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unevoked August 4 2010, 22:39:59 UTC
[His nose wrinkled at the kitten's attentions, reaching out to pick it up and set it down between himself and Cloud every time it would start to pounce at his tail, small claws looking like miniature daggers that Castor didn't feel like dealing with-- the few times Boy had caught the tip when snapping at him was bad enough.

The question drew him back to the conversation, though. His only reaction was to tense faintly, shoulders moving back as he lifted his head-- though the way the fur on his ears and tail bristled, ears moving to lie flat was probably more telling than anything else.]

...It ain't important, is what it is. [He didn't snap the words as much as he wanted to- Cloud was a friend, right? He deserved at least some sort of explanation. But the fact was that losing control of his Persona like that was both embarrassing and frightening. Why couldn't he control it? And how many people could have been hurt if it happened again? He forced himself to relax after a moment, ducking out of eye contact again.]

[After a pause, he forced himself to exhale, shaking his head.] ...I'm not gonna let it happen again.

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iattractmushi August 5 2010, 00:57:00 UTC
[Cloud noticed Castor's involuntary reaction--hard not to, really, especially with the way he'd been staring. His tail stilled until only the tip was moving, his ears flicking back and forth a few times. Castor was... a friend? Yes, he counted as one by now. And he was clearly uncomfortable with what Cloud was asking him.]

[Cloud's eye followed the kitten as he trotted back to him, losing interest in Castor's tail. He butted his head against Cloud's leg, and Cloud held out one hand to the little animal, welcoming the excuse not to look at Castor. His ears flattened halfway down on his head--drat the things. Casually, as if he hadn't seen Castor's reaction and ignoring his own, he continued.]

Maybe not. But what was it? Where did it come from? [Cloud wasn't really sure where he was going with this line of questioning, aside from a vague feeling that if he knew more about the thing, maybe he would be able to help.]

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unevoked August 5 2010, 02:06:57 UTC
[He frowned. Always, his answer was "I don't know." "I don't remember." "I haven't found out yet." Anything to avoid issues like this, brush them aside, and make sure they didn't come up-- but he did have the answers to these. Maybe not the context, or the specifics, but he had the basest answers, and he trusted Cloud enough to share them-- another fact that he was mentally cursing himself for. When had he started to drop that instinct of distancing himself? Or was it that Cloud was just that sort of person- unassuming, asking for himself and no one else, with no reason to share the conversation with others.]

...My head, [He answered the question after an extended pause, brows furrowing as if he felt stupid for saying it.] I mean... I can call him. Usually we can't do it on our own, though. It's... called a Persona, best as I can tell. In my dream I called myself a Persona User. [Instinctively, the tail moved to wrap about himself, remaining on the ground and looping securely close to him as he drew his legs in, hands resting uselessly at his ankles as he stared down at the floor.]

He's Castor. [he spoke as though admitting to something before growling.] I just named myself after him. [Another head shake.] But it don't matter, okay? It ain't gonna happen again.

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iattractmushi August 5 2010, 03:40:31 UTC
[His head? He had something, that creature, living in there? Somehow the idea didn't sound that far-fetched to Cloud, even if this particular creature had looked way too big to fit in Castor's head. It even matched with the idea that he had something living in his eye socket, if Ca-- no, if Krile was right.] A Persona...?

[Now Cloud glanced up at Castor, and his ears flattened all the way at what he saw. The guy looked oddly... small like that. Almost child-like. For maybe the first time, Cloud found himself wondering just how old Castor was.]

You named yourself after him? [Not that odd an idea, really... something that much a part of Castor, no wonder he had picked that name. Cloud fingered the bangs over his left eye for a moment, wondering if he should ask Castor if he knew his real name, before deciding he had pushed the guy enough. So he settled for a silent nod instead.]

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unevoked August 5 2010, 04:03:46 UTC
[He really wasn't sure why it bothered him so much to talk about it- to have it acknowledged. It was a part of him, right? It spoke in his dreams, it had played a large part in his dream, and he had always been well aware that whatever his "Persona" was, the people in his dream told him he couldn't control it. But it still felt like something to keep close to himself, that others didn't need to know-- or at least something that didn't need reiteration.]

...It was the only name in my dream, so I went with it. It felt close enough. [He jerked a shoulder uncomfortably, the shrug too forced to feel natural. He hated this-- Castor always remained collected, fairly composed, and able to distance himself-- except for when it was all about him. At least Cloud remained casual about it-- it made the words easier, just as Lin's lack of caring made it easy to admit to her his death and prior drug addiction.]

I figured everyone named themselves like that. Picked somethin' important and went with it.

