[attr="id","moontop"]

[attr="id","moonpost"]



Despite being a long term resident of Sootopolis, it wasn’t often that Fern found himself at the casino. He’d claim he was much too busy to waste his time there, but the truth of the matter was that if he was tempted with the chance to gamble…he’d be liable to lose just about all of his earnings. Tonight, however, was a perfunctory matter. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d had to monitor the floor, but this was the first time he’d been graced with the company of one, Yumi Hasegawa to uphold the task.[break][break]



He was fairly certain that he remembered a fleeting glance of Yumi at the summit meeting, but he had been there to observe rather than socialize…for once in his life. Afterward, he hadn’t spent any time really mingling with others among his rank. His personal agenda had him making a quick beeline to find jayden cross afterward.[break][break]



Not that he really needed a prior interaction to behave amicably. Even if only a few minutes in her presence informed him well enough that she was an extravagant, self-important sort of person. To each their own, he supposed. And perhaps his own inflated sense of self left him no room to talk. Between the two of them, it was bound to be awfully crowded in the casino that night.[break][break]



Blue eyes drifted sideways over to Yumi, tilting his head against the fuzzy, violet body of the purrloin in his company tonight where she perched on his shoulder. “Hm, I’m not one to turn down a drink. It’ll make lackey duty much more fun, I’m sure.” Pearl mewed her agreement, as if her opinion was also important.[break][break]



His regard for reprimand was also low at the moment. And at least she didn't care to be a boring stickler. Work should be enjoyable, no? Love what you do, and all that. Etc. etc.

[attr="class","moonbottom"]

[attr="class","yumititle"]

[attr="class","yumibody"]

[attr="class","yumicredit"]

[attr="id","moontop"]

[attr="id","moonpost"]



“Then lead the way.” Well, she certainly seemed to have a sense of herself and how she should be perceived. Which was something that Fern certainly didn’t find fault with. He was much the same, after all. Though he wasn’t exactly teeming with a sense of ornate luxury. He simply held the same inflated sense of self. So, to say it simply: two could play at that game.[break][break]

His own stride was confident and even. He wasn’t about to scramble behind her like a bumbling lackey who had no idea what he was doing. That was something Fern had always found unacceptable. The key to most things was to present a sense of awareness and understanding. Whether you knew what was going on or not– Fake it until you make it.[break][break]

A brow rose curiously at the blunt instruction. Bossy was the word that came to mind, though he didn’t remark upon it. Instead, he did exactly as she said–turning toward the man to order a Manhattan.[break][break]

Sliding onto the stool beside her, his feet propped lazily, the moderately tall heels of his boots hooking on the rungs. Pearl continued to purr softly in his ear, clearly content to not be put to work just yet. Meanwhile his fingers drummed on the bar top as he waited on his drink.[break][break]

“How long d’ya think it’ll take before someone gets a big head, and tries to mess with something?” Idle chatter, but then again, they didn’t have anything to do yet. So why wouldn’t he fill the space with chatter?

[attr="class","moonbottom"]

[attr="class","yumititle"]

[attr="class","yumibody"]

[attr="class","yumicredit"]

[attr="id","moontop"]

[attr="id","moonpost"]
“You’re not wrong about that,” they replied, glancing down the line of the bar as they watched the bartender prepare their drink. Soon enough, Fern’s attention drifted back to Yumi, intent on broadening their conversation. Admittedly, there’s a bit of curiosity for why she’s here among Rocket.[break][break]

He’d only just managed to find the cool glass of his drink in his hand when the raucous display broke out in front of them. “But I just got this..” he more or less whined before stubbornly taking at least one swig of the Manhattan.[break][break]

“Unfortunately, we shall,” he answered, words tinged with a sigh as he slipped off of his stool and looked back at his own drink forlornly. He would have to return to finish it. And maybe get another for the trouble.[break][break]

“Gentlemen!” Their hands clapped together as they approached the table where the scuffle had broken out, voice high with false hospitality. “What seems to be the issue?”[break][break]

On his shoulder, he could feel the subtle sink of Pearl’s claws as they flexed and unflexed against the fabric of his jacket. Subtly HONING HER CLAWS should the gamblers refuse to settle down.[break][break]

Fern cast a sidelong glance toward Yumi, “Surely my colleague and I can ensure things come to a swift resolution.”

[attr="class","moonbottom"]

[attr="class","yumititle"]

[attr="class","yumibody"]

[attr="class","yumicredit"]

[attr="id","moontop"]

[attr="id","moonpost"]

Fern’s eyebrows climbed at the snappish retorts that flowed out of Yumi. Though, he couldn’t claim to be the sort of person who wanted to smooth it over, either. Rather, he had to lift a hand over his mouth to stifle a snicker that wanted to fall free. Harsh. But the looks on their faces were pretty places. “There’s no need for finger pointing,” he huffed, reaching out to gently push the man’s hand down.[break][break]

“My staff?” Fern’s head tilts, and Yumi’s laugh only puts sound to the amusement they feel as a smirk tugs at their mouth. “A bit bold of you to assume that she’s my inferior in rank.”[break][break]

Maybe he did have an edge of seniority, but Fern didn’t really consider it at the moment. They’ve both been assigned to the task, so they’re currently on equal footing as far as he was concerned.[break][break]

“Whaddaya say to that, Yumi?” he asked his companion as the man sputtered and tried to find more slurry words to combat the unexpected turn of Fern not agreeing with him. His head angled in her direction, though his gaze remained leveled on the drunken patron. “Why do you think our friend here assumed? Do I cut the ideal image of a proprietor?” His hand fluttered against his chest, preening.[break][break]

He wasn’t really giving the man much chance to justify himself, though that was sort of the point. “More importantly, though, what do you want to do about it to make sure he doesn’t make the mistake again?”

[attr="class","moonbottom"]

[attr="class","yumititle"]

[attr="class","yumibody"]

[attr="class","yumicredit"]

[attr="id","moontop"]

[attr="id","moonpost"]

Yumi was vicious, that much was obvious. Fern almost felt a little bad inviting her to continue, but any guilt was quelled by her following remarks. That time he couldn’t fully stifle the amused snicker that followed—the tone of the sound and lift of his brows wordlessly saying oh shit.[break][break]

His glance shifted toward the retreating party, noting their faces and outfits. Just in case they felt rowdy again later.[break][break]

“I’m sorry you feel that way, ma’am,” he trilled in a saccharine tone, as if suddenly turning toward accommodation at the potential of future monetary loss. But his smile was a bit too sharp and trite for it to be genuine. “Perhaps don’t invite the opportunity next time by stirring trouble and then failing to have any semblance of decorum? Sound good?”[break][break]

Fern sighed forlornly, head tipping back for a short moment. “Oh no, whatever shall we do without this crucial patronage…” he lamented sarcastically as the woman flounced away with bumbling husband in tow. A haughty look back over her shoulder was met with a wink and finger waggle from Fern.[break][break]

He wasn’t really all too worried. The dealer murmured reassurances and Fern nodded along, but there would always be someone else to fill an empty seat in a place like this one.[break][break]

Turning back toward Yumi, he laughed. “Misogynistic little spoink. That was good.” At least they ultimately hadn’t had to use force in order to settle the dispute.
[break][break]

Jz2rS58b

[attr="class","moonbottom"]