Unplanned Disaster ((12))

[victoriousscarf]

Misto ran a paw through his hair as he came down the main steps. It was still early afternoon, so he did not have work until several hours later, but he had stopped by to be paid. Actually getting paid was a somewhat new experience for him, and he rather enjoyed that.

He glanced around the main hall as he reached it.

[havlockvhett]

Franz was dressed to the nines today, sharp white suit that while cut well made a polite hint of the gun in his shoulder holsterIt was his best 'I'm a professional that can either entertain your guests or execute them' suit. His brilliant green tie matched his eyes. Another over-indulgent gift from Robert, the cat never had any sense with his paycheck.

He was doing his best impression of a statue, and had been force to stand at parade enough to do a decent impression. Not that his tail could stay still, it was early, he was caffeinated and itching to get on with his case. Franz suppressed a sigh, it was always annoying, having to put in the work to explain it away as tick from the War. Because then started the questions, the with who and the how long and the did you ever see-? More slogging that took up dig time.

Franz measured his breathes and went back to counting wall tiles.

[victoriousscarf]

Slowing, he noticed a cat he had never seen before standing like a statue somewhere off to the side of the room. He glanced around the main reception hall, which at this time of day was relatively empty, and wondered what the other was doing here, especially so tense, though his tail looked like it would rather be out dancing.

He could pretend to be social, couldn't he? "Hey," he said when he reached about where the other was standing. "You alright?"

[havlockvhett]

He wasn't going to come over and talk, he wasn't going to come over and talk, he wasn't-oh bugger he was. That's what the statue act was for. It said he was a calm, occupied professional. It was the epitome of I'm waiting very politely for someone important, don't mess with me because I can shoot you.

Apparently someone was a bit slow. Cute though. "Well, I've had my tea for today, so that must mean yes. I'm just fine." His smile was polite but deferential. It was a pain to keep up appearances, but you just had to stay up on eggshells on a case.

[victoriousscarf]

Misto's eyebrows rose and he laughed shortly. "Ah, alright then. If you're sure, I just wanted to check..." He shrugged his shoulders slightly. "I assume you've been helped already and such?" He was an employee of the hotel after all, he had the paycheck to prove it, and he felt he should probably make sure. Though, after saying that, he could have sworn the grey cat sitting behind the desk glared at him.

[havlockvhett]

Franz smiled, a genuine one this time, the other cat's good humor was infectious, or maybe he was just looking for a reason to cheer up. "In a manner of speaking. I'm on the clock, the boss has a meeting. And apparently I make better scenery than I do a conversationalist." He tilted his head, playing up his over curiosity. "You normally this kind to strangers or just working the clock too?"

[victoriousscarf]

Misto spread his paws a little. "Trying something new. I don't work until a bit later tonight." He blinked, giving himself a second to think. "And, well, you looked like you could use a distraction from glaring death at the poor wall tiles. What did they ever do to you anyway?" He grinned at the end of the sentence.

[havlockvhett]

Franz jerked a thumb towards them. "You're looking at the same tiles right?" He shuddered theatrically. "How about Display With Intent To Horrify. Marble is nice, don't get me wrong, nice touch of class. But ten feet of it?" He looked around before leaning in conspiratorially. "Or maybe I just kept losing count at two thousand, one hundred and forty seven. It starts to smart after a while."

[victoriousscarf]

Misto laughed outright at that, though he stopped quickly enough, darting a glance around the still mostly empty room. "Oh god, you got that far? I would have given up after less than fifty." He gave the wall another look over. "You're right, it is a little ostentatious though."

[havlockvhett]

Franz tail twitched away happily as he grinned at the other cat. "You could say that." He shrugged. "But then what else am I going to stand here doing? Cats gotta work, and the boss is the boss." Said with the exhausted pathos mastered by every working stiff. It wasn't like the other cat needed to know that he loved- alright under normal circumstances, he loved his job. He was curious though, about the other cat's care to stay quiet. Sure, the place was upscale, but it wasn't a library either. Little bit of a laugh never did any harm.

[victoriousscarf]

Misto could swear the desk clerk was attempting to kill him with his eyes, but he mostly ignored the grey cat. His tail swishing behind him somewhat lazily, he returned the other tom's smile. "Well, what's your boss doing here then? He leaving you staring at ostentatious walls for long?"

[havlockvhett]

"Hell if I know. He wants me to wait, I wait. Thrilling though it is." Franz was amused by the desk clerk, apparently somebody had their royal nose in the air. "And you? What brings you 'round in your off hours?"

[victoriousscarf]

"I am getting paid, which should perhaps not be as momentous an occasion as it is." His eyes briefly darted away and then back, as he realized just what kind of a light a statement like that put him in. He shrugged slightly. "It's a nice change of pace from some of the other places I've worked."

[havlockvhett]

Franz gestured placatingly. "Mmm. I've had those moments. Sometimes clients aren't as grateful as they should be." He looked around, smile turning wry. "A bit fancier than my normal haunts too."

It was the first pleasant bit of banter he'd had since arriving. And he had a good feeling about the other cat, and when you danced through the dicey situations he did professionally, you learn to trust your instincts. "Cooper, Franz Cooper." He held out a paw and offered another smile.

[victoriousscarf]

Misto smiled in return, accepting the pro-offered paw and shaking it. "Mistoffelees Quaxo," he said. "Though, no one really ever calls me by that, so unless you're going to try and call me Mr. Quaxo, in which case it sounds like you're addressing a dying duck, Misto is preferred."