"Why are you grinnin?" Shade demanded flatly. "You look like the cat who caught the canary."
He gave Gia a glance and snorted lowly. He distantly wondered why she seemed so disgusted with him, besides the collar. It wasn't like he wanted the damn thing, and if he could he'd take it off. Though, she was a woman and women tended to overreact to the stupidest of things. He sighed grouchily.
"Anyway, lets get moving." He grumbled shoving his hands in his pockets. "We're getting odd looks."
The Fox and the Hound
Re: The Fox and the Hound
Gia had to smother her own smile as she caught sight of the grinning fox. The kid had had a really rough day - Gia approved of whatever had made him smile. It was good to see him happy and not on the ground being kicked. "There's nothing wrong with being happy, big wolf," Gia snapped at Shade. She supposed she could try being a little friendlier but despite his admirable not-give-a-damn attitude (or perhaps because of it) he was rather frustrating.
She fell to the back of their pack of misfits as they moved out, still sniffing desperately for a trace of the Bad Man. Last time she had been in Marn she had stayed to the outskirts of it and not had much to do either way with the guards. Now two of them had seen her face and knew she was a shifter. This would require careful handling, which was not a strong point of Gia's. For now, keep her head down and blend in... which was also not something she was particularly good at, as evidenced by recent events.
Once they reached Lucy's house Gia waited for Shade to let them all in. She didn't have much of an issue just walking into someone's house but she knew humans could be a little finicky about things like personal property even if they didn't mark it like wolves did. She did a quick scan and sniff of the area and satisfied herself that no one had followed them, which made her a little more nervous, in all honestly. Not that she wanted tracker dogs on her scent, but it would have made sense.
She fell to the back of their pack of misfits as they moved out, still sniffing desperately for a trace of the Bad Man. Last time she had been in Marn she had stayed to the outskirts of it and not had much to do either way with the guards. Now two of them had seen her face and knew she was a shifter. This would require careful handling, which was not a strong point of Gia's. For now, keep her head down and blend in... which was also not something she was particularly good at, as evidenced by recent events.
Once they reached Lucy's house Gia waited for Shade to let them all in. She didn't have much of an issue just walking into someone's house but she knew humans could be a little finicky about things like personal property even if they didn't mark it like wolves did. She did a quick scan and sniff of the area and satisfied herself that no one had followed them, which made her a little more nervous, in all honestly. Not that she wanted tracker dogs on her scent, but it would have made sense.
Re: The Fox and the Hound
Kitan’s grin only widened when he received questions. He decided to dodge them, his impish side taking full control. “Just a funny situation. Nothing to worry about.” He cryptically reassured them, closing the remaining distance with scampering, silent feet. He hopped the last distance and stood proud.
His ears flicked their direction and caught Gia’s soft growls and Shade’s snort. Had these two been fighting again? He groaned inwardly. Couldn’t they just let these things go?
“Well, I had better go and get my bag of letters. I’ve spent enough time goofing off, and the fact that I set off early only ameliorates so much lateness!” In fact, he reflected privately that it probably made the fact that his letters were going to be arriving late even more suspicious. Oh well. Nolan had always been tolerant of that sort of thing. And tolerant of everything, for that matter. Kitan was starting to wonder if he wasn’t using some drug.
“I’ll catch up with you all back at Lucy’s?” He yelled over his shoulder, running off. His eyes turned to the rooftops. It looked like they were just far enough out of the residential district that the rooftops were once again ready for travel.
A skip and a hop, and the shifter was soaring through the air once more.
His ears flicked their direction and caught Gia’s soft growls and Shade’s snort. Had these two been fighting again? He groaned inwardly. Couldn’t they just let these things go?
“Well, I had better go and get my bag of letters. I’ve spent enough time goofing off, and the fact that I set off early only ameliorates so much lateness!” In fact, he reflected privately that it probably made the fact that his letters were going to be arriving late even more suspicious. Oh well. Nolan had always been tolerant of that sort of thing. And tolerant of everything, for that matter. Kitan was starting to wonder if he wasn’t using some drug.
“I’ll catch up with you all back at Lucy’s?” He yelled over his shoulder, running off. His eyes turned to the rooftops. It looked like they were just far enough out of the residential district that the rooftops were once again ready for travel.
