Alwin was nervous, something that he had to admit was out of character for someone like him. Maybe it had something to do with the itchy tie and suit combo he wore, or maybe it was the fact that his long hair normally kept down and unkept lay combed and pinned up in a high ponytail on top of his head. Or it could have been the fact that he was meeting with the local Streak's leader and couldn't help but feel this way. Yeah that was definately the reason. Taking a small breath, he would lower himself in one of the many empty chairs in the coffee house and grip the cup of steaming hot coffee, he had moments before ordered from the waitress.

Normally a flirt and a womanizer, he had given the waitress a small smile and nod in thanks for bringing his coffee, and would instantly focus on the task that was sure to come his way, even going as far as ignoring her number she had left for him on a napkin nearby. Yep, he truly was out of it.

He had to admit another thing that worried him was the fact that had never met this streak's leader before, which was strange to him, because his own streak tended to socialize with that of others in order to keep peace among the clans. What if the leader didn't like him...or wonder if he was like his father? Fear instantly spread through him at the very thought and gripped his cup mug hard, with enough pressure to break the cup in two. That was something he wasn't sure he could take, especially after abandoning his former streak to live on his own. So inviting the tiger king to coffee wouldnt make him hate him worse would it? He sighed and nibbled on the bottom of his lip and sighed. Maybe this wasn't sure a good idea after all....

(After More Stripes)

With all that had been going on as of late, the last thing Colby had expected was a phone call. And a phone call that had asked of him a normal meeting. It was almost strange, seeing as normalcy had seemed to go out the window the past few weeks for the Cahan.

It was a welcome change though, and one Colby respected. While he was glad that tigers were seeking him out for his fairness and non traditionalistic ways, he wished some habits wouldn't haven't died out. Like asking for an actual conference with him instead of just showing up with his Mate. He bit back his tiger. which had risen at the thought. None of those thoughts now... this was professional, and this Alwin did not need to be subjected to Colby's problems.

He had heard vaguely of Mr. Kappel's streak, a strangely social streak, though had to say they had never visited Colby's old Streak. Of course... Colby's home streak hadn't really been known for thier socialness nor camraderie with others.

He pulled up the orange and black striped camaro in front of the familiar coffee house, a popular place for lycans, since it was run by lycans. There were many clubs that were the same, but none much suitable for meetings such as these.

Dressed in black slacks and a light blue button up shirt, he olny had a nice informal suit jacket to complete the get up. Full suits were stuffy and uncomfortable for Colby, and his wardrobe was respectable as it was. No need to get all fancy. Besides, it would put the tiger more at ease... he needed it, judging from the pungent scent of his nervousness even before Colby entered Trio's.

Silvery blue eyes went to the broken mug, slight amusement lighting them as they rose to assess what had to be Alwin Kappel, all but figetting in his seat. Colby strode over to him with th liquid grace only a long time lycan could achieve, smiling as he stopped before the table.

"Mr. Kappel, I presume? Cahan Colby MacMillan. It is a pleasure to meet you on such respectful terms." There was a hint of wryness to his amused tone, his tiger chuffing at the personal connotation of his sentence.

Another sigh escaped Alwin's lips as he finally eyed the broken mug, still gripped within his hands. Damn...this really was a bad idea...a very very bad idea. He released his hold of the now broken mug and leaned back in his chair, trying to relax. Yet the moment a new scent filled his nostrils, was the moment his fear came sweeping back to the surface and slowly as in a bad horror movie, would he turn in the direction of the scent. Brown orbs would instantly meet the silverly blue of the alpha tiger before him, only to lower to scan the rest of the the alpha's physical appearence. He was handsome, Alwin admitted to himself, and the power coming from him was scary. Handsome and scary, why wasn't he surprised that those two words, didn't go well together?

"Mr. Kappel, I presume? Cahan Colby MacMillan. It is a pleasure to meet you on such respectful terms."

As the alpha tiger stopped before his table, Alwin would lick his suddenly dry lips, raise his eyes to once again to meet Colby's, only to lower them back to the ground. He seemed nice enough but Alwin had long since realized that many alpha tigers were like his father. Proud, powerful and down right arrogant, who wouldn't hesitate to punish a lower tiger just for disrepecting them. So believing this tiger was like the rest, he remained seated, a gesture meant to be taken as submissive.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. MacMillan..." He would keep his eyes focussed on the ground before him, managing to keep his words quite formal despite the fact, "Thank you for meeting me on such a short notice, I'm sorry if this meeting has taken you away from any business at hand...but I felt I needed to meet with you...."

He trailed off in his sentence, and reached up to run fingers through his long curls before lowering his hand completely to his side. He waited silently for the alpha to say something to his words.

