Old furre and old books (Vespa)

[Vespa]

He was surprised at the offer? No, maybe she said something she shouldn't have. Blinking she awaited a clearer response. She couldn't have chased him away with an offer for tea. The response he gave, the manner he gave it in made it sound like he hadn't thought of tea in some time. Like such simple things were impossible.

His grin was a bit offsetting. Those teeth could very well bite her in half if they so chose and their simple appearance was terrifying. But the manner in which he showed them was somehow reassuring. Most likely due to the fact that it was an honest smile, with no vile or vicious intent curling the corners of his lips. Shrugging off all unsettling thoughts she smiled back to him and turned to the door.

“Right then, a warm cup of tea it is.” The door creaked open and she turned the sign. As simple as that the shop was closed for the day. Waddling her way back in she lay the shawl back on the hook.

“Feel free to make yourself comfortable.” Down the isle toward the back she picked up the hazardous ladder and shuffled it toward the backroom.

“Would you like to have tea In the shop or..” Her mind was wandering mid-sentence, Inviting a man up to the house was a new and very irregular thing for her. She was almost too shy to finish the sentence. If he said yes things could possibly get uncomfortable again. But he wasn't too bad looking. He wasn't the dashing man she imagined but he seemed dashing enough. A blush rosed her cheeks as she set the ladder to the side of the back door. Perhaps she should hug him first to make sure it was indeed the man who saved her. His expressions were more then enough though. But the idea of returning to his warm arms was appealing to say the least. At this age you'll take a few wrinkles for a well mannered man.

Clearing her throat so as to disguise the long delay she finished her sentence. “Would you like to come up?” Now she sounded like some desperate tramp. Maybe he wouldn't take it like it sounded. Just a nice warm place to sit while they share some tea, that's all. Her face was beat red and her feathers were ruffling.

[Raron]

Tarsus looked around as they entered. Inside he was a bit awed by the sheer amount of books this one woman was keeping track of all by herself. He briefly wondered if she had help. If she had part timers, full timers... maybe someone more intimate... Mentally he shook himself. This was not the best time for that thought. He had just met her. Plenty of time to wonder about things such as that later. To ask the little details, favorite color, favorite song,... her name. Her name. After all that, After all they had talked about. After telling her what he did for a living and he still did not even know her name. Inside he screamed at himself for the stupidity, his primal self shouted at him for letting down his guard so easily... for once more letting someone into his private world without knowing them, for letting them in without knowing who they were, if they could be trusting, if they would betray him or stand by his side. He heard those thoughts... and shoved them violently aside. He knew things about her already, he knew she perfered the be low key, he knew that she was very very clumsy, he knew that he made her a bit nervous... but that was nothing new, and he knew that... she had just invited him upstairs and was blushing from the invitation. He almost cocked his head but he figured that would embarass her farther. Maybe make her explode. Rapidly his mind worked around the details. She was blushing from the invitation and awaiting his response, she had first asked him if he would like the backroom so strong money was there was nothing planned upstairs beyond tea. She was just embarassed about how that sounded. His guy chimed in and agreed and after 62 years of life he had learned his gut could usually be trusted. She was trying to be polite but also trusting him with her inner sectum. She did indeed trust him and quickly... a too trustworthy furre... no. That idea was rejected. She was not trusting furre's she was trusting him. Trying to make him comfortable... all this was thought in a couple of seconds.
"Well miss I believe that would be your call. I mean this is your place. It would be rude of me to dictate that. I would perfer a place that can... contain someone of my size though. I believe you understand."
He winked. Not roguishly, not charmingly, just in good humor to put her at ease.
"By the way miss my name is Tarsus, Tarsus Ridge. You can call me Tarsus."
Grinning that kind grin once more he held out one hand delicately and slowly raised it to handshake level on her.

