Only the Best Intentions [Vyn]

[Lucca]

It was true that, for a Diamond, Molly was a bit strange...but then, she was a bit strange in general. Many chose to blame it on her upbringing, or lack of one, really, until her aunt had stepped in and taken charge of it. But the truth was it had more to do with her region. Many of those from Cranstone Moors had to fight such negative prejudice based on their rather ghastly and bizarre mutations that they tried to put on a show of being extra accepting of just about everyone else, no matter what their true feelings on the subject were. It felt like a constant uphill battle to most who left the Moors, trying to prove that appearances weren't everything. In the end, it was one of those regions where other things were held in higher regard than Suit by most of the residents, although Diamonds were considered lucky for their skills to appear a bit more civil than their compatriots. Really, her charm was one of the main reasons Molly could manage to live and work in the busy Capital, though she didn't generally think to use that ability when not on the job.

As the boy mentioned Jokers, though...Molly's beak clacked slightly, as the edges turned down in a subtle frown. Her large eyes darted back and forth under her glasses, as if afraid of being over heard speaking of such things. "Well, dear...Tybalt. You see, your father was probably just telling you a legend. A story. Jokers don't actually exist," she explained, the smile fluttering back onto her beak, a bit unsure. Then again, the poor child couldn't be faulted for not being able to tell what was real and what wasn't, yet. He would learn, and Molly was more than glad to help him along the way, showing him the light. She was about to continue when she heard someone clearing their throat behind her, and found that their order was ready.

Smiling and thanking the Card running the booth, Molly carefully took Tybalt's lemonade and her own treat, and then nodded at the child. "All right, now let's go back and find a seat near that fountain again, and you can have your drink." Hopefully he'd forget about any of this Joker nonsense, but if not, she'd set him straight on it.

[Vyn]

Tybalt gave her an uncertain look, as if debating the weight of his father's words versus her own but eventually nodded solemnly. She did have his lemonade after all, toying with her would risk her toying with him. Like not giving him his lemonade after all, or dumping it on his head. That happened plenty of times. "Just a story, huh?" His tail wagged a bit. "It was a good story though." That was actually true.

He followed her to the fountain and, like a 'good boy', hopped up onto an unoccupied spot and wagged his tail. "This a good spot?" It was even a little shady and the dull breeze cast just a sprinkle of water on him that eased some of the day's heat. Even though he was terribly eager for the drink, he'd wait patiently until she surrendered it to him. He'd learned before the hard way of getting too excited about things people said they'd give him. For all he knew she might sit down and just drink it while he watched.

He could never trust anyone too much.

[Lucca]

Oh, how wonderful! The boy actually seemed to be learning! Molly felt her heart positively fill to bursting with good feelings. Look what she'd already managed to do today! Helping out a poor boy with mistaken impressions about fiction and reality -and- giving him a drink so he wouldn't dehydrate! Although she'd hadn't actually done the latter yet, technically, Molly realized with a tiny chuckle.

Perching herself heavily on the fountain next to the boy, Molly placed the lemonade carefully on the stone beside him so it was in easy reach. And how thoughtful, they'd even provided a straw so those with only animal forms would have an easier time of it! "This is a lovely spot, Tybalt! Good job," she cooed, because one thing about children, especially poor Torquehelms, was that you should always make sure to compliment them at every opportunity! Otherwise their naturally low self esteem really hampered their development, and that was the last thing Molly wanted for a child already so hindered by his low Rank.

"I hope you enjoy your lemonade," she said, pecking at her cookie.

[Vyn]

When she praised him for finding a good spot, Tybalt smiled on the outside even though he was kicking and screaming. She honestly thought he couldn't understand the concepts of finding a cool spot? No, of course not. She probably expected him to go lay in a bed of thorns.

He really wanted to open his mouth and say something truly snotty, but he contained himself for now as the lemonade was set before him. All thoughts of frustration vanished as he quickly began to slurp at his drink. When he pulled back at last he let out a soft sound of pleasure. Already he didn't feel so much like melting under the heat. Thank the suits for this silly, ignorant, giving woman.

"Yum! Thank you, Miss Molly!" His tail thumped against the fountain edge. "It's really good!"

As Tybalt returned to sipping his drink, his mind began to wander to a new concern. He didn't feel right snarking at this woman after she'd bought him food, but how would he escape? What if she tried to take him home as if he were some little Ace? That would be horrible but it wasn't unheard of.

