Oscar and Tarquin
May 07, 2005 6:30 PM
Cat enforced meetings (Kiva) by Oscar and Tarquin
Oscar was a highly sociable animal. He had met, wooed and made a firm acquaintance of the lady on the paths, and now Tarquin was being bloody minded and selfish as usual by not allowing their friendship to bloom. Oscar's human was the only thing standing between him and his new friend. That, and a lack of opposable thumbs, which was why he needed his human - it really was one and the same problem. Although he would never admit it, his own ego was also something of an issue. He refused to go in for that common and trite 'miaowing by the door' routine. Tarquin would have let him out to trot along to Kiva's office, which was only next door, in no time - he was a very well trained and attentive human - but Oscar refused to debase himself in such a manner. He also felt that Tarquin should a) know what he wanted and be intune with his every need and b) bloody well get out once in a while of his own accord.It wasn't that Tarquin hadn't thought about going to see Kiva. Her office was just by the door to the library, and he saw it whenever he opened the door (he didn't really actually go out of the library if he could help it), and when he didn't even venture as far as the door, there was a steady enough stream of Aladren traffic to remind him of her presence. She had seemed nice, and not quite so imposing as the astronomy professor, and he felt he needed some more friends here.
He yawned and pushed back his chair, standing up to go for an early lunch. He always had lunch either an hour before or an hour after most people, as a lot of students needed to use the library in their lunch break, and so he had to be here. Rather tragically, it tended to be the most social interaction he got all day. Unless conversations with Oscar counted, but his cat often went out in the evenings.
As he pushed the library door open, he was surprised to find his cat slipping out with him and trotting a few steps ahead.
"Coming for lunch?" he asked Oscar. Oscar replied by stopping dead. Assuming his cat would follow if he wanted to, Tarquin went to side step him, but Oscar moved in front of him. Tarquin tried the other way, and found the same reaction.
"What's gotten into you?" he asked. He was used to Oscar being slightly manipulative and/or attention seeking, but he'd been sitting fairly still for the last hour. Why, besides sheer bloody mindedness, he would be doing this now was completely unfathomable.
Feeling that Tarquin wasn't taking the hint very well, Oscar sauntered out of his way and pointedly sat by Kiva's door.
"I'm going to lunch..." muttered Tarquin awkwardly, giving his cat a sideways look.
'Oh are you now?' Oscar seemed to say, as he nudged the door, which had been left ajar and wasn't nearly as heavy as the nasty, prisoner-keeping library ones, open a cat sized amount and meandered into Kiva's office as if he owned the place. Well, it was practically the library.
"Come - back," hissed Tarquin, "Oscar!" He followed his cat to the door. "He-hello?" he called softly, knocking on the door and wondering, if he got no reply, whether or not he dared to dash in and try to quickly snatch his pest of a cat back. \n\n
13
Oscar and Tarquin
Cat enforced meetings (Kiva)
1464
Oscar and Tarquin
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5
Kiva
May 07, 2005 6:58 PM
never knew cats could be so forceful by Kiva
Kiva had been sitting in her office all morning, reading over her notes she had made during her classes. Her window was opened causing a nice draft of fresh air in this stiff dry heat. She sat in her usual attire of a t-shirt and khaki shorts, only this time, instead of sneakers, she wore no shoes at all. Her usual happy exterior was ladened down with exhaustion and annoyance. She was disappointed in the students lack of care or interest in the creatures she had choosen for their first lessons, and not to mention the huge dust storm that occured during the Second Years' lesson. She was still finding dust and sand all over her robes, clothes, and hair.As for the students interaction with the creatures...for the flobberworms, either the students were completely disgusted by them, or they ignored them and did whatever else they wished. For the crup, some of the students decided to us it as some kind of poking buddy, while others looked at it and did their own thing. No matter what, Kiva couldn't win. All she could do was plan for a better lesson.
As she leaned back in her chair, she was bombarded by her own orange tiger cat, Ria. An immediate smile transformed Kiva's tired expression. "Ree, have you missed me? Silly cat." Ria had been her companion through many years of studies and had always been one she could rely on. Her devotion to her familiar was an obvious one as she scratched her behind the ears and allowed the cat to leaned against her in content.
