It was not that he "didn't feel like it" really, marrying Yazil. He simply did not love her, and being the secretly rose-loving, hopeless romantic that he was, marriage was not a trivial thing to be used as a sort of currency. Marriage was an act of expression that showed devotion to one person, a binding thing legally and spiritually. It was something he knew he would never do. He decided knowingly not to reveal this bit of information to Ardys.
As she drank her wine, he did nothing but lap at his milk, though his stomach was starting to complain.
She moved on to the subject of changing back, and he slowly counted the years that he had been like this. As a cat, time often felt irrelevant to life, but he had forced himself to keep track of dates through the newspapers. "Seven years," he answered with a small shrug, as if it did not matter. She said that she was often content with being a rat. While a cat's body had its advantages, he sorely missed the cool touch of spring grass against his pale fingertips. He missed the caress of a woman, and he missed the beauty of the wider spectrum of color. He had not noticed that these thoughts had stupefied him and made him look down longingly at nothing but the bowl of milk.
"I've tried all this time to reverse the spell. I've sought counsel from many people, but everyone tells me the same thing. There is no way to return to..." to what? This cat, this was himself. This had become his true self. There was no going back. "To what was.." Here he stole a glance up at her black irides, clearing his throat as if it did not pain him so.
Rat, Cat, Garbage
Re: Rat, Cat, Garbage
Ardys shrugged elegantly. "Seven years? That bites. I was born what I am, s I've never known no different. And I 'spect it helps that I can change me form at will." She watched him, curious as he seemed to be staring longingly into the bowl of milk. She knew that was probably not the case, as in all honesty he didn't seem overly fond of it.
She raised an eyebrow as he continued. He seemed to be strangely accepting of the fate that he wouldn't ever be human again, which she hadn't anticipated. "I heard o' somethin' like that afore..." she said. "Roundabouts Odbijani, if ye ever been there. I, uh, found a few things worthwhile, but there were a man there, an' he'd been stucked in a different form by a pissy mage. I learned t'not get a mage angered with me. I suppose that don't really help, though. But me point is, he dinna want t'go back t'his human form. 'Course, he were stucked as a guard dog fer a high-class lady, an' he'd been a shrimpy little thing when he were a human, so..."
She finished off her wine, not showing any signs of drunkenness. "Well, we all got sob stories. What're ye doin' in Marn, then? Lookin' fer a cure? Though ye sound like yer a bit over that."
She raised an eyebrow as he continued. He seemed to be strangely accepting of the fate that he wouldn't ever be human again, which she hadn't anticipated. "I heard o' somethin' like that afore..." she said. "Roundabouts Odbijani, if ye ever been there. I, uh, found a few things worthwhile, but there were a man there, an' he'd been stucked in a different form by a pissy mage. I learned t'not get a mage angered with me. I suppose that don't really help, though. But me point is, he dinna want t'go back t'his human form. 'Course, he were stucked as a guard dog fer a high-class lady, an' he'd been a shrimpy little thing when he were a human, so..."
She finished off her wine, not showing any signs of drunkenness. "Well, we all got sob stories. What're ye doin' in Marn, then? Lookin' fer a cure? Though ye sound like yer a bit over that."
Re: Rat, Cat, Garbage
He was jealous of her. He wished, more than anything, that he could return to a human form whenever he chose to. Perhaps then he could seek a purpose out in life. As a cat, there was nothing. There was only the constant struggle to survive in an unforgiving world, along with the quest of breaking this terrible spell somehow. Why being human was so important, he didn't truly understand. He only knew that he missed the things that he had always taken for granted. He missed the tender details of human life. The only silver lining was that he could still communicate.
The story she told he listened to, though lost interest halfway through. It was unhelpful to him, as being a cat for the rest of his life did not seem like what he wanted to do, though he had accepted his fate over time.
She asked an interesting question; what was he doing here anyway? He had no reason to be here, other than the fact that this happened to be in the pathway he was traveling on for so long. "No, not really expecting to find a cure. I'm only passing through. I have no where to stay, no ties to this place, and therefor no real reason to stay," he answered, lapping a bit of milk and then leaving it even though it was still halfway full. The aftertaste of milk was terrible. To get rid of it, he began grooming one of his paws meticulously.
