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 Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 8:18 pm
Lluven was a little surprised that the other cat hadn't continued his little stroll. He had started with a destination, after all, and it seemed a little strange that he had stopped for his companion to catch up. He quickly concluded that the Somali had stopped only to survey his surroundings, though the back of his mind chuckled at the notion that he might have been waiting, after all.
At the rebuttal to his previous argument, Lluven let out a teasing tsk from between his teeth. It was playful, but his tone showed that he was not about to let up on his own opinion. However, it also confirmed that he intended to pursue the matter no further- after all, what good were such mindless ram fights in the pursuit of camaraderie?
He almost stopped himself as the thought crossed his mind. Was he really interested in becoming friends with such a stiff cat? Then again... he let his features fall into an easy smile. A friend was always better than an enemy. Or an acquaintance, for that matter. Besides, hadn't this one piqued his interest enough for him to risk his safety following him?
As the other concluded his argument with a rather dark remark and closed his eyes underneath their final destination, Lluven let himself breathe his response:
"Living your life without caring how others perceive you makes you a lonely cat indeed."
It wasn't an accusation, but more of an honest statement, almost as if from his own experience. He padded around to the other side of the tree as gently as he could and leaned back as well, letting the wide trunk separate their converging intentions. He wanted to talk with the other one more, but if he was unwelcome it would be a simple matter to raise himself from that position and scamper away.
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Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 9:48 pm
Dhiren wasn't surprised to hear the padding of paws as the other moved to join him in his nap by the tree. He was a little taken aback by the comment dropped into his lap, however. Opening his eyes a little, once the other tom had settled against the other side of the trunk, the Somali thought about that for a moment. Loneliness, what was that exactly? How could one be lonely when he was never used to company to begin with?
"Maybe you're right..." He murmured quietly, resting his head against the bark. He wasn't completely aware he had voiced the thought out loud, but it seemed to make sense to him. Why else would he let a bothersome cat tag along with him? Come to think of it, he had been doing that a lot lately, letting other cats hang around with him. Did that mean he was getting soft? "I'm not sure what good it's going to do me either way." He was still grumbling, but a thought occurred to him at the same time and he turned his head a little, "Anyway, why are you tagging along with someone like me? If I'm such an abrasive, pathetically lonely cat, why are you here?" He didn't want to sound too interested, but unseen by the spotted tom opposite him, his ears were standing alertly erect.
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Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 6:30 pm
Unwittingly, Lluven had steeled himself for the next comment. He was sure his still-nameless companion would have shot back with the same cold defiance he had been treated to all morning, and even his ears were tilted away, as if to minimize the impact of his bite.
But the fierceness that he had expected didn't come. Instead, he heard a soft half-affirmation, like the new snow that gives in to gentle paws at the very cusp of autumn. He was shocked, but only for a second, as suddenly the largest warmth rose up into his chest, a triumphant blanket that covered him from all sides. He had been right, hadn't he? And now that this enigmatic stranger had let him in somewhat, wasn't it true that he might be able to help? He forced down the feeling to listen quietly to the rest of the other's musings.
At the question, Lluven looked down abruptly. There was no answer but the truth, and he let it out slowly, as if to taste its absurdity on his own tongue.
"It was your food."
And then he chuckled whole-heartedly, continuing, "-but after that, you just interested me, was all. I've never met anyone like you."
He paused for a second, then looked up at the sky. It was different from this angle, skewered with the block buildings of mankind. It looked tame.
His words afterwards came like calm afterthoughts, but they were honest,
"There's nothing wrong with being lonely. I wouldn't... I wouldn't have come with you if I wasn't a little lonely myself."
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Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 4:42 pm
Dhiren almost sighed audibly at the spotted tom's response and rolled back into his previous position, back square against the trunk again. So he did want the nikudon, after all... it figured. The Somali blinked slowly and gazed out over the field, towards the university. What was it that he had expected in the first place? Was he secretly hoping the other cat would just confess how he had been just as pathetically lonely and simply wanted a friend? Was Dhiren looking for a friend himself?
Looking down at his fisted hands resting against his crossed legs, the Somali wondered about that. Lately, he had been feeling more antisocial and awkward than normal because of the company he found with a certain woman, but that sort of companionship was an entirely different situation. Friends weren't all bad, right? At least he wouldn't have to worry about being judged with a friend.
The orange tom pinned his ears back and gave a sudden, clipped growl, "Dhiren." At Lluven's quiet admittance of a lonliness shared, Dhiren couldn't help but give up his name. Silently, though, he wondered what else to say. "...I'm not all that surprised. If you frequently follow people around like that, then it's no wonder you find yourself alone more often..." What the hell was that? the Orange cat mentally socked himself as his tongue spoke for him again, words he didn't mean to let out, "That is, some cats wouldn't really be comfortable.... with letting a stranger suddenly just follow them around.. probably..."
Finishing lamely, the Somali bit his tongue, the tip of it poking out of his mouth, as he adopted a frustrated expression and felt his face heat up a little. Was there a point to anything he said lately?
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 3:20 pm
And now it seemed they were at the end of the road. Lluven wasn't surprised at the silence that fell abruptly between them- he welcomed it, almost. He had learned that this Somali wasn't a talker, and now that the thorny edge to his words had all but disappeared he was starting to drift off into a relaxed half-trance, eyes turned skyward to the patches of sky visible between buildings.
Dhiren. That word shocked him awake. He hadn't asked a question, and even if he had, he wouldn't have understood it as an answer. It came to him in a rush- his name. That must have been it. And at that realization, he bolted from his lethargic trance and let himself turn a little in his seat, though all that met his eyes was the wide, woody berth of the tree.
"Dhiren," he repeated, an edge of wonder in his voice. And then, a calm laugh, "It's nice to meet you, then, Dhiren. I'm Lluven."
He felt it proper to introduce himself again, not due to the possibility that the other had forgotten, but perhaps to ease the awkwardness that would come with a belated pleasantry.
And though the other had been frustrated at the words that came after that, he just shrugged, though he knew his companion couldn't see it.
"You're right. I mean, I don't like to overstay my welcome, either," he mused aloud, and though his voice was free from bitterness inside he felt a thin pang, like a memory. "Although..." and this he added with a hint of hesitancy, "looks like I struck lucky this time."
A soft laugh. It sounded ridiculous once he had said it. But somewhere he sensed that they were looking for the same thing, and when two people are are looking for the same thing, they're always better together. At least, that's what the stories said.
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 9:23 pm
At the second introduction, Dhiren flicked his ears back to listen, his amber eyes shifting to glance back, even though he wouldn't be able to see the dappled tomcat. Catching the end of what the other cat said, the Somali male closed his eyes and smiled to himself, a genuine smile. "Yea... Me too, it seems." He growled softly, flicking his fluffy tail beside him. He was a lot calmer now around this cat, probably because although their outward personalities were vastly opposite, they were similar inside. "You just happened to catch me with a full stomach. That's where you lucked out."
Dhiren got to his paws again, slipping a hand into a pocket on his slacks. With a noticably softer, more playful expression, he peered around the tree at the smaller male, then shifted his gaze to the city skyline he was staring at. Padding about the thick trunk, he leaned against it, standing right next to Lluven. "Do you prefer to look at the human city?" The question was laced with minor disgust as he stared at the annoying buildings that marred the skyline. Dhiren himself preferred more natural landscapes.
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