Gangsta

Unsure of if he wanted to actually meet the guests, Kaz also figured he didn’t have much in the way of choice. Of course he could say no, but the idea of disappointing Ix left him... feeling unhappy if that was the case. They weren’t a bad characters, just very set in their ways of getting what they wanted. Nodding, Kaz got up, gently picking up Nyx to bring along with him as he assumed she had to be hungry from hatching and then playing.

“We should bring the food the lacky brought up to put away for now, or have someone put it away before it goes bad. I feel like Kiti will follow us downstairs as we go so no use leaving it for her.” An assumption that appeared to be right, as the fluffy feline started stretching out, blinking at Kaz with her green eyes as she gave a meow as if asking where were they going.

Meowing back, Kaz stroked Nyx to quiet her as he motioned for Ix to lead, nervous as he kept rubbing on his fluffy baby. Out of habit going to check his watch, he remembered it wasn’t a very useful watch. Sighing, he instead wondered what time it was, there was light somewhere but that didn’t tell him much.

---

“Thank you, we’ll wait here.” Lochan told the suited male who had let the married pair in.

Lochan’s more plain suit was replaced now with a finely adorn one, his fingered hands covered in a fine and shimmer black material that still allowed him to move his fingers about. His bare feet suited for inside now had on shoes suited for his strange limbs, and his once ruffled fur was brushed out nicely.

Star was of course looking just as lovely, her poofier dress was more slim but just as nice. Lochan couldn’t say he knew why his pretty darling changed so much as he found her nice in anything or nothing, but she loved the compliments and that made him happy so he supposed it didn’t matter either.

Tilting his head at Kaz, it had clearly been far too long since he let anyone stay in his room. The confused look at their perfectly normal concern said that much. "Oh! Don't worry about it darling, it'll be taken care of by the time we return." A very vague response, but it wasn't too important a detail to the mob boss. There were plenty of other hungry alley cats and wild monsters that managed to squeeze themselves into his territory. As long as there were no cases of mysteriously disappearing hands, he had someone that would retrieve the food to let it disappear outside.

Drik was a bottomless void himself, but as a dark dragon he didn't always feel the need to consume. His scarf like appearance wiggled slightly as the white part of his face came loose to look around. Apparently the brief cat nap was all he needed for a bit of energy. "Where're we going?" He questioned the both of them technically. "The dining hall," patting the flat head surface, Ix wasn't one to dally, "I hope you don't mind meat by the way darling, I know our guest's wife is particularly fond of venison."

Tilting his still slightly damp head of hair at Ix, part of himself wanted to ask just where the food would vanish off to if they left it alone in the room. He however wasn't sure he’d like the answer if he did ask. He didn’t like the insafe sleeping zones all that often, and as he was sleeping in the room he rolled the idea around in his head for a moment. In the end deciding to leave it for now and just nodded as the ginger who looked so confused by his concern.

“Alright, I’ll take your word on that.” He looked around, wondering what things could be lurking in the shadows.

Meowing tiredly at Kaz, he looked down and blinked at the dragon. Asking what was wrong and cooing so sweetly at the dam while Kiti pawed behind them. Ix leading the way as Kaz closed the door behind himself. Peeking in one last time before letting Nyx crawl onto his shoulders. Her six small limbs clinging to the jacket and shirt as she rubbed her full body against the riders. All too happy after her short nap and play time. Kaz was of course nervous to meet these ‘guests’, but he had no time to linger. Down they went, as his nerves wondered what awaited them.

“I feel like there could be a joke in there, but i’m not sure what.” He commented, but left it alone as he stayed behind Ix, squinting at the other suited men they passed.

---

‘Thank you madam.” Lochan bowed to one of the maids that had them led to the dining hall and seated to await Ixavier.

He had wanted to wait in the hall so he could greet the ginger when he came down but after a gentle suggestion from his wife that they should sit and wait he couldn’t tell her no. Her sweet smokey eyes were always so hard to deny. It was always something his own workers teased him about, being soft to the one person he’d of course be soft to. Lacing his hands with Star’s, he let his multiple eyes turn to look at the door. Wondering how long would Ix be ‘distracted’ with his person. Just like the old days really, only a year but it felt so much more.

Behind them, their shadows that were usually attached were off and exploring, poking at new vases and occasionally startling the workers who laughed it off in the end. Good sports and more than likely used to it from the dark rider with dragons of his own.

Taking a moment to ask the guards in front of the dining room doors if their guests were inside, Ix smiled at the confirmation. Always having a love for the dramatic side of life, he threw open the doors in a grand entrance. "Lochaaan! My favorite fingered friend, it's good to see you again." Drik was certainly awake with the entrance, starting up some excited noodle wiggles as he fed off of his rider's burst of energy.

The darkening shadows were what caught the dark dragon's eye first. There were ghosts he could see inching around the ground as well, but that's not what these were. He had ventured away from long enough though and didn't go to investigate yet. He could wait a little longer as he rubbed against the orange head of hair.

Jumping at the sudden noise, Astarte was easily startled, but as she turned to look towards the culprit a smile came to her face. Giving Lochan's hand a small squeeze, she enjoyed getting to visit the theatrical ginger. His companion was quite the mellow looking one this time though, used to the devious flirtatious ones Ixavier often had at his side before. "Hello, it's nice to see you," bowing her head politely, she was still a nervous girl even with her pretty new appearance and dress, keeping hold of her husband's supportive hand.

