Flowering Nectar [Calabus]

Food. That was all that had to be promised to get a particularly moody being to perk up after a morning of chaos at the inn. Maybe Calabus felt bad for her overworked staff or maybe the owner was just feeling generous today as she had granted most of her staff a half day so they could actually spin their time with their family and friends rather than slave away behind stoves, or shuffle along to obey a customer’s whim; however, instead of actually leaving, the staff would take their usual breaks bringing back with them kids or family members not lounge around, but to put them to work too! While Calabus had at first protested against this and told them they should be relaxing rather than working, the returning staff had told her that this was their way of relaxing. And to top it off they refused extra pay or allowing her to pay for the extra hands!

The gesture was so heart-warming that Calabus could’ve snuggled all them with so much love and appreciation, but being professional she did not. Instead, she changed that joy into something she shared with everyone around. Everything from pampering guest to the cooking was on par today, making the inn run smoothly even when people came rushing in earlier that day.

It had taken a good while for the inn to finally settle into the natural and healthy hum of business and happiness. It was during this slow down that Calabus decided to let her staff take care of the inn for a bit and actually get out into the world for a change. She had planned to do her own thing, but then thinking again decided to reward Sphinx for actually playing nice for so long.

It had been like pulling teeth to get him to leave the receptionist' desk to the chef’s granddaughter, something the woman found laughable considering the other complained so much about the job; however, she when she promised to buy him whatever food he wanted, the resistance ended and he casually followed her out of the inn. But now?

Calabus’s dark colored eyes would shift to Sphinx who walked slightly ahead of her stopping here and there to check out stores or food booths within the Little Tokyo strip. She let him do what he wanted, amused how much like a kid he could be sometimes as he drifted about. It wasn’t often he was treated to such outings, so she let him enjoy it while he could.

They would move down the roads drifting about until Sphinx stopped in front of an oriental style store that seemed to be  bakery. Calabus thought the other was window shopping, but found herself stopping a few steps pass the other who had been staring at a cake in the window. As she paused, she very distinctly heard the door open. Turning, she saw Sphinx actually entering the shop.

Amused, she would turn back and follow him deciding to step off to the side and simply watch as the young man took it all in. The sights and smells were something different for him, weren’t they? Sure he was used being around food and even a noisy kitchen, but a specialty shop such as bakery with so many sweets at his disposal? No. He had yet to be introduced to such a place, but now that he was in it, she wondered if he would ever come out of the place.

She saw the way he looked around the place before eyeing the many displays of sweets and breads the shelves. Yeah, they were in trouble, but even so Calabus did not rush him as she drifted to a corner of the store to browse.

Meanwhile, Sphinx would make a beeline for the counter display, leaning over to gaze at the pastries behind the glass with almost glittering mismatched eyes. While it was true the young man's skin tone was so pale he seemed sickly that excited energy that floated off of him was largely defying that assumption as he continued to look between the tasty treats on display finally getting stuck between cheese cake and crème brulee. Looking from one to another, his smile would fade and turn into a distressed expression as he couldn’t make up his mind on which to get first.

Upset, he would turn to Calabus for help…only to find she was side tracked by something on a shelf. Not good. What was he going to –Oro?

A small figure behind the counter caught his eye causing him to turn the strange pair eyes he had back to the other. It was a kid reading some sort of magazine and wearing hood over his head. The kid appeared young enough though, so maybe he could help?

With no one else to turn to Sphinx would open his mouth to say something been shut it again as pale hands rested on the counter and his multicolor nails began to click the counter nervously as he studied the other. On one hand, he was at a loss what to say to the kid, but on the other, he wonder if it was rude to interrupt the other while he was reading. So staying quiet for the moment, he would just watch the other with an intense gaze waiting for the other to look up at him before asking his question...

This is why we don't come to bakerys...:

Calabus kneeled down, the short shelf blocking her from view as she began scanning the lower shelves of their goods. Man. No matter where she looked everything present looked delicious. Oh and look at that price! Was this for real? It looked like the woman would be distracted by the sweets on the shelf a bit longer.

