RP:An Unexpected Visit

Summary: Krice pays an unexpected visit to Happy Tails, at their new location in Enchantment, and he gives Lanara a hefty donation to help with the upkeep of the animals. He also promises to mention to an old friend that there are kittens for adoption.

Lanara is seated at the front desk, filling out some paperwork, while an elderly woman patiently waits for her to finish. A cat carrier is on the desk and an orange tabby softly meows in protest as she wants to run free and not be confined. “Okay, Miss Flanagan! You’re good to go! Congratulations on adopting your new fur baby!” Lana slips a treat into the carrier and gives Daisy a parting pet, “I love the name you picked out! Daisy is perfect! Best of luck!” She waits for the woman to collect her belongings and opens the door on their way out. “Safe travels!” Lana’s clad in blue scrubs and sneakers, with her long hair tossed up in a messy bun. She doesn’t share any resemblance to the woman that was crowned a few days prior, and the only thing ‘royal’ about her attire is the shade of the fabric. It seems that Happy Tails is incredibly understaffed today as the witch is maintaining the front desk, while also tending to her other duties. Lana slips into the nursery to check on the litter of ferrets that were born just this morning, but if anyone’s to ring the bell at the entrance, she’ll be sure to come out and greet them.

Krice stood on the other side of the door as Miss Flanagan exited, a hand outstretched to hold open the barrier. She thanked him with a smile and said, "Oh, my - so chivalrous. Thank you, young man." Krice simply dipped his head, but the elderly woman's pleasantness ensured that his expression remained mostly amenable. Once she was clear of the threshold, he stepped inside and let the door swing shut behind him. Dressed in his much more battle-ready black attire, with his white katana strapped to his back, the warrior walked up to the unmanned counter with a bag of coins in his left hand, swelling to its twisted-shut cloth-end. His gold-streaked eyes drifted in the direction of the nursery, following Lanara's scent, and she would undoubtedly catch his very specific scent once enough time had allowed it to drift her way. Curious, the warrior stood silently at the counter and waited to see how long it would take, his left arm resting over that large bag of coins, his eyes on the nursery entrance. Once Lanara eventually emerged, he'd afford her a nod and his features would soften slightly; still stoic, just a little less so with his twin flame's sister.

Lanara tends to the ferrets, rather quickly, as the three of them are sleeping soundly. She simply adds some more shredded parchment to their bedding area and watches them for a moment. She smiles as they look adorable, but she doesn’t linger too long, as her enhanced senses pick up a familiar scent. Exiting the nursery and walking the short distance to the front desk, she wonders if perhaps Talyara has come to pay her a visit, and so Lana’s eyes widen slightly in surprise when all she sees is the warrior. “Hello, Krice! What brings you here today?” There’s a hint of concern in her tone as she hopes that nothing has happened to her sister, but nevertheless, she’s glad to have company. “You are a welcome distraction. Half of the animals are here and the other half are still in Sage! My staff is divided and the volunteers are split, too. It’s a mess! It just makes more sense to have my workplace and home in Enchantment now, with everything that’s happened.” Lana smiles at Krice, and he will see that her eyes are sparkling and her cheeks are flushed with excitement. Even though she’s mildly complaining about her life being turned upside down, she loves keeping busy and facing new obstacles.

Krice clearly would not be here if something had happened to Talyara; he'd be there with -her-, or out -searching- for her. Regardless, he stood at relative ease, reflecting the fact that everything was fine on that front. As Lanara spoke, he was quiet and listened attentively, though the moment she ceased, his focus drifted to the large money-sack under his left hand, resting on the counter. A thousand gold pieces, once counted. "Wanted to bring some coin to help with everything," he said, explaining the reason for his visit. His gaze skimmed across the metal bangle on that elevated wrist before he added, "I would've brought more, but it might've become too heavy." Not for him though, clearly, because he lifted it from the counter as if it didn't weigh a thing, holding it beside him. "Where d'you want it?"