[Vespa]

Wandering through her options her mind debated the best of the choices and did her best to relax a bit. He didn't seem to have taken it the wrong way so he should have any expectations either way. Glancing around she debated how comfortable the shop would be. There weren't much in the way of chairs, least none he'd feel comfortable on. He's quite a large man now isn't he. Not to mention it's be quite impolite to leave him down here alone for any amount of time. Arching her spine around the corner a bit she peeked back at the stairway leading up to her little loft apartment. He could probably fit through well enough but where would she put him after she got him there. She hadn't a second to finalize the plan when suddenly he went about the first thing they should have done.

Fumbling to set down the ladder, which upon her release slid along the wall and before she could catch it clattered against the floor fluttering the poor avian with a jump. Placing a hand against her chest she breathed deep trying to stop the heart palpitation she could swear she just had. Once she caught her breath she waved her hands at the ladder and dismissed it from further involvement. At this point she almost despised the unruly thing.

Waddling her way to the repairman and now knowing his name she outstretched a hand to him for a proper introduction. “It's a pleasure to meet you Tarsus. My name is Tryphena Jennet.” She hesitated giving him an nickname. She didn't entirely revel with pride being called Hena, but Tryph wasn't much better. She decided to let him choose what he'd prefer to call her and left it at that.

“I'm sorry there's not more room for you but I think the best I can do is at least make you comfortable. The couch upstairs should be just fine. If you don't mind.”

[Raron]

Tarsus bowed low at the waist and reaching down he plucked up the ladder with one hand and carefully leaned it against the wall making sure it was not in the walking path of the petite avian. He briefly pondered on the the suprising clumsiness of... Miss Jennet? Tryphena?... Tryph?... nah...
Always something he did with people he liked being around. He was not a fan of formalities. Never had been. They tended to give him a headache. A piercing, grinding headache centered in the middle of his forehead and grinding inwards. His old mentor suggested this was caused by his anti authoritarian tendencies. Tarsus told him that he was reading too much in his old age.... those were good times.
"You might wanna get one of those ball wheeled ladders with the flat bases... you know that one's with remote controls. They are hard to tip over."
He said this casually but caring. He had a sudden mental flash of the avian cracking her head open on the ground and her warm red blood oozing around her. It was an unhappy mental picture.
Shaking his head to clear it he started up the stairs, one foot in front of the other. The stairs creaked a little under his feet, some more ominiously then others, but they held and that was good enough. Obviously this place was not built to hold the extra extra large but they were good enough. The smell of books had permated the upstairs as well but he was getting used to it fast. Half-way up he looked back down the stairs at the avian. He smiled weakly and tiredly. Tea... it was a really good idea. He had been far too busy lately, spending too much time with loud people. This quiet little bookstore was just what he needed.
"By the way ma'am. Do you mind if I called you Hena? I always thought that was a pretty name."

[Vespa]

He'd been getting the look quite often today. The idea of anti-klutzing the shop was not at all new by any means. But it just wouldn't feel right to take these books out of their natural element. Allowing people to experience the past in a more real sense is part of the charm of the shop and something she didn't feel she needed to deprive them of. Not too many kids these days have patience enough to just sit down and flip through real, tangible pages.

Following behind the gentleman and savior she stepped into the back and pressed a few keys on the security pad. That was one bit of technology she would never do without. The front door locked and the alarm was set. They could now sit and chat all day if he really wanted but it was unlikely that he would. After locking the door to the back the good old fashioned way she turned to follow up the stairs but was stopped by the marvel of his sheer mass filling every visible inch of the stairway.

He turned to look back just as she started up the stairs with the ominous feeling that being behind him wasn't the best place for a brittle old bird like Hena. Hena? Well it didn't take him long to find that one himself. She took a moment before she waved a hand at him dismissively.

“By all means call me what you like. It's not the first time someone's pulled that one out of the infinite imagination themselves.” Her opposite hand clenched the railings and heaved her tired body up the stairs. It wasn't a problem but things get slower with age.

