Set them free!

[eiusumbra]

[Shadow is walking around Garden, trying to lose track of the kittens that are constantly following him at his feet. They were Maria's, and with her gone, he doesn't want to keep them. At all. The kittens feel otherwise

Comments

[flirtninja]

I think your attack animals need a little more training.

[Behold the ninja, leaning casually against the wall.]

[eiusumbra]

[Casts a glare at Edge. Of course he would pop up out of nowhere and give advice. Stupid advice at that.]

If they were mine, I would care.

[flirtninja]

Whose are they, then? Because they sure seem to think of you as Momma Shadow.

[eiusumbra]

[He cast a long glance to Edge before looking away.]

...remember that girl I talked about a while back? [Edge would have surely known about Maria when they were cadets.]

[bookshrew]

You might want to give some thought to finding something other than catnip to line your dresser drawers with. [amused, but definitely not looking up from her knitting. no sir.]

[eiusumbra]

[Another critic.]

I don't do that.

[bookshrew]

Are you certain? You've got quite a fan following.

[eiusumbra]

Do I look like I'm not serious?

[worthyheir]

[Well there's something you don't see every day... Gingerly the bruised kid kneels down and tries to call the kittens to him (with the little tch tch tch noises and "gimme money" (I have no idea how to better describe it) hand gestures).]

[eiusumbra]

[Watches one kitten peer over at Damian, tentatively making its way to him. It's shy, but it'll sniff at his fingers. The bruises don't go unnoticed, but they aren't his concern. Yet.]

[worthyheir]

[Stays completely still while the kitten sniffs at his fingers. Once he feels confident the cat won't bolt, he gently scratches at its ear and the corners of its mouth. For someone who usually runs around the school like a human bulldozer, he's surprisingly gentle with the small kitten.]

[eiusumbra]

[The contrast is very interesting to see. Bruises all over, a few cuts, and yet very docile. The kitten is enjoying the attention, inching closer for more pets. Its purring softly, if one listened well enough.]

You want it?

[sweetapple_seed]

[INCOMING DOG. Winona charges straight through the kittens, and starts to circle Shadow, yapping like mad.

It takes a sharp whistle to call the dog back.]

You leave them kittens alone, you hear?

[eiusumbra]

[The kittens scamper around and around, leaving Shadow in the middle. The dog retreats back to its master, leaving the kittens shaking at his feet. Shadow looks up.]

'...her.'

Why do you have that dog here?

[sweetapple_seed]

Winona here's a working dog! My partner. We were on our way to the training centre.

An' I suppose them are working kittens...?

[Translation: why are you asking her about her perfectly allowed action-dog when you're walking around with very much unallowed adorable kittens?]

[eiusumbra]

Wouldn't know. They're not mine.

[The kittens think otherwise.]

Try a leash for your dog, or yourself. Whichever. [Continues on.]

[subjected]

[ Claire is just making her way back in through the front gate, springing up the steps in her SeeD uniform for once and with a bag slung over her shoulder...

And while she doesn't stop when she sees Shadow, she does when she spots his... entourage. HIM TOO? ]

[eiusumbra]

[He nods to her, walking as if there is not a trail of kittens behind him. Nope. One of them sniffs at her boot. It is not impressed.]

[subjected]

[ .... Hey, don't diss the footwear, kitty.

Claire frowns downward, wrinkling her nose. She's not really a fan of random stray cats, or you know... people who can't live up to their obligations, follow rules, and/or respect authority. Thankfully, she's pretty sure Shadow knows better (and that there's a no-pets rule), but... yeah. ]

Shadow. [ How to even phrase this? ] Where did those come from?

[eiusumbra]

I'm sure you're aware of those cadets that brought them in.

[Be more specific. And the kitten doesn't like the frowning lady with the stinky boots.]