*the kitten noticed he was still nervous. the other wasn't back yet... did... did he do something wrong? Snow Ears/Ottis?*
°He stops petting for a moment, needing the hand back for a moment, looking at the kitten directly now. There's an odd look in his eyes.°
°He will be ok, he is a grown man who can take care of himself. And once he gets back, we will set everything up for you, so you will be comfortable and happy while you are here. We will all be ok, ok? He gives you a small reassuring smile. Your powers were a little shocking, but I am trusting you right now. Knowing Jim, he probably bought you toys too. That could be fun, right?°
°He resumes petting gently, like he's both reassuring himself and the kitten that it'll all work out.°
*the kitten went back to him and tried to comfort him*
°He's fine...°
°His hand goes still for a moment, resting motionless on his leg, then shifts over to scritch behind the cat's ears. The phone rests on his other leg, his camera letting out a soft beep to say it's on low battery.°
*the kitten noticed the no reply and sneezed, dropping them to the floor* meow *he jumped off his head and sat next to him* mew mew mew?
°He jumps at the sudden return to Earth, heart in his throat for a moment. There are a few more breaths and then he looks at the kitten°
°Warn someone next time, /please/. He looks back at the screen, a frown creasing his face. He's probably just driving, right? It's illegal and unsafe to text while driving, and he had to drive to get stuff for you, so he's probably just driving? He's fine, he's... probably fine. I'll text him again in a minute..°
*the mattresse started to float. then a coffee table, a chair, some paper, and the couch. the kitten kept purring*
°He doesn't stop filming, but shoots a <Please tell me you're almost home> to Jim, both curious and /very worried/, seems to be the overall mood for this...°
°There isn't a reply.°
*the kitten starts purring in his hair. it's happy*
°Despite his reservations, the kitten really was sweet when it wasn't being a fluffy anomaly, though even then they were still cute, if a little alarming.°
°CJ gets more comfortable on the couch, might as well, and texts back RJ that it's not a big deal that he hadn't immediately found all the cat supplies, and that yes, he would in fact like a pretzel.°
meow *he nuzzles in his hair and starts to sleep* mew mew mew. mew mew mew mew mew. mew? mew mew mew mew mew mew mew. *He is The Void. The. Whole. Void. but, he just wants a nap*
-ok, I, I don't speak cat, so I'm going to draw from that, that you are but you're not going to hurt us, I'm trusting this conclusion for now."
°Is- Is my hair really that comfortable??°
"It is soft Jim."
*there's a moment*
"Wow these past- I don't even know, it's been... wow."
°...yeah.°
*...*
°...I think I'm going to move very slowly and sit down on the couch. Would it.. would you be... Is it ok if-?°
"..Yeah?"
°Do you think you could, maybe, run to the store? We probably need cat supplies...?°
"Oh, yeah, right, will you be ok?"
°I will be ok, I'm an adult Jim.°
"Yeah, ok, I should be back soon, stay safe, call if anything happens, you know where the flashligh-"
°Jim?°
"Yeah?"
°It will be ok, I promise.°
*RJ gets an odd look about him for a moment, looking like that reassurance had hit a little harder than intended, but he blinks a few times and straightens up*
"Ok, yeah, I'll be back soon."
*RJ heads for the door, unlocking each lock before going out*
"See you, bro."
°See you, brother.°
*the kitten floats down and lands on CJ's head* meow
*They are trying very hard not to freak out, how does someone even act around a flying kitten? The tiny bean landing on CJ's head put him out of commission. He's completely frozen in place. RJ is taking very measured breaths*
*he takes another breath*
"Even before that though- take a breath Jim, you need to breath."
°...a somewhat larger, shuddery breath, and then another°
"...Slow and deep Jim, five second count. Ok, Snow Ears- fake sneeze for yes three meows for no, are you with the Void and-slash-or do you mean us any harm?"
