I'm Not A Cat Person [Mino]

[Fawn]

Oh, You Sweet Summer Child.

17th of Frost, 120

xxxAbove the bouncing ginger curls belonging to one Fawn Brisbane the lights of the Kalzasi night market were lit ablaze. Lanterns hung over open doorways of countless bars, and much like her first night she found herself traveling towards the inner sections of the Jeweled Arches. Though this time, she wasn’t in search of a job. Instead the girl was simply exploring what the city had to offer. She’d spent the first few hours of the day making two new acquaintances, and hopefully friends, and the rest of the day shopping for clothes. Though she still needed to acquire some more… risque options later on, and had not been left with much spending money.

xxxBut money troubles could wait, she decided, as the scent of roasting meats and sweet sauces filled the air around her. Her nose perked up, her eyes sparkled with the reflection of lantern lights above, and as she scurried off in the direction of the savory smells the Frost wind picked up behind her. When she finally arrived at the food cart it seemed she was the only one- lucky her! Lined along the front of the cart, next to a tiny grill, were skewers of freshly roasted chicken, pork, and beef all slathered in various sauces that glistened as if taunting her with their flavor. She salivated and gulped, quickly reaching for her coin purse.

xxx“Two pork skewers, please!” She said, handing the man her coins and eagerly taking the skewers of various meats that he passed back to her with a smile on his face.
“New here? I haven’t seen you around, and I know all my regulars.”The man winked. He was a short elderly human fellow with large arms and coal dusted atop his brow and along his arms.

xxxFawn grinned as she took her first bite of the skewer. And it was, to her surprise, the best she’d ever tasted. The bite she’d taken had nearly melted in her mouth. It’s outside, even though covered in a tangy onion-barbeque sauce, was crispy, while the inside tasted like savory butter and dripped it’s juices down her lips. She let out a content sigh into the meat and giggled behind the bite as she swallowed. “Yes, sir! Just came in yesterday.”

xxxThe man chuckled with her and reached across the threshold of the cart to hand her a third skewer, drawing a confused look from her eyes as she gently took it from him and licked the pork juice from her lips. ”Here, another as my welcome gift to you. Just be sure to become one of my regulars” He stated with a broad smile, waving on the next customer who had stepped behind Fawn. It seemed more people had shown up as well, and a line was slowly forming around the cart.

xxx”Oh! Thank you, I will! Bye!! Fawn exclaimed back, now holding three skewers of pork. As she took off into the rest of the city with a wave, a wide smile nearly lighting up the streets themselves, she hummed through mouthfuls of meat.

xxxA few blocks down she’d finished her first skewer and sat herself on a bench to watch a comedy street performance from across the street. One stick of pork in each hand she laughed along with the crowd to a strange dance between a man and a ball- and yet somehow it looked like the ball was winning.

’mreow~’

xxxFawn jolted in surprise and nearly screamed as she looked at the ground to her left where a tubby orange streetcat had sat, licking it’s lips and staring intently at her food. Fawn quickly stood and glared at it. ”Absolutely not- this is mine. You understand? Mine!” She scoffed at it and turned on her heel to continue down the street, picking at the second skewer with her teeth.

xxxBut as she walked tiny pieces of meat fell to the ground. They had been, unbeknownst to her, since the moment she’d bitten into the first piece. And now as she turned around to see if the cat was still there she nearly choked at the sight. At least six cats of varying colors and patterns trotted themselves behind her and picked up the pieces that she dropped. She pouted at them and hurried her steps. ”Shoo! Nothing for you!” She kicked her foot out at one of them, not to actually harm them, but as a warning. It only seemed to take that as an invitation though and began to run towards her. The rest followed and sped up, and Fawn screamed.

xxxSkewers in hand the girl sprinted forward. Through the city streets in gods knows what directions, through a courtyard of someone’s home more than likely, and finally down an alleyway. All through the chase the cats did not give up, meowing their desperation for food at her. And when she finally turned around a corner into what was nearly a deadend if not for a stone ledge a foot taller than she was, she smirked. The girl placed both skewers in her mouth, holding them tight between clenched teeth, and jumped. Her hands caught the ledge and she hoisted herself up atop it- only to find the other side was a storage station of some kind. Large boxes piled high but only a door to the inside of a shop, which seemed closed, rested on the other side of it.