A skip and a hop, and the shifter was soaring through the air once more.
Re: The Fox and the Hound
"Should we have left him alone?" Shade wondered as he hesitated at the door. He glanced back at Gia, unsure of what to do. He didn't want to face off with Lucy just yet, and Gia didn't make his anxiousity weaken in the slightest. Not only that, a damned shift-hater was runnin' around looking for them and he'd let Kitan run off without a thought.
Idiot! he cursed himself as he rubbed his throbbing head. No wonder ya damn well don't have a family. You leave the ones under your wing for fish bait and don't even know it!
"We're.... We're turning around." Shade stated slowly as he glanced at Gia sheepishly. "Listen, I know you and I don't get along at all but let's agree to disagree. Right now, the three of us need to be together and safe until we figure out what to do with that bastard."
Idiot! he cursed himself as he rubbed his throbbing head. No wonder ya damn well don't have a family. You leave the ones under your wing for fish bait and don't even know it!
"We're.... We're turning around." Shade stated slowly as he glanced at Gia sheepishly. "Listen, I know you and I don't get along at all but let's agree to disagree. Right now, the three of us need to be together and safe until we figure out what to do with that bastard."
Re: The Fox and the Hound
Gia smothered a smug smile as she smelled and heard Shade's nervousness and hesitation. Nervousness for Kitan was understandable, and Gia didn't find that funny, but hesitation at going into Lucy's house was quite ridiculous. She could tell him, of course, that Lucy had been defending him to her when she left, but where was the fun in that? The big wolf had been terrible to someone he claimed to care for, and Gia was not above watching him squirm slightly. Or a lot, she wasn't particular.
"Let's find the fox," she agreed amiably, walking back in the direction Kitan had left them. "We're not disagreeing on safety, big wolf. We're just disagreeing on certain choices you've made." She stuck her nose in the air and sniffed a few times, picking up the kid's trail.
"Anyway," she said as she trotted along, still sniffing here and there. "I told you what we should do with the Bad Man. Track and hunt and kill. Tear his throat and let the dogs and crows eat him. I don't care what the fox thinks, no one is untouchable."
"Let's find the fox," she agreed amiably, walking back in the direction Kitan had left them. "We're not disagreeing on safety, big wolf. We're just disagreeing on certain choices you've made." She stuck her nose in the air and sniffed a few times, picking up the kid's trail.
"Anyway," she said as she trotted along, still sniffing here and there. "I told you what we should do with the Bad Man. Track and hunt and kill. Tear his throat and let the dogs and crows eat him. I don't care what the fox thinks, no one is untouchable."
Re: The Fox and the Hound
Kitan landed roughly at the entrance to the back alley. He had leapt from a low roof, and his knees bent froglike to deal with the impact. He eagerly walked the remaining distance around the corner and poked around.
His bag was readily in sight. Rejoicing at the find, he ran over and quickly scooped up some of the letters that had fallen out. Fortunately, it had not grown damp enough that Kitan expected the paper to be harmed.
Having collected all the scraps, he shuffled them all hastily in his bag and set out to make the deliveries. On his way out of the alleyway, however, he bumped into something. He looked up to see a huge man, bigger than even Drayel, staring down at him sternly. “Sorry sir!” He apologized quickly, noticing the man reaching a hand out in his direction.
The big man just patted Kitan on the head. “Nothing to worry about, child.” He spared Kitan’s ears only a passing glance, “I was distracted myself.” He continued his merry way down the street. Kitan smiled dumbly, watching him go.
The kitsune shouldered his bag and started walking down the street. What a nice man. His ears flicked forwards. He heard... sniffing and growling. Oh. That could only be one pair of werewolves. He deviated from his course to peek down the road the sounds were coming from; his ears had not deceived him, as he saw Shade and Gia meandering his way. He waved happily.
His bag was readily in sight. Rejoicing at the find, he ran over and quickly scooped up some of the letters that had fallen out. Fortunately, it had not grown damp enough that Kitan expected the paper to be harmed.
