I Am Noman

[plaguedrat]

He's always preferred to own his books, but his refusal to seek out work and forge any real ties to the city have forced him to budget, to compromise. It's what takes him to the public library today. Signing up for a library card is different, he tries to convince himself. It's not as if it requires money, nor does he have to maintain it. It's different.

It's netted him a thick stack of books that he's negotiating into a bag while he sits on the steps. The acetate-bound copy of The Odyssey rests on his knees, the one he plans to read first.

Perhaps he's like Odysseus, trapped for years on an island and prolonging his foolish journey.

Comments

[silenttrainbaby]

So, Shion is alive? And is he here? Grey points to the world Where on his arm.

His stomach feels strange.

[plaguedrat]

"Far away." Beyond the veil of this city. Another reason he can't stay here.

[silenttrainbaby]

Oh.

Grey nods, pulling back his hand to pet the cat. The set of Rat's jaw speaks volumes.

[plaguedrat]

"I wasn't right for him anyway." It's painfully sincere, something he believes wholly no matter what they'd felt.

[silenttrainbaby]

Since when does that matter? Feelings are feelings. Why, though, does Rat think so? Grey points to the word on his arm.

[plaguedrat]

"He was innocent." And Rat had pushed him and pushed him until Shion broke, shot a man in the head.

"I'm not."

[silenttrainbaby]

Innocence can't be sustained, though. Even Grey knows that. He shrugs a shoulder, leaning down to put his nose in the fur of the cat's head.

[plaguedrat]

Likely not, but the way that he pushed Shion...

...He doesn't like thinking n that topic. "Maybe we should name your cyclops Polyphemus."

[silenttrainbaby]

That's a very elaborate name for the cat. And it isn't as if Grey will call him that. He shrugs. Why not?

[plaguedrat]

"Polyphemus," Rat says, dangerously close to crooning. "Cyclops. Son of Poseidon, the Earth-Shaker."

[silenttrainbaby]

His chin resting on the cat's head, Grey nearly smiles again. The cat - Polyphemus - looks up at Rat ... and yawns.

[plaguedrat]

"Polyphemu, whose roar was mighty and fearsome, who enslaved humans with his furry touch and rumbling purr," Rat continues on, melodramatic.

[silenttrainbaby]

The cat's purr grows louder, Grey's smile wider. It feels strange on his face.

[plaguedrat]

"One-eyed fighter, chaser of mice..." Rat pulls out one of his boot laces and dangles it in front of Polyphemus.

[silenttrainbaby]

Suddenly alert, the cat wriggles from his sling to bat a front paw at the dangling, elusive thing.

Grey expels a breath that could possibly sound like a laugh.

[plaguedrat]

Rat smiles at that, surprisingly genuine and affectionate, letting the cat chase and pounce the string.

[silenttrainbaby]

Catching the string between his paws, the cat claws at it, trying to pull it closer to bite it, tug it, conquer the string.

It makes Grey's chest feel tight and fizzy watching, watching Rat's face, too.

[plaguedrat]

"Quite the hunter, isn't he?" Rat says, tugging the lace out from the cat's paw.

[silenttrainbaby]

He is. That fits. Maybe Grey was meant to find this cat.

The cat doesn't let the string get too far, leaning nearly too far out of the sling, one paw on Rat's knee, the other batting at the string.

[plaguedrat]

He continues to tease the cat with the string, but never outright taunting, just enough to entertain Polyphemus.

[silenttrainbaby]

Eventually, the cat does tire of the game and nestles back against Grey's chest. Pulling the sling around him again, Grey smiles at Rat.

[plaguedrat]

"He seems happy with you," Rat says, still smiling.

[silenttrainbaby]

And with Rat. Grey meets his eyes, taking a deep, content breath.

[plaguedrat]

No, Rat would say. He's just entertainment. The cat has no reason to be terribly attached to him.

He looks up at Grey, trying to read his face.

[silenttrainbaby]

Even though the smile fades, it isn't as if Grey looks angry or displaced. The sun is warm on his head, the cat is warm on his chest and though his cast itches, he feels all right. He looks right back, blinking slowly.