[Arrow Rinehart]

"Clean clean...Clean...!" the words murmured to no soul in common except for the fox as he made his way around his very minimal home. Though by now, it was hanging with draperies, stitched by the busy little fox. Bringing color to his otherwise dull appearing apartment/flat/home, he'd taken to making it very much his own and with a combination of his skills as a seamster and his conjuration magic, granted he was healthy? There was no limit to what he could create given a bit of time, as it was that very thing that had him considerate of his coming guest. The fox had made some fresh tea, something upcoming that he thought might be nice to have. While he had been thinking of food, the little fox was one quick to personal compromise, he'd decided that once the koopaling arrived that he'd ask him at some point over tea. Arrow was not one to mind sharing his rations, especially with such great company, and to him? Even though the two had not known each other long, he'd felt a bit of a kinship with him. The two had seen a tough scrapes, at least from his perspective so far. Though he also rated the younger one as someone who'd probably had rich experience facing some dangerous opponents: both in his world and on other missions. Arrow could feel a bit of a respect for him without having really known him well, and to change that in some part, was the very aim he had right today. 

As Arrow hustled around his home, using a wooden broom that he'd conjured to sweep up any resemblance of a small scrap or speck of dirt on his floor? It was hastily swept up and disposed of, as the fox's handy ability to generate wooden objects: small to at least a point of some moderate use as he grew used to Li. While he wasn't going to be able to construct something huge, household knick knacks were little issue for him. He'd constructed a few things that came to mind that he might be able to use: such as the wooden saucers and the two wooden mugs that were now receiving their tea first hand. "House cleaned and things in order...now I'll just wait for him now, hm...!" his words coming with a tiny excited bounce in his beanbag chair. One of four that he'd made since moving in, the other one resting around the small table in the room, it seemed to be pretty handy thus far, huh? The fox was just proud of both the invite, the fact that he felt sure he was coming, and the silly little bundle of joy being happy for the company. This was officially his second house visitor, it was going pretty well he felt overall!

[heirtothemonado]

Jr looked at the invitation that had made his way into the mailbox of Papa's castle. An invitation for lunch, hm? He hadn't heard from Arrow in a good long while, and had wondered what he'd been up to. He might as well see what he'd been doing. As the Koopa kid wandered up to Arrow's front door, he glanced round at the house. A kinda plain looking sort of place, but that's just the kind of person Arrow was, Jr thought. 

Jr knocked on the door, and greeted Arrow when it opened "Hi Arrow! It's been a while since I've seen you! How've you been?" Jr entered the house once Arrow would invite him in. "Nice place you got here...Kinda dull, but the curtains are nice."

"So what are we having?" Jr asked as he carefully sat down on the beanbag chair, Didn't want his shell to rip the fabric and spill the beans everywhere. The poor fox didn't seem to have much furniture as it is. "I'm starving." Jr sank into the beanbag chair, smiling. This was pretty comfy! Maybe he should look into getting once of these things...

[Arrow Rinehart]

As soon as the fox heard the familiar voice speak up, his ears perked up in a bright sense of excitement. Of course, he calmed himself with a soothing breath first before he verbally responded to the welcome guest of his. Instead first, taking in the visage of the Koopaling that he'd remembered from just a mission past, to his words the tod nodded to him rapidly at this. 


"Hey Jr.! Thank you for coming out this far, I know its a bit of a trek for you to come this far, so trust me when I say that I appreciate it." The fox said greeting him with a soft half bow of his body. Even if a bit formal, he was every bit as appreciative as he spoke in his words and with the quintet of his tails swaying behind him a bit excitedly, he ushered Jr. Inside and shut the door behind him. Once locked up, he'd done his part on moving to the steaming cup of tea, where he attended to draw it up onto its accompanying saucer dish and bringing it over towards Jr. to offer it to him.

"I've got some rations cooking, with some things intermixed, don't worry its not all bland or anything! In fact, I've been making sure that these at times barely palatable dishes have some nice spices and seasonings added. They have become far more tasty under my handicraft of cooking I think." the fox had been in so much focus on speaking of how he was prepping the small pot of food that was cooking now, he'd barely had a moment to recall that he had the tea in hand at first. "Oh, and would you like some tea? I have sweetened it with some honey!" mobian honey was not something in this world, but conjuration magic was a neat little  thing at times, convenient as long as one's memory was as sharp as the five tail's was.

He did have a gift for the Koopaling also, but that was going to be after he handed him the tea and went to serve lunch, first to Jr. before himself, as  it was only right to.