The story she told he listened to, though lost interest halfway through. It was unhelpful to him, as being a cat for the rest of his life did not seem like what he wanted to do, though he had accepted his fate over time.
She asked an interesting question; what was he doing here anyway? He had no reason to be here, other than the fact that this happened to be in the pathway he was traveling on for so long. "No, not really expecting to find a cure. I'm only passing through. I have no where to stay, no ties to this place, and therefor no real reason to stay," he answered, lapping a bit of milk and then leaving it even though it was still halfway full. The aftertaste of milk was terrible. To get rid of it, he began grooming one of his paws meticulously.
Re: Rat, Cat, Garbage
The wine was gone, and she was debating about calling for another. She looked down at the empty bottle, one hand gripping its neck loosely, as though it held the meaning to life. To ask for more or no? She fingered a ruby the size of a small egg hidden in the inside of her boot, secreted away in a small pocket. It would certainly pay for another bottle... another wagon load of the wine. Maybe even half the winery. Sighing, Ardys decided against it. She didn't need more, after all.
"Huh," she said, looking down at him. She was slightly confused, though she wouldn't admit that. If she was trapped as a mangy fleabag of a cat, she'd never stop searching for a cure. Maybe even if she was stuck in rat form. A rat was better than a cat any day, but to be stuck as one, even with the power of speech still available to her... no. Ardys didn't think she could stand for that. "I guess givin' up is a cat thing. Oh shit," She realized what she said the moment she heard it, then hastened to explain. "Not that I think you're givin' up or anythin', I just know I'd never stop huntin' fer a cure. I didn't mean nothin' by it, no 'fense."
She coughed to stop herself from speaking--she was just digging herself further in. Open mouth, insert foot, eh Ardys? A voice that sounded annoying like her brother mocked her in her head. She stifled an eye-rolling at herself--she shouldn't be hearing people she hadn't seen in years in her head. There was a name for people who heard voices, and it wasn't hers. "So... were ye headed east er west when ye stopped here? I'm 'summing yer goin' on the trade route--I've hopped a wagon once or twice."
"Huh," she said, looking down at him. She was slightly confused, though she wouldn't admit that. If she was trapped as a mangy fleabag of a cat, she'd never stop searching for a cure. Maybe even if she was stuck in rat form. A rat was better than a cat any day, but to be stuck as one, even with the power of speech still available to her... no. Ardys didn't think she could stand for that. "I guess givin' up is a cat thing. Oh shit," She realized what she said the moment she heard it, then hastened to explain. "Not that I think you're givin' up or anythin', I just know I'd never stop huntin' fer a cure. I didn't mean nothin' by it, no 'fense."
She coughed to stop herself from speaking--she was just digging herself further in. Open mouth, insert foot, eh Ardys? A voice that sounded annoying like her brother mocked her in her head. She stifled an eye-rolling at herself--she shouldn't be hearing people she hadn't seen in years in her head. There was a name for people who heard voices, and it wasn't hers. "So... were ye headed east er west when ye stopped here? I'm 'summing yer goin' on the trade route--I've hopped a wagon once or twice."
Re: Rat, Cat, Garbage
Giving up? He supposed that yes, he had given up. It was a recent realization, sure, but it was the truth nonetheless. Still, it was difficult to hear it told to him so easily. He didn't like to be given such blunt truths, and answered her with a look, the infamous feline stare. His eyes were shockingly bright, while hers were dark. Thankfully, she apologized directly afterward, but he looked down, feeling rather hurt for no real reason. He didn't like to admit that he had indeed given up. The chance that there was a cure seemed altogether improbable, if not impossible. He had nothing to keep him going, after all.
"East," he answered easily, feigning interest, still stuck on what she had said. The idea of giving up made him want to revive hope, but it was difficult. He had searched for so long.
"I take the trade route, yes. Most don't realize I'm there," he explained. It was a difficult life. Though being a cat, things were obviously done solitary, but he was still somewhat human on the inside. He had always liked company. Perhaps that was why he had revealed so much to this rat of a woman. He rarely found anyone interested enough to ask him. He didn't want to admit that he was lonely.
