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Post by cookingspray on Jul 1, 2007 13:22:01 GMT -5
((Those of us still back at the train station can post here.))
Bella gladly began to shimmy away again as Munkustrap realeased her, and purred her weak kitten purr, as tiny as she was. She thanked the dad-cat with a nibble of his paw for her freedom, and then kept scooting in the opposite direction, away from all of the warmth and the closeness and the fur-smell. She curled and lay still, then, pleased with herself and the distance, and closed her eyes for a nap.
Although still regretful of losing Mirabelle's attention, Tugger couldn't help but chuckle at Etcetera's victory. She really was a good kid. . . he couldn't make himself feel too irritated with her. The timing wasn't right for chasing tail anyhow, he supposed. Once they got out of this damned closet, though, and pushed the Monniks out of their real home. . . maybe then.
He flicked Etcy with his tail, and temporarily removed his arm to correct Apollo, who had apparently decided to do the Maine Coon's bathing for him (lengthy task that it was for such a small tongue). Doffing the tomkit lightly on the nose, he shifted him Etcy with a small grin. He knew she was apprehensive to handle any more kittens again after the incident with Alicia and Ariadne, but he still trusted her - and anyway, he was here this time if she made a mistake.
Speaking of Alicia. . . she seemed to be warming up to Deme more than ever, and that was a feat that few grown cats could claim. He supposed that days-old bundles of fluff had less inhibitions than most, however, especially if you rubbed them in the right places. Her presence was still unsteadying, though - Bomba and Cassie were acting as if they were walking on broken glass around her, and so was Munk, for that matter. Surely, though, they wouldn't let anything bad happen to their own kittens. . . Especially not when it'd be another small catastrophe in the midst of a larger one, and something that no one could afford to deal with.
It wasn't his call to make, though, so Tugger just settled for concentrating on the kitten that was now in Etcy's custody, still glancing at the suspicious queen from time to time. They didn't trust her, and he didn't either.
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Post by Munkustrap Etc. on Jul 1, 2007 13:54:47 GMT -5
Munkustrap smiled as he watched his daughter. She was a loner. Just like a cat.
Etcetera turned a grin up to Tugger when she heard his chuckle, and she purred, rubbing her cheek against his side.
When she found Apollinax in her arms, though, she bit her lip and stared, her paws shaking a little. "Tugger... what if I drop him too?"
Apollinax's mouth had dropped open in surprise when he was bopped on the nose, and he continued to try and push the long fur from his mouth. He batted at it, only managing to press it further onto his tongue.
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Post by cookingspray on Jul 1, 2007 14:05:16 GMT -5
Tugger grimaced at little at the fur on his thigh that had previously occupied Apollo's mouth, now soaked and matted with tomkit spit. His paw was still damp, too. . . the silly thing seemed to confuse him with kibble.
He rubbed Etcetera back encouragingly, though. "Naw, you won't," he assured her cheerfully. "You don't have to be too careful with this one. He's more likely to hurt himself before you do."
He gestured towards himself. "And anyway, I'm here. What bad could happen?"
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Post by Munkustrap Etc. on Jul 1, 2007 14:09:38 GMT -5
Munkustrap made a sound of disbelief, part snort, part laugh, but quiet, because he didn't want Etcy to think he was laughing at her. He was just reacting to Tugger's last words.
Etcetera very carefully sat down, holding Apollinax in her lap. She supported his back with one paw as she reached into his mouth with the other, pulling free the piece of fur. "It gets annoyin' when that happens, doesn't it, Apollo?" She leaned against Tugger's leg, petting the kitten.
Apollinax sniffed around. Yummy-cat was near... He tried to climb the little she-cat's chest because he could smell yummy-cat right there, right by her!
Etcetera couldn't help but giggle as she kept pulling his claws out of her fur.
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Post by cookingspray on Jul 1, 2007 14:44:39 GMT -5
Tugger frowned in Munkus' general direction - he'd heard that. What, and he was Mr. Responsibility? (Usually, yes. . . but he'd bring up the searats and his recent multiple affairs if he had to.)
"You think it's annoying." He chuckled at Apollo's climbing, and waved the paw at him again. Either the tomkit was in a state of permanent starvation, of he just tasted that good. He happened to prefer the second one.
"See, Etce? You're doing fine. I'm never wrong." He scratched behind her ears.
The Maine Coon glared at Munkus again, daring him to challenge this.
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Post by Munkustrap Etc. on Jul 1, 2007 14:51:40 GMT -5
Munkustrap licked Ariadne's back again and smiled innocently at Tugger. "Has anyone ever told you that you'd make a great father?" he asked. He actually meant it - with the way Tugger was rebuilding Etcetera's confidence and keeping an eye on the kittens... he really did have the makings of a good dad.
Etcetera shrieked as Apollinax squirmed a bit higher and made a leap for the paw that was so close he could almost touch it, except his leap was more of a shove away from her and a fall. She caught the tomkit before he went too far, though, and he did his silent giggle again, lying on his back with his hind claws still in Etcetera's fur, flailing his front paws through the air happily. "Bad Apollo!"
Munkustrap had half-risen to his feet when Etcetera shrieked, but when she caught Apollinax, he relaxed again - approaching would just upset his son. Besides, Etcetera seemed to have things under control.
Apollinax's little ears drooped when he heard the little-she cat talk to him in a mean voice. He just wanted yummy-cat...!
