( closed to @luck ) your turn to die: sou hiyori

[killed]

With varying vanities, from every part, they shift the moving toyshop of their heart.

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[killed]

[ It makes it more difficult for him than if he were able to ease up a tad. It's unfortunate that his own had decided to introduce a new cat in such a way, really, as doing so is often russian roulette as to whether or not they'll be able to adapt. It's a fortunate combination of factors that allows for this amicable meeting, including Hiyori's breed and personality but extending past that. He grows irritated about other cats drawing too near to his property to the point of slapping against the glass, but this one he's willing to share his space with. The air about him is different. It makes him less threatening.

So he shakes his head, holding his hands up in front of him with his fingers splayed before dropping them back down. ]

Please, there's no reason to worry so much, Komaeda-san. I've invited you in, have I not? That means that I've decided you may stay.

[ He's a bit ill-mannered, yes, and he's is still a little sore about their initial moments. He's decided to forgive that small misunderstanding so long as it's not repeated. Hiyori has decided that he may stay and has laid a claim on him in the same way he might a new favorite toy. He smells odd, but for the moment he's content with the fact that they've been able to exchange scents.

He's not sure how to say that he's a fair bit more civilized than some alley cat without causing offense, so he opts for something different, ]

You can leave them. We have servants, so they'll take care of it for you... Hm, are you particularly sensitive to scents? I believe that a mix of lavender, rose, and neroli can be quite soothing.

[ Putting essential oils in the bath is out of the question, as it sticks to fur and skin and can be licked off later, but there's an oil diffuser on one of the shelves. It's a nice combination for stressed out cats, such things are often used to help new cats adjust to each other. He undoes the button of his pants as he asks, smile plastered on his face. ]

[killed]

[ There's no more a need to conserve water than anything else, so the action doesn't bother him. It benefits Hiyori, who won't be forced to return to a cooling bath now. He's glad to hear it, as there are those with allergies who can be sensitive to scents, and the tension from the other is catching. Humans often use scents to relax after a long day and in stressful times, so why shouldn't they? If Hiyori has adopted so many human habits, it's likely because he's been treated like one in so many ways.

His tail perks back up as he places his hands on the edge of the tub and pushes himself back and off of the step, the soles hitting the floor first before he pushes off and presses back on his heels into a proper standing position. ]

Please. I'll join you once I've finished.

[ He fixes the button of his pants back into place. He can always undo it again if what he needs is in here, but he would rather not leave the room without at least this much. It's one thing to agree to it around another cat or his owners, but it's another to bump into the humans who work and visit in such a state. He walks over to one of the sinks first, checking in drawers and the cabinets beneath. He takes out one bottle, but the rest must be missing, because he disappears out the door soon after. ]

[killed]

[ The drawers contain various toiletries and grooming supplies for both humans and cats, neatly separated and organized. There's toothpaste along with a few spare toothbrushes, face wash and bars of soap, massage bars and lotions, various grooming supplies, and a few bottles of perfume and cologne. There's flea medicine despite him being an indoor cat, shampoo and conditioner designed specifically for cats, along with a couple grooming kids - complete with brushes, both manual and electric trimmers, and shampoo and conditioner. There's even a pair of blow dryers, one for the humans and one made specifically for the cats.

There's plenty of hand towels, and various goodies for the tub as well, including bubble baths, bath bombs, and various essential oils (and Komaeda will be lucky enough to find the lavender hidden among the bottles, having apparently been misplaced among the other bath supplies.) There's even a few candles and other accessories for ambience. It's all quite luxurious, as one would expect of such a rich household - one wants for nothing here, and he'll have no trouble caring for himself.

It doesn't take long to find what he's looking for, as he knows where everything is, and so the longest part of his trip is spent walking to the closet and then back. He considers his situation as he does so. There is, he thinks, probably something wrong with him to behave so differently than another cat. He gets upset enough to pound at the glass when another cat comes too close, he kneads and headbunts and rolls around in catnip, but perhaps he doesn't have the same social sense. He might change that, but he's too old to be learning from a cat who must be at handful of years younger.

He wonders why he was brought here. It was probably just kindness, as he's in bad shape, but maybe he really was brought for Hiyori. He likes this idea better, since it means that he can keep all of his attention. He's not mated, so there should be no problem with it. It's even possible that they've decided that mixed breed kittens would be better than none at all, but that last one seems unlikely when they know nothing about his history to say if he'd be amenable. He doesn't mind that idea either, but it's crude enough that he decides to leave it in the hallway, shutting the door on it when he renters the bathroom.

He is in an unusually good mood though, despite everything. ]

Ah, Komaeda-san, I was able to find them. It should only take a moment to add them, and they warm up fairly quickly.

[killed]

Oh dear...