xxxFrom below the six cats had grown to ten, some fat and some tiny, all whining and mewling at her for the two pork skewers that she still had sitting between her lips. She panted heavily through the sticks and groaned, her hair a wild mess around her shoulders. She couldn’t outrun cats, and she certainly couldn’t break into someone’s store. It was then she realized she was stuck. And in possibly the worst situation she’d ever been in. She was not a cat person.

[Theme Song]

[Mino]

17 Frost 120

Kalsazi was not a place that left you bored. Some would say that it was the sights that kept them entertained. Street performances and beautiful buildings; likely candidates. For others, it would be the food. Enterprising citizens found one recipe or another to make their own; a twist on a well-loved treat. He'd could agree with that, but his answer would always be the same: the people. And their money.

He'd already picked the pocket of a gentleman with his attentions elsewhere. Not much in the man's coin purse, but the telltale signs of a night about to be spent in the Cabaret had been...interestingly clear. He'd been vocal about it for a good moment when Mino had "accidentally" bumped into him. Too easy a target; his empty coin purse was discarded with ease. Mino was more than content to spend his time lifting items off unsuspecting persons, but his gaze landed on the trail of cats and the flames of red hair.

He recognized a few of the strays from his own evening patrolling and -- "Peaches?" He was close enough to be heard by the stout tabby, who turned to look his way. It gave a soft meow before continuing to follow behind the woman with the red hair. His brows rose and he fell somewhat in line, noting the growing number of them. He stifled a laugh at the sight; a train of stray cats (some that he knew all too well to not trail after) for a particularly messy eater. If this didn't teach her to be more careful with how she ate, he wondered what would.

And, then she did something he didn't expect: she ran. She took off down the street with her skewers in hand like it was the only option. He stopped, blinked. Around him, people glanced the woman's way, chuckled some, but otherwise went about their business. Which probably made him jogging behind the odd parade a touch odder. His shoes slapped down against the stones of the street, cold air brushing over his skin and through his hair. Mino felt a bubble of curiosity fill him slow. A small voice that marveled at the extremeness of the reaction - and what else she would do.

By the time he'd caught up with her, she was pulling herself up over a ledge that he knew would definitely not get her much further. She was, truly, stuck. The cats mewled and cried for her, as if pleading for her to come down. He cocked his head to the side as several of the cats turned at his arrival, turning their sights on him. Of course, he had no food to offer. Not tonight. It didn't stop him from scooping one cat up and cradling it like an infant. Claws dug into his clothes as it began to knead at his arm, a soft purr rising from it. He glanced up at the girl before looking back to the cat. "Are you picking on tourists? I see you all learn fast." A kiss was pressed to the top of the cat's head before it pushed off and jumped back down, another jumping up to take its place.

"I take it you don't do very well with cats, yeah?"

[Fawn]

Oh, You Sweet Summer Child.

17th of Frost, 120

xxxHad it been anyone else in her predicament, maybe they'd have thrown the skewers to the ground. But if Fawn was anything it was stubborn, and giving up the food she'd been graciously given was not an option in her mind. So, there she sat. Straddling the wall with one leg on either side and her dress nearly torn as it had caught on the jagged edges of the stonework. She glared down at the cats as they began to gather at the base of the ledge.

xxx"Go find your food elsewhere! This is mine, I paid for it!" She spat through clenched teeth before taking the pair of skewers out of her mouth and smiling wickedly at the gathering below her. Fine. If they were going to stay, she would at least enjoy the last of her meal. As she was about to take a bite of the pork, which had mostly fallen off her skewers in the chase, she heard a voice. Her head perked up and there, standing in the middle of the cats like a crazy person, was a man. She took in his strangely calm demeanor, his smooth features, and raised a brow at him as she bit into the piece of meat as if it were completely normal for her to be sitting on a ledge eating her dinner. Though for her it was.

xxx"Cats aren't one to 'do well with'. As you can see they are trying to steal the dinner that I paid for..." She stated, all the while talking with her mouth full and glaring at the felines in front of her. A piece of meat fell from the skewer below, drawing nearly every cat forward to rush to snatch it up. A black long haired cat with a white tail had won, though, and gobbled it up before turning it's dilated eyes back at Fawn. The girl hadn't even noticed, though, as she'd turned her gaze back to the new arrival. He was holding one... no, now another and even petting it! The girl's eyes were wide with both shock and wonder, and confusion for the man. Hell the cats seemed to want his attention.
xxx"You're weird." Fawn said, pulling the final bite of pork from the second skewer and eyeing one of the cats with a teasing smirk as she swallowed the piece down, a tiny piece resting on the corner of her mouth.
xxx"Ha. See? Mine. It's rude to chase people, ya know." Talking to animals, even though she knew they couldn't understand her, had become second nature. Before her horse Poppy had died, she'd spend hours reading books to her, or venting to her about her day. And when stray dogs would come by it became habit for her to have full conversations about the joys of ball throwing and tail chasing. But to cats, she kept the length to a chat.

xxxAs she began munching on the final skewer, her attention turned back to the strange cat-magnet of a man. She paused while looking him over. Well dressed, soft skin, piercing eyes, and- he kissed it?! "...Did you just-" Baffled, the girl simply stared at him. She'd met Lunaria and her cat, though that wasn't a cat at all of course, but up until the city she'd never seen a single person get along well with the aloof creatures. They couldn't all be in disguise... could they? No. They had chased her down like every other hungry asshole of a cat on her farm.

Gods. Cats were unnecessarily bold. Fawn sighed as she raised a brow at him and adjusted her position on the ledge to face him. Legs dangled over the edge, and though she kept a close watch in her peripherals, she knew none of the cats could reach her from that height. But more than that she just studied the man in front of her with her head cocked to the side and eyes narrowed as if tracing every detail of his motions. "....What's your name?" She asked, swallowing the last bit of the third skewer.

[Theme Song]

[Mino]

17 Frost 120

The first thing he did was laugh. Mostly because - who didn't love a cat? This girl, for one, but he couldn't really count her. He didn't know her well enough, and this veered more on the edge of fear than it did dislike. To him, at least. Once the short moment of laughter passed him, he opened up one arm to allow for another cat to hop into the crook of it while the first nuzzled at his neck.

"I've been called worse before." His smile spread a little wider, cheeks pushing his eyes into twin crescent moons. She was certainly one to talk, given what he'd already witnessed. He hiked the two cats further up until they perched almost on his shoulders. He hated having to tip his head back to speak to her, and he certainly wasn't a fan of the picture this painted. A lecherous young man attempting to look up the skirts of a lady while she sat defenseless and...scarfing down pork skewers so that strays couldn't get to them. His brow twitched and he fought the familiar tingle in his ears. Mino wondered, partly, what her reaction would be to him shifting forms, but that would be something he could see later.

For now, he wanted to solve the matter of levels. Normally, he was the one higher up, lounging precariously on the edge of something he probably shouldn't lat on, leg swinging. But it was too cold for that these days. The season wasn't right and the sun wasn't out for him to bask in. Gods above, he missed the sun, and a peaceful nap in it.

"Mino Lekivian, at your service." His bow was meant mockingly, a touch too deep. The cats on his shoulders peered up at the woman, pushing up slightly on their flesh perch. He walked a little closer, they might be able to hop onto the ledge. If they weren't on his shoulders, he would have no problems reaching the ledge. The perks of his Rathari nature, and one he utilized often. He righted himself and wore the same smile. "Would I get to know the name of the...interesting young lady who's lured all my favorite neighborhood cats into an alley?" He paused, blinked. "You know, someone would think you're a mage of some kind, planning something with all these cats. It's probably not what you're doing, but." He shrugged as if this answered anything, the cats on his shoulder mewling as they pressed themselves closer to him.