*the kitten purrs.* meow meow *he hops on the table and floats- HE'S FLOATING IN THE AIR!?!?!?*
°If there's such a thing as loud blinking, CJ is doing it. He's leaned back out of shock, not for the first time wishing he could just yell and get Jim over here. His eyes don't leave the kitten as he feels around his desk for the hand videocamera. He clicks it on and focuses it on the small cat.°
°Eyes and camera still trained on the cat, he gets up and slowly walks towards RJ.°
*CJ's shaking of RJ's shoulder drags him out of sleep, his startled reaction internal. He gives a bleary look around, confused and a little worried, but CJ points him in the direction of the kitten, the FLOATING kitten. It takes a second, but he pops out of bed, no sleep left in him, and stumbles only a little on the blankets in the process*
°A slow nod. I don't know what's happening, Jim, but it's... Something.°
°A valid reaction I think.°
*the kitten seems to smile at him* :3 *he sees him as a parent.* mew *he purrs and rubbed his head against his arm, showing that he loves him* :3
°...I am trying to interrogate you, why must you be this adorable? He sighs. Stop growing on me, you tiny fluff. There's no threat to it, he just looks a little tired still and like he's decided to adopt them unless they eat him in the next few minutes, the cuteness is strong with this cat.°
°If we hadn't been kidnapped not that long ago, you'd be one of the strangest beings I've met. I guess you still are though? Given your little Vision move out there. l still wonder where you come from though...°
°He moves a hand to gently pet them.°
*RJ rolls over, but isn't awake just yet. He will be soon though, as his dream begins its final act.*
*the footage shows the kitten by the front day. they see him meow before he... did he just WALK THROUGH SOILD 4 INCH OAK!?!?!?* mew *they walked through all the doors!!*
°CJ blinked. Replayed the footage. Blinked again. Replayed and slowed down the footage, paused it when the kitten was halfway through the door, hits Ctrl and PrtScn. Blinks once more, and turns to the kitten. Confusion, shock, and suspicion flashing behind a carefully neutral face. You have some explaining to do, I think.°
*they stood their legs and pawed at him to be picked up, purring at his legs*
°He tries to have a blank face, to resist the temptation to lift the tiny bean up. He breaks at the soft purrs, gently lifting them and setting them on his desk next to his computer. Suppose it's only fair if I'm going to ask you anything for you to be able look me in the eye, make no mistake my faith in you is not in full. Though I suppose you didn't do anything to us in our sleep, so thank you.°
°He switches the tab away from the forum and over to a video editing app. He picks up and connects the hand videocamera to the computer, pulling up the footage from the night before. I'm going to review this. Then, I have some questions. At worst, this is a bad idea. At neutral, this is me just signing to myself. At best, I get some answers. Make sense?°
*the kitten crept out of bed and wiggled towards the computer. it's a curious bean* mew?
°CJ looked away from the screen, which holds what looks like a forum of some sort. He watches Snow Ears for a moment. You know, for my suspicions about you, you are adorable.°
*the kitten looks at both men as they slept. brothers? maybe. friends? yes. they snuggle in the nest and tries to sleep, but... Ottis felt something awake outside*
*It's probably a good thing they got a bit of sleep when they could, it had been almost four, and despite how much caffeine was in the both of them, they'd fallen asleep pretty quick. They slept, unaware of the world for a few hours before waking.*
°CJ was first, oddly enough, he was usually the one who slept in. He looks over at his brother and Snow Ears, pretty sure both are asleep, before slipping off of the couch and creeping over to his computer. He opens it up to a lock screen of a Mothman doodle RJ had done once on a birthday card, and logs in.°
°He should probably go back to sleep, or at least eat, but he's curious about something and has to check it first.°
*the kitten felt confused, but is too tired to question* ..meow.. *they didn't care as long as they were warm*
°CJ nods, slipping over to an armchair and taking a throw blanket off of it. He arranges it so it looks like a little blanket nest on one side of the bed, warm and cozy looking. Hope you like it in here, this should be warm enough°
"Yeah, Jim's a bird, he's good at this."
°Caw caw, Jim. Anyway, bedtime you two°
*RJ gently scoops up the kitten and crosses the distance between the kitchen and living room, placing the kitten in the middle of the nest, before flopping more gently than he would have overwise onto the other side*
"I'm not sleeping, just resting a little so I can stay up longer."
°I am also totally going to lay down and not fall asleep.°
"Hilarious."
°I am peak comedy.°
*the sigh is tired, but fond*
"G'Night, Jim. Sweet dreams Snow Ears."
"Goodnight Jim, Snow Ears, both of you- sleep well."
