Ardys was cleaning herself. She licked a paw and swiped it over her face, blinking into the jeweled mirror she dragged out of her magical bag as she admired herself. She was a pretty rat, especially with her black fur glistening in the overhead sunlight. The beams of sun were also making the jewels cast off light, so for a moment there was a rainbow of colors shining onto her dark coat. Ardys preened as she looked down. She was lovely. Fluffing her whiskers she twitched her nose at her reflection, happy with what she saw. Even if she was only a few inches tall, it always paid to look your best.
With a slight rat smile she nudged the mirror back into her bag and drew the drawstring, then shoved the bag back into its hiding place. She looked around regally, then set her paws to the ground and trotted off, lifting her tail slightly to keep it clear of the dirt. She paused at a corner, lurking behind a building so she wouldn't have to play 'dodge-the-feet' today. While it was fun sometimes to see what human shrieked when they saw her, she wasn't in the mood. At least not until after lunch.
And speaking of lunch...
Ardys made her way steadily over to a garbage heap behind a section of the Shantytown market. Sniffing delightedly, she edged her way up the heap even though it dirtied her paws. Sifting through the wonderful smells she picked out on in particular that seemed particularly interesting... it smelled like the eastern lands, the spices pungent in her nose. Ardys dug out the scrap of old plate, complete with noodles and a small bit of meat still on it, along with tasty-looking sauce.
Settling down amidst the heap she blended in, not that any humans were looking. Licking her whiskers she set to her meal with gusto, making sure to get every last scrap and not really paying attention to her surroundings.
Rat, Cat, Garbage
Re: Rat, Cat, Garbage
Hidden expertly behind a pile of soggy boxes and crates, a silver tabby with a white face was grooming his paw and face slowly and casually. He was so quiet that despite the comforting nature of these actions, he did not purr. He was waiting for movement here, occasionally following an ant or other insect that had gone astray from its normal pathway. These he ate quickly and daintily, always sure to cleanse himself thoroughly afterward. He absolutely hated that these paths were thick with gunk and obviously had not been cleaned for a very long time. Decades of filth had been smashed down on them, so that a simple grey brick was turned a foul, greenish tone of sickly mold colors.
A soft, barely audible sound of pattering little paws made him stop mid-lick while grooming, head looking up and eyes flashing. He did not blink; he never really blinked. Not while he was hunting. Those were the tell-tale signs of moving rat feet, as it was much too loud and disturbing of the ground to be a mouse. The heap of garbage nearby had subtle noises of tinking, shuffling, and other movements as the unknown animal sorted through the mess. Disgusting, to eat garbage, he thought. His tastes were obviously far more refined than that, as he would only eat the freshest of foods he could find. He was above eating the rotting flesh that bipedal creatures threw out once they had finished. He was hardly a scavenger.
Climbing up the crates slowly, only moving whenever the rat moved, he found himself a perch where he stalked quietly and waited for the right moment to pounce... It was no more than a black rat. It was large, and very, very edible-looking. He of course, hadn't had the sense to take off his hat before this hunting excursion, but no matter. The rat was doomed anyway. There was no getting out of this one; he would have his meal, surely.
The tabby pounced quietly and effortlessly with outstretched claws with dangerous hooks and opened his mouth to grab the rat and seal its fate; it would eat garbage no more.
A soft, barely audible sound of pattering little paws made him stop mid-lick while grooming, head looking up and eyes flashing. He did not blink; he never really blinked. Not while he was hunting. Those were the tell-tale signs of moving rat feet, as it was much too loud and disturbing of the ground to be a mouse. The heap of garbage nearby had subtle noises of tinking, shuffling, and other movements as the unknown animal sorted through the mess. Disgusting, to eat garbage, he thought. His tastes were obviously far more refined than that, as he would only eat the freshest of foods he could find. He was above eating the rotting flesh that bipedal creatures threw out once they had finished. He was hardly a scavenger.
