☼ 004 [video]

[got_it_memorized]

[See Axel. See Axel looking puzzled. See Axel looking puzzled with a very small cat sitting neatly on his shoulder, mesmerized by this strange device in Axel's hands.]

So this happened. [He shrugs the shoulder that is not a cat perch.] I was near the ruins and... Well, she followed me home, you might say. As in she staged a hostile takeover of my hoodie pocket.

[He looks a little uncomfortable. Watch out, Axel, your squishy side might be showing.]

I think she's still too small to take care of herself, you know? So... [Fidget fidget. The little cat blinks at the screen, then turns to look at Axel and impulsively bonks her head against his jaw. Great. Cat, you're not helping that squishy side showing thing at all.] I've never had a cat before.

[Translation: HALP?]

Comments

[boundbyheart]

....You got yourself a cat.

[got_it_memorized]

Your powers of deduction are staggering.

And it wasn't really my idea. She kind of adopted me.

Voice

[wilder]

[oh hey it's Sheena's roommate! With a cat. Which he knows nothing about EXCEPT-]

You sure she's not a zombie, right?

Voice

[got_it_memorized]

Kaneis? [That's kind of an odd thing to ask, but then... Kaneis is kind of an odd guy.] Pretty sure. I mean, she's like. Breathing and stuff. And doesn't seem interested in eating my brains, so far as I can tell. Also she's not green and doesn't reek of death or anything, so I think she's all right.

[Suddenly he's not so confident though.]

There haven't been any reports of zombie animals again recently, have there?

action | locked to roommates

[got_it_memorized]

[So let's back up a little. Axel did indeed find the cat by the ruins, and she did indeed commandeer his hoodie to hitch a ride to a new home. And he was indeed unable to just say no and leave her there. So now he stands in front of the door to his apartment, unsure what to do next. He doesn't think Sheena or Riku will mind having another critter in the house (so long as she doesn't try and eat Luna or anything), but he's not quite sure how to broach the subject.

Pulling the little creature from his pocket, Axel holds her up in front of him and frowns.]

You're not makin' this easy, you know? I have a very important reputation to maintain: I'm an assassin, okay? Assassins don't adopt cute cuddly kittens.

[The cat doesn't seem moved by his words and instead swats at those two little stray spikes of hair that spring forward from his hairline.]

Cat. Cat focus, I'm talking here.

[Nope, now it's a game.

[With a heavy sigh, Axel just gives up and puts the cat on his head, turning the doorknob and stepping inside hesitantly. Maybe no one's home and he'll have time to come up with a dramatic cover story.]

[fujibayashi]

[Sheena is there, unfortunately, so no dramatic cover story for you. She's in the middle of cleaning off the furniture (god, all this hair) when she sees Axel come in.]

Oh, hey--

[That's... a cat. Sheena blinks once, twice, then asks:]

Why is there a cat on your head?

[limitstorm]

[ after a long day at work and greeting new arrivals, riku heads back to the unit. it always tends to pour around this time; he's at least prepared for the deluge, with two jackets and a new scarf around his neck. maybe it was the sickness that made him take a little more care of himself, or maybe it's just that it's about this time that the heavy rains come in destiny islands--either way, he's got a bag of groceries (ugh, the man he usually could haggle with was giving him a cold shoulder all of a sudden--what a hassle) as he opens the door, tossing back his hood. but as soon as both feet are inside, what he sees is a flash of white and grey streaking across the ground.

stellaluna seems to be leading the assault, but riku's too focused on the kitten, so much so that-- ]

Cat.

[ --is the first thing out of his mouth. ]

video;

[taijiya]

[Sango opens the feed with her own cat perched on her own shoulder, which Axel will of course recognize despite her reduced size.]

Well, she looks old enough to have teeth, so at least you're not stuck trying to find milk for her to get down...

I'd suggest fish, but considering the state of the water...

video;

[got_it_memorized]

[Oh, hi Sango! Yes good, advise him, fellow cat owner!]

Wh-- Oh, she's got a pocket-size too, huh? [Interesting.] That's convenient. I was wondering how you got her in your apartment when she was all huge.

And yeah, she's got teeth--little needley ones. She can prolly eat some canned tuna, though, that's a good idea. Cats are carnivores, right? So... I guess I'll just ask Sheena and Riku to set aside a little bit of whatever they're makin' for dinner before they cook it or something.

Video

[icy_heavens]

Followed you home. [Right. Sure. That's exactly what Elliot had claimed with his own cat. Nope, doesn't believe you. No matter how you dress it up, you willingly took the cat with you.]

I take it you've no clue how to look after her?

Video

[got_it_memorized]

Well something like that. She made herself at home in my hoodie.

[Shhhh, stop with that logic it was totally an unwilling reverse-hostage situation.]

I never had a cat when I was a kid, we didn't really have the resources to have a pet. I kinda know the general basics of how to take care of another living thing, but any cat-specific details are prolly lost on me.

video;

[givetheslip]

Have you got rats in your housing?

video;

[got_it_memorized]

Haven't seen any. [Chuckle.] She's a little small to be catching rats at the moment, though--they'd be almost as big as she is.

[theboywhodied]

It looks like she likes you already. Have you thought of a name yet?

[got_it_memorized]

[This is a new face. Hello stranger.]

Her name's Dusk. ... 'Cuz that's when I found her.

[There's actually also a more complicated reason that's her name, but it's a very long complicated story, so he'll stick to this one.]

video; you have summoned the crazy cat man

[dawningsun]

She's quite the charming beast.

Should you require any food, I can provide some for you and tell you where to obtain more. Have you ever cared for a cat before?

ooh, noted! is there a cat signal to summon him as well?

[got_it_memorized]

She is rather charming. Moreso now than when she was climbing my leg to invade my sweatshirt pocket, anyway.

Good to know, I appreciate it. Pet supplies are kinda rare in this place, I have to think. And no... I always wanted one when I was a kid, to be honest, but it wasn't in the cards.

I'm Axel. And you are...?

voice

[imperfect]

[More cat owners... Sheesh, it's a plague all on its own.

And one that means fewer potential adopters for the damned furballs still currently kicking around the Elrics' apartment, so obviously this calls for an intervention.]

It'll never learn to take care of itself if you don't let it learn, you know.

voice

[got_it_memorized]

I'm all for letting people make their own mistakes, trust me. She kind of wouldn't take no for an answer, though.

video;

[substitutable]

I'm not an expert on cats, but if you're going to feed it milk, don't get the dairy kind you'd find at grocery stores. Those come from herbivores so they don't have the right nutrients.

[... Although he doubts you'd be able to find baby milk here.]

Water might be your best bet.

video;

[got_it_memorized]

Oh, right cats like milk don't they? I didn't know they couldn't have herbivore milk, but I guess that makes sense.

[video]

[blossomgale]

Did you adopt her? ...That would make you a father!

[video]

[got_it_memorized]

Er... well, I don't got anything on paper or anything. [Father? Sheesh, he's not sure he'd go that far.] If anything she adopted me; she's the one who decided to follow me home.

video;

[bittertears]

[cats. hee~]

And have you given her a name as of yet?

video;

[got_it_memorized]

Her name's Dusk. S'when I found her, after all. Also happens to be my favorite time of day, so it seemed appropriate.