entrancelogs | guys can be cat ladies too [open]

Entry tags:

guys can be cat ladies too [open]

Who: Agent Washington and YOU!
Where: Various hallways and one of the tea rooms.
When: January 12th
Rating: PG, I guess?
Summary: While things are still relatively quiet since Christmas, Wash spends time with his new kitten friend.
The Story:

[Things haven't been completely awful around Wonderland since Christmas, all things considered. In fact, Wash has found that it's been kind of quiet, at least compared to the norm. It's probably been the best couple of weeks he's had here, even, though there's been a contributing factor to it. And that contributing factor is the gift he found in his stocking on Christmas day. No, not the doll body that the Duchess left in there for him, that one was pretty unsettling. No, no, the gift he was given is far less creepy, and in fact is following him around the hallways.

On tiny little feet, a ginger kitten trots behind the soldier, who occasionally glances back over his shoulder to make sure she's still there. And she is. She's surprisingly obedient for a cat, but Wash isn't complaining. The little ball of fur is probably the best gift Wonderland could have given him; she reminds him of his cats back home. The ones he had to leave behind when he enlisted in the military. It's been nice to have the company again.

Now, the sight is a little more out of the ordinary than simply a full grown man being followed by a kitten. Hell, that image is kind of cute. But this one? Well, this is a full grown man in high tech power armour being followed around by a kitten. Just because he has the company of a cat again doesn't mean Wash is going to let Wonderland catch him off guard. This time he did leave his helmet back in his room, so that's a step in the right direction, but... he's also got a feathery wand-like cat toy grasped in his hand. Which, really, only manages to make the sight stranger yet.

Finding an open door down one hallway, Wash peeks his head in and finds that it's an empty tea room. It's not exactly what he was looking for, but he decides it works and steps inside, the kitten still following.]

Come on, Apricot. [It's not really necessary, since she's practically on his heels as it is, but he has a habit of talking to cats, okay? Then traipsing over to a chair, Wash sits himself down and then proceeds to brandish the cat toy in front of the kitten, who immediately begins batting at it and chasing it.

And this is where Wash will be for a large portion of the afternoon, alternating between waving a feather wand in front of a cat and letting said cat take a nap. Hell, he might even take a nap himself at one point. Might as well enjoy the quiet time while it's here, right?]

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...Yeah, she was.

[Looking down at Apricot, who's still happily batting away at the toy as he waves it around for her, an almost embarrassed expression settles across Wash's face. Even if, you know. It's not his fault the cat had been in the stocking.]

I don't know for how long, but I don't think this place cares much about ethical treatment of animals.

[If the way it treats everyone it traps here is anything to go off of.]

Shit.

_{[Adam had just been kidding, but... Huh. His expression is vaguely disbelieving as he stares at the little bundle of energy.

Did animals also get extra lives? Did cats get their stereotypical nine? That's a fucking weird thought. It's a cute kitten, as kittens usually are; thinking about a dead cute kitten coming back to life after being smothered in a sock is pretty damn morbid, even for him.]}

Sorry I asked. I'm no vet, but she looks all right to me, though. It got a name?

_{[It's supposed to be a pet and under normal circumstances asking the pet's name is what people do in civilized society, right?]}

Yeah, I think she's fine, I just sort of doubt it was much fun being stuck in a stocking for any length of time.

[Maybe she just napped most of the time and was totally fine and comfortable? That's what he's been going with because she seems totally fine and most of the other possibilities are not ones he'd really like to consider.

So, naturally, Wash leaps at the chance for a change of topic. Or, the sort of change of topic. The shift from less good kitty talk to better, normal kitty talk. It's a good direction to go.]

But yeah, of course she has a name. Apricot. [Because he is a manly man who picks manly names for fluffy creatures, obviously.] I figured, because she's orange... You know?

_{[Apricot. Christ, that's cotton candy levels of adorable coming from some self-alleged space cadet. Not even Adam is immune to the cutesy vibes. That's... kind of funny. His eyebrows go up, a smile lifting one corner of his mouth.]}

Apricot. Cute. It works.

_{[A man adopting a kitten has to be a character-defining trait of some kind.]}

[Hey, it's not alleged, it's the total truth! Who says space marines can't name their kittens adorable things, geez.

