affame_le_geant_seating_by_reservation_only fyn gula 'the tin man's heart' was a cozy, little wayside inn constructed of stone and oak beam nestled snugly in a portion of the bianca strada where the maple, oak, and locust woods were dense. the snow hid a cleverly arrayed design of flagstone walls and flower beds. window boxes once full of geraniums and flowing periwinkle vine sat empty and longing for summer. it was a respite for travelers making the journey between mountain villages and a favourite spot for romantics desiring a night of love or a weekend of sensual escape. when cayris opened the door for poj and keggi, they were met instantly by the comforting, mouth-watering aroma of cooking breakfast. woodsmoke added a sense of cordiality to the swirling, enticing mixture of warmth and delight which was welcoming to say the least, and quite a change considering the disastrous wake they left behind them at 'let us eat lettuce' farm. the large plateglass windows that were bordered by stainglass renditions of pinecones and swags allowed a friendly and cheerful amount of light to shine on the patrons, even more on a morning like this one when spring had begun to mark the intial announcements of her return with birds, warm winds, and softening snow. however, if it was supposed that a large amount of equine-pulled carts in the parking lot were indicative of a packed house on the inside, one would be correct in their assumption. "fuck." cayris whispered under his breath. "all the seats are taken." he scanned the intimate dining area, about twelve wooden tables with linen table cloths, jenny lind-backed chairs on polished pineboard floors. waitresses bringing food, taking orders, refilling coffee cups, busboys removing empty plates, forks clanging on china plates, morning conversation, music from a violin soloist set up on a corner stage with ficus trees and a persian rug. cayris stepped up to the podium where the hostess, a montlapian rabbit-girl was busy scribbling something down in a leather bound book. cayris thought she looked too much like praayli and he could not stop his memory from flashing the image of her body burning in the bonfire. "all for nothing." was the voice of condemnation in his head, but it vanished to the reverb of an echo when the hostess looked up and bid them the pleasantries of her position. "good morning. can i help you?" she looked cayris directly in the eye and seeing he was a wolf-man and wore the black leather of the 'revolution of the self' her eyebrows seemed to lift with a certain spark of recognition which was contrary to the usual looks of prejudicial judgement or observances of fear. cayris sensed their presence was almost expected. "how long is the wait for breakfast?" cayris asked. in his tone was a politeness that surprised even himself, as if even in this small gesture he could attempt to gain some vague sort of redemption for the ruthless murder of praayli. ever since the mandrill's unexpected death signifying still another failure, cayris was questioning his motives, wondering if his intentions were illusions of grandeur and not worth further effort, thinking everything was just a big, fucking mistake. was he too far to stop now? would his own followers turn on him if he decided to quit? he had killed before but they were necessary for the advancement of their cause. yet, these latest cold-blooded murders were pointless. he looked away from the rabbit-girl, embarrassed, remorseful, ashamed to be a wolf-man, wishing in the silence underneath his contrition that he could be a dog instead. "i'm sorry, but we have only one seating and it is by reservation only," she said with a cheerfulness that caught poj and keggi's attention. they had been looking into the dining area, whispering to each other about the guests at a table near the fireplace. poj was certain that the tiger in a flannel shirt and red suspenders talking to a black leopard in a burberry sweater were proina sympathizers. "i know that fucking tiger scratched my arm in the battle of the endless rains," poj hissed. but, the hostess's response grabbed him back to the present. dejected, cayris accepted it as another abortive attempt and turned away, forgetting the previous glance of acknowledgement form the rabbit-girl. he reached for poj and keggi, grabbing them by the leather at their elbows. "let's go," he mumbled. "wait," the hostess said. cayris stopped and turned around to face her. "are you the cayris foxglove party of three?" she had her finger on the handmade paper of her book and having read her utterance, gazed up at cayris for his response. "um, yes," cayris offered. he was stunned. "how could my name be written there?" he thought, but did not speak. "follow me," the hostess said, grabbing three menus. "there is someone waiting for you at a table in the back." cayris threw a wide-eyed stare of puzzled shock at poj and keggi and then followed behind the hostess. 030319 what's it to you? who go blather from