Lanara looks at the sack that’s on the front desk before her gaze trails to Krice. The gesture is so thoughtful and if she didn’t know that he had an aversion to embraces, she surely would have pulled him in for a quick hug. “Thank you, Krice. You really didn’t have to do that!” She takes the sack and bends behind the desk, as she presses a small sigil that’s on the bottom drawer. It seems that only Lanara can access the drawer, as it swings open and she deposits the coin inside. “This will definitely be put to good use.” She rises and levels her chocolate eyes with gold-flecked crimson, “Thank you. Really.” It had been expensive to transport the animals and some of the enclosures still require construction. “Would you like to take a tour? We are still out of sorts, but all of the domestic animals have made it!” Along with a few of the more docile exotic species. “Can you believe that some of the calico kittens you met a few months ago haven't been adopted? We still have a male and a female. I don’t know why they are being overlooked as they are so darn cute!”

Krice transferred possession of the money pouch to Lanara, though he was hesitant to do so given its weight. She managed fine enough, however, so his concern about any struggle she might have had was short-lived. It was reassuring also to see that she had a secure place in which to store finances. With conversation turning to the topic of some yet-to-be-adopted kittens, he leveled his gaze on the woman's face once more and mused, "Who knows. None of the previous families want another cat?"

Lanara is stronger than she looks, thanks to the lycanthropy that flows through her veins, but she’s never one to boast about her newfound strength. Compared to seasoned warriors or those skilled in combat she’s still fairly weak, but she manages the sack of coin without incident. Krice doesn’t comment on taking a tour and she doesn’t push for it because she doubts the man wants to take home another critter. Krice and Taly already have two cats, a dog, and a wyvern though not nearly as many pets as those that reside at the Lowell Estate. “I honestly don’t understand! We had a pretty big kitten season, so perhaps, because they were both a few months earlier?” She shrugs, “Either way, they have a home here until someone snatches them up! If you know anyone that wants a kitten, please send them my way!” Lana pauses as her gaze falls to the bangle on Krice’s wrist. He doesn’t strike her as the type to wear jewelry, but she cannot help but find herself drawn to stare. “That’s a nice bangle! Is it from my sister?”

Krice didn't comment on the tour offer because his mind focused on other more important things mentioned in that phrase of conversation; homeless animals and sizeable donations to the place that housed them. He nodded to accept Lanara's request that he help - even only peripherally - by sending prospective adopters her way, but she was moving onto talk of the bangle around his left wrist, now hanging at his side, and he glanced down at it briefly. "Yeah. She has a matching one," he murmured, a little guarded but otherwise fine enough to answer the question. Having made sure not to ignore her in that regard, he doubled back to the kittens. "There's an older man in Kelay who might benefit from the companionship of an animal. He lives alone, doesn't really leave his house too much. I'll let him know."

Lanara does her best to hide the knowing smirk that graces her lips when Krice says that Taly wears a matching bangle. “Tiber and I have matching tattoos. I think it’s wonderful that you both have identical bracelets.” She’s always been one to proudly show her love for her partner and it warms her heart that her sister has found a man to share that sentiment. Of course, Lana has no idea that the bangle is more than it seems, but that’s none of her business and she’s happy to shift back to the topic of kittens. She can discuss animals all day, any day, and never grow weary! “That would be great! I find that cats, especially, take well to the elderly. They are rather independent and don’t need a ton of care, but they still provide companionship.” She pauses before adding, “If he wishes to adopt both of them, I don’t mind extending the two for one deal that we had running a few months ago. I just want them to find a loving home.”

Krice was discreetly pleased to refrain from elaborating on the bangle, helped by Lanara turning that portion of their conversation onto herself and Tiber. Matching tattoos... Well, whatever the case, it seemed that both couples had a way of publicly displaying their bonds. He shook his head at the woman's latter statement, offering the 'two for one' deal. " Don't worry about it - I'll pay, if he wants them. If he's out on my way back, I'll ask him then."

