Journey I.
Reunited: An unrealized friendship.
"A German are you not? Ha! Kraft was it? Name's Lui! Lui Pizazo! I'm from Italy though I did move here to New York with my family during that awful time..." An elderly man who was about in his late 40's. This man was indeed Italian, and he boasted it proudly with his combed back slick hair and goatee. "But as you see my accent is thick, but my English is oh so fine. So what takes you here to my lovely restaurant ehh Lawrence?"
"Well you see, I'm quite popular with some influential figures here in New York since I stop by so very often. So I had a contact of mine come here in advice for delicious food, and perhaps the use of a silver tongue such as mine." Lawrence said with a wisecrack, bringing an amusing hum from the Italian.
"So? Is this in his best interest? Or mine?" The elderly leaned over the brown table they were sitting at near the window of the end of the restaurant as fancy BMW's and Chrysler's drove by, kicking up white smoke onto the icy ground outside as it snowed.
"Both you could say, as you can see, Winter has just started up and he had in mind of perhaps... Hmm... Well lets say it's in everyone's best interests if maybe you take an interest in hot foods such as soup and stew. Maybe even drop the price on them for good reason." Lawrence gave his advice.
"Ha Ha! You're quick to give opinion, though tell me, is this your own opinion? Or are you planting stolen seeds?" The man raised his brow.
"My own, if you must ask." Lawrence felt a bit uneasy, as this man had already suspicion in his voice.
"So, if this is truly your own, then do go on... Negotiator."
"*Clears throat* It's winter, and I've seen tons of lonesome looking people outside, looking in need of a meal, or a hot one at that. If you maybe advertised that the poor were more than welcome to a free bowl, than you could take that approach and hope that it gives your shop here some widely accepted influence, and maybe even drag in some families. And you know better than I that they'll cash out during the holidays. OR go the simple route, and just... Lower prices on all the stews, and do get word out a bit for your business." Lawrence felt his impression lasted on the man, and the owner was deep in thought he could tell.
"So If I do what you say I should do, what do you get in return Mr ?"
"Please no need of the pleasantries! Just call me Lawrence. And what do I get? Well my employer will hear the news, and I'll get a massive wage, you see, he has to pay rent for this entire district. A wealthy man who serves under the Mayor! So he found it in his best interest to see if he could at least make some good profit from a shop, so I decided to come to this wee little restaurateur here in high hopes of getting a substantial amount of profit. And if my idea does work out with this restaurant, then that's when he'll pay me. So a month's wait on this pay is worth it for sure."
"Hmm... I'll try it! You'd have to come by to see my progress now won't you?" The man stood up to shake Lawrence's hand.
"Of course Lui, that's all part of my job. But I am going to have to head out of town though for a week. I've promised to meet up with an old partner of mine out into the country from here. So you won't be seeing me until then." Lawrence shook his hand, and he made his way to the door, but he was greeted by another question.
"Now don't tell me... Would this partner of yours happen to be a woman now?" The Lui squealed as he patted hard onto Lawrence's back. "Go on buddy! You can tell me about it! I can see the fire burning in your young eyes! You're looking to feel embraced I can tell!"
"W-WHAT! How did you know! It's like you're a freaking mind reader!" Lawrence could not lie, he was going to see a friend of his: Chloe. The two of them had gone their separate ways not long ago, but already she was calling him up at his hotel, teasing him with little stories about how she would straddle him again. He was a serious man, but once he felt any lust come his way from an old friend, it would be hard to turn down.
"You seemed to be sort of day dreaming every now and then once I saw you in here. Hell If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were pretty horny even when you walked in here. She must have called you minutes before you came here no? HA HA HA!" Lui laughed his ass off, and Lawrence was starting to feel embarrassed again.
"She... She lives only 2 hours away, and sadly I am not patient enough to leave! You see that black BWM out there?! It's already packed and waiting for me! She's known me for some time and I'd imagine we were only ehh.. 'Active' for just about this past year. She's really got this little attachment issue, but She knows me better than being a love struck fool. It's just a man like me has needs too. Right Pizazo?" Lawrence winked at him, and then left the little Italian Restaurant.