He strolled closer to the ledge, looked up - pointedly in a direction she was not. "Also, do you need help getting down?"

[Fawn]

Oh, You Sweet Summer Child.

17th of Frost, 120

xxxOf course she didn't like cats, all they did was steal your shit and kill your animals. And pass on weird diseases. She pouted at the man, pork juice glinting on her lips, with an unamused look as he welcomed a second feline to join his arms. Yeah, he was definitely weird.

xxxAnd apparently just as sassy as she knew herself to be, so at least he had that going for him. She smirked a little at his teasing bow and let a bright giggle escape her throat as she wiped the remaining pork mess from her face, then bowed her head back to him with an outstretched arm as if she had been sitting upon a throne. "Well, Mino Lekivian, I am Fawn Brisbane. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance here in my dark, feline infested Alleyway Palace." Fawn mocked back, her voice suddenly as joyous and clear as a Searing Sky. She followed the laugh with a raise of her brow. "And what exactly would a mage use a cat for? She asked. Her question, somehow humorously innocent in her naivety, had been phrased as if the answer were obvious. Cats wouldn't let you do anything with them, let alone partake in something like magic. Not only that, but really, how would a cat be useful in any manner?

xxxShe looked down to the ground as he approached, then at him, as she realized exactly how high up she was. Not that she was scared of heights by any means, but rather the fact that she'd even been able to hoist herself up that high without aid impressed her. She scoffed at his question as an incredulous laugh burst from her lungs.
"You don't expect me to get down with all of them there, do you? She asked, leaning down to point with her nose at the countless cats, and a few more, who had gathered beneath her feet.
"No no, I don't plan on leaving this spot until they do." She shifted her weight until both hands rested on either side of her and she tilted her head up to the night sky where, for the first time in a long while this season, the sky had become clear. "Besides, in the alleyway I can still see the stars." She had begun to miss three things in her few days in Kalzasi. First was her parents, second was her uncles stew, and third was the night sky. The lights of Kalzasi made it almost impossible to make out even the clouds but here in the alleyway the sky welcomed her back to the familiar feeling of home.

xxxBut as welcome as it was, as clear as the sky was, clouds were still rolling in and the wind had begun to pick up sending the girl into gentle shivers. Not that she'd show she cared- cats were much more dangerous than the cold in her mind.

[Theme Song]

[Mino]

17 Frost 120

He tipped his head to the side, considering. He didn't dabble much in magic himself, and he didn't know much about the practices of mages. "I suppose they make for good practice thralls for necromancers." He shrugged, scratched at the chin of a purring feline by his ear. "I have no need for cats in that manner, so I'm not too familiar with it. An animus mage may take one of them as a form?"

Mino's experience with mages was surface level, at best. The family had a few within their ranks, but they had not come from the same generation as he had. His interaction with them could be limited to instances counted easily between his two hands. He supposed, if he had to, he wouldn't say that he hated their magic. It was neither inherently good nor evil, but it did seem a bit like he'd have to level the playing field somehow if he were ever paired with them for a job. He sniffed, glanced up at the girl once more. "I wouldn't take you for someone in the business of chopping cats up for such a thing, though. Considering." His brows rose as he set both cats back down on the ground.

The black cat with the white tail that had managed to get the meat Fawn had dropped hopped into his arms as she'd been waiting. He chuckled to himself at the sight, running a hand through her fur. She mewled, settling herself in. He knew her to be a stubborn, spoiled sort. Getting her to stay down now that she was in his hold would be a different kind of challenge. Mino looked up to the ledge again. It wasn't that high, as far as heights he's scaled went. Making sure the cat was safely tucked into his less dominant hand, he back up some. The sea of felines parted with each step. They watched as if they knew what to expect, striding towards the walls of the alley to make way. Of course, some of them may have learned their lesson from getting their tails trampled underfoot on one occasion or another.

