>"I was hoping it was something clever I might benefit from. But another expectation perishes."
>HAVE we heard of Tanizawa's before?
>Can Youkai do that?>"Guess I'll just have to lob you at them if I find any. Rather like a bottle in a barfight."
>"I do my best with what I'm given, eh?">"Hey, have you followed this route much?"
>Molotov cocktail might be a more apt analogy.>"Lookit this way, you'd be about the best bottle I can think of to do damage with."
>"Shame. I was hoping you knew some little secrets about it.">Is it a straight route to Easthaven, or might there be a potential for shortcuts?
>"You wouldn't happen to know any shortcuts?"
>"I figured it was too much to hope for. Ah well, guess I just don't get to sleep tonight."
>"Handy little trick, isn't that. Can all you witch's do that, or just the ones with the right broom?"
>"I guess so. The one I did the job for apparently takes her cat everywhere."
>"Me too. It was the most docile and passive cat I had ever seen. I don't even think it ate meat."
>"No, it was just...perpetually calm. Closest I've ever come to actually liking a cat."
>Poke her in the ribs with an elbow. Lightly, of coruse.>"Not THAT close, Mari. Just be nice if every cat I met was that nice."
>Wouldn't surprise me if that grin of hers never wavers more than once or twice a day.>"Second cat I got that close to never tried to take a bit out of me, either, now that you mention. Wonder if I don't taste as good now, or something."
>"Ehhh, maybe. Still think like a mouse, too, sometimes. Not about to let my guard down around cats just yet, thank you very much. ... 'cept maybe Sokrates, that one wasn't too bad.">"That reminds me, you ever taken a job from fairys before?"
>Shurg slightly.>"Just curious. Picked up another job from a group of fairys while I was retriving that witches' cat. Wanted a cat of their own. Well, two, actually, but I only found one for 'em before I figured it was time to hit the road. Have to finish that once I get back."
>Laugh lightly.>"No kiddin'. And don't get me started on the oni."