At the top of the stairs it opened to a large living room with a kitchen joined. Nothing but a counter top and a few stools really separated the rooms. It was cozy enough. An old fashioned rabbit ear antenna TV nestled across from a coffee table and a couch. To one side was a large bay window into the alley and opposite of that was a comfortable but likely too small for dinos arm chair. It was all quite expected of an older woman's house. Nothing was modern other then the retro design of the kitchen space she inherited with the place. Blankets and pillows lay arranged on the couch and a few books and a remote nestled on top of the coffee table.

If someone was more curious they'd easily noticed the hallway placed just at the meeting of the two spaces. It wasn't obvious what was there but you'd guess that's where at least a bedroom and the toiletries were hiding.

Once he hauled himself up the stairs she skittered herself towards the kitchen area as she directed a hand toward the couch.
“Go ahead and make yourself comfortable.” Around the corner she waddled and began riffling around the kitchen. She'd be blushing over the fact she finally had a man over if it wasn't for the busying nature of tending to a guest. Over the sound of rushing water she called out. “Do you drink black or green?”

[Raron]

Tarsus's eyed the room that unfolded around him. By instinct and practice his mind started categorizing furniture by how well of a barricade or a weapon they could be used for. The table could take some low caliber shots, a few small throw able objects here and there... the chair was too heavy for a thrown object but too light for a shield... He snapped out of those thoughts and smiled as he absorbed it just as what it was. A nice, clean, and very feminine room. Something he had not been inside for a while... well besides Boots's room but she did not really count. She was practically his little sister... or maybe a niece. It just did not count.
He just smiled and soaked it in. The sights of gentle textures, the quiet sounds of her moving about the kitchen. It was all quite wonderful and alien. He rarely had time just to relax in such a room. Truth be told the the last few times in a ladies room had not been restful... all kinds of fun but not restful. This was a wonderful change of pace though. No expectations just a time to talk with a cute woman... and she was cute in her own way. The shaky way she walked as if any moment she expected her feet to fly out from under her, the glare she gave him when she disapproved of something he said. The way her feathers fluffed out sometimes. Yeah... she was cute all right.
Smiling he walked to the couch and poked it a few times and tested it with his hands to see how much it creaked. Thinking it would be fine he peeled off his self heating trench coat and draped it over a back of a chair revealing the white thermal shirt he wore underneath the coat. The shirt clung well to his body in a flattering way and the white color made the black holsters and belts holding his three guns in place stand out all the more. None of them were shiny, none of them gleamed in the light. They were not weapons to scare people or to show off with. They were made for death and death alone. He slowly placed his tail out of the way and began to sink his bottom into it's soft plush surface. Down wards and into the cushioning his posterior sank till his whole weight rested upon it. It creaked for a bit until it seemed stable. Nodding in victory he heard the call from the kitchen by his gracious host.
"Black or Green?"
He blinked for a few seconds before he realized she was talking about tea and not his... he pushed that thought away. She barely knew him. He doubted a classy lady like herself was thinking in that direction about an old bum like himself. As the couch creaked and he lifted one foot and rested it on the table he called out.
"Ummm... really I don't know much about tea... whichever hovers your... whichever you prefer Hena."
He was trying to cut down on the slang. He doubted she was very much into the random stringing of words that passed for street slang.
Sinking back wards a bit more into the couch a sigh of contentment escaped his lip.
"Mmmmm comfy couch."

[Vespa]

Putting the pot on the stove she turned the oven on. She was busy, too busy to think about things. But as she turned to the living room to check on him and he gave his response she almost panicked. Knocking dish ware and a heartbeat to the floor with one hand as she clenched her chest. She soon tried to gather herself. He definitely said repairman but as he was correct in assuming how ignorant she was with modern lingo; she didn't entirely know the extent. She knew it was heavy but....she just let a very well armed man in her home and there was no one else around! A heavy sigh swept away the paranoid fear. It was instinctual and uncalled for. Yes, he's just a kind man who would like some tea. She looked him over to try and evaluate his tea preferences. Without him choosing something it wasn't entirely an easy choice. Knowing a few things about tea she did her best to find something appropriate. He complimented the couch but she waited till a decision was made. He looked like he had enough heavy things so a nice light green tea would do just fine. Smiling she let the water heat up as she waddled back to the living room. Only hooligans shout conversations across rooms.

