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xp_logsTo his horror, it falls to Liam to explain some of the finer points of social conduct to Sharon now that she has added a human form to her rotation. The conversation goes reasonably well right up until Warren arrives.
Sharon was annoyed. First she had to suffer the irritation of being bipedal, and second she had arrived in the parlor to find Liam had already stolen the best afternoon sunbeam. This would not be tolerated. Her skin was currently unprotected. If there was one person in this mansion who should be absorbing the sun's warmth and creating a fall-risk it was her.
Sharon dropped to her hands and knees, butted Liam's chest with her head to get him to uncurl, and flopped against him.
Rolling to his side easily, Liam only wore enough to get comfortable, one hand easily draping over Sharon's stomach, fingers kneading rhythmically as he began to purr. A good sunbeam to nap in and a friend to nap with. Absolutely perfect.
Sharon thrummed, the infringement on her territory instantly forgiven. This was acceptable. Her tail flicked lazily. Without thinking, she leaned in and began to lick the top of Liam's head just behind his ear.
Eh? What was that? Liam slowly pulled an eye open, his brain following as it booted up. "Sharon?" he murmured, the purring and biscuit machines pausing. "Are you licking me?"
"Is only grooming." With a yawn, Sharon lay back and stretched her hands over her head, back arching into the motion. The kneading had stopped. That was disappointing.
He was going to regret this, he could already tell. "... Why are you grooming me?"
"Is just affection." She paused, then added, "And dominance."
Growling slightly, Liam reluctantly pulled away, then blinked, fully awake now. "Sharon. You're human. No. That's weird. And you interrupted my nap," Sharon did this intentionally, he was sure. "You can't do this when human," his tail and ears were down, indicating his displeasure.
Sharon felt her face go hot. The girl sat up, tail twitching stiffly against the rug. As she did she felt the skin on her temples pull back as she subconsciously tried to mirror him, but human ears couldn't flatten.
"We are both still Cat," Sharon insisted. "Nothing is different."
"It is different," he disagreed, rolling to sit up and pulling his feet into butterfly position easily, "You're a girl and I'm a boy, too. And I'm not....I mean, I like girls. But...." He couldn't say 'not you,' and instead looked down at his knee. "Maybe if we were little. But we're not."
"It is not different. We have no sexual interest in each other. You are Kitten." Sharon didn't believe in unspoken ambiguities when she could make concrete declarations with her whole chest. An inexplicable knot of panic was forming. The worst part was that she didn't have fur. Without it her sickly pale cheeks showed every red blotch of her embarrassment. Defensively, Sharon grabbed the front of the oversized t-shirt she was wearing. "And I have never been more clothed."
That was true. And at the same time, her fur was so much more than clothing. "Yeah, but... people don't understand," he explained, "And then it'll be a Whole Thing. And at least one of us will get in trouble," he wasn't sure which though. Maybe both.
"But I am not a person!" Sharon blurted. "Kyle said I do not need to act like every other person. I am not like you. Was not born like this. Human shape was only because sometimes it was daughter my m . . . my mother wanted, not cat." Sharon dropped her head, suddenly uncomfortable. "Only that," she mumbled.
Oh crap, was she going to cry? Please don't cry. Girls crying was so awkward and he hated it. "Hey, no," Liam wrapped her in his arms, pulling her close. He couldn't purr and talk though, which was really annoying right now. "Mr. G's right, you're unique. But also, not everyone understands that, so you gotta make sure it's okay sometimes to show that. 'Cause people, they only know how to be people. And we're people, but we're also cats. And it's never easy being half- anything. Especially when it's something different."
Sharon had never received a hug from anyone other than her mother while in human form: there was something especially vulnerable about the sensation of skin against skin. But it was Liam, and it was not so different from when she butted him with her head, or he scratched her ears. It was a little embarrassing, receiving comfort from someone who was so much younger than herself, but she was just relieved Liam was still allowing her to touch him. They weren't the same, but she'd never met anyone so close. She'd never been able to do cat things with another person before; the thought of losing it now was unbearable.
