A Bad Day [Fin]

[Kari Muffin]

((OOC: <3 You said I could throw anyone at you, so I'll throw Harold having a really bad day at you.))

Harold sighed as he hurried down the bustling street. He really didn't enjoy being around this many people, but it was easier to hide wasn't it? People wouldn't question you if they didn't know you. He could move from place to place in the city over time and no one would be the wiser. As long as he didn't make friends he would be safe.

His head snapped around when his arm brushed up against someone. His heart almost stopped when the other person paused, but they were on their way. He was being more paranoid that usual wasn't he? The man sighed. Stressing for no reason wasn't going to help him.

Or kill him. That might be some of the problem.

The human continued down his path, but in a horrible display of lack of coordination he managed to trip, dropping half of the books he was carrying in the process. This really wasn't his day was it?

[Lauryn de Vampyre]

The Bobcat had just come from depositing the payment from making a successful delivery to one of her clients. The Private Investigation business was lacking these days, and her Black Market trading had taken a turn for the better. More and more people were being brought to her by previous clients, and business was booming. She was actually running out of time for her legal job, and was considering hiring someone as a partner to take on parts of the load she couldn't handle. Or maybe she should just quit the P.I. biz. She was making more money as a Black Market agent anyway now. The tricky part about that line of work was it was never secure. Always best to have a backup plan.

All these thoughts ran through her mind, as they had done many times before, as she made her way back to her apartment. There was nothing to do at either office, legal or illegal. This time Lariel finally could sit back and relax. Hell, she'd even take a damn bath. The Bobcat never liked getting wet, but the dirt under her fur was starting to get unseemly. Prideful cat.

While contemplating treating herself to a grooming, Lariel failed to notice the oncoming Human. She also didn't see the moment when he tripped, which sent all the books he'd been carrying flying on invisible wings. She only realized something was wrong when one of the hardcovered books conked her on the head.

"Ow!" she yelled, clutching at her head with a paw while looking around for the offender. Spying the haggard Human, Lariel growled and barred her teeth. "Why don't you look where you're going, clumsy oaf!"

[Kari Muffin]

Harold's head shot up when he heard the exclamation and insult. He wasn't in the mood to deal with people. And now he was being yelled at for an accident. Considering he was almost flat on his face didn't help. The man pulled himself to his knees, rubbing his chin.

"Oh I did." Didn't this woman have some form of compassion for someone who had fallen flat on their face. "Unfortunately my books don't have eyes. Then again I'm sure they would have gone for you temple out of spite." He muttered as he started to gather up his books. His tone was obviously a kidding one, but he never really stopped to think if someone would take offense to it. He was preoccupied picking up his books.

Really this was mess. The Esterberry actually paused in his work to to look up at who he had hit. He blinked. A Ranger? A ten of diamonds? Diamonds were notorious for being snarky, but then again she got hit by a book. "I'm sorry, could you hand me that book?"

(OOC: ... *in class watching Super size me* <3 XD I felt like doing a Harold post.)

[Lauryn de Vampyre]

Hearing what she thought was an insult, Lariel hissed quietly at the clumsy Human. Being flustered as she was, the Bobcat had unfortunately not heard the kidding tone from the one before her. Her hackles flattened a little bit at his quick muttered apology and Lariel looked around the ground for the offending book. Spying it near a puddle, Lariel picked it up and dusted some of the ground and dirt from the covers.

The Human was lanky at best, and seemed to constantly move. Just the sight of him made her want to not sit still. He made her brain itch. Lariel held out the book for him to grab. "It's a little dirty, but at least it wasn't hurt....like my head," she said sarcastically, reminding him again it was his clumsiness that was the cause for her current headache.

"Haven't you heard of a bag to carry all of these in? It'd probably be better for everyone if you did."

[Kari Muffin]

Harold sighed at the library book once he accepted it. At least it hadn't gotten water damage, he would have had to pay for that at the very least. But hurting a book in general just pained the Esterberry in him.

He ignored her comment about her head. Honestly, it could have been much worse. "I had a bag, but it ended up breaking on my way to the library this morning." Picking up another one of his books he added it to the pile. Once everything was stacked, he stood up. He wasn't that impressive when it came to height. He was probably only five feet seven at best. He frowned at his dirtied clothing. He had to fix everything the hard way since he didn't have his other forms. Next time he would pick lighter books... then again none of them had the answers he wanted. He knew it, but he still kept searching.

