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Catboy!AU: Cuddles are the Best Medicine, Part 3
[ooc: continued from here.]
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Joe doesn't like him. For a start Sid greets him by saying, "Marvelous," and if that's his name, well. Joe just stares blankly.
Secondly he has to keep at the forefront of his mind that there could be the possiblity of abuse here, so he can't be swayed by that look of relief on this Marvelous's face when they appear at his front door. And there's also the way he can't seem to resist giving Sid a quick once over despite the situation, unthinking like a reflex. Joe can't really like anyone who looks at Sid the way he looks at Sid; with want. A prickle runs down his spine, and he's thankful nobody can see the way his hair stands up on end beneath his shirt. It isn't entirely fair of him to get all territorial about this, not when things between him and Sid are... complicated. And especially not right now when he has a job to do! So Joe reminds himself calmly that yes, maybe Marvelous is exuding that faint but persistent human sex musk under his cloying aftershave (okay, it isn't really that cloying - living with a catperson there's no way he could lay it on too thickly without them likely having respiratory issues in response), but Sid not only isn't himself, he hasn't even seemed to notice Marvelous eyeing him up.
It's not important right now. Joe nods shortly as Sid introduces him and lets Sid handle all the talking. Of course it will be better to hear from this catperson - Don - himself his version of events, but Sid likes to scope out the situation as much as possible so that he's prepared. Especially since he won't be approaching Don straight away.
Sid then explains again to Marvelous the purpose of Joe's presence here, and Joe can feel the prickle of his fur rising up again as he waits for Marvelous's response. He hasn't been able to completely discard the natural instinct just because he's met a few nice humans at the clinic. Marvelous looks over at him, but Joe can't actually read his expression. It isn't outright disapproving, but perhaps he's just good at hiding that.
"Have you got a problem with it?" Joe asks, trying to sound blank instead of confrontational - that wouldn't help at all.
"No, I just don't know if he'll like it," Marvelous says. He does actually look quite concerned. Which just goes to show how little he actually knows about catpeople. Joe feels sorry for him, briefly, but it passes.
"I'll be careful," Joe promises. He shares a silent nod with Sid before entering the main room of the house properly on his own.
There's a golden-haired purebred sitting on the sofa with his foot propped up in front him, staring at him wide-eyed. Joe stuffs down all the potential ways he could judge Marvelous for having a purebred for further examination later on. Joe has grown up hearing plenty about purebreds, but he's never met one, and he's fairly sure none of the catpeople he was brought up with had either, so everything he's ever learnt about them could all be the stuff of rumours. And it could just as easily be true.
He hangs right back at first, leaving plenty of distance between himself and Don so as not to seem to be flagrantly invading his territory. Don's scent is all over the house - not that Joe is able to pinpoint it in every room, but the fact that his scent isn't restricted at all means he isn't either. Some catpeople in his experience have been confined to certain areas of the house, though that isn't always a sign of abuse, sometimes it's just a standing arrangement that works for everyone involved.
A minute or two is more than long enough for Don to catch his scent - he doesn't even need a full minute for that in reality. Joe moves towards him with a steady pace, not rushing. He thinks he can see Don trembling as he approaches, but if he is in fear of what might happen then Joe hesitating over this will only put it off longer. He knows his ears and tail are visibly held in non-threatening positions, too, which should help.
Joe glances briefly at Don's ankle, then takes a seat at one end of the sofa, leaving plenty of space between himself and Don. Between humans who don't know one another (or between humans and catpeople), initiating physical contact this quickly is an action limited to and only acceptable in very particular social situations. Between catpeople it's a different story. Joe has no concerns about bridging the gap between himself and Don by laying his tail across Don's thigh and letting it move back and forth lightly at the end.
Joe doesn't say things like, you can trust me, because if anyone is to believe that they don't need to be told it outright. He doesn't even introduce himself, or say anything yet. He just looks at Don openly as he gives Don a chance to decide what he'll make of this. It's fairly instinctive for catpeople to reach out for the comfort of another, but some really are too suspicious and have suffered too much mistreatment for that, and Joe doesn't like to make assumptions.
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Joe doesn't like him. For a start Sid greets him by saying, "Marvelous," and if that's his name, well. Joe just stares blankly.
Secondly he has to keep at the forefront of his mind that there could be the possiblity of abuse here, so he can't be swayed by that look of relief on this Marvelous's face when they appear at his front door. And there's also the way he can't seem to resist giving Sid a quick once over despite the situation, unthinking like a reflex. Joe can't really like anyone who looks at Sid the way he looks at Sid; with want. A prickle runs down his spine, and he's thankful nobody can see the way his hair stands up on end beneath his shirt. It isn't entirely fair of him to get all territorial about this, not when things between him and Sid are... complicated. And especially not right now when he has a job to do! So Joe reminds himself calmly that yes, maybe Marvelous is exuding that faint but persistent human sex musk under his cloying aftershave (okay, it isn't really that cloying - living with a catperson there's no way he could lay it on too thickly without them likely having respiratory issues in response), but Sid not only isn't himself, he hasn't even seemed to notice Marvelous eyeing him up.
It's not important right now. Joe nods shortly as Sid introduces him and lets Sid handle all the talking. Of course it will be better to hear from this catperson - Don - himself his version of events, but Sid likes to scope out the situation as much as possible so that he's prepared. Especially since he won't be approaching Don straight away.
Sid then explains again to Marvelous the purpose of Joe's presence here, and Joe can feel the prickle of his fur rising up again as he waits for Marvelous's response. He hasn't been able to completely discard the natural instinct just because he's met a few nice humans at the clinic. Marvelous looks over at him, but Joe can't actually read his expression. It isn't outright disapproving, but perhaps he's just good at hiding that.
"Have you got a problem with it?" Joe asks, trying to sound blank instead of confrontational - that wouldn't help at all.
"No, I just don't know if he'll like it," Marvelous says. He does actually look quite concerned. Which just goes to show how little he actually knows about catpeople. Joe feels sorry for him, briefly, but it passes.
"I'll be careful," Joe promises. He shares a silent nod with Sid before entering the main room of the house properly on his own.
There's a golden-haired purebred sitting on the sofa with his foot propped up in front him, staring at him wide-eyed. Joe stuffs down all the potential ways he could judge Marvelous for having a purebred for further examination later on. Joe has grown up hearing plenty about purebreds, but he's never met one, and he's fairly sure none of the catpeople he was brought up with had either, so everything he's ever learnt about them could all be the stuff of rumours. And it could just as easily be true.
He hangs right back at first, leaving plenty of distance between himself and Don so as not to seem to be flagrantly invading his territory. Don's scent is all over the house - not that Joe is able to pinpoint it in every room, but the fact that his scent isn't restricted at all means he isn't either. Some catpeople in his experience have been confined to certain areas of the house, though that isn't always a sign of abuse, sometimes it's just a standing arrangement that works for everyone involved.
A minute or two is more than long enough for Don to catch his scent - he doesn't even need a full minute for that in reality. Joe moves towards him with a steady pace, not rushing. He thinks he can see Don trembling as he approaches, but if he is in fear of what might happen then Joe hesitating over this will only put it off longer. He knows his ears and tail are visibly held in non-threatening positions, too, which should help.
Joe glances briefly at Don's ankle, then takes a seat at one end of the sofa, leaving plenty of space between himself and Don. Between humans who don't know one another (or between humans and catpeople), initiating physical contact this quickly is an action limited to and only acceptable in very particular social situations. Between catpeople it's a different story. Joe has no concerns about bridging the gap between himself and Don by laying his tail across Don's thigh and letting it move back and forth lightly at the end.
Joe doesn't say things like, you can trust me, because if anyone is to believe that they don't need to be told it outright. He doesn't even introduce himself, or say anything yet. He just looks at Don openly as he gives Don a chance to decide what he'll make of this. It's fairly instinctive for catpeople to reach out for the comfort of another, but some really are too suspicious and have suffered too much mistreatment for that, and Joe doesn't like to make assumptions.
