takeroot | felldenbox

[Double hello, Shadow... Constantin reaches up, then, for a friendly pet before he drops his hand back to his lap.]

How would that work? [Hmm, well anyway,] He's Felix's cat, technically, but I would say he likes me better.

[Constantin gives him more snacks, that is.]

Felix's cat, but living here with you. Is Felix coming as well?

[ These are the hard hitting questions of the day. Shadow's tail beats in a strange pattern against the upholstery, almost like maybe it has more than one of them at times. ]

[Weird cat, weird cat, very cute--]

I haven't asked! [Which answers very little, but it's also true, so. Give him time.] He goes hunting so often, it only makes sense to leave the cat with me. We'll see about the rest.

You're trying to win over a monster hunter through his cat?

[ Listen, it's his cat that can turn into a literal bridge if you need help with that project. ]

I happen to love that cat very much.

[Ha ha, no, he's not going to be like that. Sure, it's personal life time, why not.]

You still don't think I'm charming! Are you an expert already?

I was only trying to understand your cat's custodial arrangements.

[ He is perfectly innocent, he made no such aspersions. ]

For once, try to contain your irrepressible need to mock me.

[Which is to say,] We share the cat.

[ Irrepressible need, that's an exaggeration. Probably. ]

Charming.

[ He did not contain is his irrepressible need, but he also seems to recall asking Constantin to contain his irrepressible overeagerness once and not seeing that done either. ]

When I think hunter I imagine someone who would reliably give scraps to a barn cat, not necessarily take one in.

[ Probably knowing that they wouldn't be around much. ]

A street cat and a pampered pet are very different cats, to be fair.

[He leans his elbow on the arm of the chair and props his chin in his hand. Hmm.]

I'm not sure he's your type of person. Felix. One might describe him as... brusque.

[Definitely not going to quote poetry back and forth.]

The brusque aren't so difficult, just be brusque with them.

[ To be slightly more precise, it's not the type of person V would seek out for a close relationship. ]

I didn't know that brusque was your type of person, more to the point.

Well, you didn't ask!

[He is very charming and very full of surprises, obviously. Perhaps he's simply drawn to people as different from himself as it is possible to be; brusque, and so on. If one is speaking of a type.]

What did you think my type of person was? Now I must know.

Is that something people ask?

[ V's not sure when that would have ever come up in a conversation other than this topic. Shadow jumps from its lofty perch to... teleport to the top of a bookshelf, melding into the shadows there with just burning red eyes and ribs peering out. Spooky. ]

I think most people are your type, but that you worry about being tolerated and someone short or dismissive might only accelerate that.

[ Someone short. Kek. Oh wait does that mean V was concerned about his friend's feelings? How cute. ]

[Constantin blinks, gaze following the spooky cat for a moment, distracted. Aha? Ah. Well, some people do ask, but never mind that facet of human behavior--]

I have been berated my entire life, so I daresay I am quite good at determining when someone means it to be personal.

[So if his father could never bring him to heel, the permanently grumpy are child's play.]

"Most people," really? [ew. impossible.]

[ V is not certain that logic tracks there, but he's busy right now not containing himself: ]

Oh yes, you've made a great show of establishing enemies, near and far.

[This is discrimination, V.]

Oh, but surely having no enemies would mean I am everyone else's type of person, not the reverse!

If I'm wrong, you'll have to explain it to me.

[ He's all ears! He's here in your house on a rainy day just to hear about your dirt while the cat lurks in the corner. ]

What type of person are you, and what type of people are 'yours'?

[ The smirk on his face is more for how vague and shapeless the whole inquiry is. The absurd foibles of interaction are more often what he's laughing at, more than Constantin himself. God forbid V waste the breath explaining that. ]

I am— simply the person who looks after the orphanage.

[His father's disappointment skulks after him still, even months removed, but he can be Constantin who looks after the orphanage now, and not Constantin the family disappointment.

He sinks back in the armchair, rubbing his face. Hmm...]

And I need only someone willing to be kind to me.

[ What a depressing and incomplete answer. ]

You managed that with barely an adjective.

[V, bud, don't be rude.]

What do you need a list of adjectives for? Am I your reference?

[ Oh yes, my very own dictionary. Don't tempt him with such ridiculous rhetorical questions. ]

The source material, even. I'll have to keep looking for you in it.

[ Or maybe Constantin disappears entirely, replaced by the person who looks after the orphanage. ]

I did answer your question, you'll notice.

[He slouches some more in his chair, idly looking across the room, toward the rainy window.]

If you have some problem with my terrible lack of adjectives, out with it.

You did, a single note delivered without joy. Which is strange to me, because I know the work excites you.

[ So who is this sad, drab dude. ]

Are you going to blame the weather?

Are you going to complain some more if I do?

[He glances back V's way, eyebrows raised.]

You mock me when I am dramatic and criticize me when I am not— how desperately hard to please! I enjoy looking after the orphanage, of course I do. That isn't what you asked.

Are my questions too imprecise?

[ Raised eyebrows met with withering dryness. ]

Would you prefer to have a life that I have no visibility into, to avoid my irrepressible need to scorn you?

How can you still be irritated that a person may grow weary of your attitude?

[That's not what this is about, but— get over it, V, because if it's not going to stop then he doesn't want to hear about it. He sits up straighter, at the very least.]

You have some problem with how I answered your question and I have no idea what it is! If you aren't going to tell me, what would you like me to say?

(no subject)

summonere - 2020-03-20 16:03 (UTC) - Expand