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iattractmushi August 5 2010, 04:39:29 UTC
[Cloud grinned a little, the gesture looking natural despite the fact that his ears were still lying flat against his head and the tip of his tail was twitching regularly.]

Well, maybe not everyone. [His name was hardly something he would really hold as important... except maybe it was. After all, he had told (or at least had heavily implied this idea to) several people that he might have been a drifter in his past. Careful not to show his frustration on his face, he realized yet again his thoughts had circled back to the same idea that had plagued him for months now--wanting to leave.]

[His tail started to twitch more agitatedly. Damn, he wished he had more control over the thing... he scooped up the kitten when he started getting interested in Cloud's tail and put him in his lap. Maybe he'd stay there for a bit.]

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unevoked August 5 2010, 05:59:54 UTC
[He glanced up to Cloud, watching him take up the kitten and thankful that he hadn't pressed the issue. It was enough to give Castor the moment he needed to relax and compose himself back straightening slightly-- though his posture was still pretty damn terrible.]

Gonna give the little runt a name? [It was easier to talk about the cat than anything else after all, right?] or you gonna hand it off to someone else?

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iattractmushi August 5 2010, 15:38:58 UTC
...I don't know. [He wasn't exactly a pet person; he didn't even have a house. The cat pawed at his leg a little before curing up in his lap. Cloud winced slightly as the kitten started kneading his leg, the sharp claws going right through the fabric of his pants. He caught one of the paws in his hand, trying to stop it, and the cat instantly latched on, playfully gnawing his hand without breaking the skin.

...if nothing else, the kitten certainly seemed to like him. A name, huh... he tilted his head slightly to one side, still regarding the cat in his lap, ears up and pointing forward now in interest.] Maybe... Adashino...?

[...where had that name come from?]

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unevoked August 5 2010, 20:29:01 UTC
...Adashino's a good name. [It sounded... not familiar, but normal to him. His own tail finally uncurled and resumed its lazy movements,finally back at ease now that the brief questioning seemed to be done with.] Probably a good thing you didn't bring her by the spa. I think Boy would've eaten 'im.

[A rough laugh was the only hint that it had been a joke, as well as the way his lips faintly twisted upwards. He wasn't a cat person-- he really wasn't. Castor preferred dogs anyday, especially with the way the kitten--Adashino-- seemed to delight in clawing and biting up Cloud's hand. But that didn't make it less. Well. Cute. And it deserved a home just as much as the next thing, right?]

If he sticks close t'you, it won't be hard to keep track've him.

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iattractmushi August 6 2010, 04:36:19 UTC
Yeah... [Most of Cloud's attention was suddenly occupied with wondering why the hell the name he just randomly picked sounded so damn familiar; as a consequence, his voice was a little vague, a little distracted, and there was no real hint as to which of Castor's statements he was agreeing with. Maybe all of them. His tail went completely still, but his ears twitched several times.]

[His thoughts were rudely interrupted when Adashino, getting a little bolder at Cloud's lack of reaction to his biting, finally managed to draw blood, sinking one of his claws into the ball of Cloud's thumb.] Shit! [Now Cloud reacted, flinching violently enough to dump the cat out of his lap and onto the floor. Adashino gave him a startled look before sitting and beginning to lick his paw.]

Tch. Acting like you had nothing to do with it... [Cloud fished in his pocket for a second with his uninjured hand before he came up with a spare scrap of cloth, wrapping that around his bleeding thumb.]

Somehow, I'm not too worried about him following me. Not sure what to do about him when I'm at work, though.

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unevoked August 8 2010, 02:31:23 UTC
[Castor gave a sympathetic flinch as Cloud was clawed, shaking his head. Now he remembered why he wasn't so much a cat person. They were cute, they could be nice and affectionate, but they also clawed the fuck out of people and things and acted all cute after.]

Good luck with that one. Maybe you can get someone to watch him. [The "Someone else." went unspoken.] Or maybe he can hang around the Adventurer headquarters 'til you get back for the damn. [Castor shrugged.]

Can't be too hard.

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iattractmushi August 10 2010, 18:58:27 UTC
Nnn. I'll figure something out. [Cloud stood, grabbed one strap of his box with his uninjured hand, and slung it over his shoulders.]

I'll see you around, probably.

[He moved toward the exit. After a moment, Adashino abandoned his wash and trotted after the man, tail curling up into a question mark as he went.]

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unevoked August 10 2010, 19:25:30 UTC
[He glanced up with a short sigh as Cloud grabbed his things and went to leave. Sure, part of him felt bad for shutting down the other man's questions, but as far as he was concerned, Cloud was free to do the same to him. He stood, tail lazily hanging down as he did, and nodded.]

Alright. Take it easy.

[A hand was lifted as a goodbye as Castor went his own way]

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