It occurred to Ren, as they pulled their bike over to the wall and leaned it against the house, that they might be noping out. See Ren disappear, around the corner, with a promise that they were only stepping out for cigarettes--though that one doesn't quite work, really, since paternal was hardly Ren, and Kitty would hardly think that Ren would disappear permanently. Only when it got uncomfortable.
Well! Good thing Ren doesn't smoke, then (that one doesn't quite work, either).
Ren reached out for the wall to steady themself, lifted up a foot, and smacked the bike's frame with a ginger kick. Some movement, no fall. Resisting the urge to adjust the bike's position and check again (it was such a difficult thing to check a thing's balance without unbalancing it) they turned around and strode. Skipped, almost, which was unlike them but meant moving faster without quite breaking into a run--back around the corner of the house, slowing down as they approached the door. Shoes off. Would that be okay?
Kitty was loud, squeaky. Her voice reminded Ren of a house of cards.
"Mm." They drifted towards her and to the side, wallflowering. "If blood tasted like candy, I might want to become a vampire."
Ren's head tilted in Kitty's direction, and they sent Kitty an encouraging half-smile. Hopefully encouraging, at any rate.
Mew Mew Kitty Cutie
OPEN... to Katelyn's friends.
Ren returned, dissipating the last of the disagreeable fog that Ashlyn's passing through had left in her wake. It spurred Kai to move too. He stepped towards Kitty, gave her shoulder a squeeze, and then slid past California and into the kitchen. He had made this trip to the coffee maker more times than he could count.
Flavors and brands didn't really matter. Kitty's favorite coffee was the kind that didn't taste like coffee anymore. Kai wasn't sure about Ren, but he believed that they were probably much the same. He popped the first coffee pod into the machine, and while it brewed, he retrieved the milk and sugar to set them on standby. With the first cup finished, he added milk and sugar until the dark brown had become a soft beige. The second cup got similar treatment, to a lesser degree.
Kai only had two hands, so he collected both cups and brought them back out to deliver to Kitty and Ren. He stood dutifully next to them, waiting for the offering to be noticed. He didn't mind if they just took it and didn't drink it. Holding a hot drink was soothing in its own way.
Flavors and brands didn't really matter. Kitty's favorite coffee was the kind that didn't taste like coffee anymore. Kai wasn't sure about Ren, but he believed that they were probably much the same. He popped the first coffee pod into the machine, and while it brewed, he retrieved the milk and sugar to set them on standby. With the first cup finished, he added milk and sugar until the dark brown had become a soft beige. The second cup got similar treatment, to a lesser degree.
Kai only had two hands, so he collected both cups and brought them back out to deliver to Kitty and Ren. He stood dutifully next to them, waiting for the offering to be noticed. He didn't mind if they just took it and didn't drink it. Holding a hot drink was soothing in its own way.
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
After a brief pause to think Kitty outline her potential plans for activities they could do. Of the two choices she was presented with California's preference was towards the more art-focused one. She had never been too interested in video games and while her hand-eye coordination was good she had trouble applying it to something on a screen. It wasn't as tactile to her as holding a pool cue in her hands and feeling it connect with the cue ball was. California could still appreciate video games for their art direction though, she found that part of their creation the most interesting.
But California didn't really feel like asserting herself into the decision-making in any major way. After all, Kitty had been the one to ask if people could hang out so leaving the choice to her to some degree seemed like the best way to go. She turned to the side as Kai moved past her and spent a few moments watching him move about the kitchen, following a similar set of steps to the ones she had a few minutes earlier.
Turning back to Kitty and a newly reappeared Ren California shrugged.
"Looking at your art would be cool."
But California didn't really feel like asserting herself into the decision-making in any major way. After all, Kitty had been the one to ask if people could hang out so leaving the choice to her to some degree seemed like the best way to go. She turned to the side as Kai moved past her and spent a few moments watching him move about the kitchen, following a similar set of steps to the ones she had a few minutes earlier.
Turning back to Kitty and a newly reappeared Ren California shrugged.
"Looking at your art would be cool."
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VoltTurtle
- Posts: 1545
- Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2018 4:10 pm
- Location: Dreamland
"You know, regular blood is pretty tasty too," Katelyn whispered to Ren. "Ever had black pudding?"
She didn't have time to hear a response before Kai approached her holding a cup of coffee. Katelyn wasn't really partial to coffee; it tasted far too bitter to her, and she also didn't like how jittery and anxious it would make her feel, but it was helpful sometimes when she needed to focus. At least she could be sure that Kai had remembered to put plenty of cream and sugar in it—enough to where it wouldn't actually taste like coffee anymore.
Katelyn reached up and snatched the mug from Kai's hand, gazing into the milky-brown surface of the drink, as California put her weight behind looking at Katelyn's drawings. Her eyes lit up in response, and if the cat ears on her headband weren't fake, they'd have likely shot up at the affirmation. Showing her drawings to her friends was one of her favorite activities, so what happened next hardly took any thought.
