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Post by aspenheart on Jan 17, 2018 19:22:35 GMT
Rust was a quiet tom. He preferred to listen and observe. He acted out of logic, and kept his head low. The ginger-and-white tom was one to plan, as well. It struck him to relax a bit. It was the first selfish desire he'd decided to give in to in quite a while, and it would be the last for some time to come. He was stretched out in the sunlight, despite the morning chill. His pelt was fluffed and he was draped over the top of a pile of rocks. They were seated in the center of a large impression in the ground, with a few other rocks here and there. The earth around it rose at a sharp angle, but not one that a cat would have trouble jumping out of. He saw it as a protected place. He had considered this place his 'clan' for quite a while, if he was honest. Not that he had anyone to share it with. He very well couldn't just waltz up into the territories and ask if anyone wanted to join him. He'd considered going to the kittypets, but that hadn't been very appealing either. Other loners and maybe rogues would be the most useful to him, he was sure of it. If they were willing to help him, anyway. It would be other exiles who were most sympathetic to his cause, but he didn't want murderers in his clan. Only the framed. Otherwise, he'd use them as... Well. It didn't matter. Rust was relaxing and he was content with himself to do it. The sun warmed his pelt and the chill cooled it. Tiny snowflakes began to fall. Ah... that was interesting. nine |
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Post by nine on Jan 17, 2018 20:05:23 GMT
Faust had spent much of his day lazing around in a tree, dreaming of the future. He only woke when the air became colder. Eventually feeling snowflakes sink into his fur made him decide it was time to find new shelter. He could go back to the barn he'd found when he first entered the area but there wasn't much prey he'd found out. Slowly the snowy bengal rose from the branch and began his slow descent down.
The ground underneath his paws was cold and hard so he stepped quickly. In these lands he had yet to encounter any other cats. He'd roamed until he left the territory and drifted near the clans. Only staying there long enough to figure out where the borders ended and began. He yawned as he continued walking, sleep still heavy on him. Faust could admit that his new life was quite lonely. There were days where he missed being holed up in his house, fed tuna by the twolegs. There were also days where he missed wrecking havoc on the streets. Days that were sadly long gone.
As he walked, he could feel patches of the sun against his fur. It warmed him, inside and out. He'd have to find somewhere new to stay, hopefully someplace with a lot of sun. It didn't take long until he found a promising spot. There was a slight problem, he could smell another cat nearby. Faust frowned to himself yet continued. The terrain wasn't particularly difficult to traverse across. The ground rose weirdly but Faust had enough experience to get upon it. He hopped along several rocks before seeing the tom. The sun shone upon him, illuminating his red fur so it was hard to miss. Faust smirked and lashed his tail out as he stepped closer. How would he go about this? How would he present himself? He wondered. Faust decided to make his presence known. He saw a few pebbles and pushed them, letting them tumble nosily down the pile of rocks.
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Post by aspenheart on Jan 17, 2018 23:30:13 GMT
Rust's head snapped up, pale blue eyes suddenly boring into the cat. He slowly got to his paws, head not moving as he slunk down his rocks. His eyes were wide and unblinking as he approached this cat -- a stranger, whom he wasn't sure to welcome. "Hello. You seem to have missed the warnings." His eyes flicked to the edge of the woods, five or six fox-lengths away. Long claw-marks dug into each one around a certain radius, and Rust edged a little closer. Getting a feel for this stranger. Would speaking get him somewhere with this cat? Maybe. He hadn't observed him long enough to know, not yet. Not until the time came, would he make an irrational movement. Everything had to be calculated, down to how he measured his breaths. Too quickly and he'd lose energy, or get worked up. Too slow, and he'd be too sluggish to move. Even how his paws were placed when he was at rest... nine |
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Post by nine on Jan 18, 2018 0:37:12 GMT
Faust watched with his cool, blue eyes as the stranger got up from his resting place and closed the distance between them. "Hello. You seem to have missed the warnings." He gave a little hum in acknowledgement. "Perhaps." For a moment the stranger's eyes moved to the direction of the edge of the woods. Faust took a look. His tail lashed behind him as he saw the deep, long claw marks into the trees. Quite a warning.
His eyes fell back onto the tom. There was quite a size difference between them so Faust had the intentions of talking his way through this. "There was a little bit of oversight on my part. But,," He kept his voice even and calm, his face inviting. "I don't think those warnings are meant for me." Once he'd finished giving the tom a look over, he blinked his eyes. An attempt to show his youth and perhaps even a little naivety. "I'm harmless." He finished it off by cocking his head to the side, smiling. Faust could do harm with his claws and teeth but there was nothing like using his words to get what he pleased. The tom seemed to be cautious towards him so Faust would take the chance to make himself seem as warm as possible.
"Faust." He meowed. "And you are..?"
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Post by aspenheart on Jan 18, 2018 3:59:32 GMT
Rust wasn't hearing him, so much as he was watching how he moved. Actions, he'd been told, spoke much louder than words. His actions read falsehood, manipulation. This tom thought honeycomb words and soft purrs would sway his choices, like a kittypet. His features were calm, warm, and inviting. Faust knew what he was doing, didn't he...? Knew what he looked like? "Too old to be a kitten... too clever to be a kittypet..." His head tilted to the side. No... he wasn't -- he couldn't be, could he? "Oh, names. I'm... my name doesn't matter. Thank you for giving me yours, though... Names have far more power than most cats realize." The tom mulled over the name in his mind for several moments, before looking him dead in the eye again. "Faust~" he drawled, tone half between a growl and a purr. It was low and husky, somewhere between seductive and threatening. Something private, and something powerful. nine |
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Post by nine on Jan 18, 2018 6:52:09 GMT
Faust liked to think he was good at keeping calm. It was obvious his plan wasn’t working. This tom had either seen through his act or just wasn’t fazed. His smile faltered a little, his tail stilling behind him. “I still have youth on my side. And former kittypet. Realized the life wasn’t for me.” Giving him more information was only going to backfire and yet Faust continued to speak.
The name comment disturbed him. What exactly did he mean by that? Did Faust just happen to stumble upon some cat with half a mind, who’d ramble to him philosophical nonsense? He’s had his fair share in his early days. The tom was quiet for several moments before he spoke his name. There was something about the way the word slipped out of the orange cats mouth that sent a shiver up Faust’s spine. He looked into his eyes which was a mistake. Faust was beginning to feel quite powerless in this situation, something he wasn’t used to feeling. It was as if their roles had changed. “A name is just a name...” He mumbled lowly. “I gave it to you to be polite.” He could save this somehow, atleast he’d hoped. “You should consider yourself quite lucky, I don’t give it out just to anyone.” Faust took a tentative step closer. The tom unnerved him and if he couldn’t get anywhere with this he’d just cut his losses. If he could.
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Post by aspenheart on Jan 18, 2018 18:42:16 GMT
He raised his head, eyes cold and calculating. "Faust... do you know what you're making yourself look like?" Rust's tail curled and lashed as he used the cat's step forward against him, tilting his head slightly to the side. The tom's fur fluffed out a little. He was still freezing cold, honestly. A slow smile spread across his muzzle, and he flicked an ear. "An equal." Rust's fur was a little hot, by no fault of the sunlight or the cold, and he was still trying to size him up properly. He knew he had the edge here, regardless of if the other tom would admit it. He would be useful, it seemed. nine |
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Post by nine on Jan 18, 2018 21:06:16 GMT
Faust paused in his movements, using his eyes to observe the tom's behavior as it changed. He had only stumbled here to see if he could get a warm place to rest and possibly a meal or two. The tom had proved himself to be interesting. Perhaps even a potential companion. He could tell that there was power behind the tom. Not just through his size but the way he carried himself, his voice and that gaze.
An equal. Faust chuckled to himself. Ah, if only he knew. There was no doubt in his mind that the two of them had a shared strength. That with their combined power there could be something quite great in the future. "Mm.. I'm going to have to agree with you." The smaller tom sauntered up the rest of the distance between him. He rubbed against him quite affectionately. He just couldn't help himself, this tom was mysterious and quite handsome if he was honest. "So how is this going to work? What's yours is mine and what's mine is yours." He circled around him, his grin wide and now sincere. "If that's the case then I deserve your name. It's mine now right?" Faust brushed against him once more before moving past him, finally feeling the sunlight against his fur. It was an envelope of warmth that he could get used to. He could get used to having the tom around as well. He'd be useful in gaining traction in the land. Faust was sure he was thinking the same.
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Post by aspenheart on Jan 18, 2018 22:57:56 GMT
The ginger tom stretched slowly, his eyes edging over to him. "My name is Rust. This is my land, and here I fight for a cause. I fight against the corruption that flows through the cats of the clans like blood, and you seem like you would be valuable help." He didn't quite move to reciprocate the gestures, but he didn't push him away, either. In fact, he quite liked it. "I consider myself the leader of a nonexistent group. Can I consider you my deputy?" Rust's blue eyes caught his. "Even if you are an equal intellectually, which is really what I care about, I would like you to recognize that this position requires you to respect my judgement. Perhaps not always follow it out, but understand that I do not take risks and that I do everything I do for a reason. It requires obedience, though not that which is senseless. I understand curiosity. I answer questions. So, that being said. Do you accept?"nine |
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Post by nine on Jan 18, 2018 23:34:33 GMT
Faust listened to him carefully, mulling over his words as he got comfortable on the rocks. He didn’t have any ties to the clans but it seemed important to Rust. Perhaps the tom would give him the why and how later. For now he didn’t think too much of it. “You can.” He mewed in response to Rust’s question on his position.
All he heard was the promise of power. He could deal with listening to Rust’s judgement. Knowing how he was,the two will certainly bump heads on the execution of their plans. But for now he was willing to agree to the terms and conditions. “I accept.” He yawned and splayed out on the rocks. “I do have a question though. Where’s this animosity for clan cats coming from? You don’t happen to be one of them hm?”
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Post by aspenheart on Jan 19, 2018 17:33:58 GMT
He flicked his ear and scaled the rocks again with him, draping over them into his previous position. "The clans have slighted me. They have shown me their brutality and cruelty, and I do not want any other cat to have to suffer through it. That is all you need to know at present." Rust glanced over at the tom, stretching a little. He didn't exactly trust him yet, but it would come soon. That he was sure of. Eventually Faust would know his reasons... he just had to be certain that he would agree. Not every rogue was fond of an ex-clan cat, especially not one that was considered a murderer, even if he was innocent. His ginger pelt shone in the sun and his eyes closed slowly, in that state where a cat is awake but appears dead to the world. nine |
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Post by nine on Jan 19, 2018 18:46:21 GMT
Faust hummed. There were more details to the story but Rust was leaving them out. He didn't seem big on sharing any information right out, so Faust would have to work for it, it seemed. His eyes watched carefully as Rust got back into the position he was in before Faust disturbed him. Draped over the rocks and seemingly asleep.
He got up and inched closer to him. "I don't mind that you're a clan cat. And were subsequently kicked out for whatever reason. It's helpful in fact. You know their history, their weaknesses and strengths..." His voice trailed off as he looked out towards the forest. "It seems we're two sides to a coin. You have your methods and ideology and I have mine. But- I'm willing to assist you in what your goals are. We'll both be getting what you want."
"Can I ask you something?"
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Post by aspenheart on Jan 19, 2018 23:17:11 GMT
He opened his eyes and glanced over at him. "You already have. But, if you have another... well, it depends on what the question is." His tail swayed slightly and he tilted his hair slightly, flicking his ears. A bird cooed from a tree above them, and he looked up. It was a mourning dove, with its pinkish grey body. The sun would be setting soon, then. The sound of cooing doves at sunset in the summer... it brought back memories. His eyes shut, and he took a deep breath before returning his attention to Faust. Rust realized he didn't know anything about him, and resolved to change that. If they were going to rely on each other, then it was important that they understood each other, was it not? nine |
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Post by nine on Jan 20, 2018 2:19:44 GMT
Faust had gotten himself comfortable, laying in front of Rust. He watched as the tom’s attention went briefly to the doves as they cooed. The sun would be setting soon, meaning it’s get cold. He decided to shoot his question, unsure if the tom would answer. “Can you tell me about the clan you’re from? I can admit that I’m naive to the four clans in the forest. And this is a chance for me to get to know you.” He licked his jaws. “Lets just have a little heart to heart. You tell me something and I’ll tell you something. Got it?”
Faust personally had no qualms with speaking about his past life but it seemed Rust was a lot more reserved when it came to giving out information. He’d just have to work with him more to get him to open up. There couldn’t be secrets between them when they were planning something so big.
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Post by aspenheart on Jan 20, 2018 17:10:47 GMT
His tail wavered. "I was part of a clan that valued comfort over truth. I was accused of something I hadn't done. When the four clans met next, they told everyone about the guilt they had decided was mine. Every cat fell for their lies. The darkness of injustice brewed in their hearts, and in my exile I began to think. How many others had I blindly assumed were guilty? How many cats had I condemned to death at my claws just because my clan told me it was right?" Man, Rust sure was talkative today. Even he understood that he was giving away a little bit too much, and he flicked his ear, resolving to clam up a little bit after he finished his little story. "I realized that the clans were plagued by a horrible darkness, and that it would be my duty to purge it. That's not to say I did not realize the flaw in my logic. If I was to purge the darkness, would I not also be forced to injure or even kill? Would I not become what they thought I was? Would I not ask cats that allied with me to kill without question? I fight for a good cause, but my methods, understand, are not what I would wish. We are very much... grey. Neither good nor bad, neither day nor night. We are the dusk."nine |
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