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 Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 10:47 pm
Barayas stalked through the undergrowth of the park, his orangey brown body crouched low to the ground. He was in the park for a few reasons, none of them being for sheer enjoyment. Barayas highly doubted he did anything just to simply enjoy it, except perhaps to coerce some poor creature to his will. Be that as it may, Barayas had found himself in the park that day out of desire for a different food source other then the occasional mouse that found its way into the abandoned office building he spent a good portion of his time in.
He was also out here to increase his knowledge of the surrounding areas (a grown up way of saying go exploring), which Barayas has been meaning to do for some time. He stared out at the people and cats roaming the park, not really thinking anything in particular about any of them except for the usual distaste for anything that wasn’t a Somali. His stomach rumbled slightly, and his attention was brought back to the primary reason he was there in the park. Lifting his head slightly, he sniffed about him, searching for a suitable mean to maim and subsequently eat. Catching the edges of such a scent, he prowled off in that direction, ears flicking about him constantly for anyone or anything nearby.
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Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 10:54 pm
It was chilly out today...but then again, it -was- winter. The ground was crusted in the lightest, thinnest layer of snowflakes and every step the Somali tom made made funny crackling sounds. Novik grinned and lashed his thick, orange tail through the powder. He paused, dropping into a pounce and leapt onto a just-as-snow-covered rock. "Die, rock!" he barked boldly, his voice carrying in the still air. He kneaded his claws against the surface of the large boulder, then sat down, bored. It was just no fun without anyone to play with...and butterflies didn't quite come out in the winter, now did they?
Of course... he thought, as he spied a baby rabbit sitting several yards away, maybe butterflies weren't the only 'friends' he could make. Slowly, carefully, he slipped down off the rock and prowled towards the bunny, determined to befriend the creature. Or something to that effect. For a moment, his heart panged as he remembered little Muffin, the stuffed hamster that Emily had given him, torn to shreds by -Vik-. Maybe he could get the rabbit to come home with him and be his new b-f-f. Maybe!
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Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 11:14 pm
Barayas crept along the frosted ground, following the scent of food. Or anything he could maim, really. Some days he didn’t feel that picky. The mice and rats in the office and sewers below offered enough of a thrill, but some days there just wasn’t enough fuss to be had with high pitch squealing and flailing. A flurry of feathers, greater amounts of blood… was that too much to ask for? Peering out through the leaves, Barayas found the source of trail he had been following: a rabbit! What luck! That would certainly provide a good struggle and quite enough food to satiate his hunger.
He crouched down almost flat to the ground, looking around to see if there was anything else in the area that might interfere with his kill. Inhaling deeply, he thought he smelled someone familiar. They certainly smelled of somewhere familiar: the University… and family… and Alice. Barayas’s hackled raised slightly, and he dug his claws into the ground, glaring at the rabbit. It wouldn’t do well to run into family out here, and anything related to that… woman would never bode well for him. Looking about him for the source of this new smell, he kept an eye on the rabbit still, making sure it didn’t run off.
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Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 11:19 pm
Novik pushed his rump up in the air, light and dancer-like on the balls of his feet as he wiggled closer. His thick tail lashed, once, twice, and then he froze. His head popped up -- the movement was quick enough that the rabbit saw him, looked deep into his eyes with dark, unblinking orbs, and darted away. "W-Wait!" he cried, stumbling after the creature a few steps before he remembered that smell.
He paused, looking around, ears flicking back to rest against his skull. "Hello? Who's out there?" He pulled back to sit on his haunches, sitting like a prairie dog...a nervous prairie dog. He thought... But then again, he couldn't be right. His brother and sister had run off months before. Still. "Barayas?" His voice was thin, but getting stronger as he padded forwards, though he was still on alert.
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Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 11:42 pm
Barayas dug in his back legs, digging in his claws in preparation for leaping out at the rabbit, and then suddenly his prey started- turned, then darted away. The Somali tom swore inwardly, his frustration feeding into his desire to kill something and making it stronger. Whatever scared off his meal would pay dearly for its stupidity. Barayas glared about him, again smelling the thing that reminded him of his former home. He backed slowly into the undergrowth, knowing that if he could smell it, it could probably smell him. His ears went flat in irritation; he would have to get his vengeance some other way and find some other creature to vent his ire on.
Starting to turn away, he heard the someone call out, and call out his name, as well. The voice was… familiar; one he hadn’t heard in a long time. Novik? Barayas paused in the act of slinking away, weighing the possibilities in his head. He hadn’t caught word of any sort of search party for him and his sister, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t one… What were the odds that Novik would tell… her that he had been spotted? If he did, would she be able to find him? If he was dragged home, he could just escape again… he had already done it once…
Turning around again, still low to the ground, Barayas caught sight of his brother. It was indeed Novik. Barayas was never sure what to make of this brother in particular, but he had felt that there was something that set him apart from Emily, though they were both somewhat alike in lack of proper dignity. “Hello… Brother.” He called back from the bushes, his voice neutral.