Having been expecting some sort of mocking or laughter in response to the name, however, Wash is pleased to hear Adam's approval. He knows for damn sure York would be all over teasing him for such a cutesy name if he were here, so it's nice to see that so far, the other Wonderland inmates are on board with it.]

You think? [His own eyebrows raising, he can't help smiling, too.] I thought it suited her, anyway. But, uh, I've never been the greatest at naming things. I think I get it from my parents.

[There's an edge of amused sarcasm in his voice at what he supposes is a joke that only he gets, and his attention goes back to the orange ball off fur as he swings the toy out for her, prompting an impressive leap for such a small cat.]

_{[His sarcasm is of a more downplayed nature even on a good day, so Wash is spared any out-and-out giggling. Hey, people can do whatever they want to cope with the shit around here so long as it doesn't involve him. Rescuing cats from stockings and playing with it in the halls? That's not such a terrible pastime in the grand scheme of things.]}

Why, what they'd name you?

_{[Not that some future astronaut seems like he needs to worry about the problem of an embarrassing name. He'd mentioned other planets. That takes the cake in terms of bigger priorities, Adam thinks.

At least the cat isn't an ankle-clawer. He'd fought off zombies, he doesn't need to shake off a rambunctious kitten, too.]}

[It's about then that he realizes the joke isn't really very funny. At all. It's just something of an inside joke with himself, one he uses as an excuse for not being creative.

So, when Adam asks, Wash pauses and looks back at him, mouth open partway but no words coming out. Well. Hopefully you weren't expecting anything completely ridiculous, Adam...]

Oh. Uh. Just...David. [A bit sheepish, there's a nervous laugh and a shrug.] It's nothing terrible, it's just kind of lacking in the creative department is all I mean.

[Thus why his cat is named after a fruit. Lack of creativity inherited from his parents. But then, Adam is about as common a name as David, isn't it? Pursing his lips, Wash just. Goes back to watching Apricot and flicking the toy more stiffly now.

No, he's not awkward at all, what are you talking about.]

_{[Adam's ready for anything. Lay it on him, space man.

... Though David is, is really not all that terrible. Perfectly normal for supposedly five hundred years into his future.]}

Oh. I was expecting a celebrity baby name or something, like Bo Jangles.

_{[Shit happens when parents name their children. This does, however, raise an issue they hadn't really gotten around to addressing the last time they'd talked in between all the heavy-duty life story sharing. He shrugs, at ease, the opposite of judgmental in this instance.]}

I guess we never did get around to that introduction thing. By now you probably know I'm Adam.

_{[He wouldn't be at all surprised to find out his name is synonymous with "that antisocial guy who rose from the pits of Hell."]}

Well, I did sort of build it up to sound like it'd be something worse.

[Laughing, this time part-amused by Adam's comment, and part just plain embarrassed, he rolls his shoulders in another shrug.

When the topic is shifted onto introductions though, he shuts his mouth and realizes that oh, no, they didn't ever exchange names properly, did they? He'd just sort of heard Adam's name around somewhere... And Adam must have just taken to thinking of him as the space armor dude, or something equally ridiculous but fitting.]

Right, yeah, I sort of heard that. And while my name is actually David, I uh, I go by Washington. Or Wash.

[It's totally not weird to give out a second name, right? That's a completely normal thing? Biting his tongue, Wash knows it's not, and gets in a flurry to explain.]

It's my codename, the one I got from the program I'm in. I'm just more used to be called that than I am anything else anymore, you know?

_{[He's about to ask before Wash preempts him.]}

A codename?

_{[Intense. He's never met anyone with an actual codename before. Does that he mean he has to take the astronaut thing more seriously?]}

I wouldn't know, but... aren't you supposed to have codenames so you can keep your real name secret?

[Yes, it should be taken more seriously now if it wasn't already. Although it should have been taken seriously to begin with, geez.]

Well-- Yeah.

[The comment gets him flustered and ruffled up because he's always been one to stick to rules, including keeping his real name secret. This is the first time he hasn't, and he's getting a comment about it. Even if he has reasons for letting himself relax a little on typical protocols while he's here, it gets him defensive and wishing he hadn't.]

But it's not like anyone here is from my world, so I don't think it matters as much if some people know my real name. It's not as though they can do much with it.

Why, what else would you do, kill me to shut me up?

