IG: Breaking up...

[Munkustrap Etc.]

((Munkustrap breaks up with Quaxo, and while he doesn't lose his tail, someone else might...))

Munkustrap looked around, quietly surveying all the cats in the den. Burelle was curled up around her kittens, all six of them - it certainly looked like she had adopted Selina, and Selina her. Etcetera, Electra, and Jemima were piled together, a jumble of tails and ears and more paws than any cat would ever need. It sounded like at least one of them was snoring quietly. Jelly wasn't too far away, sleeping with her face turned toward her daughters. Pouncival was tucked in near her, probably too cool to sleep with the queenkits. Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer were also dozing, together. Rokkonen wasn't back yet, from his hunting. Bomba was making herself comfortable on a pillow, falling asleep herself. Then there was Quaxo, his black fur barely noticable in the gloom of the piano. Munkustrap closed his eyes and rubbed his paws over his face. He should tell Quaxo. Sooner, rather than later. He should tell Quaxo.

Quaxo had been asleep for the good part of four days. Occasionally he'd been awake, listening in on conversations but his eyes had not opened in a while. Most of the cats had seemed to ignore him, and the young tuxedo cat was perfectly fine with that. Quaxo had much to think about, and sleeping was a good way to do it. The only cat Quaxo had regretted not talking to within the past few days was Munkustrap, and that was because - from what he'd heard within the conversations over the days - Munkustrap had begun to make his choice. The tom didn't know if Munk actually had or not, but he had a strong feeling.

At the moment, Quaxo lay awake, facing toward the wall of the dresser. His eyes were closed, but only just, and his tail twitched slightly every once in a while, lifting and falling back against the floor. He was not tired - four days was long enough. Quaxo lifted one paw and brushed it across his own face, half-heartedly wishing it was a certain silver tabby.

Munkustrap padded over to Quaxo's side and crouched down beside him, touching a shoulder gently, a solemn look on his face. "Quaxo...?" He wasn't looking forward to this conversation - he didn't want to break Quaxo's heart. But he had to.

Quaxo jumped, turning quickly to stare up into the face of that silver tabby about whom he'd just been daydreaming. "Y-yeah?" The tom's voice was scratchy, as it hadn't been used. Quaxo pulled himself up slowly and crossed his legs, his ears falling back slowly and his tail sliding around his own waist.

Munkustrap reached out, stroking his paw across Quaxo's cheek, but he forced himself to pull back. He was supposed to be ending his relationship with Quaxo, not encouraging it. "Take a walk with me?" Even though most of the cats in the piano were asleep, Munkustrap saw no reason in breaking up with the tuxedo tom in front of a crowd.

Oh, he had a bad feeling about this. However, Quaxo nodded, reopening his eyes after having closed them with the feel of Munkustrap's gentle paw. The tom pulled himself to his feet and flattened down some fur that had been ruffled up by his tossing as he slept, glancing over at the tabby. "What do you need to talk about?" he asked, knowing that's why Munk would take him out of the piano in this cold.

Munkustrap waited until they were out of the piano and a few feet away before he spoke again. "I've been thinking," he began. "About Demeter, and Bomba, and you... and I think I've made up my mind." He glanced over at Quaxo, feeling horrible, but knowing he had to do this. "I've chosen Bomba," he said quietly.

His ears pricked forward as Munkustrap mentioned his choice. Quaxo's mind reeled as Munkustrap finally uttered those dreadful three words. His gaze was cast to the ground and he felt warm tears fill them, clouding his vision as he took a step back. Quaxo knew this was coming - he knew he couldn't satisfy the Protector like any queen could, and Bombalurina was having his kittens. Quaxo couldn't bear kittens. He couldn't make Munkustrap a father. "Why," he breathed anyway, closing his eyes tightly and trying to force back the tears.

"I had to," Munkustrap said quietly, reaching out to touch Quaxo's shoulder. "Quaxo... I'm sorry. I never wanted to hurt you... but Bomba was the best... the most logical choice. And I had to choose."

"You did hurt me, though." Quaxo hissed, moving away from Munkustrap's touch. He didn't want to do that. He wanted to hold Munkustrap, be held by him, fall asleep in his arms every night for the rest of their lives. That wouldn't happen now... The tom shook his head slowly and turned away, taking a deep breath before glancing back over his shoulder. "You didn't have to choose. It wasn't hurting anyone the way it was." He started for his den.