Climbing up the crates slowly, only moving whenever the rat moved, he found himself a perch where he stalked quietly and waited for the right moment to pounce... It was no more than a black rat. It was large, and very, very edible-looking. He of course, hadn't had the sense to take off his hat before this hunting excursion, but no matter. The rat was doomed anyway. There was no getting out of this one; he would have his meal, surely.
The tabby pounced quietly and effortlessly with outstretched claws with dangerous hooks and opened his mouth to grab the rat and seal its fate; it would eat garbage no more.
Re: Rat, Cat, Garbage
She was finishing up her eastern food with relish, licking the plate improperly... for a human, at least. After meticulously cleaning off her paws she snuffled around in the rubbish heap again, looking for something sweet to cap off her lunch. She found a few drops of honey resting in golden globes on something that appeared to be flat dough and cream. She set to it eagerly, getting every last morsel of the tasty dessert off the tossed-out plate. Sighing contentedly, she debated for a moment too long about looking for other food.
Ardys the rat let out a squeak just before the cat landed, scampering up the pile of garbage and then shifting forms into a shapely young woman. "Keep yer claws t'yerself, ye mangy sack of fleas!" She aimed a kick at him for good measure, then glared and straightened her clothing.
She looked down haughtily at the cat, brushing off her purple and gold cloak. She smoothed the velour of her purple pants as well, then tugged her tunic lower, even though it still showed more skin at the hip than was proper. "I despise cats, idiotic creatures that kill us... or try to anyway." She resettled the cloak around her shoulders and made an annoyed sound at the way it hung. Ardys flicked a few fingers to unclasp the cloak and then shook it out, swinging it around her shoulders once she was certain there was nothing weighing down the light silk. She fastened the dark stays of the cloak, brushing her fingers lovingly over the dark silk cords.
"Well?" She asked the cat, finally realizing that it had a purple hat on. "What are ye wearin' that for? It matches my cloak, anyway... at least you have good style." She figured the cat might be a shifter like her, since he was wearing a hat with such a regal look. Then again, he could just be a cat that his owner dressed up.
Ardys the rat let out a squeak just before the cat landed, scampering up the pile of garbage and then shifting forms into a shapely young woman. "Keep yer claws t'yerself, ye mangy sack of fleas!" She aimed a kick at him for good measure, then glared and straightened her clothing.
She looked down haughtily at the cat, brushing off her purple and gold cloak. She smoothed the velour of her purple pants as well, then tugged her tunic lower, even though it still showed more skin at the hip than was proper. "I despise cats, idiotic creatures that kill us... or try to anyway." She resettled the cloak around her shoulders and made an annoyed sound at the way it hung. Ardys flicked a few fingers to unclasp the cloak and then shook it out, swinging it around her shoulders once she was certain there was nothing weighing down the light silk. She fastened the dark stays of the cloak, brushing her fingers lovingly over the dark silk cords.
"Well?" She asked the cat, finally realizing that it had a purple hat on. "What are ye wearin' that for? It matches my cloak, anyway... at least you have good style." She figured the cat might be a shifter like her, since he was wearing a hat with such a regal look. Then again, he could just be a cat that his owner dressed up.
Re: Rat, Cat, Garbage
He grabbed for the rat with eager, clawed paws and snapped at a naked tail as the creature scurried up with quick little paws. He followed it as fast as he could, but the next moment, a woman had miraculously appeared there. She was wearing a cloak that matched the colors of his hat exceptionally well and was in a very tight, seductive outfit that made Cat stop mid-step and stare at her, open-mouthed and unsure of what exactly to do.
He had met shifters before, but hardly ever paid them any mind. This woman he would not have guessed had been the rat moments before if she hadn't spoken those words to him angrily. His eyes sparkled with vague curiosity and he found himself taking a soft, shuddering breath. He meowed softly and hopped out of the way as she aimed a kick at him, his hat bouncing slightly on his head, not balancing very well after his leap; it had fallen slightly to the side.