“Thank you. I'm glad we finally got you settled. Heaven forbid you break it and fall through the floor. Why I'd just feel terrible if you did.”

Hunkering herself down in the armchair she reflected on the moment, on him. He was quite a polite man. She didn't really mind him being here, in her personal abode, even if he was a walking armory. He didn't need anything and didn't expect anything. Oh she hoped he didn't expect anything. Just tea, that's it.

[Raron]

Truth be told this was what he needed. Some quiet time. Some time when he could relax. Even in crowds he had to keep up his guard, keep the apperience of being ready and waiting to kick someone in the throat. To be the lean mean fighting machine others talked about... but that wore you down quick when you had to be it all day every day. When you did not have a chance to just lay back and let the world pass by in public. Here and now with the company of this little avian he felt more relaxed then he had in a long time. He could already feel the tension peel off and away from him in waves. He could feel the stress leave and the smiles come faster and more geniune.
"So tell me about yourself? How long have you been in the Bookstore business if you don't mind me asking. I have pasted by this place once a day for a while but never been in before."
He shrugged to show there was nothing personal. It was just the way things had been.
"Though if I had known it was such a nice place I would have dropped by years ago."
Inside his brain he reflected he also would have stopped by sooner if he had known a woman like Hena was running it. This was not said outloud because she already looked ready to bolt.

[Vespa]

Beak tilted to view the man across from her. This was all a bit unnerving. She knew there wasn't anything to worry about, at least she had convinced her conscious mind of it, but something in her was still scared witless. Feathered hands that rest in her lap twiddled amongst themselves. As she did her best to calmly answer.

“I'm quite glad you enjoy the place but it's not like you've really missed out on much. This shop has been here in my father's care since before I was a hatchling so you might as well ask if ever there's been a time when I wasn't in the bookstore business nut I can tell you now there isn't a day in my life I haven't been buried between the spine of a novel.”

She'd caught wind of her rant and ruffled. Did she really say that? Maybe his mind didn't go that direction. Oh, he's a male of course he went that direction. Maybe he won't make anything of it. She attempted a recovery as quick as she could and scrambled on with the conversation.

“I would have been pleasant to have you stop by sooner. But you know the saying. It's better late then never.”

To keep the question's fair she asked, “Does that mean you live around here then?”

[Raron]

It would interest Hena to know that Tarsus's mind did not go that road. Probably because the primitive portions of his mind were at that moment being deeply absorbed by the novelty of warmth, comfort, and listening to pretty female talk. All three at the same time was throwing them off. He simply nodded encouraging at the right pauses of the conversation with his eyes closed and his foot on the table. He kept it that way till the tension she was radiating became so loud he could practically hear her heart beating. He briefly wondered if he should pat her on the shoulder or something but figured that would make things worse so instead he looked straight into her eyes and put on a serious face.
"Miss... relax. I am not here to do anything besides enjoy a nice cup of tea and relax some on your couch. The worse that I would do is fall asleep here on this ridiculously comfy couch."
The corners of his mouth rose.
"Which I admit would be rather bad because truth be told I snore fairly loudly."
He lifted his left arm he waved it lazily in the air as he gestured in the general direction of his apartment.
"Yeah. I live down that way. Decent place. Neighbors aren't so bad except most of them are gateba-... I mean gate worshipers and they knock on my door once a week waking me up at the crack of dawn to ask me to join their morning worship of the gates. I have not been subtle. I have told them quite firmly I had no interest what so ever. I have been quite rude but they don't seem to get it... one time I pelted them with water balloons and now they bring umbrellas."
He looked at her and felt the need to explain.
"Listen I have no problem if someone believes in something I don't. I understand the want to believe in something greater then yourself that watches over you and cares for us all... do I believe there is?... I don't really know. Don't think on it that much. But I figure there has to be a reason we have not killed each other off yet as a species... but do I believe the gates is it? No. I also don't care that they do. I just don't like their continued quest to force it upon me. I don't like it one bit. I put in some pretty late hours and I don't think I should have to deal with waking up in the morning to people banging on my door and asking me to stand on the roof with them in worship of those things."
Having said his piece Tarsussmiled as the warmth sunk down. Sitting peacefully he gazed at Hena and waited hoping she would not take offense at his stance on the gates.