Colby's tiger pressed forth to make his own assessment of the man before him, metaphysically circling his beast and scenting to get that faint 'taste' of the male. Colby's tiger had taken to developing a better interest in the goings on of the world about it since the whole issue of his mate becoming a Little Queen... basically, it figured it better start paying attention before any more nasty surprised popped up unexpectedly. His tiger felt no threat from this man, more terror than anything, which made it chuff with amusement.

The young man had almost a feminine beauty to him as Colby looked him over, lithe enough to give him that sense of height, though he wasn't all that tall, with an aura of experience that gave away his descent from a pure lineage. Colby was getting many of such tigers as of late, running from thier pasts in Clans that would have thier own ways. He would not be surprised if Alwin's story was similar to the many he had heard.

The man's fear rose sharply as he met Colby's gaze, making Colby's tiger rumble with curiousity. He did not meet the Cahan's eyes either... furthering Colby's conclusion of a tough past in a traditionalist streak.

Colby slid into the seat across from the man as he spoke in a low tone, a bright grin spreading across Colby's face in calm reassurance of his own ease. Colby's tiger reached out again, this time a more brushing of sides to say, as if to brush some of his own quiet peace to the man's angsty beast, hoping to lessen the tension thick in the air. He had to admit... it was nicer to deal with nerves than to deal with arrogance.

Colby chuckled softly as he leaned comfortably back in his seat, musing as he watched Alwin with that curious feline intensity. "Believe me, your call was a welcome reprieve from less welcome pressures in my household as of late. I much prefer these sort of meetings as compared to less prepared ones." He mused with a calming smile.

It was often said that Colby's easygoing persona was infectious, one could not stay on edge very long in his presence. He was a pacifist by nature, despite his upbringing, and his tiger a lazy brute for the most part. It was a sort of talent of his in tight spots, his ability to all but nullify ill will, one he did not mind exercising now and then in small doses. AS long as his tiger was happy, that is.

"You fret too much, Mr. Kappel. I am not a harsh man, unless you bring a threat to me and my kin. And my tiger and I both can pretty much sense that that is the last thing on your mind."

"Believe me, your call was a welcome reprieve from less welcome pressures in my household as of late. I much prefer these sort of meetings as compared to less prepared ones. You fret too much, Mr. Kappel. I am not a harsh man, unless you bring a threat to me and my kin. And my tiger and I both can pretty much sense that that is the last thing on your mind."

These words alone from the Tiger king was enough to bring Alwin's eyes up in alarm. It wasn't trust that the king spoke of, but he had been able to tell within seconds that Alwin, himself was of no danger to him or his kin? Alwin couldn't help but smile softly at this, as a strange feeling swept through him. This Cahan, was certainly proving to be more interesting than Alwin, had first imaginated, maybe just maybe there was hope for him within another streak not bent on following the rules afterall.

He gave a small bow of his head, and replied to the other's words, "Thank you for that, Mr. MacMillan, that means so much coming from you"

He reached up and began to play with several more strands of his black curls, another small nervous gesture, "I'm sure you are wondering, why I have come to you...asking to join your streak...and I'll get to that but...um...first do you mind if I get a refill of coffee?"

He made a small gesture toward the broken cup, sitting directly before him, before looking back to the Tiger king, "If you want....you can order some if you want...its just coffee..." He would trail off for the second time, and found himself beating himself up for his previous words. He had hoped he hadn't insulted the Cahan with those words. It was a silly reason to suddenly start to fear the man again as he was beginning to loosen up in front of him. Maybe he just felt intimidated by the larger man, or maybe there was too much bullshit that had happened in the past to really loosen up or...maybe it was just a combination of all the above.

Colby couldn't help but smirk at the sudden look of surprised awarded him for his comments. He was used to such things, because frankly, he was one of a kind, but it still managed to draw a smile from him every time.

"There is no need for thanks, it is the truth. Moreso, I thank you. You are making my life than much more easier." Colby's inquisitive gaze followed the nervous movement of the man's fingers, looking briefly to the broken cup at Alwin's gesture with a raise brow.

The fretful stammer that immediately followed brought a short laugh from Colby, shaking his head. "Coffee sounds excellent Mr. Kappel." It seemed the best way for the man to get over this irrational terror of Colby was to brush it off and just show Colby was quite the easy man to deal with.

He stood from his seat, gesturing for the tiger to join him as he turned to pad over to the counter, eyes scanning briefly over the menu board above the cashier's desk.
He ordered a mocha with a double shot of espresso, before musing to Alwin conversationally. "I must say I find this almost strange. It is uncommon for me to be asked so formally for an invitation into my Clan. Things sort of happen in quite... unexpected ways, with my Streak. I suppose I should've expected such things... I don't exactly tend to follow the rules myself, now do I..." He laughed quietly, taking his drink from the counter with a warm smile to the server, waiting patiently for Alwin to get his own.

"There is no need for thanks, it is the truth. Moreso, I thank you. You are making my life than much more easier."

