Zephyrs gust lightly through the immediate area, swirling through the market to carry aside the stronger smells of the day, the heat that comes with proximity to too many people. Funny how everything seems rather centralized, though. Unassuming, to say the least, is the snow leopard that wends through the crowd, buffeted by winds of his own make, a bewinged wisp of grey and shadow-dappled whites. Yep. There's Tenki, looking for all the world just like any other face in the crowd were it not for the fact he's been in the public eye for so long. A basket hangs from his jaws, woven rattan that imprisons god knows what, unless one possesses a particularly potent sense of smell. Then various edibles might become perceptible to the senses.

Ker sat atop an empty shop basket at one of the marketbooths, idly watching the people pass, she'd been on the lookout for someone, but was in no hurry to actually find them. The appearance of the snow leopard winding through the furs caught her attention as she waved from her perch, knowing he probably couldn't see her. Taking not of what he carried she wondered just exactly what he was up to.

Keno pads along the street, carrying nothing in his paws.  He looks around to see a mouse and a snow leopard and decides to pad over to them.  Truthfully, the jaguar didn't expect to find what he was looking for.  There were only a rare few like him, and then, not all would be for the idea.

A slight quirk of ivory brow. "Ker!" At least, that's what most would think he was saying. Careful trot over, a little bit of manipulation -- wing-fluffing and just that little usage of imposing personality -- to make life easier, and he'd find himself right in front of the mouse. Toothy smile is proffered to the little mouse, one that stretches from ear to ear, so to speak. This is, of course, something that would have happened had his face been configured correctly for it. The slightest twitch of ears follows. For now, he's not aware of Keno, passing him off as merely one of the many visitors here.

"Well it took you long enough Tenki..." Staring down at the feline she smiled and flicked her tail around her hindlegs quickly, curiousity having caught her by the ears she peered down at his basket, "And what have we begun to harbor away now?"

Keno watches them from a distance, not really wanting to intrude.  Maybe if he stood up to the whole crowd and proposed his idea he'd have more luck.  Howeverm the jaguar did not want to look stupid.  In that case, he'd wait a few mintues.

Basket is calmly deposited onto the ground, and the flap is peeled back carefully with a paw, allowing Ker to see the rainbow-wrapped menagerie of gloss and paper. Cheese, food, all sorts of things -- Tenki's a tad possessive with his own food stores, mind. Given how hard it is to get things cooked 'just right' under various circumstances. "Whatever it is, Ker, I know you'd find it anyway." Soft chuckle, as the mouse is rather affectionately nosed. Pause. Call it a sixth sense, call it paranoid, call it whatever you will, but the feeling of eyes on him will cause the snow leopard to raise his head and tilt an inquisitive look in Keno's direction. "Star-struck fan of yours, Ker?"

Ker laughed slightly as Tenki revealed the variety of parcels, the aroma drifting up to the mouse as she peeked over the edge of her seat. "Well what would you expect, I was made to be able to go anywhere and find anything..." Bumping her head against his muzzle as he chuckled she fluffed her fur up and smiled. At Tenki's abrupt raising of his head Ker turned as well, her eyes catching on the sight of the jaguar. "Well, I do beleive that one would be yours, mine normally are more my size and can actually see me in a crowded room...now wait, that /would/ be you.."

the jaguar is embarrassed to see them looking at him, so decides to make an announcement, no matter how silly.  Standing up, he starts to clear his throat, but it appears no one really cares.  "Ahem, uhm, are there any non-magics out th-"

"I'd expect you would know how to leave your best friend's food alone." Teasing notes there, just a little, a distracted sound given the fact much of his attention is focused on the strange jaguar in the distance. Elongated tail coils instinctively around broad frame, twitching erratically. "Don't make me put you in the cookie jar, Ker." Affectionate exasperation segues into quiet speculation. Keno's watched. A slight nod of the head, as though in encouragement. Public displays of courage aren't something that Tenki disapproves of. It's public displays of affection that riles him to the point of blushing. "Possibly not. And they likely won't look up unless you catch their interest." Rather helpful conjecture there. Right. At least you've Tenki's attention?