"East," he answered easily, feigning interest, still stuck on what she had said. The idea of giving up made him want to revive hope, but it was difficult. He had searched for so long.
"I take the trade route, yes. Most don't realize I'm there," he explained. It was a difficult life. Though being a cat, things were obviously done solitary, but he was still somewhat human on the inside. He had always liked company. Perhaps that was why he had revealed so much to this rat of a woman. He rarely found anyone interested enough to ask him. He didn't want to admit that he was lonely.
Re: Rat, Cat, Garbage
"I get that," Ardys said with a laugh. "I travel s'a rat more often an'not, an' people never really take overly much notice. When th'do th'set cats on me... an' that always turns out to be a little entertainment. Well, ye know what happens." She grinned down at him, thankful for some odd reason that he hadn't taken offense. She didn't feel the need normally to apologize to a cat... then again, she didn't normally meet talking cat who got screwed over by a magician either, so she supposed that she didn't need to tarnish her no-apologizing-to-felines record.
"So ye're just stoppin' over here. I guess I understand. Really a fascinatin' little town, though. Magic ain't s'great here, an' people never suspect me when I liberate a few objects fer meself." She took out her ruby and twiddled it over her fingers, admiring it in the light. "S'excellent bein' a rat sometimes, but th'booty hard t'get out o' the houses. What'd ye do afore cattin' about an' messin' wi'magic? Ye said seven years, but where'd ye grow up?"
"So ye're just stoppin' over here. I guess I understand. Really a fascinatin' little town, though. Magic ain't s'great here, an' people never suspect me when I liberate a few objects fer meself." She took out her ruby and twiddled it over her fingers, admiring it in the light. "S'excellent bein' a rat sometimes, but th'booty hard t'get out o' the houses. What'd ye do afore cattin' about an' messin' wi'magic? Ye said seven years, but where'd ye grow up?"
Re: Rat, Cat, Garbage
He indulged himself in a laugh at her comment about people setting cats on her. He had gotten quite the surprise when he'd tried to eat her a while ago, and it was humorous at least now to think of what his face might have looked like. A cat of regular intelligence would have lost a life to fright, surely.
She was an interesting woman. She had taken up a life of both rat and woman, as was obvious in her choice of dress, thieving whenever she could get the chance and using her smaller form to her advantage. It was a strange way of life, but Cat supposed that as long as one was happy, then any option was available. He watched her with a calm gaze as she played with a large ruby that she had apparently stolen. He had no interest in such treasures anymore. They were worth little to him, seeing as how he didn't have thumbs to hold them with and objects of a smooth nature were near impossible to bite. While they would've made a grand payment for a magician to return him to his natural form, he had not found one capable of such a feat. Rubies and other such nonsense were irrelevant to his situation.
"Well, I grew up in a small town with my idiot of a father. Mum died when I was a boy, but it was pretty plain then. That's why I wanted to learn magic. I wanted something more exciting," he explained. "And, I suppose I got it as well," he added, sighing lightly to himself. This was exciting, but not exactly his idea of an ideal existence.
She was an interesting woman. She had taken up a life of both rat and woman, as was obvious in her choice of dress, thieving whenever she could get the chance and using her smaller form to her advantage. It was a strange way of life, but Cat supposed that as long as one was happy, then any option was available. He watched her with a calm gaze as she played with a large ruby that she had apparently stolen. He had no interest in such treasures anymore. They were worth little to him, seeing as how he didn't have thumbs to hold them with and objects of a smooth nature were near impossible to bite. While they would've made a grand payment for a magician to return him to his natural form, he had not found one capable of such a feat. Rubies and other such nonsense were irrelevant to his situation.
"Well, I grew up in a small town with my idiot of a father. Mum died when I was a boy, but it was pretty plain then. That's why I wanted to learn magic. I wanted something more exciting," he explained. "And, I suppose I got it as well," he added, sighing lightly to himself. This was exciting, but not exactly his idea of an ideal existence.
Re: Rat, Cat, Garbage
"Aye, that ye did." Ardys laughed slightly. "Magic is sometimes too much fun, ye know?"
