That darn cat. [ OTA ]

[hell_ofa_thing]

David Rossi had a problem, and that problem was about ten inches tall, had four legs, and weighed approximately eight pounds. Yes, currently the biggest problem befalling him was none other than a catIt had been warm a few nights ago, so he'd left his window cracked, which had never been a problem before. Not until a furry "friend" decided to make

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[faramir_hurin]

I've seen the man before, once, when he arrived. Even then he seemed put together and taking it all about as well as a person can, so the fact that he's a bit upset now truly comes through. I suppose the talking to himself in public helps with that.

How strange, he's putting up a notice about a cat.

"Did the village take your cat?" That would be the strangest disappearance yet--leave the man but send his pet home.

[hell_ofa_thing]

It had been a while, but he vaguely recognized the man. He couldn't recall his name, though. There was a look of mild annoyance and a twinge of ambivalence when the other man mentioned the cat. But he was out here, making an effort to look out for the thing's well-being.

"Not my cat," he said quickly, not wanting to be associated with its ownership. "It was hanging around me the last few days, disappeared. Thought it was worth a shot that someone's seen it around."

[faramir_hurin]

"If it is not your cat, then why does it matter if it's missing?" I didn't mean to irritate.

"Perhaps the village is giving you a cat."

[hell_ofa_thing]

"I wanna make sure it's safe," he shrugged. "I don't like the thing, but finding out it died isn't a pleasant thought, either."

[faramir_hurin]

"You could take it to the shelter if you find it again. Then again, they might tell you it really is your cat." I don't mean to be annoying.

"The village gave me a cat. I was in the clinic and returned to my room and there he was. I called the shelter and they told me his name and that he was mine." I can actually smile about it. "His name is in Quenya. I was the only person in the village at that time that knew it. They just decided I should have him."

[hell_ofa_thing]

That would be just his luck, really, that somehow it would end up that it was his cat, and it was supposed to stay with him.

Dammit.

"I have a dog back home, I've always had dogs. Why would the village give me a cat that I don't want?" It was more of a rhetorical question, really. Was it some kind of silly lesson?

[faramir_hurin]

"I don't know. I was thinking of getting a cat, but I'll never know why it gave me one when I was injured, and why it decided that my cat should be a twenty-pound half-grown African Serval. I had to look it up to learn how to take care of him."

Oh no.

"It is an ordinary cat, the one you're looking for?"

[hell_ofa_thing]

There were small mercies to be thankful for, it seemed; at least he hadn't been stuck with a cat like that.

Rossi huffed, a small, humorless laugh.

"As ordinary as it can get."

[faramir_hurin]

"That's something, at least. Have you checked at the stables or the barn(s) at the farm? It might have come from there." Just to see what else there was in the village, I suppose. "Or gone there, to join the other mousers."

[hell_ofa_thing]

"I'll work my way over there eventually," he said, perhaps a little more nonchalant than he felt.

[faramir_hurin]

That would be the first place I would look, as it makes the most sense. I don't know much about David from our first meeting, but enough to know that he's no fool.

"It may well come back before you get that far." He wants the cat to come back, no matter what he says.

I wonder why.

[hell_ofa_thing]

He hadn't bothered to really look at all, because that would mean acknowledging he really missed the damn thing. Putting up a few posters was safe because it felt like the kind of thing you'd do when you cared about its well-being but didn't necessarily need to have it back. Actually searching for it would mean he was genuinely attached to it, and the idea annoyed him a little because he'd never been fond of cats and this one had presume its way into his life.

"This one's got a hell of a lot of tenacity, I woudn't be surprised."

Maybe, deep down, he wanted it to come back, and maybe part of that was because it was a connection to another living creature, and that was never a bad thing.

[faramir_hurin]

"They can be like that. Before the village, I never considered a cat for a pet--they're for the barn and stable and kitchen. I got to know my lady's cat." I smile slightly. "Then I considered one. Perhaps I considered so long that the village decided I should have a large cat because it was such a big decision for me."

He has more of a choice, or so it looks.

"I'm not sure if I should wish you good luck on finding it or not."

[hell_ofa_thing]

Some would say, perhaps, the village knew what it was doing. Not Rossi, but he was pretty damn stubborn, especially in this context.

He shrugged, though on some level, he did appreciate the food for thought. "We'll see what happens," he agreed, noncommittal about the whole thing.

[faramir_hurin]

"Indeed. I hope things turn out to your satisfaction. With a cat involved, that can be evasive." I nod. I'm entirely unsure if we have a choice in these things, sometimes.

[hell_ofa_thing]

He chuckles softly, shaking his head. "No kidding."

And then he says, "If you see this thing," he demonstrates the size of it with his hands, "send it my way. He's got this...blue tint to his fur. I don't know anything about the breeds. A cat is a cat."