[D3 LE] Helping Hand (Chantelle's Apartment)

[Jack Doyle]

"Hello." Jack waved. "It is nice to meet you."

[Chantelle Rossette]

Chuckling warmly, “no vodka, bu’ we were enjoyin’ some peppermin’ schnapps.” Chantelle gently pushed her new guest towards the table, entering the gleaming kitchen and setting about preparing another round of cocoa on the stove. The apartment was small, and somewhat spartan. There was a small dining table with two chairs, a loveseat with a small side table, a TV on a stand. Against one wall was a powder-coated iron shelving unit holding a collection of potted plants, many in full bloom. In the kitchen there was a wooden step-stool, presumably for Jack to use to reach the counter.

There was music playing, jazz-electronica fusion with a cheerful Cuban beat. There was no lyrics, most likely backing tracks for her job at Lounge.

[Tiffani]

Tiffani approaches the table cautiously as if she were undertaking a dare to be the first person to enter a haunted house.

"Uh, hello Jack, likewise. I'm sorry, I know I'm being rude. I'm just not used to ... any of this." Even though she was speaking to Jack, her eyes never left the werewolf, who hadn't spoken yet, and she made sure to sink down into a chair on the opposite side of the table. Her grey eyes were as wide as saucers even though she knew in the back of her mind that the werewolf was just another person - like herself.

But sometimes her mind was just a bit too logical. But all werewolves are human, too. That's why they are lycanthropes. She told her mind to shut up and mind its own business. Let her be dumb ... just this once.

Tiffani nodded to Marcus, a few strands of gold and red spirals falling into her eyes. "Marcus ..." Ahem. She cleared her throat. "Pleasure to make your acquaintence."

[Marcus Kendall]

And so, after perhaps several agonizingly long, awkward seconds, Tiffani finally smiles, gives a short little wave and nervously says with nervous simplicity, "Uh, hi!"

"Good evening, ma'am." the werewolf growled, his voice echoing of woods older than the man, his eyes cold as the winter nights. "Please, have a seat." A large claw that could have easily crushed the egret's head pointed at a free chair. His peacock-plumed tail perked, flaring out to allow the 'eyes' on the feathers observe the newcomer. The gold-green patterns seemed to observe Tiffany. Marcus paid no heed to his tail, for it seemed to live a life of its own. The beast tried to smile, though only managed to reveal his fanged maw to her. Lichen grew on his green-grey fur, nestled in places he couldn't quite reach. Yet, despite his inhuman appearances, the man was holding a cup of steaming hot chocolate in his large clawed paw.

Several emotions clung to the air. Surprise and curiosity mixed with fascination and concern. "Welcome back." his tongue lolled out, thick as Chantelle's forearm. How the monstrous thing fit in his mouth was beyond anyone's understanding. "Marcus Kendall's the name, though Marcus is just fine."

[Tiffani]

Tiffani folded her hands on the table as she waited for Chantelle to serve up the hot chocolate - minus the vodka - staring at the massive wolf sitting across from her. A giant wolf absurdly holding a cup of hot coffee. The craziness of this whole scene - a wooden doll, a huge werewolf, and an egret-woman, Tiffani almost felt left out that her Keeper only modified her slightly so as not to ruin her youthful innocence - or so her Keeper had said.

In any event, what trepidation she may have felt drained away, replaced just as quickly with a level of bemusement that caused her to burst out in a peel of musical little giggles, her head dropping down onto her hands, curly hair spilling across the table.

When she righted herself and removed the hair from her eyes, she held up a hand in a placating gesture. "I'm sorry, Marcus ... really" More giggles. "But seeing that coffee in your ... uh, paws ... I couldn't help but think of how this would make for an awesome television advertisment. You sitting there with that coffee with an announcer saying, 'Drink our coffee, it's howling good!'"

Saying it out loud simply made her laugh harder, a single tear of mirth running down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away. Once she caught her breath, she finally reverted to a more serious tone. "Really, Marcus ... I meant no offense. I can't help what just pops into my head sometimes. I think ... yes, I think the emotions you're putting out just ... well ... they were a bit infectious. Especially the surprise. Uh, what are you surprised about, anyway?"

