Vlora Kawan's Story

Bastian looked at Vlora when she said that it was good he could put two and two together and he blinked. "Well, I am a lawyer. Such inferences are a crucial aspect of my work," he told her with a bit of a shrug. When she pointed at a house and asked if he lived in something like that, he eyed it for a moment and then shook his head. "I don't much care for that. I'm not certain what the word is I'm looking for but the two-tone paint looks odd, the trimming is done in multiple colours that don't match the house itself, and I don't care for the unfinished patio shelter," he said with a shake of his head.

Vlora nodded about his work, she knew that. The man really didn't now what jokes were. When he went into describing the things he didn't like about the house though she couldn't stop the smile that came upon her lips. She liked this man, he was funny in his own way without actually trying to be funny and most probably serious at the time. "Oh good... because I was about to bash how ugly it was. Seems like you might have some sense in what looks good." She said and looked at the house again, shaking her head. "Your house better be pretty after all that you just said about that one." Vlora smiled and walked with him.

Bastian nodded when she said that she was about to bash the little house. "Well, then, it seems I beat you to it. I'm much more fond of my own house than that one, although I could do without the massive shutters on the front window of mine. I'm considering just taking them off altogether and settling for interior blinds and curtains to ensure privacy," he said. He rounded a corner and nodded towards one little house, not saying anything as he headed towards it.

Vlora listened and looked over at the house that he had nodded to. "That is actually a cute house... and don't. I advise you actually close those at night to ensure a bit more safety. I can see so many ways to break into your house while you sleep and you not even know. Not that I go breaking into houses for the hell of it. I had this one kid I was paid to bodyguard and the bugger liked to lock me out because he loved to see how I could get back in without keys. He was a good kid, didn't mean any harm." She said softly and smiled. "So unless you want someone breaking into your house easier than I suggest ya either get a guard dog or... well both wouldn't be a bad idea." She said and smiled. "Sorry, habit." She laughed.

Bastian raised an eyebrow when she said she could see many ways to break into his house and he looked at her. "Locks only stop an honest thief. Closing the shutters wouldn't likely do me much good if someone's willing to break a window to get in there in the first place," he told her calmly, shaking his head a bit. He headed up to the door and then stopped, looking at her. "I would generally invite you inside but I believe you have a job to get back to," he said.

Vlora shrugged, "I guess so... an honest thief, though." She laughed and shook her head before watching him walk to his door. "Huh, so bossy... yes, sir. Job to do. Only an honest man would invite a pretty woman into his house." She winked and laughed before turning on her heels and walking to the end of the street.

Bastian eyed her when she spoke, smiling a bit. She really was something. "I believe it's the other way around. An honest man likely wouldn't look to be at home alone with a pretty woman unless they were involved," he told her with a shrug. "Have a good evening, Mademoiselle Vlora," he told her politely after she winked. He watched her go before unlocking the door and heading inside, more than ready to get to bed and crash for the night.

Rhyanid was in the back for a while, sorting and unloading boxes into the storage space and taking inventory of what had arrived in their shipments. Lanissa, meanwhile, stayed in the office, working on paperwork associated with the inventory. After a while, Rhyanid emerged from the back room carrying a large box. He smiled a bit at the sight of Isla with the bullied puppy. This girl was just too cute. He went over to the shelf where all the animal foods were, setting the box down and opening it up. It was filled with bags of pet food, and he started to stock the shelves with what was in the box, making sure every space was filled and everything looked neat and tidy. He checked the expiration dates on the food on the shelf while he was at it, wanting to be sure the food they sold wouldn't go bad before the customers used it.

Bastian loathed charity balls. He didn't mind getting dressed up from time to time, but he disliked social galas. Making small talk with a bunch of wealthy strangers had never been one of his favourite things - sure, he'd come to know most of them in the years since he'd taken over the firm, but not well enough to have anything of any real substance to discuss. All they wanted to talk about was work, politics, and the weather, with the occasional creepy old man commenting on the ass of a woman far too young for him to be looking her way. Unfortunately, such events were a necessity when you were a good and wealthy man, which meant it was time for Bastian to buy a nice new suit. He'd worn his old one to a few events, but the style was becoming outdated and the colour was fading from his vest, which meant it was high time for a new suit.

Bastian headed into town, a little irritated about having to go and try suits on for the day instead of getting any work done. Shoes weren't so bad, and his secretary had taken a few pairs of his shoes into the new cobbler's shop yesterday to have some repairs and maintenance done on them, but for suits he actually had to be there in order to pick one he liked and then have it fitted. He'd worn a nice suit today, since walking into a suit shop wearing a fine suit always guaranteed quality service. He was heading towards his suit shop of choice when he spotted the girl he'd met late at night, Vlora, walking in the street. He smiled a bit. He'd rather enjoyed their conversation, and had found himself thinking about her more than a few times since they'd parted ways. "Vlora!" he called out in a gentle voice, taking a few quick steps so he could reach her. He smiled a bit. "It is good to see you again. How are you doing?" he asked politely.