Sharon did not cry, but she did bury her face in Liam's shoulder for a few breaths to compose herself.
"I . . . will try not to get you into trouble," she said finally. Reluctantly, she released him so she could look at his face. "Tell me what is okay. Will respect it."
He was absolutely empathizing with his parents and hating every moment. But. He'd probably be a lot more like Sharon without those horrible rules and conversations. Gah. Purring loudly he head-butted her gently in the forehead, "We can still nap and stuff, just don't groom me while I'm asleep."
Sharon looked disappointed. "What if I am cat?" she tried.
That was better and Liam took a moment to consider before he replied. After all, he didn't shift. "Not while asleep," he stated firmly "but.... it's a lot less weird when you're a cat," he liked her rougher tongue in that form, too. His own tongue was human and he didn't have an urge to groom anyone with it. "And only my hair or ears."
"Okay." Sharon smiled, which was slightly rigid; human facial expressions were on the low end of her non-verbal vocabulary, and she usually had to remind herself to make them more obvious. To compensate she shoved the top of her head under Liam's chin to rub against his jaw. "Shall only lick approved areas."
The parlour was definitely a good place for a nap, one that Warren sorely needed. It had been a long day and night, finalizing some work for overseas and he yawned widely, as he walked into what he knew to be the coziest part of the mansion before freezing solid. What in the .... "We have got to stop meeting like this," Warren said, a concerned look on his eyes. What was he watching? "Although licking approved areas is good and important.....but pretty sure I'm watching a crime. Liam, cat- boy, are you an adult? Do you need an adult? I can go find one..." He trailed off, pointing a thumb towards the door. "Or ... wait. Is this some cat culture thing I don't know about and am being oppressive over?" He dropped his arms helplessly. "Just tell me what to do so I can nap in peace and quiet."
"Go away, Birdie," Liam scowled, ignoring the question of whether or not he was an adult. He was close enough!
Sharon glanced over her shoulder and flicked her tail, unbothered. "No need for concern, we are not sexually attracted to each other. Very narrow-minded to ascribe human sensuality to feline matters. Nonetheless, in the process of negotiating boundaries and consent." She gazed at Warren with her steady yellow eyes. "Unless you are prudish about such things."
"Can you have platonic licking between friends?" That was definitely an inside thought rather than an outside one, but this scenario was hurting his brain. On one hand, he had never cared what two adults consensually decided on. On the other hand, he was positive Liam wasn't old enough for this. There was a reason Warren ignored people until they turned 18 -- it was too complicated to be censoring himself constantly. "Anyways, regardless, cat, not cat, cuddling in public -- cool. Whatever you two are doing?" He flapped a hand in their direction "Not cool. I want to nap, and honestly, glomping sounds are gross anyways." He sat down on the couch facing theirs and stretched out, closing his eyes. "And I really don't want to hear it."
Sighing, Liam got up, stretching and making sure to show off both teeth and front claws, "That's why boundaries," he said as if talking to a small child, "I don't want her licking me sometimes. Yeesh! Go away if you can't be mature about stuff. Bird brain."
"No need for the kitten to be rude. He is not to know of our Culture." Sharon got to her feet and stretched her arms over her head. At least her balance was improving. "Discussion may be taken elsewhere so Warren Worthington may use this space to nap." She slit her eyes at him in a way that suspiciously resembled a smile. "Or wonder what unspeakably platonic acts might have occurred there."
"If it's platonic, it shouldn't be unspeakable," grumbled Warren as he rolled onto his stomach, his head on a very comfy pillow. He'd have to ask someone what to do about this. In the meantime... "On the way out, can you toss me a blanket? That'd be awesome."
Raising an eyebrow, Liam was absolutely prepared to argue. Platonic but make it weird? Challenge accepted. But then Warren had to go and actually nap. Fiiiine. Let the bird nap. He wasn't even in the sunbeam, the weirdo!
Sighing, he grabbed a throw blanket and tossed it on the other guy as he headed out to find something else to do. Maybe go outside?
