themightybosstone | Limelight Pregaming

[So objectively, that's what happens.

FACTUALLY. That's what happens.

In Brocade's mind, however, the COLD CLAMMY HANDS OF THE DEAD CLAWED UP FROM THEIR WATERY GRAVE AND LATCHED MINDLESSLY ONTO HIS FLESH, TRYING TO DRAG HIM TO THE DEPTHS WHERE HE WILL LIVE FOREVER MORE WITH THEM IN DEATH-

And that's why he flings the package. It tears in his claws.

Fish rains down on both of them.]

[ WELL

THAT'S SURE A YELP AS A BOY GETS SMACKED IN THE FACE BY FISH

but he does let go of brocade's ankle as he blindly tries to pull himself onto the docks!!! ]

— gah, why?

[It's hard to bristle when you're this wet. CLEARLY THE SHAMBLING WATER ZOMBoh it's talking.]

WhaddayaMEAN why?

[Oh. It's a sodden kid??]

If y'bite me I'm throwin' you back in.

[... He reaches down and a hand much larger than Percy's head goes to lift him up by his shirt onto the dock.]

Don't tempt me.

[ as he's hoisted one-handed onto the docks, soaked and sputtering very much like a drowned kitten ]

Do you hit everyone you meet with smelly fish?

AH SHIT! The fish!!

[... Hang on, he needs a second of mourning. That was like. 50 bucks of fish.]

[ WELL WHILE YOU DO THAT he's just gonna sit up, bewildered, and try to get his bearings. why is he wet. where is he. what is going on!!! ]

Who are you?

[There's ONE fish still on the dock, he picks that up, and then gives the kid a lot more of a serious look.

Shit, is this...? He's heard of this.]

Uh, Brocade. You are...?

[ opens mouth

closes mouth

begins to look extremely alarmed actually ]

[Oh hell. Brocade crouches- it shields most of the rain, at least. The back of his hand rests on the kid's forehead, checking.]

Anything?

[ no fever. his skin is cold and wet and clammy, but he did just crawl out of the sea. it is storming. ]

Um. Nothing. Like, nothing-nothing.

... y'know, I thought it was just rumors an' shit. But guess this really does happen.

Ah... come on, lets get you outta the rain and I'll make some calls, yeah?

[ pulling back a few inches and holding up his hands like, stranger danger alert. it puts him back in the rain, but that's a secondary concern right now ]

Whoa, wait. What really happens? And I don't know if I like the sound of mysterious calls.

[He shrugs and- well, he considers standing back up but towering over the kid's probably not the right move. So he just. HEAVES A SIGH, and then sits down heavily on the sodden dock, crossing his arms.]

Sometimes people just wash up with their heads all cleaned out. I heard about it but uh, never met one.

[ well. that does help him relax fractionally, despite the news ]

What, you're saying the sea eats peoples' memories?

Now that you say it out loud it kinda sounds out there, don't it?

No kidding.

[ blows out a breath ]

But I am here and I don't remember anything. So it's also kinda hard to argue with.

[He rubs his face.]

Yeah uh. Don't blame you if you don't trust me none.

But I aint gonna sleep tonight if I leave ya t'freeze yer ass off.

If you wanna. I can see if Hyacinth's got somethin' in your size, you can stay in the store an' I'll see if there's some missing person's report we can go off.

[ the wind blows and he shivers reflexively, reaches up to rub at his arms ]

I guess I'm not gonna get a better offer. [ wait, winces ] Not to sound super ungrateful.

Yeah coulda stuck the landing a bit better.

[He stands back up and gets under an awning to call a cab.]

Anyways, ride should be here soon. You don't got any cat allergies?

[ breathes out, goes to stand and follow him from a few steps' distance ]

I guess we'll find out. You have a pet?

UH. Not exactly.

I run a cat cafe.

If anything, I'm the lowest on the hierarchy there.

[The trouble is, with a guy like this, even a few steps distance might not seem like enough.]

[ looking directly at his ears and tail ]

You run a cat cafe?

Edited 2024-08-05 17:42 (UTC)

I KNOW! I know. I've heard the jokes!!

It WAS just a cafe then... well there are a lot of strays and it was getting COLD and...

[ smiling but like, doesn't LAUGH and his tone isn't unkind ]

Well, uh. I feel okay right now, so let's go with assuming a no on the allergies.

[HUFF, tail flicks.]

Good. Anyways, don't believe their lies, they all been fed.

[The ride is actually short, Brocade sits up front to give the kid his space.

The shop is cozy and warm when they get in. It's certainly after hours, a menu and food counter sit closed up and locked. But the room is full of cat stands, cushions and runs, little hammocks up high for cats to settle into, and a reading room beyond.

There's immediately a skitter-]

Hey ASSHOLE! [ A scraggly, mad-eyed kitten may already be climbing up Percy's pant leg.] Off! The fish aint for you!

... Just scoop him up. Asshole should know not t'do that.

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