Cherubplay

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"They were not depressing so much as frustrating. Speaking of which, I still want to teach you to drive..." He looked over at the cat and smiled a bit, clicking his tongue to try and get it to come back over to him.

And yet here you are, chatting with me.

The sliding door to the dojo clattered open and a rain-soaked mountain of a man ducked inside. Upon closer inspection he wasn't a man so much as a beanpole of a boy, and he held a shivering bundle of calico fur in the crook of his arm. Zane shut the door behind him with his foot and sat down against the wall beside it, snatching a nearby towel to nestle the small cat. Most of the lights were out in the building, but a dim glow shone from the private rooms in the back and occasionally lightning would send shadows into sharp contrast along the edges of mats and equipment.

At the slam and footsteps, a shorter silhouette appeared in the bright doorway and trudged over to look down at him. "What're you doing here, Everest?" Cale had decided it a suitable nickname for the near-snow-topped giant. Zane gazed back up at him from behind his shaggy hair and said "Home was too far." He hadn't really /wanted/ to go that way, either. This place was preferable to that one. The other boy shrugged and got comfortable next to him, and the movement in the towel caught his eye. "Whatcha got there?"

"A cat. Would you like to hold her?" He held the little thing out and the protruding head emitted a hiss, sending Cale jerking back.

"Uh, no thanks. Animals and I don't get along."

"...oh. That is too bad." He didn't ask why. Obviously this was before he became aware of the vampire situation. Zane pulled the quivering form back to his soaked sweater, gently rubbing the water from its tail with the fabric, and Cale watched for a few seconds before asking "How'd you know it was a she, anyways?"

"Calicos are inherently female. I suppose males are a possibility, but they are exceedingly rare."

"You have a book on this or something?"

"Not really...I just like them. As you enjoy fighting, and so know a lot about that."

"Whatever, cat boy."

"I thought it was Everest. Or Zane, actually, would be preferred if you are not going to settle on a consistent nickname. Is Ms. Chaudri still awake?"

"Of course she is. Fine, Mittens then."

"...what? Why?"

"Why is she awake or why Mittens?"

"Both, I think."

"Too much green tea. Because you have big hands and a cat obsession."

Zane looked down at his hands. Admittedly, they were quite large. "Oh. Um. I guess that makes sense." Outside, the rain died down, and the pitter-patter on the roof dwindled to steady dripping from the gutter. Cale pushed himself to his feet and stretched, carefully avoiding the cat. "You heading out again now?"

The boy remained on the floor, thoughtfully petting the now-purring cat and staring into space, and then looked back at him with hopeful, nervous dark eyes. "...do you think I could...stay here for the night? If it is not too much to ask?"

Cale blinked in surprise, then smiled a little and nodded. "Sure, big guy. Come on. I'll get you a sleeping bag."

2015-07-18 07:24:41

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"It...really isn't necessary, Zane. It's New York." She then gave a worried glance at the cat, looking at it before the memory started.

You learn to do and control things when you're as old as I am.

She closed her eyes and inhaled through her nose, taking the memory in. This one seem a bit more happy, even if Cale was still being a prick. Zane must of really enjoyed cats. Though...Ms. Chaudri was a new person in his life. Must of been his teacher.

2015-07-18 07:39:14

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"Still." He lifted the cat onto his lap, then noticed her eyes were closed and watched her. Was she going to fall asleep too?

Control's a dangerous thing to have over someone else's head, as I'm sure you know.

2015-07-18 07:45:19

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She opened her eyes and turned to look back at him . "Sorry, I saw something...again."

Yeah well Ivory and I didn't have a choice in this.

2015-07-18 07:47:02

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"Oh. Really? What was it?"

I'm sure I'll find out what that's supposed to mean shortly.

2015-07-18 07:51:46

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"You...brought a cat to a dojo? At least it seemed like that. I watch a lot of animes so I kinda assumed that's what it was."

More than likely, because you and Lucinda tried to get trigger happy.

2015-07-18 07:54:01

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He looked confused for a moment before he realized what she was talking about. "That is what Ms. Chaudri called it, yes. Though I think I may have brought more than one cat there over the course of my years attending." He shrugged and scratched his current victim behind the ears.

I didn't even know she was serious about the gun until she used it.

2015-07-18 08:00:13

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"I've always wanted cats, but my mother was allergic to them, and then I moved in with Lance."

OF COURSE SHE WAS SERIOUS WHY WOULDN'T SHE BE?!

2015-07-18 08:02:26

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"That is too bad. There are always Sphynxes, though, those are bred for people with allergies."

Jesus, no need for an outburst. Because almost nothing /else/ she said was serious.

2015-07-18 08:06:38

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"Yes, that is true. i don't know, maybe she also hated animals? I was home by myself a lot so that was also a thing."

It's /Lucinda/. The fact that you don't take anything she says seriously is a problem enough.

2015-07-18 08:09:38

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"...oh. Yes, maybe that was a problem as well..."

Not for me.

2015-07-18 08:11:49

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"Oh well, I guess. Shit happens. Enjoy the cat while you can."

Because you're an idiot.

2015-07-18 08:13:23

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His face fell and he hugged it to his chest quietly.

Speak for yourself, you haven't even figured out my name yet. I may be a selfish asshole, but I'm hardly stupid.

2015-07-18 08:16:26

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She then noticed that he was upset. "Hey." She placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's not so bad."

...Clarenz what is his name?

Madison.

Now I know.

2015-07-18 08:19:54

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He flinched slightly, but showed no signs of being aware that he'd done it. "I do not know about that, from all perspectives it seems pretty bleak..."

Oh, very amusing. I meant /for yourself/, since you're surely capable of that. Either way, are you done yet?

2015-07-18 08:27:13

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"Well nothing worthwhile is ever easy."

Why? So you can fuck up my best friend eve more? Should I just introduce you to Spyders and let you two be the best of friends and save the trouble of having to kill you both separately the second Ivory realizes what's going on?

2015-07-18 08:30:11

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"This is worthwhile?"

There are two problems with that, first, fuck Spyders, second, she's never going to realize what's going on, believe me, I tried. Also, we can't 'fuck her up' any more, to the best of my knowledge, so that shouldn't even be a concern of yours.

2015-07-18 08:33:30

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"I...Yeah. I think so. It's better than being alone."

She will. Trust me.

2015-07-18 08:34:54

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Alone? He'd thought she was talking about the entire vampire thing. What /was/ she talking about? "Or dead, I guess...maybe..."

Guess what? I don't.

2015-07-18 08:40:58

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"Yeah... that too. Death sucks."

Thought so.

2015-07-18 08:41:40

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"......was that a pun?"

And with that, I'm done here.

2015-07-18 08:42:33

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She smiled. "A small one?"

2015-07-18 08:43:28

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The corners of his mouth flicked upwards slightly and the cat growled its annoyance at his grip. He loosened his scratched arms and it stretched on his crosslegged lap, kneading its claws into one of his mismatched sneakers.

2015-07-18 08:49:05

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"Seems like it doesn't like to be held for too long. What a shame."

2015-07-18 08:49:55

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"I think I was just holding him too tightly." It began pulling at his shoelaces. He moved his foot away and tugged on them to tighten the knot again, and....they snapped. He sighed.

2015-07-18 08:54:50