Sharon was annoyed. First she had to suffer the irritation of being bipedal, and second she had arrived in the parlor to find Liam had already stolen the best afternoon sunbeam. This would not be tolerated. Her skin was currently unprotected. If there was one person in this mansion who should be absorbing the sun's warmth and creating a fall-risk it was her.
Sharon dropped to her hands and knees, butted Liam's chest with her head to get him to uncurl, and flopped against him.
Rolling to his side easily, Liam only wore enough to get comfortable, one hand easily draping over Sharon's stomach, fingers kneading rhythmically as he began to purr. A good sunbeam to nap in and a friend to nap with. Absolutely perfect.
Sharon thrummed, the infringement on her territory instantly forgiven. This was acceptable. Her tail flicked lazily. Without thinking, she leaned in and began to lick the top of Liam's head just behind his ear.
Eh? What was that? Liam slowly pulled an eye open, his brain following as it booted up. "Sharon?" he murmured, the purring and biscuit machines pausing. "Are you licking me?"
"Is only grooming." With a yawn, Sharon lay back and stretched her hands over her head, back arching into the motion. The kneading had stopped. That was disappointing.
He was going to regret this, he could already tell. "... Why are you grooming me?"
"Is just affection." She paused, then added, "And dominance."
Growling slightly, Liam reluctantly pulled away, then blinked, fully awake now. "Sharon. You're human. No. That's weird. And you interrupted my nap," Sharon did this intentionally, he was sure. "You can't do this when human," his tail and ears were down, indicating his displeasure.
Sharon felt her face go hot. The girl sat up, tail twitching stiffly against the rug. As she did she felt the skin on her temples pull back as she subconsciously tried to mirror him, but human ears couldn't flatten.
"We are both still Cat," Sharon insisted. "Nothing is different."
"It is different," he disagreed, rolling to sit up and pulling his feet into butterfly position easily, "You're a girl and I'm a boy, too. And I'm not....I mean, I like girls. But...." He couldn't say 'not you,' and instead looked down at his knee. "Maybe if we were little. But we're not."
"It is not different. We have no sexual interest in each other. You are Kitten." Sharon didn't believe in unspoken ambiguities when she could make concrete declarations with her whole chest. An inexplicable knot of panic was forming. The worst part was that she didn't have fur. Without it her sickly pale cheeks showed every red blotch of her embarrassment. Defensively, Sharon grabbed the front of the oversized t-shirt she was wearing. "And I have never been more clothed."
That was true. And at the same time, her fur was so much more than clothing. "Yeah, but... people don't understand," he explained, "And then it'll be a Whole Thing. And at least one of us will get in trouble," he wasn't sure which though. Maybe both.
"But I am not a person!" Sharon blurted. "Kyle said I do not need to act like every other person. I am not like you. Was not born like this. Human shape was only because sometimes it was daughter my m . . . my mother wanted, not cat." Sharon dropped her head, suddenly uncomfortable. "Only that," she mumbled.
Oh crap, was she going to cry? Please don't cry. Girls crying was so awkward and he hated it. "Hey, no," Liam wrapped her in his arms, pulling her close. He couldn't purr and talk though, which was really annoying right now. "Mr. G's right, you're unique. But also, not everyone understands that, so you gotta make sure it's okay sometimes to show that. 'Cause people, they only know how to be people. And we're people, but we're also cats. And it's never easy being half- anything. Especially when it's something different."
Sharon had never received a hug from anyone other than her mother while in human form: there was something especially vulnerable about the sensation of skin against skin. But it was Liam, and it was not so different from when she butted him with her head, or he scratched her ears. It was a little embarrassing, receiving comfort from someone who was so much younger than herself, but she was just relieved Liam was still allowing her to touch him. They weren't the same, but she'd never met anyone so close. She'd never been able to do cat things with another person before; the thought of losing it now was unbearable.
Sharon did not cry, but she did bury her face in Liam's shoulder for a few breaths to compose herself.