"Okay!" she chirped, and with a sudden burst of energy, Katelyn rushed over to the coffee table to set down her mug—that's what it was for right? it's even in the name!—and then sprinted towards the stairs leading up to the bedrooms. Mr. Kitty dutifully followed behind Katelyn as she ran up the stairs, but her momentum came to a halt as she tripped, sending her fumbling forward. Her arms jutted out, catching herself and avoiding a full-on tumble, but she was certain her friends had heard the misstep.
"I-I'm o-okay," she shouted back to them.
The wavering in her voice and the pain shooting through her knees and shins told an entirely different story, but the last thing she wanted was her friends needlessly worrying and doting on her. She didn't need to be treated like a fragile little creature. She would be fine. She had survived far, far worse.
Katelyn scrambled up the rest of the stairs on all fours, and before everyone knew it she was back down in the living room with her drawing tablet in hand, freshly disconnected from her computer, but currently turned off. It'd take a few minutes for her to pull anything up, but they could just talk in that time. No big deal!
Hopping onto the couch, Katelyn held the power button on her tablet to boot it up, only for her whole body to tense as she heard the distinctive far-off rumble of thunder, and the sound of rain beginning to pitter-patter on the roof. Her breathing began to pick up a little bit. Hopefully the thunder wouldn't get too close for comfort.
"Uh, j-just give me a s-second, uh," she mumbled. "It t-takes a bit to turn on."
She pat the seat next to her—the one that wasn't occupied by her cat—with one hand.
"S-Sit?"
She didn't have time to hear a response before Kai approached her holding a cup of coffee. Katelyn wasn't really partial to coffee; it tasted far too bitter to her, and she also didn't like how jittery and anxious it would make her feel, but it was helpful sometimes when she needed to focus. At least she could be sure that Kai had remembered to put plenty of cream and sugar in it—enough to where it wouldn't actually taste like coffee anymore.
Katelyn reached up and snatched the mug from Kai's hand, gazing into the milky-brown surface of the drink, as California put her weight behind looking at Katelyn's drawings. Her eyes lit up in response, and if the cat ears on her headband weren't fake, they'd have likely shot up at the affirmation. Showing her drawings to her friends was one of her favorite activities, so what happened next hardly took any thought.
"Okay!" she chirped, and with a sudden burst of energy, Katelyn rushed over to the coffee table to set down her mug—that's what it was for right? it's even in the name!—and then sprinted towards the stairs leading up to the bedrooms. Mr. Kitty dutifully followed behind Katelyn as she ran up the stairs, but her momentum came to a halt as she tripped, sending her fumbling forward. Her arms jutted out, catching herself and avoiding a full-on tumble, but she was certain her friends had heard the misstep.
"I-I'm o-okay," she shouted back to them.
The wavering in her voice and the pain shooting through her knees and shins told an entirely different story, but the last thing she wanted was her friends needlessly worrying and doting on her. She didn't need to be treated like a fragile little creature. She would be fine. She had survived far, far worse.
Katelyn scrambled up the rest of the stairs on all fours, and before everyone knew it she was back down in the living room with her drawing tablet in hand, freshly disconnected from her computer, but currently turned off. It'd take a few minutes for her to pull anything up, but they could just talk in that time. No big deal!
Hopping onto the couch, Katelyn held the power button on her tablet to boot it up, only for her whole body to tense as she heard the distinctive far-off rumble of thunder, and the sound of rain beginning to pitter-patter on the roof. Her breathing began to pick up a little bit. Hopefully the thunder wouldn't get too close for comfort.
"Uh, j-just give me a s-second, uh," she mumbled. "It t-takes a bit to turn on."
She pat the seat next to her—the one that wasn't occupied by her cat—with one hand.
"S-Sit?"
Ren shivered slightly at the thought. "No," they started to say, but Kitty was already distracted by Kai with the coffee, and Ren let their words trail off as they hastened to grab their own cup. Had they asked for their own cup? Ren couldn't complain. They grabbed it carefully with both hands--they had just shivered, after all--giving a bobbing curtsy as they did so, and brought it carefully to their chest. It warmed them through their shirt, which helped quiet the tremors, even though they probably weren't shivering from the cold.
"Thanks," they said to Kai, belatedly.
There was a clattering thud from the stairwell, timed almost as though to emphasize their statement, followed by a shaky reassurance. Ren busied themself with stirring and sipping their coffee. Convenient, for one as shy about starting conversation as them; convenient also for pauses too long to be ignored and yet too short to do something with. They thought about checking on Kitty, but quickly enough Ren heard the light patter of footsteps, and so they remained rooted in place. Eyes on the coffee, occasionally flickering up to see if anyone wanted to make conversation. Sipping.
It wasn't bad coffee, all things considered (Ren usually preferred condensed milk, but most families didn't bother with stocking that).
