Catseye and Jean-Paul
Jul. 3rd, 2009 09:13 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsCatseye comes to visit Jean-Paul and delivers his second tackle-hug of the day.
As soon as it reached her attention that Jean-Paul could have visitors, Catseye bolted for his suite. She changed to girlform and knocked on the door, understanding that Jean-Paul would expect her to honour his privacy. "Mister Beaubier? Can Catseye come in? Catseye wants- Catseye would veryverymuch like to see Mister Beaubier because Catseye has been veryvery worried!" It seemed like stating what she wanted might be seen as her not caring what Jean-Paul wanted, and she didn't want that. The catgirl wanted to make sure that her teacher was alright. Jean-Paul had become very important to her since her return to the school.
Jean-Paul was glad that Catseye had announced herself; it gave him a few moments to mentally steel himself against the after-images still wrapped around his memories and let him answer the door in a somewhat collected state of mind. It also meant that he was prepared enough for human contact that when Catseye decided to show how very concerned she had been by taking one look at the thin, tired man who bore mostly a superficial resemblance to her teacher and tackling him into a hug, he did not flail overmuch. Jean-Paul stumbled back in surprise at the forceful greeting and steadied himself by wrapping his arms around the girl. After a moment, he relaxed a bit and returned the embrace firmly.
"It is good to see you too," he murmured.
Catseye struggled not to rub her cheek against Jean-Paul's the way the cat would have. She knew the hug was a lot for him to handle and didn't want to push him into being uncomfortable. Pulling back reluctantly, she grinned very widely at him. "Did Mister Beaubier see that Catseye has been reading to NotVermin while he has been sick?" She picked up a copy of The Rats of Nimh that was near the cage. "When Mister Beaubier was away and then sick Catseye got sad for not having MisterBeaubier to read to her and it made Catseye feel better to read to the NotVermin, and Catseye was reading them some of the book where their special names came from because Catseye read that book with Mister Beaubier so Catseye already knows the story so it was easier to read than a new book. Mister Beaubier still looks very tired and sick," she pointed out, smile vanishing in concern. He smelled like sickness, as well, but she didn't point that out. "Should Catseye go? Or can Catseye read with MisterBeaubier? Maybe Catseye can read to Mister Beaubier if he is sick?"
"No, you do not have to leave." Part of him wanted very much to tell her to go. Being braced against the mental image of stripping the skin from a small purple cat as if she were a rabbit for the pot did not mean that having someone there to trigger it was exactly welcome. But there were only so many of those false memories, those forced lies. Xavier had told him so. His time with Nathan had proven it. Eventually, they had to loop around again, lose some of their impact. If he kept himself hidden in his room, that might not ever happen. "I am...not sick so much. I am just not sleeping very well. I think it would be...verygood to read together. But tell me what I have missed while I have been sequestered? A lot happens here in two weeks, non?"
Smiling happily, the catgirl cradled the book under an arm. "Catseye is glad Mister Beaubier is not sick so much," she said with an enthusiastic nod. "Soon Mister Beaubier will sleep better when more days pass and the bad things go away and there are only good things, and then Mister Beaubier will not be sick at all!" She took Jean-Paul's hand gently so she could lead him somewhere, like a mother leading her offspring. "Does Mister Beaubier want to lie down in his bed and Catseye will sit in a chair?" She didn't want to presume to sit on his bed with him, knowing it had caused him discomfort when they'd first met. "Or sit on the couch?" She left the decision up to him and moved onto his request. "Mister Beaubier missed a lot in two weeks, yesyesyes! Angel and Julian are not friends anymore, and so now Julian and Yvette are not friends anymore, and Yvette is doing muchmuchmuch better, and Catseye went to the Pride Parade with Jay and GlitterGirl and Nicholas and lots of other people from the BigHouse, and Catseye asked everyone on the journals about what names they liked best so that Catseye would not call them names they do not like and Catseye learned verymuch about everyone's names! They are all very special," she said with a nod. "Mister Beaubier was veryveryright because he is veryvery smart, and Catseye is happy that she listened to Mister Beaubier because now Catseye understands." She couldn't help but hug him again with the arm that wasn't holding his hand, which caused her to drop the book she'd been holding.