He stood there staring at her openly (which was not odd for him; cats tended to stare purposefully at their enemies), his silver tail twitching lightly with either interest, annoyance, malice, or a combination of all three.
He stuck his nose in the air slightly for a moment at her last comment about his hat, snorting softly but then looking at her determinedly. "And what, might I ask, are you doing wearing that despicable combination of cloth?" he asked with a slight hiss added to the end. "You look to me as no more than a common whore, garbage-eating wench!"
He had met shifters before, but hardly ever paid them any mind. This woman he would not have guessed had been the rat moments before if she hadn't spoken those words to him angrily. His eyes sparkled with vague curiosity and he found himself taking a soft, shuddering breath. He meowed softly and hopped out of the way as she aimed a kick at him, his hat bouncing slightly on his head, not balancing very well after his leap; it had fallen slightly to the side.
He stood there staring at her openly (which was not odd for him; cats tended to stare purposefully at their enemies), his silver tail twitching lightly with either interest, annoyance, malice, or a combination of all three.
He stuck his nose in the air slightly for a moment at her last comment about his hat, snorting softly but then looking at her determinedly. "And what, might I ask, are you doing wearing that despicable combination of cloth?" he asked with a slight hiss added to the end. "You look to me as no more than a common whore, garbage-eating wench!"
Re: Rat, Cat, Garbage
Ardys gaped, quite unlike her. A talking cat? She couldn't do that in rat form, and she'd never met any other shifter who could... maybe he wasn't a shifter? A pet? She mentally shook her head. No way. All thoughts of why and how the cat was speaking fled her head when she realized what he'd said.
She opened her mouth to retort furiously, affronted and angered. "Me clothing is none of yer concern! When I mentioned yer hat looked nice, I forgot to look at yer pelt, as ridden with pestilence as it must be! Silver fur an' gold hat? Me lovely lunch is threatening to make a repeat appearance at the sight of that, ye ingrate! An' how dare ye call me a whore--yer like as much to be the same! I'll have ye know that I come of noble stock among my kind, an' yer nothin' but a pesky little kitty!"
She glared down at him heatedly, shifting her weight to rest on one foot. Then she grimaced as she looked down at what she was standing on and quickly descended, brushing off her boots when she was on the comparatively clean ground of the street. "Effin' dust..."
She opened her mouth to retort furiously, affronted and angered. "Me clothing is none of yer concern! When I mentioned yer hat looked nice, I forgot to look at yer pelt, as ridden with pestilence as it must be! Silver fur an' gold hat? Me lovely lunch is threatening to make a repeat appearance at the sight of that, ye ingrate! An' how dare ye call me a whore--yer like as much to be the same! I'll have ye know that I come of noble stock among my kind, an' yer nothin' but a pesky little kitty!"
She glared down at him heatedly, shifting her weight to rest on one foot. Then she grimaced as she looked down at what she was standing on and quickly descended, brushing off her boots when she was on the comparatively clean ground of the street. "Effin' dust..."
Re: Rat, Cat, Garbage
He watched the expression on her face (which was, actually, quite lovely) with utmost satisfaction, the corners of his white lips twitching slightly at her reaction. Most were surprised at his ability to speak; he had never met another animal who could talk, shifter or otherwise. He was thankful that the spell upon him had not altered that ability, as without speech he would appear as stupid as the next tom cat in the alleyway.
Cat became furiously offended by her remarks, hissing and letting his banded tail freely whip this way and that in aggression. "It is all of my concern what you wear, as I am the one who is forced to look at it," he remarked with casual voice, though his insides were twitching with both anger and the smell of rat. "There is no such thing as a 'noble' rat. You're all nothing more than sewer-traveling, garbage-raiding, disease-carrying, flea-bitten inbreeds!" He retorted angrily. "And I'll have you know that I am far more than a mere house cat, idiot," he added pompously.