[Vespa]

His eyes had peered right through her. Being calm was something Hena could only seem to do when it was natural. Rarely was it natural. Startled by his clairvoyance a little peep echoed in her beak. She would have admitted the fault and it's source but he was off and running. Which was just as well because the more he said the more she realized he was just an old man with an odd job she would never dream of. A sigh heaved her chest as she did her best to let the tension go. His little tale grew more startling by the sentence. She couldn't quite decided if he was trying to get her to laugh or if he really did do such...unusual things. Her head tilted a bit as the faintest ghost of the look peered back at him.

His hopes could be rested. After all the material she's read in her lifetime it was hard to really be religious. Many mysteries are solved between the covers of a book and some facts are made mysteries.

“It's a shame people feel they have the right to impose themselves on someone like that. Why, haven't they ever heard of privacy?” Before another word came out the teapot screamed and Hena just about jumped out of the chair. She could have just as well forgotten the tea. Gathering herself she shook her head at her embarrassing reaction, the same one she's had for 50 sum years and still couldn't stop, and excused herself before waddling her way back to the kitchen. The tea went into the pot then it and a pair of white porcelain cups with subtle foliage shaping along the top set atop a platter she brought to the coffee table he so kindly placed his feet upon.

“Sorry for the wait.”

A daintily frail had carefully poured the steaming tea into a cup for him and then for herself. Words failed her but a cup of tea would settle her nerves. Sitting herself back in the armchair she nestled in and sipped gently at the fresh brewed tea.

[Raron]

Tarsus gave silent thanks to then air that his arms were long enough to reach the cup with out him bending or shifting position. His hand was easily big enough to engulf the cup and yet his finger tips daintily picked up the handle and carried to his face. He did not drink at first but instead lifted his other hand and with surprising gentleness wafted the steam to his nose. Taking a deep whiff of the tea's elegant smell a smile crossed his face with this simple pleasure life had given unto him. For a moment the smile vanished. This was the part where it usually fell to pieces. Where everything fell apart. He would sit on a couch, beautiful woman before him, warm happy cup of tea. Nice and relaxed and happy and content... and then he would wake up to an empty bed in a dark room. He suspected his subconcious was a sadist. He looked at the cup for a moment. Frozen between expectation and action and finally his nature kicked in. He thought "to hell with it" and took a small sip and the grin came back with a vengance. Muscles relaxed as flavors cascaded upon his tongue and warmth wrapped itself around the inside of his throat and down to his stomach. His eyes closed as the simple bliss entered his world.
Slowly he opened his eyes and looked at the woman before him. He sighed happily.
"You know... as you get older you forget things that were so much a part of your life at one point. You forget the little things that made your childhood. The things that were not important yet so vital. I remember this tea. I had it once... long ago. My mother used to make it for me when I had a bad day at school. She would brew up a cup and we would talk out my problem. I forgot that. I actually forgot that."
His smile did not waver. There was no self pity in his eyes, no remorse, just basking in a old memory and sharing it. He took another sip and savored it more this time. Savored the memories it brought forth. He felt more at peace. More relaxed then he had in a long time. Part of it was the tea. Part of it was the place he was in. But part of it was Hena. She wanted nothing from him, she had just offered this because it was nice or because it was the right thing to do for her. Either way she had no hidden agenda... it was easy to forget people like that existed. That they roamed the streets just like everyone else. They tended to keep their heads down and live simple blameless lives... but the hard reality is that they also tended to become victims far to easily. Tarsus had been chewed up a bit emotionally over the years but the blameless tended to get chewed up in more ways then that. He decided to do what he could to help this one at least. What else could he do? She had made him tea. That settled he look once more at his hostess and commented.
"I know you probably have a few questions. I don't blame you. I mean this is... an odd situation. If you want to ask go ahead. As long as the questions are mine to answer I will."