She fingered the ruby again, the slipped it back inside her boot. She patted the buckle as it clicked into place, sealing off the hidden pocket. She smiled wryly down at Cat, thinking that if he had to be a cat at least he was dressed all right. The colors he was wearing unintentionally matched her own, and she twitched her cloak back, flashing the lining, which caught the light and sparkled in the meager sunlight.
Ardys sighed and squinted up at the light. "Where d'ye bunk around here, Cat? I was debatin' about gettin' an actual room tonight, wi'a real bed. God knows I've got th'money. Would ye like t'come?"
She'd never offered to share a room with a cat before, but then again, she didn't meet many cats who could talk. And who weren't trying to actively kill her.
She fingered the ruby again, the slipped it back inside her boot. She patted the buckle as it clicked into place, sealing off the hidden pocket. She smiled wryly down at Cat, thinking that if he had to be a cat at least he was dressed all right. The colors he was wearing unintentionally matched her own, and she twitched her cloak back, flashing the lining, which caught the light and sparkled in the meager sunlight.
Ardys sighed and squinted up at the light. "Where d'ye bunk around here, Cat? I was debatin' about gettin' an actual room tonight, wi'a real bed. God knows I've got th'money. Would ye like t'come?"
She'd never offered to share a room with a cat before, but then again, she didn't meet many cats who could talk. And who weren't trying to actively kill her.
Re: Rat, Cat, Garbage
Cat had noticed the way that their dress was matching, and assumed secretly that it had been fate that brought them together. He did not know what Ardys was really like, or if she was somehow pulling him into a trick of some sort. He felt like he should have known better than to trust a rat of all creatures, but no matter. For whatever reason, his heart told him that she was not out to get him and that it would be better for his sanity to go with her to whatever their destination may be. "Mm," he nodded at her statement about magic, ear flicking as she fiddled with the sparkly, red object in her fingertips.
He could not help but feel that this situation was about as ironic as one could get. A talking cat, socializing with a rich rat on a rooftop in Marn, a place where magic was looked severely down upon. It was just altogether odd, but he supposed that he was used to the odd life. "A real bed?" He had not slept in a real bed for a very, very long time. Not since that little girl had dragged him home anyway, thinking he was nothing more than a stray tabby with a hat. That had been what, four years ago? Yes, something like that.
"Well, um. S-sure," he answered tentatively. He was still trying to decide whether he liked this girl or hated her and wished she would be absorbed into Hell through the earth right then. Hm, decisions, decisions. Cat had always been the sort to go with the flow, and this was certainly some sort of...flow. Not exactly liquid-like, but close enough, right?
He could not help but feel that this situation was about as ironic as one could get. A talking cat, socializing with a rich rat on a rooftop in Marn, a place where magic was looked severely down upon. It was just altogether odd, but he supposed that he was used to the odd life. "A real bed?" He had not slept in a real bed for a very, very long time. Not since that little girl had dragged him home anyway, thinking he was nothing more than a stray tabby with a hat. That had been what, four years ago? Yes, something like that.
"Well, um. S-sure," he answered tentatively. He was still trying to decide whether he liked this girl or hated her and wished she would be absorbed into Hell through the earth right then. Hm, decisions, decisions. Cat had always been the sort to go with the flow, and this was certainly some sort of...flow. Not exactly liquid-like, but close enough, right?
Re: Rat, Cat, Garbage
Ardys stifled a giggle. She knew she had somewhat unnerved the tabby, and she found that to be funny. She found a lot of things to be funny, actually, and she knew she probably laughed more than what was considered normal. Or sane, for that matter, but a disease-spreading rat who liked to steal could only have so much of a grip on sanity.
"Then c'mon, Cat," Ardys said, standing up and then easily jumping down off the roof, back they way they'd come. Once she hit the street she paused for a moment to wait for him, and then set off down the street, trying to recall the exact location of an inn she'd seen earlier. Everything had looked different in rat form, and she was a much better climber then too. She hadn't taken the most direct route from the inn earlier, but she'd been running along at second story level, so she had an excuse.
She stopped for a few breaths and got her bearings, then nodded to herself as she saw a gargoyle that she'd halted under for a few moments in rat form. It was a nice gargoyle, as far as gargoyles went, and she walked down the street to the south of it. They were getting into the nicer area, which Ardys counted as good. She wasn't afraid of catching anything from the mattresses in the lower city, but it was nice to not have to try and preform a mild extermination before sleeping.
