First Note

[allformii_ko]

[The feed begins on video, but for some reason… Nothing is there. Is something wrong with the network…?

After a second, a cat hesitantly approaches the “camera”, sniffing at it and lifting a paw in the air, tentatively batting at it. It’s only when the paw actually hits the “camera” that she bolts away again, this time taking even longer to come back. If your character is still watching at this point, they’ll get to see her staring curiously at the screen for a bit longer. Surely this cat can’t actually be…?]

What is this thing? And why are there so many people inside?

[…All said in the voice of a young teenage girl. Having apparently forgotten her fear entirely, she leans down to press her nose against the “camera”, clearly trying to investigate all the secrets it holds.]

What? What do you mean pe--

[There is a woman's voice off camera, somewhat familiar despite also being quite new. A face comes into focus, and at first she appears to be smiling, focusing down on the cat. Until she realizes what's going on however.

No, she couldn't have figured out how to use her tablet. She couldn't have somehow turned on the network. The dawning realization is quite apparent on the young woman's face as she quickly looks at her cat.

This definitely wasn't how she intended to have this happen.]

Mimi, what did you do?

I pushed it some times! And then there were people inside!

[Mimi places a paw on it as she beams at Elly, clearly quite proud of herself. Look! She did a thing!]

[There's a very audible groan as she picks the cat up, pokes the screen a few times, and sighs.]

So. Hi.

This was not how I intended to ask this. Okay.

Um. My cat just started talking yesterday, and I don't know why. Um, I guess she's one of us now? Maybe?

[Yeah, this sounded just as stupid out loud as it did in her head. She winces a bit. Mimi why now?]

((OOC: Normal text is Mimi, Red is Elly worldmother!))

Comments

[argents]

Well, if someone accidentally brings up something that has to do with bad memories, they can feel sorry for it. Something like that?

[allformii_ko]

Bad memories?

[What bad memories?]

[argents]

[ LESSON LEARNED: CAT PERCEPTION IS NOT LIKE HUMAN PERCEPTION. ]

Nevermind, don't worry about it.

[allformii_ko]

Okay.

[Well that was simple.]

I just want to eat good food now! Like the leftovers the lady by the dumpster used to give me!

[argents]

[ Wow, super simple. ]

Maybe it's just me, but leftovers seem like a good trade for a family.

[allformii_ko]

[Headtiiiiiilt.]

What's a family? Elly tried to explain it once, but I don't get it.

[argents]

What is it? [ ...Crud. ] Well... it's probably different for everyone. But someone who you think of as family would be someone who takes care of you, and that you're not afraid to share everything with. Being around your family should make you feel safe.

[allformii_ko]

[This is a far more concrete answer than Elly was able to give, which helps her with understanding.]

So then... Elly is my "family"?

[argents]

Does she do all of those things?

[allformii_ko]

Elly gives me food, and I can tell her when I'm hungry, and she lets me cuddle with her during the nighttime so I'm warm!

[So. Probably yes?]

[argents]

[ A laugh. ]

That sounds about right. Elly is your family.

[allformii_ko]

Yaaay!

Do you have a family too?

[argents]

Yeah! I do. I have my mom.

[allformii_ko]

What's she like?

[argents]

My mom? She's a really good person! She likes helping others, no matter what, and she's always taken care of me, all by herself. I owe her a lot.

[allformii_ko]

Does she like cats, too?

[argents]

We can't have any at our apartment, but yeah, she does. She feeds the strays outside when she sees them.

[allformii_ko]

She feeds strays?

[That gets her interest quickly.]

Maybe she fed me once!

[argents]

Maybe! Do you remember where you used to hang around when you were one?

[allformii_ko]

There were... there were big buildings! They were really, really tall!

[Helpful.]

[argents]

So, close! I think. How about a lady... [ Pausing, Banagher levels his hand out a few inches shorter than him. ] This tall? Long red hair.

[allformii_ko]

Umm...

[She tilts her head to the side, clearly thinking about it.]

...Did she live by a dumpster?

[argents]

[ He stifles a snort. ]

I don't think so. Maybe not then, huh? She would have, though.

[allformii_ko]

There was another lady, but her hair wasn't that color.

[argents]

Yeah? What color was it? [ A beat. ] I wonder if you see colors the same way I do.

[ Here is Banagher Links, forgetting he's talking to a cat. ]