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Cade found himself listening to the nekojin's tales with rapt attention. He surprised himself by putting aside his drawing, and leaning forward. The other man's voice wove such wondrous images in his mind... The artist was almost surprised that he wasn't there, or had never seen any of them himself. He knew of course that this was impossible, but the way Jack painted images with his words quite transported Cade's mind to those other locations, so far away from the little village.
"All those places sound amazing." He lapsed into silence for a few moments. "Is there anything I can do to help?" Cade shifted closer to Jack and peered at what the cat man busied himself with. The artist was no hunter, but perhaps he could learn how to help others with their catch. It seemed like it might be a useful skill to have. |
Absently Jack reached for his cup of tea, halfway to his masked lips he stopped. Blinking slightly, he set the cup back down without drinking any. Not yet. He wasn't ready to pull that mask down yet, but all that talking, he had gotten rather comfortable in Cade's presence. His ears twitched and he shook his head. "No, it doesn't really take two people to carve up a deer." His tail had curled around his waist, just resting there as he continued to work on the deer. Soon all the meat had been cut away, and there was nothing left but bones and guts. Jack cleaned his knife in the grass for a couple minutes and then it disappeared back to where it had appeared from. His hands were covered in deer blood, the arm warmers he wore soaked in it. Jack hadn't thought of that before he had started, or he would've taken them off, he pulled the soiled things off now and laid them aside. Revealing scarred arms to Cade. Every inch the arm warmers had covered had hid scars, it was their purpose really. It was the purpose of all of his clothing. "Actually, if you want, you could bring me a basin of water." Jack didn't want to traipse through the forest looking for a stream to wash his hands in.
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Disappointment flitted over Cade's features at the thought of not being able to help. He did really want to. The sight of Jack's scarred arms distracted him from such thoughts. He'd never really had much practice drawing scars, perhaps the nekojin would let him practice by drawing the ones he bore.. It was a thought for later.
"Of course!" Eagerly, the grey eyed man jumped up and ran to the house. He grabbed a comfortably sized pail from beside the cottage, and then ran off into the forest. The stream wasn't far really, just a few minutes walk. Cade crouched down to fill the wooden bucket with clear, clean water. He made sure to fill it as much as he could, and then made his way back to Jack's camp with steady steps. It was a bit of an effort, heavy as the pail was now, but he was beginning to get used to the task of fetching water. Aletta was always asking. He placed the bucket beside Jack with a small smile. "Here you go." |
When Cade ran off to do as he asked, Jack pulled his mask down and drank some of his tea. Both mask and cup were back in their places before the human had returned with the pail. "Thanks." Those eyes lingered on Cade for a few moments, then he picked up the arm warmers that had covered his arms, he dunked them in the water and began to scrub the blood from them as well as his hands. It took a couple minutes and when he was done he laid them close enough to the fire to dry. Next he reached out to turn the meat so it could cook on the other side, then he laid some of the other meat near the fire to dry it out. Now there was nothing to do but wait for the meat to finish cooking. "Why did you stay out here with me, instead of being in the house with the girl and wolf?" Surely it hadn't been purely because the other had wanted to draw him, Jack watched Cade expectantly as he waited for an answer.
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Biting his lip, he watched the cat wash his things as he thought it over. He didn't know the answer to that question. Or perhaps he did, but Cade hadn't really thought it over very much. "You're ... interesting and I was curious about you." Truth be told, the young man wanted to know more then he did. It was strange really. Cade didn't often get so interested in people, not when he had already drawn them. But there was just something a bit different about Jack that he couldn't put his finger on, and that made him want to spend more time with the feline.
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Jack watched Cade almost intently for a moment, then he began to watch the meat cook. "I'm not interesting, I'm dangerous." It didn't matter how interesting Cade might think he was, Jack had no intention of staying here very long. He would finish his business with the wolf and then move on. He had things to do, people to see, that sort of thing. His tail twitched slightly, but it remained wrapped around his waist. "You shouldn't get too involved with dangerous people." He glanced at Cade, but mostly he watched the meat cook, getting meat well done took to long, those ears twitched with slight impatience. If it were just him he would have eaten it raw, but Jack didn't want the human to get sick, so he was doing his best to cook the meat properly.