She eventually found her inn and stood outside the door, waiting for Cat to trot up. She leaned against the building idly, watching various people coming and going, and almost unconsciously tallying up the value of everything she saw, especially in the merchants' wagons and on their clothes.
"Then c'mon, Cat," Ardys said, standing up and then easily jumping down off the roof, back they way they'd come. Once she hit the street she paused for a moment to wait for him, and then set off down the street, trying to recall the exact location of an inn she'd seen earlier. Everything had looked different in rat form, and she was a much better climber then too. She hadn't taken the most direct route from the inn earlier, but she'd been running along at second story level, so she had an excuse.
She stopped for a few breaths and got her bearings, then nodded to herself as she saw a gargoyle that she'd halted under for a few moments in rat form. It was a nice gargoyle, as far as gargoyles went, and she walked down the street to the south of it. They were getting into the nicer area, which Ardys counted as good. She wasn't afraid of catching anything from the mattresses in the lower city, but it was nice to not have to try and preform a mild extermination before sleeping.
She eventually found her inn and stood outside the door, waiting for Cat to trot up. She leaned against the building idly, watching various people coming and going, and almost unconsciously tallying up the value of everything she saw, especially in the merchants' wagons and on their clothes.
Re: Rat, Cat, Garbage
Cat had never really been a cat who made lots of friends. He had traveled much of Eyropa in these past several years, searching for a person who could turn him back to the charming, handsome person that he had once been. It had lately occurred to him, however, that the person he wanted to be was probably lost forever. Cat was not great with people and never really had been, even when he had been Sandelmingoblius all that years ago. This was why he found Ardys so interesting. For though she was an odd woman, she seemed to have connections to people and kept him wondering about her, though he didn't really have the nerve to ask lots of questions as she did. He knew nothing of her past while she knew much of his, but he imagined it to be full of adventure and energy, just like she seemed to be.
She called to him and quickly bounced off of the rooftop. He followed expertly, for though he was smaller than she was by far, he was very agile as a cat should be. His spine bent perfectly as he leaped and he landed softly on his silver paws, then used the momentum to run after the woman dressed so promiscuously. He slowed to an easy trot while she walked, her hips swinging from side to side as women usually walked, though it was accentuated by her clothing.
They moved past signs and buildings that were unrelated to their quest, passed a gargoyle (which seemed out of place to Cat, but so did everything in this ridiculous town). When they reached the inn that Ardys had chosen, Cat caught up to her and rubbed his striped body around one of her legs with a stretch of his back and a purr. It was partially a motion to look casual (even with a hat on), but mostly just because being a cat tended to give you an unbearable instinct to rub on everything that you considered your property in the subconscious.
She called to him and quickly bounced off of the rooftop. He followed expertly, for though he was smaller than she was by far, he was very agile as a cat should be. His spine bent perfectly as he leaped and he landed softly on his silver paws, then used the momentum to run after the woman dressed so promiscuously. He slowed to an easy trot while she walked, her hips swinging from side to side as women usually walked, though it was accentuated by her clothing.
They moved past signs and buildings that were unrelated to their quest, passed a gargoyle (which seemed out of place to Cat, but so did everything in this ridiculous town). When they reached the inn that Ardys had chosen, Cat caught up to her and rubbed his striped body around one of her legs with a stretch of his back and a purr. It was partially a motion to look casual (even with a hat on), but mostly just because being a cat tended to give you an unbearable instinct to rub on everything that you considered your property in the subconscious.
Re: Rat, Cat, Garbage
She had to suppress her inner rat before it triggered her leg to snap out and kick Cat instinctively. She didn't usually have cats rubbing themselves along her leg. Normal cats steered clear of Ardys unless bribed, because to a feline nose, something about her was just slightly... off.
