xp_logs | Beatrice & Sharon

xp_birdy posting in

Beatrice happens upon Sharon dragging around her beloved stuffed tiger birthday gift.

It was a feeling that had Beatrice turning around, blue-green eyes doe-like. The sight of the large purple cat immediately relieved her anxiety, though, and a soft smile began to pull at her lips. "Why hello, Sharon, what've you got there, dear?" She chirped the question brightly.

Sharon, currently in her favored quadrupedal form, gazed up at Birdy with bright eyes and a full mouth. Specifically, full of stuffed animal. The girl was dragging a giant plush tiger down the hall with pride that fell somewhere between a lioness dragging a kill and a child showing off a new toy. Sharon gently set it down before replying.

"Is from Sooraya," she said, tail lashing once with pride. "Is a gift for me only, for my birthday."

"Oh it's very lovely, I understand the urge to show it off," the blonde purred the words with an affectionate smile.

Carefully, the woman crouched down to examine the toy, tucking the loose shirt over the knees of her black leggings to tidy herself before nodding in approval as she finished looking it over. "Very lovely. I hope you had a wonderful birthday, it must have been your first one here, yes? I remember you'd said Sooraya was one of the people who allowed you to stay here, that was awfully sweet of her to get you such a fine present."

"Yes. Was my first." Sharon lowered her head to brush the side of her face against the plush with obvious affection. "Some powers mishap occurred. I was misled to think my study of Mandarin was complete. This was disappointing. But Sooraya brought me many presents, and sushi was purchased for me by Darcy. I was gifted bacon by Sam Guthrie also. He offered to mix me my first drink. Assumption was that I had not yet consumed alcohol. Even I am not so homeschooled as this."

"Well, yes, of course, you're full of surprises and quite mature," Bea agreed with Sharon. While she’d cocked her head a touch as the young woman had told her of her birthday, she finally righted posture to nod again, thinking nothing of balancing on the toes of her flats. “That sounds like a great birthday indeed, love, aside from the mishap — that sounds dreadful.”

A beat before her grin turned toothy. “Have you been practicing Mandarin long? I’m not conversationalist level but I’ve been through places that spoke it if you’d like to practice with me ever.”

"I am the most mature," Sharon agreed, pleased, and immediately sprawled across the floor to pillow her cheek against the stuffed animal. She gazed up at Bea with curious yellow eyes, the tip of her tail flicking. "You have knowledge of Mandarin? This is interesting. For Westerners this is a challenging language. I have studied a few months only. You have traveled to Asia?"

“For work,” Beatrice answered after a beat, hand raised towards Sharon in an ask to pet the sleek fur of her head and flank. “My Cantonese is better but even then I can’t promise my pronunciation is perfect. . . but I do like Macau.”

Sharon raised her head towards Beatrice's hand, a clear invitation to stroke. "Terrible pronunciation is mine across all languages. Reading, this I prefer. Learning is for purposes of Personal Enrichment only. What is your work?" This last question was slipped in as slyly as an envelope beneath a closed door.

The purple feline was rewarded with pets, nimble fingers briefly scritching at her jawline before they moved on. "I try, but not being immersed in it makes it hard, I've found. You're very smart to be learning other languages for enrichment, but of course you must already know this. Could come in handy." Her soft voice tilted up in praise as she continued lavishing Sharon with pets. "It used to be whatever my boss said, but he let me have free time. It was nice. . . until it wasn't." And her voice darkened, hand pausing, though her free one went to her shoulder, where an infected wound had once been unhealed.

Beatrice's attentions were rewarded with a brief purr before the cat looked up at her again with half-lidded eyes.

"Answer is ambiguous. This is intentional, maybe." Sharon gazed at Beatrice with naked appraisal, but not challenge. "This is interesting also."

Of course this earned more pets, a pleased hum sounding from the woman, giving a slight nod though. “I can be interesting too, dear. Though likely never as much as you, being unable to shapeshift and all.”

"This is truth. I am the most interesting." Sharon gave Beatrice's hand another nuzzle before settling back against the plush. She wrapped her human-like arms around it like a child snuggled against its pillow -- if the child in question had a mind like a buzzsaw. "This mysterious job, which was nice until it was not, you will return when you are recovered?"

The smile remained as Bea linked her hands below her knees to help her balance. Flicking her eyes away, down the hall, she didn't meet Sharon's eyes as her voice took a sullen note. "Probably not. But maybe I can do something similar. I took pride in my work, which is very important."

"And for you, what would be similar?" Huge yellow eyes remained fixed on the small woman's face, questioning.

“Oh, Sharon dearest, you do know how to make a lady feel special, you’re the only person who’s outright asked,” a flicker of laughter, before she continued, “I used to travel all over the world and work in all types of places. I handled a lot of fun technology, too. I think next time, I’d be one of those mistresses for rich people, seems like less work.”

"Sex work remains work," Sharon declared with the certainty of one with no experience in either. The great cat rolled onto her back, forelegs still crossed around the stuffed toy in a posture that would have been far more adorable if one could overlook the upsettingly human hands. "Were it me, I would be pet to the rich people. This is easier. Why feign interest in tedious conversation when one can knead and purr? Tricks on command also. I would be so popular."

This was met with a thoughtful look before Bea slowly nodded. “You're right, of course, but I’ve little interest in sex so that would be only if I wanted to have it. You’d be a very lovely pampered pet, if that’s what you wanted. Is it?”

"All options are to be entertained." The cat snuggled deeper against the stuffed toy and regarded Beatrice through one sly, slitted eye. "'Pet' is point of view only. Many who keep animals believe a control is theirs that they do not possess. If I am to be pampered and fed for doing as I please, this shall be allowed. Is the way of all cats." Now the twitch of her tail was distinctly smug. "I cannot be contained."

“That is very wise of you,” the blonde praised earnestly, “whatever you go into, I know you’d excel at it, given you have a lovely knack for learning. Shall I let you return to showing off your tiger? Or would you like to join me for something to eat?”

Sharon preened. Praise, pets, and food: three of her favorite things all in one encounter.

"Always I am hungry," affirmed the cat as she rolled to her feet, body flowing to human form as she did. Now human, the kneeling girl gathered the stuffed tiger to her chest so Beatrice found herself staring down at two sets of eyes: one shiny glass, and the other a coy green.

"Additional portions are required. I am eating for two."

“Of course," a pleased grin as she took in the purple haired girl. When she stood to her whole height, clear amusement spread as she noted there was nearly a whole foot between them. Casually offering her arm, Bea started towards her shared suite, she was sure her roommate wouldn't mind.