Small Town Complications [D6, LM] Calico's Room

[Rayfe Drathmire]

He grins, more from Calico's reaction than anything. He keeps his head still best he can. "Oh, he's perfectly fine. Does he like to be touched, or happy just like this?"

Nyx looks absolutely bewildered by what is happening. She lets out a confused whine and glances between Calico and Rayfe.

[Calico Carter]

As she spoke, Calico reached down to pet Nyx, hoping to calm her agitation a bit.

"Dunno. When he sits on my head I usually just leave him there- you'll outgrow it someday, Orlok, so... I guess enjoy it while you can."

Chitter,

"Although if he bites you, you have my full permission to smack him."

[Rayfe Drathmire]

Nyx is distracted by the attention easily enough, and nuzzles her snout against Calico's lap.

"Hm." Rayfe tries to look up a bit, catching the sight of Orlok's wings in his peripheral. He raises up one hand slowly, looking at first as if to pet the bug, but pauses with the back of his hand level with Orlok's eyes.

In a calm voice, he murmurs to the Saturnadus. "Haven't gotten your feedback on his collaboration, Orlok. Am I tasty enough to be hanging around your partner?"

While keeping it held aloft, he relaxes his hand, giving permission.

[Calico Carter]

"Oh, come on, no!"

Orlok pondered for a moment, then extended his proboscis and took a sip.

Calico winced.

"Oh, Rayfe, that's gonna itch so bad... Orlok! Bad bug!"

[Rayfe Drathmire]

"It's all right, Calico. I promise."

His eyelids flicker a bit at the bite, but he says collected, even watching with interest. He draws his hand against Orlok and gently scratches his mane.

"So?" He asks the bug.

[Calico Carter]

Orlok withdrew the proboscii8s and chittered. And stayed put, letting Rayfe pet him.

He seemed to be looking at Calico now.

She sighed.

"Well, safe to say Orlok approves..."

[Rayfe Drathmire]

"That's important." Rayfe remarks, the corner of his lip turning up in a confident half-smirk. He lowers his hands and lets Orlok enjoy his perch in peace.

"You are partners after all, mm? If we weren't at an understanding, it would complicate things..."

His eyes drift down to Nyx. "She'd probably leave me for you in a heartbeat. Not worried about her."

[Calico Carter]

"Ohhhh, you're not that fickle, are you Nyx? I think you just love everybody until they give you a reason not to...."

She practically cooed at the magnox.

"You wouldn't leave your wealthy, handsome master to sleep in ditches with me, would you? Would you?"

[Rayfe Drathmire]

That catches him off guard. He only has a couple seconds of looking flattered before his expression creases to something more serious.

"Calico. I know you'll likely be traveling with your friends. But if at any point your only choice is between the ditch on the left and the ditch on the right... Will you call me? Please? I don't care what time of day or where. I would be there."

Nyx is obviously swishing her tail, staring up lovingly at Calico. She knows this voice. This voice means cute and happy.

[Calico Carter]

Calico glanced at him and... half-smiled.

"I bet your family'd just love that, my showing up on your doorstep like some stray. Pretty sure you've been warned about people like me."

[Rayfe Drathmire]

His eyes narrow on her and he frowns a bit. "I think you understand by now that I value someone more than their circumstances... This past week especially is proof of that. Everyone deserves a chance."

Nyx swishes her tail and looks over at her master.

Rayfe shrugs. "If you take an incredible woman out of the ditch she happened to find herself in, she may just become a champion."

He reaches up and gives Orlok another scritch, but his gaze remain on Calico. "I never doubted you."

[Calico Carter]

Calico laughed at that, sounding both happy and amused.

"Well, that's one of us. I doubt me all the time. Experience, don't you know."

She resumed petting Nyx.

"I didn't even bet on myself! I showed up with two onz to my name and you can believe I sat on them as long as I could..."

[Rayfe Drathmire]

"Everyone starts somewhere. Some with two onz, and some with two many onz. Very impressed with you for proving us all that the beginning doesn't matter so much."

Nyx rumbles happily, closing her eyes.

"So. Is Orlok coming home with me?" Rayfe gives the Saturnadus another soft pat on the mane.

[Calico Carter]

"Tempting as it might be to not have him destroying my shirts from time to time..."

She sighed.

"If you're in a hurry to go, let me know, I'll try and bait him off."

The saturnadus flapped all six of his wings idly, as if daring her to try.

[Rayfe Drathmire]

He smirks a bit. "I'll stay as long as you'll have me..." His eyes lift up to where he can see the edges of Orlok's wings. "Or as long as he wants me to stay."

[Calico Carter]

Orlok... settled down.

"You know kidnapping's a crime, right Orlok?"

Chitter.

"Well, ah... let me disengage from Nyx here, get breakfast cleared away, and then, uhm... what's on your agenda today? If it doesn't require a neat hairdo, we can pry him off of there-"

Chitter.

"- I'm sure someone in this hotel can lend me a crowbar."

[Rayfe Drathmire]

"Nothing apart from the awards ceremony..." He places a hand on his chest, as if making an announcement. "I could be Orlok's escort, walking him up to the pedestal... The world would be left to wonder if all of the competition was hypnotized to serve his every whim..."

Nyx does let Calico go, but proceeds to follow her obediently around the hotel room.

[Calico Carter]

"Y'know, if I have to take this show on the road to Rosalia and play the evil foreigner, that's not a bad angle. Can you do a convincing 'my mind has been erased' look?"

[Rayfe Drathmire]

No answer. No movement. He tries not to blink, looking straight ahead at the wall with his arms crossed. Nyx makes a nervous sound and saunters over to his side, sniffing his leg anxiously. Rayfe continues to try and stay perfectly still and expressionless.

[Calico Carter]

"Hm. No. No, that won't do at all. Even with the bug on your head, I think I like you better as yourself."