Yrael - on the bar

[mogget_cat]

There is a coil of white fur lounging on the Bar's countertop today, green eyes blinking slowly as it surveys its domain. While it technically isn't a cat, the creature certainly does a relatively good approximation of one.

If you pet it, it might even purr.

Comments

[nerves_of_ice]

Slowly but surely, he's settling into his new routine and his new life in Wakanda. Still, some days, it helps to do something that's more like the life he used to know -- both as Bucky Barnes and as the Winter Soldier.

Today's one of those days. He comes up to the bar and makes a quiet request for coffee, dark and strong, then takes a seat on the barstool and looks around.

The sight of the white cat lying on the bar gets the first real smile from him in days.

"Hey, kitty." Bucky sets the coffee aside and holds out his hand for the feline to sniff. "You're probably not supposed to be up there, but I won't tell if you won't."

[mogget_cat]

Those soft ears swivel towards Bucky as he speaks, the green gaze unruffled but not unfriendly. The comfortable cat sniffs the outstretched hand in amiable curiosity, then lightly butts its head against Bucky's fingers. They have an accord. It won't tell a soul.

After all, the thing shaped like a cat is of the opinion that the best things in life are those that someone, somewhere, disapproves of you doing. It's a good life.

[nerves_of_ice]

The request is obvious, and Bucky smiles a little as he rubs behind the cat's ears. "Good kitty," he tells it.

[mogget_cat]

Yrael does his best; he find it's mostly down to general shape and body langua- oh that's probably not what Bucky meant.

There is a steady, contented purring vibrating through the cat's soft form, and those leaf-green eyes half-close in pleasure as it leans into the ear-rubs. He's found a good one here!

[nerves_of_ice]

"There you go, buddy." His coffee is growing cold, but he doesn't care. It's been a while since he's spent any real time around a cat, and this one's certainly well-cared for and happy.

[mogget_cat]

The cat is definitely happy, to judge by the steady purring, but is also an understanding old hand at social interaction. To maximize scritches, lavishing attention upon the cat must not be too much of an inconvenience to the scritcher, else the attention might wane and the scritches might end before the cat is ready for them to.

So at some point, the cat streeetches, gets to its paws, and pads unhurriedly down the bar a bit to languorously settle closer to Bucky - a clear sign of favor that also coincidentally helps facilitate the occasional break for coffee. Seen standing rather than in a comfortably boneless puddle of fur, it is clear the cat is on the smallish side for an adult cat; it was not always so well cared for and happy as it is now.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Hey, thanks," he says, amused, as the cat settles closer. Bucky takes advantage of the chance to take a swallow of coffee, and returns to petting him.

"Were you once a scrappy guy?" he asks, as he notes the cat's relative size and apparent age. "Found your way here and into the cream, huh?"

It's not like he expects an answer, but why not talk? Cats have ears, after all, and can pick up a lot from a tone of voice.

[mane_event]

It's obvious why Yrael picked that spot - it's just right for attention and potential scritched, and the light from the back door hits the bar in just the right way for warmth and comfort.

Which is why shortly the white coil becomes a yin-yang symbol of white and gold.

[mogget_cat]

Picking out the best lounging spot is a very important skill to develop, even for kings. Maybe especially for kings. Yrael wouldn't know. In any case, Yrael greets Simba with a comfortable head-bump.

[mane_event]

Simba mumbles something that's purr-like in attitude, despite lacking the equipment to do a real purr, and rubs his head back against Yrael.

"Hey."

Just a hey. He's too comfortable for much more.

[mogget_cat]

They are boneless piles of comfort. "Hey," Yrael agrees lazily, stretching languorously as a full-body yawn catches him.

[hat_and_dimples]

Jin Guangyao has taken a brief break from his very busy schedule and his very happy just to lounge by the bar and pet a not!cat for a bit.

[mogget_cat]

The cat, for its part, is content to lean its head against A-Yao's fingers and begin purring loudly. "Good afternoon, my friend."

[hat_and_dimples]

"Good afternoon, Yrael," A-Yao says, sighing softly and leaning his forehead against the white fur for a moment. "I am so glad to be back here. Life is wild at the moment."

[mogget_cat]

"I am glad you are here, as well," Yrael agrees, fur and purrs both warm. "Even if Life is being inconveniently unruly. What is happening?"

[hat_and_dimples]

"Big conference to organise, and strange rumours going around," Jin Guangyao says. "Worrying if seemingly random events reported from all over the place, and people popping up where they shouldn't be."

[mogget_cat]

"Mwrrr," Yrael commiserates, resting his chin on A-Yao's hand and looking up at him with eyes the color of new spring leaves. "Anything I can help with?"

[hat_and_dimples]

"This is enough, my friend," A-Yao says, with one of his most genuine smiles involving both dimples and teeth. "I wouldn't involve you in the viper pit that is my life."

[the_cupbearer]

Ganymede will do one better; not only does he pet, but he brought fresh fish too. Admittedly it's sushi (for him) and a selection of delightful sashimi pieces for Yrael.

"You, my fine friend, look thoroughly lazy. I'd almost believe you were actually a cat."

But Ganymede knows better.

[mogget_cat]

The not'cat purrs and chuckles, indeed thoroughly lazy, leaning his head into the curve of Ganymede's fingers. "Almost? What detail did I miss? I will correct it."

[the_cupbearer]

"I'm not sure the fault lies with you, but with me," Ganymede chuckles, scratching down through Yrael's thick white fur. "I've seen you interested enough in other things. Decidedly un-cat-like."

[mogget_cat]

"Currrrrrrses," mwrrs the not'cat, purring steadily with green eyes mostly closed, threatening to melt into a boneless puddle of happy not'cat. "Alas."

[the_cupbearer]

"Oh yes, you seem terribly affronted," Ganymede laughs, flicking the end of Yrael's tail between his fingers.

"How have you been, Yrael?"

[mogget_cat]

"I have been well," mwrrs the not'cat, contentedly, his tailtip flicking against Ganymede's fingers in return. "The sun is warm and good for naps, the bar clientele is generous with delicious food and scritches, and I have been asked to sing in an upcoming charity concert in my New Orleans, with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra."

[the_cupbearer]

"Ah, I shall have to come see it, and you," he says. "If you'll have me."