blushing slightly at the comment she titled her head up and to the side, letting her vision scan over to the jaguar again, "Ah..I'm the innocent one remember.." Blinking a few times she smirked, "Would you leave the cookies in the jar too?" Peered down at the basket again she pondered, "You didn't happen to get that cheese that I so favor.." Letting her words run off she was distracted by their watched once more, wondering what exactly he was after, "Why would he be asking..." Quirking a brow at the thought of someone asking for nonmagics, normally it was the magics they were asking favors for, if this was the case. Huffing at Tenki's last comment she tried to catch an ear to give her a lead to her assigned perch. "And normally if I caught their attention it would be for dinning purposes I reckon.."

Seeing the nod of encouragement, the black jaguar feels a small surge of what he was going to say, for a small moment or two.  "Yes, if there are any nonmagics around, would you please...talk?  I-I have a proposal to all."  Keno blinked, as it seemed no one was saying anything.  "A-ah, anyone know one...?"

grinzHead is tilted sideways, down just a little to allow Ker to scramble up to her accustomed perch, the snow leopard smirks, a coy shifting of expression into something impossibly mischievious. An expression, you might even say, too young for his face. "Yes, I will." Fondly, an idle remark that leads directly into bemused acknowledgement. "Of course. Your favourite type too, I might add." Indulgent best friend, he is. Very much so. "I was talking to the jaguar, dear." A twinge of humour just there. "But you're right. Still. You're too spicy a morsel for most cats, me thinks." Not to mention the fact Tenki'd be very very unhappy with anyone who tried to eat the mouse. Oh yes. "Unfortunately not. But if you were to actually *say* what you were going to say .. " Tail slides through the basket handle and moves up, so as to allow it to dangle just so from there. ".. we might be able to help you. My name's Tenki." He's /not/ giving titles unless absolutely forced to. God knows he hates the publicity. ".. and ththis is Fluffball." 

"Now is that a promise those cookies will be there or are you just wanting to keep me locked up tight?" Ker now sat up on what one could describe as her throne, she flicked an ear and looked about for a second. "Ahh.. perhaps I shall have to move in.." Shaking her head at the cat's words she sat down on her tail and peered out towards the jaguar. "Perhaps you were..but I was answering..." Never was it a dull moment in their company, though they were more than likely to scare anyone and everything off it was nice none the lease. "Yes.. flaming hot .." Sadly true if one was thinking on the aspect of her magic abilities. Letting Tenki do the talking she figured for the first part she'd just be along for the ride.. maybe. "Ok Snowbell, I'll do the introductions next time.."

"A promise." He observes quite gaily, ears flicking almost playfully against her form. One would think he were trying to dislodge her from her impromptu throne. But that's simply what it appears to be. Ker, for one, should know that's the last thing on his mind. "As if you don't spend enough time with me already." He has a mouse-door installed, for crying out loud. "Not on your life, fluffy." Tenki asserts vehemently. Blink. When the jaguar loses his confidence in giving a public proclamation, he'd just shake his head. Just a little. "... maybe we ought to have public speaking lessons." Tenki observes wryly, swiveling to make his way further down the crowd. "Now, what you been up to, little one?" Nevermind they're about the same age.

"Promises are always good..." Batting back at the flickering ears she remained seated upon her bottom, enjoying the view from her furred seat very much so. "So does that mean I'll be moving in anytime soon, I found a nice cozy space while rummaging.." Which was probably true, she did happen to rummage a lot, mostly through the pantry though, who knew mice were bottomless pits. "And I thought I was the one with the admirable public speaking..." Watching the jaguar lose his courage and ability she tsked and nodded agreement to Tenki, "Just as long as I get to teach.." Flipping onto her belly she peered down at Tenki from above as they made their way along. "Who you calling little?"

