THE FOODINING BEGINS! (Rook)

[Vespa]

She had been duped. Thoroughly miscalculated the situation. She waited in anticipation of complete catastrophe. Watching the minute workings of Rook's large arms for that was just about all she could see. She hadn't tried peering over the mass, honestly she didn't wanna know what hell raising he was up to. The tension increasing with the sound of the hum. But hell was not to be raised. The result of all her nervous monitoring was highly anticlimactic as Rook walked from a wholly unharmed table for a napkin. Her whole body relaxed itself as she watched Rook copy, in detail, the entirety of Dimitri's drawing. Admittedly it was a comparable solution to her suggestion but the presentation and combination of her imagination and the only-just-introduced personalities of the two lead to a drastically different expectation.

Pleased enough with the outcome she again took her more authoritative stance and folded her arms in front of her. She almost laughed at Dimitri's remark toward the logical use of napkins as a substitute for planning paper. Ultimately she was relieved that the strangling was satisfied and Rook had dissolved what she still believed could have been a disastrous situation if it was left to the little eel monkey's own devices.

She watched the small creature as it suggested something she didn't quite understand. As he mentioned something about cluster shells her heart just about jumped out of her chest. The surprised that he'd even think of something after what just happened but she again calmed down; only because the remainder of his sentence suggested he might actually have some semblance of common sense. His eyes had found her, and her nervous glare. The small creature did in fact make the prestigious elk nervous. Something so seemingly chaotic and powerful should be contained. Perhaps even eliminated. That would certainly make her life easier. Her glare persisted as he asked a question with a most obvious answer. Honestly she dismissed the remainder of his little speech. She heard what he said and filed it away as information she know knows about the workings of the armory. It failed to be received as a point of conversation for her.

She took a deep breath and cleared her through before readdressing Rook. “Well, Rook, it seems I have underestimated your ability to handle the situation and for that I apologize.” She gave a bit of a bow. As refined as she was it was not beyond her to admit when she was wrong. The only way to win favor is to admit defeat when you are defeated because no one likes a sore loser. Although, in this case it may not have even been necessary. But Aidith has her ways and she sticks to them. “But, I must ask that you be clearer with your intentions next time. You could have easily put yourself in a very poor situation.”

She glanced to the wall and caught the time. Instinct told her to politely leave and quite soon. This wasn't turning out to be the best place for a Seraph and she had done what she intended to do.

[Rook]

Rook did not openly laugh, but he smiled serenely, the soft lilt of a deep growling chuckle affecting his sharp voice, a little left over from the trance his claws had put him under.
Though his face was drawn in merry lines, and he sat calmly as an old man on his porch, watching the trees grow and the ducks wade.

But his large almond shaped gray eyes, predator eyes, narrowed. His ears lay flat and he tilted his head a little in the nuance of a bow.

Accusing me? How dare ya honey, you should be ashamed. Here you are, tittering and mewling as you stand over the Killer. and you expect him to be polite, wear ties, attend disgusting dinner parties.

Shit on that, pretty lady. As long as I slit throats I'm putting forth minimum effort towards my social grace and if you crackpots don't like it, you can find yerself another garbage man.

Looked like you have a brain between your ears. Wonder if it's just being choked by all this proprietary bullshit.


Of course he said none of this, he wouldn't dare in a million years.

His mind again began to clear, and he said in a normal voice.

"My intentions were only to the service of my comrades Ser', I hope I haven't made you nervous. " he flexed his claws and stared at them for a moment, this time he did laugh.

"I have a knack of getting myself out of poor situations" he paused, one clawed fingers idilly brushing the table where the drawing still lay. Then he continued in his drawl..." Miss Aidith. It's why I am alive to help Dimitri here through life's tedious little dips at common sense. ".

