River deep, could I know you as well as you know me [Locked]
In the air over the Chicago river, a rift opens and a cat drops through and into the water below. There's no yowl, no flailing limbs, just a very startled--and somewhat affronted--expression before the abnormally large feline hits the river and disappears momentarily from sight. When he bobs back to the surface, he starts paddling rather aimlessly
( Read more... )
...There's a cat in the river. Well, rather, there is a cat very nearly in the river. The universe just wants to put him in these sort of situations, doesn't it, because unless you're a complete asshole, no one is going to just let a cat drown when he's perfectly capable of getting him out. He rolls his eyes, sighs, wanders over, and promptly hauls what is... Not a soaking wet cat out of the river without preamble, because, after all, he has no idea that this cat of the talking variety.
"And here I thought cats made it a point to avoid rivers," he mutters, as soon as what feels like twenty pounds worth of cat is now on the concrete and out of the river (oh right, because if he's going to be rescuing animals now, he can't just pull kittens out of trees, he has to pull furry behemoths out of the damn river- at least he didn't fall in). He has legitimate questions about why said cat has not even a drop of water on him.
Reply
He blinks. "Well. I had known of my breed's admirable insulation, but truly, such resistance to soaking surprises even myself!"
Oh, yes, there's the human to tend to. He peers up at Sark, whisks his tail around his neatly arranged paws, and bows his head. "You have my sincere thanks, human. I assure you, such unexpected intimacy with the water was not my immediate plan. If I may ask, when did you effect the installation of this waterway?"
Reply
Sark takes a moment to just stare at the cat, wondering if maybe he's just completely lost his mind now. It could happen. He's felt like he was on the verge of it for awhile now.
He shakes that off when the cat addresses him. "I can assure you that the existence of the entire Chicago River can't be blamed on me. More than likely, the problem is that you've fallen through the Rift."
That is the only acceptable explanation for talking cats who seem to be impervious to water... Other than he's losing his mind, and he would rather not lose his mind right now.
Reply
This, too, requires a moment of thought. Ha! Something Tag doesn't know! He will have to tell the kittens about it.
Reply
Reply
"I seem to have rescued a cat," he adds, rolling his eyes, because rescuing cats? Is this what he's come to? He is punching Vaughn in the face SO HARD next time he sees him for no reason other than he's starting to become him and this is a terrifying thought. "As it turns out, apparently the Rift saw fit to drop him in the river."
Because the Rift enjoys doing these things to him. Yes, the Rift is intentionally aggravating you, Sark.
"The Rift didn't create the river," he explains with a hint of exasperation, addressing the cat again, without stopping to explain to April why he is talking to a cat. "The river was always here... You're the new arrival, unfortunately. Wherever you were before is not where you are now."
Reply
"A Road? I have never traveled one involuntarily before... how very odd. If I may inquire, where is 'here'?"
He tilts his head a bit to guide April's fingers to an itchy spot, rumbling a purr like a small jet engine starting as he does so. "And again, I must give you my thanks. There is no telling the situation in which I might have found myself, without the intervention of your kindness. Norwegian Forest Cat I may be, but I confess, I am no great swimmer."
Reply
The purr gets a giggle, and more scritches. "I met another cat who talked. She was very nice. And kind of like me."
Reply
He muses for a moment, still leaning against her fingers. "There is no Chicago in England of which I am aware. Do you mean to say I am in America?" He makes a slight hrm-ing sound. "This is an inconvenience to be sure."
Reply
"That is a severe understatement," Sark mutters. He looks over at April, biting his lip for a moment, before saying, "Well, we certainly can't just leave him out here..."
This is Sark saying, without anyone actually asking (and not really caring what the cat might think of this), that they can keep the kitty, April.
Reply
Reply
He inclines his head to Sark again. "I must return home immediately, you see. I have duties to which I must attend."
Ragnar blinks. He has realized something. "But I have not even had the courtesy to introduce myself to my savior and his companion. You must forgive me. The day has been unusual, to be sure."
Reply
In his defense, he actually did manage to sound a bit gentler on that last bit. Possibly letting his own regret and despair tinge his words.
"April and I have been here a year already. Thus far there is no going back." He crosses his arms over his chest and arches an eyebrow in an expression that says, Well, introduce yourself already then.
Reply
He considers this, nods, and stands. "But as to my name--I am Ragnar Gustaffson Coeur de Lion, of the breed Norsk Skogatt, or Norwegian Forest Cat, as you may call it. I was once Grand Champion of the bench. Long ago. Yes, lifetimes ago, it feels."
He pauses again, contemplates again, and then shakes himself out of it and flicks his tail. "And as it seems my options are limited at this time, I accept gratefully the invitation to join you. You are not, I hope, unique in your ability to converse like sensible beings."
Reply
And wow. Cat has a lofty title. Sark suspects he should be impressed by that- he's not really, but... Well, it's Sark.
He shrugs again. "Cy never has a problem communicating with humans, aside from the fact that it's very rare that anyone knows what she's saying, but they are, for all intents and purposes, actual words, so... I'm assuming yes."
Reply
"I think she'll like seeing you," she says. And by 'she', we obviously mean Cy.
Reply
Leave a comment