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The other man really did seem restless, or maybe it was just annoyance. "Well, that's up to me isn't it? You can't really decide for me, even if you are the one I want to be friends with." The artist glanced at the meat and reached out to lift it up. He was careful about it, and nodded to himself once he was done with his examination and placed it back into place. "Just a few minutes more." It really smelled delicious, and looked so very appetizing. Eating meat like this was going to be a treat.
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"Friends?" Jack's entire body had seemed to twitch and tense up at that one simple word. "Bad things always happen to my friends." Bad might be an understatement, it was more like, horrible things generally happened to his friends. "Being friends with an assassin puts you in great danger, assassin's have many enemies, and those enemies don't hesitate to use friends against you. Choose your friends carefully, human." If the man truly wanted to be friends with him, it was better to let him know of the dangers before hand, so maybe the artist could somewhat prepare himself, and not be caught unawares. Looking over the artist, Jack pushed that thought aside, Cade would definitely be caught unawares if something were to happen. Jack did have a couple of friends, about three, but they were non humans and more than capable of standing up to anything any of his enemies could toss at them.
When Cade lifted the meat to look at it, Jack turned his attention to watching the meat instead of assessing what weaknesses the artist might have. Other than his apparent one of being a human. |
The young man looked a little startled at what the nekojin said so mater of factly. Cade found himself feeling more saddened by the situation then frightened. No one deserved to think that they brought harm to their friends, even indirectly.
Life was dangerous, simply by being lived. He saw nothing wrong with dealing with troubles in order to be someone's friend. "That doesn't bother me, Jack." Smiling a little, he grabbed the spit and looked at the meat again. "It's ready. I'd cut it, but I have no knife." At least, not with him. There was no need when he was living with the healer, though Cade always carried one when traveling. |
Jack was silent, giving the human a shrug. Well if Cade wanted to put himself in danger by being Jack's friend, the cat wouldn't stop him, or rather, he was sure he couldn't stop him. Humans were pushy like that. When the meat was again picked up by Cade, Jack was already in the process of producing a knife from somewhere within his clothing. Hidden pockets abounded in the nekojin's sparse clothing, clothing that was enchanted and made with magic of hiding and shadows. Better to help the assassin to sneak around in shadows, and hide things on his person when he stole them. It did wonders for hiding small weapons. He reached over to take the meat from Cade and began to cut pieces from it. The pieces he cut away he laid on two flat rocks, as makeshift plates. One for him and one for Cade. He was generous with the amount of meat he gave to the other and soon there was nothing left to cut away. He set the knife aside and handed the flat rock with the most meat on it towards Cade.
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Accepting the plate, he smiled and murmured a small word of thanks. That done, he began eating the meat with a smile. It was delicious and perfectly cooked, not to mention fresh. Soon his stomach was full, though there was still some meat left. When he burped, Cade lifted a hand to try and hide the pink rising upon his cheeks. "Sorry ... Uhm, I'm full, so you can have the rest." Hastily, the artist placed the meat beside Jack.
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Jack hadn't even begun to eat yet, he let Cade finish his own meal. Seeing how much the other had left on the rock plate, he frowned slightly behind his mask, then added some more meat to Cade's 'plate'. "You should take it inside, see if your female friend wants some, and I suppose, the wolf needs to eat as well." That last bit he spoke a little grudgingly. Not entirely enjoying the idea of sharing his kill with the wolf, and though Jack wanted to beat the creature to a bloody pulp, he did try his best not to be rude when in another's home, or, rather, camping in another's front yard.
Jack wouldn't eat until Cade disappeared into the house. There were just some scars he really didn't enjoying letting people see. People always asked questions about the scars around his lips, and he supposed it was unusual. Scars on his arms and legs could be easily explained away as hazards of his job, but one's on his lips? He shuddered lightly, only pulling that mask down when Cade was out of sight. Jack would eat fast too, not wanting the other to come back out and see those scars while the cat was in mid meal. |
Cade smiled upon hearing Jack's suggestion. "That's a great idea!" Before leaving, he leaned over to give the nekojin a brief hug. Then he grabbed the rock plate and walked steadily to the house. He peered about the entryway and noticed the wolf lying on the chair. Moving quietly, the artist placed the plate of meat onto the table.