[Raron]

Dimitri nodded vigorously to Rook's comment.
"Yup. He even once was kind enough to grab a fire... putter outter... thingy... you know... one of those foam sprayers. When I was on fire one."
He grinned despite his failure to remember the word 'extinguisher '. Things like that were minor details. It was silly little things like that that just got in the way.
"Since then I have made sure my staff has plenty of those... thingies on hand. A good suggestion on your part Rook. By the way drop by the armory later if you can. I have been experimenting with some some close range implements you might be interested in. Simple but effective. Some can even be used in non-lethel ways."
Dimitri liked Rook despite his odd lack of interest in weapons. He sometimes liked Rook to test his simpler things because if Rook could figure them out on his own he knew he had a winner.

[Vespa]

Lilting a bit uneasily in her stance she nodded towards Rook. He had made her nervous but that wasn't something she would outwardly admit. It was more so the other she feared. She could have sworn he was evading being identified but but as Rook spoke he dropped just what she needed at her feet. Just as before, with Rook, the name filed up all the info the guild had on the little creature. She didn't intend to put it into malicious use but a watchful eye would be painstakingly kept on his territory. A sly smirk twitched at the corner of her lip.

Again she endured the eel-monkey's inability to manipulate words. You had to wonder why the creature even bothered trying to speak, it was undoubtedly not his strong suit. Finally it stopped babbling, every word heard but not addressed as seemed to be the growing procedure for Aidith. Nodding to Rook she spoke “I can see that now,” her attention shifted toward Dimitri as her devious plot was to be unveiled. “And you, Dimitri Salvadore, current Chief of the Armory and apparent master of catastrophe, are quite lucky to have someone to look after you.” The extinguisher nonsense meant nothing but he had in fact perked her interest about weapons. Not usually the one to talk about weapons the possibility for non lethal weapons being implemented more regularly among the angels was a pertinent topic for Aidith. “And, if you wouldn't mind. Perhaps you could tell me more about these non-lethal weapons you have planned.”

[Rook]

At this point, Rook's interested faded. He knew jack shit about guns, he knew how to load one, sure, aim and fire one? Most definitley, and well. But if you asked him what kind of gun he had? His response would be to shove his over-sized Scratch hands in his pockets and mumble something inaudible.

Rook was a bit of a perfectionist when it came to his job, and it bothered him that there was something he was so blatantly ignorant about, but really, he had no ambition to listen to Dimitri's incessant ravings, and reading a book about guns would put him to sleep like a mug of warm milk.

He snorted, looking briefly at his claws,which were sleeping again it seemed.

Besides. he thought smugly. Who needs guns?

He also knew doodly squat about algebra, computer literacy and the fine art of tact, but no one needed to know that, did they?

[Raron]

Dimitri continued on not noticing he had lost his intended audience. He reached into his pocket and pulled out something... oddly shaped. It looks simular to an army green... marital aid with the tip a stange blue color.
"Like this thing we finally worked the kinks out of. Susanna here is a lovely close range lady. When you tap the bottom of her like so."
He slapped the bottom of the device with his tail.
"Twist it like so..."
He twisted the upper and lower halves.
"Activates the material on top. Turning her from a metal club to what we have named a persistent safe stun gun or PSSG for short. The blue material when activate is extremely sticky and holds the Susanna in place even after you let go. It also let's her read the victem's vitals. She will administer the ideal amount of electrical charge for the subject even taking in consideration things such as pacemakers and the like so you don't accidently kill them. And best of all. When set until she is removed every time she sense the victims vitals start to settle to the point they could attack you... she goes off again!"
He grinned happily holding the.... object... Several of the furres in the room were holding back laughter at the shape of it. Some were pointing and outright laughing.
"I suppose we have to change the shape though... it keeps making my staff either blush or laugh for some odd reason..."
He looked around perplexed and then his eyebrows lowered in annoyance.
"OH I SEE! You doubt Susanna can do what I say she can don't you? Well if I could have a vollen..."
Before Dimitri could finish the sentance the furres in the room scattered. Some ran out the door, others dived behind counters, a handful uprighted a table to put it between Dimitri and them. Not one that was not part of the three seated was uneffected by it. Even the servers hid behind their counters.
"teer.... Well what ever happened to science and exploration that is what I would like to know. I mean I already tested it on myself. It is incredible painful."
He said this with the same pride as he had shown taking out the... unfortunatly shaped object.