_{[The way Adam says it makes it incredibly difficult to tell whether he's joking or serious to know if his life is under threat. Hey, he'd been killed for less. Secret future identities makes almost as much sense as "because your dad is a monster hunter."

He shrugs, nearing blase.]}

I don't know anyone to tell, anyway.

_{[But, you know, he'd appreciate not being gruesomely murdered over something he may or may not do. That's getting old real fast.]}

[For a few long seconds, Wash stares at Adam, trying to figure out which way to take that - as a joke, or completely serious. This kid is kind of hard to read.]

Uhm. No. I mean, it's not like it's that critical to keep it quiet. Plus I told you willingly.

[Which probably counts for something. Maybe. It at least means he's probably the one who'd catch shit for it back home, not Adam. He thinks, anyway. No one's ever made the mistake where it mattered before, so the consequences aren't something he's ever come across.

Either way, he's got no plans on killing Adam, and actually still looks a bit stunned at the very idea, although a hint of amusement creeps back as he continues;]

But if the secret is safe with you, all the better.

_{[The world is perfectly serious about killing Milligans and keeping them in eternal torment, it seems, but Adam is, in fact, joking. He doesn't immediately move to reassure the guy on that note.]}

Good news for me, I guess.

_{[He nods in satisfaction. Seriously, though, good, don't kill him, please.]}

Does the cat get a codename, too, or...?

[Nope, still can't tell if you're joking or not, Adam. So Wash just tries to look positive with an awkward little smile and a nod to reassure him that there will be no killing. He'd much rather protect than kill anyone here, it's cool, no worries.

The mention of a codename for Apricot, however, makes him laugh. A tad awkwardly, but it's amusement nonetheless, and draws his gaze down toward the kitten in question.]

I think that would just be getting carried away with it. Unless you had an idea?

[Tossing a glance back up at Adam, he raises his eyebrow in an amused question.]

_{[He might not know anything about soldiering in space, but Adam can at least provide some competition in a good old-fashioned game of poker. It doesn't hurt that Wash seems slightly less adept at playing a charming psychopath like Zachariah, which is a plus.

And he has a cat. A man making friends with a tiny kitten just doesn't seem the type to maim others...]}

I don't know how you guys figure out your spy rules. _{[But he'll play ball. He thinks about it for a split second.]} Olympia? You could be the state, she could be the capital city. Keep to the naming scheme.

_{[Hey, he still remembers basic geography. That's not bad for someone who's been out of school for... oh, a few centuries.]}

[He's definitely much less adept at things like playing both charming and psychopath--whether all at once or both completely separate. Acting has never been a strong suit for him, anyway.]

Oh. That's actually pretty clever. [Not that he's surprised-- He's sure Adam's a smart guy, he just wasn't expecting a real answer.] And kind of cute.

[You can't deny that. It's adorable. Glancing down at Apricot, he considers the name Olympia for her and figures it kind of fits, in a way.]

Could be a good nickname for her, actually. I mean, I was kidding about actually giving her a codename, but that's really good.

_{[Don't go crazy about it, Wash, it'd just been a joke. He watches with a half-smile as the man actually seems to take his suggestion into consideration.]}

Glad I could help.

_{[You know what's really cute in a strange, strange way? Someone like this guy fussing over his cat.]}

If you pick up another stray, now you'll have a name to go with it.

[Taking things a bit too literally is kind of one of his things, though. Okay, so maybe he won't actually use it as a nickname for her, but the idea is cute. He kind of wishes he'd thought of it when he'd been naming her in the first place.]

Yeah, I guess I will. [And he's glad for it, because chances of him taking in another cat that he finds, should he find one? Very high. If he's not careful, he'll be the resident cat ~~mom~~ dad of Wonderland.]

Thanks. That one'll definitely get used if I do.

[With a faint chuckle, he offers an honestly appreciative smile Adam's way.]

_{[Now there's a thought. For all the spy crap and the armor, Wash isn't doing much to preserve his image of masculinity; Adam hasn't met anyone quite this into cute, cuddly animals.

There's not a lot of real, honest to God normalcy around this place that has to do with the other people in it. For one of the few rare moments since he's arrived here, Adam doesn't feel like he needs to be quite so overcautious with the other person.

It's a strange feeling in and of itself. Not a bad one, just strange.]}

No problem.

_{[He shrugs, then gives Wash a nod.]}

Have fun.

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