Kitty returned eventually, plopping down with tablet in hand, and her shaking definitely wasn't from the cold.* There will be another pause, Kitty told them, more time to fidget with coffee and carefully dance between making and avoiding eye contact, more time to--wait, nevermind, she was asking one of them to sit now. Ren started, realizing only too late that Kitty could've been offering the seat to Kai or California. Well, they couldn't reverse now. Kitty would think they didn't want to sit with her.
So they sat down, careful not to spill the coffee, and then, even more carefully, pulled their knees up, so that their body would settle into a lazy 'N' shape.
A beat passed as Ren remembered they owed Kitty an answer, and then they broke the quiet. "Um, black pudding, no. Or, hm. No? No, I don't think so. But I have had blood tofu before! In soup, mostly. My parents say I liked it a lot as a kid."
Ren paused. They listened. The rumbling was continuing. Interesting information was a good distraction, usually. "It's pretty easy to make, actually. I think there is a tutorial on youtube? If you wanna see it while we wait for your tablet."
*Not that Ren could be definitely sure of anything etc. etc. etc. but you get the idea.
"Thanks," they said to Kai, belatedly.
There was a clattering thud from the stairwell, timed almost as though to emphasize their statement, followed by a shaky reassurance. Ren busied themself with stirring and sipping their coffee. Convenient, for one as shy about starting conversation as them; convenient also for pauses too long to be ignored and yet too short to do something with. They thought about checking on Kitty, but quickly enough Ren heard the light patter of footsteps, and so they remained rooted in place. Eyes on the coffee, occasionally flickering up to see if anyone wanted to make conversation. Sipping.
It wasn't bad coffee, all things considered (Ren usually preferred condensed milk, but most families didn't bother with stocking that).
Kitty returned eventually, plopping down with tablet in hand, and her shaking definitely wasn't from the cold.* There will be another pause, Kitty told them, more time to fidget with coffee and carefully dance between making and avoiding eye contact, more time to--wait, nevermind, she was asking one of them to sit now. Ren started, realizing only too late that Kitty could've been offering the seat to Kai or California. Well, they couldn't reverse now. Kitty would think they didn't want to sit with her.
So they sat down, careful not to spill the coffee, and then, even more carefully, pulled their knees up, so that their body would settle into a lazy 'N' shape.
A beat passed as Ren remembered they owed Kitty an answer, and then they broke the quiet. "Um, black pudding, no. Or, hm. No? No, I don't think so. But I have had blood tofu before! In soup, mostly. My parents say I liked it a lot as a kid."
Ren paused. They listened. The rumbling was continuing. Interesting information was a good distraction, usually. "It's pretty easy to make, actually. I think there is a tutorial on youtube? If you wanna see it while we wait for your tablet."
*Not that Ren could be definitely sure of anything etc. etc. etc. but you get the idea.
With both drinks delivered to Kitty and Ren, Kai stepped back into the kitchen to make his own coffee. There was another mantra to this routine, one specific to making coffee at Kitty's house. She would sometimes hang over his arm and cheerfully declare that he liked his coffee black LIKE HIS SOUL.
Kai would remind her, though she knew already, that he liked his coffee with milk or plain cream.
LIKE HIS SOUL, she'd echo.
It always made him smile. He smiled to himself now as he thought about it, even with Kitty a couple of rooms away instead of at his arm.
Kai was never very social. He didn't talk with his classmates much, and he hung out with them casually even less. It made it all the more evident to him when he had those flashes of realization that somebody had so thoroughly wormed their way into his heart.
When he emerged from the kitchen again, Kitty and Ren had arranged themselves on the living room couch. California was still standing where she had been a minute ago. Kai took a slow sip of his coffee and then nodded towards the couch. Something between question and encouragement. Cali seemed like the kind of person who was fine with silent communication.
Kai would remind her, though she knew already, that he liked his coffee with milk or plain cream.
LIKE HIS SOUL, she'd echo.
It always made him smile. He smiled to himself now as he thought about it, even with Kitty a couple of rooms away instead of at his arm.
Kai was never very social. He didn't talk with his classmates much, and he hung out with them casually even less. It made it all the more evident to him when he had those flashes of realization that somebody had so thoroughly wormed their way into his heart.
When he emerged from the kitchen again, Kitty and Ren had arranged themselves on the living room couch. California was still standing where she had been a minute ago. Kai took a slow sip of his coffee and then nodded towards the couch. Something between question and encouragement. Cali seemed like the kind of person who was fine with silent communication.
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
Kitty reacted to her statement with a sudden burst of energy, dashing between rooms and bounding up the stairs, only to fall up them. After a pause and an affirmation that Kitty was in fact fine, there was another delay where the only sound was the small girls' movements around the upper floor of the house. Then she was dashing back down to them, tablet in hand. It was endearing to watch, seeing Kitty so at ease and eager to show off her work, at least until the thunder came and sent Kitty back into her shell.