He figured it would take no more than a few easy strides. He rocked back on his heel on his right side, pushed forward. He went with the momentum, picking up a bit more speed as he got closer to the wall. His left foot pushed him higher up and his right hand reached for the top of the ledge. He swung himself with ease that was all too practiced, even with an older cat in his arms. The same cat that peered up at him, then the sky as she observed their new location. A soft mewl left her.

"You know, if it was the stars you wanted to see, I'm sure I could have found other ways to show you." It was harmless flirtation; something he did with everyone. Up close, though: she was pretty. Lady Blue would approve of her. Might make something of her, too. But she didn't like cats that disqualified her plenty in his book. For now, of course; she was still entertaining. "Might I present her Ladyship Pumpkin? She's the oldest of the bunch, much more refined, you'll find." As if trying to attest to this, Pumpkin purred and tucked herself closer to Mino as he adjusted his position on the ledge to let his legs dangle off the sides.

[Fawn]

Oh, You Sweet Summer Child.

17th of Frost, 120

xxxWatching the stars made her forget the city she was in. The sky was just the same as it had been over her farm. Quiet, peaceful, and forgiving of the day you'd had or any mistakes you'd made. It didn't require you to perform for it, or beg money of you, or sneer at you or even romance you. It simply was. And Fawn smiled back at it's simplicity.

xxxIt had become rather quiet, the only sounds being that of Mino and the cats, and the distant cheers and mingling of the city folk. But silence had become so commonplace in her life, the nights so predictable, that she was happy to have the company of such a unique stranger. She smiled at him, chuckling lightly as he mused about what mages did with cats, and let her expression soften. It was strange that the cats were still there- the food was gone, why did they stick around? Not a single one had moved to leave their presence, which only served to unnerve the girl.

xxx"You make it sound like you need cats in another manner, Mino. Careful, one might think you're a crazy-cat-man." She teased, grinning with her tongue sticking through her teeth and scrunching her nose, whos freckles mirrored the stars in the sky. Her skin was as pale as the moon itself, and the freckles that covered her face traveled down her neck and disappeared into the confines of her dress and cloak, only to reappear on her hands. From afar she may have looked like any ordinary, messy human. But up close the small details of her design let on to a mesmerizing, mysterious fantasy. One might have even called her a siren. But then again, Mino hadn't heard her sing yet.

xxxAs he placed both cats down, she let out a sigh she hadn't realized she'd been holding and watched him curiously as he picked up yet another cat. Her eyes rolled. "Okay, scratch that. Definitely a crazy cat man."

xxxBut then he backed up. Her brow raised. He ran forward. And she let out a small surprised squeak as he ran up the wall as easy as she had. But he had a cat in his arms. The girls arm quickly covered her face as if she expected to be attacked and her body recoiled slightly. "Why did you bring that up here?!" She asked, her voice high pitched and a mixture of fearful and disgusted. Her heart nearly beat out of her chest as she watched the pair, defenses raised, for a moment. But it was quickly apparent that this cat, much like Lunaria's, was... calm? Fawn lowered her arm and revealed her pale face once more to him.

xxxShe relaxed her posture only a little more and tilted her head at him, eyebrows contorting into yet more confusion. "Huh? But the stars are right there, what other way would you view them?" Oblivious to the flirtation she eyed 'Pumpkin' with suspicion even as the cat snuggled itself closer into the warmth Mino provided. "...How do you get it to do that? Every cat I've seen wouldn't be caught dead letting someone touch it...let alone willingly. And those are real cats, right?" She asked, pulling her messy hair over to the opposite side of her face and beginning to comb through the knots with delicate fingers.

[Theme Song]

[Mino]

17 Frost 120

There was one thing that lingered in his mind. The same thing that often lingered wither everyone else. If only they knew. He was still wondering about that. Her aversion to cats was growing more and more humorous, topped off by her evident astonishment at Pumpkin's pleasantness. At any of the cats' friendly disposition.

