04 ❂ Hydra

[absentconstellation]

[ For whatever reason, Pounce has chosen to make this post while lying on top of a file. It isn't evident from the video whose file it is, though that will become apparent in a moment. It does kind of look like he found it and immediately decided it was a bed, though. ]

I have evidently been entrusted with Arthas' file. Given the circumstances, however, I believe it is safe to assume that I will not be taking the role of his permanent warden. None the less, until I am told otherwise I shall consider myself responsible for him as though I were.

I presume you are still free of the Lich King, Arthas. So long as you do not try my patience I will keep my claws to myself.

Comments

[brbculling]

Quote my file all you want, you're still a cat.

[absentconstellation]

I never claimed I was not.

I will be joining you in the Zero floor, and accompanying you from then on.

[brbculling]

No you won't.

[absentconstellation]

Indeed I shall. But you may argue the point in person shortly, if you wish.

[ Pounce is heading down. Arthas can argue. Pounce can't be bothered. ]

-> spam?

[brbculling]

No!

[Arthas is standing against the bars, glaring at the door to Zero like he's daring it to open.

It's a cat. It's literally a cat. He is not going to be wardened. By a cat.]

spam

[absentconstellation]

[ When the door does open it does so as though it were politely asked, and it closes itself behind the Cat. Pounce then curls up in front of Arthas' cell and seems to go to sleep. ]

spam // timeskip

[brbculling]

Light damn it all.

[Arthas does a lot of pacing in the few days following. He's not good at sitting still, and rarely sleeps for more than two hours at a time.

Between that, there's gloating. The more secretive of the plans he makes are done in text, with suspicious glances at the cat.

Then, late on the fifth, the door lock clicks undone. The week is up.]

spam

[absentconstellation]

[ The cat never leaves his post, not to eat, not to drink. Nor does he interrupt any of Arthas' conversation nor try to reason with him. He has a job to do, and at the moment that means only being here, now.

When the door unlocks he stands up and yawns. ]

spam

[brbculling]

[Arthas steps over the cat briskly, fastens his cape back on as he strides for the exit.

Just gonna ignore it and hope it goes away, yup.]

spam

[absentconstellation]

[ Pounce is at his heel, as easily as if he were attached at the ankle. Closed doors are no obstacle, and he's careful not to get accidentally under foot. He is, essentially, a purple-eyed shadow. ]

Spam

[brbculling]

[The limits of Arthas' patience could be measured in millimeters. This time, it only takes him until halfway up the stairs.]

Go away.

Spam

[absentconstellation]

No.

[ At least he's a quiet companion? ]

Spam

[brbculling]

You are not my warden.

[He strides the stairs two at a time, not really thinking it'll help much but. It is a small cat?

The first floor is his cabin, and he clenches his fists until the leather of his gloves creaks when he opens the door. Someone's been through and taken everything - he can tell already.]

Spam

[absentconstellation]

[ The truly strange thing is that as soon as the cabin door is open Pounce is inside, without having actually walked through the door. That is perhaps the only thing that could stop him, and he has no intention of giving Arthas the chance. ]

Spam

[brbculling]

[Arthas narrows his eyes at the teleporting cat and flicks a knife out of his sleeve, one of the more disposable ones. Everything he cared about was in Richard's cabin anyway.]

Get out.

[He points behind him with the knife, into the hall.]

Spam

[absentconstellation]

I will not.

[ He will, however, jump up on the bed and curl up right where Arthas' head would go. ]

Spam

[brbculling]

[Arthas grinds his teeth. Fine. The cabin can hold in superpowered beings, he's tried it twice. The first time hadn't exactly been him initiating the experiment, but the point was -

He takes a half-step backwards into the hall and shuts the door.]

Spam

[absentconstellation]

[ If cats could sigh, Pounce would probably emit enough carbon dioxide to kill a large room full of people. As it is he simply pads up to the door and takes a swipe at it with his claws - the equivalent of a 500 kg beast with all its strength focused into less than 10 square centimeters. The result is a hole the size of a cat door and a large chunk of rent metal.

He doesn't even go through it. He just stands there and stares up at the man.

There is judgment in his eyes, the kind of judgment only a cat can give.

You made him do this. ]

Spam

[brbculling]

My door!

[Arthas is absolutely offended by this. His door.

He also throws the knife through the gap. Eat metal, door ruiner.]

Spam

[absentconstellation]

[ The whole world saw that coming, and quite suddenly the cat is behind Arthas' ankles. ]

You begin to try my patience.

Spam

[brbculling]

[Arthas pivots to face the cat.]

So do both of us a favor and go away.

Spam

[absentconstellation]

[ The Cat has had quite enough of this bickering and refuses to say anything at all. He will simply stare up at Arthas with those purple eyes and waving, agitated tail.

Spam

[brbculling]

You can evade all you want, [Arthas says, after a few seconds of the impromptu staring contest.]

If you can't stop me, you're irrelevant.

[He strides off down the hall again. He doesn't expect to make it to Letty, but the only way to see what the cat can do is to push it to act.]

Spam

[absentconstellation]

[ Apparently the door was not enough. Pounce knows where this is going and honestly doesn't see the point in waiting until Arthas actually gets there. He waits until Arthas is a sufficient distance away, then leaps at his back with all the weight of that prehistoric monster of a cat. ]

Spam

[brbculling]

[Arthas falls like a log, even skids a bit. Knowing how to fall doesn't really help. The most generous thing that could be said is that his head doesn't bounce off of the floor.

The armor keeps him from being crushed, but limits his range of motion. He calculates in an instant: enhanced strength, illusory weight, short-range teleport. Good. What else?]

That's it? [he wheezes. A taunt.]