Ren took the offered seat, which California didn't mind. Then she heard the sound of the rain, which she did mind. She had walked to Kitty's house, and as a result, there was a solid chance she was going to be getting wet as she made her way home. Unless she could get Kai to give her a ride home, no that was stupid. She wasn't going to ask him to do that. As California mentally chastised herself and questioned why she had even had the thought Kai himself reappeared in her field of vision, coffee in hand.
He inclined his head towards the free couch and from where she was California turned her eyes to it then back to Kai's gaze, pausing for a moment before giving a small shrug and slowly stepping past him to go and take a seat, taking a sip of her coffee as she did so, eyes shifting between Kai and her chosen spot.
Upon settling down she listened in to the conversation, unsure of how exactly Kitty and Ren had made it onto the subject. So instead of contributing she instead took another sip of her coffee as she waited for the tablet to turn on.
Ren took the offered seat, which California didn't mind. Then she heard the sound of the rain, which she did mind. She had walked to Kitty's house, and as a result, there was a solid chance she was going to be getting wet as she made her way home. Unless she could get Kai to give her a ride home, no that was stupid. She wasn't going to ask him to do that. As California mentally chastised herself and questioned why she had even had the thought Kai himself reappeared in her field of vision, coffee in hand.
He inclined his head towards the free couch and from where she was California turned her eyes to it then back to Kai's gaze, pausing for a moment before giving a small shrug and slowly stepping past him to go and take a seat, taking a sip of her coffee as she did so, eyes shifting between Kai and her chosen spot.
Upon settling down she listened in to the conversation, unsure of how exactly Kitty and Ren had made it onto the subject. So instead of contributing she instead took another sip of her coffee as she waited for the tablet to turn on.
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VoltTurtle
- Posts: 1545
- Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2018 4:10 pm
- Location: Dreamland
"That sounds delicious," Katelyn whispered to Ren.
She had never had blood tofu before, or even knew what it was, but if blood was involved then it probably tasted good. She always savored the salty, metallic flavor of blood. Sometimes, when she accidentally bit her lip or the inside of her cheek, she would suck on the wound just to see what her own blood tasted like. She knew it was weird, and probably didn't help the wound clot, but a bit auto-cannibalism now and again wasn't so bad.
The pitter-patter of rain on her roof grew louder as she kicked her feet in place, staring at the tablet screen as it lit up. Mr. Kitty settled in next to her, curling up next to her thigh and purring gently. Her frayed nerves soothed by his gentle presence. As afraid of a sudden crack of thunder as she was, as long as her kitty was here, she would be okay. Whenever she needed it, he always made everything okay. He saved her life twice, and he saved her again and again every day, giving her a reason to keep going in spite of the hurt.
Her hand drifted over to him, gently brushing his soft, supple fur as his chest vibrated against her hand. Petting him was like touching a cloud, and she could feel her breathing steady as all other sensory information went away.
Then, her tablet arrived at the home screen. She tapped and swiped at the screen with her free hand, not daring to take the other one off of her kitty. In a few quick motions, her photo album was brought up, displaying a dozen different folders of half-finished drawings that she had been unhappy with. She ignored them, instead picking out the finished ones and bringing up her latest work.
"So, I went w-with a more stylistic look on this one," she murmured, her cheeks beginning to glow red.
Even though she liked sharing her drawings with her friends, she couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed by her work. All the little mistakes that were invisible to everyone else that she could never tear her eyes away from. She was always afraid that someone would notice and point them out, and then she'd be embarrassed from not being good enough. She knew her friends wouldn't want to make her feel that way, but the worry was there, always. She couldn't help it.
With shaky hands, she picked up her tablet and showed everyone in the room.
The drawing depicted a highly stylized and overly-cutesy humanoid cat, winking at the camera with a big smile, and posing with a double peace sign. One of her eyes was missing, instead replaced by an empty, bleeding socket. Three clean cuts sliced through her body, two horizontally through her midsection, cutting it into three pieces, and one severing her arm near the shoulder. Bright green intestines spilled out from her gut, with hot pink blood oozing out from the cuts and coating her fur. Despite the injuries, the character looks happy.
"U-Um, this i-is an OC of mine," she murmured, her voice growing smaller by the moment as her throat began to tighten. "I like to draw her g-getting cut up. I hope that's n-not weird."
She had never had blood tofu before, or even knew what it was, but if blood was involved then it probably tasted good. She always savored the salty, metallic flavor of blood. Sometimes, when she accidentally bit her lip or the inside of her cheek, she would suck on the wound just to see what her own blood tasted like. She knew it was weird, and probably didn't help the wound clot, but a bit auto-cannibalism now and again wasn't so bad.
The pitter-patter of rain on her roof grew louder as she kicked her feet in place, staring at the tablet screen as it lit up. Mr. Kitty settled in next to her, curling up next to her thigh and purring gently. Her frayed nerves soothed by his gentle presence. As afraid of a sudden crack of thunder as she was, as long as her kitty was here, she would be okay. Whenever she needed it, he always made everything okay. He saved her life twice, and he saved her again and again every day, giving her a reason to keep going in spite of the hurt.