She grinned down at him though, and wondered for a few minutes if he'd try to take her hand off if she reached down to pick him up. She figured it would be more pet-like, less odd, if she did so, but then again she liked her hands. Ardys settled for leaning down and stroking a hand along his spine and caressing the soft fur under her pale fingers, smiling at her 'pet.' "Talk o' th'folk 'round here is, this place lets in all sorts. Heard it off'f a mischief leader... that's s'a gang leader t'ye, or a pack leader. My kind... half me kind, anyway, we know these things. Folla me an' don't talk t'anyone, alright? Humans are strange about talkin' creatures, an' this town ain't likin' strange things."
She nodded at the innkeep and sat down at a table, easing her long legs out ad resting them against the seat of another chair. She snapped her fingers for Cat to jump up and ordered a slice of the pork on the hearth, fresh bread and wine, and a selection of cheeses. The serving girl looked slightly confused as Ardys's rougher speech eloquently pronounced the names of both the elegant wine and the foreign cheeses, but Ardys simply flicked the girl a few extra Bishani and a wink.
She grinned at Cat when her wine came, sipping at the red. "T'ain't th'greatest I've e'er tasted, but it'll do. Ye want anything? Ye can have some o'me pork if ye like, but anythin' else?"
She grinned down at him though, and wondered for a few minutes if he'd try to take her hand off if she reached down to pick him up. She figured it would be more pet-like, less odd, if she did so, but then again she liked her hands. Ardys settled for leaning down and stroking a hand along his spine and caressing the soft fur under her pale fingers, smiling at her 'pet.' "Talk o' th'folk 'round here is, this place lets in all sorts. Heard it off'f a mischief leader... that's s'a gang leader t'ye, or a pack leader. My kind... half me kind, anyway, we know these things. Folla me an' don't talk t'anyone, alright? Humans are strange about talkin' creatures, an' this town ain't likin' strange things."
She nodded at the innkeep and sat down at a table, easing her long legs out ad resting them against the seat of another chair. She snapped her fingers for Cat to jump up and ordered a slice of the pork on the hearth, fresh bread and wine, and a selection of cheeses. The serving girl looked slightly confused as Ardys's rougher speech eloquently pronounced the names of both the elegant wine and the foreign cheeses, but Ardys simply flicked the girl a few extra Bishani and a wink.
She grinned at Cat when her wine came, sipping at the red. "T'ain't th'greatest I've e'er tasted, but it'll do. Ye want anything? Ye can have some o'me pork if ye like, but anythin' else?"
Re: Rat, Cat, Garbage
It was probably a good thing that Ardys did not bother attempting to pick Cat up, as generally cats who liked to be petted did not like to be picked up and handled in such a way. It was unknown how Cat felt about this and honestly, things were probably better when they were kept to simple pets and stroking motions. The silver tabby of course responded brilliantly to this gesture, purring loudly and arching his back to follow the movement of her hand. Fingers, he had realized, were the only objects capable of giving such comfort and good scratches. Claws really were not meant for such motions.
He only half-registered the words that she gave, but did understand that he wasn't supposed to talk when he followed her. He knew that Marn was known for being weird about magic, but then again, talking in his case wasn't really what he considered a magical property; it had just been created with magic was all, and that totally was not his fault.
When they walked in and arrived at a table, Ardys snapped her fingers, as if expecting him to follow her orders like a common mutt. Well, he'd be damned if he followed her orders like that. Such was not the way of the feline mind. So instead he made a sort of "purroo" sound, which in a cat's language was a mocking tone, pretending to be stupid when actually he knew exactly what he was doing. He then sat under the table, staring at the fine legs of the serving girl as Ardys ordered wine and cheese.
Ardys asked him if he wanted anything. He 'purroo'ed again, acted like he was going to jump on her, then circled around one of the legs of her chair and leaped onto her lap from the other side. He was tempted to knead her thighs because it would cause maximum discomfort, but thought it a bit much and instead just sat on her like she was no more than a cushy lounge chair. "You know, a bit of salmon would be excellent right about now."
He only half-registered the words that she gave, but did understand that he wasn't supposed to talk when he followed her. He knew that Marn was known for being weird about magic, but then again, talking in his case wasn't really what he considered a magical property; it had just been created with magic was all, and that totally was not his fault.
