closed 🌠 i wanna fall like i won't hit the ground.

[starshower]

Who: Tifa Lockhart & others.
Status: Closed.
Where: Around.
What: November catch-all.
Warnings: None for now.

[If you'd like a thread, please feel free to hit up my plotting post here and we can work something out!]

Comments

☁️ cloud.

[starshower]

[It will just so happen to be as Cloud is coming back from wherever he was to find Tifa at his apartment door, whispering something quiet at something scratching lightly at the wooden frame.]

What did we agree on? There'd be no scratching when we came to say hi...!

[There's a light meow, but it's loud enough to be heard down the hall should he be coming.]

Now be good and just sit and wait, alright? He left a while ago, so he should be back soon.

[Little does she know... he's already back.]

[makoglow]

[ He has, in fact, returned from another riveting request that he had decided to fill. Cloud stands there for a moment, to see what she is up to. The meow is kind of a dead giveaway. There's now a cat in her vicinity. Their proximity, really. ]

How'd I get so lucky to have two visitors?

[starshower]

Ah—!

[She starts at the sound of his voice behind her, straightening and stiff as a board as she whirls around.]

You're back.

[As if he wasn't meant to return this early, but it's actually perfect timing... and the gray cat pokes its head out from behind her legs, its eyes wide as it stares at him.]

I figured you'd wanna meet someone.

[makoglow]

[ It's true. He hadn't thought he'd be back this soon. Maybe another couple of hours. But things had finished up sooner than expected. Cloud just wanted to pick up some dubloons to head out again.

Blue eyes take in the grey cat. ]

Oh yeah? And who is that someone?

[ Cloud will wait for the cat to approach him first. He knows better. ]

[starshower]

[She feels that brush against the back of her leg, the feel of a long bushy tail curling around her knee as the cat moves a little further out from behind Tifa, blue eyes taking him in just as much and sizing him up.]

Her name is... um, Gaslight.

[It's said with a bit of confusion, because who names a cat that, but the man giving them away was adamant that it stays that way, and that she would not answer to any other.

And, as if to confirm, she gives a mighty meow before it turns into a yawn partway through.]

[makoglow]

Gaslight? [ Yeah, he's right there with Tifa on this one. Just what - ] Interesting name for a cat.

[ Cloud then crouches, holding out his hand. He'll go no further. Just patiently wait for the cat to decide if it is worth checking out the blonde or not. ]

Where'd you pick her up?

[starshower]

On Eltrut... just the other day.

[Gaslight's whiskers twitch as she sniffs at Cloud's hand, and Tifa can't help but be a little curious and surprised at his openness... and while she cants her head, she'll go on to explain. Save the questions for after—]

There was this group training their cats, and one guy insisted that I take one. And... the rest is history.

[Tifa has a hard time saying no sometimes, especially when cute cats are involved.]

[makoglow]

[ Well Cloud still won't make a move until the cat gives him some sort of indicator that it is okay to give a couple of scratches behind the ears. ]

Not capable of saying no, huh? Or was it seeing those baby sea horses that made you want something to take with you?

[ He is just teasing. Cloud probably would have taken a cat if he had been there. ]

[starshower]

[Like her owner, she is a bit shy, but she lifts herself up off her haunches and approaches a step, then two, before she's coming out from behind Tifa's ankles to explore the area around him. And while she avoids his hand, he will feel her tail curling around his back when she wanders past, sniffing still.]

No—! ...Well...

[Ugh, he still knows her too well!!!]

Alright, fine. Maybe a little bit, but in my defense, she came after me. And you know what they say about animals...

[makoglow]

[ Well... She might not allow him to pet her, but that's okay. Gaslight is being friendly enough. Cloud drops his hand. When the cat is ready, she will let him know. For now, the little furball can take her time getting to know Cloud.

But that means he can refocus on Tifa. And how flustered she is being called out like that. ]

What they say... You mean like attracts like?

[starshower]

Something like that.