Her hand drifted over to him, gently brushing his soft, supple fur as his chest vibrated against her hand. Petting him was like touching a cloud, and she could feel her breathing steady as all other sensory information went away.
Then, her tablet arrived at the home screen. She tapped and swiped at the screen with her free hand, not daring to take the other one off of her kitty. In a few quick motions, her photo album was brought up, displaying a dozen different folders of half-finished drawings that she had been unhappy with. She ignored them, instead picking out the finished ones and bringing up her latest work.
"So, I went w-with a more stylistic look on this one," she murmured, her cheeks beginning to glow red.
Even though she liked sharing her drawings with her friends, she couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed by her work. All the little mistakes that were invisible to everyone else that she could never tear her eyes away from. She was always afraid that someone would notice and point them out, and then she'd be embarrassed from not being good enough. She knew her friends wouldn't want to make her feel that way, but the worry was there, always. She couldn't help it.
With shaky hands, she picked up her tablet and showed everyone in the room.
The drawing depicted a highly stylized and overly-cutesy humanoid cat, winking at the camera with a big smile, and posing with a double peace sign. One of her eyes was missing, instead replaced by an empty, bleeding socket. Three clean cuts sliced through her body, two horizontally through her midsection, cutting it into three pieces, and one severing her arm near the shoulder. Bright green intestines spilled out from her gut, with hot pink blood oozing out from the cuts and coating her fur. Despite the injuries, the character looks happy.
"U-Um, this i-is an OC of mine," she murmured, her voice growing smaller by the moment as her throat began to tighten. "I like to draw her g-getting cut up. I hope that's n-not weird."
It probably wasn't a good idea at this point for Ren to tell Kitty that they didn't actually like blood tofu, but they had nothing else to say on the matter, really--unfortunate, given that the rain was starting to pour--and the whole topic was probably going to weird out Cali anyways, now that she'd sat down with them.
The little friend with a rumbling sound always made for a good thing to focus on. Ren leaned over until they were face-to-face with Mr. Kitty. They blinked slowly--one, two, three times. They spoke his language, or something like it. A quick and light boop, nose-to-nose, and then Ren popped back up. He'd always liked them, and a cat's affection had a way of taking their breath away. Lovely smol friend, excellent friend.* A fitting distraction for any occasion!
The picture finally flashed onto the screen, and Ren leaned in for a better look. It was cute, very Kitty, blood and guts and love with a smile. In truth, it worried Ren, and they weren't a good liar.
They smiled. "It's cute. She's cute. I like it. But then again, I am weird."
They absent-mindedly scratched Mr. Kitty's chin. He really was quite soothing.
They took a deep breath. Flicked their eyes to Kai several times. Ugh, their kingdom for some nonverbal communication skills. That or telepathy. Should I say anything? Not that I want to suggest that all catgirls look the same, of course not, but that character, the one who's been disemboweled and cut to pieces, it sure looks like Kitty, and if I'm not mistaken.
"When you say OC. Do you mean SI?"
*Also their brain cells.
The little friend with a rumbling sound always made for a good thing to focus on. Ren leaned over until they were face-to-face with Mr. Kitty. They blinked slowly--one, two, three times. They spoke his language, or something like it. A quick and light boop, nose-to-nose, and then Ren popped back up. He'd always liked them, and a cat's affection had a way of taking their breath away. Lovely smol friend, excellent friend.* A fitting distraction for any occasion!
The picture finally flashed onto the screen, and Ren leaned in for a better look. It was cute, very Kitty, blood and guts and love with a smile. In truth, it worried Ren, and they weren't a good liar.
They smiled. "It's cute. She's cute. I like it. But then again, I am weird."
They absent-mindedly scratched Mr. Kitty's chin. He really was quite soothing.
They took a deep breath. Flicked their eyes to Kai several times. Ugh, their kingdom for some nonverbal communication skills. That or telepathy. Should I say anything? Not that I want to suggest that all catgirls look the same, of course not, but that character, the one who's been disemboweled and cut to pieces, it sure looks like Kitty, and if I'm not mistaken.
"When you say OC. Do you mean SI?"
*Also their brain cells.
Once everyone else had taken their seats, Kai found a vacant spot to sit as well. He took a chair, rather than a spot on the couch. Kitty and Ren were tiny, and California wasn't that big either, but he needed leg room. Kai sipped his coffee quietly, listening to the soft patter of rain starting up outside.
He liked the rain. Sitting inside with a hot drink was the best way to pass a rainy afternoon, but there were times that Kai would go outside to just stand in it. It was soothing. He had concerned his aunt and uncle when he first came to live with them, going outside in the occasional rain shower and just standing in the backyard, feeling the water roll off his skin and soak into his hair and clothes.
