Carpathia IV: Episode 82 - Abandoned Collar
Space, NCCS Shadowdancer
Amenaru entered his quarters first to hastily tidy up as much as he could in just a few seconds, which mostly involved dumping clothes in the hamper and straightening the sheets on his bed. When he turned around, he found Kit already inside, looking down at his feet with a very befuddled look on his face.
Kit: Amenaru, you seem to have a strange, alien creature in your quarters.
Every little bitty hair on Amenaru's body bristled, suddenly realizing what he'd forgotten.
Amenaru: Wah! I forgot about...
Fully prepared to dive to the floor to scoop Mrs. Tiggywinkle away, Amenaru discovered that it wouldn't be necessary at all. She was already insinuating herself around Kit's shins, purring contentedly.
Amenaru: ...Mrs. Tiggywinkle?
Mrs. Tiggywinkle: Purr purr...
Kit: You know this creature? It seems happy.
Amenaru had to shake his head before he could regain his senses.
Amenaru: Yes... This is Mrs. Tiggywinkle. She's my pet cat.
Kit: Pet. I've heard of those. I've never seen one before.
Amenaru: I'm amazed she likes you. She always threatens anyone she's never met before.
Mrs. Tiggywinkle continued to rub herself around Kit's legs as Amenaru stooped to scoop her up.
Amenaru: I've had her since I was three. When she was four years old, she nearly died from an infection. Since then, she's been particularly attached to me.
Amenaru struggled to hold Mrs. Tiggywinkle, for she seemed determined to get closer to Kit, sticking her paws out and waving them in his direction.
Amenaru: There's no question she likes you. You can pet her. She won't bite you.
Kit glanced at Mrs. Tiggywinkle, still eagerly angling for pets, and Amenaru's smiling, confident face. He tentatively raised his hand and as soon as it was close enough, Mrs. Tiggywinkle raised her head into Kit's hand and rubbed it all around.
Mrs. Tiggywinkle: Mrow!
Kit's shoulders dropped and he let out a long exhale, the tension in his body dissipating like a wind blowing over a light, fluffy snow. He even smiled, which prompted Amenaru to take a step closer so that Kit could reach better. Kit's tentative scratches quickly evolved into full head rubs. In his other hand, Amenaru noticed that Kit still clutched the black and gold dog collar that he had when Amenaru entered his room earlier.
Mrs. Tiggywinkle pulled her head back and began to squirm, her signal that she'd like to go back to the floor. Amenaru obliged, but she did not run away, keeping close to Kit's feet.
Amenaru: I don't know about you, but I like to get out of my uniform right away when I'm off duty.
Amenaru removed his chest plate and immediately set out disrobing himself, hoping that Kit might be interested in doing the same, filthy and bloody as his uniform was. Unfortunately, Kit seemed uninterested, but kept a curious eye on Mrs. Tiggywinkle.
Amenaru: I can run back to your quarters and grab some clothes for you. You can change in my bathroom if you want.
Kit: I'm fine.
Kit shambled to Amenaru's window and stared outside, just like he was doing in his own quarters. Mrs. Tiggywinkle followed alongside and sat next to him. For his part, Amenaru had already dispensed with his uniform entirely and was now throwing a t-shirt over his head.
Silence permeated the room and though Amenaru felt uncomfortable with it, he also thought that talking right now wouldn't be the best thing. He took a seat on his sofa and grabbed his kondo, a nekomi instrument resembling a cross between a Japanese shamisen and a guitar. A slow, but uplifting tune seemed like the best option to play.
Kit didn't react when Amenaru started to play, but he didn't tense either. At best, it wasn't doing any harm, so he kept going. For at least a half hour, perhaps more, Amenaru played song after song. Eventually, on one song, he started to sing softly to himself without realizing it.
Amenaru: Shenah re woyechina. Shayre ya mohkos
While Amenaru continued, Kit turned his head slowly.
Kit: That's nekomi language, isn't it?
Momentarily stunned into silence, Amenaru realized that he was, in fact, singing.
Amenaru: It is! Nekomi don't sing, or rather can't. When nekohumans like me came along, and some of us could sing a little, we started putting lyrics to old nekomi folk songs. The pre-nekohuman generation, especially, loves it.
Kit turned and gazed out the window again. Amenaru thought he might return to his silent stare, but instead, he kept talking.
Kit: Father said I reminded him of him. That I'm angry and stubborn and that I could use that to lead House Savea someday.
Kit fell silent and Amenaru waited patiently for whatever happened next.
Kit: I just let him talk, biding my time until he made a mistake so I could thrash him to bits. He was partly right. I am angry and stubborn, but I will never be like him. He is cruel and short-sighted. I am...
Kit's voice trailed off, prompting Amenaru to finish the sentence for him.
Amenaru: Neither of those things. I'm glad you're here and I'm sure Captain Valro will do whatever it takes to make sure you can stay.
Kit turned away from the window, facing Amenaru, and his grip on the collar he held tightly in his hand until now began to loosen until it finally slipped out of his hand and fell to the floor. He didn't seem to notice or make any conscious effort to throw it away. He just let it drop to the floor like a useless piece of trash.
Kit slowly stepped to the sofa and sat next to Amenaru, leaning onto his shoulder and gripping Amenaru's arm tightly. Mrs. Tiggywinkle followed suit, hopping up next to Amenaru and curling herself up next to him.
Kit: I feel safe when I'm with you.
Amenaru gazed down at the top of Kit's head while Mrs. Tiggywinkle kept vigil on the corner of the couch.
Kit: Keep playing?
Amenaru nodded.
Amenaru: Sure.
Commissioned art in this episode from:
AvareonArt
Zelbunnii
Thatwildmary
Colourbrand