As she descended, he also looked down at the rubbish he was standing on so casually with a look of disgust. Then he retreated back to the top of a crate, so that he was almost at her eye level. He stared at her for a short time, then sat down, pushing his hat with a paw so that it rested better on his grey head. He didn't know why he didn't just leave. She was obviously of no use to him. Yet, he asked, "So do you have a name? Besides 'Idiotic, Dirty, Sewer-Going Brat'?"
Cat became furiously offended by her remarks, hissing and letting his banded tail freely whip this way and that in aggression. "It is all of my concern what you wear, as I am the one who is forced to look at it," he remarked with casual voice, though his insides were twitching with both anger and the smell of rat. "There is no such thing as a 'noble' rat. You're all nothing more than sewer-traveling, garbage-raiding, disease-carrying, flea-bitten inbreeds!" He retorted angrily. "And I'll have you know that I am far more than a mere house cat, idiot," he added pompously.
As she descended, he also looked down at the rubbish he was standing on so casually with a look of disgust. Then he retreated back to the top of a crate, so that he was almost at her eye level. He stared at her for a short time, then sat down, pushing his hat with a paw so that it rested better on his grey head. He didn't know why he didn't just leave. She was obviously of no use to him. Yet, he asked, "So do you have a name? Besides 'Idiotic, Dirty, Sewer-Going Brat'?"
Re: Rat, Cat, Garbage
"Urgh, cats," Ardys moaned. "Ye lot think yer the best out o' all t'creatures on this world, when in reality yer just what ye called me--a gutter-crawlin', murderin', inbred sack full o' shit, an' yer a killin' fiend!" She snorted and leaned against the wall, looking down at him in distaste.
Though, she supposed that if he wasn't a cat, hadn't just repeatedly insulted her, cleaned up a bit and ditched the silver and gold scheme, he might not be so bad looking. He'd make a handsome rat or human, in any case... provided those aforementioned things were accomplished. She raised an eyebrow at his aggression, snickering as he lashed his tail. "Take a potion for calmin' yerself, cat. Shoutin' a me ain't gonna make a whit o' difference t'what I think o' ye."
She laughed outright at the look on his face when he asked her name. "Ye can call me Ardys, kitty. I've got more names than that, but that'd be the easiest for a cat. An' ye? Ye got a name besides flea-ridden stinkbag?"
Though, she supposed that if he wasn't a cat, hadn't just repeatedly insulted her, cleaned up a bit and ditched the silver and gold scheme, he might not be so bad looking. He'd make a handsome rat or human, in any case... provided those aforementioned things were accomplished. She raised an eyebrow at his aggression, snickering as he lashed his tail. "Take a potion for calmin' yerself, cat. Shoutin' a me ain't gonna make a whit o' difference t'what I think o' ye."
She laughed outright at the look on his face when he asked her name. "Ye can call me Ardys, kitty. I've got more names than that, but that'd be the easiest for a cat. An' ye? Ye got a name besides flea-ridden stinkbag?"
Re: Rat, Cat, Garbage
"That's because I am the best," he answered calmly, sighing softly and eying her with a lazy, yellow gaze. Being turned into a cat had sucked, yeah. But it was definitely better than being turned into something silly like a rat or a mangy dog. The body of a cat seemed to suit him well enough, especially now that he had pretty much given up his search for a cure. No magic-doer he had met on his long travels thus far had known how to break the curse. Most assured him that there was no cure, that it was powerful magic, and that he would be stuck like this forever. He'd come to accept it as truth.
"Hmph," he added, pointing his pink nose in the air, though this time his hat stayed firmly upon his head. She laughed at him easily, and then said that her name was Ardys. "Ardys; interesting," he said with a half-smile. He'd never heard a name like it but then again, his name was a bit out of the ordinary too.
He cursed his mother for giving him such a terrible middle name, but said the full name aloud anyway because to him, it sounded intimidating. "I am Sandelmingoblius Genene Blahkenschtanipon of the Upper Mid-West, though for simplicity's sake and for your lack of proper intelligence, call me Cat," he answered in that pompous manner of his, grooming one of his paws absently, wiping it over his lovely white whiskers.
