escordvi | December Catch All! If it's not a happy holiday, I can sue, right?

[There is a sudden and furious scratching at the door followed by the loud meow recognizable as one of the warrior cats demanding entry.]

[Bramblesong let out a yell herself at the meowing and the clawing. Daria didn’t know if she wanted to answer the door, but hearing it was a cat…it probably is lost or ran away.

Cats were better than people. Way better.

So fine, she got up from her cot and opened the door.]

[Deathstar immediately throws himself at Daria's leg to rub against it (greeting Bramblesong the same if Bramblesong was close) and then turned and walked back out the door. He flicked his tail and looked over his shoulder at her, meowing loudly once more.]

...Does it really want us to-

[She thought outloud when Bramblesong took the initiative and went after Deathstar. Well, that settled it. Daria had no choice but to follow them both due to her own cat making a break for it.]

Jeez, alright. Just slow the hell down. Where are you two even going?

[She was talking like the cats were understanding her.]

[Bramblesong might not be able to understand Daria, but Deathstar certainly... well, ignored the request to slow down. But did seem to understand that he occasionally needed to wait for Daria to catch up after bounding ahead for a bit, which he used to headbutt and rub against Bramblesong's side as the other cat allowed him.

Though, truthfully, they didn't have far to go. It just took time because of how Deathstar led them around the ship to one of the other cabin doors. At the door, he purred and rubbed up against it, then meowed loudly in demand for entrance.

It was his room. Which he shared with Dongfang Qingcang. But the door was closed and he lacked opposable thumbs.]

[Aw, naw. This cat didn't just grab the nearest person to try to open the door to his person's room. But he made friends with Bramblesong, who reciprocated affection being a rather agreeable cat. She sighed heavily before knocking on the door.]

Hey, you in there? Your cat's locked out here, he's called for back up.

[Deathstar was certainly as presumptuous and demanding as his immortal ruler.

The door opened not more than a couple moments after the knock. Daqiang stood there, eyes already angled down to watch Deathstar attempt to come inside - rubbing against Bramblesong in invitation to join him. The cat was, to his chagrin, blocked immediately by Daqiang's foot. And again, when Deathstar attempted to dart around.

Switching tactics, Deathstar rubbed against that leg and meowed pathetically.

Slowly, Daqiang's eyes rose to meet Daria's as he kept his foot shifting to prevent Deathstar's entry.]

This venerable one banished him to the deck for the day. You are the third he has brought to argue on his behalf.

Really.

[This guy. Lord, this guy. She wasn't sure about this but she grew trapped here now regardless. They both were.]

He's really insistent then. He's trying really hard to get you to cave. Keeps not working.

[He lets his eyes fall back to watch Deathstar as the cat continued his attempts to move past the foot, alternating between 'rubbing and purring' and 'hope Daqiang is distracted enough now to not catch me this time'.]

His persistence and ingenuity are admirable. He must, however, learn to suffer his punishment with dignity.

[Which Deathstar was definitely not doing.]

He left a hairball on this venerable one's bed.

[And Daqiang discovered it after coming back from his bath. By laying down on it. Forcing him to launder his own bedding and retake his bath before he could get any sleep the night before. A day on deck was completely fair.]

[This guy kept proving he was “for real”. Every interaction she’s had he had an air of importance and intimidation that just rolled around to being…silly.]

You never had cats before, have you? Hate to tell you, but that’s kind of part of the package.

Cats, dogs, birds, they can be gross. Like people. But unlike people, they don’t know what they did was wrong five minutes after doing it.

He knows what he did wrong.

[Daqiang refuted and then dipped down to grab Deathstar and lift him by the stomach with one hand. Deathstar purred loudly and lay limp in his hand.]

You know what you did wrong. Stop this nonsense and serve your punishment.

[Deathstar's purring grew louder and he blinked slowly at Daqiang.

Daqiang gave Daria a 'see, told you' look.]

He is aware.

[...This is funniest thing she had ever seen in her entire life. This guy with the straightest and deadpan faces that rivaled hers. He was going at this with the most dramatic seriousness and the cat just loved him. She'd laugh but she's making it hard to show it. A small smirk arose though.]

That cat may also be a little in love with you. He's letting you know that.