[Vespa]

By the Grace of the Gates what on earth is that ungodly thing? It had taken a moment for it to register before the uncanny resemblance settled in. His analogous referral to the object augmenting the impropriety of the thing. Aidith was taken aback with disgust as the small creature persisted with every word. Doing her best to listen and put aside the phallic nature of the so called weapon she made sure to keep her distance. The intuitive reaction for the elk may not be as most seemed to have. Remaining as calm as she could while others twittered and cackled she stepped uneasily from the pair. The situation had taken a route she didn't at all intend and that was it. That was enough for her.

Without a moment's hesitation she piped up clearly. She would not be denied her escape from this perilous pair. “A most interesting invention you have there. I do wish you luck in developing a more... appropriate version in the near future. But I must take my leave quite immediately. There are other matters that I must attend.” With a nod to the pair she turned right round and began her slightly-swifter-than-normal march out of the hall hoping to herself that neither would call her back for any reason.

[Rook]

Rook would feel a little bad afterward, for actually laughing, especially in front of a Seraphim, even a young one like her, but the huge grin on his face seemed like it was going to burst if he diddn't let something out, it was a short bark, he tried to smother it, but looking at the serious expression on Dimitri's face, and the "high and mighty" way she gathered herself up and tried her best to escape from the... ?weapon? made him chuckle outright.

"It was a pleasure to meet you Ser'Kerragin" He managed to call back to her in a half way sober voice, it shook only a little, but when he turned back to stare at Dimitri and the esteemed...Susanna, his grin came back in full force, but he had gotten control of himself.

...to an extent.



"..Is it now"?

he managed to ask with a semi-straight face. "I suppose you have to have the right physical stamina to withstand such treatment".

Though my partner has given me quite a different description.

Rook choked back his laughter this time, he diddn't want to hurt Dimitri's feelings.

[Raron]

Dimitri simply frowned as one of them left while the other one laughed to the point Dimitri was afraid the old furre was gonna have a heart attack or something. He looked to the weapon in his hand and could only see wonder and beauty plus a sensible design. He looked at it for a while and scratched his head.
"I don't get it I suppose. I mean I even giving her a black handle with gripping bumps on the sides but the staff said that made things worse... it is a sensible design. Good for melee or fitting into the custom launcher they are working on between fits of giggles."
He waved it in Rook's direction.
"I mean this is a perfectly serviceable lady who could treat the right user very right. A true asset to a team. But instead of understanding I get laughter or random blushing."
He slammed his fist down on the table hard. He looked annoyed beyond belief.
"It makes a furre turn to drink... or it would if I was allowed to drink... apperently it makes my brain chemistry goofy with the chemicals in my brain... gooooofy."
He waggled his fingers... well most of them. Five were held up holding his "lady" carefully.

[Rook]

"Maybe you should concentrate on your other projects for a while, Dimitri".

Said Rook scratching his furry chin briefly, to hide his smile, before sitting down again and taking a sip (which, to others was probably a gulp) out of a pitcher of water ,along with napkins and flowers, there was one on every table, somewhat diminishing the militial feel of it all.

"You won't find much busiunuess with me however, I just need another happy-crappy little automatic, more as a matter of course. Sorry to dissapoint".

He twirled his finger "There's no weapon... no matter how humorous the shape.." he grinned a little " that can replace my claws".

Rook sounded proud, but everything had it's drawbacks. Whether he was inclined to mention them or not.

[Raron]