Lanara cannot imagine Krice and Taly sporting matching tattoos, but then again, she didn’t think they’d wear matching jewelry! They are a more private couple, whereas Tiber and Lana tend to be very social and outspoken about their relationship. She turns her head to smile at one of the volunteers that enters the facility. It’s a girl of about thirteen, and she’s holding the leash of a tall, white dog with tight curls all over its body. The teen murmurs a soft “Hello” to the witch and warrior, before she heads to the back to return the dog and leash another for a walk around the building. Lana smiles, “I really should be getting back to work, but I’m glad that you stopped by, and thank you so much for the donation!” She double checks that the drawer is securely shut, before she continues with, “If your friend stops by, just tell him to say that he needs to see me and that he was sent by you. That way -I- can help him and not Venin.” The caretaker is thankfully up in Sage, still. She’s enough to send away most possible adopters! “Oh! And take this so Sabre!” Next to the desk there’s a large stand with plush toys for the animals, and she pulls out one resembling a bone, and hands it to Krice. “From his ‘aunt’ Lana.”

Krice's gaze drifted to the door just a moment before the child and dog walked in. His gaze lingered on the little girl's face until she greeted him, which earned her a small nod of his own before he looked thoughtfully at the curly-haired dog. At some point during the return of the teenager and Lanara's retrieval of the toy bone for Sabre, the warrior had become unsettlingly quiet, his eyes half-lidded but focus sharp on an indistinct spot on the floor.

Lanara had assumed that Krice would be on his way after she freed him from all of her endless babbling, but he remains standing in the same position and stares at the floor. Is he alright? She rests the dog toy on the desk and walks around it to see what he’s staring at, “Are you okay, Krice?” The teenager is coming back their way, this time with a tiny terrier, and she glances at them with curiosity in her eyes. Lana smiles, “Enjoy your walk, Kara!” It’s enough to send the girl outside so that she can see what the enigma is focused on.

Krice wasn't staring at anything at all. His eyes were not glazed over but their focus was on something unseen - not here, but elsewhere, on a memory of something far removed from this place and time. The door closed again and Lanara mentioned his name, which caused his lashes to twitch in responsive awareness. He flicked his gaze over to where Lanara -had- been standing in front of him. In an instant, he saw that she was not there anymore and shifted his eyes in her direction. She'd see confusion and a little sorrow amid crimson before he threw a glance at the door - belatedly acknowledging that someone had exited. There wasn't panic in the tall man's behavior, only ignorance - born of the moment in which his mind had receded from the present and became lost in a memory. Eventually, his eyes drifted to the toy on the counter and he lifted a hand to point, clearing his throat quietly. "Can I take that for Sabre? He's a chewer."

Lanara blinks as Krice seems to pull from whatever sort of trance he was in, only to ask her if he can take the toy on the counter for Sabre. She had tried to give it to him moments prior and it’s as though he didn’t hear, or perhaps his attention was elsewhere. Lana isn’t sure if she should ask if he’s okay again, because she doesn’t want to offend him. Perhaps he was merely daydreaming? “Of course. You can take as many toys as you’d like for Sabre.” She returns to her original spot behind the desk and offers the toy to Krice. He will notice the slight worry in her expression, but she refrains from pushing the matter.

Krice reached out for the toy once Lanara gave him the go-ahead to take it, his eyes dropping away from hers to study the plush item. Sabre would definitely benefit from it. "Thanks," he said, turning toward her a moment later to extend his right arm in her direction. If she was amenable, he'd lean in and wrap it around the back of her shoulders, granting her a similar one-armed hug to the contact they shared at the Coronation - albeit this one less warm, more distracted. Lanara smiles, “You’re very welcome. Feel free to stop by anytime you need something for Sabre or the kitties.” She expects Krice to turn away and exit the facility but he surprises her by extending an arm and resting it across the back of her shoulders. “I’m always here.” She reminds him that she’s always here, not precisely at the sanctuary but -here- in the sense that if he ever needs to talk or requires her help, that she’ll be happy to help. Lana returns the half-embrace and gives Krice a gentle squeeze, “Send my love to Taly. Safe travels.”

Krice's head very lightly rested alongside Lanara's for the duration of the embrace, which he ended in conclusion of her words. As he withdrew, his chin tilted low and he pivoted away from her. "Thanks, I will," he said, gesturing farewell to the woman with a twitch of that plush toy. Considerably more insular than he had been when he first entered the sanctuary, the warrior stepped out onto the street and turned in the direction of the city exit. With his sanctuary business completed, he had no reason to linger in Enchantment.