(Untitled)

[amazonofthe21st]

Is it enough to have some love
small enough to slip inside a book
small enough to cover with your hand
because everyone around you wants to look

Rachel has been scarce in the bar for the last few days. Five or six or however long her mun was MIA. Today, she's finally making her way down the stairs, intent on a stop at Bar and a semi-permanent

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[mogget_cat]

There's a sleepy not'cat insinuating itself around the corner of the bar, slinking lazily along the row of bar stools towards Rachel and the large, flying food hawk.

It eventually rubs up against her ankles, purring a sleep-drowsed greeting.

(ooc: Both? :D?)

[whoiwasmeant2be]

Said large, flying food hawk is large enough to eat the not'cat. At least in their respective current forms.

The hawk's head swivels to watch the cat for a moment, but turns away. Until, that is, said cat approaches Rachel. At which point it has the hawk's full attention.

Just in case it's a threat.

[amazonofthe21st]

A dangerous, fluffy, purring threat.

Rachel, on the other hand, smiles at its appearance. Okay, it's more of a smirk. Honestly, Yrael's utter lack of dignity in the pursuit of comfort never stops being amusing.

"Yrael," she greets, stopping so she doesn't trip on him. Then she tips her head slightly to the hawk. "This is Tobias."

They are going to be friends because she says so.

[mogget_cat]

He is nothing if not a dangerous, fluffy, purring threat.

An unafraid, spring-green gaze rests on the hawk for a long moment, in curiosity and perhaps judgment. "A pleasure to meet you, Tobias."

And, just in case it is a true hawk, repeated silently: A pleasure to meet you, Tobias.

One never knows, in Milliways.

[whoiwasmeant2be]

The cat's gaze is returned with one that also contains curiosity and judgment, but in reverse proportions. More of the latter, a hint of the former.

Tobias allows politely with a slight bob of his head. His mindvoice is soft, but confident, and sent to both the cat and to Rachel.

He shifts his weight slightly on Rachel's shoulder in a way she will recognize as a quiet question.

[amazonofthe21st]

"Yrael is..."

The question was understood. The answer is difficult. Friend? No, too much. Acquaintance? Who says acquaintance in a sentence anyway? Not-human? Well, yeah, but that's a little rude to state right off the bat, isn't it? And he can't be put into the same boxes as the other non-humans they've met before.

Rachel settles on the more universal, "cool.

"He's cool."

In that 'Don't worry, Tobias' sort of way, rather than a compliment to Yrael's popularity.

[mogget_cat]

"So kind and generous with the compliments, Rachel," he purrs smugly as he leans against Rachel's ankles. "Also, succinct."

[whoiwasmeant2be]

Tobias adds. More in all the words she didn't select than in the one she did. Tobias knows Rachel well enough to interpret a lot from that choice.

And so he keeps an eye on Yrael. A wary eye, but not an unfriendly one.

[amazonofthe21st]

Rachel's smirk takes on a hint of challenge as she lifts one foot to poke Yrael in the side with her toes. "Be glad I'm that generous and not adding what a freeloader you are," she points out.

To Tobias, a flicker of her gaze but no comment. There's nothing to say to it and it's probably stupid to be pleased anyway.

[mogget_cat]

"Freeloaders always seek out the most generous people, after all," says the not'cat, using Rachel's foot as a springboard as he leaps up onto the bar stool beside the girl and the hawk, and from there onto the bar.

"Tobias, you are from Rachel's world, I presume?" he queries, settling on the bar with paws folded.

[whoiwasmeant2be]

Rachel doesn't need to say anything to Tobias. He knows what she means anyway.

Which isn't a denial, or even all that coy. It's simply a question that Tobias will want an answer to before he answers Yrael in turn.

Some people may accuse the hawk of being overly cautious. And maybe he is.

[amazonofthe21st]

For a given definition of 'overly.'

Rachel had tensed at the question. Not Yrael's - the one Tobias asked. Somehow, she does not want to hear the not'cat answer it.

Or have Tobias hear it.

"He is," she says, not immediately following the Thoughtspeak question, but close. And then is lost for anything to add.

Describing her relationship with Tobias is nearly as difficult as describing what Yrael is to her.

[mogget_cat]

Yrael twitches an ear. He has an answer for Tobias' question. Oh yes. As though he could not tell how the tension and standoffishness with which Rachel had been holding herself had dissipated with the addition of this hawk. How easily a smile came to her face. How comfortable she so clearly felt with this hawk on her shoulder.

But Yrael had also seen the tension return as Tobias had asked his question, so he merely says, "I can't see Rachel letting some strange hawk she'd just met sit on her shoulder, can you?"

"And since your scent is quite new to the bar and its surroundings, it follows that it would be likely that you two have known each other outside of the bar as well."

[whoiwasmeant2be]

Tobias countered.

Despite the fact that he was very clearly nothing of the sort.

[amazonofthe21st]

Blue eyes slide to him and Rachel lifts an eyebrow. "I don't care how 'friendly' anybody is, they're not all allowed to sit on my shoulder."

Which is her way of affirming that it is only Tobias allowed there.

...that one evening with Yrael was totally different. She was exhausted and cold and he was warm and shut up.

[mogget_cat]

"Exactly my point," smiles the cat, smugly.

Smile looks like this: ^____^