[Her cheeks flush just a bit.]

They're the ones that pick their people.

[Which might be why Gaslight is stuck so close to her side at all times, clingy as they come.]

Better than what Maru used to do, mind you...

[makoglow]

[ He raises a brow. Only "something like that," huh? It certainly is just like that. Though it's still amusing to fluster Tifa instead of the other way around.

But ah. The cat... ]

I don't think Maru liked staying put. Gaslight here seems perfectly happy to just stay in one place.

[starshower]

You'd be surprised.

[Tifa takes a step towards Cloud and lifts a hand to her lips, as if she's about to tell him some great big secret.]

They told me she's a "warrior cat". Whatever that means... I haven't actually tested anything to see if that's true.

[Considering how she looks right now, as she starts grooming her paws, her tail curling daintily around herself.]

❄️ jill.

[starshower]

[It has only been a few hours since Tifa has adopted this new "warrior" cat of hers, and already, she is causing no shortage of trouble. Of course, she is—she is immediately reminded of Maru, the cat that she had as a girl, and she has to wonder if it's her and not the troublesome cats that she seems to be attracting.

Not that Gaslight is doing anything out of the ordinary—cats are going to cat, and that includes trying to steal fish from one of the local vendors when she squirms out of Tifa's arms and bolts before she can stop her.

Wherever Jill happens to be on Eltrut today will be where this little grey kitten ends up, the fish triumphantly held in her mouth as she runs up to another fellow warrior kitten, meows loudly, and drops the fish down on the ground between them.

And here comes Tifa rounding the corner—]

Sorry...!

[—and immediately apologizing before she even realizes what it is that happened, or who it is with said cat.]

I hope she isn't causing any trouble.

[tilfrosset]

[For most of the day, Bluetooth has been content to hang out in Jill's arms and likewise, Jill has been more than happy to carry her in other to keep her safe. Not that she truly needs to worry about a warrior cat who can mostly take care of herself more often than not, but she also is just concerned a stray dog might be wandering around the place looking for something to chase.

But suddenly the carrying is over on account of Bluetooth wriggling out of Jill's grasp, dropping to land on all four paws. It happens so quickly that Jill doesn't even notice the other cat running their way until it drops the whole fish onto the ground with a plop that is practically music to Bluetooth's ears. She chirps happily at the gift before nudging the head of the fish toward the furry thief with her nose, as if offering it the pick of the litter before taking a nibble off the tail end.

Jill is about to scold Bluetooth for jumping out of her arms like that, even though everybody knows disciplining a cat is a useless endeavor, when a familiar voice that leads into a friendly face. The crime is forgotten for the moment in lieu of greeting the woman with a smile.]

Ah, Tifa!

[starshower]

Jill?

[Her gaze snaps up from the cats and the fish, her expression bearing no shortage of pleasant surprise. It's been a while since she's seen her—Tifa had wondered how the other woman was doing after their first meeting on the docks of this very leviathan. Her struggles had stuck with Tifa after they parted ways, and as luck would not have it, their paths hadn't crossed again since.

So forgive her when she rushes to Jill with an eagerness that might have startled the cats were they not already completely absorbed in devouring that fish.]

Sorry, [she apologizes again.] She's been giving me a bit of a runaround since I got her... [A motion to the other.] Is that one yours?

[tilfrosset]

[Today, luck shows in their favor and Jill's smile is a genuine one that only falters the slightest bit with how Tifa's eagerness bubbles over. Not that she's offended or even put off by it in any way; it's just not too often someone seems so glad to see her that it shows so outwardly.

The cats being startled only seems to last but just a moment because the longer they stare up at Tifa, the more likely someone will be coming by to take their free meal away. No way in the many hells that exist is Bluetooth letting that happen so she's the first one darting back to bite at the fish..]

Her name is Bluetooth. Which yes, I am aware is a very strange name considering none of her teeth are blue, but she seems to answer to it and it would be a shame to force the issue otherwise.

