No Frikken Way! (Kitty)

[Lauryn de Vampyre]

"You're father?" she repeated, remembering she'd met one of his parents years and years ago, but not sure which one it had been. "I didn't know that."

Lariel motioned for him to place his order. The barista behind the counter was waiting patiently to ring them up.

She bunched up her nose at the mention of paperwork. "Suits, I guess you are made for the courts then. You won't ever find me crammed in my office, doing paperwork for hours. Hell no. I much prefer being out there," she explained, not realizing she'd just mimicked some of his thoughts.

"Bander breeding?" She seemed to be doing an awful lot of repeating today. "That sounds... interesting. I actually have one Bander. He's purple and is a couch potato. I leave him at home most days. He seems to like having the place to himself. I'd love to see your Banders some time."

Lariel wasn't the same person the Canine had met years ago. She'd mellowed out an ungodly amount and even had learned some social niceties and manners. Hell had definitely frozen over.
That is not to say she didn't throw out all those teachings when the mood hit her wrong.

[Kitty]

Yeah, we're a lot alike. We even look really similar.

He laughed lightly at that and smiled. He ordered another coffee, a blended caramel dark chocolate mix, and gestured back toward where he'd been sitting before. He did so love the outside tables at this time of year.

There's other things I'd rather be doing of course, but I've learned how to make just about anything fun.

Whether she preferred an indoor table or an outdoor one, he'd make a point to beat her to the table to pull out a chair for her before taking his own, his tail swaying cheerfully from side to side.

Took me forever to do, but a couple of my favorites are trained to carry packs on hikes. Maybe I could whip yours into shape sometime?

[Lauryn de Vampyre]

Lariel watched Nova while he ordered. She couldn't help but let her eyes roam over this new form of his, admiring the very adult look he now portrayed. He seemed to exude a confidence she hadn't seen in him the whole while she'd known him. She found herself thinking that the small little pup she had met was now very grown up.

She blushed when he turned around, realizing she'd been staring at him for some time now.

"M-make anything fun?" she asked lamely. "So what you're saying is if I took you to have one of your teeth drilled on right now, you'd find a way of making that fun?" she asked with a laugh, her tail swishing happily behind her, all her fins down and relaxed at her back.

She followed him outside, admittedly letting him walk out the door first so she could admire him from behind. His fire wings now were so very massive! Standing this close to him she could feel the heat radiating from them, the fire flickering as though alive when the wind from outside caught them.
She blinked her eyes rapidly, realizing she'd been staring again and glad that he hadn't seen her.

She smiled and pursed her lips in amusement when Nova pulled out a chair for her. Shaking her head and softly chuckling she sat down on the edge of the chair, making sure to leave enough room for her rather large fins. Sitting down in a backed chair these days was certainly something of a task.

She sipped her black coffee, reveling in the very first taste with her furred hands wrapped around the cup. She smiled over at him and could easily picture him walking around in the more untamed regions of the Realms with yellow colored Banders faithfully at his side.

"You could certainly try, but mine definitely has a mind of it's own. I'll have to have you meet it sometime soon. Who knows, maybe she'll respond to you like she doesn't listen to me."

In truth, she'd been neglecting the poor thing for a little while now. She took care of all the basic needs, but hadn't really had too much time to play with it or take it on long walks with her. She felt guilty and slouched a bit in her chair.

Shaking that feeling off and pushing it away as best she could, Lariel took another drink of coffee before turning her attention back to Nova.

"So what do you like to do when you're not a paper pusher for the Courts or hiking with your Banders?"

[Kitty]

He chuckled at her response and rolled his eyes lightly before peering back at her, orange hues shining brightly.

I'd try my very best. They've got drugs to help the rest of the way with that though, unless you'd be so cruel as to take me to some place that still did them like back in the old days, before Corvies came up with the innovations we have now.

He shook his head, taking a drink of his coffee, his tail swaying happily all the while.

I'm kind of boring really. I chill with my family as often as I can. Both of my parents have some new half siblings for me to come up with games for.

He chuckled again, taking another sip.

Hell, I'm up to nine siblings in total now. Oldest one of the whole lot too.

Although he certainly didn't seem like he was. Brokat had always looked and acted like the eldest, but he wasn't.

Good to see my mother with someone that's so good for him. Pretty too. They get weird looks when they go places together and neither of them give a damn. It's cute.

[Lauryn de Vampyre]

It was almost as thought she'd taken some Checkmate! Her gaze lingered on his orange, flame-colored eyes when he looked at her, unable to break away from them. What was wrong with her?!