Edited 2023-12-15 14:46 (UTC)

[He had been told that purring meant a cat was happy. So he wasn't entirely unaware that Deathstar enjoyed the attention, even if wasn't exactly the attention he wanted out of Daqiang. Still, to have Daria just say that Deathstar was a little in love with him was a bit jarring.

Daqiang looked to the side and lifted his chin. ~~he was not pouting~~]

He is foolish.

[With a sigh, he bent down and released Deathstar who promptly trotted over to the gap between Daqiang's foot and the door frame and squeezed his way through before Daqiang could block him.

Another sigh and a press of fingers to the bridge of his nose and Daqiang turned around to follow, leaving the door open for Bramblesong and Daria to enter if they wished.]

Forget it.

[lmao lol rmfao

What a freaking dork. It felt hilarious to tease him when he wasn't being ridiculously tryhard intimidating.

Actually, the more she thought about it, that was hilarious too. Bramblesong seemed to roll on in at the invitation, making Daria pounce in after her.]

...Bramblesong!

[D'oh, well she was inside now.]

[Deathstar doubled back to intercept Bramblesong with a friendly rub along her side and headbump to the bottom of her chin. The fact that he was nearly twice her size mattered little to his attempt to get himself lower than her head.

Daqiang eyed the two with a frown and gestured at the table and chairs as Daria followed them in.]

Sit.

[It was the kindest he would make the offer for her to be his guest for a time. The door remained open. Since he was now (apparently) entertaining, there was no reason in his mind to close it.]

How welcoming.

[With a heavy sigh, she walked on in. Knowing well she had an easy escape route if she needed to bail. These rooms weren't the best, but they did what they were supposed to do. A place to put her head down and be with her own thoughts. A personal space.

An impersonal person just invited another impersonal person into a personal space.

Noticed.

She sat down on the table, and was soon met by Bramblesong.]

[Deathstar also joined her, jumping on the table like he owned it (he did). He then flopped down and rolled over on his side, inviting someone to pet him.

Daqiang retrieved a teapot and a couple cups. He made his own way over to the table and set the teapot and cups down. The teapot was heated with one hand and Deathstar pushed to the side so he wasn't taking up the center of the table anymore. Deathstar, of course, purred loudly at the attention he forced Daqiang to give him.

Once the tea was heated, he gestured in invitation for Daria to pour.]

When this venerable one has a ship of his own, he will be better equipped to entertain properly. For now, accept this tea and the honor of this venerable one's attention.

[Said venerable one's hand moved to start petting Deathstar's belly in an idle manner. Since he was there.]

[Tea wasn’t unwelcome. So to speak, but she wasn’t in a rush to drink any just yet. But she did utter a “thanks” under her breath and a nod of acknowledgment before speaking. Regarding everything.]

Thinking of leaving this ship too, huh? Funny you mention it. I AM leaving.

Oh? And where are you going?

I, uh, got invited to join a crew. With some friends.

[She sipped her tea now, letting it all settle in. It was a lot, but for all of the best reasons. It was still hard to articulate that.]

And they’re letting me live in their house.

Are you their guest? Or are they asking for something in return? For living in their house.

Nnno.

[That one word was enunciated for a purpose. Either this guy doesn’t know the meaning of this particular word or he thought maybe it wasn’t as simple as it was. Both could be true, or maybe he was just curious. One way to find out.]

They’re friends, they invited me to join and I accepted.

As a member of the crew.

[He nodded. It was housing due to her employment. Just as his household would be obligated to provide housing and meals for any who served in the palace as part of their pay. It was easier and more sensible in his mind to justify favorable treatment without the veneer of friendship.

It was just... The whole 'friendship' thing was still strange to him and, well... he didn't have friends. It was only that, he might have friends. There were those who called themselves his friends. But as Moon Supreme and strongest in the Three Realms, having friends was a weakness. So... he could not have friends.]

Acceptable.

[Yay for passing his judgement?]

Nnnnooo, friends.

Fffriendss.

[Did he not know the meaning of the word at all? This was hysterical in a different way now. As friendly as Daria claimed she was ages ago, even she knew what friends WERE. This guy didn't even acknowledge the word.]

...Do you know what that even is?

[He set his teacup down hard and leaned across the table.]

Someone this venerable one can torture to get someone else to do what he wants.

[A moment later he rolled his eyes and sat back.]

December Catch All! If it's not a happy holiday, I can sue, right?

MISC: Daria's Room

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