"Didn't have to..." Munkustrap frowned, flinging his paws out. "I didn't want to... but none of you were happy with that!" he called after Quaxo. Demeter, freaking out around any other cat, Quaxo's jealous glares at the queens who got too close... Bomba was the only one who seemed even partially okay with him not choosing, but even she said he would have to decide, eventually.

Quaxo stopped, turning back to the older tabby and tilting his head to the side. He had an angry look on his face. "Not happy with it? Of course we weren't happy with it, Munkustrap! But it wasn't hurting anyone! Now you've gone and chosen that... that... whore to be your mate?" he cried. "At least when it was all three of us, we all got to have you at some point. Now it's only her; it's all about her!"

Munkustrap closed the distance between the two of them with a hiss, pulling his paw back as if to strike Quaxo, but he stopped himself before he even began to swing forward. "Do not call her a whore," he growled. "I will not tolerate anyone speaking about my..." he paused before admitting the truth, "mate like that. Not even you." Munkustrap liked Quaxo, he loved Quaxo. But he had picked Bomba to be by his side, and he'd be damned if he let anyone badmouth her from now on. That included the rambunctious Tugger, the evil Macavity... and the hurt Quaxo.

"I... I hate you," Quaxo hissed, wrenching himself from Munkustrap's grip and leaning back against the junk nearby. He glared at Munkustrap and wrapped his arms around himself, closing his eyes. He didn't hate Munkustrap; he could never hate Munkustrap. Quaxo didn't know who to blame for his being hurt like this. "I'll call her a whore all I want, because what are you going to do about it? You wouldn't hurt me, Munkustrap. I know you." Quaxo opened his eyes again and stared over at the tabby, still frowning as deeply as he could. "I thought you loved me," he whispered, almost inaudibly.

"Bombalurina is my mate," Munkustrap said, trying not to react to Quaxo's declaration of hate. "I am the Protector of this tribe. You will treat her with the respect she deserves, or, you will be punished in a manner befitting such disrespect, as chosen by either Deuteronomy or myself. If you continue to be disrespectful, the punishment could become as severe as banishment or exile." Munkustrap had given this warning many, many times, usually to rambunctious kittens. The threat of banishment or exile was usually enough to keep them in line. Never before had he ever actually banished a cat from the tribe, and he didn't think Deuteronomy ever had either. "Quaxo... I would never hurt you, and not just because I care about you - because I love you - but also because you are still a Jellicle, and I cannot protect you if I'm the one hurting you. But if you force it, I will punish you." He ran his paws over his face, letting his posture slump. "I did love you. I still love you... just as much as I love Bomba. But I couldn't choose you. Please, Quaxo... I hope you can forgive me, someday, for breaking your heart. I never wanted to."

Quaxo shook his head slowly and tried to back even farther away from Munkustrap. "No. You don't love me. You don't love anyone but her now. You can't, Munkustrap. She's your mate," he spat the words from his mouth as if they were a deadly illness. "and you should love only her." Quaxo felt a tear slide down his cheek as he turned away, not being able to bear having Munkustrap see him this weak. Quaxo crawled through the tunnel into his den, curling up on one of them frozen pillows and shivering. He didn't have Munkustrap anymore... the young tom felt as if this was quite possibly the worst day of his life.

"Should, but I don't," Munkustrap said quietly as Quaxo left. He stayed outside Quaxo's den for a long while, ignoring the cold and the snow, before reluctantly turning and returning to the piano, his ears and tail held low.

[Munkustrap Etc.]

Tumblebrutus emerged from behind an old radiator, a large mouse in his mouth, his eyes wide. Munkustrap chose Bombalurina over Quaxo? Well... he could kinda understand that... but how could Munkus hurt Quaxo like that? He looked at the tunnel of his once best friend (now confused cat of some sort of odd affection on Tumble's part) and made a decision. He crept inside, trying not to be too quiet, so Quaxo would know he was coming, bringing the mouse (which he had caught for the Pollicle) as a sort of peace offering.

