Submission (#2872) Approved

Autumn scents the air and paints the trees. Falling leaves decorate the ground in a sea of golden hues, burning oranges, and vivid reds. Perhaps Duke would be more impressed and more appreciative of such scenery had he been anywhere else but Bellmoril. His head rests against the frame of the windowsill, the glass slightly ajar to welcome in the aroma and sounds of the outside. He watches a variety of creatures move about their day, golden eyes glinting as he observes some of the more novel characters outside his temporary home. He's been trailing a pair of kittoms with thinly veiled curiosity. One of them, the smaller of the two, seems to be quite eager about something, as her cream-colored paws point enthusiastically at the different store-fronts that decorate the cobblestone street. Their partner seems less-than-enthused to be there, but still allows to be carried hither and yon, as though they were no different than the leaves fluttering from the trees above them. Duke wonders how small the world must be for them; for the pair he's so intently watching, to seemingly have not a care about the hustle and bustle surrounding them. He draws his tongue lazily over one of his canines, pressing down on the sharper-than-normal fang, internally pleased at the slight sting that still lingers after. The door behind him slams open, his solitary time ruined by the appearance of his current ire, and Duke draws his focus away from the outside world. He doesn't bother masking his annoyance towards his visitor. 

"There you are!!~"

A kittom bounces in, all smiles and sparkles, and Duke can already feel his patience waning thin. "Pocco was wondering where you had run off to~ but you were still right here!!" The kittom, Pocco, prances forward and plops herself on the bed by the window, grinning up at her companion with unabashed confidence. Pocco hasn't known Duke for very long, but she's so happy to have met him!! The older kittom is wise and VERY smart. And when she is with him, Pocco never has any worries about where they will sleep for the night or eat for a snack!! He's been very helpful during their travels, Pocco definitely knows she would have been whisked off away in Faerindell had it not been for Duke's firm hand clasped tightly to her own. She takes the few moments to admire him like this, the flecks of gold splashed in the corners of his eyes catch the light from outside in such an exquisite manner. One of his knees is drawn up towards his chest and the hand resting off of it shows slender fingers tipped with carefully crafted claws. He's still dressed in his traveling clothes from the other day, but Pocco knows that his markings still leave trails of starlight as he moves. She knows this for a fact. After-all, she leaves trails of her own whenever she bounces around. 

"What did you need, Pocco?" Her grin grows and if her eyes could be sparkling right now, they would. Duke frowns, whiskers turning down with the expression. 'Cute ~...' Pocco allows herself to have a greedy thought every once in awhile. She bounces up from her spot from the bed and clasps one of Duke's hand between the two of her own. His eyebrows furrow in the sudden display of physical affection from his...companion. His expression only causes her to smile more. "I heard there's some sort of festivity~ won't you please come with me to check things out?" Duke stares. Pocco's eyes begin to glisten, wet with unshed tears. He looks away with a scoff. 

"Fine. But we're not staying longer than an hour." Pocco lets out a cry of joy at his agreeance and launches herself at the blue kittom. Her arms wrap around his waist and she buries her face into the rough fabric that's been tailored as a cloak. Yes, Pocco thinks to herself as one of Duke's clawed hands runs through the fluff of her hair, Pocco is very, very lucky.

 It takes a bit of effort, but soon Pocco is convinced by Duke to wait outside. Of course it takes a couple of promises of candies and snacks as well, which Duke is certain he will come to regret later. But he's rewarded with silence once his energetic companion dashes from his room and Duke allows himself a sigh. Then, he's on the move. He removes the cloak first, carefully folding the article of clothing as small as possible before depositing it within the nightstand. A fitted tunic and pants are all that remain on his person. He's been observing the occupants of this town for the last thirty minutes or so and judging from their own appearances, casual seems best for just strolling through the streets. Duke allows his mind to travel back to the couple he had watched earlier and pauses in his upkeep to muse if he and Pocco will run into them once they head outside. They certainly had their similarities. 