"Be back soon now! You best bring back that lady of yours as well!" Lui had the last words as Lawrence quickly got into his car in the furious snow outside.
...
"I'm not that desperate about it, I mean I got in so fast because of the snow, and he was rambling a bit. STILL! He's a nice guy alright." Lawrence spoke to himself as he got onto the bridge that would lead him out of New York, but while he had the time, he turned the know of the radio and over the static, a man was speaking.
"Please be advised! All routes going into The Big Apple will be closed off as of now! Any citizens on their way out will be excused, but no one will be able to make a return until this weather dies off. But now we're gonna play that hit song by good ol Deano! You know what it is folks!"
Lawrence saw this message coming, though he did have faith that it would die down before the month was over, so he figured it best to just listen to the music, and hear how Dean Martin is telling a woman how cold outside it is... Life was good right now
...
Now coming through the fields of what used to be wheat all around him from the left and right, he finally lost signal from the city, and he decided to painfully turn the radio knob to the sounds of country music which he disliked a bit, but always liked a song or two. And his heart skipped a beat once he saw that beautiful lady in her dark robes, waiting on the end of the road for him with an umbrella.
"Hello! Care to give a lady a ride to her home?!" She yelled.
"My pleasure!" And Lawrence stopped his car beside her and she opened his car door.
"I know it's not too far from the city, but 'd never imagine it'd snow already out here... Though tis a good thing!" The woman unmasked herself and grabbed hold of Lawrence's arm.
"I didn't think snow was a good thing. How come?"
"Well we need it plain and simple! So that when it all melts in spring, all the crops will be properly irrigated. However..." The girl padded her other free hand onto Lawrence's lap. "It forces us to have to keep warm Lawrence. So it's only smart that we... Stay by the fire together. I just got a new rug, and it does feel amazing to sleep on once you get pillows and blankets." She put more pressure on his crotch, and so he hit the gas hard, and in an instant, they were at her home. He opened her door, and she quickly led him inside where she locked the door behind them, and quickly forced his hand onto her breast. He squeezed it's firmness softly as he started to lightly suck on her neck... And well, you know how adults have fun!
Late that night.
"Tell me , how long do you plan on staying here in my wonderful little cottage pleasing me?" Chloe wrapped her naked body around Lawrence who could barely keep his eyes open.
"Not sure how many times I could go through that again in one night, but I expect the weather to die down in about a week or so... So if not by the time then, I'll make myself comfortable here if you don't mind." Lawrence lazily said, as he looked over for his thrown clothes around their little bed on the ground.
"You sound a bit eager to leave? Has the city gone and made you cynical? Or maybe... THERE'S ANOTHER WOMAN WAITING FOR YOU IN NEW YORK!" Chloe said angrily.
"Ahh, you see that's not it. But this is why i can't just maintain a relationship like this with you, you get jealous all to easily." Lawrence put on his clothes quickly, as he imagined Chloe would kick him out again. Though he didn't care, she was just a friend, nothing more to him.
"That's because you always have me assume that you'd be back so soon just for a late night call. Honestly are you out here on business? Or were you just here because you wanted to come see me? I can never tell what you're thinking Lawrence... Don't you love me?"
(Oh god.) Lawrence thought to himself. "Look, you're the one who invites me over every time. I never thought any more of it then that. You're alone out here, so it's by my desire to see you... As a friend Chloe." Lawrence had to say it, though he knew this bit into his friend coldly.
"YOU PIG! HOW CAN YOU DO THIS ACT WITH ME AS A FRIEND? NOBODY CAN DO THIS AS JUST 'FRIENDS' LAWRENCE! Get out of my cottage! You can freeze for all I care!"
"Chloe! You're just overreacting! Come on, I'll freeze out there!" Lawrence urged, But Chloe was pushing him out the door.
"I don't care Lawrence Kraft! This is the last time you will ever break my heart! You can let yours freeze you asshole!"