Alwin blinked slowly at the tiger king's words and found himself tilting his head to the side, that one action spilling some of his brown curls to one side of his head. He had to admit that he liked this Cahan, more than that of his own father. Why was that not surprising in the least?

"Coffee sounds excellent Mr. Kappel. I must say I find this almost strange. It is uncommon for me to be asked so formally for an invitation into my Clan. Things sort of happen in quite... unexpected ways, with my Streak. I suppose I should've expected such things... I don't exactly tend to follow the rules myself, now do I..."

He would stand almost instantly at the small gesture by the elder tiger and would follow behind him as he made his way to the counter. Sliding into the first seat he came upon, he too would scan the menu briefly before looking up to order a Gingerbread Latte, before returning his attention back to the Cahan. A small blush began to grace that of his pale cheeks, when he realized this was a little to formal for his liking. He really wasn't use to alpha tigers, calling him, "Mr. Kappel" he was use to kissing up too the alphas, making sure he wouldn't be hurt in the process. But this Cahan, was someone, Alwin, he could find himself looking up too.

"P...please...could you, call me, Alwin," He reached up and rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment, "It's kind of....strange being called, "Mr. Kappel, so could you please?" His eyes would surprisngly would stay on the older tiger for several minutes before he finally averted his eyes. He seemed he was starting to become himself again around the Cahan. He just hoped it was a good thing.

The man was quite jumpy, to put it mildly. While it interested Colby, it more amused his tiger, whom Colby shushed easily. He had never liked to see tigers following at the heels of thier Leader or Little Queen like little lap dogs. It was unnatural in his opinion, tigers being much to proud a beast to have to be cowed to such an extent. He beleived in peace, gratification for thier life... not a tyrranical hierarchy. It was not a widely accepted way of thinking in tiger society... but so many tigers wouldn't be seeking him out if he thought the 'normal' way.

He joined Alwin at a table once more, smirking at the man's stammering request, giving an elegant one shoulder shrug in reply. "If you so wish... Alwin. Though I must ask why its so strange... isn't that the proper way to address someone you've just met? Especially in matters of business?" He questioned lightly, curious as to his response. He could guess the man's origins had not been kind, and the stories always interested him... and were a grave reminder to his goal at something better.

(sry so short... )

(OOC: Sorry for the late post)

"If you so wish... Alwin. Though I must ask why its so strange... isn't that the proper way to address someone you've just met? Especially in matters of business?"

Alwin listened to the alpha tiger's words and found himself wondering if he had said the right words. Having too explain that having been born into a clan like the Crimson Stripe clan had not only scarred him phyiscally but mentally as well, was something Alwin wasn' looking forward to telling too a complete stranger. It was already thanks to his father, whom he loathed with the every fiber of his being, that he was like he was. Having to cower at each glance that this alpha tiger sent him, truly was something that he could blame on his father. Those terrible and horribe maulings he had received during the time he had spent with his former clan....

He shook his head, trying to clear the images of the past, from his mind and turned his attention back to he alpha tiger before him. Many people believed he was this playful, calm and collected indiviual but in reality, but behind that mask, was a man that hid behind his pain with grins and laughs, and beyond that? A man...who feared his own father...

Taking a small breath, he would finally break the small silence that had crept between them,"It's...hard to explain...my reasonings but..." He trailed off, only to take another breath and contiune, "I went through a lot as a child...having to grow up to become the man my father wanted me to be..."

He trailed off again, only to start up within seconds, anger and something more deep within his words, "Has greatly affected me....I suppose thanks too all of the the things that had happened too me, I guess that would be the best reasoning to while I want to just be called by my first name..."

Alwin's eyes remained on the alpha tiger for the longest time...wondering how he would react to these words.

(ooc: no prob, I'll be slow from now on too... no more home internet )

Colby could feel the tension rising in the other man like a boiling pot, and his own tiger rumbled in response, watchful, but not threatened. It was a pent up sort of anger Colby felt, not directed at him, but something entirely different.

Colby did not press as he watched the man carefully, speculating and observant. While he had portrayed an extensive submissive attitude, Colby could tell it wasn't the man's choice. He was soon to get his answer though as Alwin spoke, his tone dark and bitter.

Colby's own gaze darkened as Alwin continued, looking both frustrated and resentful. Sadly it was a case Colby had encountered or heard of much too often. A tiger of value, he must've been... they were the ones many alphas of thier kind sought to control the most.
Colby nodded slowly, musing quietly as he warmed his hands about his coffee cup.

"Aye, I understand much better than you might think. And I must presume that that is in part the reason for you to have sought me out. While I do not wish to belittle your experiences, I must say I encounter many... similar cases." He took a sip, contemplating, before continuing.
"Our kin has not often been known for thier kindness, nor for thier compassion. The preservation of the species, of our purity... that has been the goal of many streaks for many generations. But I do not boast a similar view. My goals take quite the opposite approach in fact... But you already knew that, or you would not have come to Yeovil, am i correct?"