Kiba: -sits on the edge of a park bench dressed in the usual: tight blue jeans and an oversized hoodie, legs swinging and fingers clasped over the edges. The sunlight warms his skin as he watches the birds peck the ground for seed shells thrown by a man earlier. Thinking, he touches a hand to his black collar, giving a small tug. Did he really want it off? He ducks his head, ears docking, feeling a bit sorry for himself. He had to cheer up... He had to find a reason to -want- to be a Free Collar...-

---

Vega: -strolls about the park in her usual places, sighing and smiling regularly at the feel of the warm, golden sunshine on her shoulders. One hand was wrapped about her staff and the other held her long skirt up about her knees. She flicked an ear upon picking up the sounds of birds. The she-cat turned her head and spotted a black and white tom sitting on the bench. She couldn't recall having seen him before, of course that was the trouble about drifting around like some gypsy nomad. Hm. It was too nice a day to spend it alone, so she decided to meander over and say hi. Her curled tail swayed behind her as she walked, sidling up alongside the bench with a little smile, angling her head ever so slightly to the right to get a better look at the male.- Now that's a troubled look if I ever did see one. Mind if I sit?

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Kiba: -nearly jumps out of his skin as she speaks, having not heard her saunter up- O-Oh! Hello... -murmurs, green eyes widening as he peered at her. She didn't wear typical clothes and the staff she held had him ducking his head in uncertainty, even though he felt fairly certain that she wasn't going to whack him with it- Go ahead -nods, placing his hands in his lap- Uh... I'm Kiba... -looks up to her, finding no collar -- just like Darian, just like so many others. How did they do it? How did they like being free? All he wanted to do was to curl up on his Man's lap and fall asleep to fingers stroking his chin...- Who're you?

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Vega: -Dropped her hand that held her skirt about her knees to hold it up in the air in a 'take it easy' sort of motion- Sorry if I startled you. It wasn't my intention. -She smiled and dipped her head as she took a seat on the bench, her curled tail brushing up along side her thigh as she settled in- Thanks, Kiba. I'm Vega and it's nice to meet you. -She leaned her staff against one of her shoulders to free up both of her hands. One of them settled in her lap while her other extended to Kiba to shake.- What brings you to these parts? If I may ask...

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Kiba: -a small smile crept onto his lips and he nodded at her hand gesture- I know... I'm just...jumpy, I guess? -tilts his head to one side, watching her with curiousity. Where had she come from, anyways? Just outta thin air, from the look of it. He looks at her tail and blinks. Why was it curled? Seems he was full of unanswered questions. Slowly, takes her hand in his own light grip and shakes it- Vega... Named after the star? -smiles, sheepish- I dunno... I'm just, waiting, I guess. Trying to figure out why cats like to be free... -trails off- I mean... My owner was wonderful. All I had to do was purr for him and he'd feed me. Now I have to scrounge and steal...

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Vega: Jumpy is okay. Keeps you on your toes if anything. -She brought one of her knees up to her chest, letting her shawl fall down to be caught by her elbows, revealing her freckled shoulders. Her face brightened in a big smile, her ears perking forward.- Hey, yeah! You know, you're the first to get that. That I'm named after the star, that is. Very good! I'm impressed. -Her brief excited, impressed outburst softened a degree as she angled her head to contemplate the male.- You haven't been out here very long have you? -She made a thoughtful humming sound as she looked to the birds bustling against each other to finish up the crumbs strewn about on the ground.- Everyone has their own reason, most of them are unique to each cat. Some simply wanted to live their own lives without having to rely on anyone but themselves. Some are simply searching for something they felt was lacking in their previous lives with humans. Other are out here as a means of escape...Or maybe for solace...-She paused for a brief moment before looking to Kiba with her good eye, a ghost of a smile on her face.- Hm. Sounds like you had a good life with your past owner. What string of circumstances brought you to the streets? What was your catalyst?

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Kiba: -blushes a little at her outburst, not realizing she'd get so excited- Hehe, thanks... I think. -smiles at her, relaxing a little bit. She seemed trustworthy enough, and she hadn't hit him with that staff yet. In fact, her hands weren't even on it now! His tail gave a little flick against his legs- A little longer than you'd think. A few weeks... I've met a few people, people who've helped me. I'd be no where without them... I've gone through two homes now, actually. The first... I think my Man got sick... His brother put me out. I waited around, but he shooed me off... -says softly, missing him the most- Then a family took me in, but the boy was allergic... -takes a deep breath and touches his collar again- I need to find my place in this big world, Vega... Not everyone has time for a skittish stray.