"Oh, I wouldn't be so barbaric," she said with a smile. "And bless those damned Corvies. Their experiments, while sometimes grotesque and questionable in morals, have certainly brought us a long way into our own future." It was just then that she realized she might one day soon like to visit Corvistowne. See what those Cards really got up to down there. She hadn't had a trip out of the Capitol since she moved here!

Lariel took a good swig of her coffee while thinking about arranging such a tip and hearing Nova talk about his family. She never could understand peoples' connection to family. She would just as soon never talk to her Mother or Father ever again, and the only reason they ever made an effort was because she had a booming business, was a Diamond and had finally achieved the rank of Jack.

She choked on some coffee and managed not to spit it up all over herself. "Nine siblings?!" she exclaimed. "Suits, Nova! Suddenly I feel very lucky being an only child. You don't all live together, do you?" she asked, wondering how a household like that would work.

She could picture him, playing around with younglings in order to make them smile. The Bobcat felt her face flush.

"Why should they get weird looks? I've met your Mother. Seemed like a nice Card to me," she asked, puzzled.

[Kitty]

When she choked on her coffee, he couldn't keep himself from throwing out a bark of laughter, his grin broadening ever so slightly.

Oh no.... not at all. That would definitely be a little much. I live at the Court, Vesper and Brokat just up and vanished, no idea where they went. Then there's four that live back home with mother, and another three that come visit the court to see papa and I.

He chuckled a little bit more, her reaction had just been too funny.

Mostly good kids, but none of them take my trouble maker title. I still reign supreme.

Tybalt and Emozione were close though, but he still didn't think they could quite top his misadventures. Time would tell.

They get looks because people are still really biased against Lowlanders, and she's a rather pretty thing. Really amazing mixture of Khamden and Avington. They're almost cute enough together to make me ill.

Another laugh and another sip of coffee before he turned his gaze back to the pretty feline sitting across from him. No shame whatsoever in his own thoughts on the matter.

So what about you? What might you do in your free time except listen to me babble on forever? And don't you dare tell me nothing special, I might have to throw the rest of my coffee on you if you do.

[Lauryn de Vampyre]

If she could have, Lariel would have blushed even more when Nova laughed at her. In an adult response, she stuck out her tongue.

"You actually live at the Court? What is it like? I mean, are things busy and bustling all the time? How much time do you get to spend with your Father?"

She smiled, remembering the past. "You were an annoying little thing as a pup, that's the truth. You wouldn't leave me alone or take no for an answer! But, I'm glad you didn't. I wouldn't have met you otherwise," she said, raising her coffee cup and saluting it at him.

Setting back down the cup she waved her hand dismissively in the air. "I don't care about the prejudice against Lowlanders, really. I mean, that is to say... I may not want to be near one that has a major case of Rot which smells and oozes..." she paused, crinkling her nose in disgust, "but that doesn't meant they're not a good people. And I thought you would be the kind to like all that mushy stuff," she teased.

"Me? Well, the only free time I have I usually spend drinking coffee and reading a book. I run my own Private Investigation business." As well as being a Black Market Dealer, but since she didn't know him that well and he worked for one of the Courts, no need to tell him that. "The PI thing usually keeps me pretty busy, although I do seem to be experiencing a slump of sorts. I haven't had a client in about a week. Very unusual for me."

Picking up the cup once more she finished off her coffee, giving a happy sigh as it warmed her belly.

"So what are you doing so far away from your Court? What brings you to the Capitol?"

[Kitty]

Yeah, but it's not as busy as you'd think... unfortunately. Ahaha, Toli and I generally don't work together unless we're tired and have a lot left to get done. We uh, generally get each other a little off track.

He laughed a bit before finishing off his coffee with a rather pleased expression. Had h needed that second cup? No. Was it going to kick him in the ass later? Probably. Worth it? Totally.

Hopeless romantic? Well, I won't deny that. It's just a little disgusting when it's your parents.

He made a little face at that before brightening up all over again. Didn't have any prejudice against Lowlanders eh? There was a part of him that absolutely swelled with joy at that thought. What a rare trait in a woman!

Sounds like you need a hobbie.

He grinned, obviously joking with her.

Even the courts give you time off sometimes. I was actually taking a little time to pump up before visiting home. You'd be surprised how much energy you need to run around with four little kids all day.

He leaned forward a bit, his elbows on the table, fingers intertwined and his chin resting atop them as a sly little grin crossed his muzzle, his ears even tilted back a little bit giving him quite the devious little expression.

Alright, well. I officially think we should meet up again sometime soon. you, me and completely on purpose this time. Deal?

He slipped one hand out and extended it ward her, his ears slowly moving forward in a hopeful manner.

I still don't take no for an answer.

And if looks could kill, the one Lariel was presently receiving from the waitress he'd blown off before would definitely be a one hit KO.