When they walked in and arrived at a table, Ardys snapped her fingers, as if expecting him to follow her orders like a common mutt. Well, he'd be damned if he followed her orders like that. Such was not the way of the feline mind. So instead he made a sort of "purroo" sound, which in a cat's language was a mocking tone, pretending to be stupid when actually he knew exactly what he was doing. He then sat under the table, staring at the fine legs of the serving girl as Ardys ordered wine and cheese.
Ardys asked him if he wanted anything. He 'purroo'ed again, acted like he was going to jump on her, then circled around one of the legs of her chair and leaped onto her lap from the other side. He was tempted to knead her thighs because it would cause maximum discomfort, but thought it a bit much and instead just sat on her like she was no more than a cushy lounge chair. "You know, a bit of salmon would be excellent right about now."
Re: Rat, Cat, Garbage
He was going to be the death of her, he really, really, really was. She had never had a cat jump up on her before, and dogs tended to steer clear... needless to say, unless they were small with sleek short hair and furless tails, she wasn't all too great with any animals jumping on her. So as to not cause a scene, however, she merely petted him again and waved over the serving girl.
"An order o' t'salmon, iff'n ye please. Me cat's got a hunger... but prepare it as ye would for a human, eh?" She raised an eyebrow at the serving girl and then made a shooing motion with one hand lazily, trying not to look as though she was highly uncomfortable with having the silver tabby on her lap.
Ardys waited until they were more or less along before turning her raised eyebrow to Cat. "Now, iff'n ye don't mind tellin' me... t'hell are ye jumpin' around on me for, eh? Think it makes me more inclined t'buy ye dinner, furface?" She shifted slightly in her seat and hoped he would go onto the table instead, although from what she'd seen before, she didn't have much hope. Ardys was glad the salmon came quickly, and she flipped the girl a coin for her swift service, then shoved the plate further away from her own, hoping the fleabag would follow it.
She returned to her own dinner and finished it at a moderate pace, then looked around for the innkeeper. She waved her hand languorously again and the man hurried over, though he was clearly wondering what a young, extremely self-confident girl was doing alone. Actually, she thought to herself with a wry grin, he probably has a few ideas about what I'm doing. Or he thinks he does, at any rate. "Ye got any free rooms fer me cat an meself?"
The man looked at the cat for a few seconds, and then Ardys jingled her pocket full of coins and his expression smoothed over. "Of course, miss."
"Excellent. I'll take one for the night..." she counted out the coins and then appeared to hesitate. "Ye ain't gonna try any nonsense about wakin' me up an' kickin' me out, right? I don't really appreciate those types o' places, iff'n ye get me drift."
"The normal time of leavin' is ten in the mornin', miss."
Ardys sighed and winced. "Now, ye gotta understand, that's where I've got a little... issue. See, I'm a traveler, and I don't enjoy bein' forced t'turn out s'early. An' I'm sure, as an innkeeper o'great standin' with the locals--" she neglected to mention that those locals were rats who liked the place because of the garbage heap out back-- "ye wouldn't like trouble and could see yer way t'lettin' me have me sleep, eh? Things ne'er turn out well when I'm angry." She grinned again, but there was a light promise of menace. "I have foreign ideas about things like right an' wrong."
He seemed to hesitate, then nodded. "Until one in the afternoon, miss."
"Excellent." She handed over the money and then stretched, standing up. "C'mon, dearest little kitty. I hear a mattress callin' me name."
"An order o' t'salmon, iff'n ye please. Me cat's got a hunger... but prepare it as ye would for a human, eh?" She raised an eyebrow at the serving girl and then made a shooing motion with one hand lazily, trying not to look as though she was highly uncomfortable with having the silver tabby on her lap.
Ardys waited until they were more or less along before turning her raised eyebrow to Cat. "Now, iff'n ye don't mind tellin' me... t'hell are ye jumpin' around on me for, eh? Think it makes me more inclined t'buy ye dinner, furface?" She shifted slightly in her seat and hoped he would go onto the table instead, although from what she'd seen before, she didn't have much hope. Ardys was glad the salmon came quickly, and she flipped the girl a coin for her swift service, then shoved the plate further away from her own, hoping the fleabag would follow it.