Having collected all the scraps, he shuffled them all hastily in his bag and set out to make the deliveries. On his way out of the alleyway, however, he bumped into something. He looked up to see a huge man, bigger than even Drayel, staring down at him sternly. “Sorry sir!” He apologized quickly, noticing the man reaching a hand out in his direction.
The big man just patted Kitan on the head. “Nothing to worry about, child.” He spared Kitan’s ears only a passing glance, “I was distracted myself.” He continued his merry way down the street. Kitan smiled dumbly, watching him go.
The kitsune shouldered his bag and started walking down the street. What a nice man. His ears flicked forwards. He heard... sniffing and growling. Oh. That could only be one pair of werewolves. He deviated from his course to peek down the road the sounds were coming from; his ears had not deceived him, as he saw Shade and Gia meandering his way. He waved happily.
Re: The Fox and the Hound
"Oh look, our idiot." Shade grunted as he waved back. He gave Gia a sideways glance before quirking his lip in a slight smirk. "Race you to him?"
With that he tore off, charging almost at the Kitsune who wasn't really that far ahead. His grin widened at the look he got, his addrenaline building and burning off the earlier fatigue. He kenw it wouldn't last long but for now, it was all he needed. He came to a stop with a solid huffing, frowning slightly when he realized he'd been beaten. Deciding not to say anything he turned his attention to the boy.
"Find your bag pup?"
With that he tore off, charging almost at the Kitsune who wasn't really that far ahead. His grin widened at the look he got, his addrenaline building and burning off the earlier fatigue. He kenw it wouldn't last long but for now, it was all he needed. He came to a stop with a solid huffing, frowning slightly when he realized he'd been beaten. Deciding not to say anything he turned his attention to the boy.
"Find your bag pup?"
Re: The Fox and the Hound
Race? Gia nodded back and launched herself forward. This was too easy. The big wolf was fast, but he paid for his strength by not being as speedy as Gia herself, and she outstripped him quickly and loped to a graceful stop in front of the fox. She was panting lightly - if a short run like that could tire her she'd have been dead already - and grinned at the big male. He was huffing and puffing, and Gia didn't feel bad at all. He'd challenged her, after all.
She sighed at the look on his face. "Oh, don't make that face. If it helps your pride know that you could tear me apart easily and I'd be lucky to break your nose." But, unable to resist, she added, "Though you'd have to catch me first, of course."
Turning to Kitan, Gia explained, "The big wolf here was worried about you, fox." Like a mother and pup, she thought but didn't say. Shade wouldn't appreciate being called motherly, she could feel that in her bones.
She sighed at the look on his face. "Oh, don't make that face. If it helps your pride know that you could tear me apart easily and I'd be lucky to break your nose." But, unable to resist, she added, "Though you'd have to catch me first, of course."
Turning to Kitan, Gia explained, "The big wolf here was worried about you, fox." Like a mother and pup, she thought but didn't say. Shade wouldn't appreciate being called motherly, she could feel that in her bones.
Re: The Fox and the Hound
Kitan displayed a pained grin as the pair raced down the street. Didn’t they see how slowly they were moving? He supposed he would have to slow down his usual rate of delivery to let them tag along.
As a nearby citizen walked past, Kitan made a face when he heard that Shade was worried about him. “C’mon, what are the chances of a third person trying to kill me today?” The citizen glanced over nervously and hustled to the other side of the street, defensively slouching his shoulders as he went. Kitan obliviously looked down to his bag, shifting the strap so he could more easily reach inside.
“Okay,” he said, shuffling through the letters, “The first one was just a few blocks from here.” He started off down the street. There weren’t that many letters today; they would be done before they knew it.
As a nearby citizen walked past, Kitan made a face when he heard that Shade was worried about him. “C’mon, what are the chances of a third person trying to kill me today?” The citizen glanced over nervously and hustled to the other side of the street, defensively slouching his shoulders as he went. Kitan obliviously looked down to his bag, shifting the strap so he could more easily reach inside.
“Okay,” he said, shuffling through the letters, “The first one was just a few blocks from here.” He started off down the street. There weren’t that many letters today; they would be done before they knew it.