Quaxo lifted his head from the pillow where he lay, staring down into the darkness of his tunnel. Faintly, he saw Tumble, and forced a tiny smile. "Tumble?" he choked, wiping away the tiny tears that streamed down the fur on his cheeks. Quaxo didn't like seeming weak to anyone - only queens were supposed to cry in public. He bit his lip softly and stared at his best friend coming through the tunnel. "Why are you here, Tumble?" he asked quietly, running a paw through his fur slowly.

Tumble set the mouse down near Quaxo and nudged it toward him. "I haven't seen you out of the piano in a few days, and I'm pretty sure most of the mice being brought in by the others are going to Burelle. I thought you might be hungry." He looked around and gave a little shiver - Quaxo's den was about as cold as outside, though without any wind. He sat down next to Quaxo and then laid down, his proximity perfectly normal for the temperature.

Quaxo bit his lip again and looked down at the mouse, lifting it up carefully. He gave a genuine little smile to his friend, moving closer to him and nuzzling his cheek softly. "Thank you, Tumble," he whispered, tearing gently at the mouse to eat it carefully. "I'm sorry I haven't been around much, Tumble... I've not been feeling well. Today just," he gave a half-hearted, sour little laugh, "today just topped it off." Quaxo shook his head and set down the mouse, resting his head on his paws.

"Don't worry about it," Tumble said, resting his head on his paws (and trying not to blush at the nuzzle - ever since he confessed his secret to Plato, he'd been noticing Quaxo more and more, and thinking about him more and more... telling someone else made things worse, not helped them!). "It's not like I've been a very good friend either." He shook his head a little. "I, uh, kinda overheard you and Munkus. Are you okay?"

"No. No, I'm not okay," Quaxo murmured, staring toward the snow outside his tunnel. He shook his head slowly and lifted it, glancing over to Tumblebrutus. "I don't know what I'm going to do, Tumble. He... he just..." Quaxo crawled over to Tumble, nudging the other tom's arms around him and snuggling into his chest. He needed someone to comfort him for now. As Quaxo buried himself against his friend, he broke down into tears once more, closing his eyes tightly and shaking his head.

"Uh..." Tumble had a brief moment of panic as Quaxo climbed into his arms, one that ranged from EVERLASTINGCATWHATDOIDO!? to Calm down, Tumble, calm down! to He just needs a friend... This all took him about three seconds (during which all his panic showed on his face (which Quaxo luckily could not see from his chest)). After those three seconds, though, Tumble closed his arms around Quaxo's smaller body and began to purr, trying to be as comforting as possible as Quaxo cried. He didn't say anything, didn't make any comment on Quaxo's tears, or how they were soaking through his fur, or how warm Quaxo was, or how nice it felt to hold him (Down!, Tumble!). He just purred and, after gathering his nerves, nuzzled the top of Quaxo's head a little, immediately blushing afterwards.

Quaxo lifted his head slowly, his eyes red from his tears and his lips slightly swollen. He stared at his best friend's face, searching his eyes for a moment before leaning forward, kissing Tumble's forehead softly. The tom nuzzled Tumble's cheek gently and slid his arms around the other, holding him close and gently kissing Tumble's cheek. Quaxo knew he shouldn't get into it with another cat - that this was only something out of his need - but he wanted to know what Tumble felt like. Maybe Tumble could get his mind off of the tabby. "Tumble, have... have I ever told you how much I love you?" he asked quietly, nuzzling him again.

"Uh..." Tumble's eyes had gone really wide when Quaxo kissed his forehead, and by the time Quaxo was saying something about love, Tumble was sure he was a pink and brown cat, from his strong blush. "Um... what did you say?" He hadn't really heard Quaxo properly, so shocked was he from the unexpected affection. Quaxo had always been a cuddly tom, but never these kisses and such... only Munkus got that affection from the little cat. "Er..." Had Quaxo been talking about Munkustrap? Did he know how much Tumble wanted to kiss him when he looked like that and started nuzzling him like that and hugged him like that?

"I said, have I ever told you how much I love you?" Quaxo whispered again, running his hand along Tumble's chest and kissing the corner of his lips. He moved one paw up and rested it on Tumble's cheek, staring into his eyes and softly pressing their lips together. "You're beautiful, Tumble... don't you have a queen for yourself?" There was a hint of remorse and bitterness in his voice as he glared daggers into Tumblebrutus's eyes. Quaxo felt as if he was going to be abandoned by all of his friends for their mates. He'd never have anyone.