When he thought about it plainly like that, it did sound pretty weird. It probably wasn't the only thing about him that had concerned them.
Kai didn't have much comment on Kitty's art. The truth was, he did find it weird to draw cute, pretty things getting hurt and bloodied. He understood that Kitty's fascination with gore and death were part hobby and part coping method. He got that. It was still weird, and it made him uncomfortable. He just didn't say so because he didn't want to hurt her feelings. In a way, he told himself that it was better for her to hurt something imaginary on a page or a screen than to think about hurting herself.
That was dark. Kai took another long sip of coffee before speaking. "It's bright. Nice colors." That was about all he could say without commenting on the content of the picture.
He liked the rain. Sitting inside with a hot drink was the best way to pass a rainy afternoon, but there were times that Kai would go outside to just stand in it. It was soothing. He had concerned his aunt and uncle when he first came to live with them, going outside in the occasional rain shower and just standing in the backyard, feeling the water roll off his skin and soak into his hair and clothes.
When he thought about it plainly like that, it did sound pretty weird. It probably wasn't the only thing about him that had concerned them.
Kai didn't have much comment on Kitty's art. The truth was, he did find it weird to draw cute, pretty things getting hurt and bloodied. He understood that Kitty's fascination with gore and death were part hobby and part coping method. He got that. It was still weird, and it made him uncomfortable. He just didn't say so because he didn't want to hurt her feelings. In a way, he told himself that it was better for her to hurt something imaginary on a page or a screen than to think about hurting herself.
That was dark. Kai took another long sip of coffee before speaking. "It's bright. Nice colors." That was about all he could say without commenting on the content of the picture.
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
California ran her eyes over the image, taking in the content and making note of Kitty's nerves. The drawing itself was of a cat-person and it bore the hallmarks of Kitty's other work that she had seen. Highly stylized, bright colors, happy characters, dark subject matter. It wasn't her thing in a style sense but she could appreciate the artistic skill on display. The consistent pattern of Kitty's artwork was noticeable and California had interrogated the reasons in her time previously, coming to a decision that Kitty was funneling her own trauma into her work and it really wasn't her business to dig any deeper than that. Still, when Kitty said she hoped it wasn't weird California had to actively stop herself from nodding in agreement. It was still a weird thing to draw. It was just made slightly less weird with the benefit of context.
When Kai spoke and said he liked the colors—actually he hadn't said that he liked them—she nodded and was about to agree and say that Kitty's shading had gotten better but Ren spoke first and asked if the drawing was less of an original character and more of a self-insert. California's eyes narrowed and she gave a small and involuntary shake of the head before taking a long sip of her coffee. The plan was for them to hang out together and keep Kitty company, she didn't want to spend that time performing amateur therapy on their friend.
"I think it's good." She said quietly.
When Kai spoke and said he liked the colors—actually he hadn't said that he liked them—she nodded and was about to agree and say that Kitty's shading had gotten better but Ren spoke first and asked if the drawing was less of an original character and more of a self-insert. California's eyes narrowed and she gave a small and involuntary shake of the head before taking a long sip of her coffee. The plan was for them to hang out together and keep Kitty company, she didn't want to spend that time performing amateur therapy on their friend.
"I think it's good." She said quietly.
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VoltTurtle
- Posts: 1545
- Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2018 4:10 pm
- Location: Dreamland
Katelyn's hands slid up towards her face, clutching her cheeks as they turned beet red. She had been so worried they weren't going to like it that she hadn't considered how to react if they did. She was never good with compliments, though her therapist often tried to help her take them better.
"Th-thank you," she stammered out, keeping her eyes downcast and affixed on her cat rather than her friends.
The wind whistled through the trees outside, the noise audible even over the rain hitting the roof. Her cat purred gently next to her leg, his quiet rumbling tickling her thigh and helping keep her mind off the more distant, lower rumbling of thunder. She took a deep breath, reminding herself that she was safe here, and nothing was going to hurt her.
Except maybe a lightning bolt hitting her house, which would be bad, but that might just knock out the power instead. Which would be scary, but she would be fine, because she had her friends, and Ash even, if she needed them.
"U-um," she started to say, after a moment of contemplation, "she's not an SI, though, she's j-just a character..."
Her hand gripped a lock of her hair, tugging on it gently as she nervously kicked her feet.
"She's super, l-like, friendly and outgoing and always knows what to say a-and and," she faltered, "she's also not like, sad all the time, like I am, which means she's really different..."
Katelyn meant every word she said, even if she refused to acknowledge any similarities between her character and herself.
"U-um, let's look at s-something else I drew," she mumbled, no longer kicking her feet and instead petting her cat with one hand as the other hand swiped across her tablet.