"I brought her up here, because I can't very well have my precious queen scratching around in the gutter." He looked toward the cat, who mewled once more as she kneaded at his thigh. His ear twitched, just a jolt. Pumpkin was older, perhaps even older than he was. He'd seen the cat in this area for as long as he had been around. Some nights, when he was younger and prone to the frights of life left behind taken shape in dreams, he would wander about to find her. And she would be there, waiting. She shut big, bright eyes and lowered her head. "I'm pretty sure it's common knowledge to respect your elders."

He regarded Fawn a moment as she seemed to miss his meaning entirely. Another raise of his brows, a cock of his head. "You don't get out much, do you?" It could be said of her reaction to his words, and to Pumpkin's pleasantness. He scratched the cat on the back of her head, earning him a purr. He offered her the same sound in reply as she pushed her head further into his hand.

"They're all good children. Pumpkin's just older. She doesn't have the same energy as the younger ones, and she tires of nonsense very quickly. They also might have thought you were playing earlier. Some people do kick up a fuss before they give them something to get them to go away, and I guess they've got it in mind that you're much the same."

He leaned back, rested his weight partly on his hands as he gripped the ledge. "But really - you don't get out very much, do you? I think I would have run into you a few times over by now." His eyes narrowed, and for a moment, he might have looked predatory as he appraised her. She looked of good stock. Pretty; nice dress. Had her family decided to hide her away? He couldn't think of any houses with children with hair quite so red, and quite so sheltered. "Have you been locked away in some high tower?"

It would make sense if she was bred or taken to pass as an heir. Lady Blue had once talked about getting Masquerade mages for a purpose of a similar ilk, but nothing had come of it. It certainly hadn't been included in their newer ventures. The look was gone, replaced with an easy smile. "You can try petting her, you know. Her fur's quite soft." His chest puffed out with pride. "I do brush her out once a day, after all."

[Fawn]

Oh, You Sweet Summer Child.

17th of Frost, 120

xxxIt was becoming more apparent as time passed that Mino was incredibly attached to the cats. His fondness for them was admirable, even as off putting as it may have been to see a cat so docile. Nearly like a puppy, save for the drool of course. She looked down at Pumpkin, unnerved by the creatures disposition, but smiled nonetheless at Mino. Did his ear twitch? Strange.

"They chased me down the street for my hard earned food!" She stated, picking up the empty skewers and dropping them below. The countless felines began to sniff excitedly at the sick. A few licked it, but most just looked back up at the pair atop the with a sort of 'really? that's it?' expression. If cats could have one, that is. Fawn stuck her tongue out at them. "Ya know, if you guys didn't stick around here so long you'd have probably found other food by now." The farmgirl said, watching, and surprise took her face as the small crowd of cats slowly began to disperse. One by one they trotted off into the streets once again leaving the empty sticks behind.

Fawn blinked. "Well.. I suppose that works." The girl relaxed back onto the ledge, her own legs dangling over the edge as Mino questioned her and let out a giggle as she relaxed back and stared up at the sky while she spoke. "No tower, but I suppose you're right. I grew up in a town about five days ride from here." She said, tracing her eyes over a cluster of stars she recognized. The same ones that had lead her back when the horses escaped. The same ones that guided her on her journey to Kalzasi. "Came to find out who I want to be, what kind of magic is out there. Learn about the world, meet new people." The girl continued to thread her fingers through the tangled mess of hair. Right, one more thing she forgot to bring- a hairbrush.

She raised a brow at him, nervous, hair spilling over her shoulder as she tensed and flicked her eyes back and fourth between the two. "She... won't attack me?" She asked, yet her hand was already out. Lightly trembling. She remembered the first time she'd tried to pet one. It was a skinny tabby with one eye that cried from inside the barn during a storm. Fawn, only ten at the time, ran up to it with all the hope in the world to rescue it. Her mother warned her not to and up until that day had done a right job of keeping the kid away from dangerous animals. But on that day, as she approached the sickly cat and knelt down to pick it up, the animal had changed its demeanor nearly instantly and without much more than a low growl that was unheard to Fawn, lashed her claws out and raked them across the girls face and arm. It scampered off into the rain after that leaving the girl screaming and running back inside to her mother. The same repeated itself for the next three years until Fawn simply realized that all cats were vicious, and didn't want to be touched. Would this be the same?