[Lucca]

The smile that lit up Molly's beak was so wide even those not well versed in the subtleties of Avian expressions would clearly be able to read it. She fairly bubbled with happiness. What a lovely day indeed this was turning out to be! Now if only the sun weren't quite so bright...even through her sunglasses her large, sensitive eyes ached somewhat. The cookie was good, and it was also small...she was nearly half way done with it by the time she realized it had been a little too silent.

And what should she do after this? Did she have any further responsibilities to the child as a caring citizen? She should probably see him home...though if his parents were as neglectful as they seemed...after all, telling stories wasn't everything! Still, he didn't seem starved or anything like that, so perhaps it would be all right? But did he know his own way home? He was a Canine, so he should be able to track a trail, if someone had taught him...oh, too many questions! Her mind was going to just burst!

"Tybalt, dear, after you finish that, would you like me to take you home?" There, that was not only simple, but it encompassed the answers to all the questions in one sentence! Though she kept the expression on her face perfectly friendly, she was watching closely for his initial reaction to the words, which would tell her how happy the poor boy actually was at his home.

[Vyn]

Tybalt was sipping happily on his drink when Molly popped up with a question. For a moment he coughed on his sip, fearing that she might be suggesting her home, but he quickly recovered and smoothed down his momentarily bristled fur. Oi, even if he did want to go home - did he want her to take him there? She was such a garish, unusual lady.

"Tybbie?!" Oh crap. The canine's ears fell immediately at the use of his nickname. With a heavy sigh, Molly would watch Tybalt's 'poor dumb kid' look slide right off and be replaced with the demeanor of a proper 8 year old boy being teased by his sister. "Lethe! Don't call me that!"

Careful of his drink, he spun around and once again froze as his fur poofed up. Not just Lethe, but Daddy too, standing there looking amused as he shook his head. Well, that was just great. He didn't have a choice to hide his afternoon company because his family had come to find him. How... awesome.

Lethe was tucked behind the human King's leg, giggling wildly at the look on Tybalt's face and the garish woman beside him. She desperately wanted to join them on that fountain and harass the wonderful woman about her scarf and her weird colors and her giant neck fluff! Heeee, so many questions! But Daddy warned her about talking to strangers (and she tried to listen when he was around), so Lethe just wagged her tiny tail and waited for Dad or Tybalt to make introductions. Then they wouldn't be strangers and she could ask anything she wanted.

Toli was having a hard time not chuckling. It would seem a 'mother hen' had come along to pamper his little 2, and what an interesting woman! "Good afternoon, Miss! It would seem I owe you some thanks for treating my boy here." He flashed his brightest smile and closed the distance between them before proffering a hand for greetings. "I'm Anatolius, and this is my daughter Lethe. Tybalt hasn't been causing you any trouble, has he?"

(Hope you don't mind. ^_^)

[Lucca]

Oh dear, that cough...did that suggest he didn't want to go home after all? Well, that presented her with a further dilemma. She wanted to just take him under her wing, so to speak, but she wasn't sure how good an idea that really was...luckily, before she could entertain notions of what would be, in all actuality, kidnapping (though of course Molly wouldn't see it that way) another voice intruded into the conversation, and Molly glanced over to see, at first, another young child. She smiled. Aww, Tybbie was such a -cute- little nickname! Why, she wished she had thought of it herself! So he had a sister! Well, then she couldn't take him away from all that! She seemed a pleasant little girl, and oh! She had a curious mutation as well, though Molly found it very pretty. Was that actual glass growing out of her back?

"Hello!" she said, grinning, but all that was wiped from her mind as another, deeper voice spoke, and Molly noticed, for the first time, the adult Human that was standing with the little girl. And she wondered how in the world she had missed him...he was wearing such bright colors! It was absolutely wonderful, and Molly felt herself fluff up a bit in happiness. What a lovely man! If this was one of Tybbie's parents, oh, she had no more worries about him being quite well taken care of!

"Oh, hello!" she said, a little breathlessly. "Don't worry, your son has been no trouble at all, sir. Why, his company has been delightful! My name is Molly, and it's quite a pleasure to make your acquaintance!" She stood up, feeling the urge to perhaps shake his hand with her wing. Oh, oh goodness, she was rather flustered, and she chastised herself inwardly. The man had children! And she had more sense than this! Just because he was wearing such wonderful brightly colored clothes, and had an amazing sense of style and a brilliant smile...