[Lauryn de Vampyre]

"Toli is your Father then?" she asked to make sure. She'd only ever seen Nova's Mother, and she guessed his Father was where all that Morganberry Fire came from. If she ever went to the Courts she was sure he'd be an easy man to find. "I can imagine it's stressful and fun at times, working with family." And Lariel silently thanked her lucky stars her family had all stayed in Sorgaire. One of the reasons she'd moved to the Capitol was to get away from them.

"Actually, you have a point. I think I'd throws something at them if I ever saw my Mother and Father being all lovey-dovey. Though, I don't think either of them are actually in love with each other anymore, so the point is moot," she said awkwardly, with a forced smile. Some small talk skills you have... Lariel thought about herself.

She watched his face light up at her mentioning her lack of prejudice. Was it really that big of a deal for other people? Yeah, rotting was gross but that didn't mean they were any less of a Card because of a genetic trait. People could be so unbelievable stupid at times. For that reason alone the Bobcat didn't have many friends. Usually she couldn't stand to be around most people long enough to ever be more than acquaintances; and vice versa.

"Oh, ha haaaa," she said at his hobby joke. Truth was, she would like to find a hobby she enjoyed but normally she didn't have time for anything, let alone herself. "What hobbies to people have these days? Stamp collecting? Carriage repair? Bander breeding?" She said the last with a smile, lifting up one eyebrow and leering at him.

She watched him suspiciously as he rested his head on his hands, elbows on the table and leaning towards her. She pulled back a fraction of an inch and frowned. What was that look for?

.....

Oh. Oh! Completely taken by surprise Lariel was silent for a few moments. He... wanted to meet up with her again? As in, a date? No, no surely he didn't mean that. He just meant meet up again as friends. It was silly to even think he could have meant a date. No one ever liked her that much!

Gulping, sure the noise was loud enough everyone in the entire Cafe could hear it, Lariel slowly reached out her hand and slipped it in his. Her heart skipped a beat at the feel of his warm fur against hers. Orange and blue, mixing in a wonderful way that flushed the Bobcat's cheeks.

"Well," she said finally, her voice low and husky despite her efforts to keep it normal, "I guess I have no choice then." She smiled, unwilling to let go of his hand right away but feeling a little bit awkward now, took it back and set in in her lap where she held it inside the other one. She was acting like a freaking school child!

Looking around to help cool her insides and cheeks down, she spotted the waitress giving her the evil eye. Frowning, she stared for a few more seconds to make sure... Yes, yes that woman was staring daggers at her! Even staring right back at her the woman didn't remove her gaze.

"Excuse me. Do you have a problem?" she asked, a small growl in her voice as her lion-fish fins began to very slowly stretch out.

[Kitty]

Ah, yes ..... His Highness Anatolius, or Toli .... is what you're most likely to hear his referred to as. That would be my father.

And ,yes .... if she were to go to the court she'd definitely be able to pick his father out strictly from looking for facial features and, of course, the Morganberry coloring on a wolf body. There were other Morganberries out and about in the court of course, The Queen himself was one actually. The members of the Clubs Court were quite colorful actually.

Why stay together if there's no love then? My parents are nothing more then good friends and they get along just great, never pretended to be anything but, not even because they had us. I don't think I could have asked for a more loving childhood either.

He didn't understand why people hung around in loveless relationships. It was a drag and it hurt the others around you, children more so then adults really. Plus .... it weighed you down and you'd be missing out on a whole large selection of things in life. Pfft, people were dumb.

And, in return to her hobbie response, he pulled the same childish response she had earlier and stuck his tongue out at her, getting a little mocking in himself.

He squeezed her hand ever so slightly when she placed hers in his, his tail swaying as slowly as he could manage to make it. Not even her blue fur could cover the flush of her cheeks completely, and it widened his grin. Adorable, that's just what that was. Her voice, and her response, broadened that grin even more as he moved to rest himself against the table in am ore comfortable manner, folding his arms over each other.

Well then, it's a date! Just have to figure out when exactly it shall be.

His excitement took a pause when he noticed her gaze had traveled elsewhere and he followed it in time to see the girl stick her nose up in the air and stalk off to go tend to her customers. He sighed and looked back to Lariel.

That .... would be Blanca. She thinks I'm hotsauce really, keeps trying to get me out for another night. Took advantage of a hard time last year and got me to agree to take her out one night.... I've never heard someone talk so much in my life... especially not about themselves. I don't think I got a word in all night and, well.... I kinda blew her off thinking she'd get the point. Nope, definitely didn't. So when she's here when I am.... I just sort of pretend to listen to her and look at other things. She definitely doesn't get the message and, as much as I hate to admit it.... it's kind of amusing.