"I suppose I should make it up to you. Being hit in the head that is. Are you fond of coffee?" He asked as he reached down to pick up his books. He readjusted them once they where in his arms. This time they wouldn't go flying, unless he tripped again.

[Lauryn de Vampyre]

Now Lariel just felt like dirt. The Human had had a bag, but it'd broken and he just happened to trip, sending all those books of his flying. The Bobcat frowned. She hated feeling embarrassed but she had been rude to the man. Still, she had been hit on the head by one of his damn books! "I'm sure the Library could have given you a replacement if you'd asked..," she offered lamely, still trying to feel better about her rudeness.

She'd been about to protest him needing to make it up to her when her head perked up at the word coffee. Well, she was certainly parched and a cup of java sounded just right. Her head was throbbing after all. "Well, if you're offering it's not in me to say no. I guess I should help you with some of those books." As a Bobcat she couldn't carry them, but she was excellent with balance.

"You could put a small few safely on my back if you want, as long as the coffee isn't too far away, that is."

[Kari Muffin]

"I wouldn't want to be a pain to the librarians when they're already letting me have twice the books that the normal limit is," He said quietly as he brushed one of the covers off. "Of course, I ended up causing trouble anyway--and I'm sorry."

He was surprised when she warmed up. He honestly expected her to snap his head off and be done with it. Apparently coffee was the right answer when someone was angry. He still wasn't sure if she was putting up an act.... people were hard to trust.

Harold hesitated for another moment before picking up two books and carefully setting them on the woman's back. That should be enough to balance his pile out. "The coffee shop is just around the corner." He said with a small smile to accompany it.

Once all the books were arranged properly in his arms he didn't hesitate to lead the way to the coffee shop. At least he was somewhat close to where he was renting. It wouldn't be that much of a longer walk when he parted ways with this young woman.

His mind poked him for introductions, but he ignored them. He would think of some other fake name when they were talking over coffee.

[Lauryn de Vampyre]

Lariel looked at the stack of books and realized it was a lot of them if they were borrowed from the Library. Still, having double of what you're supposed to plus the responsibility of the items since they were borrowed....he definitely should have gotten a replacement bag. Still, hindsight was always 20/20.

"Mm, you don't have to apologize. You're buying me coffee after all. That's more than an apology in my book." The two books he placed on her back fit snugly and she could feel just enough of them to know if they were about to wobble off. She could have supported more, but he seemed to be handling the others alright.

"Just around the corner? Huh. I've not been to that one then. I didn't think there was a Cafe in the area I didn't know about." Lariel padded beside him, having to speed up a little to keep up with his human pace. The books moved minimally, and the Bobcat was grateful for her excellent sense of balance.

Lariel caught the smile, and gave one in return. "I guess since you're treating me, you should at least know my name. I'm Lariel. I'd shake your hand but....you know." She shrugged, feeling the books move with her.

[Kari Muffin]

"I think the place is new, but I haven't been here very long." He shrugged. If he hadn't been so worried he would have slowed his pace. However, he couldn't really focus on being polite at the moment.

He flushed a bit at the mention of introductions. Stuffing down all of his anxiety he gave her a smile. "It's nice to meet you properly, Lariel. I forgot my manners. My name is Harry."

He never liked to lie. And the fact that she was a diamond made things worse. Trying to not freak out completely he turned back to the direction they were heading. The coffee shop was right in front of them. It wasn't much of a shop, and compared to the rest of the shops it looked like a dilapidated mess.

Harold opened the door and stepped to the side to allow Lariel through. "It doesn't look like much on the outside, but the coffee is probably the best I've ever had."

[Lauryn de Vampyre]

A new cafe? Well, the Feline certainly hadn't thought this day was going to turn out quite so well. Sure, she'd been hit on the head by a book but that paled in comparison of finding a new coffee establishment and so close to her apartment!

"Well, I've been here for quite awhile." How long she'd been living here was her business though. Age was something the feline declined to discuss; period. "So you're probably right."

"Manners are overrated, Harry, but it's a pleasure all the same..."

Lariel let her voice trail off as she spied their destination. One eyebrow arched high on her brow as she took in the peeling walls and stained glass. Sure, she'd been at seedier places than this, but then again she'd never seen a Cafe in such a state before. It just seemed so ... unsanitary. The Bobcat hoped the inside was slightly more inspiring than its exterior as she made her way over the threshold.

"Best coffee you say? I guess we'll just have to see about that. I've been drinking coffee for a long, er.... many years." She correctly lamely. "You go ahead and pick where you want to sit, so you can set the books down."