We pass through a doorway that says it is for staff only and it lead toward a small but beautifully maintained garden area with an enclosed glass ceiling. Stone lanterns provided the only lighting among the meticulously arranged plants, many which seemed unknown to this area.
And a small water feature pouring into some wooden tube that almost made me jump out of my skin when it suddenly tipped its fill, popped back up, and sent a startling thunk into the enclosed space.
In the center of it all, the profile of an elderly man sitting at a low table with a cup steaming into the chill night air. Wearing a black outfit with the same giant silver symbol on other things in the establishment glinting off of the length of his back.
Reina calls some words softly in what I assume is Japanese - and what I assume is announcing our presence as my latest... friend strolls past me. With a slight turn she raises up her index finger and give me a ’one moment’ gesture.
Leaving me standing at the far edge of the garden with the woman I had only spoken to when she brought me food on two separate occasions. It’s very, very hard not to compare her to a servant even though I know jobs work a bit differently here.
So I decide on small talk after glancing down to the shorter human. Tea-brown hair put up in two buns styled near immaculately leave quite a strong impression that I could talk about.
"...I like your hair. "
> Very articulate. Good Citra. That doesn’t exactly answer my curiosity... it only inflames it! Should I just look it up on my phone later? Well, they are just necessary. You cannot tell me that you would not love to have your fur cleaned by nice brushes and made healthier with soothing natural washes and nourishing oils. Having had it done in my fox form, I assure you it is *necessary*. And undergoing that was pretty good all things considered. Spoiled only by Victoria, really. Oh, I see what you did there. Clever. How perceptive... He’s not going to just know where I came from and my whole story by me saying a few words like Ellie Rushwater did... right? Yes, I do wish I was part of a pack too. Blood related or not. But you don’t have to point that out, you know how everything is right now... Then again, if he knows or senses something somehow, he might just be making a blunt remark about the unnaturalness of me? If he is a type of mystic from his country, then he could possibly tell that my soul is that of a fox. Best not to assume that is the case. <
"The refinement of the young is often only on the surface. Your restaurant’s cooking was exceptional - and the environment is clearly cherished. You’ve built a beautiful place here."
I did not give out praise often, but I can only be complimented so much before I have to return the favor... effusively.