patheticvillain | fifty-five ➢ spam & voice

private } mickey

Hey. You busy?

private } beyond

Got something for you.

spam

[Recovering from being disemboweled physically took about forty-five seconds. Recovering psychologically is taking a little bit longer. Cassel takes comfort in simple tasks and routines in the meantime, trying not to think about what happened with Creed or what happened in the Enclosure or what's going to happen next. There's this feeling like the other shoe is going to drop - not uncommon on the Barge, but not something he wants to deal with, either.]

[During the day, when he's not in the gym, he spends time in his room or in the common rooms with yarn in his lap, curled up in an armchair, knitting and purling on autopilot. He has no idea what he's making, which is usually how he goes about things. Eventually he casts off and picks it up, examining it in the light. It appears to be a tiny sweater with at least three arms.]

[He never said he was good at this.]

[At night, a lithe black cat roams the halls. To Cassel's credit, this time he's wearing a little blue collar with a name tag. On the other hand, it took him this long to come up with that, so maybe he's not so smart after all. He curls up on the backs of couches, winds between people's legs, and wanders into cabins behind their occupants, purring loudly and very insistently.]

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[the sound of the cat's purring is strangely comforting, but the shake of its head - it's odd, almost as if the cat understands what beyond is saying. but that's impossible. (isn't it?) still, it's acting in a friendly manner. beyond's guess, based on the observed behavior, is that it wants attention. cats are meant to be pet, right?

slowly, so as not to spook the cat, beyond bends down, hand hesitantly outstretched. he isn't sure of the proper way to approach; he's a student of human behavior, not feline.]

Do you belong to someone?

[it must be true; the cat is wearing a collar, after all.]

[Just like Beyond, Cassel is moving a little more cautiously than he would usually. With someone like Chris or Mickey, he'd just headbutt them until they pet him, but with Beyond, he is careful to sniff his hand for a moment before rubbing his head against the outstretched hand.]

[At the question, he bumps Beyond's hand up so he can look at him directly, meows again.]

[beyond actually smiles again. the meow is an agreeable sound; the cat's soft fur under his hand is a new - but pleasant - sensation.]

May I? [he asks, content to pretend the cat understands, as he gently twists the collar around to inspect the tag.]

[In response, Cassel tips his chin up so that Beyond can access the tag. It's silver-embossed with his name and no other identifying information. His tail twitches into a question-mark shape, almost amusement, as he looks up, waiting for him to figure it out.]

Cassel?

[beyond arches an eyebrow as he reads the tag aloud.]

I didn't know Cassel had a cat.

[of course, he doesn't actually know much about cassel in general, so.]

[Well, technically he does. But Ilia's away in his room, probably waiting for food to happen.]

[At the sound of his name, Cassel yowls and headbutts Beyond's hand again.]

[beyond can't help smiling again - something about the cat's behavior is just adorable. it's unfamiliar, but nonthreatening. he gently traces his fingers over the top of the cat's head, down the back of its neck.]

Is there something you want from me?

[Ahhh that's so great. Cassel closes his eyes and leans into the touch, so hard and so intensely that after a moment he falls over on his back.]

[He totally meant to do that.]

[it's almost inaudible, but beyond actually laughs - not one of his horrible grating laughs, either, a sound of actual amusement.]

You're a very interesting cat.

[This is probably the best thing Cassel has ever heard in his entire life. Yesterday he couldn't have imagined Beyond even smiling, and now here he is laughing like he's actually happy.]

[He rolls on his back, kicking his feet in the air.]

[this is, in fact, so cute that beyond decides to sit on the floor of the hallway next to the cat. leaving is unthinkable at this point; he may as well settle in.]

I certainly hope you're not an inmate.

[he reaches out, hesitant, to touch his front paws with the tip of his finger.]

[That's actually a really funny joke, Beyond, what the hell. Why would you make that joke when Cassel is in a body that literally can't laugh?]

[When Beyond touches his paw, Cassel curls his claws out, but very gently, so that they just barely scratch at his finger.]

I thought cats weren't supposed to be friendly.

[he doesn't mind the claws, though - they're delicate, like tiny fishing hooks, reeling him in.]

That's the reputation, I've heard.

[Cassel rolls around on his back, back and forth, batting gently at Beyond's fingers. Fuck that stereotype, he thinks. He is the friendliest cat ever.]

[Also the cutest.]

[beyond laughs quietly again, because yes, the absolute cutest. slowly, he moves his hand in closer to the cat, rubbing the side of his finger along the cat's chin.]

[He's so careful, Cassel thinks, as though he imagines the cat to be made of glass. Closing his eyes into the touch, he purrs, a vibration Beyond will be able to feel along the delicate bones of his jaw.]

[something about the purring, both the noise and the rapid pulsating sensation, is deeply soothing, on an almost primal level. beyond feels a strange sort of contentment, which isn't a thing he's used to feeling, but it doesn't scare him, it doesn't make him feel uncomfortable. there's no one around, except him and the cat.]

You're too nice of a cat for a place like this.

fifty-five ➢ spam & voice

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