faderift | ssssssomeBODY ONCE TOLD ME

WHO: Prompto, a cat, jerk natives and YOU
WHAT: Monthly shenanigans for the month
WHEN: Throughout the month of Harvestmere
WHERE: Throughout Kirkwall
NOTES: Minor violence

A) Stalker in the Gallows

Errands in the Gallows had started off solo, but at some point in the afternoon, Prompto realizes he isn't alone.

A black cat with white paws stalks him as he went out and about his business, running reports to and fro. And everywhere he goes, the cat trots behind him. At first, Prompto figures the cat would get bored and run back home, but after about an hour of this going on, he realizes that didn't seem to be the case.

Finally he stops to face the feline, brow raised as it comes to a stop, tail swaying as it looks up at him. "You lost there, buddy?"

It meows.

He bends down and holds out his hand, letting the cat walk up and take a tentative sniff before it rubs its face against his hand. Aww, cute kitty. Prompto scratches its ears, smiling as it purrs. All the while, though, he looks around, wondering whose cat this was. "Anyone missing a cat? Think this one got lost." Seems friendly enough, at least, which makes him think it was a house cat and not feral.

He didn't know it yet, but he's now a pet owner. The cat chose, and it's chosen him.

B) Tension in Lowtown

So, glares and mutters as people turn away aren't uncommon, but these days, it seems to have gotten worse. What used to be just poorly concealed looks of suspicion have turned to outright disdain, and he's been refused service more than once. It stings, but Prompto chalks it up to just uneasiness. Maybe something went down that he's not aware of.

Normally the natives aren't violent, just cross. But things turn sour one night when Prompto tries to enter a tavern for a quick drink and bite to eat. Before he can even enter, some drunk patrons loitering outside spot him. One grabs him by the shoulder and shoves him back. "They don't serve your kind here. And you ain't wanted anyway."

"Just a guy who wants a drink. Don't know what you-"

The man surges forward and shoves him again, this time hard enough to send him to the ground. "I know what you are, you festerin' demon scum! Take another step and I'll knock your bloody ass back to the Fade where you crawled out of!"

Prompto glares at him, looking torn between just walking away and standing his ground. Help him decide?

C) Drinks in a Non-Shitty Tavern

Eventually he finds a tavern that's not full of shit people. Or maybe they just don't know he's with the Inquisition. Whatever the reason, Prompto finally manages to have a drink in peace. He leans his head in his hand, swirling his drink round in the glass before taking another sip. He's taken a shine to the ale served around Kirkwall. Or maybe his taste buds have gone so dead he doesn't mind anymore. It could really be either or.

He's sitting alone, and being an extrovert, Prompto is always in want of company. If he knows you and spots you, he'll grin and wave you over, lifting his drink in invitation.

D) Wildcard

Hit me with your own prompt(o)!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Well, I guess I could try... if it lets me." Prompto gingerly reaches out to lift the cat's leg. "Hey buddy, just need to lift your leg a sec."

But as he tries, the cat hisses and jerks away, yowling unappreciatively as it stares up at Prompto. How dare you, sir.

"...oh boy."

"Oh, it didn't like that," Ellana points out helpfully. "If you didn't have so much fur in the way," she adds directly to the cat, "I could see." Her head is nearly pressed to the stone blocks that make up the Gallows walkways, but she can't see anything one way or the other.

"Mystery cat," she muses before lifting her head again.

So very helpful, she is.

"Well, I like a good mystery as much as the next person, but this isn't a good situation for it." He taps a finger against his lips. "Well, if I lift it up - the whole cat - do you think you can take a look and figure out what it is? Assuming the cat doesn't scratch my face off..."

"I will if you want to go that way, but if it doesn't like you lifting its leg, it's really not going to like you lifting up its whole body. Are you sure you want to?" Ellana doesn't want to bear witness to a mauling, even by cat standards.

No, he really doesn't, but he's not sure what else to do. He grimaces at the thought. "I mean, I don't know what else to do. Gotta figure it out at some point. Don't want to keep calling it, well, it forever."

"All right, if you're sure then I'll take a look." She moves into a good position so she doesn't waste any time looking when the cat is lifted up. The faster they can do this, the better.

"I'm ready whenever you are."

Gods and the Maker help them both.

Prompto nods, carefully moving his hands into position. The cat starts to look suspicious. Oh boy. They need to act now. "Right. On three. One... two..." Hands slide closer. There might be an actual bead of sweat running down Prompto's face at this moment. "Three!"

Aaaand he lifts the cat up in a swoop.

There are two precious seconds for looking before the cat gets over his shock and screeches, swiping at Prompto's nose. "Ow!" And he promptly drops the cat, who lands with a fair amount of grace and no shortage of annoyance.

Let's add the Creators for good measure too.

But Ellana is ready for this! She has her eyes zeroed in on the cat so when Prompto exposes its belly, Ellana sees more that just fur. She sees what defines the animal as male, but before she can relay this to Prompto, he lets out the shout and the cat goes back down.

"Oh, no, did he get you?" she asks, sitting up and reaching a hand for Prompto's shoulder.

The more the merrier.

"Yeah, a little. Just stings." Prompto sucks on the wound, trying to ease the sting. The cat carries on like nothing happened, lifting up his leg and giving himself a tongue bath. "But it's a guy, you said? Thanks for checking."

"Um, yeah." She smiles weakly, wishing he hadn't been hurt by the cat, but knowing the cat was probably scared and merely defending himself.

"Now you can ask around and see if anybody's missing a male cat." Taking the end of her braid in her hands, she plays with it nervously. "Do you need a healer? I'm not any good at healing, I'm afraid."

"Oh, don't worry. I'll be all right. Didn't break the skin much, and let's face it, I kind of brought it on myself." It's not like he didn't know what he was getting himself into. At least he got scratched and not her. "You've helped plenty. Thanks again... oh, geez, I don't think I ever got your name." Prompto held out his non-scratched hand to her. "I'm Prompto."

"Ellana," she replies, giving his hand a good shake. She's been practicing strengthening her hands and wrists lately, so her grip is plenty firm for a little elf.

"And you're welcome. If nothing else, at least you have a cat who doesn't mind following you around." She kind of wishes she had a pet, but that would also tie her down too much. Ellana would rather have the freedom to go wherever she wanted whenever she wanted without having to find a pet sitter or take the pet with her and worry about getting them into certain areas. She can turn into a bird, so few places are off limits to her.

ssssssomeBODY ONCE TOLD ME

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject