Mr. McDuck...had he perhaps heard of him and is famous riches?

Graeme glanced at his menu, waving a hand toward the Cat who was seated next to him. "Order whatever you like, Mrs. White. Of course, it behooves me to say that, since my pocket isn't the one that will be lightened by this visit." He chuckled, hoping Aima would take the joke in good humor.

[Lucca]

The Cat ignored the Pine Martin for the entirety of the walk, which she noticed was precisely six minutes long. She tended to notice those little, methodical details. After all, one must always be careful to never let one's own details slip. A sudden twitch of the whiskers, an intake of breath at the wrong time--all could prove ill. She knew this better than anyone, she fancied. Pink eyes turned to look at the restaurant, and though the action was the same as McDuck's, the motive was entirely dissimilar.

She gave Scrooge a raised eyebrow, followed by a good-natured, simpering smile. All put on, of course. He could surely tell her to 'look lively', but that was because he had no idea of what she put up with on a daily basis, though he should know better than any. His own fool self was more than enough to deal with, even without suspicious Corvies. Oh well, let that girl think she had anything over her other than her own superstition. She could prove nothing, less than nothing!

Sitting daintily, betraying no hint of her inner thoughts, Mrs. White looked over the menu. Well, at least they had tea. She looked up, laughing loudly at the little 'joke.' "Now, Mr. McDuck, let's not be getting ahead of ourselves. If Aima was kind enough to offer to pay, we must then assume she has quite enough gold to her name to pay for it, isn't that right?" She smiled disarmingly at the Pine Martin. And if you don't[/color], she thought, well, then things will get quite interesting.[/i]

[Esfiel]

Aima thanked Mr. McDuck when he held the door open for them and thanked the waiter when he seated and handed them their menus. She couldn't remember the last time she ate out. It cost more money than eating at home, and usually she preferred to save her money for equipment.

What was this? She had to pay for the Cat, too? Well, she probably should have seen that coming, but it hardly made her happy. Those feeling didn't matter though, and she smiled a good-humored smile and laughed at the joke. That's right, Aima was in command of herself. This might actually turn out well!

Then It talked. How dare It! Of course she had the money! She happened to light carrying around more money than she ought on the chance she should come across some piece of equipment or object that was needed or help in her research. One couldn't risk running back home to get more money. It might be sold before she returned! Although it didn't happen very often, as she ended up creating most all that she needed.

So she had the money to pay for the meal. She just wouldn't have a lot of money afterwards. Which meant she would probably have go outside the Capital and hunt for food for the next week. Or starve. It depended on her schedule, the weather, and the little metal dish installed in her head.

"Oh, quite right, and please, order anything you two want. It wouldn't be very elegant of me to restrain you." Although she'd like to. As for herself, she decided on ordering tea and... oh no. She almost felt like laughing. Milk and Honey Bread, what did she think she was going to get to eat? Well, that's why she was omnivorous. They had fruit, so she would get that along with actual honey bread. The latter she could force down with a smile when they weren't paying much attention to her.

[Lucca]

Graeme gave Mrs. White a long-suffering look, as if she were a child that he was fond of despite her tendency to cause harmless trouble. "I was not insinuating she couldn't pay for it," he said, though a quick glance at Aima showed she didn't look offended at all. Good, then all was well. "I would never think such a thing of a lovely, bright young lady." He resumed his looking over of the menu, though he himself was only a little bit hungry. He didn't usually eat all that much at meals, unless of course he was adventuring, in which case he worked up an actual appetite. Actually, he hadn't had a good one of those in a while...with this in mind he asked a passing waitress if they could kindly give him a copy of the day's paper? Of course, this was not included in the meal, so he intended to pay for it himself. He was honest, even if he didn't relish spending money on anything.

He finally settled on a nice tea and a sandwich, made with their famous sweet bread and a side of pretzels. Setting his menu down, he looked over at the pine martin. He might as well make conversation while they waited for their meal. "So, forgive me, but I'm very curious...what exactly is the function of that radar dish on your forehead? It looks somewhat like a...oh, what was the name of it, that thing on the roof of the greenhouse that..." He looked beseechingly at Mrs. White, but she merely blinked at him in noncomprehension. "Ah, yes, a solar panel!" He smiled, looking at Aima curiously.

[Lucca]

The Cat merely matched her with a smile. "Of course not. Thank you kindly," she said sweetly. She spared only a glance at the menu, already knowing what she wanted. Chicken noodle soup and a cup of Tulgey Red. They had these things, luckily, and she could tell from her glance that this was one of those places that provided complimentary sides of rolls, or, in this case, honey bread, to all guests. Her tail twitched as she waited. She found her eyes going to the odd tubes again, watching as what was surely the girl's blood moved through them. Didn't she say that she was only...what was it...half blooded? So if she were to slit the pine martin's throat...

Her eyes went unfocused. Would there be less life blood that would come gushing out? She stared at a point on her throat, imagining it covered in glorious red, more of it coloring her paw...staining her white fur and black in a lovely contrast...

Unfortunately it was at this point that the annoying voice of Scrooge, directed towards her, snapped her out of the vivid daydream, and she looked at him languidly. She let the vision shift so it was -his- throat bursting blood, and how his white feathers would look with a little more red...real wounds to supplement the fake red slashes across his wings...but then it was gone, and she smiled at him innocently, with no cue given to her inner thoughts.