"Umm...!" Tumble actually squeaked as Quaxo kissed him, which only helped to darken his tomato-impression. What was Quaxo doing!? He was too surprised at his sorta-kinda-best-friend-slash-love-interest's actions to actually kiss back, and then he immediately cursed himself inwardly for losing the chance to kiss Quaxo without it being odd or anything...

What was he thinking!? It was odd!

"N-no... no queen..." And now Quaxo was getting scary with his glare.

Quaxo grinned a little and nuzzled his chest again, moving one paw up to rest behind Tumble's neck. Quaxo lifted his head and pulled him down, gently kissing Tumble on the mouth, then deepening the kiss slowly. He let that paw rest on Tumble's neck and the other slid down his best friend's side, rubbing his side gently. Quaxo's tongue slowly ran over Tumble's lower lip, his eyes closing slowly.

Tumble was still completely taken aback, feeling like he was stumbling far behind in some sort of race. He closed his eyes and tried to pull himself together as Quaxo continued to kiss him, this time remembering to move. Slowly, he returned the pressure, tightening his arms around Quaxo just a little more and purring just a little deeper. He was trembling very slightly, from nervousness and excitement, and he hoped Quaxo wouldn't notice how inexperienced he was. This was, after all, his first kiss. Unless the one Quaxo had just given him a moment earlier counted. This was the first one he was returning, though, and he was so terrified of messing up.

Quaxo pulled away from the kiss after a moment and stared into the other tom's eyes, brushing his fur with one paw. "... that was your first, wasn't it?" he whispered, leaning over to peck his lips again. "I'm glad you're my friend, Tumble." Quaxo slowly pushed Tumble onto his back, straddling the patched tom's waist and smiling down at him. "Very glad..." Quaxo leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to Tumble's shoulder and started downward.

Tumble opened his eyes when Quaxo pulled away and nodded meekly, even more embarrassed now because Quaxo had been able to tell... or maybe it was just because up until a couple weeks ago, he and Quaxo were best friends and shared practically everything about each other... or, at least, Tumble had. Quaxo had been holding back a few things. A few big things.

Tumble was distracted from that slightly bitter thought as Quaxo's kisses began to trail downward. "Um!" He really wasn't able to form many coherent words now... but all he could think of was that it had become a lot harder to stay calm when Quaxo started kissing him, and if Quaxo kept moving down, he'd find other things that were harder too... and Tumble wasn't really sure that was a good thing. Or a bad thing. Or... um... maybe it was just best to let Quaxo, who had some experience, control things here. Tumble just put his paws on Quaxo's waist and hung on.

"Tumble, do you want me to do this?" Quaxo asked tenderly, staring into Tumble's eyes and smiling at him. He rested one paw on his cheek, leaning down into another soft kiss. "I want to do this, Tumble... I want to know you... intimately."

~Crazy Cat Sex of the Tumble/Misto Kind~

"Oh... Heavyside," he gasped, pulling himself off of Tumble and lying on one of the frozen pillows once more. Quaxo panted heavily as he curled up, cleaning himself off slowly. "Tumble, come here," he whispered, leaning over to kiss Tumble softly on the lips. "Clean me off?"

Tumble came, crawling toward Quaxo, leaning down to kiss him, to kiss his cheek, his throat, his paws, his chest, his stomach, licking and kissing and grooming the smaller tom as he purred until the mess was gone. He still continued to groom Quaxo, though, making his way back up to Quaxo's mouth.

"Thank you," Quaxo whispered, resting his paw on Tumble's neck and pulling him in for another kiss as the other came back up. He stared into Tumble's eyes, grinning a little. Quaxo slid his arms around his friend and hugged him tightly, lying on his back against the pillows and pecking his lips. "You're gorgeous," he sighed, nuzzling Tumble's cheek gently. "What does this mean for us, then?"

Tumble blushed and shook his head. "You're the beautiful one, Quaxo. You always have been." He curled around the smaller tom, nuzzling Quaxo's cheek and throat. "I... I don't know. I never thought you'd... I mean... you loved Munkustrap..." Tumble trailed off, closing his eyes. Quaxo loved Munkustrap. Up until... oh, just a little while ago, Quaxo was with Munkustrap. With with Munkustrap. And now Quaxo was with with him. Sort of. Or was he? Was this just... Quaxo had been crying over Munkustrap minutes before he kissed him... was this just... Tumble frowned and squeezed his eyes shut tighter. No. He wouldn't finish that thought. He wouldn't go there. Not now. He would not ruin this moment. It might be all he had with Quaxo.

