040 x 040 // video/action // halloween sunset

[dignity_misery]

[ She had not put the ears on intending to wear them for long. It had been the most idle of indulgences before she had intended on tossing the silly things aside and going about her evening. Apparently, she should have taken the warnings about Halloween night a bit more seriously. It's her first year of it, you'll have to forgive her.

So now, as one might notice, there is a very irritated black cat staring into the camera, yellow eyes narrowed and tail thumping vigorously. She stares a moment longer before she gets up delicately, lip curling at the video with a hiss before she makes her way over to an open window, jumping up onto the sill and then heading out.

She knows exactly who to blame for this, but she's not above directing her wrath at any other passersby. ]


[[ooc; Pretend I'm posting this at the appropriate time. Replies will come from hissingfit. Please allow me to be a pissy black cat at you. Yes/yes? She will be at Hatter's party, once she turns back.]]

Comments

what's new, pussycat?

[intheblanks]

[Chase's lazy concession to a costume has been to soak a mask in red food colour and leave it dangling round his neck for the day. Accessorised with the usual work scrubs, he's been complimented on his outfit more than once since leaving the hospital. Work smart, not hard: it always pays off.]

what's new, pussycat?

[hissingfit]

[Oh yes. There he is. Her eyes narrow down to slits, slinking around the edge of sight, positioning herself carefully. It's always when you least expect it that a cat darts out from hiding in order to tangle itself in your feet, isn't it.]

what's new, pussycat?

[intheblanks]

[Like on the way out of the grocery store. Chase is too quick on his feet, even when they're under attack, to trip up completely, but he quicksteps an awkward little dance in the attempt to keep his balance, and loses the milk carton from his brown paper bag to splash over the sidewalk. He's not quite quick enough to avoid the splash of white against his ankles.

He's not crying over spilt milk, but there are one or two choice curses as he crouches to steady himself.]

Where did you come from?

what's new, pussycat?

[hissingfit]

[She slips out of harm's way with a cat's grace, making her way up onto a mailbox to stare at him. Her tail flicks several times, before she gives a little sniff, heading off ahead of him to prepare other ways to make a nuisance of herself. There are flower pots to push off higher ledges, entire bike racks to knock over in his path, places to hide around corners where she can give a 'ferocious' hiss and send old ladies jumping right onto him.

The entire human world is at her disposal.]

what's new, pussycat?

[intheblanks]

[There is, essentially, only so much of this he's willing to take - although the flowerpots are ducked, the bikes caught and tipped back into position and the old lady sidestepped and soothed as appropriate with a lengthy discussion about 'kids these days' and the state of her nerves. Forewarned is forearmed and Chase is hard to catch out when he's prepared. Still, much more of this and something's going to find a target.

So, a short distance from the warehouse, he stops and sits down in the stoop of a once thriving, now empty shop. Just a sign of the city's high turnover.]

what's new, pussycat?

[hissingfit]

[She knows this isn't where he lives. And she's watching, sequestered beneath a bush with her tail continuing its agitated tattoo, back and forth and back and forth.

She will not, however, stay hiding indefinitely. She will eventually step slowly from under the branches, sitting far out of reach with a haughty look on her kitty face.]

what's new, pussycat?

[intheblanks]

[There are liquorice sticks in this grocery bag of his. They are not for questing halloween trick or treaters, just for him. He opens the bag and picks one, taking a bite before using the stick to gesture.]

You, are not a cat.

what's new, pussycat?

[hissingfit]

[Her eyes narrow and the way she licks her lips can only be described as snide.

First of all, she wants that licorice. Second of all, no she is not a cat and just whose fault is this.]

what's new, pussycat?

[intheblanks]

You're not a cat, and you're pissed at me for no good reason. I only know one person to whom both those things usually apply.

[He lowers his free hand to cat head height, pursing his lips to make that little summoning squeak cats seem to enjoy.]

Here, Carlinka.