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Post by Arya on Jul 1, 2007 15:08:17 GMT -5
Cassandras eyes looked at Demeter and Alicia, not moving off the too. She tensed as Alicia started to climb up Demters arm. And rose to her feet as Alicia tripped and almost fell Demeters arm. But she sat down again as Alicia regained her balance. She was getting a bit weary about Demeter holding Bombas kitten.
Alicia squeaked loudly with joy and she hung upside down around Demeters wrist. WEEEEEE!
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Post by cookingspray on Jul 1, 2007 15:30:05 GMT -5
Tugger was honestly flabbergasted by Munkustrap's next remark. Between him and Etcy. . . Well, Etcy just wanted to have his children (or thought she did). Munkus just seemed amused by the thought of the Tugger with children. Okay, so he admitted it - he and Bomba's kittens were cute. They were even moderately fun to look after (if he had to). But him having his own. . . the idea creeped him out a bit. It required so much responsibility that he didn't think he was prepared to give. Mates and kittens were permanent things that tied you down. Besides, what queen would consent to staying with him for longer than a night without laughing? The ones who wouldn't usually drove him off, and with the way things were in the tribe, he didn't have many options to choose from.
He was momentarily distracted from answering by Etcy's scream. He turned quickly enough to see Apollo lolling on his back in Etcy's paws, in pursuit of his own paw, left dangling before him and forgotten in his ruminations. She scolded him, and he saw Apollo's disappointment. The Maine Coon sighed and lowered his paw down again to remedy this, even though it still hadn't finished drying from the last time. "Now, Apo, I told you to be good. . ."
He froze after completing this sentence, and looked up with an expression of terrible recognition - he thought he understood what Munkustrap meant, now. Catching the silver tabby's eye, he tried to hid the evidence of this revelation, but he feared the damage was already quite done. Munkus had the disconcerting habit of figuring out things far before he did, and he didn't assume this was an exception.
He was not going to become a father. He wasn't.
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Post by Munkustrap Etc. on Jul 1, 2007 15:38:24 GMT -5
Munkustrap gave Tugger a genuine smile, not teasing, and mouthed 'Told you so...' when the maned cat caught his eye, before bending his head again and very deliberately washing behind Ariadne's ears. The two of them were growing up, after all. Tugger couldn't be a playboy forever. Would it really hurt for him to settle down and have kittens one day?
Well, that all depended on whether or not he settled down with Etcetera. It might hurt if he didn't.
Apollinax's whole expression lit up when he caught scent of the yummy-cat again, and he lurched up from the little she-cat's paws to clamp onto yummy-cat's, sucking enthusiastically again.
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Post by cookingspray on Jul 1, 2007 16:10:45 GMT -5
The Maine Coon gave an expression that was something akin to a pout, and tried to shake it off like it didn't bother him - but it did. He chose to ignore it for the time being, as he was prone to doing with most things that made him uncomfortable. The pirates were enough to deal with. . .
Apollinax had happily re-attached himself to Tugger's paw, going to work on dampening it again for what seemed like the hundredth time. He never seemed to get tired of it, either. Etcetera might've had a rival.
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Post by Munkustrap Etc. on Jul 1, 2007 16:17:43 GMT -5
"Apollo really likes you, Tugger," Etcetera said, holding Apollinax up as he clung to Tugger and sucked. She giggled. "Maybe he thinks you're his momma, and he's nursing from your paw!" She grinned up at the tom and shyly curled her tail around his leg.
Apollinax pulled away from yummy-cat long enough to take in a slurpy breath before he was at it again, sucking on yummy-cat's paw.
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Post by cookingspray on Jul 1, 2007 17:29:11 GMT -5
"I noticed." He wiggled his paw, still amused.
The "mother" comment, however, caused him to make a slightly pained expression. He was a mother and a father now, in the course of a day? Next, they'd tell him he was being childish, and he'd be a whole merry family unto himself. "I hope I don't look like his mother." He felt Etcy's tail wind around him. "You should, too."
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Post by Munkustrap Etc. on Jul 1, 2007 17:48:59 GMT -5
"Why not?" Etcetera asked, blinking big eyes at Tugger. "I wanna look like Bomba. She's really pretty! But you're prettier." Tugger was prettiest, always, always, always.
Apollinax followed the wiggling paw with his head, trying to keep it in his mouth. He wrapped around yummy-cat's wrist and sighed happily, now licking the yummy-cat's pads. Hmmm. Yummy-cat was starting to taste like Apollinax himself now, and not quite so yummy-catty. Time to find fresh ground. He began working his way up yummy-cat's arm, sucking on his wrist.
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Post by orangekittencream on Jul 1, 2007 19:34:37 GMT -5
Oh my! This kitten apparently thought Deme was a playground. She blinked and finally figured that she had to pick the Princess up again before she fell. A small smile graced Deme's lips as she plucked the kitten from her wrist and set her in her arms again. Actually. . . Instead of cradling her again she set her on her shoulder, seeing how well she would do in high places. It amused the older Queen. What would this Princess do?
Demeter ignored the stares she was getting from Cassie. Probably jealous because Alonzo didn't want kittens. She smirked and pet her on her small head. This kitten would be adorable with Apollo. Both of them were so adventerous.
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Post by Arya on Jul 1, 2007 23:04:58 GMT -5
Alicia mewed and wondered around Demeter shoulder. She had never been this high before, it was fun! She climbed up into Demeters hair but then got stuck she mewed again trying to get her paws untangled.
Cassandra looked at the kitten then at Demeter then at the kitten. "I think she is stuck." She finally said.
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