Loved? He still did love Munkustrap. Munkustrap was the one cat that made him feel complete. Quaxo shook his head and moved closer, curling up against Tumble and kissing his chest. "No... I'm yours now," he whispered, brushing his paw through Tumble's fur and kissing him again. "I love you, Tumble." He smiled, nipping at Tumble's ear.

Tumble turned his face to Quaxo's, looking at him with troubled eyes. "Really? Mine?" He ran his paws through Quaxo's fur, cupping his head behind his ears. "For sure?"

"For sure," Quaxo said after a half a moment's hesitation. He nodded slowly and pet Tumble's side, kissing him again. The tom felt bad using Tumble like this - the cat was his best friend, for Heavyside's sake - but it had to be done. Quaxo looked up into his eyes and grinned.

Tumble grinned back, believing Quaxo's words. Munkustrap had told him that Quaxo could be trusted, after all, even if he was Macavity's son, Mirza. He enveloped Quaxo in a hug and kissed him again, purring and nuzzling against him. "I love you, Quaxo. I really, really do." He pulled back for just a moment, brushing their noses together. "If you're mine, then I'm yours. Completely."

Quaxo nodded again and smiled, pecking Tumble's lips and pulling away from him. He glanced outside the tunnel and took Tumble's paw, standing. "Let's go to the piano, Tumble. We can't stay here. It's too cold in my den." Besides, Munkustrap was in the piano. Or, he should be somewhere nearby.

Tumble got up as well, loathe to leave this den where it was just the two of them, even if it was quite cold. "We could stay in my den..." he suggested as he followed Quaxo, though he knew his wasn't much better. It could get nice and cozy after a little while, but the old mattress really wasn't the best insulated, or the biggest. The piano was the warmest option, though it was also not private... and Munkustrap was in there. Tumble wasn't sure he wanted to face the silver tabby right now, after he just... mmhmmhmmed with the tabby's ex-lover.

Quaxo grinned and pulled Tumble out of the den, leading him toward the piano a little over-enthusiastically. He turned around and gently kissed Tumble, then hopped into the piano, a smile on his face. That would surely surprise Munkustrap. Quaxo leaned down, holding out his paw for Tumble.

Tumble reached up to take Quaxo's paw, smiling back at him as he entered the piano.

Munkustrap had curled up around Bomba after returning to the piano, resting his head against her shoulder as she slept. He looked up, cracking his eyes open when Quaxo returned, bringing Tumblebrutus with him, and offered the pair a small smile. He was glad Quaxo wasn't staying out of the piano just because they had broken up - he would sooner return to the cold himself than have Quaxo freeze. Seeing Tumble finally joining them in the piano was good too - he worried about the guards who still hadn't come in. Also, he knew that Tumble and Quaxo were good friends. If Tumble was with Quaxo, well, then, maybe he was helping Quaxo feel better.

Quaxo glanced over, spotting Munkustrap, and frowned a little, moving close to Tumble. He took a seat on one of the warm cushions in the corner, but still in plain view of Munkustrap, and pulled Tumble down beside him, curling into his chest and kissing his cheek. "I love you, Tumble," he said a little too loudly, pressing his lips to Tumble's and smiling.

Tumble returned Munkustrap's smile weakly, letting Quaxo pick their bed. He nuzzled Quaxo as the little tom curled up against him, shooting Munkustrap a worried look as Quaxo declared his love.

Munkustrap lifted his head at that, frowning. Quaxo certainly moved fast... or else... He glanced over at Tumble, but the patched tom looked away. Was Quaxo serious about Tumble... or was he just trying to feel better after Munkustrap broke up with him?

Quaxo glanced over to Munkustrap again to gauge his reaction, and frowned slightly. He pressed his lips against Tumble's again, hugging him gently. "You're so pretty," he whispered, running his paw over Tumble's body again and grinning. "I'd have to say you're even prettier than Munkustrap." he growled, nestling against Tumble's chest.

