[PRP] scales and arpeggios (jeremiah & kaleb)

[azuredreams]

Hellbine, prone as he was to wandering where he was want to, had a particular set path through Ashdown. It took him by Bibliophile and then to Rider-Waite and pass the fourth wall comic shop and a few other places.

Eventually he would come to a cart that the meat-on-a-stick vendor ran and he would stare, cutely, until he got his treat. Then he would wander off, daintily holding his snack, until he could find a quiet place to eat it without worry that someone was going to bother him.

He absolutely thought he could not be tracked or followed but he was entirely wrong and entirely set in this pattern.

Not that he thought anyone bothered to follow a strangely small white cat with a viney, flowery mohawk down the center of his head.

Grey Dragon

jer will show up later, as he is like to do, when he is looking for his familiar kitteh

 

[Grey Dragon]

The first time Kaleb noticed the pale cat, it had been near the park. He was half way through the intro biology textbook that was supposed to last all semester, and when he looked up it was grooming itself several metres away. Kaleb watched it with a smile as it slipped away into the shaded bushes, and went back to his book.

The second time was on his way home from classes, just a glimpse of it at a distance with something pink on it's head, or had that been a collar?

It wasn't until he caught sight of the creature for a third time that he began to really wonder. It looked healthy enough, always wandering with the air of a comfortable, confident creature who had a place to go home to at the end of the day. But it had flowers on it's head, that delicate pink colour he had seen a day or two earlier. Flowers. He watched it casually cross a lawn, sit down to watch a bird with it's tail flicking predatorily, and then move along. There were definitely flowers on it's head. And even more bizarre, it had left flowers on the lawn too. Not from it's head, nothing had fallen off while Kaleb had been watching.

The mystery was too strong, and Kaleb could not think of any scientifically explained reasons for a flower-adorned cat that apparently sprouted flowers where it sat. His errands could wait, this cat had him perplexed in a way not even advanced mathematics could manage. Subtly altering his own direction, he made to follow the creature as it strolled down the street.

azuredreams

@o@

 

[azuredreams]

Eventually Hellbine came to a stop at small alley. It lead between some of the buildings and it, of all things, came out at a fountain. There was no one there, not at the moment, and the small cat hopped up onto a bench near the fountain to start pawing at his well-earned snack.

A collar was on him, along with a tag, so it was not like he was a stray, but he certainly walked around as if he owned the city.

Or at least he knew what he was doing.

Yet right now all he cared about what his meat on a stick. One paw was carefully pressed to the stick while he was very daintily pulling meat off to chew on.

Grey Dragon

 

[Grey Dragon]

Kaleb followed the cat at a distance, apparently just as unobtrusive and unnoticed by the feline as he was with most humans. There were no distractions or hiccups in this plan, he trailed it easily to the somewhat hidden fountain. The youth would never have figured to wander there on his own, but the sound of water leant the space a relaxing atmosphere, and there were a couple benches in the area that looked uncomfortable, but suitable enough for short durations.

He took a seat a few metres away from the cat and rested his textbook in his lap, and his bag on the bench next to him. Nothing good would come from getting too close to a strange animal while it was eating, and Kaleb contented himself with observing at a distance. There were definitely flowers on it's head.

Kaleb waited until the cat had finished it's treat, and then made a soft pssh pssh pssh sound to see if he could get the animal's attention.

azuredreams

 

[azuredreams]

Hellbine's ear flicked towards the noise and then his head. His eyes were a bright blue, almost like the sky without clouds, and stretched himself out before he turned himself towards Kaleb.

The young man was given a short meow that might have sounded questioning. What did he want?

Grey Dragon

 

[Grey Dragon]

Kaleb gave the cat a lopsided smile, genuine and unhampered by the self-consciousness human company often brought about. It was a beautiful cat, one of those white ones with the blue eyes, and the youth was content to watch it without approaching.

"What have you got on your head?" He asked the creature in a gentle, conversational tone. "I've never seen a cat with flowers. They aren't bothering you though, are they..."

azuredreams

 

[azuredreams]

Hellbine shook his head, clearly understanding. Of course it did not hurt him, hat would be silly. His tail flicked before he was stretching out, nosing at the air but clearly inviting Kaleb closer.

There was a low purr that could be barely heard and, not immediately noticeable, small vines were starting to grow and curl around the feet of the bench.

Grey Dragon

 

[Grey Dragon]

If Kaleb was aware of the unusual nature of Ashdown he might have recognized the head shake as intelligent communication, instead he could only assume it was an amusing coincidence. Cats were very clever to begin with, but he had never met one clever enough to carry on a conversation.

"I've seen you around town before, you must know all sorts of quiet places to sit and read," he said idly. He still didn't approach, for as welcoming as the small animal was, it was still an unfamiliar animal. His posture and tone was relaxed though, indicating that his distance was out of respect rather than fear.