[heirtothemonado]

Jr looked up at Arrow as he approached him with a cup of tea. His stomach growled as Arrow described what he was making in detail. That sounded delicious! His mouth as watering as Arrow was speaking. Get a hold of yourself, Jr, or you'll slobber all over Arrow's things! The Koopa prince quickly pulled himself together, hoping to hide that loss of self control by reaching for the offered cup of tea. "That sounds delicious, Arrow! I can't wait to try it. In the meantime though, I think I will have a cup of tea. We can talk a bit while we wait for the food to be ready." Jr's stomach growled again. Patience, Jr, the food will get here when it gets here!

Jr took sip of the tea he was offered. The Mobian Honey really made the whole cup. This was tasty as well! "Mmm....that's very good." He set the mug on the small table beside him and turned to Arrow, shifting a little in his beanbag chair. "So what have you been up to since the Comet? It's been a long time since then. Have you just been sitting at home the whole time?" he asked, trying to strike up a conversation. "That sounds a little boring, if I'm honest...."

[Arrow Rinehart]

Holding out the hot brew to Jr., the fox smiled at him and gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder with his second hand. "Sweetened with some honey, I think you'll like it. It's a black tea, generally increasing one's sharpness." his extra, educational bit thrown in and while not necessary, the tod was happy to share the information regardless. While he settled down next to Jr., with his tails collecting at his right within the beanbag at his side before he sipped his own cup of tea. At least before he'd curled his tails around behind him a moment, while listening to Jr.'s proposed question. Arrow was happy to answer it, as he'd fortunately not been too stationary since the end of the Comet incident as it were.


"No, not at all actually! After I recovered I made sure that I was going to  be in the best shape I could for another battle. I've been training, getting used to my daily routine...and Li. I really do feel like its more home. I had a bit of a tough time settling in, but I'm kinda used to being alone. I'm sorry I stayed out of contact for so long, Jr. I've got a need to keep in contact with those I find my friends. I don't mean to presume too much, but...I really feel like you and I might be friends. And most certainly a comrade to boot!" while he paid attention to the food itself, he'd had to shuffle back over to take care of it proper. Though it did not stop him from looking back the way of the Koopa Prince with a smile. The food was really about done, just a little more stirring and soon it was going to be served out on a set of plates for them both.  

[heirtothemonado]

"It is very good, Arrow. Thank you" Jr replied. True to Arrow's word, Jr did feel a little more alert then he was before. Not too terribly much, but a little. Like he just had a brief burst of energy. It was nice. Turning his attention to Arrow's response, he listened to what the fox had to say.

"Wow. I wish I had the resolve for that" Jr. commented. He couldn't imagine being stuck in Papa's castle for as long as Arrow stayed at home. It'd drive him insane, to say the least. "At least you were training at the same time. I'd probably just laze around for the most part." Jr admitted. It was true that he probably wouldn't have been the most active Koopa ever, if he was stuck in the same situation as Arrow had been. His....wider frame hadn't come from nowhere, after all. "Maybe I need to hammer out a routine too..." he said, half to himself.

As Arrow went to go check on the food, Jr's stomach growled again. He didn't realize how hungry he actually was. Hopefully the food would be ready soon. He could smell it's aroma wafting though the house already, which only made him feel even hungrier. Jr tried to hide how hungry he was to Arrow, but it might not be successful if the fox was being perceptive enough.

[Arrow Rinehart]

"I'm happy you like the tea, its my favorite thing to relax to." though the at times, bouncy tod may have made that overly clear now and again. He was able to keep it to a single sentence and felt some pride over the fact. Especially since he could rave a bit about tea some days though to no one in particular.


The fox was subtly aware of his guest's growing hunger, but had done well to keep it quiet. He respected that Jr. tried to keep polite conversation and to enjoy the tea while he kept his present hunger quiet. Though the good news that followed it was something present enough, the fox was quick to gather the stew out and into one of the bowl while smiling gently  as he headed back over to his friend's side. "Thank you for your patience, Jr. Here you are, the first bowl of stew, please enjoy it."  

The words shared before the vulpine returned to gather himself a bowl full and settle down back across from Jr., bearing a friendly smile as he picked up the conversation from a moment ago. "And perhaps you and I could do things fun? Maybe just walk together and keep up? Honestly, I think I've been looking for a walking buddy for a bit, but I haven't until recently got out to actually get walking." it was a silly, but amusing thing to him that he was fine admitting to. 

[heirtothemonado]

Finally! It had taken way too long for the food to finish cooking.  Or maybe that just how Jr saw it. The tea had helped, but there was something still missing. Something that could be filled with the stew that Arrow had placed in front of him. It smelled absolutely amazing, and Jr had to restrain himself not to eat the entire bowl at once. Instead, he started eating it normally, savoring the amazing taste. "Wow, Arrow! This stew tastes incredible! You made this from plain rations?" 

