Welcome to Gaia! ::

The library was often a quiet sanctuary for Jove, a place where he could relax and satisfy his desire for peace and quiet. When he didn't have any homework, he would pick a book off the shelf at random and pour through it all afternoon. Everything from architecture to medicine, and literature. He didn't understand half of it, but it was still entertaining to read.

So when he came trotting into the depths of the library, it was with a contented expression and a large book on magical creatures clutched in his arms. It had to have weighed at least three times his own mass, rivalling the oldest magical encyclopedias stored in the very back rooms. It would take him all week to get through this one, and he might have stayed there the whole time if not for summer classes and lessons.

He happily sat down in one of the chairs and opened the book to the table of contents. He didn't even notice the spooky presence lingering amongst the books.

Something was not right... Jove could feel it once he sat down and opened the book in front of him. The creeping sensation he was quickly growing to recognize as the presence of someone in particular. Someone who seemed to be both a friend and antagonist in equal measure.

His fluffy ears pressed down against the back of his head, and he turned to scan the area, looking for the black cat ghost. He hadn't expected Cat to be right behind him by that point though! With an embarrassing flail he pulled back, almost falling out of his chair.

And it appeared today was an antagonistic day. Jove's ears flattened back and a 'not impressed' look spread across his freckled face. Cat was just all together too happy about the situation, and it bothered the little pup.

He managed to save at least a little dignity when the other ghost stepped back, interpreting it as a tactical retreat based on safety considerations, rather than what it was in truth. Being out of arm's range for the barrage of size-related jabs seemed like a wise decision for someone who might have been ever so slightly afraid of the pup.

With no way of physically retaliating, and no verbal retort coming to mind, he could only scowl and turn back to his book. And try to ignore the creepy crawly feeling that ran up his spine. What in Jack's name was it about that cat boil that was so bizarre?

When he felt the other ghost's presence creeping up behind him, a visible shiver ran from his tail to his ears. That was too close! His ears flattened. Grabbing his book, he turned around and used it to gently push the other boil back, and attempt to widen the distance between them. His flat look was clearly unimpressed, as though saying "I thought you were done talking."

Jove suspected it was pointless to hope Cat would stop talking, or that he would keep that space when he moved the book. The boil would probably go ahead and follow him even if he got up and left the library! Somehow he had to put up with it...

He peered into the dark shadows that made up the other boil, wondering if he could catch a glimpse of whatever it was that bothered him so much. They said eyes were like a window to the soul... But in Cat's case, the window had to be elsewhere. The pup was sure Cat would not make his secret so easy to discover.

Cat was teasing him.

Cat was teasing him mercilessly, and they were both aware of it. Jove didn't like it one bit.

The scowl that came to the pup's face was usually the sort accompanied by a scathing retort. Like "Yeah, you spilled some ugly on your face," or "Stop making gnomes vomit." But the pup was silent as ever. It was hard to tell if his lack of speech was being gentlemanly in this case, or just his usual state of being. After a second or two he turned away and thumped his book back down at the desk, once he felt his disapproval had been sufficiently expressed.

Although he often held his curled tail up these days, a side-effect from his slowly increasing levels of confidence, under Cat's grinning gaze it instead curled down the side of one leg and up into his lap. His fluffy ears were folded back quite unhappily, scrawny shoulders hunched protectively. And then out of the corner of his eye, he glanced back to make sure Cat was still where he seemed to be. He clearly couldn't read while the shadowy boil was hovering over one shoulder.

Although Cat managed to pull a startled look from the pup once again, there were no words forthcoming. Jove recovered as quickly as possible and set to scowling right away. He was not a little boil, and he would make all the cranky faces he wanted to! Because it was completely warranted!

He pulled the book off the table and into his lap, tilting the giant thing so he could get as far away from Cat as possible without giving any ground, and still read at the same time. It was a wonder he wasn't completely squished in half by the weight of the thing. But... he still couldn't read with that wide-eyed grin being directed at him.

With an exasperated look, Jove glanced up from the book as though trying to say "All those things are stupid."

Really, did Cat really get that much of a rise out of teasing him like this? Jove was relieved the other boil didn't seem interested in the traditional bullying, shoving him into lockers and whatnot, and the pup even doubted one so similar to himself in stature could manage it... But there was still that creepy feeling to account for. It was like Cat was there, but not there, and Jove had to fight off the feeling that the other boil could simply stretch out that invisible presence and completely surround him. Was this really teasing, or was it playing with a mouse before they eat it?