Fancy Free [Gobbo]

[Lucca]

Felix had to do something. The normally calm and laid-back Porcupine was in a tizzy, quills bristling and tail lashing. He waddled at a rather quick pace down the street, seemingly heedless of the fact that it was raining, for he was moving away from the buildings. Golden eyes darted back and forth, worried and suspicious, as rodent feet beat out an unsteady rhythm on the cobblestones.

He caught a glance of his reflection in a store window, shining with moisture in the light of a street lamp, and gave a ragged cry. His pace picked up until it was a loping jog, which for the lazy Porcupine was equivalent to a full-out run. Of course, Felix couldn't keep up the pace for long, and he was forced to stop, leaning against a tree and panting heavily. His horned head was lowered and his breath came out in uneven puffs of mist. Running a paw through his ruined 'do, the Porcupine sighed. This...was not a very good day. In fact it hadn't been a very good week.

Scratch that, several weeks. Ever since...he shuddered and closed his eyes. No. It was in the past. He...he didn't want to think about it any more, ever again.

[Old Gobbo]

Amherst was a little put out that his daily run had to be in the rain. Of course, that would not stop the run. The daily run was an important part of his routine. It was tradition. Not to mention, it kept him in shape for his combat. The halberd required the use of two appendages and, while he could wield it in his dexterous feet while flying, his emu heritage cut down on the amount of flying he was actually capable of. It was more of a glide. Therefore, Amherst had to learn to run. And run he had, for years and years.

He noticed another runner out today, but he was tired out and had just stopped to lean against a tree. It would be polite to introduce himself, Amherst thought. If he's a fellow runner, we might pass each other on a regular occasion. So, Amherst trotted up to the porcupine.

Only, when he reached the fellow, Amherst realized the thing was upset. Maybe he wasn't running for entertainment after all.

He pulled up next to the Card. "Hello, I'm Amherst. I was just running along and I saw you all wet under the tree. Is everything alright?"

[Lucca]

As Amherst approached him, the Porcupine seemed not to notice, his head staying bowed as his labored breaths eventually slowed. His horns dripped water into a steady puddle, which Felix was very decidedly not looking at. Not because of fear, but because of...because...the water made him thirsty. Yeah...that was it...

When the other Card spoke, Felix's head shot up and he stumbled back with a loud yelp of surprise. "Whoa! Whoa...dude..." He was breathing hard again, and put a paw up to steady himself against the tree. "Dude...you shouldn't just...sneak up on people like that! Seriously, man...I coulda been like...some sort of dangerous type guy and you woulda been toast." His golden eyes looked serious for a moment, which was very unlike him, but they soon brightened as his face split into a grin.

"I'm Felix! What are you doing running out in the rain?" The irony of the question entirely escaped him, as he continued to smile, and held up a paw for the other Card to shake if he desired. This, thought Felix, was just what he needed today. A distraction.

Even if the distraction was Benyan, he belatedly noticed. Crap...didn't the Benyans hate Selkies? He could never remember WHY but...

[Old Gobbo]

Amherst pulled back. The Card -- Felix, he said his name was -- seemed startled and Amherst did not mean to cause that.

"I'm sorry if I startled you, friend, but I was just making sure you were alright." Amherst smirked at the thought of the porcupine making him "toast." Apparently, he hadn't seen the short sword strapped to Amherst's belt. When he went running, he couldn't exactly bring his halberd, but the katzbalger could certainly be worn.

"Pleased to meet you, Felix. I was merely going on my daily run. What's the saying? 'Neither snow nor rain nor dark of night...?'" Amherst chuckled for a moment. "But it's a funny question for someone out in the rain himself. How about you, friend?" Amherst looked at the tree and tried some amusing irony of his own. "Enjoying a picnic and decided to use the tree for shade?"

[Lucca]

Well...Amherst didn't seem to hate him. In fact...he was concerned about him? Felix barked out a laugh, though it kind of trailed off on the end. If he were honest with himself and thought about it (the latter of which he always tended to avoid) he wasn't really all right. Felix was happy to forget about it, for the moment. This was his distraction, and it was be silly to bring up his problems while trying to forget them. Though alcohol worked best for that purpose, anyway, even if Felix believed in drinking for fun rather than drinking his problems away.

He blinked at Amherst's words. "I thought that was the mail carriers?" he ventured, tilting his head in a confused manner. He didn't quite pick up on the sarcasm, and frowned slightly. "Dude, I dunno if you know this, but picnics in the rain aren't any fun at all. The food gets all soggy. And no one wants a soggy sandwich." He didn't answer the question...because he didn't feel like it. Yep. It was too much work. Besides...