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Vega: Really? You look to be doing okay for yourself for being a few weeks out on the streets. Of course, if there have been folks aiding you out here then that certainly would have helped. -She sighed softly and reached out a hand to gently squeeze the shoulder of his that was closest to her, an encouraging smile on her face.- There always comes a time when it falls to us to find our own niches in the world, whether we feel ready or not. I was ready the moment my owner's boyfriend beat me and threw me out of his apartment window. I was ready when I was kept in a window cage at a veterinary clinic as the 'office cat'. -She dropped her hand to rest on her knee. Resting her cheek against the knee that was pulled to her chest.- I knew what I needed to do and when the opportunity arose, I escaped. Life is what you make it. You can make it tough, or you can make it easy, but you must remember that it is ultimately yours, so it is up to you how you live it. -She smiled.- What do you need to know in order to help find your way?

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Kiba: -grins at her, albeit a little nervously- Thanks... I've tried my best, even when I just wanna crawl into a dumpster and sleep these problems away... I've met some people... -thinks of Owen and Darian and Jude, all of whom enjoyed living this life of a Freecollar... As she touches him, he looks at her and meets her eye -- a bold move for him -- then nods. His eyes widen as she told him about her past... Wow... Maybe his life wasn't as rough as he thought it was!- I'm sorry. So...you're happy stealing and scrounging? -he wants to ask how she removed her collar, but feels that would be prying- How do you do it? -head tilts to the side just a little-

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Vega: -Smiled, briefly closing her good eye to give a deep sigh, before opening her brilliant blue green eye again.- No need to be sorry. What's past is just that, past. From that point on, I was my own master. Free to grow and learn. Free to become the me that I am meant to be. -She rolled a shoulder as a shrug.- I don't mind. I only take what I need to live, never in excess. I hunt when I can for what I can, which can sometimes be difficult with my, heh, little handicap, but I am still adapting to it. It's all a process, a learning experience. -The female blinked at him and gave another reflective sound.- I keep myself open. I remember the places that provide well, the places that make me nervous. I learn where there are good things and places to avoid. It isn't easy as living in a nice, warm house being fed on demand by humans, but I prefer it greatly over where I had come from before. I much prefer the fresh air, the open spaces of the world than the pain of my first places.

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Kiba: -nods, looking down at his hands pressed against the insides of his pockets- I see... Do you think I could become...good at this life? I mean... I scare easily and am intimidated by other people, and I don't know how to hunt well. Owen showed me, once, but I was so worried about getting home that I didn't listen well. Sorry for that, now, you know? -shrugs a little bit- Could...you show me the places you speak of? Show me a day in your life, so I might learn myself? I'm...I'm ready for it, now. And once I'm ready... -tugs at his collar, which was slightly tight around his throat- Maybe someday I'll bear that scar proudly -smiles bravely, though his heart hammered inside his chest-

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Vega: Oh yes. I think so. It takes time to grow. Experience will strengthen you. -She gave another half shrug.- I could understand how you'd regret it. Learning to hunt is important, but there are always more lessons. You will learn. -She dropped her leg and straightened up her posture, stretching her arms over her head before letting them fall to her lap. Vega smiled to him and nodded slowly.- You are more than welcome to come with me. I'm not a miser, hoarding my various haunts to myself. I am all for sharing a day of my life with you. -She rose and gave another stretch, the curve of her tail following the brief arch in her spine. She looked to him with a smile, one of her hands finding her staff again.- Never be afraid of scars. They remind us of where we've been and what we've done. -Smooths her skirt before continuing- What are you in the mood to see first? Some of my food sources or the few places that I prefer to bed down when I grow weary?

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Kiba: Experience... -says thoughtfully, nodding in agreement- Thank you, Vega... -his voice is soft- I'm ready, then... Let's see... -as he pauses, his stomach gives a loud rumble, as if to speak for him. He giggles and pats it, pulling his hands from his pockets- My stomach would like to see where you eat...If that's okay! -watches her reach for her staff, forcing himself not to shy away from it, inwardly praising himself for that boldness- Then we'll keep going! -wears a true smile for the first time in a long while as he hops off the bench and follows her-

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Vega: -smiled and nodded to him- Well good. -She blinked at the loud rumble from his stomach. She chuckled softly and held her free hand up in a 'Say no more' sort of motion.- That is perfectly fine. What are you in the mood for? Something fresh or something human packaged. Let's see...For fresh, there is always the aquarium for fish, as well as the fish market close to the water...Oh! There is also a small farmer's market going on today! For already prepared meals, we can always swing by some small shop or grocery store and see what we can find. I'm feeling a mite peckish myself so grabbing something to eat would be most welcome. -She patted her own belly with a bit of a grin.-

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Kiba: -at her gesture, he grins at her, then ponders her words. She was giving him a choice? He'd never had a choice before... He was only good at snagging a rat or two out of the alley dumpsters! The idea of fish thrils him and he nods- Perhaps fish? But...not live ones. I dunno if I could kill one, food or not... -looks a little sheepish and runs a hand through his white-blond hair nervously-

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Vega: -Smiles and angles her head slightly.- Quite alright. Baby steps, Kiba. We can head over to the fish market. There's one down by the docks, open air, plenty of room, less people traffic. There's a small one near the farmer's market. We're more likely to get spotted and chased off, but everything is already gutted and things. It's all a matter of preference.