This was immediately shattered the moment the door to her office opened a bit more. Ria jumped away from Kiva and onto the desk in a frightened panic while Kiva stood and looked around at the source. She spotted it rather quickly and she relaxed. "No need to worry, Ree, it's only the librarian's cat." She moved around her desk and kneeled down. "Hello there, are you lost or in need of attention?" She asked the cat in her soft voice, which only held humor. She reached out to pet him but stopped when she heard a male voice at her door. "He-hello?"
Kiva stood back up and made her way over to the door. Upon reaching it, she pulled it open a bit more and found the librarian standing there. Her smile grew a bit more and she took a step back to allow him entrance, "Hello again. Please, come in. I'm sure you're here for your cat?"\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Kiva
never knew cats could be so forceful
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Kiva
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5
Oscar and Tarquin
May 07, 2005 7:24 PM
<s>Forceful, manipulitive, fur-shedding</s> General Gods by Oscar and Tarquin
Lost? Lost! Hardly! He was a cat. He was... him. He didn't get lost! In need of attention... Well, he was always deserving attention, he refused to admit to 'needing' anything from humans (although he would acknowledge it in the sense of a God needs worshippers to remain a God). Her question was far, far off the mark, but he rubbed against her hand a little, deciding to humour the poor creature. She was bound to make silly mistakes - she was only a human after all.She earnt a few points when she had the good sense to call Tarquin in. Had he been feeling bitchy, Oscar may have pondered whether this was good sense, but it had been his reason for coming here, besides wanting to see Kiva again himself. For all that Tarquin was a socially maladjusted dimwit, he was rather enjoyable company.
Oscar watched smugly as his plan began to fall into place. Well, Tarquin had knocked, and been invited in. Now all he needed was for his human not to say something stupid, or simply grab him and run away blushing.
"Oh, er yes. Thank you." A little stammery and unconfident, but a good start. Perhaps it would even be deemed 'endearing'. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to let him bother you." How rude! Him, a bother? How dare Tarquin...
Tarquin walked over, and scooped Oscar up. He didn't wriggle and try and get down. It would have been undignified. Plus Kiva was now between Tarquin and the door, which meant his human was trapped. Excellent...
"He can be such a pest sometimes..." Tarquin floundered helplessly, lost in the sea of grown up conversation. Oscar shot him a resentful look, then stared at Kiva in a way that should have assured her that this was absolute slander, with no basis in fact what-so-ever. "Have you quite recovered from the dinasaur incident?" he asked helplessly, wondering what the correct decorum for this sort of thing was. Were you expected to make polite chit chat, or were you considered a bother if you didn't simply pick up your cat and leave? \n\n
13
Oscar and Tarquin
<s>Forceful, manipulitive, fur-shedding</s> General Gods
1464
Oscar and Tarquin
0
5
Kiva
May 07, 2005 7:45 PM
a worshipping <i>human</i> by Kiva
"Oh, he was no bother." Kiva replied with a warm smile toward Oscar, "And he is always welcomed, so long as Ria accepts." Kiva said, pointing to her own cat, who now sat on top of her desk watching all of them interact. "As are you." Kiva added to Tarquin. She blushed as Tarquin asked about her injury, "Oh, it's alright. Nothing more than a bruise." She smiled sheepishly for a moment before her face widened in realization, "Oh, I don't think we've been properly introduced, I'm Kiva Kijewski." Kiva introduced, stepping away from the door and holding out her hand to him to take.After the introductions, Kiva stepped away from him and closer to where her desk was. Her office was rather spacious than what she was accustomed to, with large blue couches and stuffy chairs. She gestured to one, "Feel free to make yourself comfortable. Would you like something to drink?" She asked, walking over to where she kept her cooler (much like a refridgerator only things kept cool with a cooling charm) and to the storage cupboard above it, "I don't usually have guests, so I don't have anything all ready. I have water, milk..."
Kiva stopped, pulling open the cupboard door and rummaging through it on her tiptoes, "I've got coffee and teabags somewhere..." She said, mainly to herself than to Tarquin.
She shifted over a few things and nearly caused a catastrophe in the proccess, but finally pulled out the box of teabags and another of coffee bags, smiling proudly of her find, "There, see, I knew I had some. And, I have cookies or crackers around here as well." Her blush returning to her face, she silently cursed herself for not having better manners.\n\n
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Kiva
a worshipping <i>human</i>
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Kiva
0
5
Oscar and pet
May 08, 2005 12:08 PM
aren't they all? by Oscar and pet
Tarquin glanced over at the cat that was indicated, a gave Kiva the shared smile of cat lovers everywhere which at once said 'aren't they great?' and 'Ouch... I see you have one too..'."She's very nice," he said, smiling at the cat.