"The couch." Catseye's chatter was familiar, but even more welcome for being a distraction -- he couldn't follow the thread of the conversation and linger on the unwelcome slide-show behind his eyes at the same time. He let her guide him down onto the couch cushions, offering an off-center smile as she relayed all of her news. "Did you? I will have to look at this and see what everyone had to say about themselves. It sounds like interesting reading itself."
Catseye nodded happily, perching on the floor in front of Jean-Paul so that he could lie down. "It was veryinteresting! Did Jean-Paul know that Amanda used to be called Blossom? She did not like it at all. Catseye is happy she did not call Amanda that name. And Callie's motherperson named her after whistles!" She nearly vibrated with excitement after revealing this fact as she opened the book to where she'd left off reading to Jenner and Nicodemus- it was definitely her favourite naming story. "Catseye is veryveryhappy Mister Beaubier can see Catseye now. Catseye was verysad, because she missed Mister Beaubier verymuch and not just because of reading together." She rested her chin on the couch cushion and looked up at him happily.
"Trying on all of my names to see which one fits me now?" the older mutant teased lightly, uncertain of how to respond to her pleasure at his return. Between the catatonia and the emotional turbulence of the last few days, he had not had much of a chance to truly miss anyone and Catseye was the sort to easily catch onto polite not-quite-truths. "But whatever you wish to call me, you have me back and I am glad to have made it back. I do not think I will be running off for any more adventures soon." He hadn't lain down yet and, after a moment, he patted the cushions beside him. "Come up here. It is less lonely that way. I promise to behave myself."
Obeying immediately, Catseye took a place on the couch next to Jean-Paul. "Angel said Catseye is supposed to ask what people like to be called. That is why Catseye asked in her journal but Catseye would like to ask Mister Beaubier too, what name he likes Catseye to call him? Mister Beaubier? Jean-Paul?" She gave the open book to Jean-Paul proudly. "Catseye read this much to the NotVermin," she informed him- she'd gotten about halfway through the book. "How come Mister Jean-Paul Beaubier says he will behave himself? Does he mean he will not pull Catseye's tail?" When had Jean-Paul ever not behaved himself around her? She was the one who did things he found uncomfortable, like when she'd insisted she could nap with him in catform even though he didn't like it.
"It is a joke, that is all." More familiar territory. He relaxed against the cushions. "Because I do usually behave myself somewhat like a responsible adult, the fact that I am implying that I do not is silly. As for the name, Mister Beaubier is fine for class, but you may call me Jean-Paul when we are less formal. If you like."
"Oh!" Catseye chuckled so as not to offend Jean-Paul. "Yes Catseye thinks that is very funny! And yes Catseye would like, and Catseye will try to remember one name for class and one name for less formal. Does Jean-Paul want to read to Catseye or want Catseye to read to him?" she asked, shifting a little bit closer.
Jean-Paul lay one arm along the back of the sofa, leaving himself open to approach. "You have been looking after the rats while I was gone. Let me read to you for a bit." It would give him something to focus on more than simply listening would.
"Johnny looked after them," Catseye corrected with a smile. "He took veryverygood care. Catseye just read to them because she missed reading with Jean-Paul. Can Catseye shift into catform?" she asked, tentatively. She didn't want to upset him, but she sensed that he was troubled and tense and sometimes a cat could make people more relaxed than a human, it seemed in Catseye's experience.
"You helped," Jean-Paul pointed out with a slight smile. "But no, I would not mind it at all."
"Catseye did help!" she agreed excitedly. "And Catseye even brought a baby mousie to Jean-Paul to look after after Catseye ate its mother by accident but Jean-Paul was missing so Catseye gave the mousie to Marie-Ange and Catseye named the mousie Inez because Inez grew up with no motherperson just like the mousie so Catseye thought it would be a veryspecial name for the mousie!" Grinning happily, she shifted into catform where she arched her back proudly at her accomplishment with the mouse and began to purr.
Jean-Paul's smile grew fractionally as Catseye hopped aboard, more on his belly than his lap and made herself comfortable, pillowing her head on his wrist. He scratched gently under her chin with one finger and was rewarded by purple eyes squeezed shut in kitty bliss. The look spoke volumes -- it was good to have one of Her People back.
