themightybosstone | Limelight Pregaming

... 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.

[ glad for the space on the ride, honestly, as he gives himself a headache trying to remember anything at all. but the shop is nice, in an after-hours kind of way, and he's looking around when he ACTUALLY JUMPS AT "HEY ASSHOLE"

and looks. down. ohhh his eyebrows are vanishing under his bangs as he leans over to scoop up kitten ]

You named a kitten Asshole?

I NAMED him SweetiePie.

He earned Asshole. Grew into it really.

[He picks up a few towels and hands them over.]

Uh huh.

[ accepting the towels one-handed as he holds the kitten close to his chest. sweetiepie starts purring. as he starts drying his face and hair,]

Yeah, I can see what you mean.

... [Ear twitch.]

He's playing the long game.

[ this kitten is basically vibrating as his purring intensifies ]

Sure he is.

[ kind of trying to mop up his clothes a little bit and wincing at the puddle still rapidly forming beneath his feet ]

...sorry about the mess.

[He laughs and waves it off.]

Like the cats don't do worse.

[In fact, he might notice several by now, most just checking out the commotion from high perches or casually grooming. They don't seem bothered at all by guests, which, you know, makes sense with the cafe.

Sett himself isn't an inch dryer, but he's picking up the store phone and carefully dialing a number.]

Hang back here. I'll make some arrangements.

-- Hey- Yeah. It's Brocade. Yeah. You still got 202 open? Oh awesome. Can I get it for a day or two? Yeah. Need a place for a friend.

Sweet! I owe you buddy.

[Then the next-] Hey, yeah, it's Brocade. Yeah. YEAH I know it's gaming sesh time but - Look I'll explain it later, looking for a spare change of clothes ...

[Eyes Percy a moment.] Mmmmmedium? Oh. And like, some socks an' shoes and shit. Right? Dude. You're the best.

[ he does, in fact, notice the Many Cats. which startles him for half a second before he thinks, well yeah, cat cafe. and stupidly, stupidly, "need a place for a friend" actually kind of gets him bad; but luckily, there's no one to notice besides maybe some non-judgy cats and his purring emotional support kitten who he is simply not going to put down, possibly ever again. he does kinda try to cover that up by mopping up the last of his dripping as best he can and then the floor...puddle...which doesn't get a Lot better, but you know. ]

Edited 2024-08-05 23:44 (UTC)

[SweetiePie, in true cat fashion, is simply rumbling and headbutting Percy's face at this point, taking his bending over as a reason to put a paw on his cheek and ram his fuzzy head awkwardly somewhere in the region of the eyebrows.

Brocade sets the phone down, stretches wide, and starts up the kettle and the griddle. The eyes of the cats immediately shift to him JUST IN CASE this preparation involves a clearly earned dinner for all of them. Again.]

All right. That ah, should get you set up for a day or two. You've gotta be over your head right now, so we'll wait on Family shit tomorrow.

[ he is actually unspeakably grateful for the distraction of this kitten's scratchy little paw and fuzzy little head on his face (hitting his face with surprising force) (it's fine). it helps him keep his composure and even laugh a little by the time he straightens, sweetiepie still in his arms. ]

Thank you. [ so earnestly ] This is really, really nice of you. I don't know what I'd — um. Family?

I got it not bad around here. Least I can do.

Sides, can't imagine what I'd be doing if it was me.

[He sets the press on, and pours up a hot mug. The smells of sweet and savory intermingle.]

Yeah, they run things. Best ones to get you on your feet and find who you are. [Maybe.]

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