milliways_bar | (no subject)

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The front door opens a tiny crack, like it wasn't properly latched and has come ajar. A moment later a tiny nose pokes through, followed soon by a fuzzy head.

A cat, black and white with wide yellow eyes, peeks into Milliways, meowing to announce this new discovery, then slipping through the crack into the bar.

"No, no, no, no-- "

The door swings wide, pushed open by a man in a black mask, a box of kitty kibble in his hand.

He's too late, the cat makes a break for freedom and adventure, and Matt is left standing in the doorway trying to track the feline as it threads its way through the chaos of the bar.

"Damn it."

There is absolutely no way Claire is ever going to let him live this down.

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She looks down at his step and then returns her stare to his face.

"I apologize. I am a synthizoid, a type of android, and I can alter my density. I am not a spirit."

"I believe the kitten went that way."

"Good to know," he says, flashing his own small apology in a brief smile.

He nods when she indicates which way the cat went, the gesture meant to indicate his readiness to follow her lead.

The bar is huge, and the cat could be getting into anything. Like the kitchen, there are plenty of interesting sights and smells to entice cat there.

She heads that way, assuming the man can see fine.

"I am afraid I did lose sight of the kitten...does it have a name?" She stops then as an idea occurs to her. "I have an idea. Has the kitten played with laser pointers before?"

Matt trails behind her easily, trying not to get bogged down in annoyance that this is the start of his night.

Her question about the cat's name is an obvious one to ask, but there's a moment of hesitation before Matt answers.

"Shithead, usually. I don't actually know its real name."

Or what it does for fun.

"A laser pointer? Is that a thing for cats?"

Viv does not react to his ignorant question as she does not judge people based on things they do or do not know. Given she's only a year or so old herself, she is no one to cast stones.

"Based on online videos of cats, I would say yes. The uniqueness of the red dot formed by the laser attracts their attention. I will form several now to see if we can attract the kitten, Shithead."

Viv had already done so as she was speaking and now several laser beams are passing about the bar area. (She is careful not to hit anyone in the eye.) The gambit works...but too well as several cats are attracted by the small moving things.

"There appear to me more than one cat present in the bar at the moment."

Matt has never had pets, and doesn't spend so much time on hilarious internet videos (despite Foggy constantly trying to share them).

He still doesn't quite get it based off of her description, but isn't about to stop her trying to help him.

For an exciting moment it appears to have worked. And then Matt realizes there is more than one cat answering the call of the laser pointer.

Turning his head at the appearance of each new feline, he frowns.

"You're trick seems to have worked too well."

They have their options, that's for sure, and more than one of the cats is even wearing a bell.

"Do you recognize Shitheaad?" Despite her lake of emotion, someone might be having fun having an excuse to say the name. "And did she have a bell? I can access the data from when you entered if you do not recall."

"It had a bell." That much he is certain of.

Otherwise...

"I didn't realize there were so many cats in this place."

Help with identifying would not only be appreciated, it's needed at this point, lest Matt take back the wrong damn cat.

"I believe there is only one that has a bell. I will attempt to separate the others from it."

Herding cats may be a futile effort, but when you have the might red dot, there is a chance. She manages to get three of the cats to chase a dot towards the fire place, breaking off from the one with the bell and two others.

"Cats do seem to find many places to live, yes."

Matt rates each cat that breaks off, working to verify as best he can that it's not the cat he's looking for.

The belled cat is fixed on and dead set on catching the dot. Pouncing where the light should be, the cat gives an indignant 'Mrow!' when the dot gets away.

"That's gotta be it," Matt notes, believing he recognizes that meow with the bell.

Viv does a half leap and half fall forward, straight at the table the cat is under, turning intangible to pass through. She turns her hand solid in order to grab Shithead, who immediately starts growling and struggling. Standing, and careful not to pull the cat through the table, she offers the tiny murder creature to the man in black.

"She does not appear comforted at being caught. Are you certain this is Shithead?" The cat's claws aren't doing much to the girl's skin.

Matt still isn't sure what to make of the intangibility thing, but it does seem to come in handy.

With the cat putting up a fuss like it is, he's a little hesitant to take it.

"I sure hope so," he mutters, before finally stepping in to claim the cat.

"Thanks," he says tightly as tiny claw hooks sent into his forearms. He gives Viv a nod and then makes a hasty retreat to the exit, eager to dump the animal off on the other side of the door.

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