*CJ snuggles down into the couch, a throw blanket over him too, RJ tugged his own blanket up, sighing softly.*
*Ottis- well, Snow Ears, ate happily. when he was done, he purred happily at their feet* meow meow! meow meow! *He thanks them, yawning*
"Aw, glad you liked it so much! Looks like it's time for you to sleep though"
°Time for everyone to sleep, technically.°
"Yeah, I can stay up while you-"
°Jim.°
"Hm?"
°All the doors are locked. I checked, double checked, triple checked. I can check the windows again, but we were both there when we were locking them. The matress is already on the floor, I'll be on the couch.°
"Hey wait, why do you have to go on the couch?"
°Because I want to, let me feel taller. We can offer you some pillows and or a little blanket nest Snow Ears?°
*Øțťī§* meow *he did like Snow Ears.* mew!
°CJ didn't miss the glitch in his camera, nor the odd distorted voice, but he doesn't comment. His one visible eye narrows slightly, however.°
"I think they like your name better, Jim."
*he could have sworn he heard something, but he's blaming it on how late it was*
*the kitten looked him dead in the eye, feeling his soul moving inside.* mew *they hopped. this kitten is a different kitten*
*the intensity in their eyes was somewhat unnerving, not to mention it had actually heard what he said and acted on it. He glanced behind him through the 'window' (it was really just a rectangular hole that let him see the front door)*
"Hey Jim? Could you come here?"
°CJ slipped into the kitchen, looking inquisitive. Yeah?°
"...I think this cat actually figured out door knobs."
°I mean yeah, they did get in. What do you mean?°
"...I asked them if they wanted raw or cooked, said hop for cooked and sneeze for raw. Bean looked dead at me and hopped."
°...Guess they want cooked?°
"Well yeah I got /that/ part I dunno, I think I've been up for to long..? Everything feels off now."
°He pauses for a moment, then pulls out a pocket recorder and trains the view onto the kitten. Maybe, it is late after all... Might as well give the little one some meat for now.°
*a nod*
"Yeah- here. Hope it's good Bean."
*he puts the plate in front of the kitten. There's a medium sized burger patty on it now.*
°Is their name 'Bean' now?°
"I mean, unless you can think of something better?"
°Not really, are they ok with the name? If not I'm calling them Snow Ear°
"...Isn't that a fungus you liked in middle school or something?"
°...Not what I meant.°
*the kitten is bouncing at their feet* mew! *it squeaks happily* meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow *they're excited*
*Caffeine won't kill him, RJ decides, this kitten was going to be the adorable death of him*
"Alright alright you tiny bean, lemme grab you a plate-"
*he pulls out what looks like a plastic saucer and moves to rinse his hands briefly before moving into the fridge. He's about to pull some meat out before a question pops into his head*
"Uh, raw or cooked tiny bean? Sneeze for raw and a small hop for cooked?"
*a little silly to ask a cat- but it had figured out doornobs, apparently.*
*at the mention of food, the kitten wiggled into the room* meow meow meow meow! meow meow meow meow! *he seems happy about food... and how did the cat get in?* meow! :3
"Oh no you're baby- don't worry yeah we got lots! I'm gonna go into the kitchen, Jim could you get the door real quick?"
*he makes a friendly "c'mon" gesture and starts slowly walking diagonally to the kitchen. Still moving but able to see both his brother and the kitten*
°...They've figured out doornobs, Jim. It's too late, the feline uprising is upon us. He goes to close the door anyway, smiling a little when he hears RJ snort behind him. He locks it, all the way. He could have sworn RJ had done the same- but maybe the night was getting to them both.°
*a balck kitten with white ears pops their head between a door* mew? *they're lost*
*RJ jumps a little before freezing, mostly because to him it looked like the door had opened by itself and his nerves were a little strung out still from a combination of recent events and coffee, but at the sight of the kitten his jaw goes slack for a moment. There's a kitten. In his house. He didn't lock the door.*
"H-hi there, where did you come from?"
°CJ at this point took notice, and stared wide eyed at the tiny black fluff of an animal in the doorway. He sets down his mug just to express how were they so tiny, how did they get here, who's lost baby is this???°
"No idea, but I should get the door soon- hey little guy, or gal, or pal, you like burger meat?"