Re: The Fox and the Hound
"This is more fun than it looks." Shade mused as he crammed another letter in a crappy mailbox. "It's like you're spying on a person through their mail. Like this one... Mrs. Wrinkes? She must be damn old if her name is Wrinkles. It sounds too much like Wrinkles."
He chuckled as he put in said mail into a box, glancing up at the porch before doing a double take. Big chested, round lips, pretty eyes. Hot damn, she was a high ten. HIGH ten. His immediate movements were something of habit, his lips turning up in a lady killer smirk as he gave her a wink and an air smooch. She blinked before winking back, catching the 'kiss' from the air and placing it on her lips. He grinned.
"Ya know, I think I like this job." Shade commented as he leaned on the mailbox with a grin. Something grabbed his ear and pulled, causing him to yelp as he staggered away with Mrs. Wrinkes laughing in amusement. "Ow! Ow! Okay, okay! I'm moving! Let go!"
Some people are just jealous.
He chuckled as he put in said mail into a box, glancing up at the porch before doing a double take. Big chested, round lips, pretty eyes. Hot damn, she was a high ten. HIGH ten. His immediate movements were something of habit, his lips turning up in a lady killer smirk as he gave her a wink and an air smooch. She blinked before winking back, catching the 'kiss' from the air and placing it on her lips. He grinned.
"Ya know, I think I like this job." Shade commented as he leaned on the mailbox with a grin. Something grabbed his ear and pulled, causing him to yelp as he staggered away with Mrs. Wrinkes laughing in amusement. "Ow! Ow! Okay, okay! I'm moving! Let go!"
Some people are just jealous.
Re: The Fox and the Hound
Gia trailed behind the two, curious yet again at another funny way humans did things. It seemed to her that if they sent a message by giving it to a persona to give to another person to sort and organize and then to give to another person to deliver then there must be people with lots of time on their hands lurking about somewhere. Then again, if people were happy delivering mail who was she to judge? Sometimes she wanted to dig a big hole and bury bones in it, and she knew what humans thought of that.
Her eyes were caught as Shade did the weird face thing again, then she followed his line of sight to a very pretty woman. Snarling lightly at the stupidity of male werewolves, she grabbed his ear and yanked him away following Kitan. "Can you not contain yourself at all?" She muttered. She knew better than to mention the collar again, though if this was what he was trading being a wolf for Gia thought he was even more abysmally stupid than before. Oh well. Some people couldn't be helped... not that she wouldn't try.
"Come on," she said, giving his ear another tug. "The fox is waiting."
Her eyes were caught as Shade did the weird face thing again, then she followed his line of sight to a very pretty woman. Snarling lightly at the stupidity of male werewolves, she grabbed his ear and yanked him away following Kitan. "Can you not contain yourself at all?" She muttered. She knew better than to mention the collar again, though if this was what he was trading being a wolf for Gia thought he was even more abysmally stupid than before. Oh well. Some people couldn't be helped... not that she wouldn't try.
"Come on," she said, giving his ear another tug. "The fox is waiting."
Re: The Fox and the Hound
Time passed as the trio kept delivering the mail. It was an hour past noon by the time they finished, with Kitan hastily shoving the leaving the last of the letters on a doormat; the home had neither a current occupant nor a box of any sort.
Kitan felt a little annoyed. If he hadn’t constantly had to wait for the werewolves, he could have been done an hour ago. At least it had been a light load today. He spun around to inform the pair the task was done. “Alright, that’s the last of them. What were we going to do next?” He thought about it. “Right, go back to Lucy’s and meet up with Drayel.” He beamed and set off back down the street, marching jauntily off back to what he thought was a home of werewolves.
Kitan felt a little annoyed. If he hadn’t constantly had to wait for the werewolves, he could have been done an hour ago. At least it had been a light load today. He spun around to inform the pair the task was done. “Alright, that’s the last of them. What were we going to do next?” He thought about it. “Right, go back to Lucy’s and meet up with Drayel.” He beamed and set off back down the street, marching jauntily off back to what he thought was a home of werewolves.
Re: The Fox and the Hound
Shade groaned dramatically but followed the pup none the less. His ear was still throbbing from where Gia grabbed it and he quite openly pouted at her the entire way. He could so control himself, he just didn't want nor feel the urge not to. So, he pouted.