Tumble fidgeted slightly, lying down beside Quaxo. "Quaxo... what are you doing?" he whispered, feeling his doubts about Quaxo's sincerity beginning to well up again... but no! Quaxo wouldn't lie to him, not about something this big, not to him!

Still... why did it feel like he was just trying to make Munkustrap jealous?

Munkustrap laid his head against Bomba's shoulder again, closing his eyes, still frowning. It wasn't his business anymore, what Quaxo chose to do with other cats. He had forfeited any claim he had on Quaxo's love life when he broke up with the smaller tom. Still... he couldn't deny that it hurt, to see him so cuddly with Tumblebrutus, and so quickly.

Quaxo looked up to Tumble's face and frowned a little, tilting his head to the side. "What do you mean, sweetie?" he asked quietly, stroking his friend's face and staring into his eyes. "I'm not doing anything. I'm giving you compliments. Is that something bad?" Quaxo grinned a little and leaned down, kissing his lips softly and slipping his arms around Tumblebrutus.

"Just... don't compare me to Munkus. Please?" Tumble glanced over at where the silver tabby lay, but it looked like Munkustrap had fallen asleep again. Tumble released a sigh of relief. "I just don't want him mad at me for this," he whispered to Quaxo. "You know how much he means to me."

"I'm sorry," Quaxo whispered, lifting Tumble's chin to kiss him softly. "He has no reason to be angry with you for being with me, Tumble. He gave me up for that whore." He smiled a little and pressed a kiss to Tumble's forehead, then cheek, hugging him close. "I'm all yours now, Tumble, and if he wants to change that, I'd like to see him try. I'm all yours."

Munkustrap was trying hard not to listen in on Quaxo and Tumble's conversation, though he wanted to, and so he didn't hear Quaxo's whore comment.

This was a good thing.

Tumble nuzzled Quaxo and kissed him back. "I love you, Quaxo," he whispered. "I just... don't want to disappoint him."

Quaxo ran his paws up Tumble's chest and kissed him again, smiling down at him. "I love you, too, Tumble," he whispered, hugging his friend tightly. "You're not going to disappoint him. He's got the whore queen and her bastard kittens. Like I said, he gave me up, and now I'm all yours. I love you." Quaxo pet Tumble's fur and kissed him yet again.

Tumble blushed lightly at the way Quaxo kept kissing him in front of all these other cats (even if they were all asleep), and reached up to wrap his arms around Quaxo. "I love you, Quaxo," he murmured, returning one of Quaxo's kisses. "Come on, let's get some sleep."

Quaxo nodded, letting Tumble curl up on the pillows. He wrapped himself around the larger tom and glanced over to Munkustrap, hissing silently at the tabby. Munkustrap had hurt him so much... Quaxo wasn't even sure if Munkustrap knew how badly it had hurt to hear that he'd been rejected. The tom closed his eyes and kissed Tumble's cheek, yawning.

Munkustrap nuzzled closer to Bomba and sighed, wishing he could fall asleep and forget about this, for the night, at the very least.

Tumble cuddled against Quaxo, smiling and purring lightly. Things had worked out for him after all. There were still some bumps to smooth out, but... Quaxo loved him!

[Arya]

(Quaxo sure does have a good love life doesn't he?)

[Munkustrap Etc.]

((I'm feeling so horrible for poor Tumble, though!))

[Arya]

((Oh please, if Quaxo didn't use him for a one night stand, Cassandra would have. Either way he is doomed.XD))

[Munkustrap Etc.]

((But see, he doesn't love Cassandra, and she doesn't love him. He'd know very well it was a one night stand.

With Quaxo... well, he's hoping it's not a one night stand, and Quaxo keeps saying it's not, that he DOES love Tumble... but he doesn't really. And Tumble doesn't know that (yet). He thinks Quaxo's being truthful with him, and he's hoping Quaxo's being truthful with him, and he's loving Quaxo.))

[Arya]

(True, but I'm just happy that Munky isn't being tortured right now. He has been having some bad times lately.)

[Munkustrap Etc.]

((~nods and cuddles Munkustrap~))

[Arya]

(I have hardly tortured my chars, well, maybe I tortured Selina a little on the one on one, but she still loves me.

Selina:-growls- If you get any closer I'll bite off your head women.

Me: To her thats love.)