The new picture was a digital painting she had done of Mr. Kitty. It was a lot rougher than her usual drawing style, with no line art to speak of, and instead just colored brush strokes coming together to create the whole image, like with real painting. The frame depicted her cat sitting on her desk, facing the viewer. He appeared as an almost cat-shaped silhouette, not unlike the real cat, with his bright green eyes, the slight pink of his tongue poking out, and the faintest hints of whiskers being the only colors to break up the otherwise uniform void. The lighting behind him formed a bright white ring, creating an angelic, halo-like effect around the cat.
"W-What about thi-"
A flash of lighting outside the living room window interrupted Katelyn, and her hands shot up to cover her ears as she closed her eyes, the muffled rumbling of much closer, but still distant thunder barely audible through her hands. Her nerves were alight, her pulse rapidly picking up as her breathing began to quicken. Just as soon as it started, though, she remembered what she had been taught, and took a deep breath, held it, then released.
Then she kept talking without missing a beat.
"Th-this one, I spent a lot of time painting it. From a picture, though, s-since I couldn't get Mr. Kitty to h-hold still..."
"Th-thank you," she stammered out, keeping her eyes downcast and affixed on her cat rather than her friends.
The wind whistled through the trees outside, the noise audible even over the rain hitting the roof. Her cat purred gently next to her leg, his quiet rumbling tickling her thigh and helping keep her mind off the more distant, lower rumbling of thunder. She took a deep breath, reminding herself that she was safe here, and nothing was going to hurt her.
Except maybe a lightning bolt hitting her house, which would be bad, but that might just knock out the power instead. Which would be scary, but she would be fine, because she had her friends, and Ash even, if she needed them.
"U-um," she started to say, after a moment of contemplation, "she's not an SI, though, she's j-just a character..."
Her hand gripped a lock of her hair, tugging on it gently as she nervously kicked her feet.
"She's super, l-like, friendly and outgoing and always knows what to say a-and and," she faltered, "she's also not like, sad all the time, like I am, which means she's really different..."
Katelyn meant every word she said, even if she refused to acknowledge any similarities between her character and herself.
"U-um, let's look at s-something else I drew," she mumbled, no longer kicking her feet and instead petting her cat with one hand as the other hand swiped across her tablet.
The new picture was a digital painting she had done of Mr. Kitty. It was a lot rougher than her usual drawing style, with no line art to speak of, and instead just colored brush strokes coming together to create the whole image, like with real painting. The frame depicted her cat sitting on her desk, facing the viewer. He appeared as an almost cat-shaped silhouette, not unlike the real cat, with his bright green eyes, the slight pink of his tongue poking out, and the faintest hints of whiskers being the only colors to break up the otherwise uniform void. The lighting behind him formed a bright white ring, creating an angelic, halo-like effect around the cat.
"W-What about thi-"
A flash of lighting outside the living room window interrupted Katelyn, and her hands shot up to cover her ears as she closed her eyes, the muffled rumbling of much closer, but still distant thunder barely audible through her hands. Her nerves were alight, her pulse rapidly picking up as her breathing began to quicken. Just as soon as it started, though, she remembered what she had been taught, and took a deep breath, held it, then released.
Then she kept talking without missing a beat.
"Th-this one, I spent a lot of time painting it. From a picture, though, s-since I couldn't get Mr. Kitty to h-hold still..."
Not one of Ren's better ideas, obviously. They backed off. Their hand made their way to the side of their head, mussed up their hair, found a lock to twirl. Not quite a replica of what Kitty was doing with her hair, but not too far from it. They really shouldn't do that if they didn't want Kitty to know they were flustered; no need to make her spiral further.
Now to apologize, eugh. Even though Kitty had moved on already. Should they apologize anyways? They should probably apologize anyways. "Well, um. First. Sorry. Of course she isn't." They tried to smile reassuringly. They had no idea whether it was reassuring. Were they belaboring the point? Causing it to malinger? "I don't know what I was thinking," they added; definitely belaboring, but
"I'll dispute the charge that you're not friendly, though, at--" They shook their head, reminded themself to take a breath. "Anyways."
They looked more closely at the Mr. Kitty painting. "I like this art style," they murmured, trying to slow their thoughts down enough to actually appreciate the painting. "I love what you're doing with light and darkness here. It's like a, uh..."
Hello, Ren, this is your regularly scheduled reminder that there is a time for pretension. Have you considered that this might not be it?
The thunder was getting closer, after all. They dug around in their pockets and came up with a bag of earplugs, which they wordlessly held out in Kitty's direction.
"Hm. Nevermind, I forgot what it's called. But it's really pretty. Like he's a hole in space." They glanced at Mr. Kitty. "Which I'm pretty sure he is."
Now to apologize, eugh. Even though Kitty had moved on already. Should they apologize anyways? They should probably apologize anyways. "Well, um. First. Sorry. Of course she isn't." They tried to smile reassuringly. They had no idea whether it was reassuring. Were they belaboring the point? Causing it to malinger? "I don't know what I was thinking," they added; definitely belaboring, but
"I'll dispute the charge that you're not friendly, though, at--" They shook their head, reminded themself to take a breath. "Anyways."