Reaching home however made his slightly playful mood dull again. He hesitated again at the door though this time, he didn't glance back. He just paused, hand on the door as he stared unsure at it. He looked at his hand which held the door handle then up at the window to the right. He chewed on his lip, then mustering his courage slowly opened the door.
"Swade!" A child tackled his leg causing him to stagger a step, on his leg cling Rebbeca as she sniffed and wailed while blowing her nose in his trousers. "Yoose baaack. H-He didn't lie!"
"Rebbecca?" Shade blinked as he tried to keep balanced and not frown at her snotty nose. "What's wrong? Oi! Quit blowin' yer nose there, it isn't a tissue!"
"H-he said y-you'd come back. H-he did." Rebbecca sniffed rubbing out the tears on his leg now. She clung tight to the side of his calf as if fearing to let go. "Said y-you had s-some stuff to do."
"Who did?" Shade frowned though he had a suspicion of whom it was. He glanced up to a rather exhausted Lucy and the ever silent Drayel, both of which sitting at a table while Drayel held in his hand a cup. "Oh. Him."
"I'll take that as a pleasure to see me again." Drayel said flatly as he took another swig from the cup. He glanced at Kitan and Gia with a stiff nod. "Hello you two. I expected you three back nearly an hour and a half ago. What happened?"
"Mail duty." Shade answered gravely as he plucked Bec from his leg and cuddled her close. "Met this hot woman though, Mrs. Wrinkes. Nice woman if I do say so myself."
"No, don't play with that." Drayel snorted with a roll of his eyes. "She's a gold digger and if ya have no money she won't keep you around long. Besides, she's turned into.... ah." He glanced down at Rebecca and cleared his throat. "Well, the local wagon if you understand the reference."
"Everybody's ridden in it once?"
"As close as I could mention in front of a young lady."
"Huh." Shade winced as he let out a disappointed sigh. "Looks like I'm hunting once more."
"..." Drayel gave him a disapproving glare.
"What?" Shade pouted as he glanced at Rebbecca. She snuffled into his shoulder but remained still. "I'm allowed."
"I know what loophole you're lookin' at and I wouldn't suggest it." Drayel growled. "Finding a large breasted women and keeping them around for..... certain purposes is not a smart idea. It's quite the dangerous line."
"No fun." Shade pouted.
"Next time I won't help you get out of jail either." Drayel growled before giving a sharp wave. "Enough! Come then, we take a walk. We must plan what we do about these.... newest issues."
Reaching home however made his slightly playful mood dull again. He hesitated again at the door though this time, he didn't glance back. He just paused, hand on the door as he stared unsure at it. He looked at his hand which held the door handle then up at the window to the right. He chewed on his lip, then mustering his courage slowly opened the door.
"Swade!" A child tackled his leg causing him to stagger a step, on his leg cling Rebbeca as she sniffed and wailed while blowing her nose in his trousers. "Yoose baaack. H-He didn't lie!"
"Rebbecca?" Shade blinked as he tried to keep balanced and not frown at her snotty nose. "What's wrong? Oi! Quit blowin' yer nose there, it isn't a tissue!"
"H-he said y-you'd come back. H-he did." Rebbecca sniffed rubbing out the tears on his leg now. She clung tight to the side of his calf as if fearing to let go. "Said y-you had s-some stuff to do."
"Who did?" Shade frowned though he had a suspicion of whom it was. He glanced up to a rather exhausted Lucy and the ever silent Drayel, both of which sitting at a table while Drayel held in his hand a cup. "Oh. Him."
"I'll take that as a pleasure to see me again." Drayel said flatly as he took another swig from the cup. He glanced at Kitan and Gia with a stiff nod. "Hello you two. I expected you three back nearly an hour and a half ago. What happened?"
"Mail duty." Shade answered gravely as he plucked Bec from his leg and cuddled her close. "Met this hot woman though, Mrs. Wrinkes. Nice woman if I do say so myself."
"No, don't play with that." Drayel snorted with a roll of his eyes. "She's a gold digger and if ya have no money she won't keep you around long. Besides, she's turned into.... ah." He glanced down at Rebecca and cleared his throat. "Well, the local wagon if you understand the reference."