Isla had looked up when Rhyan came out and went back to the puppy. She didn't want to draw his attention or make him think she wanted some kind of conversation with him. She had placed the puppy on the leash and gently petted him before looking up. A woman came walking in. She was gorgeous by far. She had long blond hair and gorgeous green eyes. Her tan was glowing and she looked around. She smiled softly at Isla but made her way to Rhyan. Isla was more than okay with that and went back to playing with the puppy. "Hi, I am Rhonda and I am here to pick a kitten." She said softly. She had an accent that seemed like she was from a privileged family and Isla stopped an eye roll from happening. She had been raised in a not so rich family. They had money but not enough to ever be counted as privileged. "Maybe you can help me out." She said. Isla stole a glanced at the two. She could see the two being together. They matched. That was pretty much all her reaction to the two. The less time he spent up here the better for her.

Vlora had been out so she could talk to her boss about what her thirteen-year-old niece could do around here and the schooling. He was very helpful and his girlfriend was gorgeous. She had been wearing simple clothes since she wasn't really doing much was headed back to the lake island to see if her niece wanted to try and explore more around the lake island or to explore the city before her father got back from work. She heard her name being called by a familiar voice when she turned to see the fancy lawyer from last night. She smiled and laughed a bit, "Oh hey, Mr. De Larousse. Nice to see you out in normal light, though I have to say night makes you look a lot more mysterious." She smirked. The two couldn't have looked any more opposite. He looked like the man from the right side of the tracks while she looked like the girl his parents warned him never to date. "I am doing pretty good, how about yourself?" She asked and blinked before taking his hand and moving them out the way of other people and gently letting his hand go.

Rhyanid looked up from his work when the blonde woman approached and said that she wanted to buy a kitten, and he smiled, standing upright. "I can certainly help you out with that. Let's go take a look at the kittens and we'll work from there," he said, nodding for her to come with him and then heading for the back room door. "Will this be your first time owning a cat, or have you had them before?" he asked, opening the door and holding it for her. Lanissa glanced up only briefly from her work when he brought the girl through the office. Taking the customers into the back to look at the kittens and puppies wasn't a huge deal, since they only passed through the office and not the storage areas, and it was how they usually did this.

Bastian smiled when Vlora greeted him, blinking slightly when she said that the night made him look more mysterious. "Mysterious has never been what I'm going for, so perhaps it's for the better that you now have seen me by daylight. I must say, though, you look significantly less...intimidating...in the light of day," he told her. He let her pull him aside by the hand, smiling a bit at the touch and giving a nod. "I'm doing quite well, thank you. What are you doing out and about at this hour? Should you not be sleeping in preparation for another night of saving defenseless defense lawyers?"

The woman smiled, "First time." She said softly and followed him. Isla about clapped with joy when this woman got him out from the front. She scooped the puppy up and giggled. "I like her." She whispered to him. When they got to the back she gasped, "Oh gosh, they are all adorable. How do you not take them home?" She asked and laughed softly. "Aww my heart." She said softly and looked up at him.

Vlora laughed a bit, "Aww what? Mysterious is so hot though. Mmm but I have to admit I get to see your handsome face better with the nasty sun out." She smiled. When he said she looked less intimidating she giggled and shook her head, "Damn... that's not good at all. Thank you for letting me know." She said and looked up at him. "I am glad to hear you survived the rest of the night without me." She said and Vlora smiled more at his comment about being asleep to save more defenseless lawyers. "Ha... kind of... I had to ask my boss a few things about schools around here and whatnot. I have a thirteen-year-old niece back at home and... long story short she is living with her father and I and we are new here so... what are you doing out and about? Don't you have court cases to look over and attend? Or is that not what lawyers do?" She asked with a smirk.

Rhyanid took the woman into the back room where the kittens and puppies were, laughing a little at her reaction. "The shop is like my second home, so in a way, I've already taken them all home," he joked with a grin. "So, is there anything specific you're looking for in terms of personality? Some of them are really energetic and playful, others are a bit timid and shy, and some of them have been pretty lazy and relaxed so far," he told her. "For a first-time cat owner a more laid-back and independent kitten would probably be the best bet, but they're still quite young so their personalities are susceptible to change."

Bastian smiled a bit as Vlora told her jokes. He wasn't one for joking around but she made it look cute. "Ah, a thirteen-year-old? I've heard that's a tricky age," he said, shaking his head a bit. When she asked what he was doing out and about, he smiled. "As much as I'd rather be working right now, there's a charity ball coming up on the island and my attendance is, quite unfortunately, requested. Suit shopping is on the agenda for today," he explained.