Then he crept to the healer's workroom and knocked against the door frame. "Super's ready, courtesy of Jack. He's the cat man." "You've really taken to him, haven't you?" Shaking her head, the healer waltzed out of her herb room. In her hands was a concoction she hoped would help her guest. Though she was certain his nap was doing more for him then any of her meager abilities could. With a little sigh, Aletta placed the glass down onto the table, then snatched up a few pieces of meat for herself. Instead of moving to the table in the kitchen as she usually did, Aletta settled down in the chair near Krinn... Just to keep a watchful eye on him. She didn't notice Cade leaving. The artist slipped outside after making his delivery. He sauntered over to Jack and plopped down right beside the nekojin with a grin. He glanced down at the meatless rock plate with a small frown. Now why had Jack waited until he'd left to eat? "You ate fast." |
When the artist had hugged him, his body had tensed immediately. Jack supposed he would never get used to unexpected touches from others. It had been so long, and his body still just automatically tensed up like that. Quickly enough Cade had left him, and he had devoured the meat. When the artist returned Jack's hands were readjusting that mask a little bit. "I always eat fast." He glanced at the other, wondering why Cade had decided to sit so close to him. Those ears twitched a bit at the slightest noises and he shook his head slightly.
Jack watched the fire, he hadn't let it go out yet. Something about it's heat was rather comforting to the cat, a soft sigh passed those hidden lips. "I guess the wolf hasn't eaten your girlfriend." It was more a statement than a question, but he didn't seem disappointed. He didn't want any innocent people hurt because they got caught up in something they accidentally stumbled in. Though the more important question in Jack's mind was: "Why did you hug me?" |
"She's not my girlfriend," protested Cade with a vehement shake of his head. The motion was cut short when he heard Jack's question. The artist looked about a little nervously, not quite sure how to answer. There were of course so many ways to respond, Cade just didn't quite know which one to pick.
Finally, he shrugged and answered with a slight tinge of pink on his cheeks. "Because ... well because I wanted to." It had been to thank him for being so nice, but Cade just couldn't make his mouth form the words he wanted it to. It was so frustrating. Shifting about uncertainly, he looked anywhere but at the cat. |
He raised a brow, watching Cade almost warily. The artist seemed unwilling to look at him now, probably from embarrassment. Jack's ears twitched, and he kept his eyes on the human even if the human was unwilling to meet those eyes. A hint of amusement danced in his feline eyes for only a few moments at Cade's answer and refusal to look at him. "But why?" He watched Cade intently, as if his gaze could pierce through the man and see into his innermost thoughts. Jack really did want to know the reason why, the answer Cade had just given him really didn't explain anything at all. It was more an aversion than an answer.
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Fidgeting, Cade moved his hands to play with the hem of his shirt. "Well ... to thank you." It had been very impulsive. He still refused to look at Jack. Cade didn't think he would like to see the nekojin's reaction. Jack was so unpredictable, then again he was a cat. They were fickle creatures sometimes.
Biting his lip, the artist shook his head. No that wasn't right. If Jack was so changeable, he wouldn't have been hunting Krinn as he was. So what then, did he expect as a reaction from his answer? Well whatever it was, Cade didn't look forward to it. |
That answer caught the cat off guard and he leaned slightly away from Cade, still watching the artist warily. "Thank me? For what?" He spoke the words uncertainly, in his mind he had done nothing that was deserving of a 'thank you'. Was it a thank you for sharing the meal with Cade, or was it a thank you for trying to protect them from the wolf. Jack seriously doubted it had anything to do with the wolf, as far as he could tell, these people saw the wolf as more the good guy than him. His tail twitched slightly, and he was frowning a bit behind his mask. Humans could be quite confusing at times.
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He finally lifted his head to look at Jack again. Cade spoke as if the answer was quite obvious. "For the meal of course, and for sharing it with not just me, but with Aletta and the wolf." He knew the nekojin wanted to kill the wolf after all, that was why he camped outside as he did. Sighing, Cade looked away again though this time he couldn't put his finger on the reason. There was just something about the thought of Jack leaving that didn't sit right with him. It was nice having someone other then Aletta to talk with, and to draw.