[ It's the overflowing water that catches his eye first. The room is built to handle water overflow. The floor tiles won't be damaged by it, and there's an indiscreet drain in the center of the room that will catch any overflow. He supposes he'll ask someone to mop it up once they're done, but there's no need for that now. He uses his foot to push a pool of water toward the drain as he makes his way over to the tub and turns the faucet off, flicking the device for the drain and letting some of the water leak out until he's satisfied with the level of it.

It's humid in the room from all the steam. It sticks to his clothes and skin, but he can't pull his clothes off and crawl into the bath just yet. ]

No, no, it's no trouble at all. If she brought you in, then of course she'll accommodate you as her guest.

[ He sweeps some of the water off of the stairs, guiding that too toward the center of the room before he walks over, lifting up the bottle of lavender. There's still a small amount left, at least enough for a handful of uses. ]

Oh, we had some... Thank you, I must have overlooked it. I'd hate to open a new one needlessly... Here, why don't you get in first? I'm sure you're eager to be able to wash off. I'll only be a minute.

[ He lifts his hand toward the tub without commenting on the overflow. He's not entirely pleased with this outcome, but it isn't as though scolding him will change what had happened. His owners don't scold him often. They're patient with him as a way to teach him patience, and they avoid yelling at him or scolding him when he's already nervous, and thus far those lessons have worked well in keeping him from being snippy with others. ]

[killed]

[ He's the dirtiest creature that Hiyori has ever seen. He wonders if he shouldn't have made him rinse off before even getting into the bath for as disgusting as it'll be the second he steps into it, but there's no need to be so crass about someone who just came off the streets. It doesn't take him long to prepare his cocktail, just a few drops of each dropped into the infuser on the counter and the on button hit. He washes his hands after to remove and residual oil. The first hints of lavender and rose oil seep into the room, and it'll fill it before too long. ]

Hm? Oh, animal rights activists? Yes, some of them can be rather extreme... You have to at least have a plan in those situations...

[ He turns the faucet to stop the flow off water, shaking his hands before drying them out of habit. It sounds like something PETA would do. Can it really be said that there's care and passion if a person is just acting on whims and deciding what's best? They're no different than the so-called captors that they're so upset with. It reminds him of how fortunate he is to be here, and how much better it is for him to be an indoor cat.

He walks over to the steps before undoing his button once more, along with the zipper and slipping out of both his pants and boxers, separating them and folding them over once before dropping them atop his shirt. He's careful in stepping up and into the bath, sinking down with his kneels close to his chest, back against the wall. He sinks all the way down to his chin with a sigh, reviewing the former statement in his head once more. Is that the plan? He doesn't think so.

Only for a day, hm... He flicks the water with the back of his fingers, making a little splash. ]

No, I don't believe that's it. In truth, I'm not certain why she brought you in, or what she has planned. Neither of them have ever brought another cat in, much less a stray that they found on the streets.

[ That is perhaps a bit blunt, but those living a life of luxury aren't known for doing so, and particularly not those who spend exorbitant amounts of money to obtain rare breeds.. Though now that he's looking at him again, he supposes Komaeda's breed likely isn't a common one either. He has the features of a maine coon, cats that can grow up to be quite pretty. ]

She has picked up a few strays, but she's always taken them in... [ He cants his head. ] You seem rather eager to leave.

[killed]

I did. Humans say such strange things... What a terrible incident, but I'm happy that you seem to have made it out in one piece.

[ He sinks down a little more, his knees lowering as his legs stretch out to accommodate the shift in position. It makes him sick to look at the water, and he tilts his head back as the water reaches up to his chin. That, too, feels far away. He's always been well cared for. He's not a human, but in many regards he's treated like one. He isn't allowed to go outside, but he's given everything he needs to be content with that fact. He wonders if the cat before him has ever smiled in earnest, or if he could when life is full of such unpleasant things.

He shouldn't let himself get distracted. He shakes his head and lifts himself back up, reaching over to grab at a pair of bottles before offering both to the cat before hi. He's rather small for his breed. It's possible that he's still growing, or otherwise that he was the runt of the little. Hiyori is a little taller than most of his kin, so it's not impossible. ]

... Here. These are meant to help with fleas and ticks, so you'll be able to get rid of the first set of them. We have some medication that you can apply after to rid you of the rest, and it'll protect you from any others. You might need a couple treatments due to how infested you are, but just this much should help a great deal.

[ He'll need some too. If the shampoo is conditioner are taken, he'll follow it up with a corresponding body wash. If Komaeda cares to look, he'll see that it's a mild formula for those with sensitive skin. He assumes that the boy before him wouldn't do well with anything heavily scented. In either case, he'll watch him thoughtfully, rolling through options in his mind. It would be best if he at least stayed long enough to be cared for, but if not he supposes that he could send him along with some. Still, the idea doesn't settle well with him. It makes his stomach churn and his heart sink, and there's the sudden need to say something to keep him here... How strange. He's never been like this with guests before.