"Double Fudge too.." Tenki observes, mentally calculating the loss of *those* cookies from his private store. Tenki attracts kidlets like a magnet -- must be something about that tail of his. Skip-rope, anyone? Hence, the presence of saccharine edibles. And yes, for them, for him, and that little mouse he *knows* is there but just always pretends he never sees. He wanders about, edging towards the cafe. "Of course. And I suppose you'd be taking your feather-stuffed pillows and mattress with you." See? There's at least one good thing about having a feathered friend. You get to steal his feathers when he molts. Or sheds, at any rate. "You are *just* going to have promise NOT to scare off students again. Remember that little leopard we had at class the other day? You made her run out screaming." Hmph. "Ice-cream, fluffball?" The snow leopard offers, ducking into the cool sanctuary of the cafe.

Ker nods with a smug smile across her face, "Yep, I do believe those were the ones..quite tasty too!" No guilt was shown at all from the mouse's mooching off of her friend, she quite enjoyed the items he stashed away in his home, though at times he liked to try and think he really hid them from her, silly cat. "Oh yes, I can't forget those, and I do beleive they need fluffed quite a bit..." The bottomless pit also happened to have a weakness for her soft warm bed, which at times was often Tenki himself when they were traveling, but his molted feathers worked quite well at home. "Awwh.. I was only trying to explain to her the importance of a higher stimulated vocabulary and how to roll her r's.. tis a pity she left so hastily, I was just getting to the good part.." Babbling about proper speech was one of her pasttimes, actually, it was often enough atending or giving speeches, but she did like to give pointers from time to tim... Upon reaching the cafe she squeaked happily, "With extra whipped cream and cherries?"

Ear flicks right at her, carefully calculated movement to prod her michieviously in the ear. He's developed an amazing facility with his ears -- they're more mobile than even most cats. Comes from attempting to communicate with someone whose always out of his line of vision. Anyway. "Don't look at me. I'm not fluffing anything." Wings included. You can't imagine how ridiculous it looks when someone manages to get him to fluff completely. Feathers and furs and all. Oh, yes. ".../good/ part?" No comment there, save for a reveberating chuckle, deep and rich in his throat.  "You also set her tail on fire." Mild observation there -- Ker does get carried away, doesn't she? Let's not start on how fussy /Tenki/ is on certain matters pertaining to Guardian training. "Naturally." Down at the counter, he'd slide, head set down a little to allow Ker to get off. Quick exchange with the waitress follows. And a rather large example of a sundae follows, with extra whipped cream and, for a change, three cherries. MaybeKer'd leave him one this time. Tenki's not counting on it, though. Recalling an earlier remark, he'd smirk and pat the mouse on the head. "You, of course, Fluffball. You're the smallest fur here." Snicker. 

Batting at the ears once more she sneezed as the fuzzy club brushes slightly past her nose, blinking once or twice she snickers. "Who says you're not?" She'd rather enjoy seeing Tenki lose his suave and become a static ball of fluff, oh yes, most appealing to the ladies. "Yes, the good part..." Thumping her tail excitedly ontop his head she watched as a tiny spark let loose on his fur, quickly patting it out she hmrfed. "Well... what can I say.. I radiate positive energy." Licking her palm and trying to smudge out the burnt furs on his head she quickly slid off his head as he gave her the time to. Plopping down on the counter she eyed the waitress as she scurried off, her tail twiching as she soon returned with the order. Plucking a cherry off the top she licked the whippedcream off it happily and peeked over the top of the bowl at Tenki, "Yes.. but size doesn't always matter Mr. Snowbell.."

An instinctive wince as he feels the first tickle of heat on his head. "Among other things." And rather involuntarily, he fluffs, just around the hackles, and the face, giving him a furrier than normal appearance. "This is not dignified." Paw comes up, and starts stroking the fur down. "Positive ..." Blink. "No comment. Absolutely no comment. Nothing from this leopard, nope. Nada. Not a thing. Zip. Zero." And he mimes zipping his muzzle, whiskers fluttering a little from barely surpressed laughter. "Yes, it does. When you can't reach high cupboards." It's a singsong tone that he uses, while scooping a mouthful of chocolate ice-cream for himself. Bemusement glitters brightly in those warm brown eyes, even as he moves his tail, swinging it sideways to let the basket slide right onto the counter next to them. There. Not that anyone'd think about stealing his things. Except Ker. "But yes, you haven't told me. What were you doing up till the point I caught up with you, dear?" Snowbell reference recieves a sa slight breeze, threatening to knock her faceforward into their sundae.

Gleefully watched the leopard fluff up as she nibbled on the cherry, "Among other things, you know..it's awfully becoming of you, if not dignified, I'm ure the ladies would /love/ to see you like this.." Watching him stroking down the fur she smiled innocently as she heard the waitress giggling from behind the counter. "See..?" Twitching her tail back and forth as she dipped the cherry into the topping once more before finishing it off, eyes flickering to Tenki as she smirked, "Ah.. that's an awfully long statement from one with no comments.." Peering over the edge of the bowl as she scooped up a glob of icecream and messy topping to go along she managed to get it all over her mouth as well as inside before replying. "Well.. walls are hollow you know..." Leaving the comment as a semithreat she licked some of the stickly mess off her face and flicked her ears happily. "Well.. I was about, doing things..looking for stuff." She wasn't budging on giving him answers today..for many a reasons.

( Tenki gives a rather plaintive look, which, much to his chagrin should anyone tell him, looks absolutely adorable on the snow leopard. Not quite those rakishly handsome younger men, there's an old-world appeal to the fur, a gentlemanly innocence of sorts. "She's giggling at you, Ker. You're the one with ice-cream all over your face." Under his fur, he flushes, reddening slightly at the attention he knows he's getting. "Besides .. " Voice grows broken, just a little. ".. no one can replace .. her. You know that." Not a date, not a woman, not even a look at another female since the death of his beloved so many many years ago. "..." A taloned toe is raised at her. "Don't you start." The semithreat is acknowledged with a flattening of ears against his scalp, a slight whine of sorts growing. "Job-related ... or not?" This is his semithreat, as he pokes her belly very carefully with said talon. Hmph. Ice-cream is consumed further. And he'd make a wary grab for the cherry.  )

Staring back at Tenki she smirked at the change of looks on the leopards face, taking the moment to tease him , "You know you're cute when you do that..." Acting as though she said nothing she peeks at the waitress for a second and licks the icecream off her face, looking back to Tenki she notices the blushing and smiles. "Enjoy the icecream while it lasts Tenki, you'll never know when it's on your face." Silly little threats she always seemed to make, though what are friends for. Noticing the change in tone and seriousness she silently folds her ears behind her head, thinking of all he'd been through. "And no one is looking to Tenki, no one can replace the comfort and love that you feel inside.. it will always belong to her first and foremost.." Peering at her friend from over the bowl as hi mood changed ever so slightly to growl at her she smiled a small smile. "Anything for a friend.." As she's poked with the talon a small paw swats at it, leaving a smudge of icecream across him fur and claw. "What would it matter which it was.. ?" No matter what threats, pokes and pryings he made that mouse wasn't budging.

"Mmph." Tenki's ears flatten slightly against his scalp. "She's young enough to be my daughter." And that's not a real claim. Tenki is of the opinion that most people are young enough to be his children. One of those habitual father-figures, he can a tad ridiculous in that sense. "Bah. You're too small to throw a hard enough ball of cream." We are not going back on the food fights they had as youngsters. But then the acknowledgement of his words come, and he'd smile, just a little, in remembrance. "I miss her." Tenki'd murmur, sorrow clouding brown eyes for a minute before it lifts, the grief pushed back and locked away. Among all the people here, Ker alone'd probably know how lonely he's been without her. Ah. Such is life. A smirk grows, as he lifts paw to mouth, licking the icecream off before he devours the cherry. One more left -- this is eyed for now. "Well." Quick snap-flick of the wrist, and he'd catch her by the tail. Tenki'd let her dangle there *just* for a moment before she gets litereally ddropped into the ice-cream. *ting!* A hole had been scooped into the milky mess sometime back, and this is where she goes. Bwah. Now Tenki's trying to spoon the ice-cream over her head. They're as bad as children when alone. 

"Anyone is young enough to be your daughter Snowbell.. face it, you're ooooooold." Sadly there really was no old for these two, just eternity spend serving the powers and keeping peace, prevailing over evil, the kicks, the list, the whole darn thing. Pouting at the point of her never being able to throw cream hard enough she smirked, "Blah, you're just too big for your age..."  Smiling too at all the memories left behind she licked her palm clean and patted Tenki's paw, "And she misses you too I do believe.." Though she didn't possess the ability to speak to those passed on the comfort in words was always a blessing, though oif the spirits could talk she knew well enough that cat did miss him. As the feline tries to drowned his sorrows in the guilt of the cream she yelped and let out a squeak as he snatched her up by the tail, briefly wavering over the bowl as she saw him snatch the cherry, "Hey! Tenki! Don't you-! Hey! I saw that!" As she landed with a splat in the bowl she glared up at him before noting the icecream that came down ontop her. "I am not on the menu SNOWBELL!" 

"And so are you, Fluffball. Now, before I forget, whose that mouse whose spent much of her life on m'head and not searching for a rodent male, hmmmmmmmmmmm?" Thoughts on his wife are ignored for now, brushed aside to allow for happier moments. Grieving is for the night, when he is alone, when he remembers her most lucidly. An eternity, yes, spent serving the powers and all that -- how cruel to keep him away from the one he loves. Tenki wouldn't even have an afterlife to look forward to. But. Who knows? Maybe she'd be reincarnated in the future. "You're always saying that." Cackle. Did he? Yes, he did. It's a rather strange soung, not unlike a witch with a rather bad cough. Tenki does not do evil too well. Now, have you ever heard about being buried in the sand? Now she's going to get buried in the ice-cream. More ice-cream is lathered over here rather libereally, the leopard snickering with increasing insanity. This is much too fun. And that cherry? Oh yes, that last cherry, he's *finally* going to getgoing to get it. Talon sneaks out, spearing the cherry, even as he swivels to run, tossing a rather belated. "Put it on my tab!" at the waitress while he attempts to make good his escape.

"Ahh.. Plah.. I an not feeling it if it's sinking in.. And what's wrong with that, there's not a mouse out there that will ever catch me..." Smirking at the thought she felt a sigh give way inside, she could'nt help it, at times she was lonely, often enough that's when she made her late night visits to Tenki's, not speaking to him, just.. checking up on him, seeing how /he/ was doing...She knew he missed his mate greatly, his soul mate, for there would never be another, she knew him too well. "Yes, I suppose I am.." Sitting in the pit of icecream she tried to yell at him but her response was blown to bits by the layer upon layer of icecream that coated the poor mouse. "Tenk-..do-uggg.." Seeping in the bottom of the bowl as she heard the muffled words yelled to the waitress as her best friend left her laughing gayly. Climbing out of the bowl as the waitress laughed in spite of herself and cleaned the mess up Ker screamed from atop the counter before fleeing too. "Tenki you get back here now..! Just you wait til you fall asleep tonight! Oooooh!" Scurrying over the floor she streaked out the door, tiny sparks lit her fur and causing the icecream to crackle and harden in her fur, not the best way to respond she'd one day realize.