"I . . . will try not to get you into trouble," she said finally. Reluctantly, she released him so she could look at his face. "Tell me what is okay. Will respect it."
He was absolutely empathizing with his parents and hating every moment. But. He'd probably be a lot more like Sharon without those horrible rules and conversations. Gah. Purring loudly he head-butted her gently in the forehead, "We can still nap and stuff, just don't groom me while I'm asleep."
Sharon looked disappointed. "What if I am cat?" she tried.
That was better and Liam took a moment to consider before he replied. After all, he didn't shift. "Not while asleep," he stated firmly "but.... it's a lot less weird when you're a cat," he liked her rougher tongue in that form, too. His own tongue was human and he didn't have an urge to groom anyone with it. "And only my hair or ears."
"Okay." Sharon smiled, which was slightly rigid; human facial expressions were on the low end of her non-verbal vocabulary, and she usually had to remind herself to make them more obvious. To compensate she shoved the top of her head under Liam's chin to rub against his jaw. "Shall only lick approved areas."
The parlour was definitely a good place for a nap, one that Warren sorely needed. It had been a long day and night, finalizing some work for overseas and he yawned widely, as he walked into what he knew to be the coziest part of the mansion before freezing solid. What in the .... "We have got to stop meeting like this," Warren said, a concerned look on his eyes. What was he watching? "Although licking approved areas is good and important.....but pretty sure I'm watching a crime. Liam, cat- boy, are you an adult? Do you need an adult? I can go find one..." He trailed off, pointing a thumb towards the door. "Or ... wait. Is this some cat culture thing I don't know about and am being oppressive over?" He dropped his arms helplessly. "Just tell me what to do so I can nap in peace and quiet."
"Go away, Birdie," Liam scowled, ignoring the question of whether or not he was an adult. He was close enough!
Sharon glanced over her shoulder and flicked her tail, unbothered. "No need for concern, we are not sexually attracted to each other. Very narrow-minded to ascribe human sensuality to feline matters. Nonetheless, in the process of negotiating boundaries and consent." She gazed at Warren with her steady yellow eyes. "Unless you are prudish about such things."
"Can you have platonic licking between friends?" That was definitely an inside thought rather than an outside one, but this scenario was hurting his brain. On one hand, he had never cared what two adults consensually decided on. On the other hand, he was positive Liam wasn't old enough for this. There was a reason Warren ignored people until they turned 18 -- it was too complicated to be censoring himself constantly. "Anyways, regardless, cat, not cat, cuddling in public -- cool. Whatever you two are doing?" He flapped a hand in their direction "Not cool. I want to nap, and honestly, glomping sounds are gross anyways." He sat down on the couch facing theirs and stretched out, closing his eyes. "And I really don't want to hear it."
Sighing, Liam got up, stretching and making sure to show off both teeth and front claws, "That's why boundaries," he said as if talking to a small child, "I don't want her licking me sometimes. Yeesh! Go away if you can't be mature about stuff. Bird brain."
"No need for the kitten to be rude. He is not to know of our Culture." Sharon got to her feet and stretched her arms over her head. At least her balance was improving. "Discussion may be taken elsewhere so Warren Worthington may use this space to nap." She slit her eyes at him in a way that suspiciously resembled a smile. "Or wonder what unspeakably platonic acts might have occurred there."
"If it's platonic, it shouldn't be unspeakable," grumbled Warren as he rolled onto his stomach, his head on a very comfy pillow. He'd have to ask someone what to do about this. In the meantime... "On the way out, can you toss me a blanket? That'd be awesome."
Raising an eyebrow, Liam was absolutely prepared to argue. Platonic but make it weird? Challenge accepted. But then Warren had to go and actually nap. Fiiiine. Let the bird nap. He wasn't even in the sunbeam, the weirdo!
Sighing, he grabbed a throw blanket and tossed it on the other guy as he headed out to find something else to do. Maybe go outside?
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Date: 2023-10-21 08:25 pm (UTC)"Can you have platonic licking between friends?" That was definitely an inside thought rather than an outside one, but this scenario was hurting his brain.
Dying