He continues on without waiting for the other to process his explanation, ]

Won't you at least consider staying until you've been treated? I, ah, can't quite understand, but it should do no harm to stay in one place for a few days... I'd rather not send you out bitten up by bugs and scraped up as you are.

[killed]

No, no, it's no trouble... You're welcome to stay as long as you'd like, Komaeda-san.

[ In his case, that would mean until he's free of his infestation. The water is truly disgusting by now. It's full of dead insects and dirt and God only knows what else, and that's more than enough reason to keep him for a time. It does ease his heart, and the thought of spending more time with him is enough to cause butterflies to flutter in his stomach. It's just for a short time, but he finds himself caring less about the state of their bath as he sets a bottle to the side.

He brings his heels in, shifting onto his knees before facing the edge of the tub that faces the stairs. He places his hands on it, looking up and to the side. They have a towel holder, but he'd been distracted enough that one set had been left on the floor. His ears lay back as reaches over for that, half pulling himself onto the ledge as he claws at it before finding purchase. There's a wave as he settles back in with it, content with having succeeded.

It's a surprise that he's willing to expose his back to Hiyori given his nervousness, but perhaps he has started to settle a touch. There's a nice scent wafting through the room, and perhaps that's what's helping to improve his mood as well. ]

I'd be happy to... Here, turn around -

[ He dips his hand into the water, watching as the washcloth flutters up before settling as it collects the water. He lifts it back up, wringing the water off before dripping a liberal amount of soap onto it. ]

- I've never had another cat in the house, so it's a bit like being visited by a distant cousin for me.

[killed]

[ Would he go back? The question requires more time to answer than it should, but he thinks on it as he wipes the other's back down. He rinses off the towel and adding more soap as the grime stains it as he continues to scrub his back, taking care not to be to apply too much pressure on his injuries. This mansion is a place of respite for him, one in which he can rest and tend to himself before he returns to the world outside to replace all the injuries and issues that he'd just healed.

The corners of his lips twitch up into a smile as the tail swishes against him. It looks terrible, and it's not quite pleasant, but it's nothing that can't be washed up and the damage is nothing that such care can't fix. They have access to better resources than most, so the process will be far less painstaking than it might be were he to find himself in the hands of any other.

Eventually, as he's working his way down from his upper back to the small of his back, he answers, ]

... I would be disappointed if they hadn't found me by then.

[ Hiyori is fortunate in every way, but in that regard he doesn't think himself to be special. There are owners who don't care, but even those in poverty will painstakingly look for pets that they have lost, plastering up missing powers and offering monetary rewards that they simply don't have. Nor is it especially difficult in this day in age where animals are advertised and there are conscious efforts to reunite those lost with their owners.

Maybe he had tried and failed, or maybe something had happened where he had to stop. It wouldn't change the hurt he would feel if he were left to find them instead. It's fortunate that he has such things to focus on; they chase away any odd thoughts of wrapping his arms around the other and licking and nibbling on his ear, or letting his hands wander lower and lower at a time when such things would be more inappropriate than ever, instead focusing his thoughts on something less crude. His ears lay back, his tail curling around his body. ]

I suppose if I had no where else to go then I would, but... Hm, I'm not certain what I would do if I found somewhere else.

[ He hesitates with those last words, afraid they might come off as baiting. But it's the only honest answer that he can give. If he went back, he's not sure he would be able to look at them the same... But the cat in front of him might be different. He seems lonely, but resigned to that as much as anything else in his situation. ]

If it's what you want, we can certainly assist you in returning to your owner. It should be easy enough to find them.

[killed]

That sounds rather lonely.

[ It's sad to hear. His owners have protected him from all harm. Those that come into their home are carefully curated to ensure they'll do none, while he's kept from the outside where such fates await. He takes his time in finishing up with the remainder of his back, touching upon a few parts of his side that are so easily overlooked. He wonders if he would be amenable to redrawing the bath after he's done. It's filthy enough that they're just going to get dirty all over. Still, he looks far better than he had, and the shivers and lack of growls or hisses tells him that he's not being so rough as to cause offense.

He'll have to get him some water after this, and some wet food. He would do well to have a good meal and to hydrate, and then perhaps he can invite him to the sunroom to warm up his cool body. His owners are generous hosts, and so he must be as well... But it's a bit more than that. Hiyori wonders if he does well, if the other might not find himself less hesitant to stay in his presence.