"It is your own fault, my dear." He chirps from the vicinity of the doorway, a lanky silhouette jauntily tilted against the frame. "If you'd actually not go on and on about speeches and all that, there'd be a mouse out there who won't run from you." Snicker. And truth be said, he appreciated the visits. Closer to Ker than anyone in the entire kingdom, he is. Perhaps, even his children, if he thought about it. With her, he had little to no masks. He was just that nerveous kitten she met so many many years ago when he was afraid to even touch a person, not knowing whether he'd drain the life out of them with even the slightest caress. As Ker makes her dash for the massive snow leopard, he'd jerk aside, racing free and right into the crowd, form shifting into a decidedly smaller one, wolven-grey yet still graced with the feathered pinions, still that pure white that makes his unfortunate feathers a target of grabby little mice. "I'm not getting back there!" Faster in this shape, he is, the now lupine TenkTenki'd pause at a clear spot, allowing the mouse to follow. Hop-skip-right up. He'd turn and make a break for the fountain, jumping lightly onto the edge. "And you know it! Consider it -- .. ooh .. cherry." *chomp*. Hah! He finally got his cherry! Fear these two! Tail-swish. 

Glaring at her dearest friend she flicked her tail behind her and hrmfed, "Well I'm doing a good job at keeping them at bay..." Pinning her ears back she smiles slyly. "Well one day they'll stop running, when I find that one I'll make sure to move into your house and inhabbit the place with little pyros.." Not likely that would happen, but it was a nice threat to apply at times. An evil little grin spread across her face as she raced after him, though he was fasted she was small and could get through the crowd easily. "Yes you will! OR I'm coming after you!" Skidding to as stop as he perched at the edge of the fountian she pouted as he ate the cherry, the first, and last he'd get. "Ah Blah to you ol' coot!" Sending a nice little spark to light up his now bushy tail she danced around the fountain gleefully laughing at the poor friend of hers.

"Gyrrrfk." Now that draws him up short. A rather exasperated little whine, familar to lupines, at the thought of little pyros running around. At the thought of having to share what little cherries he *does* get with them. Dear god. They better not all be mirror images of their mother. And mice breed in large quantities. Pause. Dear god indeed. But the little spark on the tail, ignored in his daze at the thought of his best friend with children, abruptly expands into a minor conflagration. "What the -- " He turns, not fast enough to summon a centralized little rain shower, and promptly, lacking the complete balance of his feline form, falls in. *SPLASH* ... Splashing and squealing ensues, while the snow leopard transforms back to his regular self. Dripping wet. *dripdripdripdripdripdrip* Blink. Winds come, stir, twist around, and thanks to irony, he'd begin to floof. Every last part of him. *fluffflooffleef* ... looking rather liker a persian cat, wing-feathers sticking out in all the wrong direction, aas furry and rounded as any sane person's nightmare, the now repentant General of the Syrullian Army will traipse out, dry but fluffy. "We're even. Now. Let's get home to get you cleaned ... and me combed out." Grumblegrumble. Ker's picked up by the tail and twirled onto his head and off he'd go, head lowered to the ground, quite red behind the fur, while everyone points at the kewt looking leopard. Poor guy. 

Squealing rather proudly of what she had done she could'nt help but laugh at he lupine form falter and fall into the water. Grinning rather insanely she couldn't control the laughter as he morphed back to his normal shape. Tail twitching softly as she tilted her head up and smiled smugly, quite happy with the results of the event. Barely feeling the winds blowing against her she giggled as Tenki was fluffed and soon doubled in side, quite an amusing sight for anyone to witness. Squeaking again at her upsidedown pick-up and quick twist onto his head she pranced around on the fluffy downy cat and giggled again. "Yes, I do believe we're finally even, just don't ever try and eat my cherries again..." As the paraded through the streets, one very fluffy cat and one sappy looking mouse she patted Tenki on the head and laughed slightly, "It's all for the dignity Tenki.. the dignity.."