As soon as it reached her attention that Jean-Paul could have visitors, Catseye bolted for his suite. She changed to girlform and knocked on the door, understanding that Jean-Paul would expect her to honour his privacy. "Mister Beaubier? Can Catseye come in? Catseye wants- Catseye would veryverymuch like to see Mister Beaubier because Catseye has been veryvery worried!" It seemed like stating what she wanted might be seen as her not caring what Jean-Paul wanted, and she didn't want that. The catgirl wanted to make sure that her teacher was alright. Jean-Paul had become very important to her since her return to the school.
Jean-Paul was glad that Catseye had announced herself; it gave him a few moments to mentally steel himself against the after-images still wrapped around his memories and let him answer the door in a somewhat collected state of mind. It also meant that he was prepared enough for human contact that when Catseye decided to show how very concerned she had been by taking one look at the thin, tired man who bore mostly a superficial resemblance to her teacher and tackling him into a hug, he did not flail overmuch. Jean-Paul stumbled back in surprise at the forceful greeting and steadied himself by wrapping his arms around the girl. After a moment, he relaxed a bit and returned the embrace firmly.
"It is good to see you too," he murmured.
Catseye struggled not to rub her cheek against Jean-Paul's the way the cat would have. She knew the hug was a lot for him to handle and didn't want to push him into being uncomfortable. Pulling back reluctantly, she grinned very widely at him. "Did Mister Beaubier see that Catseye has been reading to NotVermin while he has been sick?" She picked up a copy of The Rats of Nimh that was near the cage. "When Mister Beaubier was away and then sick Catseye got sad for not having MisterBeaubier to read to her and it made Catseye feel better to read to the NotVermin, and Catseye was reading them some of the book where their special names came from because Catseye read that book with Mister Beaubier so Catseye already knows the story so it was easier to read than a new book. Mister Beaubier still looks very tired and sick," she pointed out, smile vanishing in concern. He smelled like sickness, as well, but she didn't point that out. "Should Catseye go? Or can Catseye read with MisterBeaubier? Maybe Catseye can read to Mister Beaubier if he is sick?"
"No, you do not have to leave." Part of him wanted very much to tell her to go. Being braced against the mental image of stripping the skin from a small purple cat as if she were a rabbit for the pot did not mean that having someone there to trigger it was exactly welcome. But there were only so many of those false memories, those forced lies. Xavier had told him so. His time with Nathan had proven it. Eventually, they had to loop around again, lose some of their impact. If he kept himself hidden in his room, that might not ever happen. "I am...not sick so much. I am just not sleeping very well. I think it would be...verygood to read together. But tell me what I have missed while I have been sequestered? A lot happens here in two weeks, non?"
Smiling happily, the catgirl cradled the book under an arm. "Catseye is glad Mister Beaubier is not sick so much," she said with an enthusiastic nod. "Soon Mister Beaubier will sleep better when more days pass and the bad things go away and there are only good things, and then Mister Beaubier will not be sick at all!" She took Jean-Paul's hand gently so she could lead him somewhere, like a mother leading her offspring. "Does Mister Beaubier want to lie down in his bed and Catseye will sit in a chair?" She didn't want to presume to sit on his bed with him, knowing it had caused him discomfort when they'd first met. "Or sit on the couch?" She left the decision up to him and moved onto his request. "Mister Beaubier missed a lot in two weeks, yesyesyes! Angel and Julian are not friends anymore, and so now Julian and Yvette are not friends anymore, and Yvette is doing muchmuchmuch better, and Catseye went to the Pride Parade with Jay and GlitterGirl and Nicholas and lots of other people from the BigHouse, and Catseye asked everyone on the journals about what names they liked best so that Catseye would not call them names they do not like and Catseye learned verymuch about everyone's names! They are all very special," she said with a nod. "Mister Beaubier was veryveryright because he is veryvery smart, and Catseye is happy that she listened to Mister Beaubier because now Catseye understands." She couldn't help but hug him again with the arm that wasn't holding his hand, which caused her to drop the book she'd been holding.