"Everybody's ridden in it once?"
"As close as I could mention in front of a young lady."
"Huh." Shade winced as he let out a disappointed sigh. "Looks like I'm hunting once more."
"..." Drayel gave him a disapproving glare.
"What?" Shade pouted as he glanced at Rebbecca. She snuffled into his shoulder but remained still. "I'm allowed."
"I know what loophole you're lookin' at and I wouldn't suggest it." Drayel growled. "Finding a large breasted women and keeping them around for..... certain purposes is not a smart idea. It's quite the dangerous line."
"No fun." Shade pouted.
"Next time I won't help you get out of jail either." Drayel growled before giving a sharp wave. "Enough! Come then, we take a walk. We must plan what we do about these.... newest issues."
Re: The Fox and the Hound
The big wolf confused Gia more than he frightened her, at this point. Beyond his clear mental instability and completely crass nature, she supposed he was attractive enough by human standards, so she didn't understand why Drayel was treating the wolf's sexual exploits as almost... well, it seemed a bit like a joke. Gia wasn't sure is the big wolf had ever been successful with females. Drayel seemed to think that his attempts were almost pathetic. Gia would agree, but that was just because the stupid wolf had been making the stupid face at the big-breasted woman before.
The little mail-carrying, kind-of-trying-to-pass-as-a-human fox made more sense to her, and that was really saying something.
"Newest issues being the guard from before, I hope?" Gia asked tersely once they were well away from Shade's humans. She was not used to waiting around for other people to have their lives when she and they were in danger. She wanted to track and hunt and kill. Then she would feel safe a could relax a little... but only just a little. She could never relax too much in a city of humans.
The little mail-carrying, kind-of-trying-to-pass-as-a-human fox made more sense to her, and that was really saying something.
"Newest issues being the guard from before, I hope?" Gia asked tersely once they were well away from Shade's humans. She was not used to waiting around for other people to have their lives when she and they were in danger. She wanted to track and hunt and kill. Then she would feel safe a could relax a little... but only just a little. She could never relax too much in a city of humans.
Re: The Fox and the Hound
Ignorant of the fact that Lucy’s ears had been a delusion, Kitan nervously fidgeted in anticipation of his last one. He really hoped it wouldn’t be a bad one, since this all seemed to be going pretty well and his delusions could easily ruin all that.
He decided there wasn’t much sense in worrying about it until it struck, so he turned his ears to listen. Apparently the woman who had come to greet them as they delivered mail had been flirting with Shade, and visa versa. Kitan hadn’t even realized. What he did manage to realize was that “town wagon” and “ride” were doubletalk for things his father had warned him about and Shade readily embraced.
Kitan realized that his input was nothing short of critical to the situation, and chipped in “But Shade is... uh, a wagon too, right? So they would have a lot in common!” He ignorantly fiddled with his bag as he waited for further input. Gia provided it by growling further inquires about the guardsman who had assaulted them earlier, prompting Kitan to roll his eyes. If she still wanted to hunt him, he supposed there was no way he could stop her. Though now that he thought about it, if she did kill a member of the Hand, Shade and he might become the victims of a counterattack. It wasn’t a pleasant thought, and Kitan fidgeted in his seat.
He decided there wasn’t much sense in worrying about it until it struck, so he turned his ears to listen. Apparently the woman who had come to greet them as they delivered mail had been flirting with Shade, and visa versa. Kitan hadn’t even realized. What he did manage to realize was that “town wagon” and “ride” were doubletalk for things his father had warned him about and Shade readily embraced.
Kitan realized that his input was nothing short of critical to the situation, and chipped in “But Shade is... uh, a wagon too, right? So they would have a lot in common!” He ignorantly fiddled with his bag as he waited for further input. Gia provided it by growling further inquires about the guardsman who had assaulted them earlier, prompting Kitan to roll his eyes. If she still wanted to hunt him, he supposed there was no way he could stop her. Though now that he thought about it, if she did kill a member of the Hand, Shade and he might become the victims of a counterattack. It wasn’t a pleasant thought, and Kitan fidgeted in his seat.