Meanwhile Sphinx would remain at the counter, waiting with barely held back eagerness as his strange eyes looked at the child across from him. At first, he simply waited lightly drumming his neon green nails on the counter; however, the more he was ignored the more that eagerness melted and began to turn into something foul.... Or at least it would've turned out that way if he hadn't been distracted by observing the boy. While the hood on the kid hid some features it did not hide his face or how cute he looked reading that magazine. More amused than upset, the clicking would stop as the young man leaned slightly on the counter, his age and looks shifting slightly to make him appear to be maybe a year or so older than the other.

Why did this happen? Two reasons really. First off the kid was too into his magazine to notice this shift and secondly what is the best way to become appeal to others if not appearing to be around their age? Regardless of this, he would remain leaned against the counter his head in his hands as he observed the other.

So when the boy did decide to look up, he would find the other simply watching him with an amused smirk. The smirk only grew a bit more at the flustered display. Now wasn't this turning out to be entertaining? Even so, the young man would remain non-hostile as he remained leaned against the counter with that smirk.

"Oh. You don't need to apologize, you made up the neglect for simply being cute. You know if you really want to continue reading that magazine, you can. I can wait and perhaps by time you finish, I can make up my mind if I want the cheesecake or the crème brulee. Though that might be hard if I can't take my eyes off of you," he would say his tone casual as he gave the other a wink, his reddish color eye vanishing and reappearing with the action.

Meanwhile Calabus hearing voices, stood up and looked over at the counter; however, seeing what was happening she would smirk lightly to herself as she moved a bit closer to the low shelf to simply watch this. Heh. So Sphinx decided to play? She wondered what the kid did to get this sort of attention. Hoping this was going to be an entertaining affair, she would keep herself quiet as she watched to see what the other would do with this sort of play. She wouldn't interfere unless things got bad.

It was often a question of just how aware the creature that posed itself as a human was about the situation around him. While it was true the creature had no way of actually knowing that there were was indeed four of them in this store, he did take note after shifting his form that a strange energy coming from somewhere on the boy, but where the energy came from was unknown. Even so the energy had the creature watching the boy even more carefully, strange color eyes narrowing slightly with the seemingly pleased smile on his face as the other decided to play shy and cute.

Oho! And look! Look! He is even blushing now. How delightful! ~ <3
The demon would think to itself quiet amused at the situation despite the odd energy that surrounded the boy. Maybe something protected him or perhaps the boy was himself something different and thus why he sought to keep that hood of his on. It was hard to say, but the creature didn’t seem to mind the oddness as the smile became a Cheshire like grin.

“Yes. Though cute is the wrong word. I think adorable is more appropriate,” the other would say as the young man seemed to give the kid a look of affection. Kind of odd considering they were strangers and perhaps the strong approach would make the creature seem desperate or cocky for those in the know of about these sort of things; however, to make that assumption would be a grave error. His strong approach was designed just to see what people did when approached like this. And this kid was already playing right into his trap. Not only was the first reaction cute enough, but now he openly admitted he had never been flirted with before?

The young man would chuckle as he continued to watch the other.

“Naturally I am and who wouldn't with your looks. As for this being a first time for you, well. That doesn’t matter as I don’t see a problem with that. I can deal with a novice too,” he would say his voice smooth and as charming as it could be despite that Cheshire grin. He was getting a kick out of the other's confusion, so he wandered just how far he could get before getting into trouble. Hmm? Shall we continue to push then? Hehe. Yes. Yes. He believed he would.

If the boy thought he could be swayed by food now that he had proven himself a source of entertainment for the creature, he would be sadly mistaken. Even when being given a suggestion on the choice issue from before, the creature would continue to observe him with that smirk.

“Mmm. Sounds tasty and more so now that you say it was made by you. Would you let me feed some of it to you if I bought one?” the creature would ask watching the other carefully to see just how well a novice could play this game. Could he swim or would the approach drown him? He was eager to see.

Meanwhile Calabus would continue to simply watch for now as she shook her head lightly at the show. Geez. She really couldn’t take Sphinx anywhere without him doing something to make things rather strange for the other party. Welp as long as no hostility was being tossed around, She supposed it was okay not to stop them from chatting…

Notes: