[center][sub]Ji Chan[/sub] [color=696969]♕[/color][/center][hr] [color=808080]"'Scuse me, coming through--no, that's fine, yep, just push right past me like I ain't even here…"[/color] The words, while sharp and scathing enough to make any person flinch a little, go unheard in the general hubbub of the Alpenhorn Inn's lobby--although a pretty and old-fashioned building from the outside, it's a downright mess on the inside, a mess that Ji Chan is currently trapped in as crowds of people press against him from every side, all vying for a place in line at the Inn's main desk. The lobby is completely filled to the brim with travelers, all seeking a place to stay when the winter weather suddenly turned serious and a snowstorm forced cars off the road and people off the streets. Ji is one of those people--his original plan was to ride the overnight bus into the middle of town, but the icy conditions stopped the vehicle from going any further and everyone crowded into the Alpenhorn Inn instead. Thus, the mad dash of panicked humans and hybrids alike… and Ji, currently smushed between a large, heavyset man in front of him and a cranky old lady pressing forward from behind. And it's not even because of the obvious--rude humans, disregarding their manners when it comes to hybrids--no, it's just because Ji is, well. [i]Short.[/i] Just the word is enough to make him shudder. Just his luck to get the short end of the stick and end up permanently stuck at 5 feet and 4 inches. Being born a hybrid just wasn't enough for the cruel world--they had to stick him with the most [i]humiliating[/i] height as well, a measly 163 centimeters! And yeah, of course there are plenty of people in this world who reside at the same eyelevel as Ji Chan, but they're [i]girls.[/i] It's cute to be short when you're a girl, but it just looks stupid when you're a guy. By the time Ji claws his way (not literally, of course) to the front desk, his muscles are aching and his legs feel about ready to collapse, completely spent with the effort it took to get those humans to notice he was [i]right there, thank you very much.[/i] Ugh. [color=808080]"One… one room, please,"[/color] he pants, to which the receptionist nods. [color=768a9e]"Of course. We are currently over-booked, but if you are alright with it, room 2B has one open bed. Will that work?"[/color] [color=808080]"At this point, I'd be happy to sleep on one of your sofas,"[/color] Ji tells her wryly, taking the key when it is offered to him. [color=808080]"Wild today, huh? Can't imagine how tired you must feel."[/color] [color=768a9e]"It has been quite the day,"[/color] the receptionist sighs, her ears and tail betraying her mood. Ji nods, feeling his own fluffy feline ears screaming at him after a whole day of being flattened under his faithful paperboy cap. Must be worse for her, since she's got 'em all out and on display. [color=808080]"Well, keep your chin up. We really appreciate it,"[/color] he says, throwing a wink her way as he weaves around the crowds towards the hallway. A double room, huh? Ji thinks he can handle it, as long as they're not some overtly racist human who thinks it's funny to pull his tail when he's sleeping… talking from past experience, here. But for the most part, he's a pretty okay roommate, since he mostly minds his own business and doesn't care what you do, as long as it doesn't impact him. But still, he is quietly thankful when he opens the door with the (spare?) key to room 2B and sees not a human, but another hybrid, guitar in hand as she strummed thoughtlessly, eyes somewhere faraway. [color=808080]"Ah, another one of us, huh?"[/color] Ji said, a bit of a grin in his voice as he pulls off his cap with flourish, letting his ears perk up and stretch out, his tail unfurling itself from where it had been stuffed up the back of his oversized hoodie. [color=808080]"Sorry to intrude. I won't get in your way, don't worry."[/color] It's true--Ji has no bags, no suitcases, just his room key, a change of clothes and a few dollars to his name that haven't been spent on hotel expenses. Depending on how long this snowstorm lasts, he really [i]might[/i] have to sleep on the couch... or the floor. Well, not like he hasn't done it before. He can make do. He was technically in town for a construction job, the kind that you just gotta show up and start working to get hired, but this snowstorm kind of ruined those plans. He hopes the breakfast is free, at least. He has an energy bar in here somewhere... no, he ate that on the bus. [color=808080]"Hm, any other ways to make money..."[/color] he wonders out loud, looking at his almost empty wallet with an expression of resignation and slight disgust. Figures. No food, no money, no way out.