"Hmph," he added, pointing his pink nose in the air, though this time his hat stayed firmly upon his head. She laughed at him easily, and then said that her name was Ardys. "Ardys; interesting," he said with a half-smile. He'd never heard a name like it but then again, his name was a bit out of the ordinary too.
He cursed his mother for giving him such a terrible middle name, but said the full name aloud anyway because to him, it sounded intimidating. "I am Sandelmingoblius Genene Blahkenschtanipon of the Upper Mid-West, though for simplicity's sake and for your lack of proper intelligence, call me Cat," he answered in that pompous manner of his, grooming one of his paws absently, wiping it over his lovely white whiskers.
Re: Rat, Cat, Garbage
Ardys gagged. "T'best? Why in the world..." She cut herself off, rolling her eyes. "I ain't gonna argue with a cat on species superiority. It's clear who's right, anyway."
She shifted her stance against the wall, looking around impatiently. She really didn't need to stand around talking to a cat all day... there were other things to do, especially for a rat. She could go find some others and get the gossip, or she could go to a tavern and find out the human gossip, even though the rats sometimes had a better picture of human activities in Marn and Shim, as they got everywhere. And, unlike cats, they were wary and simply wonderful.
However, his full name caught her attention and while she tried to control her snickers, she eventually erupted in a huge laugh. "That's... that's your... that's..." She gave up speaking and leaned against her wall for support, laughing uproariously. Eventually she slipped down the wall, the bricks roughing up the callouses on her hands and she ended up snorting a little as she laughed, tears leaking from her eyes. "Sandel... Jam... Schanipoopoo!" Her shoulders were shaking as she slumped all the way over, her face against her right forearm which was pressed into the dirt. "Cat! Ye've got a stupid name!"
She shifted her stance against the wall, looking around impatiently. She really didn't need to stand around talking to a cat all day... there were other things to do, especially for a rat. She could go find some others and get the gossip, or she could go to a tavern and find out the human gossip, even though the rats sometimes had a better picture of human activities in Marn and Shim, as they got everywhere. And, unlike cats, they were wary and simply wonderful.
However, his full name caught her attention and while she tried to control her snickers, she eventually erupted in a huge laugh. "That's... that's your... that's..." She gave up speaking and leaned against her wall for support, laughing uproariously. Eventually she slipped down the wall, the bricks roughing up the callouses on her hands and she ended up snorting a little as she laughed, tears leaking from her eyes. "Sandel... Jam... Schanipoopoo!" Her shoulders were shaking as she slumped all the way over, her face against her right forearm which was pressed into the dirt. "Cat! Ye've got a stupid name!"
Re: Rat, Cat, Garbage
Lick, lick, wipe, swallow. Lick, lick, wipe, swallow.
And then she began laughing hysterically, having to use the terrible, awful, gunky brick wall behind her for support while her chest heaved and her eyes flowed tears like a water spout. She even made the effort to repeat the name, though failed miserably.
Lick, lick, wipe, swallow.
Lick, li -
"Cat! Ye've got a stupid name!"
"And as I said prior to your idiotic laughing spree, you obviously lack the intelligence to understand its rather important significance!" he grumbled, staring at her and waving his banded tail haughtily. She was wrong and he was right.
"Go ahead and laugh then!!" He roared, rising to leave. He didn't have to deal with this sort of stupid nonsense. With one swoop, he hopped off of his box with a gentle pat and began strutting away in the same manner that every cat on the planet knew exactly how to do.
He didn't have anything better to be doing. He did not enjoy being laughed at. It cut holes in his over-sized ego and an ego with holes was like a balloon. It would quickly deflate, possibly even pop.
And then she began laughing hysterically, having to use the terrible, awful, gunky brick wall behind her for support while her chest heaved and her eyes flowed tears like a water spout. She even made the effort to repeat the name, though failed miserably.
