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[use_everything]

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[use_everything]

[He seems, honestly, almost a different person. The stiff, stern posture and expression are completely gone, as well as the bigger than his bones aura he tended to exude. He hadn't bothered with socks or a brush yet this early.... and when he looks back at where the cat is perched in observation of the human activity, he offers the feline an unguarded, almost boyish smile.]

Still there? Cheeky little thing.

[He puts down the groats he was considering and changes his breakfast plans. While there are no witnesses, he takes a tin of canned fish from the cupboard and puts two slices of bread on to toast.]

[rathercommon]

[ Oh - huh. Is that fish? Kitty Jones, Human, doesn't have any particular taste for fish. It's fine, but just fine. Kitty Jones, Cat, on the other hand - her tail suddenly starts lashing in anticipation of that smell and perhaps of tidbits falling to the floor. It's a little disconcerting, when she thinks about it - that she has that cat-mind lurking behind her real-mind. But at the same time, it's a little comforting, the polyphony of thoughts layered on top of one another.

A quick leap takes her from the couch to the ground (a leap three times her height, easily); she lands lightly and then wanders into the kitchen to get a better view of the proceedings. ]

[use_everything]

[It takes a little bit for the feline anticipation to pay out, due to fumbling worth the can opener.

In true bachelor fashion, the meal he made for himself was dry tuna on toast. Of more interest was the small plate set down, full of the juices from the can and possibly a fourth of the bounty.]

[rathercommon]

[ Oh, hell yes. She didn't realize just how hungry she was, but it's been a long time since she's eaten, and the experimentations with her powers earlier had left her drained of energy. A spot of fish, as it turns out, is exactly what's called for, as restorative as the earlier nap had been. She eats delicately, whiskers drawn back, fur kept clean, as she nips at the tuna and then laps at the water; more, she has to be careful as she eats not to let her fur brush against the can itself, the iron in the metal enough to cause her a little ache of discomfort. So it takes her a long while to make her way through the whole can, though her satisfaction is evident. ]

[use_everything]

[His own sandwich wolfed down with habitual speed, it's after catching up on the controlled activity of the comm during the occupation that he reaches down, picking up the tin, sneaking a furtive attempt to pet the mystery feline on the way.]

[rathercommon]

[ He doesn't need to be furtive, of course. The Mystery Feline arches up into his hand, quite eagerly encouraging a slightly more active attempt at petting. ]

[use_everything]

Well, you're certainly not feral.

[He crouches, blunt fingers amiably scratching at the ruff of the cat's neck, alternating with heavier, more confident strokes.]

Which one of them brought you home, I wonder.

[rathercommon]

[ And the cat stands up - only to flop over so that he can have the glorious opportunity to rub her belly. Lucky him. As it turns out, Aral is pretty cute when there aren't any other people around. She'll have to remember that... ]

[use_everything]

[The first pass is with the tentative, ready to pull back nature that any would associate with a trap. Very frankly, the animals of the Vorkosigan District were much like the humans that lived around them. Still, he scratched at the ruff and ran fingers along the soft fur when it became apparent that there wasn't going to be a whirl of claws intent on his knuckles.

The betrayal comes after a minute of such lavish affection, as he picks her up by the scruff.]

[rathercommon]

[ Oh. Oh, that's cruel. It was so nice up to that point - she was purring, eyes closed, enjoying the attention - and then suddenly that yank at the back of her neck, and she's hauled into the air. Her legs kick, and she squawks - ]

Hey - hey!

[use_everything]

[Ways he was not expecting the answer to what gender is the cat: From the pitch of a very human voice. He drops her in surprise.]

What?

[rathercommon]

[ And she drops down to all fours, looking generally alarmed and awkward. And then, very slowly, she starts to slink away. ]

[use_everything]

[It's not instant. Recognition very rarely is. Frankly, it isn't even the words. It's the squawk.]

...

So, how long has your name been quite so literal?

[rathercommon]

[ Uh -
Um -

Shit.

She lets out a little meow, in the hopes that that will throw him off the scent. ]

[use_everything]

[Really?

Picks her back up.]

[rathercommon]

Augh, fine!

[ She relents, kicking her feet. ]

Put me down or I will claw you, I swear.

[use_everything]

I think not from this angle.

[Still, he set her on the table, an eyebrow raised at her.]

I'll give you: your disguises are improving.

... Secondly, it is very good to hear you again.

[rathercommon]

[ She settles down on the table; her tail primly curls around her. ]

Yeah. Well. It's a new Porter power. So I can't really take credit for the quality of this one. And, erm - yeah. I'm glad that your anti-Soviet efforts are going reasonably well...

[use_everything]

The cover holds and your work was recovered.

[There is an almost dizzying unreality to it. Talking to a cat who is the person of someone he'd watch die, messily at that.]

That much holds, though little progress remains on the overall situation. It may be a long haul.

[rathercommon]

Mm.

[ Her tail lashes just a bit. ]

At some point the Americans have to step in to help, don't they?

[use_everything]

Oh certainly. Beyond the our value as a commodity, it was done on their own soil, a particularly noticeable insult to their show of strength and security to the rest of the world.

The trick, I imagine, is that we are not civilians to the ruling government here. We are hostages in a country that has a policy of discarding hostages for national security. But unusual hostages of political, military and social power that our opinions may desperately matter in the war that has just begun. I can see both the complications and why the Russians have taken the tact they did.

[rathercommon]

Yeah.

[ She sighs, stretches. ]

Well, I'm sure that if anyone can handle it, you lot can.

[use_everything]

My goals are a bit more focused than that.

[He sets his chin on one fist, looking down at the feline. ... It IS a blastedly strong urge to resume an idle petting, even with the weirdness of knowing WHO it is.]

I do wonder which one of you convinced the other of this particular endeavor.

[rathercommon]

[ A little laugh. ]

Well. I was going to do it alone at first. He...convinced me to take others with me. [ A beat. ] I'm terribly glad he did, even if it did put him in a bit of danger.

[use_everything]

I daresay none of you were in 'a bit' of danger. Though the strength in numbers is quite rarely physical.

[He lifts a hand, and stops, it hovering before her awkwardly.]