SLAM
Lawrence was out in the snow, and he expected this, since the last time, the same happened, though this was his childhood friend, he could never get her to understand that he didn't want a relationship as her."Honestly, this will be the last time I EVER visit her..." Lawrence said angrily...He only does this kind of thing with all of his friends he hasn't seen in a while. Well at least the pretty ones.
And now as he leapt into his car, he was down on the road again, and he drove around until he found a small tunnel away from all the weather, and he boarded up the crevices of his car with tape, and small sheets so no warmth would seep out. He turned a lamp on in his front seat and he was about to lay down in the back until he saw something moving up and down slowly underneath many sheets he had piled in the back seat like a bed. He thought some kind of animal snuck into the back of his vehicle, so he readied his pistol and he slowly reached for the sheets, and then he pulled them off quickly to find a slender woman in with red hair, a long tail with a splash of white at the end, and same with some wolf looking ears atop of her head.
*YAWWWWWWWN*
"G-GET UP! Or I will have to murder you! W-Whatever the hell you are, I advise you listen!" Lawrence yelled with the gun cocked to her head.
"Hmm? Oh hello. I guess it's safe to say you're the owner of this automobile?"
"What the hell are you?! I demand to know! Or I will shoot!" Lawrence patience was low with this woman.
"FINE! *Clears throat* I am Holo the Wisewolf, a wolf Deity of the Wheat harvest, and I have control of this little town's wheat harvesting opportunities, and this snow is of my doing. Though times have changed since I last traveled with a human...But you do remind me of him..." The girl's voice was fancy and soft, and this had caught Lawrence's surprise.
"Really? So you're a god of some sort. So you've traveled with someone who looks like me Huh? Well prove it! Prove that you're a deity of some kind! This can't be real! You must be possessed by a demon!" He threatened with his gun again.
"Oh please, threatening a pretty lady like me will get you nowhere, and I would like to show you my true form... But I'd rather not go all out, so I can at least show you my arm."
"What?! Are you saying you'd be too big to fit in this car?!" Lawrence was now a bit scared if this girl was serious or not.
"Of course... Though it's much to cold out and I need either wheat, or fresh human blood. I can't imagine you carry wheat since I don't take you for a farmer. So would you like to wait tomorrow?" She asked with her tail behind her, flailing around like she was amused by something.
"W-WAIT?! Well where the hell are you going to be tomorrow?! Where will you go tonight?" Larence was eager to see this woman again, she seemed like a pleasant woman to be around.
"Go tonight? Oh dear, I was hoping to sleep here with you, though I'd ALMOST decline since I smell you fresh of a woman's core, but... I'll make an acception with you! You do seem as if you'd not take advantage anyway. So please do keep your clothes on hmm?"She teased him.
"W-WHAT ABOUT YOU! YOU'RE NAKED! And what business is it of yours what I've done recently?!"
"So you're nervous sleeping with another woman in one night? So you are a gentleman. No matter, it's much too cold, would you die of frostbite, or do you want to lay beside me with permission you fool?" Holo growing annoyed.
"Fine, I'd much rather sleep warm anyway." Thus he crawled into the back next to her and could feel all her curves.
"So what is your career? And name actually?" Her tail curled around the both of them, and Lawrence was a little flustered.
"M-My name Is Kraft Lawrence, but you can call me whatever... Most friends call me Lawrence. And my career I've gone towards is being a negotiator. I have good connections wih Mayor's all across here in the U.S. Of A. So they get me to negotiate with poor lots in the city, and I see if I can give any shops on poor lots advice on ranking in more money. But lets be honest here." Holo's tail tightening around the both of them. "How friendly were you with this man who looks like me huh? Cause you're being quite friendly here." Lawrence lighting up like a tomato.
"Quite friendly... Though I lost him unexpectedly..." Holo's tail contracted and she moved formed herself in a ball and went fast asleep.
Next Morning.
"!" Lawrence awoke quickly from his sleep, and was abruptly done so by Holo with her body covered in sheets. "Whats up with you?" Lawrence asked, with the cold hitting him hard.
