01 ❂ Polaris

[absentconstellation]

[ Tufts of fluff frame the image of a black cat with purple eyes, sitting upright and looking directly into the camera. The Cat could certainly push them out of the way if he wanted to. He doesn't feel like it. You can deal with his fluffy pillow tripod, and be jealous. His whole room is nothing but cat beds and towers and lovely things to scratch. You wish you had it this good.

He wears a collar a darker shade of purple than his eyes, with a charm in the shape of the Goddess' triple moon hanging from it. ]

Hello.

[ Although the cat is clearly meowing, his words are perfectly understandable as human speech. ]

So that we might not waste too much time in explanation, I will introduce myself. I am a warden on this ship, and you may call me Pounce. My true name is not one that you could comprehend, and is hardly relevant to my work here.

I am a cat.

[ He states this definitively, as many have questioned as to whether or not he is a cat. He is. Not a normal mortal cat, but definitely a cat. ]

Animals in the Mortal Realms of my universe are not typically capable of human speech. I am perfectly happy on a diet of chopped meat and water. I will not harm any of the Beast People here. They are my little brothers, and I am well fed. You may pet me if you wish, so long as you are respectful. I will also accept treats of any kind.

Comments

[tucky]

[Score.]

And fast ones. Bet it thought you were gonna eat it, though.

[absentconstellation]

He calmed down once I explained matters to him. Rabbits tend to think that everything that moves is going to eat them.

[tucky]

Did it think I was going to eat it?

[absentconstellation]

Naturally.

[ There's amusement in his voice. ]

[tucky]

Well, I have before, you know. Just not a pet one. Wild ones.

[absentconstellation]

As have I, when a need arose. They are quite tasty.

[tucky]

Yeah, they are! Not too hard to hunt, neither. It was a lot harder to try to catch this one with my hands.

[absentconstellation]

He had the element of surprise on his side.

[tucky]

Yeah, and the fact that I was trying not to hurt it.

[absentconstellation]

All was well in the end. Though I would advise you to be more cautious of animals in the future.

[tucky]

I didn't know there were that many around here at first. Now I think everyone has a pet, probably.

[absentconstellation]

[ He speaks now so that only she can understand him, though the feed is still public. To anyone else it will sound like regular old cat sounds. ]

You make a very poor thief.

[ He cleans his paw, showing no sign that he disapproves of such behavior. ]

[tucky]

Well, I ain't a thief. Usually. There were special circumstances.

[absentconstellation]

Special circumstances that ended poorly for you, I can only assume.

[tucky]

Nope. It worked out just fine.

I got let into the pool.

[absentconstellation]

[ He stares at her for a long time. Fun fact: cats don't blink. ]

If that was all you wanted you need only have asked.

[tucky]

I did ask. And he said he'd let me in if I got him some beer.

[absentconstellation]

Did it occur to you that there might be more people than one that you could ask?

[tucky]

I did not think about it. At that time.

[absentconstellation]

Then you are a poor negotiator, as well as a poor thief.

[tucky]

At least I got in the pool.

[absentconstellation]

True enough. It could have gone much worse than it did.

[tucky]

Yeah.

You gonna tell anyone?

[absentconstellation]

Why should I tell anyone that you enjoy swimming?

[ That's a 'no'. ]

[tucky]

No, no-- I mean, about breaking into people's rooms.

[That's a "your implication went completely over my head".]

I really, really don't wanna go to lock-up.