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Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 11:48 pm
Novi's amber eyes widened as the smell of his brother began to speak, becoming more than just a phantom in this tom's mind. With a smile, he perked up, large ears tipping forwards and his tail rising. "Wow... It's really you. Momma said you probably wouldn't come back," he said softly, peering at his brother with curiosity in his gaze. He took a few steps forwards and saw the rusty orange hide of his brother.
Then he paused. Had Emily run away and come back, the first thing out of Novi's mouth would've been 'OMG I MISSED YOU!' of course...but Barayas and he had never been close. Novi always meant to get to know his big brother, but Bar was always a little frosty, like a steely monarch. Or something. And Novi was...well...Novi. Besides, Vik sorta admired the Somali as much as someone like Vik -could-. Which made Novi wary.
"Hi," he said, feeling a little sheepish. What did you say to someone like this, anyway? "Why'd you run away? Our parents were worried."
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Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 12:20 am
Barayas made a wry sort of half-bow, nodding in acknowledgement now that his sibling could see him properly. Or as properly as one could being half concealed in a bush. Well Momma would be right about that. Barayas quipped inwardly, his contempt outwardly visible only through a lightning quick wrinkle of his nose in a slight sneer before his face was impassive once more. Feeling is was ridiculous to carry on a conversation of any kind from under vegetation, Barayas padded out from the undergrowth, shaking himself slightly to dislodge a stray leaf or two in his coat. That being done, he sat down on the snowy ground, looking his older brother up and down quietly.
Barayas watched Novik struggle slightly for something to say, and smirked slightly at the first question out of his mouth. “I deemed it… necessary.” He answered delicately. “Mother was worried, was she?” He queried. “Sister and I didn’t cause her too much stress, I hope. We only wanted to see the wider world, like dear Belial and Tempette.” Inwardly, Barayas was smirking, his subtly polite and formal speech a way of showing contempt for his least liked sister and eldest brother, but he watched Novik quietly for a response, trying to weedle any sort of news out of him. He wanted to know if there was any possibility of being made to go back to the University.
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Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 12:30 am
As Barayas came out of the underbrush, Novi sat down, curling his long tail around his paws and watching his brother curiously, but also slightly cautiously. Momma hadn't told him the reason Bar and Iukkie had left, of course and Novi'd never really asked. He and Emily had missed their lost family, sure, but... It was different without them around. A little more...peaceful. Tempette was a wildcard, Iukkie a snob and Belial had a temper. It was Barayas that Novik had never had a chance to truly figure out... Besides the fact that both his brothers held dislike and contempt for anything less than a pureblood.
"She was worried..." he answered honestly. "But I think she's glad that me 'n' Emily stuck around..." He took a small breath and let it out. Novi always had the tendency to make things...awkward. He cleared his throat. "So...how is the big-wide-world?" he asked with a tilt of his head. "Probably dangerous, huh? Do you like it? Is Iukkie okay?" A pause, and a small smile. "Is she still a spoiled princess?" And do you still hate halfbloods, he wanted to ask, but kept his smile in place and the question lodged firmly between his ears.
Of course he does. Look at him.
'Not right now. Go away,' he thought quickly, and to Barayas, maybe he'd look a little distant. 'He's my brother and I haven't seen him in like, forever.'
He would be my brother as well, darling (and the word was spat with distaste)...the only one I recall liking, if I remember correctly. He had good taste. And in his mind, Vik sneered.
Novi sighed. "Are you coming back home...or not?" he asked.
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Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 12:52 am
Of course, the docile ones would stay home. That should make Mother happy. Barayas growled internally. Then he snorted, an honest smirk turning up one corner of his mouth. It seemed like a majority of Barayas’s smiles were smirks. A true smile on Barayas was a frightening thing and usually meant that a certain amount of blood and pain was violently impending. “Is water still wet?” he answered, laughter in his voice. “The day Iukinia stops behaving like a princess is the day the world ends.” An honest reaction from Barayas, surprising, but not unheard of, considering the topic and whom he was speaking to. Barayas had a tendency towards loosening up ever so slightly around his siblings. Blood was one of the things Barayas valued quite highly, and was loyal too it, or as much as he was want to be when he felt it deserved it. But family was family.
“I’ve found it to be… adequately engaging.” Another delicately vague answer, and another slight smirk, answering the first question. Then he raised his eyebrow, giving Novik a searching and ever so slightly incredulous look. “Do you want me to come back home?” He asked, looking Novik directly in the eyes. Of course he wasn’t going to go back. He had found a place where he could be more himself, without the constant and unwanted surveillance of home, where he was just another of Alice’s precious miracle litter. But he wanted to hear what Novik had to say first.
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Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 1:04 am
Novi's eyes jumped up to Barayas's face as the tom snorted, his head tipping to the side just a little, making him look younger than he actually was. Don't do that, you look like a ******** child. 'I'm not listening! LALALA.' Novi resisted the urge to clap his hands over his ears, but knew that wouldn't make a darn bit of difference. Still, he righted himself.