"Tarquin Reynolds," he said, shifting Oscar so he was holding him in one arm. Although it was perfectly comfortable, Oscar made it clear that he was not going to be lumped around like a sack of potatoes by climbing over Tarquin's shoulder, springing onto the floor and selecting the comfiest chair in the office. Tarquin shook Kiva's hand. "And that's Oscar, though he will also respond to 'Sir', your majesty, or most things of that nature," he said with a wry smile. "Nice to meet you. Properly, as it were," he added.
Seeing as he was being told to make himself comfortable and being offered a drink (was there going to be tea on this list?) he assumed he was welcome. Even Tarquin could read signs that obvious. Unless she was just being polite... He tried to shift Oscar, feeling it rude to take more than one chair between them, but the cat fixed him with a penetrating stare and somehow fastened himself solidly to the seat of the chair.
"Tea would be lovely, if it's not too much trouble," said Tarquin, perching on the arm of Oscar's seat. "How are you finding Sonora so far?" he asked, hoping it wasn't too clichéd a thing to ask.
OOC - my dad is pointing out that every twelfth book in this library is the same... Isn't it nice that he takes an interest...?\n\n
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Oscar and pet
aren't they all?
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Oscar and pet
0
5
Kiva
May 08, 2005 9:45 PM
not those who are afraid *cough*Papp*cough* by Kiva
Kiva gave a soft laugh as Tarquin joked about his cat, "I'll be sure to keep my manners with your cat. And it's lovely to have a name to go with him." Kiva said indicating Oscar.Kiva busied herself with boiling the water in her kettle (that she hardly ever used) and setting up the china cups that she had (and again, hardly ever used). Her lack of how to make proper tea probably could be told to anyone who drank it regularly, but for someone who had lived without the comforts of home for nearly eight years straight, Kiva thought she was doing a fine job. Once everything was set and the tea bags were sitting in the cup of boiling water, Kiva went back in the cupboards to find the cookies and triscuits while making small talk with Tarquin.
"Oh, Sonora seems alright. I've had some odd moments. I've met the nurse, Philemon. I seemed to have frightened him though." Kiva said with a bashful smile, "I'm not really sure how. Plus that student who I thought I killed and the Astronomy professor...I should give her a visit..." Kiva said to herself before shaking off the thought, "Oscar here, and of course you."
Finding everything and placing them all out properly on the serving tray (she'd have to be sure to thank her mother for sending her these things), Kiva returned to her guest. "Sugar?" She asked before continuing, "I've had my first couple of lessons and, I have to admit, I thought the children would have more appreciation for the creatures as I do. A bit of a disappointment. As for the school, well, I haven't really explored much of it since I left here after graduation." Kiva commented. She pulled out her cat treats, giving one to her cat (who was now resting in her cat bed) and offered one to Oscar, "How long have you worked here?"
OOC: The fact that he even counted is a bit scary to me.\n\n
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Kiva
not those who are afraid *cough*Papp*cough*
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Kiva
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5
Tarquin
May 19, 2005 2:04 PM
I'm afraid, just not of cats. by Tarquin
"Thank you," said Tarquin. He had long ago realised that holding back the fact that he was named after Oscar Wilde was a wise thing to do as, if the person had any knowledge of the writer, it tended to lead to discussions as to why Tarquin had admired him enough to give him the high honour of a cat named after him. If they were Pureblooded, or sheltered and ignorant, it only resulted in awkward silences which made the other person feel stupid. Neither of these were good options. "Ria's a lovely name too," he said, not finding it at all odd to be complimenting each other's choice of cat name, rather than anything else."Yes, Professor Dione's very nice," he said, "She's an avid reader, so I see quite a lot of her. Haven't had cause to visit the medic yet." Oscar glowed smugly. He knew more people than Tarquin. It wasn't a difficult feat, but it amused him, and he smiled like only a cat can.
"Two please," he responded slightly sheepishly to her sugar question. It was a cut down from his usual, but he always felt embarrassed about having more than two sugars in front of someone else. He was sure they thought badly enough of him for having two.