How strange, how strange... Maybe that really is why she brought him in, aside from her own kind heart, as he's heard that cats do better in pairs. ]

Ah... You are free to stay here if you would like... It's only myself and my owners, as they never had children, and we want for nothing. It would be no trouble to house another. I believe we would all come to be rather fond of you, and, ah... I truly am not normally so inconsiderate...

[ Those words are cautious and careful, the tone of a person who wishes to ensure that they don't come off too strong in their proposal. He flinches as the water splatters across his face. Hiyori rinses off the washcloth once more, squeezing fresh soap onto it before leaning over to offer it to him, careful not to press against his back for fear of agitating his injuries. ]

I was mistaken... This may be a touch bold, but you are a beautiful cat, and you seem to be charming in your own right, and I should think that anyone should be happy to have you in your home.

[killed]

[ The question makes his cheeks tinge pink. He's never been around anyone to court them, and he's certain that to say so would be far too much, but it's not quite inaccurate. He wouldn't mind running the cloth over the rest of Komaeda himself, letting his hands feel the thin limbs beneath it. He's cute, far cuter than the other disgusting strays running around, and he does regret greeting him with such a rude insult now. ]

I'm only being honest. I feel as though I've mined a precious gemstone and begun to brush the dirt off.

[ It's such a flowery way of speaking that it might be seem excessive to others, but it's the only way he knows how to communicate. They're honest words, filled with affection and meant to reassure the person before him. If only it didn't leave the water so disgusting, the bugs floating about it in make his skin crawl to see. He'll need to wash off all over again, as his skin is dirty and he's certain he can feel things caught in the lose hair that's touched the water.

He lifts his hands up and shakes him off, wanting as little of him soaking in it as possible. The open air is chilly, but he resists the urge to place them back in and instead leans over so he can fold them on the edge. He could dismiss those others of hand, but he suspects that if he does so he'll only dig his heels in; it's clear that he's been through quite a bit of unfortunate events. ]

I see... You've had no luck in staying in a single place, hm? I won't force you to, but the option is there... Ah, would you like to refresh the water once you're done scrubbing off? It might be a bit more enjoyable without all the grime floating about...

[ Though perhaps he'd rather not be in it for that long... Hm. He'll have to make sure that he rinses off in the shower at least. ]

[killed]

[ He nods and reaches over to press the switch to allow the murky water to begin to drain. He takes a rinse cup and flicks the faucet on to fill it up with water before setting it to the side. The amount of dead bugs floating about is quite the sight, and Hiyori can only imagine how long he must have been on his own to accumulate them. With that in mind, he squeezes out a nice amount of shampoo into his palm, rubbing his hands together before scrubbing his hair as he waits for the water to drain. He closes one eye as it foams up in his hair and on his ear, sliding down on one side. He lathers his tail next. ]

Yes, I'm a bit old to be introducing another cat to. I suppose it should have been done incrementally, but my breed is known for being amicable and enjoying the company of others.

[ I think I gave the wrong breed before but it's Siberian cats who are known for how needy and noisy they are... Siberians' are known for their amicable personality and how well they do with humans and other animals alike, even going so far as to greet guests; they're a vocal breed who actively seeks the attention of others, and Hiyori has an exceptional temperament. It's easy enough to acclimate to a cat that is subservient to him. ]

But I must admit, you do have a different air about you than most strays do... Ah, you're less uncouth than I thought one might be.

[ That's not quite what he' referring to, but it is one more point in his favor. His ears flick as the sound of the water going down the drain hits him, and once it's started to reach the end he'll dump the water over him before filling it back up and repeating the process a couple times. It has the added effect of washing away any dirt and bugs still clinging to the floor, and what isn't caught by hat is by the way he splashes it across the tub floor. He leaves the water running now, testing the temperature to ensure it's warm before taking his hand back. ]

Is this warm enough for you?

[killed]

You're welcome.

[ Hiyori is a fair bit more dainty about stepping back into the bath water. It's much nicer, he thinks, clear with bits of steam wafting off of it. He draws his kneels partway up as he sinks down, tail quivering beneath the water as the other goes on and his ears standing up. He would have thought it would have been stranger to take a cat with another bath than it is, but perhaps that's because his bath partner is so casual about it... No, he finds that it's nice to have someone to converse with like this. ]

Of course it is more personal, but Kocchan is quite cute, is it not? Of course, I wouldn't be so rude as to force a nickname upon you.

[ He does have some semblance of manners! He places his hands on his knees, leaning forward. He can throw them around easily, but nicknames are typically reserved for those who share a special relationship rather than strangers. There are those who throw such norms out the window, but they tend to be the ill-mannered and socially stunted types, or girls who still have a bit of a childish side of them... If they were family, he might call him by their first name, but that's a bridge too far. ]

Are you worried of what others will think?