At his cryptic words, Novi frowned; who even -said- things like 'adequately engaging' anyways? Either it was big, dark and scary out there, or it was nice. His ears flicked back at the next question. Did he want Barayas and Iukinia home? ...Did he really truly have to answer that? Clearing his throat, he looked around. "Well... Uh..." He nibbled on his lip, the bitter twinge of blood springing to the surface as he fought for an answer.
Say it. Tell him you don't love him, don't know him. It won't break his heart, believe me; I'm sure he cares little about your tiny opinion. He's not coming back.
This time, Novi growled. "Shut up," he snapped audibly, and perhaps to his brother it might look like he was slightly crazy. Vik laughed, a deep rumbling sound that made Novi want to pull out his hair.
Go ahead, take the downwards spiral. Things are out of your control now, yeah? I thought so. Better find your happy place.
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Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 1:45 pm
Barayas watched his brother quietly, eyes taking in all the emotions that crossed his face. Novik seemed quite the open book, like Emily, and it was pretty clear that his question had distressed his sibling. Intriguing… Barayas narrowed in on the other Somali’s eyes, trying to discern what was going on behind them as they gazed about at anything, anywhere else but on Barayas himself. The orangey brown tom was on the verge of prying further when Novik snapped out, making both of Barayas’s eyebrows go up this time. Most intriguing…
“Is something the matter brother?” He asked in apparent concern, a convincing look of worry creasing his brow. “You’re not upset at me for leaving, are you?” Barayas paused, not wanting to lay it on to thickly. One problem he had encountered before was that whenever he put on airs, it was so incongruous to his normal blank face that it often put people off before he had a chance to get into them. He made a mental note to change his usual outward appearance so that the changes wouldn’t be so distinct. Ah, just another mask to wear… Hopefully Novik would be too distracted with whatever was going on in his head to notice too much.
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Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 1:52 pm
'Shut up, no one wants to hear your mean opinions,' Novi snarled inwardly in a rare show of anger, but the wear on his mind was apparent, the young Somali slumping where he sat, claws digging into the snowy earth. He glanced up at Barayas, shaking his head slightly as if to say 'you have NO idea'.
Still, the look of concern on his brother's face was enough to make the tom, oblivious that Barayas was faking, crack. "I... I've kinda gotta...condition," he mumbled softly.
Is that what I am? Vik was amused.
Novi took a deep breath. "I've got a guy...in my head. And he's mean. He's always been there." A pause, narrowing his eyes. "And I'm -not- crazy."
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Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 2:14 pm
Light bulbs flashed in Barayas’s mind; ways and means and options and all manner of plans flying though his head, but first- Barayas halted himself mentally, keeping the concerned, brotherly look firmly in place. What Novik had said put everything he had ever thought or guessed about his middle brother into much clearer perspective, made it understandable why he had been sometimes distant, and sometimes a little… odd. Barayas had liked him at these times, and didn’t understand why he would go back to being like Emily, so… boring.
He got up and padded forward a few steps, his feet making quiet crunching sounds on the frosted ground. Tilting his head slightly with a look of curious concern, Barayas sat down closer to Novik, searching his weary face for more information. “I know you’re not crazy, Novik. I’m family. And blood sticks with blood.” He said quietly, still holding Novik’s golden eyes with his amber ones. “Does anyone else know about this… guy in your head? Does he have a name?” Barayas probed gently, wanting to know more, to know everything.
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Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 2:21 pm
Novik pulled his ears back as Barayas seemed to study him, knowing -for sure- that his older brother was going to mock him...or something. A nightmare, for this cat. Instead...he got an almost understanding that made him straighten a little as Bar padded closer and sat nearer to him. Novi gave the smallest of sniffles, then scooted close enough that their tails touched; closeness was what Novi craved when Vik got too damn demanding.
He took a breath. "Well... He calls himself Vik. He's cold and a jerk and he thinks I'm weak." He frowned. "Emily knows... She gave me a stuffed hamster named Muffin...and I woke up and Vik destroyed it. There was poor hamster stuffing everywhere." His eyes widened. "And Nikki knows... But I haven't seen her in forever. Vik was really mean to her."
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Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 12:47 am
Barayas listened quietly, making note of everything he saw and heard from Novik. He let his brother sit closer to him, guessing that this would probably put the other Somali at ease, and maybe cement whatever bond Novik might feel was forming. He needed Novik to trust him, to feel comfortable telling him more, and maybe he might get to meet this… Vik. “When you say that Vik… did these things, what exactly do you mean?” The way Novik was talking, it seemed like Vik was more than just a voice in his head. It seemed like Vik was a viable personality… so who was in control? Were there more “people” inside Novik? Who was he talking to now? All these questions flitted through Barayas’s head, but he kept them firmly there, asking only one of the multitudes of questions for now. He didn’t want to overload his brother, or put his back up and shut out Barayas. “Is there anyone else? I mean, in your head. Is it just Vik?” Barayas leaned a little closer to Novik, keeping his voice full of brotherly concern; a calculated move to try and keep him at ease and not too distressed by Barayas's prying.
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