(no subject)

[ostro_goth]

Count the cat is irritated. The hole in the floor with the place underneath with all the machines in that the cats could hide underneath and chase each other over has gone -- just gone! He is scratching on the floor where that place used to be, but there are just floorboards there now, and nothing else. Count looks at his human, mewling in protest; but Teja gazes at him quietly over the rim of the paper that bar gave him with his morning tea, and gives no sign of getting up and opening that place up again for him.

It's not fair!! And the human shouldn't laugh at him for it, either.-

Comments

[aimedforthemoon]

Machines make sense, unlike people. Which is why Esfir has been working on her A-wing instead of working at the questions of Katya and Ramon. At least there she can see some damn progress.

But even pilots need breaks, which is why she is sitting at her table, nursing a hot cup of coffee with grimy hands. She is also watching the cat.

He was somewhat delightfully indignant about life.

[ostro_goth]

She smells of the place that has gone away, and of the machines there, at least a little bit, so Count wanders over to her to sniff, and mewl.

Perhaps she can open that place again?

Teja keeps watching: - he doesn't want his cat to pester people that wish for cat-free peace.

[aimedforthemoon]

She clicks her tongue behind her head, tilting her head slightly.

"Mm, puss? What do you want? I can't pat you, I'll get oil all over you," she informs Count, in Russian.

[ostro_goth]

Count puts his paws on her leg, stands on his hind legs, sniffs at her oily fingers, and mewls.

[aimedforthemoon]

"Fine," and he gets an under-the-chin rub with the back of her wrist. "I don't speak cat, though."

[ostro_goth]

Count rubs his face against her hand, never minding the oil.

Teja gets up and wanders over, paper in hand.

"One hopes he is not molesting you?" he says. "Greetings!"

He remembers her, having spoken to her once, or twice, long ago.

[aimedforthemoon]

He is distinctive, but so much as happened since last they spoke. Not mention so much time.

"Any molesting comes with a smack, so, he is safe for now." Safe enough to be picked up and put on her lap, to further the scritching. "And good morning, Teja."

[ostro_goth]

"Good morning, Esfir," Teja says, remembering her name. "His name is Count; and he has been irritated all morning at the hole in the floor being mended. I am glad he chose you as distraction."

[aimedforthemoon]

"Hole in the...Ah, so, he liked playing with the cars in the garage?"

[a1enzo]

"Oh, good! It's fixed."

That's a symptom cured, at least.

[ostro_goth]

"Greeting!" Teja says, looking up from his paper. "My cat finds this less than good, though: - he would go down there again."

[a1enzo]

"Yeah, I hear that." Exploration in unauthorized zones is fun!

His smile fades into something awkward. "There's, uh, something I need to talk to you about."

[ostro_goth]

"Yes?" Teja asks.

[a1enzo]

"I spoke to Justin, who was doing the Happy Hour with the... the game things... he said you played one."

[ostro_goth]

"I did," Teja says. "So?"

[a1enzo]

Enzo bites back a sudden surge of anger, but not quickly enough to keep it from showing entirely. So?

"So," he says carefully, "I don't think I explained it right. Guardians play Games to protect the rest of the system from them."

[ostro_goth]

"So?" Teja says.

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate is at a table near the fireplace and couches, absently scrawling in a journal. Occasionally, she reaches back to rub the back of her neck, tension obvious on her features. But, eventually, the mewling does snag her attention.

She looks up, watching Count for a moment out of sheer curiosity. She wonders if any of the nearby patrons is his 'human', but Teja hasn't caught Kate's attention yet. So eventually, she makes a clucking noise to grab the kitty's attention.

"S'matter, sweetheart? Y'lost somethin'?"

[ostro_goth]

Yes, the way to the cars!

Count comes up to her, and rubs his face on her ankles. Perhaps she knows where it all went to?

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate smirks, leaning out of her chair slightly to proffer her hand for inspection. It's been a little while since the last time she saw Doc's cats, but Count might still be able to pick up the scent of other felines on her.

"You're a handsome fella, ain't ya? Hungry?"

Unfortunately, she does not know the way to the cars! Otherwise, she might acquiesce, as any good and obedient human should.

[ostro_goth]

Count rubs his face against her hand. Attention is as good as cars!

Of course he is hungry!

[ikissdhimbck]

He is in luck! For next to Kate's journal is a plate with a few bits of leftover fried chicken she isn't planning on eating. After giving him a few scritches, she reaches up and cuts the leftovers into tiny bits, and sets the plate at Count's feet.

[ostro_goth]

"He will now adore you forever," Teja says, from where he is sitting. "Cats can be simple in that manner."

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate's attention snaps up in the direction of the voice. Ah, this must be the owner! She offers him a pleasant smile, chuckling softly as she glances back to the cat.

"I think I can live with that. He yours?" she asks, her voice a soft southern drawl.

[ostro_goth]

"He would claim I am his," Teja says, "for I must answer to his whims, and have raised him from a kitten, waking at night when he wailed for milk, barely older than a week."