"Do I need a real reason?" he asked, grinning like the fool he was at the Bird. He was glad the man didn't hate him. He liked to be peaceful with everyone, despite what he'd said earlier.

[Old Gobbo]

Amherst laughed at that, honest to goodness laughed. It was a deep belly laugh with a pleasant tempo and timbre. He hadn't laughed like that for some time. Clearly, this Felix was good for Amherst. Perhaps it was fate that they meet. He could use some time off, to be just a bloke hanging out with another bloke.

Amherst plopped down next to the porcupine. "The mail carriers it may be, but it may as well apply to me. I go running everyday. Rain or shine."

He chuckled again. "But you're right. A rainy day would make a poor picnic." He looked around him. It was a nicer section of the capital, full of shops and eateries. "And you're right, you don't need a good reason to sit out in the rain, although I could think of a few places better to sit." He lifted himself up and pointed to one of the eateries. "There, for instance. Would you join me for some food maybe?"

[Lucca]

Felix grinned when Amherst laughed. He wasn't sure what he said that was funny, but he always enjoyed it when he could help someone be happy. And Amherst had a very happy laugh. It helped Felix push away the lingering fear that was even now threatening to reduce him to worrying instead of just enjoying his life. His eyes widened as the Avian continued.

"Seriously, dude?" he asked, tilting his horned head and sitting up a bit more. He let out a low whistle. "Why?" It was an obvious question, to him. Running seemed like a whole lot of work when you could just walk somewhere, or take a carriage. Or, better yet, just not go anywhere at all and relax at home. Though home hadn't been quite so relaxing since...

"Oh, yeah, I'm starved!" Felix said, rubbing his stomach. The thought of warm food and somewhere dry to escape from all this rain was a welcome one, especially if the other man was offering to treat. That was a rude thing to ask, so Felix wasn't going to bring it up until it became pertinent. The thought that it would be even ruder to suddenly mention he was short on cash after their check was already there just didn't occur to Felix. That would require rthinking ahead, and the Porcupine very much lived in the moment.

[Old Gobbo]

"Then let us get out of this rain," Amherst said as he got up from the ground and brushed some of the water that pooled in his feathers that touched the ground.

He made his way over to one of the cafes, one named La Boucherie. That sounded good. Amherst could use some meat.

"Why? For practice, of course." He flapped his wings a little bit and drops of water flew from them like they would a dog. "Too much weight from my emu heritage. They can keep me aloft, but I can't take off really. So, I keep in shape while running. Plus, you need good endurance for fighting. I tell you, a minute long fight wears you out faster than an hour long run."

He opened the door to the cafe and the smell of freshly baked bread, cooking meat, and warm coffee hit him like a train -- a delicious, luscious, practically orgasmic train. Man, he didn't realize how hungry he was.

"After you, my friend."

[Lucca]

Felix followed at a sedate pace, waddling a bit and seeming now unconcerned about whatever had made him dash along before. he glanced up at the cafe they were going towards, and saw that the words were in some sort of foreign language. Ah, that was cool. As long as they didn't serve anything too weird. He turned back to Amherst, watching as the man spread his wings, showing a bright flash of color in the pale light. Felix nodded sagely, pretending that he knew what the other man was talking about. Something about not being able to fly.

"Ah, I wouldn't know, dude," Felix said with a shrug and a slight laugh. "I'm a lover, not a fighter." The smells from inside the cafe made Felix's mouth water, and his spiked tail wagged a little, sending water droplets flying. He nodded to Amherst in thanks and waddled inside, giving his quills a few shakes once he entered. The place smelled even better inside, and the warmth hit him like a freight train. Yes...yes, this was just what he needed. Why hadn't he thought of getting out of the rain before?

[Old Gobbo]

The place looked like one of those places that didn't have a hostess, so Amherst set himself down at a table rather far from the door. He liked sitting away from the door. It was both a defensible position and it prevented a cross-breeze from chilling his skin every time the door opened.

"A lover, eh?" He smiled. This guy appeared to be one of those who had no real duties or responsibilities in life. For a moment, Amherst had to wonder if he envied Felix. A life like that would have far less danger and far more leisure time. Of course, it would also have far less satisfaction and far more boredom. "Well, its the same thing, really. Making love is far more exerting than a much longer jog, is it not?"

Amherst motioned that Felix should join him. Then, he studied the menu. He hadn't had meat in a while, and the options looked delicious.