[Vespa]

Closing her eyes she took a moment to enjoy the warmth. This was the entire purpose of sharing tea; to just, let it all go and take it all in. His voice peeked into her serenity with a touching story. What flesh could move about the avians beak curled into a slight smile. Hena didn't expect to, but she hit the nail right on the head. Perhaps she was a better tea connoisseur then she thought. One wouldn't know unless they had the chance to try themselves at it. Taking another sip she indulged in a little self satisfaction for her accomplishment.

Her eyes snapped open as she set the cup and saucer on the table. She was starting to wonder if he had some kind of x-ray vision. He really needed to stop reading minds or whatever voodoo he was up to. It was only a little creepy. It wasn't a big deal and she settled again in her chair. Sighing she waved a hand in disregard.

“No no, I think it's best I not ask them. If what the nurses at the hospital said is true about you then I'd rather not know the answers. We can leave that for later. For now I just want to say thank you.”

She looked to him with an honest gaze and met him eye to eye. Hena owed her life to this man and she'd do what she could to repay him. She reached down to pick up and take another sip of her drink but alas her aim was off. Her clumsy self tipped the cup over and sent it surging over the table top and onto the floor. In a panic she squawked and flurried herself to the kitchen for a dish towel.

[Raron]

Despite her awkwardness Tarsus could not help but smile at the antics of Hana. She was... adorable. Something about her just made him want to take her in his arms and keep her safe from everything, most of all herself. Something about her brought his protective instincts screaming to the surface. Something about her was very... real. More real then most of the people he interacted with on a daily basis. He liked that. He liked her simple world of books. Liked it's organization. Books did not try to kill you... well... except Hena... but that was a special case. She seemed to have problems with physical tasks. Not that she was weak or ungainly just... seemed to be unlucky. Nothing wrong with it. Besides her personality, intelligence, and looks more then made up for that. It was like some deity somewhere had said "look kid. Bad news bad juju is yours forever but at least you will be great other then that." He smiled at the thought but doubted she would find it as funny.
While she rummaged in the kitchen for a towel or whatever she was looked for her reached into his trench-coat and took out his gun cleaning kit and took out a dry disposible wipe and draped it upon the head of his cybernetic club-tail and without changing position started wiping off some of the table top. He kept the tea in his hands and out of impulse grabbed the saucer so both hands were full and assumed a highly dignified pose from the waist up. From the waist down his legs were on the table and wiping it up with his tail. He delicately sipped his tea as he posed. An unusual sight to see for anyone made more ridiculous due to his mass. He looked up as she reentered the room and gazing at her he extended his pinkie and stuck out his bottom lip.
"Quite"

[Vespa]

The flustered little hen whisked a dish towel from the handle of the refrigerator. It's unfortunate that memory seems to fail you at the most inopportune time. But time was short, she didn't want to go through the ordeal of trying to get that stain out of the carpet. Turning to make her approached she was confronted with a very unusual scene. All she could do was peep as she froze in place, hand's splayed to either side of her.

Moments passed and Hena couldn't even begin to think of what to say. He just about had it cleaned up. Finally the stun broke and she huffed over to the table, trying to stifle a giggle. She waved the towel at him before she placed it on the table and carefully wiped up every last drop.

“Be careful! Don't break my table either.”

Her hand circled the table top as the other lifted the tipped over cup. The very faintest smile stuck like glue to her shaking head. She swatted his tail off the table and placed the cup back onto the nice dry table. Finished, she waddled back to the kitchen and stumbled on the slightly elevated flooring but with a not so smooth recovery she set the towel into the sink for the time being. Back again she set off to the living room and nestled into the arm chair. Nervously she debated pouring another cup and attempting to not embarrass herself again.

For now, instead, she attempted casual conversation. She remembered the books he mentioned early and asked, “So you enjoy a good mystery novel?”