Lick, lick, wipe, swallow.
Lick, li -
"Cat! Ye've got a stupid name!"
"And as I said prior to your idiotic laughing spree, you obviously lack the intelligence to understand its rather important significance!" he grumbled, staring at her and waving his banded tail haughtily. She was wrong and he was right.
"Go ahead and laugh then!!" He roared, rising to leave. He didn't have to deal with this sort of stupid nonsense. With one swoop, he hopped off of his box with a gentle pat and began strutting away in the same manner that every cat on the planet knew exactly how to do.
He didn't have anything better to be doing. He did not enjoy being laughed at. It cut holes in his over-sized ego and an ego with holes was like a balloon. It would quickly deflate, possibly even pop.
Re: Rat, Cat, Garbage
He started walking away. Ardys felt mildly bad, which was a somewhat new feeling for her, at least directed to a cat. Actually, it was the first time she'd felt like that about a cat. She picked herself up and straightened her clothes before trotting off after him, catching up easily.
Biting her lip before speaking, she said, "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to laugh... if it helps, I've got a brother named Unquat k'Onfessia Entellue. People laugh at his name all the time." She sighed. "There's not much funny about this town, so I ain't laughed like that in a while. I'm not laughing at ye, really... okay, maybe a little, but I shouldn't have."
She glanced around once she'd tailed him to the street, making sure no one was going to look at her funny for talking to a cat. "So, how come ye can talk, anyway? How 'bout we get a drink or somethin', I ain't even goin' t'comment on buyin' ye milk, and ye tell me yer story? An' how come ye wear a hat with such style?" Okay, it was a little bit of blatant flattery, but that generally worked pretty well with cats, right?
Biting her lip before speaking, she said, "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to laugh... if it helps, I've got a brother named Unquat k'Onfessia Entellue. People laugh at his name all the time." She sighed. "There's not much funny about this town, so I ain't laughed like that in a while. I'm not laughing at ye, really... okay, maybe a little, but I shouldn't have."
She glanced around once she'd tailed him to the street, making sure no one was going to look at her funny for talking to a cat. "So, how come ye can talk, anyway? How 'bout we get a drink or somethin', I ain't even goin' t'comment on buyin' ye milk, and ye tell me yer story? An' how come ye wear a hat with such style?" Okay, it was a little bit of blatant flattery, but that generally worked pretty well with cats, right?
Re: Rat, Cat, Garbage
He was most surprised to find her following him. One of his silvery ears twitched backward to her, but he absolutely refused to look at her. While they continued moving, she spoke a truthful-sounding apology and he felt his whiskers twitch with softness. Once they had reached the other end of the street, he finally stopped and turned to look at her, not intimidated in the least by her much taller form. It was, admittedly, more uncomfortable looking up instead of down, however.
"..S'all right I suppose," he answered, using an interesting slur, which was something he didn't often do. Generally he over-enunciated all of his words because of his 'dignified' nature. She offered to buy him a drink and he felt the anger swiftly ooze out of his insides. He didn't much fancy too much milk, as it gave him terrible sickness but a little was okay every so often. Once he had been turned into a feline, he had lost his taste for alcohol.
The flattery, of course, sealed the deal. "...Alright then," he grumbled. He moved to follow her into wherever it was she went to drink. He generally didn't walk into taverns here because he had found that Marn wasn't exactly open generally to talking cats.
"..S'all right I suppose," he answered, using an interesting slur, which was something he didn't often do. Generally he over-enunciated all of his words because of his 'dignified' nature. She offered to buy him a drink and he felt the anger swiftly ooze out of his insides. He didn't much fancy too much milk, as it gave him terrible sickness but a little was okay every so often. Once he had been turned into a feline, he had lost his taste for alcohol.
The flattery, of course, sealed the deal. "...Alright then," he grumbled. He moved to follow her into wherever it was she went to drink. He generally didn't walk into taverns here because he had found that Marn wasn't exactly open generally to talking cats.