[Chantelle Rossette]

While the milk was heating, Chantelle fetched a tin from her pantry, sweeping over to the table and adding a few more gingersnaps to the plate in between her guests. Like the cocoa, it was clear the cookies had been baked from scratch. Tiffani’s laughter was infectious, and the egret couldn’t help but smile. The apartment was cosy, not just heated against the autumn chill outside, but a mood hung over the room, it seemed to have an earthy, honeyed scent of amber.

[Marcus Kendall]

When she righted herself and removed the hair from her eyes, she held up a hand in a placating gesture. "I'm sorry, Marcus ... really" More giggles. "But seeing that coffee in your ... uh, paws ... I couldn't help but think of how this would make for an awesome television advertisment. You sitting there with that coffee with an announcer saying, 'Drink our coffee, it's howling good!'"

Saying it out loud simply made her laugh harder, a single tear of mirth running down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away. Once she caught her breath, she finally reverted to a more serious tone. "Really, Marcus ... I meant no offense. I can't help what just pops into my head sometimes. I think ... yes, I think the emotions you're putting out just ... well ... they were a bit infectious. Especially the surprise. Uh, what are you surprised about, anyway?"

The beast shrugged his lichen-covered shoulders nonchalantly. "It's hot chocolate." he smirked and she could likely see that some of the brown liquid was indeed stuck on the fur covering his snout. "Seeing, you here?" honesty reverberated in both his tone and demeanor. "Haven't seen one of us, so, uh, fair. I mean, Chantel said you'd be coming, but, umm.." Beast most Fowl scratched his neck, slivers of lichen falling on the floor. "Yeah."

While the milk was heating, Chantelle fetched a tin from her pantry, sweeping over to the table and adding a few more gingersnaps to the plate in between her guests. Like the cocoa, it was clear the cookies had been baked from scratch. Tiffani’s laughter was infectious, and the egret couldn’t help but smile. The apartment was cosy, not just heated against the autumn chill outside, but a mood hung over the room, it seemed to have an earthy, honeyed scent of amber.

When Chantelle returned, Marcus attention moved to her, his half-smile widening into a bestial grin as she laughed. "It's good to have people like, this,no? Been a while since I've sat in a table like, uh, this." His ears slated to the sides a little, the beast whimpering ever so slightly. "You know what I mean."

[Chantelle Rossette]

Chantelle looked at the lichen scattered on her floor with amused despair, but she touched the beast’s shoulder affectionately before returning to the kitchen to make the hot cocoa with a dash of cinnamon and paprika. “Anyone nee’ a top up’?”

[Marcus Kendall]

"Me, me." Marcus quipped, smiling happily. There were the teeth and there was the tongue, but at least Chantelle would be able to tell that he was smiling. The ever keen changelings could sense slight happiness around him, lingering in the air like the scent of fresh scones - joined by more earthly, deeper tones of hunger.

[Tiffani]

Tiffani watched the wolf carefully, studiously though, honestly, she didn't quite know why. There was still a small residue of fear left in her mind, the thought of Marcus leaping over the table and ... well ... best not think about that. Marcus's arm was probably as thick as her entire body.

But really, she admonished herself, I'm being unfair. Really unfair. Marcus can't help it that his Keeper wanted a werewolf for some reason any more than I could help that my Keeper wanted youth, innocence, and beauty.

Tiffani sighed before saying to Chantelle, "Why yes, I could definitely use some hot chocolate. You have no idea ..."

Her eyes returned to Marcus since Jack, as of yet, hadn't said anything since his introduction. She could feel Marcus's happiness as surely as if it were her own - and it rapidly became her own as her emotions synchronized with his. She sat a bit straighter in her chair, her nervousness dissipating like an autumn mist burning away under a newly risen sun.

"Well, Marcus," she said, folding her arms across the table, fixing her stormy-eyed gaze directly on him, "I never thought I'd ever utter these words to a, uh, you know ... a werewolf ... but I actually think I like you. Even if you're holding a cup of hot chocolate instead of coffee thereby ruining my perfectly good television advertisement."

Then Tiff leans in a little - yes, she actually leans forward across the table, the tips of her hair brushing against its flat surface, getting closer to the wolf and his massive fangs and lichen-dripping snout. "Can I ask something of you that perhaps is a bit too personal for a stranger to ask?"

Tiffani continues leaning in, giving Chantelle a glance ... and then one to Jack ... perhaps to gauge their reaction. Then her eyes settle back onto Marcus, an oh so slight ghostly Mona Lisa smile decorating her face.