Pocco is unable to sit still by the time Duke exits his room and makes his way to the front of the inn they've been staying at. She lets out a little whine, saying that he simply took much longer than he had originally stated. But her cries are silenced when he offers out a hand, which she eagerly accepts. And then they're off, Pocco dragging Duke along all the while. He doesn't pay attention to the white and pastel-decorated kittom that he's come to known, instead he pays attention to the scenery as he passes it by. Its a lot more...overwhelming once he's actually outside and with dusk slowly encroaching upon the horizon. Large trees tower over the rooves of houses and business alike, contrasted by the bright foliage that decorates the branches. His favorite, however, aren't the largest. But they are some of the brightest. White bark streaked with dark grey...yellow leaves that seem to glow as though sunlight had been given a corporeal form, he likes those trees the most. Pocco brings his focus back to the present with frantic tugs on his occupied arm. The sudden action nearly causes him to trip upon one of the loosened cobblestones, but he quickly rights himself. The apologetic smile that Pocco gives him is enough to ebb away at some of the annoyance that must be painted on his face. A makeshift stall decorated with plain white masks is where Pocco has led him to. The shop owner greets him with a practiced smile and launches right into his speech. 

"These 'er are some of the finest clay masks in Bellmoril. Made from mud found right near th'very own Elder tree I say! Ya won't be able to get anything quite like this elsewhere." Duke isn't quite so impressed, but his companion seems absolutely enthralled at the idea of owning one. She tugs more at the sleeve of Duke's tunic and he bites back a sigh. Against his better judgement he's asking for prices. The shop keep grins. "These'll run ya about 2 elecite coins. But ya gotta have 'em decorated! Feyhallow rules y'know? Don't want no witch or spirit comin' for ya thinkin' yer one of their own. Cheapest I can give ya for the set would be...about 15 coins I reckon." At the mention of such a steep price, even Pocco grows silent. Duke bites back a grimace and gives a reassuring squeeze to her hand. There's no way they can afford that much and be able to live comfortably. He knows this, Pocco knows this...but he can't help but feel an uncomfortable weight settle in his stomach at how sullen his friend companion has become. He shakes his head at the price but thanks the gentleman for his time. The man smiles and waves them off, grin never wavering, but not before he points out a couple of good stalls to visit along the way. Duke gives an appreciative smile at this, but even he knows that no amount of baked good or sweet snack will bring back Pocco's sparkle. He turns his gaze back up to the trees and the falling leaves that float steadily to the ground; he hasn't made it this far in life by not picking up a thing or two along the way. 

Once they've made it back to the inn and Pocco retires herself (Duke can't help but notice that her lop ears seem a little more down than usual) Duke makes his way back to the stall that started this whole situation to begin with. The man is sweeping away leaves that have begun to gather around the structure and Duke is almost annoyed that he is still smiling. Finally, he notices the blue kittom, and lets out a hearty laugh. "Didcha check out th'places I told ya about? Pretty nifty, eh?" He grins, leaning forward on his broom, and watches with a seasoned eye as Duke picks up one of the plain masks that was still left out. "No paints? Jus' th'mask?" Duke places two shiny coins on the surface of the wooden stall and takes the mask into his possession once the owner has verified the currency. When Duke meets the man's gaze this time he lets out a smile of his own, sharp canines jutting out into his lips.

"Won't need them at all. Plenty of colors around here anyways."

Once he's returned to his room, mask tucked carefully under his arm, Duke sets to work. He's picked up a thing or two in his time traveling...and making pigments from leaves is one of the things he caught on quickly to. Yellows...oranges...reds...all colors of warmth, colors that were much more fitting to Pocco than to him. So he decorates the mask with them. A streak of red to accent the eyes, a yellow diamond on one of the cheeks, orange stars to freckle the other side. Its...messy and chaotic by the time he is finished, which means its practically perfect for someone like Pocco. The tips of his paws are dyed brown from all of the different colors that stained him during his work and Duke knows he's going to be annoyed trying to scrub it out of his fine, blue fur by the time morning rolls around. He rolls his eyes at the thought. 

Duke thinks Pocco must have some real luck going on to have been able to meet someone like him.