poly_chromatic | four fallen stars

Entry tags:

darker than black - mao

four fallen stars

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[Mao dozes on the floor of Yin's apartment, loling about in a patch of sunlight. If he were still human, being trapped inside because of the snowstorm would have driven him crazy, but as a cat it's easy enough to pass the time sleeping.

He rolls over, and cracks an eye open. Notices that the device is open and on. Stands up, yawns, and strolls over. Lies down on top of it -- not to shut the device, of course. Just because he's a cat and cats do strange things.]

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[ Cats do strange things -- and humans not-so-strange things. He'd dropped in to check on Yin earlier -- only to be laid up by the blizzard. Unable or unwilling to sit still, he'd hovered by the window, watching the billowing white gusts of snow, before decamping to the kitchen. ]

[ You'll find him at the counter with a colorful spread of vegetables, chopping them in quick tok-tok-toks while meat slices sizzle over the wok. Don't mind him, Yin. If he has nothing better to do, he may as well feed you. If his appetite spares any leftovers, that is. ]

[After Hei left the window, Yin went by it for a time, walked by Mao to pet him, then entered the kitchen to see what Hei was doing. Seeing the multicolored display, her stomach voiced its opinion, and she, of course, wasn't ashamed or bothered by that. She just continued looking as if nothing had happened, and as if she wasn't terribly hungry.]

[Mao begins purring without realizing it as Yin pets him...and then continues purring as though it's part of some deliberate plan as opposed to an instinctive response to a pleasant stimulus. He's not actually a cat, after all.

He cracks an eye open to watch Yin and Hei in the kitchen. It's an almost disconcertingly domestic moment.

He starts browsing the network. He's nobody's pet.]

[ Disconcerting doesn't begin to describe it. But there's a familiar pattern here, with Yin hovering nearby. Hei's cooked their meals and done their laundry enough times during their weeks on the run. All that's absent is that choking, ever-present tension. He can hardly complain. ]

[ There's a brief quirk to his lips when her stomach growls. He doesn't glance up from slicing the tomatoes, juice running like blood on the cutting board. But he does hand her a small bowl of carrot strips to munch on (after taking a fistful for the stir-fry). ]

It shouldn't take long, Yin.

[ Now eat your veggies. You look sort of peaked. ]

[She always looks that way. But with the bowl handed to her, she delicately pulls out a single strip and munches quietly on it. It's only when she's finished - with the one bit - she puts the bowl aside and goes to the cupboard to get out a can of catfood. A fish flavor; something with salmon.]

[If they are going to eat, then Mao should be fed as well. Didn't seem right, otherwise. A reminder that, no, he's not a pet, but he is a cat, and he should still join them.]

[Mao knew moving in with you was a good idea, Yin. He stands up, stretches like he doesn't have a care in the world, and paws over to the kitchen. Jumps up onto the counter and sniffs at what Hei's cooking.]

Mmmmm.

[ Such a thoughtful roommate, Yin. Hei can count on both hands how often he neglected feeding Mao because he was too caught up in his own business. Idly, he wonders if getting a pet for his flat is such a good idea. A goldfish would give him trouble. Consideration still wells up in him as rarely as nausea or gas. ]

[ (But it's nice, isn't it, to be able to make exceptions?) ]

[ He continues working while Yin does her thing and Mao leaps onto the counter. The wok sizzles as he throws in the tomato slices. He stirs without glancing at Mao, ]

It's Chinese tomato beef.

[ Re: Yes, you can have some. ]

[Perhaps a cat contractor can eat human food? Yin hadn't really considered that, thinking more of the cat body needs. She watches them, waiting to see which Mao will accept.]

[He'll take both. The cat food tastes better to his current palate, but the smell of beef is very, very tempting. Besides, nobody's making him choose.]

Yin, have you seen anything more of the man with the camera?

[ Hei keeps by the stove, still stirring the wok's contents on a low flame. But he also keeps half an ear on Mao's question and Yin's response. The City has enough prying eyes. Between the arrival of M16's Doll and the ever-cropping Network devices, he'd prefer no further threats to his (or the team's) privacy. ]

[She shook her head to Mao's question. Then, without being prompted, supplied a little extra information.] There was an uninformative post on the network. [Nothing else, and other than keeping an eye on him with the camera, she had lost interest in him.]

[Nothing more than that. Good. Mao begins cleaning his left hind leg.]

[ There's a sharp look at Mao -- No grooming on the kitchen counter. Granted, it's Yin's kitchen. But whatever. Details. Hei slips the whole mess of beef and tomatoes sizzling from the pan onto two plates. Stoops to put a few strips in Mao's bowl, before setting the dishes on the table. One for Yin. One for him. Settling down, he begins to eat, ignoring the flatware, using a hand. ]

[ The first bite is hot from the grease. He sucks in air to cool his burning tongue. Focusing on Yin, he asks, ]

What about that Doll from M16? [ July ] Is he still at the Welcome Center? [ In the wrong hands, the boy could quickly become a liability. ]

[Yin, on the other hand, is using a fork, with barely anything on it, and it hasn't even reached her mouth once before Hei's question. She pauses and holds off taking that first bite until she's answered Hei. She starts with a shake of her head.]

He went with Mad Hatter. [At least, that was the name he had used on his latest post. And Yin was certain the person she had spied on had been called Hatter by nir's comrades. So, she even knew the person - the one who had bought her new coat, and the new dress she hadn't worn yet. Seemed safe enough for a young Doll like July.]