She returned to her own dinner and finished it at a moderate pace, then looked around for the innkeeper. She waved her hand languorously again and the man hurried over, though he was clearly wondering what a young, extremely self-confident girl was doing alone. Actually, she thought to herself with a wry grin, he probably has a few ideas about what I'm doing. Or he thinks he does, at any rate. "Ye got any free rooms fer me cat an meself?"
The man looked at the cat for a few seconds, and then Ardys jingled her pocket full of coins and his expression smoothed over. "Of course, miss."
"Excellent. I'll take one for the night..." she counted out the coins and then appeared to hesitate. "Ye ain't gonna try any nonsense about wakin' me up an' kickin' me out, right? I don't really appreciate those types o' places, iff'n ye get me drift."
"The normal time of leavin' is ten in the mornin', miss."
Ardys sighed and winced. "Now, ye gotta understand, that's where I've got a little... issue. See, I'm a traveler, and I don't enjoy bein' forced t'turn out s'early. An' I'm sure, as an innkeeper o'great standin' with the locals--" she neglected to mention that those locals were rats who liked the place because of the garbage heap out back-- "ye wouldn't like trouble and could see yer way t'lettin' me have me sleep, eh? Things ne'er turn out well when I'm angry." She grinned again, but there was a light promise of menace. "I have foreign ideas about things like right an' wrong."
He seemed to hesitate, then nodded. "Until one in the afternoon, miss."
"Excellent." She handed over the money and then stretched, standing up. "C'mon, dearest little kitty. I hear a mattress callin' me name."
Re: Rat, Cat, Garbage
Ardys obediently ordered the salmon dish for him, at which Cat gave a quick 'purreow' to the serving girl, smiling in that feline way that could hardly count as an actual smile. He turned his green eyes back to the rat woman and gave a triumphant meow as she voiced her real opinion on the matter of having him sit on her lap. She shifted to move him, but instead of moving he just let a few of his nicely curved claws grab at her clothing, thus poking the flesh below it. "People with cats on their laps have lower blood pressure, you know. It's good for you," he said, giving a small nod as if that made it so.
When the salmon came, the black-eyed rat pushed his plate away and at that, Cat growled a small whirring noise that sounded like a miniature race car swerving around a tight corner. Then he sighed openly and hopped onto the table, making sure to press in his back claws into her thighs as he did so. He ate his salmon in the way that cats do, taking small bites at a time and making sure not to spill anything anywhere. He finished nearly all of it by the time the innkeeper came by, though he was still eating when Ardys called him over.
He ate the rest of his meal while listening intently to the way the rat manipulated the situation to her liking, never raising his eyes above his food. Still he absorbed every word, and when Ardys stood, he stood too and stared at her. "Dearest little kitty"? Ugh.
Cat let out a very slow, very wide yawn and stretched each and every one of his paws, splaying the toes out just for good measure. Then he slowly walked toward the rat, eying her and smiling in that characteristic "Oh I am so not your dear little kitty" way.
Then he took off ahead of her without another word and then stopped when he was several yards away, staring at her. He didn't know where this room was or where to go, so she would have to lead the way, unfortunately. He meowed loudly to get his point across. Hurry up, rat.
When the salmon came, the black-eyed rat pushed his plate away and at that, Cat growled a small whirring noise that sounded like a miniature race car swerving around a tight corner. Then he sighed openly and hopped onto the table, making sure to press in his back claws into her thighs as he did so. He ate his salmon in the way that cats do, taking small bites at a time and making sure not to spill anything anywhere. He finished nearly all of it by the time the innkeeper came by, though he was still eating when Ardys called him over.
He ate the rest of his meal while listening intently to the way the rat manipulated the situation to her liking, never raising his eyes above his food. Still he absorbed every word, and when Ardys stood, he stood too and stared at her. "Dearest little kitty"? Ugh.
Cat let out a very slow, very wide yawn and stretched each and every one of his paws, splaying the toes out just for good measure. Then he slowly walked toward the rat, eying her and smiling in that characteristic "Oh I am so not your dear little kitty" way.
Then he took off ahead of her without another word and then stopped when he was several yards away, staring at her. He didn't know where this room was or where to go, so she would have to lead the way, unfortunately. He meowed loudly to get his point across. Hurry up, rat.