coineater | Labyrinthum Inbox.

[The small ways in which Cat flusters does wonders to improve her mood and confirm her suspicions. It doesn't lessen her headache or her fever, but it does distract her from the gnawing in the pit of her. Her smirk widens to a grin, though mitigated by a small wince. Maybe it's better not to take too much amusement.]

Have you been playing around? Or not playing around, as you say?

[She'll show him a little mercy as she sets her phone down next to her and closes her eyes for a moment. Maybe that will help her headache.]

It wasn't a firefly that messaged me, just a regular pest. They asked about him, though. I need to know how much of a lie I'm giving them.

[On the one hand, that's better than Inigo not trusting him with that kind of conversation. On the other, she never looks so much like a wolf in this body as she does when she's all smug and toothy like that. Now he's gotta deal with this??? Cat rolls his eye and goes back to tidying up.]

Leave me out of it. [He doesn't know what the conversation is about, but he deserves what privacy he can get, right? Besides, the situation was...complicated.] For your information, we're hardly lovers. But I like him, you know. It's not like I'd kiss just anybody, even if they did go through that...time...with me. You, for example.

I kissed you once, need I remind my dear frog prince. [She feels the need to be correct, even with her eyes closed, listening to the sounds of his moving about. But it's true that he wouldn't be so free with his affections. She's known that Inigo is something special for quite some time.]

Are you sure you want to be left out of this? You might have competition.

Ha! Exactly. You kissed me.

[They can both be right. Even if she's more right, since she'd apparently known before Cat himself... He'd thought that the people dating seriously in this place were all nutjobs -- but then, he isn't really seriously dating Inigo, either. Not officially. Or...whatever. He's not thinking about it! Definitely not, just like his definitely not frowning or tensing a little more at Blue's next words. Competition? Who?? He can't ask who, that's caring too much.]

I'm sure. No one needs to know my business. ...And Firefly can do what he wants. Heh, it'd probably be good for him to get some attention, be a little selfish. I'm not bothered.

[SAID THE LIAR]

[If her eyes weren't already closed, she'd roll them at his exclamation. What a meager point. A technicality. But he can have it. It's the other matter that she's more concerned with.]

Not bothered at all? ...So you wouldn't mind if I told them what I know about our firefly's tastes? How to make him smile, and all the best ways to woo him? You wouldn't mind if he found himself enamored with someone else?

[She half opens her eyes to glance over at his back. If he were really a cat, she'd expect to see his tail lashing irritably.]

[There's no tail lashing, but she's rewarded for her efforts with a half-turn and a clearly annoyed look shot her way as Cat crosses his arms.]

What do you know of any of that anyway?

I know about wooing.

[In all of her many missions and many lives, love was often a task assigned to her; and one that she accomplished exceedingly well. If she put her mind to it, she could engineer a romance to sweep that boy off his feet.]

[But that was work, or at least adjacent enough to be distasteful. She doesn't want to make a project of Cat's love-life.]

And I know enough about him to offer good insight... but I don't intend to hand that over to some soulless construct. So you needn't look at me like that.

[All work and no play makes Blue a dull girl.]

Tch. So even puppets are charmed by him? [He mumbles at first, then shakes free of the griping to tilt his head while watching her.] You realize that's worse, don't you? Saying all that only to try getting under my skin, when you weren't going to sell him out?

[Running a hand through his hair, sweeping back the bangs that had fallen into his face while he worked, he sighs. It doesn't take long for him to sit on the edge of his coffee table after making sure there's a clear enough space for him.]

Either way... He's not exactly 'enamored' or whatever you said with me in the first place. If for some reason he wants to run off with some puppet after all this, that's his bad decision to make. [Just like continuing to kiss Cat, instead of trying for something better.] Except for not liking it, that's more on him than it is me. Or you, for that matter.

Mmm. Not only to get under your skin.