[Fuck you, Hei, he'll groom where he pleases. But Hei's just about done cooking, so he jumps off the counter and goes to munch on his food.

Mmmmmmmmm, tasty. He keeps his ears perked forward to listen to their conversation, but doesn't add anything. He has nothing to add.]

[ Mad Hatter? There's a pause in Hei's chewing, almost imperceptible. Then he swallows and pops another strip of beef into his mouth. There's no inflection in his voice, but it's notably clipped. ]

Be careful if he's with Hatter. She's too inquisitive for her own good. If she learns of his ability, it could be trouble for us. [ Considering she's seen through a large extent of 'Li's persona. But he has only his awful temper to blame for that. ]

[Yin doesn't notice the pause, but the sound of his voice is duly noted. It's also good to know Hatter is a she, finally. Information also filed away.]

[Then Hei's warning. Yin nods to it. But she also wonders something....] I have met with Mad Hatter. She bought a dress for me. [Is that going to be a problem? Since it was from this person Hei seems concerned about.]

[Mao's just here, eating and listening. Chekov restored his mind...mostly. Some pieces of information were too corrupted to be saved, though.]

[ Bought her a dress? This time, Hei pauses mid-bite. There's no visible alarm on his face. But under the kitchen lights, his complexion is slightly anemic. ]

When was this?

[ During her shopping trip? What was the extent of their interaction? He wants details. The idea of Yin hanging around that woman doesn't sit well with him. ]

When I shopped for a coat. [Which Hatter bought as well. And another dress.]

[And, unless you ask, Hei, no more details are forthcoming. Yin does give Mao a glance, then attempts to finally eat that bite of hers that's been midair for a while now.]

Problem, Hei?

[ He waits until Yin stops chewing, before interrogating her further. To Mao, he says only, ] Just an irritant. [ The City overflows with them. Some harmless, some virulent. He refocuses on Yin, eyes narrowed, ] Did Hatter say anything strange to you? Did she try anything untoward? [ He ignores the irony that he sounds partways like a concerned parent. None of this is funny. Not to him. ]

[ Hatter's tastes in entertainment are no secret. Yin fits the bill perfectly. ]

[Untoward? Hei is usually serious, but even she can comprehend he's more so than usual. Just what has Hatter done?]

[She shakes her head to Hei's question.] She only paid for things. [Which was strange enough.]

[I don't know, Hei. Mao thinks this is pretty hilarious.]

Are you concerned for her virtue?

[ He shoots Mao a frigorific stare. Oh, you got jokes. ] I've browsed the Network. The Mad Hatter is a deviant and a possible pedophile. [ Her possession of MI6's Doll is tactical disadvantage -- but that's the extent of Hei's concern. Learning she was around Yin fills him with an entirely different, entirely colder disquiet. ]

[ Irrational, yes. But he's human. He can make allowances. ]

Yin. If she speaks with you again, keep your Network device closeby. [ Easier access in case of trouble. He'll be redoubling his own surveillance, just as a precaution. ]

[At hearing this, Yin puts down her fork completely. Pedophile. There's a flicker, a brief, mere grain of discomfort thinking July was to stay with someone like that. Hei won't be the only one surveying more often.]

[To Hei's words, she nods her head. And yet:] The two times I've spoken with her nothing has been strange. [She knows Hei likely won't be soothed with her words, but they are the facts.]

[At this rate, Mao will be the only one to not care. A child staying with a pedophile -- he understands why this is a "bad" thing, that July very likely is not safe. But what does that have to do with him? It doesn't affect his safety in any way. Whatever happens or doesn't happen to July doesn't affect Mao at all. Yin's safety is of greater importance, but that's not saying much either. They're both dolls. Yin's value is in how she affects the material comfort of his life, nothing more. (That she has any affect on his life isn't a sign of affection; it's just a fact.)]

[ A few years ago, Hei would've shared Mao's mindset about Yin. Her safety often correlated directly to the safety of his whole team or operation (Her memory isn't bad, she knows all about us Huang had once said. ) To compromise her well-being was to endanger his own survival. But it's always been more than that for Hei. It doesn't show on his face, but the idea of her being harmed sparks something in him. ]

[ It's not rage, but it's close -- a cold black simmer. ]

[ He absorbs Yin's words without expression. It would be a redundancy to tell her not every monster (unlike those batshit vampires he sees on the Network) broadcasts its fangs. She should know that. They're in the business of liars. The man who cooked her lunch is living, breathing proof. ]

Next time she speaks to you, I'll decide that.

[ He doesn't know if Hatter's attentions are harmless or malicious. But he won't throw caution to the wind. Not where Yin's concerned. ]

[She knows. And while Hatter is likely not safe - Hei's tone says so - Yin is fairly certain Hatter is not a danger to her. At least not now. Still, one never knows when that might change.]

[Hei's word is the final word on the matter, this time. Yin nods her head in agreement, then, once again, picks up her fork for a small bite of food.]

[And Mao will just keep eating his food. Kitty dun care.]

[ oh, but she was enjoying the view. The fat kitty looked so nice and plump and juicy... ]

[Mao notices this when he checks the network later via his earchip.

Creepy. Fucking. Woman.

Not that he's scared. Contractors don't have feelings. No, he is just very sensibly aware that she is a very dangerous person to have interested in him.

Fuck.]

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four fallen stars

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