Once Jr was finished with his stew, and debating on whether or not he wanted another bowl, he turned attention to what Arrow had been saying to him while he ate. "A walking buddy, huh? Well..." Jr thought on this for a moment, before coming to a decision. "I think that'd be a good idea. I've been looking to get some exercise for a while too. I'm sure you've noticed by now that I'm, ah..." Jr pauses, looking down at his rather round belly "....not in the best of shape. I'm hoping to fix that though, so a regular walk might be just what I need." Jr looks back up at Arrow and smiles at him. "If that means I can keep in contact with you, then so much the better! You're a good ally and friend to have on my side."

[Arrow Rinehart]

Smiling brightly at the compliment to him, the fox gave him a rapid nod of his head. The fact that he'd been able to turn such a ration into a tasty meal of variety did please him, it made him a bit proud to see the enjoyment of his good friend over the same thing. "Thank you kindly, Jr. This is just one of my 'by the fire' stews that I used to make back home. The ration happens to have enough of similar ingredients that spicing it and adding a little water goes a long way."

It was one of those 'thrifty' ways that he got by, being a hunter from the old forest, he'd spent a lot of time learning how to enjoy eating even dull, basic bulbs or roots that were tasty. But of course, his mind only wandered there for a moment, before he finally got it together as he took another bite of the stew. He liked how a few spices and the way it was prepared brought the taste together. While eating the food, he listened to Jr. speaking about walking, upon hearing he'd accepted his proposal as a walking buddy, he brightened considerably. As if he wasn't normally radiant enough, he couldn't help a little excitement escaping his muzzle.

"Oh yes! I'm so happy to hear that, hee!" A small bit of giddiness that he calmed with a small raise of a hand to his face and a little 'ahem'.

"Sorry about that, I got overly excited. But yes, I'd be very happy to go walking with you regularly Jr., spending time with you is exactly what I hoped to come as a bonus to the walking. Considering fitness, its nothing but a matter of time, I know we'll walk and that little issue will be gone like nothing!" choosing not to go into any depth on it, the tod focused on the positive of exactly what they'd be doing. He knew Jr. was sensitive about his weight, but it was something that he knew they'd burn right away with the calories of walking. He'd already secretly considered his plan to make some healthy goodies for them too. He knew lots of eating healthy, as it was how he had the toning and definition on his young form as it was. "This is going to be great."

[heirtothemonado]

Jr smiled as Arrow as he enjoyed his soup. He seemed excited about the prospect of a new walking buddy. "Hehehehe. It's alright, Arrow. I'm sure finding a new walking partner is cause for excitement." Jr stood up, took his dishes and walked it over to the sink to wash them off and save Arrow a bit of time. "If fact, if you're done with your meal, I think we can go take a walk now. I need to work off soup I just ate." Jr moved halfway to the door, before stopping himself and turning back to Arrow ".....Is there anything that I should know about this? I've gone on walks before, of course, but I this might be different, somehow. And where would we go, anyway? Are we just going to wander aimlessly? How long are we going to be out for?" Jr might seem like he's rambling, and asking really obvious questions, but that's just because he's getting really nervous about this. He never really went on a causal walk with anyone before.

After a few seconds of realizing how foolish he was sounding, Jr started blushing "....Sorry. I'm sure there's nothing I need to worry about. I'm looking forward to chatting with you some more while we're out. I realize that I don't know that much about you. So maybe we can talk about that? I can talk about myself if you like, too."

[Arrow Rinehart]

Sharing that enthusiasm, Arrow perked right up and found himself smiling more, only meeting that with a little laugh following it. "It is, I admit that I don't have one at the moment, not really beyond you! I think this will be one thing most fortuitous for us both."

Though the second question had Arrow looking thoughtfully on a moment as he committed himself to thought on it for just long enough to think before answering, "I am done with that, so us going to take a walk is a capital idea, let's go ahead! I'll get my cloak." he'd said such while moving to gather up his cloak, his satchel, and leaving it at that. He doubted he'd need his weapon belt or anything else for adventure, still he was glad that it crossed his mind.

While in thought he moved towards the door after Jr, pausing just long enough to answer that second question of his friend's. "Nothing in particular, I was thinking that we might walk the long way around the block and to the park, then around the park. Just a long walk, I use the path itself afterwards of finishing the circuit around the park to head back towards the center and through the park. Don't worry, we're just going to enjoy being within one another's company. It is what friends do after all."


He made sure not to come off as anything but sweet as he could manage, as he felt that this was the perfect time to really get to know someone closer to his age. As he noted well, that Jr. and he weren't too far off in age, so he was going to be glad to take the chance to see what was it like with his father? Was he happy with the way things had been? "No need to apologize, Jr. I was hoping that we could do exactly as you suggest, I don't know much about you either. And...honestly, I don't get to share much of my past, I haven't before really getting this chance now. I'd love to just let our talk go on a bit while we walk, it'll be over before we know it too, the walk I mean." he sounded hopeful that they'd do it more often, but he also wasn't going to impose his his friend, after all that just wouldn't do.