Meeting the Future [End]

[Greenie]

Zether grinned up at him. It took most people a while to get used to the not-touching thing. Mom was pretty much the only one that made of point of doing so, but he was ridiculously used to the odd sensation by now.

The pup made an abrupt turn down a side street and stopped in front of a small but quaint cafe. "Glad you asked. Right here!" He sat down for a brief moment to let Kaleb take in where they were eating, then went inside. It was a small little building but was pleasantly full of customers. Zether went to one of the open window tables and motioned Kaleb over. "Their specialty is coffees and drinks, but they have several rather nice sandwiches and I love their potato salad," He informed the badger with a smile. "I think we can handle the rumblings, no?"

[Blue]

Kaleb almost lost track of Zether as his new found companion made a very quick turn down a side street. "Oh!" he exclaimed, because right then they were in front of a small cafe. As they walked in, Kaleb made sure to be mindful of his large front claws, so that he wouldn't hurt anyone he passed in the tiny place. He saw Zether motion to him, and once he got to the table, he sat down, very glad that he could finally rest.

He couldn't help but chuckle when his rumblings were mentioned. "Yes, I believe they will be silenced, finally. Thank you for bringing me here. I greatly appreciate it." He smiled, then looked down at the menu to look at his options. A small Esterberry waitress came a few minutes later to take their order. Once she had and gone away to fulfill it, Kaleb looked back at Zether.

"So, is there anything special to see here in the Capital? I've just been wandering around since I arrived." he said rather sheepishly. He really should have come more prepared for this spontaneous trip away from home.

[Greenie]

Zether grinned at him as he sat, then slid a menu across the table to him, as chances are the wait staff was going to be painfully slow like they usually were. The restaurant was tiny and impossibly busy for it's size, but they had no space to expand, so everyone was forced to be patient for their orders.

"No problem!" The mix replied with a saucy wink, more than pleased with his opportunity to lead a cute stranger around. He smiled pleasantly at the waitress, who had came with great speed - she better not be eying Kaleb too, or he was going to have to start some food fights, here.

He pondered the question for a moment, then shrugged with a smile. "Depends on what you're interested in. What do you Avingtons like to do for fun?" He tilted his head, one paw absently twirling his ectoplasm around.

[Blue]

The Avington badger leaned toward Zether, so as to hear him better in the crowded restaurant. When he was asked a question, he also took a moment to pause and think. He didn't do anything particularly interesting. Mostly, he wandered the forests and popped into some of the stores in his town from time to time. Nothing terribly exciting. Maybe that's the reason why he decided to take this trip to the Capital? Certainly seemed like a legitimate reason to him, now that he thought of it.

"Well, I hang around in the forest a lot, since, y'know, there's just so much of it in Avington. It's quite relaxing, actually. Most times I end up falling asleep in some random sunspot where it's warm. But when I don't feel like wandering around there, I do so around my town. There are some shops I visit frequently too. Oh! I do like collecting little odds and ends as well. Things that are interesting to me, but maybe not to anyone else...sorry, I ended up rambling didn't I? I didn't mean to talk your ear off, Zether." He blushed slightly, then leaned back in his chair. He certainly hoped that was a sufficient answer to the question.

[Greenie]

Zether propped his paws up on the table and listened to his answer far more intently than he normally would have. No doubt someone from another table was snickering at them - oh, alright, at him - by now, but the concern entered and left his mind at a rather rapid rate. Let them laugh! They weren't talking to an adorable Avington. Alliteration?

"That sounds rather delightful to me," He responded cheerfully. "There isn't a whole lot of pleasant sun around here - we usually get the garbage-toasting variety." The mix made a face, imagining some of the less well-kept streets and their array of aromas. "You collect things?" He perked up, and tilted his head. "Oh, do tell! What sorts of things?"

Zether scoffed at his comment. "You, talk my ear off? Have you been listening to this conversation? If anyone needs to shut their yap, it's me, not you, so shush!"

[Blue]

Kaleb was surprised that Zether was so interested in him, when Zether himself was interesting enough for the both of them. But, to appease his interest, he continued on about his collection. "Well, I don't have much, really. Whenever I take walks, I usually find one or two things that catch my eye, like a flower I've never seen before, or a shiny rock. I usually press the flowers and other flora into a journal, and I keep everything else in a wooden box. So yeah...that's that, I guess."

He looked up into the eyes behind circular spectacles and saw something genuine there. Kaleb realized then that he had met someone truly unique. No had ever been this kind to him, aside from his parents. It was a pleasant feeling, and he didn't want it to go away any time soon.

The badger blushed again at Zether's reply. It was then that the waitress chose to return with their order, setting the food and drink in front of them. Everything looked delicious, and his stomach must've felt the same way as it rumbled once more. "If you'll allow me to speak, Zether, can I just say how good this all looks?" he said, teasingly. He couldn't help but grin either.

[Greenie]

"Flowers!" Zether said with interest, picturing the many flowers that grew along the sidewalks and in hanging baskets around the city. He thought they were pretty, of course, but he had little experience in what one did with them other than look and occasionally sniff. Didn't people give them to each other? He vaguely remembered Mom saying something sarcastic about it.. 'What, are you going to leave decaying flowers on my desk now? How positively archaic of you.' Or something along that lines. Hmmm.. That was a custom to look up for sure! "You'll have to show me your collection sometime. I don't collect anything... I wouldn't know where to start!"

The mix smiled, his tail wagging enthusiastically behind his chair as he contemplated the many fun things he could rope Kaleb into doing. He knew he was often too excited with his new acquaintances, but it was a wonderful feeling that Kaleb was actually enjoying it.

The food arrived, and he eagerly stared down at his plate. He looked up with a grin at Kaleb's comment. "I suppose I can grant you permission to speak. I won't even make you tell me I'm pretty, just because you're right, and this does look pretty tasty." He grabbed a portion and began stuffing his face in the same manner he did everything in his life: quickly, and happily.

[Blue]

As sort of giggle snort escaped Kaleb at Zether's absolute excitement about his pressed flowers collection. He found he could only respond with the same kind of delight. "Sure! I'd be glad to show you my collection. You're welcome to come by Avington anytime," he said with a smile.

Kaleb watched with a sort of awe at Zether's gusto as he began to chow down on the food in front of them. Figuring there was no room for comment, he himself grabbed half of his sandwich off the plate and took a bite. It was so delicious, soon he found it was gone. He really had been hungry! Stopping to take a long sip of his drink, he sat back, figuring he should take his time with the second half of his sandwich.

Zether seemed to be still attacking his food, and the badger found he could only say "So? Is it any good?" before he grabbed one of the many french fries that came with his entreé.