Re: Rat, Cat, Garbage
Ardys nodded a bit, grinning down at him. "I know a place that won't mind me talkin' t'a cat. Th'owner's a wolf shifter... it's not exactly on th'beaten track, though. An' th'location changes every week or so. C'mon."
She waved a hand, beckoning him to follow her. Her manner became more wary as they went along, ducking into alleys and slipping behind little used and unmarked doors. Finally jumping onto some boxes and crates she tapped her nose, pointing upwards. "Smells like it's on th'roof of the blacksmith's this week. Just a short climb." She led the way upwards, finding the going easy enough. It was all crates and bits of wood, forming a type of shoddy ladder up to the rooftop.
Once at the top Ardys looked around, then spotted her fellow shifters. She motioned to Cat again and strode over, calling a quiet greeting. "Arnour, care t'shift a few drinks over here? It's been a long day, ye know? A... bowl... of milk fer me Cat friend here, an' just give me th'bottle of Keltaris red, wouldn't ye?" Obligingly, the grizzled old werewolf brought the drinks over, not even raising an eyebrow at the order or when he set down the bowl of milk for Cat. Then he departed, and after a long, satisfying gulp of her wine leaned her back onto the ground and sighed, closing her eyes. "So now, ye gonna talk about how ye got yer talkin' powers?"
She waved a hand, beckoning him to follow her. Her manner became more wary as they went along, ducking into alleys and slipping behind little used and unmarked doors. Finally jumping onto some boxes and crates she tapped her nose, pointing upwards. "Smells like it's on th'roof of the blacksmith's this week. Just a short climb." She led the way upwards, finding the going easy enough. It was all crates and bits of wood, forming a type of shoddy ladder up to the rooftop.
Once at the top Ardys looked around, then spotted her fellow shifters. She motioned to Cat again and strode over, calling a quiet greeting. "Arnour, care t'shift a few drinks over here? It's been a long day, ye know? A... bowl... of milk fer me Cat friend here, an' just give me th'bottle of Keltaris red, wouldn't ye?" Obligingly, the grizzled old werewolf brought the drinks over, not even raising an eyebrow at the order or when he set down the bowl of milk for Cat. Then he departed, and after a long, satisfying gulp of her wine leaned her back onto the ground and sighed, closing her eyes. "So now, ye gonna talk about how ye got yer talkin' powers?"
Re: Rat, Cat, Garbage
It seemed all too odd that he had been wanting to literally eat this woman not ten minutes ago, convinced that she was no more than a dirty, garbage-eating rat. He didn't know why he felt the odd urge to stay in this woman's foul company. She was obviously an ignorant little wench, and yet for reasons unknown, he felt drawn to her. Though quite honestly, that might've just been the tight-fit clothing she wore doing odd magic of its own.
Trotting, sometimes bounding behind her lengthy strides, he followed her and didn't speak a word. He was curious (as cats often are) about this place that he'd never heard of. Climbing boxes and clambering through alleyways and assorted paths, he was surprised to find himself on a rooftop where a number of strange people spoke and drank their beverages. Ardys slurred an order in her strange, accented voice and Cat was slightly appalled to see an old werewolf that the rat had mentioned earlier bringing him a bowl of milk.
Casually, as if nothing strange had happened, he lapped a few times and the creamy surface of his bowl rippled. Ardys wasted no time getting to the bottom of Cat's unusual story, though he cleared his throat and swallowed with quite an effort. He had told the tale to anyone who had asked, really. It was not something he kept a secret very much unless he was feeling particularly cold and antisocial. Though, in all honesty, Ardys's stuff about 'powers' was laughable. He hardly thought it a power to be cursed forever.
"Well, I...uh," he began quickly, flitting his gaze to a few shady-looking people around them. Where to begin? "I was once human," he admitted.