[She is still mulling over the most effective means of rerouting this rogue software. It would have been helpful to simply state that he was spoken for--but doing so if that isn't the case could prove messy. Nor does she want to rush Cat in his own enjoyment of these moments, but he should know that there's someone circling his intended.]

It's not only his bad decision; it's yours as well. You know how he is. If you haven't made yourself clear to him, you might think of doing so.

[His brooding expression switches to indignation. He's being very mature and realistic? Gosh??]

Why should I? If that isn't clear enough for him, then -- what? He'd go around with anyone that wants to have him?

[Oh, he really, really hates how hot his face feels. Why couldn't he be wearing his mask for this conversation?]

If that's the case, what would the point of talking to him be? If there's nothing [ugh, 'special' would be too much, so] more between us in his mind, that's that, isn't it?

[Blue shuts her half-lidded eyes again and sighs. How easy it is to forget sometimes that they're only children--not just in relation to her, but literally children.]

I think he would accept anyone that showers him with affection, yes. To a degree.

[How to best explain this to him... If only the thoughts would come a little easier through the fever fog.]

He doesn't think much of himself. You must know that about him already. Even if he thought the world of you--and especially in that case, wouldn't he choose something lesser for himself? Something not even human, to save you for someone he imagines is more worthy?

[Oh.

...He doesn't like that, nor does he like that he doesn't like that. Stray cats aren't supposed to care about these things, and even when he'd found Fox, it was hard to consider himself as anything but. She was the one navigating situations through diplomacy and flirtations when she had to. Maybe if he'd paid more attention to how she did it, he wouldn't have tripped into this situation at all -- it wouldn't feel so personal. Maybe it would be...fine that Inigo wasn't likely to be as picky as him, even if they were each as starved for love and attention as the other.

And just who else is supposed to be --

...Another face, just as earnest and kind, appears in Cat's mind, and he quickly glances away as if Blue would be able to see it reflected in his clouded eyes. That one was probably sure to be too picky to take Cat's affections for what they were. But really, they would suit each other, he thinks, far more than either settling for Cat, even if he could imagine sincere praises from them. And -- Inigo did share his vulnerabilities with Cat, and not just his companionship! Surely that meant something more than nothing, right...?]

Fine! I'll have a talk with him. See where his head's at about it. [Whether she's looking at him or not he can't really tell, but he waggles an accusing finger at her all the same.] But no pitting me against any puppets over him just to get them out of your hair! I had enough of that in Krat, minus the romantic nonsense.

Edited (clarity) 2024-10-08 22:05 (UTC)

[Blue will accept his concession of defeat with another smug smile. She's certain that it's not something he wanted to hear, but it needed to be said. The last thing she wants to see is that AI anywhere near Inigo... or Cat regretting his silence. Some things were too important to be left unsaid. Even she wishes at times, in the small hours of the night, that she had been bolder sooner.]

[The idea that she would pit him against someone like that is laughable, though.]

She won't hear your name from my lips. And if she dares to come within fifty meters of you, I'll melt her hardware myself.

[She might do it anyway. For fun.]

[Or she might tease Cat a little more, so long as she's trapped in this makeshift infirmary. After a moment's pause, she adds:]

...Is he a good kisser, at least?

[Ha. And he thought he had problems with puppets. He'll have to ask more about that WHEN SHE ISN'T BEING SO FUCKING DISRESPECTFUL? IN HIS HOUSE??]

Look at that! Time for some medicine, isn't it?

[The clock is too far away for him to check, and he certainly can't see it well enough. But yep, it's definitely time. He's just gonna go rustle around in his kitchen area, which isn't as far away from the couch as he would like, in this very moment!]

[His retreat back to the kitchen is accompanied by laughter, quiet as necessitated by her present state of being, but genuine nonetheless. If that makes her disrespectful, then so be it. Can she be blamed for trading some disrespect for a warmth that has nothing to do with her fever?]

[She exhales her fondness with another sigh, for the young man now busying himself in his kitchen.]

More seriously... If you do need any further advice, you can always ask me. I promise to tease you only a little.

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