"The couch." Catseye's chatter was familiar, but even more welcome for being a distraction -- he couldn't follow the thread of the conversation and linger on the unwelcome slide-show behind his eyes at the same time. He let her guide him down onto the couch cushions, offering an off-center smile as she relayed all of her news. "Did you? I will have to look at this and see what everyone had to say about themselves. It sounds like interesting reading itself."
Catseye nodded happily, perching on the floor in front of Jean-Paul so that he could lie down. "It was veryinteresting! Did Jean-Paul know that Amanda used to be called Blossom? She did not like it at all. Catseye is happy she did not call Amanda that name. And Callie's motherperson named her after whistles!" She nearly vibrated with excitement after revealing this fact as she opened the book to where she'd left off reading to Jenner and Nicodemus- it was definitely her favourite naming story. "Catseye is veryveryhappy Mister Beaubier can see Catseye now. Catseye was verysad, because she missed Mister Beaubier verymuch and not just because of reading together." She rested her chin on the couch cushion and looked up at him happily.
"Trying on all of my names to see which one fits me now?" the older mutant teased lightly, uncertain of how to respond to her pleasure at his return. Between the catatonia and the emotional turbulence of the last few days, he had not had much of a chance to truly miss anyone and Catseye was the sort to easily catch onto polite not-quite-truths. "But whatever you wish to call me, you have me back and I am glad to have made it back. I do not think I will be running off for any more adventures soon." He hadn't lain down yet and, after a moment, he patted the cushions beside him. "Come up here. It is less lonely that way. I promise to behave myself."
Obeying immediately, Catseye took a place on the couch next to Jean-Paul. "Angel said Catseye is supposed to ask what people like to be called. That is why Catseye asked in her journal but Catseye would like to ask Mister Beaubier too, what name he likes Catseye to call him? Mister Beaubier? Jean-Paul?" She gave the open book to Jean-Paul proudly. "Catseye read this much to the NotVermin," she informed him- she'd gotten about halfway through the book. "How come Mister Jean-Paul Beaubier says he will behave himself? Does he mean he will not pull Catseye's tail?" When had Jean-Paul ever not behaved himself around her? She was the one who did things he found uncomfortable, like when she'd insisted she could nap with him in catform even though he didn't like it.
"It is a joke, that is all." More familiar territory. He relaxed against the cushions. "Because I do usually behave myself somewhat like a responsible adult, the fact that I am implying that I do not is silly. As for the name, Mister Beaubier is fine for class, but you may call me Jean-Paul when we are less formal. If you like."
"Oh!" Catseye chuckled so as not to offend Jean-Paul. "Yes Catseye thinks that is very funny! And yes Catseye would like, and Catseye will try to remember one name for class and one name for less formal. Does Jean-Paul want to read to Catseye or want Catseye to read to him?" she asked, shifting a little bit closer.
Jean-Paul lay one arm along the back of the sofa, leaving himself open to approach. "You have been looking after the rats while I was gone. Let me read to you for a bit." It would give him something to focus on more than simply listening would.
"Johnny looked after them," Catseye corrected with a smile. "He took veryverygood care. Catseye just read to them because she missed reading with Jean-Paul. Can Catseye shift into catform?" she asked, tentatively. She didn't want to upset him, but she sensed that he was troubled and tense and sometimes a cat could make people more relaxed than a human, it seemed in Catseye's experience.
"You helped," Jean-Paul pointed out with a slight smile. "But no, I would not mind it at all."
"Catseye did help!" she agreed excitedly. "And Catseye even brought a baby mousie to Jean-Paul to look after after Catseye ate its mother by accident but Jean-Paul was missing so Catseye gave the mousie to Marie-Ange and Catseye named the mousie Inez because Inez grew up with no motherperson just like the mousie so Catseye thought it would be a veryspecial name for the mousie!" Grinning happily, she shifted into catform where she arched her back proudly at her accomplishment with the mouse and began to purr.
Jean-Paul's smile grew fractionally as Catseye hopped aboard, more on his belly than his lap and made herself comfortable, pillowing her head on his wrist. He scratched gently under her chin with one finger and was rewarded by purple eyes squeezed shut in kitty bliss. The look spoke volumes -- it was good to have one of Her People back.
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