Dimitri looked at Rook with honest confusion. What Rook was saying made no sense. He knew the meaning of each word but it was like the Archangel was spouting gibberish or speaking in tongues.
"... Huh?... What are you talking about. Of course we could replace your claws. With a little co-operation between my department and the cybernetics we could more then replace them... I mean who want nails that break? If you want to replace them we can get you titanium claws... or maybe even better!"
He waggled his eyebrows enticingly. Some of the archangels had improvements on cybernetic limbs. Nothing like a hidden unfolding blade, or hidden gun... that would get in the way of the function of the limbs and be needlessly complicated for the innards. Not to mention a nightmare to keep in good repair. Instead metal claws, hyperdermic needle claws, simple things that required no room. He had designed them and implimented them. He smiled at the older furre as if in victory. Then he frowned. Vladma had talked to him about his 'obsessions'. Told him he had to branch out conversations. Would be easier to make friends. But it was hard for him. Most of the stuff he knew about involved guns... but maybe if he talked about something that he did not know about he could learn. He had heard talk... what had it been about... it was spoken of in hushed tones but it seemed like a good thing... He suddenly remembered and grinned. He would show Vladma he could indeed talk about non gun things. And be good at it. With warning he spoke again.
"I hear you are dating again. Good for you! Are you and.... um... er..."
He did not remember any of the details come to think of it... he would just go with the flow and let his cunning take over.
"that furre you are seeing having a meaningful and fulfilling mutual relationship?"
He smiled. There was no hidden agenda in the smile. No trace of judgement. Just interest. Not self interest, just plan honest interest. A child-like expression for the furre who made a living supplying death implements.

[Rook]

Rook was about to argue, bring up the fact that his claws expanded to the size of rapiers, emitted heat, electricity...and all that good deadly stuff, but he closed his jaw, deciding against it. Perhaps it was better to keep quiet then try to explain that to Dimitri. I'm going to do my best to avoid any awkward conversat-

Rook's mouth opened again, but this time no sound emitted from it, instead in froze in a look of mixed disgust, confusion and something akin to horror.

His heart did somersaults and he could almost hear it throbbing in his chest. HOW THE HELL DOES HE KNOW!!!!?? his inner voice screamed at the top of its lungs. We were careful! We don't even hold hands in public...how.....

Though on the inside he was ready to shoot himself, Rook diddn't move so much of a hair. Finally he said in a small voice which spoke great depths of confusion.

"....what"?

His rational mind raced desperatly to calm him in some fashion. Relax! It's Dimitri, he's like Bambi..with nuclear warheads. But Bambi nonetheless!

[Raron]

Dimitri blinked at Rook's reaction and began to wonder if he had said something to offend the archangel. He wasn't the best at this sort of conversation but he couldn't stop now. Nonetheless observers would notice that he was practically shrinking into his chair.
"Um... er... I heard a couple of the staff say something about you dating and I thought... that would be a good thing to talk about."
His words began to speed up and blur together. He was in unfammilar territory and he could only dive in farther. He felt like he was tap-dancing on quicksand.
"I mean the staff talk about their significate others alot in the armory so I thought maybe that is a normal thing two furres talk about and I have been told I need to learn to talk about non-weapon related things and relationships seem popular and normal so I thought I would bring it up."
If the topic was weapons Dimitri would have been able to hold it own and would not feel this way but this was an unplanned for conversation and of the many ways it could have gone he had not expected this way.

[Rook]

Phew. He dosen't know the details.

...meaningful..and mutual relationship. Rook hesitated, this might be more trouble than it was worth, Dimitri seemed naive enough to lie to of course, Rook was a proficient liar, but he also suspected that the naive also occasionally had a keener sixth sense...this often seemed to be the case with the blunt types..

Besides, the poor guy just wanted something to talk about without feeling too awkward. I have a soft heart. This will be troublesome. I'll tell the truth. Mostly.

He did his best to appear calm outwardly. Smoothing feathery black hair with a stray hand he smiled nervously.

"Sorry, you just startled me. Yes, I'd say our relationship is...meaningful and mutual. " He shrugged "She's really something".

[Raron]

"Really! That is good... full of interesting knowledge and... umm errr wow do I suck at this. I suppose I should have done research... or had some frame of reference..."
He wiggled his fingers for a bit and scratched his head. Thinking of something he could add, thinking of something he could foward that would not make him look like a lunitic or an idiot... and found nothing. No point of reference, no simular ground because...
"Truth be told I have never been on a date."
He thought on this for a while. Thought on the past. One remarks made to him. Questions asked such as 'does the fur go ALL the way around?' he had taken them as simple curiousity but... what if they were more... could some have found him dead sexy? Was it possible they wanted to have the sex with him? He wondered. He was no judge on such things.. he needed to know... and the quickest way to find out was to ask.
"Am I sexy?"