homeless for now

[stealsdogs]

[ <sub>He adjusts his glasses.

Straightens out his sleeves.

Flattens down his shirt.

... Adjusts his glasses again.</sub> ]

Really?

I don't steal dogs.

Comments

[barelydead]

Says you steal dogs.

[stealsdogs]

I-I don't. That's--

[ _{He's got a feeling arguing's not going to get him anywhere.} ]

[barelydead]

That's what?

[ _{this icon is called intense eyeball and that's exactly what he's doing right now: giving Will the intense eyeball. CAN YOU HANDLE IT, GRAHAM???} ]

[fine_young]

Just borrow them?

[stealsdogs]

[ _{Only because he's really really really avoiding eye contact.} ]

I take in stray dogs. I don't steal them, like my mun seems to insist.

[barelydead]

I'm being told they usually have collars on. Sounds like stealing to me.

[stealsdogs]

[ _{He can't find words for a moment, recognizing him right away. He rubs his hands together, takes pains to avoid looking him in the eyes.} ]

I give... strays a home. That's all.

[fine_young]

You sound like a kind man.

I've always liked animals myself. They are neither intentionally cruel nor thoughtlessly rude, but simply live. *He smiles slightly.* I still eat meat, admittedly, but I see no reason to be cruel to dumb beasts.

[debts]

Nervous?

[stealsdogs]

[ _{Every nerve is alight, telling him to run or attack or do something but he's frozen, left with a tense jaw and a dry mouth. He licks his lips in an effort to aid that.} ]

I try. [ _{The words are quiet and all he can manage is a tiny, hollow smile.} ]

[stealsdogs]

No, I don't really have any reason to be nervous. Being sociable just... isn't really my strong suit.

[stealsdogs]

They're dogs that are out on the streets, hungry and cold and alone. I give them a place to warm themselves... [ _{His voice is steady, or as steady as he can keep it when Kirk's eyes are on him. He rubs his hands together, licks his lips.} ] I wouldn't call that stealing.

[debts]

[ A tip of her chin, though it comes across as too intentional to seem birdlike. ]

Then what is?

[fine_young]

You seem overly worried. What is the matter? Surely a silly joke on the writer's part is not enough to bother you so much.

I am quite glad.

[zunarjayfive]

Are they useful things, dogs?

[Asks the cat. In a distinctly human sounding voice. Though his lips don't move, it's more of an audible voice that seems to come from the cat.]

[glumshoe]

[ Uncomfortable shift. ]

...Steal is a strong word.

oh no he is adorable

[stealsdogs]

The um... No, as inaccurate as it is, that is not what's bothering me. [ _{He shakes his head, gestures dismissively.} ] It's nothing.

[ _{He's working some inner mantra to try and calm himself but it really isn't working. He is certainly Hannibal Lecter. A much younger one, no older than college age. But was he entirely the same?} ] You, um... you like animals? [ _{Smooth Graham, real smooth.} ]

[stealsdogs]

........

[ _{He's gonna stare really hard at this cat and try and convince himself that it's just a hallucination.} ]

. . . .

[ _{He takes off his glasses. Rubs his eyes. Looks. Rubs his eyes again. Returns his glasses. Cat is definitely still there.} ]

... Did... did you just talk?

[stealsdogs]

Exactly my point.

[ _{Oh wait. Oh, you're him.} ]

Um...

[ _{Here's an uncomfortable shift in return.} ]

[stealsdogs]

[ _{He watches her as much as he can between his glances at her and the floor.} ] Uh, ah-as I said. Being sociable is... not something I'm very good at.

[zunarjayfive]

[Can a cat look amused? Apparently it can.]

Technically...yes.

Is that a problem? [There is a note of concern in his voice, not really wanting to injure the human through scaring him.]

[stealsdogs]

[ _{He just blinks at him a few times. Then he laughs, quiet and hoarse, but a laugh all the same. He rubs his face and crouches down to his level. If he's hallucinating, at least it's something as harmless as a chatty cat.} ]

Um, okay. No, no problem. Um... [ _{He can't help but laugh again. He composes himself quickly though.} ] Dogs uh, dogs can be useful. They make um, very good companions too.

[zunarjayfive]

[The cat sits, adjusts his weight on his front paws, looking as if he is genuinely listening.]

I see. I, unfortunately, have not had good experiences with dogs. But then again, I have only met one or two. [Army type attack dogs at that.]

[stealsdogs]

[ _{Will sits too, setting his glasses down on the ground and giving his eyes another rub. This was crazy. But preferable to some other hallucinations.} ]

Well maybe you just haven't met the right dogs. I've met a few cats but none of them ever talked.

[zunarjayfive]

I'm not exactly from around here.

[The cat looks side to side to be sure they're alone.]

The cats on Earth haven't put their minds towards building tools to communicate with humans. Probably because they haven't needed to. Humans can be very obliging. [Some humans. Not all.]

[Introductions are in order.] My name is Zunar J 5 slash 9 Doric 4-7. [a beat] Or Jake. [Which most who have met him prefer the shorter name.]