sanctus_dei | 43rd Resurrection

[It's this simple, Mayfield: Theo Crawford comes home to find a black and white cat asleep on his bed. This is not his cat. It does not belong to anyone in town. But he recognizes it immediately.]

Aristophanes?!

[The cat rouses, seemingly happy to see the familiar face, and walks over to Theo demanding attention. Any members of the household or visitors who investigated the exclamation will find Theo staring dumbfounded at large tuxedo cat.]

--

[He hasn't forgotten the girl who murdered him during Mayfield's last event, either. Revenge will come, but Theo has learned some patience since he's come to live here. Every day in Mayfield was the same. He was irked about be snuck up on, but felt better when he found out the prizes for the battle royale were pretty lame. His paranoia will be in overdrive, though. Anyone out today who is within a block or two of Theo, and can sense magic, will be able to detect strong protective spells radiating from him.

He's sitting on a park bench, reading a spell book while making notes in another. One of his crows sits on his shoulder, gently chattering at its master. The other is teasing the tomcat, squawking and dancing around it, but the cat doesn't really seem to care.]

Deimos, would you leave him alone already? If he claws you, don't come crying to me.

[The cat looks at Theo, who returns a flat look.] That's not an invitation, so don't get any ideas.

[Approach?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Kay smiles and puts her hand out for kitty to smell, and then starts lightly petting him if that goes well.]

Is he yours? When did you get him?

[Yeah, Theo and Kay aren't on the best terms, but apparently the presence of a cat is good social lubricant.]

[Ari's friendly enough, he's just old and lazy. He flops down in front of Kay. COMMENCE PETTING, HUMAN.]

He's not. He's my ment-- former mentor's, and for whatever reason they sent him to me today.

Well, lucky you, then! He's a cute little guy!

[SCRATCHING BEHIND THE EAR TIMES]

Aren't you? Yeah, you're a pretty kitty!

He's fat and lazy. But that's most cats.

[The ravens caw at Kay too, saying hello. The one gets up close, but not too close, thanks to the cat. He does not trust the feline, not that Ari gives a damn.]

Are the birds yours, too?

Yeah. They're familiars though. They're from Mayfield. [The other crow sits on his shoulder, all comfy sitting with his master.]

So you have a soft spot for animals, huh?

[T-tummy rubs?]

[~~Yes~~] Well it's not like I can use humans for familiars, and ever since Gilgamesh... regressed, I have to make do.

I'm not making Aristophanes a familiar though. I don't need three.

[That would be just weird, anyway. And he is cool with tummy rubs, he just sort of lays there like a furry, flabby ball and purrs.]

I knew you couldn't be all bad. Anybody who loves animals can't be that bad, deep down!

[rubrubrub]

[Flatly:] Yeah, sure. I'd say keep him, but I know he'll just follow me home anyway.

That's because he looooooooooves you!

[And you thought Kay couldn't get more annoying.]

It's because I feed him.

I bet he'd still be your friend anyway!

I guess. [Kay he cannot handle your cheerfulness]

So, how've you been, anyway?

[He never likes that question.

As flat as usual:] Delightful.

A big bundle of smiles, just like always.

This is Mayfield. What is there for me to be happy about?

You mean you still haven't made any friends here? Have you really just been sitting locked up in your library drinking wine and smoking cigarettes since I moved out? I mean, just because Mayfield's a terrible place doesn't mean we can't all try to make the best of it. Sometimes I think you like being angry all the time.

[He sorta has! He just wouldn't call them "friends".]

Oh yeah, it's a lot of fun. Tell me, how am I supposed to make the "best" out of a place like this? What did you do last week? Did you spend it dead, like me?

Actually, I spent it watching TV.

Consider yourself lucky.

I can't believe this town sometimes. You'd think everyone would know not to fall for stupid stuff like that by now.

You shouldn't. People are stupid and gullible. And there's always new people who don't know the difference between what's real and what isn't.

...So is that what made you do it, back before you came here? You convinced yourself it would be a good idea, or that it would get you what you wanted?

[She had to bring it up eventually.]