[Contrary to Jill's claim of her answering to her moniker, Bluetooth is far too engrossed in her meal to actually do so.].

[starshower]

Bluetooth?

[The reference is lost on Tifa, too, because she also thought that it meant blue teeth.]

I don't think mine's any less strange. Her name is Gaslight.

[Tifa's brow puckers a bit.]

I'm not sure who came up with them, but the guy was insistent that I keep it the same, and that she won't answer to any other name.

[tilfrosset]

Gaslight? Who is naming these poor creatures and why are they choosing such peculiar ones. What's wrong with Fluffy? Or Socks?

[As if Torgal is a common pet name. Not that she had any say in that, but it's far more acceptable to than someone seemingly shoving two different words together and calling it done.]

Well, I guess if that's the case, there's not much we can do about it. Even cats should have a say in what they're called.

[Because Founder knows she hates being called Shiva.]

[starshower]

I guess if she likes it, then...

[Tifa gives a helpless shrug, hands falling to her hips as she watches the pair devour the fish together. She'll have to go back and find that poor vendor again later and make sure she pays him for the stolen good, and maybe pick up a few more for later...]

You know, I was thinking... I don't have any supplies for a new cat yet... Think there's a shop around here we could check out?

[tilfrosset]

Perhaps? The gentleman at the sanctuary did tell me that I should get some things as well and I haven't had much of a chance to actually get them yet.

[Jill shifts to pull a slip of folded parchment out of her dress pocket, opening it up and handing it out towards Tifa so she can take a look. On it, in very precise and neat cursive courtesy of the Duchy tutors, is a list that reads cat food, bowls, cat tree, toys (feathers, mice, balls, catnip...).]

I have no particular plans for the rest of the day and if we want to keep these two out of the fishmonger's hair...

[A glance down at them gets Jill an eyeful of a well-satisfied Bluetooth sitting back on her haunches as she washes her face, pleased as punch with the meal of stolen fish. Not one bit of remorse in that cat.]

...we should get them some proper food.

[starshower]

[Shopping date for their new cats!?

Shopping date for their new cats.

She takes the piece of paper and looks it over, nodding along at everything on said list. She'd forgotten how much responsibility having a cat was, especially one as troublesome as her old one had been... and this one seems no different. Maybe she just attracts those types.

Meanwhile, Bluetooth is a little bit less proper about it as she splays out on the ground, rolling around and around and crying out for Tifa's attention.]

Agreed.

[She can't help but kneel down and give Gaslight that attention she seeks.]

You ever had one before?

[tilfrosset]

No. I sometimes helped the cook sneak bits of leftovers to the strays outside the castle walls, but the only animal we had inside was a frosthound. [She tilts her head and shrugs because while she said we, Torgal—in name at least—belonged to Clive.] And chocobos, but they were considered steeds, not pets.

[Gaslight seems to be shameless about demanding attention, but it makes Jill laugh. Tifa sure seems to have adopted one handful of a cat.]

What about you?

[starshower]

[Frosthound...

Tifa is about to ask about that when Jill turns the question around on her.]

I did have a cat when I was a girl.

[And since they have places to go, she's going to scoop Gaslight right up into her arms, which she doesn't seem to mind, much to Tifa's surprise.

She's just going to point down the street, in the direction of the pet shop she passed on the way.]

His name was Maru. Didn't like being carried around like this very much. Liked to cause a lot of trouble and would run out the door the second it was opened.

[tilfrosset]

[Without much more than a nod to indicate she gets Tifa's direction, Jill bends down to pick up Bluetooth in a similar fashion, only the cat has other ideas. She quickly wriggles away and clambers onto Jill's shoulder, tucking her head under the long sheath of thick grey hair. Jill does protest, though it comes out more like a little squawk than actual words, but then she just shrugs once Bluetooth finds her place. If that's where the cat wants to be, so be it.]

She sounded like she was a handful. Was she a stray to begin with? Maybe that's why she kept wanting to run out?