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

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.]

Spam

[absentconstellation]

[ Pounce ignores him, instead choosing to knead his inmate's back in preparation for settling down. ]

Spam

[brbculling]

[The steel and kevlar, at least, keeps him from getting claws in his back. Arthas concentrates on trying to flip one shoulder and roll out from underneath.]

Spam

[absentconstellation]

[ He has no desire to be tilted off, so he jumps down to sit mere inches from Arthas' face. ]

Are you quite finished?

Spam

[brbculling]

[He's expecting something heavier, and uses the extra momentum to roll to his feet.]

I'll never be finished.

Spam

[absentconstellation]

Then you are going to be very badly bruised.

Spam

[brbculling]

I've had worse.

[So. Advantages. Small bodies poison faster. Succumb to plague faster. There's an idea, if he had his Defile back. Small bones break quicker, if he could hit the damn thing. Something it couldn't dodge, or didn't know it had to. (Sniper?) A distraction is necessary either way.

Arthas resumes his purposeful walk.]

Don't you have a real inmate?

Spam

[absentconstellation]

[ This poor, sad little baby. Pounce shakes his head and follows after him. ]

I do not. I have all the time in all the Realms to look after such a wayward kit.

Spam

[brbculling]

A what?

[Arthas is... Not sure if he's insulted?]

I'm a grown man.

Spam

[absentconstellation]

[ The low level of indignation tells Pounce that Arthas is not actually familiar with the word. ]

Kitten. An infant feline. If you wish to be treated as a man then you should behave like one.

Spam

[brbculling]

I want to be treated like a threat. You're doing that already.

[To the staircase again. Let's see where Letty lives.]