"I used to study magic with a family out in the mountains. There was a man called Rugle who lived there; taught me everything I know about magic. And there were three daughters too. Very fine women, all three." Here he stopped for a moment and sighed, lapping a bit of milk before continuing. "Now, before I came there, Rugle made me promise that when he asked it of me, I would do one favor for him no matter what. He made me swear and sign a contract before he started teaching me." He grew mildly uncomfortable, shuffling a bit in his seat on the ground.
"Yazil- uh, one of the girls..- she decided she had her heart set on marrying me. Rugle told me that this was his one favor and I declined. We had a row and then I left. And the next day I was..." The shock of that morning was still apparent, even after all this time.
"This."
Trotting, sometimes bounding behind her lengthy strides, he followed her and didn't speak a word. He was curious (as cats often are) about this place that he'd never heard of. Climbing boxes and clambering through alleyways and assorted paths, he was surprised to find himself on a rooftop where a number of strange people spoke and drank their beverages. Ardys slurred an order in her strange, accented voice and Cat was slightly appalled to see an old werewolf that the rat had mentioned earlier bringing him a bowl of milk.
Casually, as if nothing strange had happened, he lapped a few times and the creamy surface of his bowl rippled. Ardys wasted no time getting to the bottom of Cat's unusual story, though he cleared his throat and swallowed with quite an effort. He had told the tale to anyone who had asked, really. It was not something he kept a secret very much unless he was feeling particularly cold and antisocial. Though, in all honesty, Ardys's stuff about 'powers' was laughable. He hardly thought it a power to be cursed forever.
"Well, I...uh," he began quickly, flitting his gaze to a few shady-looking people around them. Where to begin? "I was once human," he admitted.
"I used to study magic with a family out in the mountains. There was a man called Rugle who lived there; taught me everything I know about magic. And there were three daughters too. Very fine women, all three." Here he stopped for a moment and sighed, lapping a bit of milk before continuing. "Now, before I came there, Rugle made me promise that when he asked it of me, I would do one favor for him no matter what. He made me swear and sign a contract before he started teaching me." He grew mildly uncomfortable, shuffling a bit in his seat on the ground.
"Yazil- uh, one of the girls..- she decided she had her heart set on marrying me. Rugle told me that this was his one favor and I declined. We had a row and then I left. And the next day I was..." The shock of that morning was still apparent, even after all this time.
"This."
Re: Rat, Cat, Garbage
Ardys sipped her wine thoughtfully through the story, grimacing slightly at the taste. Keltaris it might be (Arnour knew better than to try and trick her into drinking some lesser local vintage) but the wine had had a long journey and hadn't been properly stored and packed. It was resulting in a taste that Ardys didn't particularly fancy but she drank it anyway, as she had paid for it.
"So... yer repayment was t'be marryin' this girl, an' ye didn't because ye didn't feel like it? I guess I can understand that--I don't want t'be forced int'a marriage I don't want, but seems like simple repayment. Huh, maybe cat's don't have th'same ideas as do us rats... ye repay a debt, regardless o' yer own wishes." Ardys stopped and sighed, downing another swig of her wine.
"Anyway," She said, looking down at his shockingly green eyes. "Ye been like this long, o' ye try and get yer body back, o'... ye got a plan t'be human again? Do ye want t'be human again? I sometimes love just bein' a rat. Makes m'life a touch simpler, ye know?"
"So... yer repayment was t'be marryin' this girl, an' ye didn't because ye didn't feel like it? I guess I can understand that--I don't want t'be forced int'a marriage I don't want, but seems like simple repayment. Huh, maybe cat's don't have th'same ideas as do us rats... ye repay a debt, regardless o' yer own wishes." Ardys stopped and sighed, downing another swig of her wine.
"Anyway," She said, looking down at his shockingly green eyes. "Ye been like this long, o' ye try and get yer body back, o'... ye got a plan t'be human again? Do ye want t'be human again? I sometimes love just bein' a rat. Makes m'life a touch simpler, ye know?"