"You wish to see me in my form still? Cause if you don't then it should save us some time. I'd like to get some clothes."
"Who said I was going to buy you clothes? And you seem confident on wanting to travel with me. I'm just curios... But what did you do with this man? You were close weren't you?"
"Y-Yes..." Holo did not feel like talking about it.
"Well... I'm a traveling man, so I can not support you all by myself, if you really wish to travel with me, then-"
"Then I'll have to make to pay for myself. Honestly, I'm more comfortable with a negotiator than what your past persona had in mind. He was a merchant, and he went through much too many stressful times for his own good. Though I can tell you're much different from him. Perhaps a bit too better. But that was long ago. Now he is a distant memory. But I do not wish to go anywhere in particular... I just wish for a traveling companion in this era... I've hibernated for over 50 years and technology has come a long way, though these firearms do look nice." Holo twirled the pistol with her free foot underneath her blanket.
"Good thing that's not loaded, I wouldn't want any of us to die..."
"Yes, how did you think I was not intimidated? I could tell you were lying because of my wise ears. They can tell fact from fiction." Holo whisked her tail around.
"Hmm... Maybe you could help me with negotiations. I can be fooled by a lovely woman every now and then. Well now, let's head onto Jersey I guess. You stay warm with these blankets. I'm going to drive for a while." Lawrence moved himself in the front seat.
"What of that woman? Do you think she would let me borrow some clothes?" She asked, with her ears up high in anticipation.
"Well she uh...is upset with me, and I think bringing a lovely woman over would upset her even more Holo." He rubbed the back of his head.
"Oh, you say something insensitive to her did you not? I can feel the guilt fuming off of you!" She teased, and she curled back up in a ball underneath the covers while her tail swayed back and forth over the backseats.
"Hmm, perhaps to her, but I already made my point clear with her in the past, but she insists on having a relationship with me. We're totally different people, and yet she assumes things... She's quite childish it seems." Lawrence laughed it off, which gave Holo the thought that perhaps he was a little cold towards people... Or maybe he was right, and was being wise after all.
"So, I'll have to ask you, will you answer honestly?" She said,
"Depends, ask away though." He brushed off any misconceptions of any uncomfortable questions.
"Are you popular with women? Because it seems you just casually brushed off that girl like any other person. Is she not special to you? Is there anybody truly special to you?" Her tail stood still behind her.
"Hmm, no not quite. But I do this casually to be honest, it's only with some close friends who might be near town. Though I'm not too confident on staying around those I've known too long. But I assure you, with you on board, I will not cast you away just for my own night of fun got that?" Lawrence held his hand out behind him as to shake hers.
"A-Are you saying you'd use me instead?! O-Oh ! Y-You animal! You dare take advantage of a lady? I thought of you to at least be an insensitive gentleman!" She fell deep under the covers again, in an attempt to tease him.
"Oh god. No I meant I won't just make you sit in some hotel alone while I uhh... Do business! You're welcome to come with me anywhere. We're partners now, so I won't rudely leave you out of any business, and I won't abandon you for a night just because a friend wishes for my embrace. That's all. Now come on, you agree or not?!" Lawrence stopped the car, and looked back at Holo.
"I was only teasing! Ha Ha! Still gullible as I remember! This should be fun!" Holo's plan was clear, and Lawrence blushed wildly like a child who just got told how handsome he was.
"Oh geez...I expect you to be quite the handful."
"Indeed I am! Now quickly! Tell me a story." Holo muffled underneath the many sheets.
"How about music?" Lawrence reached over for the radio and turned it on.
"How do you insist on playing music with no instruments?! I am Holo the wise wolf! Do not take me for a-" Holo paused and heard Banjo's playing and a soft voice singing a story about how he tends to his horses and beer, this calmed Holo, and she went back to her sleep.
"This here is a radio... It plays music through my car with speakers inside of it. Neat huh?" He looked back to see her asleep. So felt content on his adventure he was set on having with this woman.