((It's fine...HAHA sorry she's apparently so taken with An...oh man...XD;; ))

[Vyn]

(HAHA! Toli is fine with it. XD He loves attention, as if it weren't obvious by how he dresses and by how he hogs posts. LOL)

Though the brightly dressed human managed to look wonderfully at ease, he was still getting used to this whole new form thing. It was an interesting change, to be sure, but he had to get used to all the new body language (and lack thereof). Finally he understood why humans had always been so hard to read - no ears, no tail, no fur to bristle or feathers to ruffle. They had a whole different slew of body language to learn, but it was definitely worth the challenge. Humans were just so sexy and Toli was undeniably enjoying flaunting his new body.

Now the Hen was hopping off her perch and Toli gave himself a chance to properly look her over. She was an odd woman, to be sure, but she appeared to be quite sweet and Toli enjoyed her oddity immediately. It wasn't as if he were the most discreet person in the world either!

"Such a pleasure, Molly! I can't thank you enough, not everyone's so kind to the lad." He shook her wing warmly and, with his most charming grin, gave her wing tip a polite kiss. "I'd love to repay you somehow, would lunch be suitable or," he glanced to her cookie and the drinks, "if you've already eaten, my apartment's not too far from here. I could repay you with some tea or coffee?"


Lethe and Tybalt exchanged a look as if trying to decide if Toli meant Coffee Drink or...? Their thoughts apparently both ended in the same result as Lethe's fur puffed up briefly and Tybalt stuck his tongue out, an expression easily mistaken as a simple dislike of the offered beverages. Lethe was, thankfully, the one to change the subject.

"Where are you from Miss?" She was peeking around the human's legs, her little tail wagging. "Your colors are really pretty." Demure (aside from her accessories), yes, but pretty. Lethe liked them.

[Lucca]

Molly's slight blush deepened as he suddenly kissed her wing and oh! what a dazzling smile he had! Even if the sun were not so bright, she felt she might need shades just to comfortably look at him! She couldn't help a small, pleased noise. He wanted to repay her? She'd just helped the boy out of the goodness of her heart, though! But she couldn't deny how much the idea of more time in this lovely man's company made her heart flutter like she was a school girl with a silly crush! It was all so undignified, and so she added a little Diamond charm to her words to make them seem...a bit less flustered!

"Oh, well that's hardly necessary, Sir...there's no need to repay me because it was no trouble at all! But that's a very sweet invitation! I'm afraid I'm not very hungry but...tea is always lovely." And was it just her, or did she detect an underlying hint of...no, no that must just be her imagination! This lovely man just had to be taken! He did, after all, have children, and he was so charming and bright!

Molly started just slightly at the child's question. For a moment, caught up in Anatolius's breathtaking charm, she'd forgotten entirely that they were there...she'd forgotten entirely that the rest of the world existed. Smiling, the Chicken turned to the child, leaning down a bit to be more eye level with her. The question was...not one she liked being asked. She was so used to prejudice about her Realm, after all...so many other Cards found them creepy, and thought they were all insane or cruel like the Tulgies, when nothing could be further from the truth! Still, she wasn't about to lie. "I'm from the Cranstone Moors. It's an odd place, but quite lovely once you get used to it!"

[Vyn]

Anatolius loved to see the affect he could have on women (and men). Even if his ultimate goal wasn't sex, Toli lived for the reactions - that flush and flutter, the silly school girl(boy) smile, and the obvious pleasure of making someone feel good about themselves. He really was such a dog sometimes.

"Wonderful, wonderful! Tea it is!"

Before he could go on, however, Lethe piped up with her question and Toli nearly cringed upon seeing the way Molly started to it. Hopefully this wouldn't end badly...


Lethe's dark eyes widened in surprise and awe. "Ooo! Cranstone Moors!? That place is sooo creppy!!" Her tone, however, suggested more affection than fear. "I've always wanted to see it for myself! O! O! Can I see your eye spots?!" Toli coughed and the little Morganberry suddenly stopped herself, realizing at once that the reason she could not see them was probably because the woman did not want them seen. They were creepy, weren't they? That's why Lethe wanted to see them, after all. She was so very fond of creepy things.

The little antelope mix cast an apologetic look back at her father and smiled ruefully at Molly. "Oh! I mean, not here, if you don't want to! Maybe at home?"

Toli sighed a little, though he still smiled affectionately at his daughter. Sometimes Toli let himself be mislead by how mature the kids could sound some days but times like these always reminded him that no matter how mature they acted they would always be kids. He placed an affectionate hand on the little girl's head.

Inside Tybalt was cracking up, delighting in how awkward Lethe had made the hen without even meaning to. Oh this was great! Why hadn't he thought of mentioning her region? Well, probably because he hadn't noticed. What a wasted opportunity! He could have really milked something like this!