Hm. That didn't go exactly as planned, Kabe thought with a grin when the girl stormed off into her home. Must not be a fan of shape-shifters. That usually gets 'em. Ah, well. He shrugged to himself, then turned to watch as his younger brother pulled himself up into a sitting position, the guy rubbing at his forehead where he had smacked it into the ground on his fall. Monnayage's other hand rubbed at his back as he groaned.
Kabe wanted to laugh. If dear little Monny didn't like his hair being messed, he certainly wouldn't want to know what it looked like now--frayed and sticking out at every angle as if he'd been electrocuted, bits of dirt hanging in the locks.
From the corner of his eyes, Kabe caught sight of movement in the window of the beautiful girl's house, and his lips pulled at the corners, his attempt to not laugh out loud at her audacity. "Now look what you've gone and done, little brother," he teased as he gestured at the slammed door. "Your rudeness scared that beautiful girl away."
There came the sound of something like a strangled yelp from his younger brother as the guy looked around, mixed with more groans of pain. Oh, come now. I'm not that heavy, Kabe mused. "Me?" Monnayage protested. "You're the one that--ngh!--that got her more angry, and you--are you going to tell me why you're here?"
Feeling the need to show off because he knew that he and his brother had an audience, Kabe made a show of brushing his long hair out of his face and grinning one of his winning smiles. "Truth be told, little Monny, I came looking for you. There's no harm in an older brother coming to check up on his sibling every once in a while, is there?"
"Yes, there is. Especially when that sibling doesn't need checking up on. Besides, you only show up when you need something: like money." Another cry of dismay from the younger as it was revealed in his rising from the ground that his clothes were covered in garden soil. As if mirroring his brother's sentiments, his cat let out a small and piteous mewling sound, though Kabe could have sworn he saw a twinkle of amusement in the cat's reflected eyes. According to Monnayage, Maneki liked to tease him as well--one thing for which he could account for liking the furry beast.
This time Kabe really did laugh, going to his brother's side and patting him on the back--maybe a little too hard, by the sounds of it, for he heard the air knocked from his brother's lungs in a dramatic oomph! "Ah, to think so low of me, your oldest--why, I practically raised you! But," and here he sighed and shrugged his shoulders, "I can see there's no getting past you. I may be a little short on income and thought to come ask for a kind donation--for all that I've done for you, it's hardly unfair for me to ask."
Monnayage let out a snort of disgust. "I've given you money before, and have yet to see a scratch of it returned. What'd you do with the sum I gave you a few months ago? That was no small change."
"I might've . . . lost a bit of it," Kabe admitted without guilt.
"More like gambled it away."
"Silly Monnayage!" Kabe grabbed his brother by the neck, chock-holding him, and proceeded to ruffle at his hair again, to which both his brother and the cat hissed at. "What does it matter what happened to it? All that matters is that it's now gone, and I need more. I'm a hungry, handsome man that needs sums for nourishment."
"No!" Monnayage pushed him away. "I've given you enough already. If you really need some, good ask mom and dad. They'd be more than willing."
The mention of their parents soured Kabe. "No, little brother. No. I will not go to them. You know how they are." He waved the suggestion away in distaste. "No. I would rather eat from the garbage."
"You can eat from the sewers for all I care, you bas--"
"Now! Is that any way to speak in front of a lady?" Kabe pulled his brother around and with his eyes looked in the direction of their peeping mistress. "I'd watch my language if I were you, else you'll ruin your charming prince routine."
The blush on his brother's cheeks was noticeable even in this darkness. "I--it's not a routine. I came to get Maneki, then ran into her. Now, shove off." The short one made as if to leave, an unspoken signal to the cat making her follow at his heels.