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"I had to share it." Jack spoke the words almost absently, as if such a thing should have been obvious to the human. "There was too much for me to eat on my own, and more than I'd like to carry with me. Also, I am camping in the middle of your front yard without permission. The food was given as a peace-offering of sorts. Even to the wolf. I won't attack him until he's feeling more himself, and can offer a fair fight." Those ears twitched slightly, and not for the first time in his life, was Jack amazed that humans could scrape by without knowing such simple laws as those. But perhaps it was because they were humans and not animals that they could get by without following such rules and laws that dictated the behavior of most animals. The rules of Jack's on society, on the Isle of Illusions was similar to the laws of the jungle, though tailored for a more civilized society than an animalistic one. After all, Jack wasn't a wild animal..really.
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Cade sighed. "Most people wouldn't think of things like that. It's a nice change." Then again, most people weren't part cat. Or maybe Jack was a cat. The artist sent his new friend a curious glance. It would be rude to ask, concluded the blond man silently. It would have been even ruder if he reached out to try and peek behind that mask. Cade clasped his hands together tightly to stop the movement. That would be a disaster, for Jack must have had a good reason for hiding his features as he did.
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"That's because most people are more barbaric than animals. There are rules that should be followed no matter who someone else. Human or beast, doesn't matter. I follow the rules of my people and the rules of my bestial cousins. Humans should be more inclined to pay attention to such rules." Jack spoke the words rather offhandedly, as if he really didn't care if humans ever even considered such rules. Most didn't know they existed, most humans just saw the animal world as barbaric and chaotic, but there were rules, and those rules were almost always followed. If one cared to observe closely enough. "It doesn't matter. I do the things I do, I have reasons for them. Doesn't matter if others don't know my reasons or understand why I act the way I do."
All the while he kept his eyes on Cade, watching the way the artist clasped those hands together tightly. Though Jack seemed to be waiting for something, perhaps for something to happen or for Cade to say something specific. The nekojin had been waiting for a while, knowing surely the human was as curious as a kitten about the mask he wore. Everyone was curious, everyone asked about it eventually. Jack was rather glad the artist hadn't mentioned it, mostly because he had yet to think of a way to deflect such a question or conversation without being very rude. |
Cade closed his eyes for a moment, then let out a sigh. Smoothly, the artist shifted and twisted about so he knelt before the nekojin. He didn't want to talk about the ignorance and self-centeredness of the human race anymore. He was more curious about another matter entirely. Slowly, Cade reached out to brush his fingers against Jack's cloth covered cheek.
The grey eyed man made no attempt to remove the mask. It was more of an in-depth examination of the swatch of fabric then anything else. "I know it's probably not a subject you want to speak of, but why do you wear that mask?" Surprised at his boldness, Cade scuttled back with a blush across his features, and his eyes averted from the nekojin. |
Jack watched Cade curiously when the other moved to kneel in front of him. To think he had been greatly enjoying the man's company, and now the human had to go and do something like this. The nekojin's entire body tensed, and he flinched slightly when Cade brushed those fingers against his covered cheek. Jack had expected the other to yank the mask down. It wouldn't have been the first time, nor the last, but his hand had moved almost of it's own accord, reaching out with cat like speed to close around Cade's wrist. It would have prevented the man from yanking the mask down, if that had been his intention, but he seemed Cade had wanted to scuttle away from Jack. That grip on the human's wrist would keep him going far from the neko, probably kept him from going as far as he wanted to go. Those eyes had narrowed slightly, eyeing the human almost carefully. A simple question would have sufficed, he hadn't needed to actually touch anything. Jack released Cade's wrist and gave a shrug. "I'm a thief and an assassin. It wouldn't be good if people knew my face." He said the words in a matter-of-fact tone, as if that were obvious. True some assassin's and thieves wore masks, but usually they covered the whole face and left only the eyes revealed. It was a good excuse, in Jack's opinion, perhaps the human would believe such reasoning.
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A surprised gasp escaped Cade as his wrist was caught so easily. He'd had no intention of removing the mask, had simply wanted to know why it was there. Not to mention the fact that in a little way, the artist had wanted to find out what the texture of the fabric was, all the better to shade his next drawing of the other man. He had intended that of course, but Jack's words slashed against the idea, cutting it apart with ease.
Feeling hurt, Cade did scoot back and averted his eyes as he rubbed his wrist. "Friends are no exception to that I see." Cade knew that wasn't exactly accurate. He was the one who'd suggested being friends, Jack had never accepted it or denied it for that matter. Shaking his head, he moved to reorganize his scattered art supplies, as if the simple act would help him make sense of his thoughts. |
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