Drunk As Pie

Truth be told, Casimir didn't really have a strong opinion regarding travel one way or the other. He was used to following his partner pretty much everywhere to hunt bounties, so being away from Ble wasn't something that bothered him. What did bother him, however, was being separated from the blonde man. It wasn't that the leopard Strain was incompetent, per say, simply that he became affected by a certain anxiety and uncertainty when his 'better half' wasn't around. The other Blue Clan member had some official business to wrap up in regards to their most recent hunt. Such negotiations were often very difficult and thus not something Casimir was allowed to involve himself in. So he was left to his own devices, so long as he remained within the city limits of Lilla so his partner could find him when need be.

Casimir was dreadful at entertaining himself. He had this tendency to fret, to worry, and obsess over the well-being of his partner every time they were separated. After a long while of simply standing and lurking on the street corner outside the building that the blonde had disappeared into, he decided he had to try to be productive. If only to seem less useless when his partner reappeared. His boots clicked softly against the ground, snow crunching, as he weaved this way around the city. The many attractions of Lilla really didn't interest the Strain...His partner wouldn't be pleased if he consorted with other individuals in the way that the scantily dressed ladies in the shadier parts of town beckoned him...

Instead, he found his way to the local tavern. Such places tended to be a hotbed of information, albeit one had to sift through a lot of bullshit to get to the good stuff but...It wasn't like he was hurting for time right now. His fuzzy black ears twitched slightly after he stepped through the threshold into the building, his tail curled inwards to rest against his ankles in a submissive and non-threatening manner. Many people didn't take kindly to his type, no matter where he was in Raduga, and so he had simply made the habit of appearing as a small as a target as he could manage with his lanky build.

For some time, the Strain simply lurked in the shadows of the tavern, statue-esque, listening to multiple threads of conversation at once while watching the ebb and flow of the crowd. A particular individual stood out to him, though, a small amber-haired youth who seemed much too keen on taking advantage of his fellow patrons' drunken stupor. Now, in a place like Lilla, it wasn't as if this was the worst crime he could observe...But it was the one that caught his attention for the moment. Casimir, feeling as on edge as he was at the moment without his partner around, leapt at the chance for further distraction.

Making a slow approach, the feline Strain soon stepped up to where the young man was seated...and simply parked himself behind him, looming. Casimir wasn't trying to be intimidating, but sometimes his stature did that. "...I do not believe those are yours..." He intoned, loud enough for his target to hear him, but not so loud for others to eavesdrop over the ruckus of the tavern.

Given his upbringing and subsequent 'partnership' with his handler-of-sorts, the leopard Strain wasn't a very social individual. He did not frequent parties or partake in drunken shenanigans. Thus, the behavior displayed by the young amber-haired man before him was mildly perplexing to Casimir. He arched a thin brow and cocked his head to the side slightly, one ear swiveling forward to focus on the youth's words, whilst the other pinned backwards to keep focus on their surroundings. Being snuck up on from behind was a normal work hazard for the blue clan member, and so it never hurt to be careful.

The physical contact that came when the smaller male's head rested against his abdomen caused him to tense slightly. Touch was not something he was used to, having not had affectionate parents, or a very touchy feely partner...Most of the time when he was touched, it was to inflict some sort of punishment, or during a fight to subdue prey. All in all it tended to impart pain...Being touched in a non-harmful manner always made his psyche stutter a bit. Arching a brow ever-so-slightly, silvery gold eyes peering down at the shorter man, he inhaled slowly. "Hm," was the simple vocalization offered to the insistence that nothing was stolen, only borrowed. Slender hands outstretched, he placed his palms to either side of the small blonde, in an attempt to steady the other in the odd position he had assumed.

The poking to his chin caused his tail to twitch, and prompted further action from Casimir. Gently hefting the short blonde up, he straightened the stranger up and set the male properly on the seat...Then removed his hands from his body and sidled over to lurk beside his seat. The tip of his tail fanned to and fro very slowly, black fur tapping lightly against the ankles of his boots. "I do not think you need any more to drink...How much have you had already?" It occurred to Casimir to wonder if the other was even old enough to drink, he looked rather young...

For some time, all he found himself able to do was stare at the smaller male. As confusing as the other was turning out to be, the man's expressions were also rather...amusing. It would be rude to laugh at him though, so the leopard Strain held his tongue and schooled his face back into a neutral expression. His silver gaze remained fixated on the stranger as the short male stretched forward across the counter, his ears twitching lightly at the humming and drumming of fingers. "On the contrary," Casimir commented softly, "I think it is very relevant..." Especially considering how floppy the amber-haired drunk was being, and the fact that he couldn't seem to speak properly. Pale lips parted, he was about to ask how the man was feeling, because from his point of view, losing control of one's faculties didn't seem like a pleasant experience...But there, the drunk went on, insisting that he partake of alcohol as well. His brow furrowed slightly. "I do not drink..." Well, it was more like he didn't have permission, but...He wasn't about to acknowledge that out loud.

Of course, his commentary didn't do much to dissuade the blonde from carrying on as he was. Head cocked at a slight angle, his gaze flitted from his drunk companion of sorts to the bartender and back again. Granted, he may have been able to speak up to keep the small male's mug from being refilled, but...It wasn't as if he had any official authority in this manner. So instead he watched quietly, mulling over possibilities, before finally offering: "Carry on like this and I may have to escort you to your place of residence..."

He had intended to continue on, but the commentary regarding his tail threw him off guard. Blinking once, he stared again, bemused, at the stranger, pursing his lips slightly. "...Yes...This proves you have had too much to drink. What you see is a tail...It is part of me, not a separate animal..."

Arching a brow faintly as he continued to observe the amber-haired male, his silvery gaze drifted between the mug in front of him and the stranger. Perhaps motivated by a desire to not appear rude, Casimir reached out to curl long, slender fingers about the cup. He didn't partake of the drink, rather he simply stood there and held the glass...Feigning some sort of vague interest even though he wouldn't be tasting it. "Hm," He vocalized out of habit, to acknowledge the other man's matter-of-fact statement, though he didn't oblige. Glancing back to Starling as the male continued speaking, he pursed his lips slightly at the repeated question about his tail. Shaking his head, he released the mug to raise one hand to push a few black bangs out of his vision. "I am quite sure..."

The feline strain drifted into silence as he took in the other's apparent distaste for going home. His ears flicked slightly, brow furrowed some as he noted the blonde's body language and tone of voice. The hesitancy within the shorter man was something he could sympathize with...There were times when it was less...pleasant for him to go back to his partner, even if he had no idea what to do without the man. His pale lips curved downwards slightly in the beginnings of a frown. "You cannot stay here," The leopard strain commented gently, his tail flicking against the ankles of his boots, "Your... 'borrowing' will cause a disturbance eventually. I could...Perhaps...Give you some place to stay until you are sober..."