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He can’t help smiling a little when Marvelous winks at him. It’s true, spending money on pretty clothes and naughty toys is much more fun than paying for medical expenses. Don tries not to blush too much at the thought of what specifically Marvelous might have in mind to buy. “Okay,” he says, and rests his head on Marvelous’s shoulder again. Don isn’t in any particular hurry to go out and get his paperwork back, especially not with his ankle the way it is, but he’s glad that it won’t be a liability for him anymore, and if the insurance is still valid, Don can do a little more to pull his own weight.
Marvelous asks Doctor Sid about the payment, whether they can defer it until they’ve. “There’s no rush,” replies Doctor Sid. “Don’t worry about getting the paperwork sorted out so quickly; Don needs to rest his ankle, after all. His recovery is what’s most important. We can work out the rest later. But I would appreciate a deposit right now, just to help us cover for the immediate expenses.” Doctor Sid stands up. “Can I ask you for that right now?”
Don isn’t exactly eager to let go of Marvelous, but he doesn’t want to cling and make him feel guilty, either, so he just gives Marvelous a little hug to convey that he’ll be alright before letting go. He can always cuddle up to Marvelous again later, after all, and maybe he can take this time to have a last snuggle with Joe before he and Doctor Sid have to leave.
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He doesn't even know if he'll be seeing Don again after the check-up, though he wouldn't mind it. If he were a more forward sort of personality maybe he would have been able to befriend other catpeople through his job and then gotten to know them outside of it, but he isn't comfortable with the idea of it. Sometimes the patients are too stressed or vulnerable to even think of attempting it anyway. Not that Don hasn't been both, but he's also in a safe home with an admittedcly very caring... not-owner.
Joe is unbelievably curious about Don's emancipated status. He'd known it was possible, but never met a catperson who could claim it. His situation won't be wriggled out of that easily, but it wouldn't hurt to understand it better anyway.
He can't possibly ask about now though. If ever. Joe just holds his tongue. He knew, of course, about Don being a purebred from the start, and he has even heard about their lives as show-cats. But everybody else made it sound like a prestigious thing; something to be envious of when you were just a cross, a mix. Don didn't sound like he thought it was good at all. Far from it.
It's something else Joe doesn't know as much about as he should. And he wouldn't want to bring it up if it would upset Don again. When Sid and Marvelous get up to leave the room he notices the way Don huddles in on himself a little. He reaches out again to touch a hand to Don's hair and asks, "how is your ankle feeling now?"
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“It’s a little better now,” he says, turning to look at Joe again. It’s really so nice to have another catperson around, especially one as gentle and friendly as Joe. Don shifts himself slightly in order to curl up to him again, leaning down to lay his head on Joe’s shoulder while wrapping his arms around Joe’s waist. He nuzzles Joe’s shoulder out of gratitude. “Thank you, Joe.”
Don just clings to him for a little while, taking comfort in the warmth of his body, the familiarity of his scent, before speaking again. “...I wish you didn’t have to go,” he says softly. “I hope you don’t think I’m too clingy, or that I’m just a silly purebred or something... I just want you to stay.” He hugs Joe a little tighter and looks up at him. “Promise I’ll get to see you again?” He knows he’s being selfish, asking so much of Joe, but he can’t help it; he’s missed having another catperson’s company, and Joe is just so wonderful. If not for the pain in his ankle, Don wouldd be purring in Joe’s arms right now.
[reposted in the right place :| ]
"Sorry," Joe says awkwardly to Don's sighed words, though he isn't really sure whether he should be apologizing. "I have to go. This is my job. I always help." Maybe if he explains it a little more Don will understand better. "I help other catpeople who are injured and upset, just like you." He pushes his fingers through Don's hair a few more times; it feels so fluffy it's like it's barely there. His other arm he puts around Don as far as he can reach. He can't do anything about now, but maybe it will make it up to Don if he makes the promise. It won't cost him anything to, he's going to come back.
"I promise I'll see you again," he says solemnly. "And I don't think purebreds are silly." If anything he'd grown up being fed information and lies that were designed to make him jealous of them. But apparently they don't have it perfect either. Joe has decided it doesn't seem to matter how you're born.