The woman looked over at him and laughed a bit, "I guess that would mean you did take them all in." She said softly and moved her hair out of her face. "Hmm yeah, more laid back and chill sounds like something I am looking for." She said. This man was handsome as hell and he seemed like he was cool and chilled. Maybe when she got her kitten he would go on a small date with her.

Vlora smiled and shrugged a bit, "She is a good girl, thankfully. A book and the view of the lake makes her happy." She said softly. He was such a good looking man, but the fact that he called her out on his own made her feel giddy. She was going to have fun being this man's friend. "What? You rather be working than playing dress up? Oh gosh, very serious about these cases. Tis." She smirked. "Well I am sure you will look very sharp in whatever you wear, I am sure. Lucky for me I haven't been to such things." Vlora said. She wondered how this man was single and then she thought of how kind of bland he was, but he was fucking adorable. She wouldn't ever date him, of course, since they were two opposite people.

Rhyanid chuckled a bit at her comment and then nodded when she said that a more laidback and chill kitten was what she was looking for. "Well, then, there are a few very relaxed options here," he said. Sadie was eyeing them from her cushion but she knew that Rhyanid was busy with a customer and that she couldn't interrupt, so she stayed put. Rhyanid went to one of the cages, peering inside. "That sleeping one in the corner is a very relaxed one. A little bit shy, but definitely warms up to you after a bit. My sister's been playing with him a lot, so it seems like it just takes him a bit to get comfortable with someone," he explained before moving to the next cage. "The one eating the kibble right there is another relaxed one. Very friendly, though. She loves to cuddle and be petted, she doesn't have any desire to bite or scratch at all from what we've seen, and when she's done getting attention she'll go curl up and snooze for a bit. She does have spurts of playfulness, though," he said. "There are a few more options, but did you want to meet either of those ones before we move on?"

Bastian smiled when Vlora said that her niece was a good girl. "A book and a view of the lake sound delightful right about now," he said with a shake of her head. "I am quite serious about my job, as I'm sure you are about yours," he said. "And thank you," he added when she said he'd look very sharp in whatever he wore. He paused after she said she hadn't been to such an event. "If we hadn't just met last night for the first time, I'd suggest that you could accompany me. I usually just take one of my colleagues with me. She loathes these events as much as I do, which makes her excellent company for them, but the event coincides with her honeymoon and she'll be away, so it unfortunately seems that I'll be attending alone."

The girl followed him and about died at seeing the kittens. "Hmm, the girl sounds delightful." She said and looked up at him. "My I hold her, please?" She asked him. He sure knew his job and her daddy wouldn't be all too pleased that he was an elf AND worked at a pet store, but he was so devilishly handsome and seemed so nice. He would have to get over it because she knew for a fact she wanted to date him.

Vlora shook her head, "You and my niece would get along very well. She is very book smart, thanks to her mother, but now I have the time to make her street smart and then she will just be the smartest. Oh... maybe she can become a lawyer and make ya struggle. That sounds fun." She joked and smirked. When she kind of invited her but didn't really invite her she laughed. "Oh darn and to think this girl from the other side of the tracks would have loved to go." She joked. "I am sure you can find another lovely lady at the place to help pass the time. Just throw at her your witts and jokes." She said and held back a laugh.

Rhyanid nodded when the girl asked if she could hold the female kitten. "Certainly," he replied. He opened up the cage and a few of the kittens came to investigate, but he gently nudged them back before scooping up the kitten that she'd wanted to see. "Here you go. Just be gentle since she's small. We generally try to keep the back legs supported when they're this little, although they do look cute with the legs just flopping around," he told her with a chuckle. Lanissa emerged from the office into the front of the store, looking towards Isla with a smile. "Everything going well out here, dear?" she asked.

Bastian grinned when Vlora said that her niece was book smart and that maybe she could become a lawyer. "If she had any interest in law, I'd be happy to help you out by any means available. She could even intern at my firm - when she's older, of course," he said. He blinked at her words, but then he figured that it was probably sarcasm, since he knew he certainly didn't have any jokes. A slight smile crept across his lips. "Perhaps I should invite you regardless. It might be entertaining to see a girl from the other side of the tracks getting all prettied up for a charity ball. Although I'm sure you'd look lovely in a gown. It's not often women with a body like yours show up at these events. They're all either petite or plump, with no muscles either way," he said.

The woman watched him take her out, awing at the fact that the rest of them came running over to see. She would have loved all of them but she couldn't be that crazy cat lady. She watched and listened before giggling. "Will do." She said softly and gently did as he was doing, their hand's brushing for a moment. "Aw, look at you. You are so sweet." She said and gently petted her little head. Her friend's had cats or dogs and she loved both, but she loved the cats the most. "I am Victora, by the way." She laughed. "It is not every day you see a man like yourself loving on animals. It is refreshing to see." She said, a small blush coming up. Isla looked up from holding the puppy and telling it stories about the dogs on her island and smiled. "Oh yes... kind of slow right now. Do you need me to do anything?" She asked softly.

Vlora smiled, "that is very generous of you. The girl sure does have her options." She said and blinked at the smile that crept up. He needed to stop being so handsome. It was becoming a problem not to look at him. When he said that he should invite her and then went on to talk about her body. "Oh ho ho, you are so pervy, Mr. Da Larousse. Whatever am I gonna do with you?" She asked and smirked. "If you would like me to go with you to this ball I wouldn't say no. I don't mind showing off my body, I worked hard to get this. Nice to know you like looking at it." She laughed a bit.

Rhyanid gently handed the kitten over to the woman, smiling as she fussed over it and how sweet it was. The kitten was obviously more than content to be handled and petted, and Rhyanid grinned a bit. "The perfect match," he remarked with a chuckle. When she introduced herself and said it wasn't every day you saw a man like himself with animals, he grinned a bit. "My name's Rhyanid, and I've always been something of an animal lover - my whole family is, really, which is why we opened this place up," he said with a chuckle. "Did you want to look at any other kittens or do you think this is going to be the one for you?" he asked.

Lanissa smiled at Isla when she said everything was going well and that it was a bit slow. When she asked if there was anything she needed her to do, she smiled. "Rhyanid seems to be handling a customer right now and the kitten and puppy adoptions usually take a bit longer than the others since there's more paperwork to go with them, and he may need to help the girl pick out some supplies, too. Any chance you could head into the back and feed the puppies? There's a bag of food near the cages. I'm sure Sadie or Rhyan will point it out to you if you ask when you go in. Just fill up all the food bowls except for the blue food bowl - that one needs a different kind of food which, again, I'm sure Rhyan will be happy to point you to," she said. She had some papers in hand and headed towards the front counter. "I'll watch the front while you do that." she said.

Bastian smiled when she said it was generous. "Law is a noble profession. I'm always happy to encourage young ones to consider it," he said. He blinked when she called him pervy and said she didn't mind showing off her body, and he shook his head a bit at her. "Well, I can't say that I don't enjoy looking at you. I am a man, after all," he shrugged. "If you wouldn't say no, then I see little point in asking. I'd quite like to take you to the ball with me. I'll make sure my secretary has all the information together for you - time, date, location - and you can stop by my office any time to pick it up from her," he said.

Victoria listened to him and smiled, "Aw, that is really sweet that you work with your family. Family is important." She said softly before looking up at him. "Oh no, I think this beauty is the one for me. I mean... I even think we look alike." She joked softly. It wasn't every day she enjoyed the company of another man.

Isla nodded about her son handling the woman. She was excited about it, but then she wanted her to feed the puppies. "I would love to feed those cuties." She giggled a bit and walked back to where they were. Victoria glanced her way but then went back to Rhyanid. The small dwarf walked over to Sadie and smiled, "Hey girl, can you show me where the food is? I don't want to disturb Rhyan." She whispered to her. Isla was shocked the dog got up and showed her to the actual food. "Ugh you are one smart doggo." She whispered and gently petted her head. She placed the puppy she had back where she got it before starting on feeding the puppies.

Vlora smirked, "An honest man is a good one." She said and laughed a bit when he told her he would like to take her to the ball she smiled. It wasn't a date, she much rather call it a crashing since her kind were never invited to such things. Plus she loved this man's company. "Sounds good, though if you could tell me where your office is... that would probably help a tad." She said and smiled at a woman who eyed the two. Vlora knew all too well what this looked liked.

Rhyanid grinned when she said how important family was and he nodded. "Oh, I agree wholeheartedly," he said. When she said that this kitten was the one for her, he nodded. "Perfect. Do you have any supplies for her, or are you going to be needing that, too? We've got pretty much everything you'll be needing," he said. He glanced over when Isla came into the back room, giving her a smile as she passed them and chuckling a bit when she got Sadie to show her where the food was. Sadie led her to the food bag, nudging it with her nose before going back to her cushion.

Bastian nodded at her comment. "An honest man certainly is a good one," he agreed. When she asked him to tell her where his office was, he nodded. "Of course. It's actually not far from where you and I met last night. I had assumed it would be within your patrol area. I could show you, if you would like. I'll be passing it on my way to the suit shop, so it won't be out of the way for me," he said.