But it sat in Minos lap, looking as gentle as a baby chick and as soft as a cloud. She gulped. Her hand twitched at the memory but she pushed through and gently brought the tips of her ring and middle finger down onto the scruff of the cat. The second her fingers touched she recoiled, nearly yelping at her expectations. But they didn't happen. The creature continued napping, purring softly. Her eyes were locked on it's face and paws as she outstretched her hand once more. This time she rested both fingers, then three, on the shoulder blades of Pumpkin. For a moment she just left her fingers there, staring in bewilderment and barely breathing as if one tiny sound would wake it. And then she moved them, slowly running her fingers down the cats back a few times, slowly, gently. After only three strokes she pulled back quickly and let out the breath she'd been storing as if she had just come up for water.

"Okay- I did it- I'm done." She said, catching her breath and smiling sheepishly at Mino. After all it wasn't like she didn't know she probably looked ridiculous, at least in front of the man who so calmly held the cat in his lap. And while she wouldn't admit it out loud, he'd been right. Pumpkins fur had been as soft as silk, something she hadn't expected but now felt herself wanting to experience again. And it showed on her face even through nervous glances to the cat. "So, what about you? What do you do in the city besides chasing cats? Fawn asked, teasing again as she gazed at him. Her blue eyes nearly black but catching the soft glow of the moon above them as she waited for his answer.

[Theme Song]

[Mino]

17 Frost 120

His laughter was a low rumble, eyes shutting for a moment. Behind his eyelids danced the image of her running down the street with an army of cats at her heels. To be fair, if she hadn't run they wouldn't have given chase. Mino suspected the reaction had merely been an exaggeration to fit her personality. She seemed like the kind of loud that was...entertaining to be around.

"You came to the city to discover yourself." His eyes opened then, slow and lazy. Entirely too relaxed for being around someone he'd just met outwardly. Inwardly, however, was another matter. Self-discovery was a tricky business. His own enlightenment on his personality was carefully watched. Didn't want to give him the opportunity to run for the hills. Not when they'd gotten one of their best in a long while. His lips twitched downward, but otherwise the sullying of his mood didn't reflect much more on his expression. "Commendable. I assume you came on your own? You should be careful out on the streets." If she'd come to the city recently, it meant she did not have much. Nothing of value to him, at least. Which meant that she was safe from him relieving her of anything worth a few coins during this chance encounter. One less thing for her to worry about, he supposed.

"She's a lady of class. If she wanted nothing to do with you, you would know." He shut his eyes once more, turning his face up toward where the moon shown down on them. Not for long; the clouds rolled over and darkened the world once more. The brush of fabric as she moved to reach for Pumpkin came shortly after a moment of hesitance. The quiet stretched on, disturbed only by Pumpkin's soft purring.

The cat's paws were tucked under her frame, nestled between Mino's legs and her body. She blinked up at Fawn as her hand drew away, a tired mewl sounding. She tipped her head up, nose working before her eyes opened fully. Another soft meow, as if asking for more pets, and Mino replaced Fawn's hand to placate her. His eyes opened as the moon peeked through the clouds once more.

And then she was asking him what he did aside from chasing cats. His grin stretched out a little wider. He leaned forward, frame hunched over Pumpkin. Mino had always been one to assume that his smile was nothing short of a shield, but easily wielded like a weapon. It helped if he smiled wide enough that past his lips was the wink of teeth. Teeth longer, sharper than a human's. Teeth that could have easily been disguised if he so wanted, but decided that he didn't care much for. The light caught them as he spoke, teeth lining a pink tongue that curled first with a yawn, then around his words. "I work with assets for my family." It was the same trite line that Lady Blue had fed him. Told him to say it whenever anyone asked. He supposed it worked well enough; no one had ever questioned it.