Could be Worse ((89))

[victoriousscarf]

Mistoffelees blinked at him a long moment. "I'm really trying to weigh the pros and cons here," he managed. "Of not having to walk home alone versus you knowing where I live. Could take me most of the way, if you would like," he said finally. Yes, being able to place him within a block meant that if the other tom cared enough he could probably find where Mistoffelees lived--though honestly it was far from a secret. Publicity was why he moved away from Fourth Street after all. It would never be hard to find his penthouse.

[Tsughi]

Slois shrugged his shoulders. "That's fine with me. I won't stalk you or anything, but I don't really have anything to make you trust me on that one," He said and looked behind him before taking a few steps toward the door. "If you'll lead the way?" He offered and opened the door politely for the other tom, his whiskers giving a small twitch at the unfamiliarity of it all. He didn't know he still had manners. Apparently some things never change.

[victoriousscarf]

That got a long blink out of the smaller tom. His already tired brain just wanted to shut down at the motion and if it was not already half past four he would have called Coricopat to come pick him up. As it was, he was tempted to call the mottled tom anyway, and the gesture that he had seen from Cor so many times from a stranger made his chest hurt.

"Alright," he said, tail curling around his leg before he brushed it off and strode through the door, wrapping his coat around himself tightly. Turning, he led the way down the street.

[Tsughi]

Slois frowned once the black cat had passed him. Had he said something wrong? Letting go of the door, the tabby strode to catch up to the young aristocrat. When he caught up to the tom he walked mostly in silence, his eyes almost absentmindedly scanning the streets from habit, looking over his shoulder as if he was never alone, and his tail flickering enough to be called a mini-seizer. With a sigh, the tabby caught himself slipping into his old habits and forced himself to look forward as they walked, even then his eyes flickered to the sides from time to time.

"What was that place?" Slois attempted to bring coversation in to distract him, forcing himself to focus more on the other tom that what could be hiding behind that trash can. He shouldn't be so nervous, no one was coming to get him. All he had to worry about was someone planning to jump his new aquaintence, but he doubted the occurance of such an event. "The place where we found you, I mean."

[victoriousscarf]

"It's called the Palace," he replied, paws stuck deep into his pockets. "It's a club, of a sort. Belonged to my uncle until several months ago, and used to be a speak under him." His tail was twitching behind him as they walked.

[Tsughi]

Slois made a face and shoves his own paws into his pockets. "Speaks are tricky businesses," The tabby said reservedly and gave the tom a glance. "I take it from the way you mention it that it is no longer a speak?" He gave a small hiss as they walked under the rim of a roof and cold water dripped on him; without hesitation he took a step closer to the other tom, coming behind him a little, to get out of the dripping water's line of fire.

[victoriousscarf]

Mistoffelees took an abrupt step the the side at that, just about tripping and taking several wobbling steps to re-balance himself. Except it didn't quite work as a brick caught his foot in the wrong way and he went down. Shaking his paw where it got wet, he went to push himself back up, cursing.

[Tsughi]

Slois's hand shot out to catch the other, but he obviously was a little too used to catching his twin. The tabby had misjudged because usually Fayst would reach out to him, but this ebony cat did not. With a small curse, he ran a hand through his tangled hair before stooping down with the other cat. Without so much as a word the other went to help the other tom back onto his feet. Looking over the other with a gaze much like a mother hen, Slois pursed his lips. "Did you get hurt?" He asked with general concern in his voice. So now he owed the cat twice...

[victoriousscarf]

"Fine, fine," he murmured, shooing the other off. "Just scraped a paw and," his mouth twisted in distaste. "Am very wet now. But I would really hope I'm able to survive a simple fall."

[Tsughi]

The other backed off appropiately but he looked at the other's hand with thought. "Minor abrasion, it'll sting for a bit. Best to get the gravel out of it and see if it's going to bleed." A pause, as though realizing he was rambling off like a medical encyclopedia. "Sorry it's a habit," He said quietly and looked up the road. "How much farther to your place?"

[victoriousscarf]

Considering his paw, that Mistoffelees to glance up. "Not far. I'll wash it out there. As I said, it's not that bad," he brought his paw back down, shoving both paws into his pockets again, though the tip of his tail twitched at the sting of it. "As for your earlier question? No, the Palace is no longer a speak. Mostly because the Police Commissioner was breathing down the neck of the entire place. Besides, I didn't much care for it either."

[Tsughi]

Slois flickered his tail and started to walk forward again, this time cautiously avoiding the dripping water and from getting to close to Mistoffelees. He didn't want another re-run of what just happened. "Who is the Police Commissioner?" He asked, the topic of the police force making the fur on the back of his neck stand up instinctively.

[victoriousscarf]

"Big cat, name of Sonya Vlask," Mistoffelees replied, tail flickering. "Not a bad sort, but he had... well, quite a few disagreements with my uncle. Actually, every cat probably had some disagreement with my uncle."

[Tsughi]

Slois frowned at the ground. "Your uncle doesn't seem like a likeable sort of fellow," He remarked.

[victoriousscarf]

"Considering he was murdered in his own establishment? No," Mistoffelees said, tip of his tail twitching hard again.