"Maybe they just seemed quiet because they're still settling in," he suggested comfortingly, as Oscar showed that he appreciated Kiva's attitude to animals by making short work of the treat he had been offered. He ate it daintily, and with decorum, not wolfing it down as some might (wolves were, after all, related to dogs) but in such a way that definitely showed he appreciated it. "Or because they're tired - they've had the whole summer break to lie in as long as they please, and now they have to start getting up at the crack of dawn again," Tarquin said, knowing exactly how they felt. If there was one constant of the periods spent at home, it was that he thoroughly messed up his sleep pattern.
"I started last Christmas," he told her, "It was kind of... scary," he said, raising his eyebrows a little to make light of his use of such a childish word, and such a childish emotion to have felt. He was beginning to relax a little in Kiva's presence though. He'd never admit to someone like Reiner, or even Bulla that he had been scared of anything, but Kiva seemed like she wouldn't make fun of him. "Y'know, coming to a new school once everyone else was already settled in. Especially as it isn't my alma matter. Has it changed a lot since your day?" he asked, "Though I don't suppose that was very long ago," he added, knowing how tetchy some women could be about their age.
OOC - he didn't, it was a rough guess. If he had counted, that would suggest he's innumerate, as there are 15 (I think).\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
13
Tarquin
I'm afraid, just not of cats.
1464
Tarquin
0
5
Kiva
June 12, 2005 2:48 AM
if not cats, what? by Kiva
Kiva's sun-tanned and freckled face flushed with excitement and pride at the mention of her beloved cat. "Oh, thank you! She is a lovely cat as well." Kiva turned so that she was slightly facing away from her guest, but also more able to see her cat, "She was a gift from my father after I graduated. He didn't want me to travel the world completely on my own, and so he gave me Ria. And she has been a splendid companion. Fearless and comforting." Her normally soft voice had grown even softer, giving it a dreamlike way of sounding.She turned her attention back to her guests, her flush gone, but her delight shown through a large smile on her face. She added the two spoonfuls of sugar to his tea and passed it to him. "Philemon Papp is the medic. Nice enough man, I think." She added the last part hesitantly because she really wasn't sure what to think of him. Kiva placed two spoonfuls of sugar within her own cup of tea and stirred. After she was sure the sugar had been mixed well enough and the tea was what she hoped to be ready enough to drink, Kiva brought it to her lips. She gently blew on it before taking a tentative sip...and nearly spit it back out again. She dumped four more hefty spoonfuls of sugar into her tea and stirred it hastily. She remembered why she stuck with water. Everything was either way to sweet or very bitter.
"It could be." She said, refering to his remark on the students, "Or it could just be that they don't like Flobberworms or Crups." Kiva said with a bashful smile and a light chuckle. "Of course, that dust storm didn't help any either..." Kiva trailed off with a shrug. "Well, I can't blame them entirely for wishing to be able to sleep in, though I've spent most of my adult life being an early raiser and a late nighter. Course, my line of work would do that." Kiva said, hiding the fact that she actually reveled in her early mornings and late evenings. Sleep wasn't a priority for her.
Kiva sat across from Tarquin, subconscious still, but relaxing slightly. He hadn't run off yet like Philemon did, so that was a positive for her social skills. When Tarquin mentioned that he thought starting out had been scary, Kiva raised her eyebrows, but a look of understanding softened her face. She was (and still is) frightened at the prospect of having to teach these students her life long passion for animals. After her first lesson, she was less frightened, but more anxious. Of course, she didn't voice this to Tarquin, but her nod of understanding (which is also a nod to say she felt that way too) should suffice all of her meaning.
Kiva startled herself when her soft laughed escaped her without warning. She wasn't sure when it would become a 'long time' to be out of school, but to her it felt like a lifetime ago when she left this school to start her life. "I've been out of school for 8 years now. Seems hard to believe that it's only been 8..." She paused slightly to reminisce of her school days, but it was only a brief pause. "No, not really. Everything's smaller than I remember it. Not as confusing either. And I haven't gotten lost, yet." She told him truthfully. "I'm a bit saddened that some of my old Professors aren't still here. Of course, that also means that I'm a complete wreck about working with the ones who are still here." Her smile was genuine, soft and sheepish. Professor Bulla had frightened her when she was in school and Professor Marnett had always been a spacecase, so working along side the two of them worried her because she believed she'd goof up somewhere and disappoint the two of them. "Where did you go? What was it like?" Kiva asked, leaning in closer to him, eager to hear as though she wasn't a 25 year old Professor, but a small child about to hear a fantastic tale.\n\n
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Kiva
if not cats, what?
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Kiva
0
5