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Kiba: -thinks... Baby steps. That was a good way to put it. Maybe for now, he could live on pre-killed fish, but in the future...maybe he'd be able to consider catching fresh! He liked the way Vega thought. He nods and follows after her- I'll have to learn, either way, even if we get chased off. As you said, it'd be an experience! -falls into step beside her and a little behind her, trusting her to lead the way, but keeping alert all the same. It wouldn't be of use to slack off, not when he needed to learn this stuff-

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Vega: -Nodded with a bright expression on her face- The smaller fish market is closer. We can try there first. If we get chased off, then that is the way of things. There are always other places. The female lead the way, taking Kiba down one of her more commonly used routes leading to the square with the market. She told him the markers she learned to remember her way even in the dark.- Have any favorite fish? I don't know what they have today. They usually get a few new types of fish in every other day or so.

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Kiba: -pads after her easily, surprisingly quietly for a cat with little street smarts. His tail flicks back and forth with a new burst of nerves and he played with the hem on his pockets, keeping to Vega's elbow. He listens intently, taking in every word she says -- truly he had changed from the cat who didn't seem to care for the way of street life only weeks before- Um... What's your favorite fish? I've...never really learned to have a favorite? -tilts head- I guess that's another thing I get to learn, huh? -but he is grinning as he speaks this-

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Vega: -She made sure to not move too fast so that Kiba could follow her. Her tail swished as they began to draw closer to the square.- My favorite? Well, I like tuna, eel, and, something most are sort of wary of, squid. Oh! Dried shrimp makes for a really tasty little treat too. They come in these little baggies that make for easy packing off. -She nodded.- Oh yeah. Out here you get to learn all sorts of yourself, least of all what your favorites are.

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Kiba: -keeps his eyes open, suddenly wary of the other people and few cats lurking around as they drew close to the Market- Eel? Sounds...slimy... -inwardly, he shudders, but makes a mental note of the shrimp in packages- Well...let's hold off on eel for now. Start with something bland, but flavorful? -ears p***k forwards, listening in-

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Vega: -slowed her pace, looking around as they drew closer to the front of the small fish market. The smells of fish were thick in the air, but not unpleasantly so. She kept an eye on the few humans hanging around and the scattered few cats around.- If texture is your thing, I'd recommend holding off on the squid too. Eel is okay raw, but it's still really tasty cooked. We'll stick with tuna for today and we can make off with some bags of shrimp for later. -She sniffed the air and smiled.- We're in luck. I can smell it. Come on. -She gave one of his baggy sleeves a little tug and smiled as she jogged up under one the tables, waving him over.-

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Kiba: -takes in all the smells, his stomach rumbling even louder now. He feels a tremor of nerves -- or was that excitement? -- as Vega trots off. Panicking, he looks around and quickly scrambles after her, his heart pounding inside his chest- O-Okay. Gotcha -he murmurs, tail flicking but willing himself to be calm, be steady, this was fine, it was nice... They would get away with it without getting caught... He keeps chanting good things to himself in his mind as he focuses on Vega- Ready... What now?

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Vega: -She smiled, her tail swishing behind her.- We get what we need and get out of here. You have to either be quick and grab what you can or you can be stealthy and thorough. There aren't many folk around so we can take our time we just have to keep an eye out for the shop owner...There. -She said and pointed to a tall human man wearing a heavy apron.-

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Kiba: -crouches there under the table, muscles tense. Quick or stealthy... well he wasn't very stealthy to begin with, so he gave a grim smile. He follows her gaze to the man in the apron -- a big guy...possibly with a cleaver or something equally dangerous. He gulps, and then nods- Quick... Gotcha... -he waits until the man turns his back, then gives one hopeful look at Vega -- a very short look -- and darted out from beneath the table. His pawsteps are silent as he reaches another table -- he isn't sure if it's tuna or not, but it smells heavenly. Carefully, he pulls a fish off the rack and darts back to where Vega was waiting, his heart pounding. He nearly falls on his way back, but the apron-man didn't see him- W-Whoa whatta rush!

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{unfin}