The Men In Pants [Open]

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Saizomaru made his way inside the restaurant with the little arcosian boy. Most of the customers had left the venue by this point, either because they had finished their dining experience or because they had decided to take time out from their cuisine to experience the Northern Lights. In any case, things had become a lot quieter now, though most of that could be down to no arguments ensuing. The android felt bad for the staff here though, with their shifts restricting their freedom to enjoy the spectacle outside.

Saizomaru turned to his table, but found that a certain human boy had vanished too. He didn't see him leaving the venue, or even bump into him on the way back. He wondered where he had disappeared to, even more so if he had gotten far.

"That's a good question," replied Saizomaru when the boy next to him wondered aloud. "Where exactly did he go?"

His repetition of the question was swiftly answered by Penny, the penguin making her way out with a cart to collect all of the cutlery and crockery of the empty, clearly finished tables.

Saizomaru hummed as he looked out of the nearby bay window. "And how long ago was that?" he asked as he gazed off into the distance.

The polar bear—the Chancellor—soon piped up from behind the silken napkin that he had pressed to his furred lips, wiping away whatever crumbs and fluid was left over from his complimentary bread sticks and lemon-flavoured water.

Unease began to set upon the shoulders of Saizomaru. "An hour, huh…?" He turned to the Chancellor before speaking, "Where about is the parts shop?"

The bear placed the napkin back onto the table before standing up from his chair. He made his way over to their table, looking out of the window. Saizomaru followed suit. "You see that street?" responded the ursa, pointing out towards a nearby pathway that lead away from the restaurant with a thick-furred finger. "Go down there until you find a fork in the road. Turn right until you come across the market district. It will be a small store on the left. Can't miss it—it had a large store sign out front."

He was about to turn and walk away back to his seat, but a metal hand reached out and gripped his forearm. For a moment he made a scowl before the android cocked his head to one side, gesturing for him to stay turned towards the window. "The guy by the door—don't look," said Saizomaru in hushed tones. "Who is he? I've not seen him around before… nor his clothing."

The bear never turned his head from the window, but his eyes quickly shifted a glance to the person Saizomaru was referring to before looking forward once more. "No idea. I've seen him around here for some time, often perusing the mall as well as the market district."

"How long?"

"… About a week or so."

"Any idea about his uniform? An organization, perhaps?"

"I've no answer. I've not seen that attire before. If it were some sort of rival organization then I would have taken notice. As Chancellor, it is my job to keep track of all things in the village."

"Unless it was an underground organization…"

The bear's suit expanded, visibly showing the tension in his muscles at the mere mention of a criminal syndicate. "… Do you think it might have something to do with…?"

"Going there is a good way to find out." He turned to look down at Keliel, then took his hand again. "A'ight, time to go look for your brother." The android began to make his way towards the door again.

"Hold on," the Chancellor called out, "Wouldn't the boy be safer here?"

"He'll be safest with me." With that said, the android opened the front door and made his way out—not before shooting a sideward's glance at the man by the entrance first.

Saizomaru followed the bear's instructions, making his way down the street. Snow had begun to fall slowly again, building up upon the packed snow that was already settled on the road.

"I've got a bad feeling about this…"