There was a subtle motion at the foot of the bench, and Kaleb's smile faltered, flickering with confusion as he realized something very unusual was happening in front of him.

azuredreams

 

[azuredreams]

Though he would assume otherwise, Kaleb was given a mew to the affirmative. That Hellbine most certainly did know of several places that were quiet and nice spots to read. He went to one very frequently! ... it was just for one person and their handmaiden, however.

His tail continued to swish and he sat back on his legs when Kaleb did not come closer. The purr stopped and, perhaps surprisingly, so did the vines that were growing along the feet of the bench. Small pink flowers had just started to bud but stopped but did match the ones that dotted the white cat's odd floral mohawk.

Grey Dragon

 

[Grey Dragon]

Kaleb was dumbstruck, for a minute forgetting to even chatter idly at the small creature. There was no way he could pass it off as coincidence, even if plants did grow and bud that fast the colour was unmistakeable. But there was no science the kid had learned that could explain the connection between the cat with the flowers and the vines actually growing from the ground under it.

"You are doing that, aren't you?" He asked, wanting to approach and examine the vines. As curious as he was, a part of him needed to know for sure he wasn't just seeing things.

azuredreams

 

[azuredreams]

Hellbine glanced down, following Kaleb's gaze. When he noticed the flowers he was immediately hopping down off of the bench and to the ground. There was a meow that escaped - it strangely sounded like yes - before he was pawing at the vines.

They immediately started to retreat back to the ground.

He was not supposed to let those be around places. It would make his people dad unhappy.

Grey Dragon

u shall have a jer in the next post biggrin DD

 

[Grey Dragon]

It would be hard to tell if Kaleb was more disappointed or relieved when the vines were once again hidden by the grass. But with that surprise still fresh in his mind, he was certainly willing to humour the cat's seemingly intelligent behaviour.

"Oh, I think your secret is safe with me, I can't imagine anyone would believe me even if I had someone to talk to," Kaleb muttered. "I've never seen anything like this before, and tomorrow morning I'll probably wake up and believe I just dreamed it all."

azuredreams

@0@

 

[azuredreams]

Jeremiah knew he had seem him skirt this direction but he had been pulled aside by having to help a small child locate their mother. It was vaguely aggravating that Hellbine was still intent on his little excursions but there was nothing wrong with them.

What was wrong was him getting snacks of things he was not supposed to eat.

The Detective Lieutenant found himself turning down the fairy alley between Cabot and Knowlton and coming to a stop right before he entered the place where the fountain was. Hellbine was there, as well as a blonde young man that he heard speaking. For a moment he thought he might have been related to Nathaniel if it was not for the fact that he knew the young man did not.

Hellbine, meanwhile, gave Kaleb a small mew and a nod of his head. Since he would not come close to him, he would come close to Kaleb. If he got close enough, there would be a lick given to his hand. Another sign of thanks.

Jeremiah cleared his throat to make his presence known, blue-green eyes flicking between Hellbine and Kaleb. The small cat proceeded to duck behind Kaleb's legs and peer out over at his people dad. He was so busted.

"You're not dreaming," he said by way of hello. The corner of his mouth twitched barely upward into a small smile. "... and you've also managed to keep Hellbine occupied, for which I am grateful. I was looking for him."

Grey Dragon

 

[Grey Dragon]

Kaleb's smile returned when the cat approached, although it was still a bit of a shaky smile considering what he was trying to make sense of in his mind. Still, having a friendly animal approach of it's own volition was a pleasant experience to one who struggled so much with the company of other people. Acceptance by animals was easier to read, either they were okay with you or not, and they didn't try to hide their feelings on the matter like humans did.

The freckled teen startled visibly when he heard the cough from just outside his peripheral vision, leaping to his feet in surprise and taking a couple dancing steps to keep from treading on the cat.

"I'm sorry!" He squeaked, the fact that his response was not relevant to the tall man's words only clicked in after the apology had been blurted out. Kaleb's face began to turn a slight shade of pink.

"This is your cat?" Kaleb confirmed bashfully, glancing down at the flowered creature rather than up at the gentleman who approached. Although the man wore the hint of a smile, everything came across as very serious and stern to the shy youth.

azuredreams

 

[azuredreams]

"No need for sorry," Jeremiah replied easily, crouching down and putting his focus onto Hellbine for the time being. The detective lieutenant was, by nature, serious and stern in appearance. His fingers crooked towards the small cat but Hellbine was being mullish and stayed sitting behind Kaleb's legs.

"Has been since he was ..." He let out a huff of breath. "Well he never really did get much larger than a kitten." Hellbine was forever stuck at that juvenile cat stage that was not much bigger than a kitten.

Blue-green eyes raised to look at Kaleb and he pushed at his knees to stand up properly once more. "Try this again, shall we? Detective Lieutenant Jeremiah Mercer, at your service. Thank you for finding my wayward cat even if he's likely caused you to have several questions."

Grey Dragon