He perked up when she promised him her number. It was a boyish reaction, as though something juvenile and honest was breaking through his well-assembled stage of desirable features. The honest tidbit lived for a short while on his prettiness, and soon he was making another face, composed and picturesque and a little playful, as she'd come to know him. "That's a deal. Please forgive me if I now scarf down both of our cakes so you don't change your mind."<br/><br/>He did have another piece. Kuram had been happy as a child, listening to his parents's lessons and playing with his sister. To him, the outside world was strange. It would feel like an adventure, going out on the back of mother's bike or on foot with father. He was an excited little boy clutching the back of his parents's robes, eager to brave the novelties of buying food or carrying supplies, but by the end he got exhausted, and always wanted to come home. Home was where they tended to the other world.<br/><br/>"It's a change." he agreed and looked her over. "More girls here." Which of course was significant for any growing young man. Ge gasped with interest when she revealed her preferred career. "I can see it. You'd be good with animals, I think. I don't know you very well yet, but you kinda look like someone who might pet you, and stick a needle in you, too." He laughed to himself, but it wasn't as off-guard as with her cheekiness about her number. "Suppose I'll have to become an animal, a beast, and get sick, then."<br/><br/>His jaw dropped and it hollowed out his cheek in a very flattering way, his tongue still blue from his same transgression when she retaliated for his pastry theft. The performed theatrics became real surprise, a slightly more subtle open mouth as he looked around at the growing unrest. The silver of his eyes cooled when he turned back to her, standing and nodding at her assessment. While trying to oversee the mounting confusion and threat, he tracked her when she found privacy in plain sight.<br/><br/>He breathed slowly when she came back from the light behind the counter. How formidable she looked. Kuram accepted his mission and they parted.<br/><br/>The monster sensed a change in the flow of how the people fled, and it lead it to turn toward her. People divided for her, and watched in awe as the light from the projectiles arched from her hands had the monster stagger back and emit a sound like a handful of beehives were in an uproar. It was the kind of vibration that shook them in their chests. The sound exploded into something less controlled when its gut took her saber. While people still ran, their hearts were lighter, since their fear and ill-will were being satisfied at once.<br/><br/>The saber stuck into its stomach, and she could see through the murky skin that its organs shifted away from the damage, even though she'd already hurt it. Eyeballs traveled from the head and down the neck, nestled safety between muscles and sinew, looking out at her from the chest behind the see-thorugh skin. It tried to backhand her with a very long arm, and if it missed, it would try to catch her speeding leg with the other hand. The giant mouth which protruded with gums outside of its already elongated head clasped at her, eager for vengeance.<br/><br/>Kuram was steering people in the right direction, his expression calm. It he only rushed them from the square, some of them would funnel into dead ends, and others would trample each other. This was basic knowledge for the Ekurai family. He even knew which level and tone of voice would most likely be heard and obeyed in this kind of situation. He did what he could to soothe their panic, and most of them seemed content in fleeing. This city had seen its fair share of monsters.<br/><br/>It was when the Beast seemed to have too good of a retort to Juniper's saber that he dove into the crowd and ripped a lacquered black cane from a rift in reality. When he whipped it, his Altar Shroud was summoned, and white robes knitted around him, held together with a leather harness that climbed his long neck and covered his mouth. His hair was longer, white, and his eyes were yellow. He ran low toward her, to see how she'd handle the beast. His hand was already holding the long cane as though he'd draw it like as sword.