(Untitled)

[scapepig]

A rather subdued and very-nearly-naked-but-not-quite man comes out of the office. He is wearing two palm leaves tied together with a piece of vine to cover his vitals.

He goes over to the fire, crawling on his hands and knees, and curls up in front of it like a cat. Every now and again he coughs.

Comments

[mogget_cat]

...

*There is a cat looking at him.*

You are in my spot.

[scapepig]

The man coughs violently, then looks around at the cat.

Then looks away and shuffles about a foot to the left of the position in front of the fire.

[mogget_cat]

Thank you.

*The cat settles down, stretching out before the fire.*

One does not often see human-shaped things curled up before the fire.

*He's been in the bar too long to assume everything human-shaped is necessarily human.*

[scapepig]

"I am a pig." the man replies, not looking up.

"A giggly thing changed me."

He shivers.

[mogget_cat]

For what purpose, do you know?

*He yawns and twitches an ear.*

[scapepig]

He shakes his head.

"I don't know." he coughs again. "But I do not like it."

[mogget_cat]

It is natural to not like being forced into a shape not natural to one. I know it, firsthand.

*He shrugs.* But if you spend enough time in a shape, you get used to it whether you like it or not.

[scapepig]

"You are not always a cat?" the man says, looking over at him a little.

[mogget_cat]

*The cat smiles and shakes his head, wryly.* No. I am not really a cat.

I am a Bright Shiner, a Free Magic creature. But my elder siblings imprisoned me in a fixed-flesh shape, the shape of a cat over four thousand years ago.

I am free now, but out of respect for the wishes of Bar, I do not show my true shape here. I can take on any shape I wish, but catshape has, over the course of my imprisonment, become familiar. I am sometimes shaped like a human, sometimes something else.

*He shrugs.*

[scapepig]

"Oh. And you like being a human?"

[mogget_cat]

*smiling* By now, it is as comfortable as any other shape. Fingers were something to get used to. Also, walking on two legs.

*The cat tilts his head.* Humans have thin skins. Would not you like more clothing? Or at least something to keep you warm?

[scapepig]

"My culture forbids clothing. It is something of a hazard."

He shivers. "I am not used to feeling like this."

[mogget_cat]

Your culture? Hm.

*The cat eyes him.* You would follow the rules of your culture, though those who set those rules did not take into consideration that a member of the culture might be turned into a human? You would follow your culture's rules, even if it leads you to becoming ill?

[scapepig]

"They are the only piece of home I have left." he says sadly. "My ways are the only thing consistant in my life."

He coughs. It is not a good cough, chesty and horrible.

"It was difficult enough making myself wear this."

[mogget_cat]

*The cat continues to eye him, then gets to his feet.*

I can help get you warm, at least. You are going to get sick if you do not keep warm. That is, if you have not already gotten sick, which is what I am beginning to think.

Will you let me? It will make you feel better, at least.

[scapepig]

He coughs and nods.

"Thank you. You are kind, and you seem to understand me. I appreciate that."

He is sweating and shivering, not a very good sign.

"I am Snowball."