* ^ *

[mortemscintilla]

[ He's finished his daily routine as 'Li'. Closing up the cafe, he crosses the dimly-lit street, a little smile still in place. By the time he's rounded a corner, it has disappeared. He feels like a clown taking off his rubber nose and retiring to finally relax. Except he has no intention of staying home. A hot bath, a change of clothes, and he'll head out again. Explore the Underground. Stay in one of his safehouses, tinkering with new weapons. Activity is preferable to the hazy nullity of drinks at a bar. ]

[ Even if both are identical in their purpose to distract. ]

[hissingfit]

[She's following him. Why not? It's the one time he won't notice, won't pull back on the 'clown' face and try to divert her. She knows there's something better under there. She'd rather experience it, but she's not picky enough to object to only watching today.]

[mortemscintilla]

[ What he does isn't terribly fascinating. Hands in pockets, slightly stooped ('Li's costume not fully discarded yet), he navigates his way through the street. The only 'cat' he's used to following him is Mao. In a way, the scene, all unawares to him, is an ironic echo of home. ]

[ Snooping is omnipresent, wherever he goes. ]

[ Stopping at a sidewalk cart, he buys scallion pancakes dripping oily black sauce in a Styrofoam box. Settles on a bench, wielding chopsticks with uncanny speed and stuffing his face. ]

[hissingfit]

[She would really like some of those pancakes... She comes into sight with her head tilted, giving one faint mew.]

[mortemscintilla]

[ Hearing the mew he glances up. Ignoring a jolt of deja-vu (not Mao. Just someone's cat), he tilts his head to one side, almost echoing the cat's pose -- questioning, expectant. ]

Hungry?

[hissingfit]

[She sits down a little ways from his feet, her own paws placed in neat symmetry beneath her. Her tail curls around her side peaceably, staring with her ears up and alert.

Yes. Yes she is.]

[mortemscintilla]

[ He assumes the cat is someone's pet. It's a dim reminder that he needs to get one of his own. Except that's such a blatant sign of -- permanence? resignation? --to the City and its ways. But the alternative is playing chicken with himself until the ticking unspools his sanity. ]

[ Not a feasible option. ]

[ Fishing out a dripping chunk of pancake, he sets it neatly on the pavement. Enjoy, kitty. ]

[hissingfit]

[...On the pavement... motherfucker. She gives it a disgusted look for a moment, but she edges closer to sniff at it. Eventually she does take it up delicately, nibbling down the pieces. When she is done, she jumps up next to him, settling against his thigh with her paws neatly folded in front of her. Any further pancake servings should be placed there and not on the pavement.]

[othersdie]

[It's Halloween. As a City veteran, Justin knows what the night can bring; that's why he's hurrying home from work, hands in pockets, eyes on the ground. There won't be any costumes for him tonight.]

[hissingfit]

[Well, at least if your eyes are on the ground you will see her. She waits until he gets stuck on a corner letting a tram go past before she sits herself right on top of his shoe, staring up at him with a smug sort of expectancy.]

[othersdie]

[Justin has owned cats. The fact that a cat is sitting on his shoe doesn't really bother him. Actually, Carla-cat almost gets a rare smile as Justin reaches down to hold a hand out for her to inspect.]

[hissingfit]

[She lifts her chin, keeping eye-contact with him rather aggressively. Her tail swishes back and forth, batting against his shoes, but she hasn't started kneading her claws through the shoe yet, so that's something.

She pushes into his hand with a smug look, but maybe cats always look like that.]

[othersdie]

[This isn't outside of the realm of normal catlike behavior--not that Justin will immediately rule out the possibility that this is someone under the influence of a curse.

But, sometimes, a cat is just a cat.

Not being the sort of person to talk out loud to something that won't respond in kind, he just scratches the cat gently behind one ear.]

[hissingfit]

[She mews up at him snidely, eyes closing for a moment as she enjoys her free scritchies.

She takes her sweet time in getting off of his foot.]

[othersdie]

[Now freed, Justin gives the cat a nod (a gesture he would extend to any intelligent cat, as he respects the species) and makes for home.]

[hissingfit]

[She trots along behind him, leaving some trailing room between the two of them.]