It took no time for the group to make it down the stairs greeted along the way by other servants that were cleaning rooms or other more nicely dressed males who were left staring at Kaz with curious eyes. Glance she only squinted at in return as he wondered just what were they thinking to themselves. Once downstairs it was a little more excitable, a few whispers of their guests there as maids passed but they didn’t stay long enough for Kaz to hear much.

“I don’t know if you should--” Kaz started to say as Ix got that devious grin on his face. He may have not been with Ix for long but he felt like he knew what that meant, those little plans formed in his mind and he was about to put them through.

It was too late though, the doors suddenly tossed open and quite a few people jumped at the action from the other male. Kaz could only sigh at Ixavier, holding Nyx now as she had nearly jumped and flung herself off his shoulders to the ground below. She grumbled after, though Kaz wasn’t sure what she was saying but he could feel her annoyed feelings until he stroked her back and told her it was fiiiiine. Ix was just being eccentric was all. Giving a more calm wave as the multiple sets of eyes were on them as they entered, the pair did seem nice but oh was the one... big. Yet, he didn’t mind and if anything knew exactly who this was. It left him feeling exciting, like meeting an old friend you hadn’t seen in so long.

“Lochan! Astarte!”

Surprised, Lochan blinked at the sudden call of his name that came from the one he didn’t expect it from. It wasn’t even full of a dislike, if anything the strange brunette wounded excited. Lochan was not a rude person though, so he didn’t want to just come out and say he didn’t know Kaz. He didn’t have many options he’d forget so frivolously though, so where could this more calm male recognize them from?

Blinking each of his eyes from his face down to his neck, he wiggled his fingers at him all the same in the end. Giving him that nice hello that Ix seemed to enjoy so. For many, his strange limbs were always a sight to see but this new rider was if anything was unaffected by it and went about it as if normal.

“Hello as well,, young sir.” He started, about to continue on to ask where had they met when the doors of the kitchen were pushed open. Dinner had arrived.

Carts and trays of food were brought in, all smelling oh so lovely and delicious as the smells wafted in the air. Having a seat, Lochan wasn’t the only one that was coming up with questions though. Watching the large table become crowded, Kaz was left sitting and wondering how did he know the pair that looked so confused to hear him say their name. Food, however, was a very good distraction from that question that was left lingering like all the other ones he had. As Nyx hopped onto the table with the fluffy calico close behind, the question that was left on his mind faded off as it was time to dig in. Forgotten, but only for now.

Tilting his head slightly, Ix was mildly disappointed that it seemed Kaz already knew the pair. He didn't question it though. Lochan was someone that liked to keep his wife out of the messy part of his work, and Kaz was a rare contractor of merit. He didn't doubt they might have been bound by a contract or two prior. Still disappointing though! He wanted to show off his pretty new stray!

Drik unwrapped himself from Ix's neck when they went to sit down for food. Not wanting to eat still, the dark dragon drifted along the floor towards the investigating shadows. His own stuck to Ix, its white eye opening up and blinking every now and then in case Ix started looking for them. It liked to play as well, but prefered to make sure its rider knew where it was. Reaching the stranger shadows, Drik flapped his wings at the pair, hoping to join them in their roaming. He knew all the best places with pretty pieces in the dining room after all!

---

Once dinner was finished and her tummy full of the ironic meat she often hunted before meeting Lochan, Astarte sent Kaz a quizzical look. She wanted to ask where they might have met before now that the small talk of dinner was over, but she didn't want to seem rude to someone that had called both their names with such excited familiarity.

The hours passed as the group conversed, at first more shyly with Ix talking with the married pair as Kaz munched away. Ix wasn’t once to let Kaz just stay quietly in the corner though, dragging him into the conversation as he mentioned a fine contractor who did beautiful work that he had become smitten with. A comment that left Kaz making a face at the at times too friendly ginger, but he joined in to please him and the conversation went from there.

It was slow going, Lochan being the leading one as he was curious where Kaz would know him and his gorgeous wife from. A question that became obvious to Kaz who caught on fast, amused, but admitted he had no clue. He doubted it was anything bad though, as he didn’t exactly look at his past hits with excitement. It left only more questions but with his aching questions answered the atmosphere calmed and the conversation moved on wards to fluffier topics that brought Kaz out of his shell in the end.  

It was still worrying to Kaz when it came to his memory loss, but he remembered other things. He remembered his love for dragons, and how adorable even the strangest ones could be, which seemed to charm Lochan and Star who listened to what he could remember from dragons. The multi eyed, wandering shadow, oddly deteriorating dragons that were so sweet and perfect to Kaz.

Nyx being a fine example as she dashed across the table. Many times leaving Kaz to get up to collect her from trying to take a dive into the salad to eat the meaty bits or into the other side dishes not meant to have a pretty fluffy dragon rolling around in them. A little bit of cooing, stroking, telling her how she was so pretty tended to calm her for a short time. So gentle to the dam even if his reputation for a cold hearted contractor followed him.

Alas, dinner only lasted so long. The food that once overflowed the tables were left with only empty bowls and plates, glasses empty and a mess left to manage. A clear ending as Kaz and Ix bid their guest farewell and safe travels. While Ix and Kaz wandered back up to the bedroom, ready for some sleep to be had.