They looked more closely at the Mr. Kitty painting. "I like this art style," they murmured, trying to slow their thoughts down enough to actually appreciate the painting. "I love what you're doing with light and darkness here. It's like a, uh..."
Hello, Ren, this is your regularly scheduled reminder that there is a time for pretension. Have you considered that this might not be it?
The thunder was getting closer, after all. They dug around in their pockets and came up with a bag of earplugs, which they wordlessly held out in Kitty's direction.
"Hm. Nevermind, I forgot what it's called. But it's really pretty. Like he's a hole in space." They glanced at Mr. Kitty. "Which I'm pretty sure he is."
Kai curled both hands around his coffee cup and used the warmth radiating into his palms to center himself as Kitty started stammering. Ren didn't mean anything by it. He barely knew what they meant, but he knew they didn't mean harm. He didn't look directly at them or Kitty when he spoke again.
"It looks just like him." It might have sounded a little sarcastic, but real affection colored his voice. He'd always enjoyed art done in a more simplistic style. It was the kind that he'd have called childlike, but not in a demeaning way. Art like that felt honest. It was the kind of thing you could tell that the artist made just because it made them happy, before they knew enough about art to be critical of their own work.
He could remember making drawings like that, without a care for whether he had a talent for it or not. It was one of the things he had just gradually stopped doing once he got old enough to be aware that you were supposed to be "good" at your hobbies for some reason. He'd never quite gotten that, even as he focused more and more on the things that he was naturally good at and drew away from the things that he wasn't.
With camping, it actually mattered whether you were skilled or not. Making bad decisions or doing something sloppily out in the wilderness could literally kill you. Nobody to Kai's knowledge had ever been literally killed because they made a wonky drawing. The way that some people acted would make you think otherwise, though.
Kai did flinch when the lightning flashed again, more a reflection of Kitty's reaction than anything else. He leaned forward to set his cup down on the nearest table and then stood.
"I'm going to turn on the TV. Put on some music," he announced, already moving to do so. It wouldn't be able to drown out the storm completely, but it was something. Ambience or whatever. Kai located the remote and did just as he'd said, flicking through channels until he found one of the ones that was just 24-7 music. Something poppy, something upbeat and inconsequential. All it had to do was its job of filling the background quiet.
His solemn duty fulfilled, Kai took his seat once more and smiled at Kitty. It always felt notable to him how real and warm just seeing her could make his smile.
"What else have you got?"
((Kai Rosado-Prince continued elsewhere))
"It looks just like him." It might have sounded a little sarcastic, but real affection colored his voice. He'd always enjoyed art done in a more simplistic style. It was the kind that he'd have called childlike, but not in a demeaning way. Art like that felt honest. It was the kind of thing you could tell that the artist made just because it made them happy, before they knew enough about art to be critical of their own work.
He could remember making drawings like that, without a care for whether he had a talent for it or not. It was one of the things he had just gradually stopped doing once he got old enough to be aware that you were supposed to be "good" at your hobbies for some reason. He'd never quite gotten that, even as he focused more and more on the things that he was naturally good at and drew away from the things that he wasn't.
With camping, it actually mattered whether you were skilled or not. Making bad decisions or doing something sloppily out in the wilderness could literally kill you. Nobody to Kai's knowledge had ever been literally killed because they made a wonky drawing. The way that some people acted would make you think otherwise, though.
Kai did flinch when the lightning flashed again, more a reflection of Kitty's reaction than anything else. He leaned forward to set his cup down on the nearest table and then stood.
"I'm going to turn on the TV. Put on some music," he announced, already moving to do so. It wouldn't be able to drown out the storm completely, but it was something. Ambience or whatever. Kai located the remote and did just as he'd said, flicking through channels until he found one of the ones that was just 24-7 music. Something poppy, something upbeat and inconsequential. All it had to do was its job of filling the background quiet.
His solemn duty fulfilled, Kai took his seat once more and smiled at Kitty. It always felt notable to him how real and warm just seeing her could make his smile.
"What else have you got?"
((Kai Rosado-Prince continued elsewhere))
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
Kitty continued to show off her artwork as California, Kai and Ren observed it. The cat picture was cute and different enough that Ren and Kai seemed more accepting of it. Not that it was any of California's business. Meanwhile, the storm had continued to rage outside with thunder periodically crashing around Salem. The city seemed to be doing its best to live up to its reputation.
Kai decided to turn some music on and while California didn't enjoy his selection she didn't speak up, understanding that it was more for backing noise than anything else.
So she sat and continued to look at Kitty's artwork.
((California Fox continued elsewhere...))
Kai decided to turn some music on and while California didn't enjoy his selection she didn't speak up, understanding that it was more for backing noise than anything else.
So she sat and continued to look at Kitty's artwork.
((California Fox continued elsewhere...))