stuff us in boxes that's where you want us

cardboard is boring, we brought our matches - look how it burns

Perhaps the reason why feline-woman didn't really care much for her own tail was for a simple reason... it gave her away. It seemed to display her every thought, every nuance to the shift of her mood for those who knew how to read it. There was no level of sarcasm that could conceal it, no quip to distract, no glare strong enough. But yet, how secretly fascinated she was with it too, only to become irritated at its inability to do what she wanted. While she was honest, she didn't wish to be that honest. Especially not outwardly to creatures who might use it against her. Perhaps that's why, despite this figurative emotional signage they were also equipped with those weapon-like claws and a deadly set of teeth to match.

Those thoughts, were distant as she watched the half leopard man perched on the diving board, kicking his feet to and fro with a hint of boyishness. Although her eyes seemed focused on that tail and ears.. You would think working in the industry of body modification she would have been more prepared for that partial shift he sported. The lanky man wore those extra appendages as if it were simply a normal occurrence for a human to wear, claws, ears and a tail. It gave him that anime-man kind of look to him and he somehow pulled it off. Yet that was just a scratch on the surface of what she did not know about the leopard. Beyond what was shared from Darcy or the small glimpses of what she had seen. No one, not Risque, or Tetradore gave anything away about the man. It was like Tobias didn't exist within her menagerie at all. Not even Syn's staff had been helpful in that regards. If it hadn't been for Darcy's admittance when he was high, she would have never guessed he had been a part of it at all. Tetradore was of little help either, especially in any offerings for knowledge that could potentially help her to survive. Keeping his secrets carefully guarded behind his mask of callused stoicism. To top it off. Of all the beings from that pack that had attempted to approach her, Tobias was not one of them. He was somehow different an enigma. The only being within that pack that she actively sought herself. She was going in blind. A very thing that could have been a blessing or a hindrance.

Her casual inquiry about them seemed to do little else besides notice his own beloved tail before scooping it up within his arms with unmistakable glee as his loving hands ran through that bushy fur. He looked like a boy hugging his favoured stuffed animal, claiming his tail was his favourite. Her question lost upon him.

Was he purposefully ignoring her? Finding him had been the easy part, she was in for a hell of time to get actual answers. Regardless, she soldiered on, looking up at the peculiar sight of the perched catboy. Apparently doomed to forever to be looking up to people. Although her height was mostly to blame for that one. She still stood with her hand perched upon her hip, exuding her usual sassiness with at slightly less than her usual confidence. Especially as it all fell crashed and burned around her. That following question turned what was one an innocent and boyish looking man into an enraged beast. Ears flattened threateningly making him look all animal, despite his human looking face. All that was missing was a snarl. What did she say? A brief flash of surprise spread across her own features as his tail broke free from his loving fingers as it violently lashed in that sudden outburst of anger that she could not understand. It was all accompanied by a terrifying warning look that would cause many beings to wisely back up... if only she had not been so used to those threatening looks.. it might have had more effect on her.

She could not have them, he all but burst out. Is that what he thought she meant? That her interest meant she wanted them? Her brows that matched the hue of her naturally black hair rose higher, genuinely taken aback before she fixed him with a narrowed gaze. If he intended to scare her with theatrics and posturing it wouldn't work.

Instead, she remained where her feet were planted, even being at a severe disadvantage of taking the lower ground. " I have my own, why would I want yours?" She returned sensibly. Who would ever in their right mind would want to steal another's tail or whatever part was beyond her. Why he even thought she had meant that. Either he had only just confirmed that he had spent enough time with Risque or he was messing with her. This was going terribly and she... hadn't even meant any kind of offence even though the list seemed to grow regardless of her intentions. He was not going to give her anything. Nothing. Zilch. The commotion of his discontent caused his long dark hair to fall in front of his face, as if to only match his wild appearance while his eyes glowered ominously from beneath those stray strands. He kind of looked slightly murderous.

Even while his eyes promised violence, he never lunged or made a movement to make good on that unspoken threat. But that scowl seemed permanent. She needed a new tactic and fast. She decided to take her attention away from him, even though the want to grill him, would never work. Not with him as offended as he was. If she was truly worried of the leopard, she didn't show it. Using that iconic sarcasm to tack on a joke at the end of her words that he'd also been oblivious to.

Polo... does not live here. He stated. Was that magic she'd felt or the chill from the night air? Okay... okay. She took the hint. That was when he began to do some swirly gestures with his hands like he was casting a spell on her before declaring that Polo was like.... What exactly? His clawed hands danced out before him in what she thought might have been good in a bizarre looking interpretive dance routine. This guy... was different than she thought him to be. Maybe Risque sent him away for simply being an oddity? A being able to partially shift, living in between both worlds. Did Risque even like oddities? Or was she more about the image perfection? Hm.

Oblivious to what Tobias truly meant broke the staggering silence. Right, so Polo had... better dancing hand movements than John Travolta. Apparently, that's what he was trying to say. Polo is...."Uh... terrible at charades. Got it." He had to be making fun of her.. She shoved her hands into her pockets and turned on a dime with a frown before strutting deliberately off as if she truly meant to tour that ship. She'd known her plan fell flat the moment that she heard the sound of that incoherent babbling, far more focused on that conversation with himself. The leopard content to flat out ignore her existence. Damn.

Just as she was certain she would need to change her approach, the soft thud of bare feet connecting with the ground met her ears. The raven-haired woman only stole a few more steps before that temptation to look over her shoulder struck. Wondering what the hell he was up to. Which ended up being unnecessary as Tobias barged right by her like she wasn't even there. Intentional or not, he turned the tables, using her own tactic against her. Against all odds, it was working too because she turned her body to follow the unpredictable leopard-man.

Suddenly, he stopped right near her, effortlessly lowered to a crouch by the pool's edge, looking within the pretty blue waters with clear intrigue. A sharp, unsheathed talon tapped at the tiles. His ears were perked forward and fixated upon the source of his attention. At least he didn't seem to be pissy anymore. She leaned a little closer as if she could determine what held his attention. Tobias then abruptly pivoted without warning, all that attention fixed upon the woman taking her aback. His face was void of expression and yet laser focused upon her. It was a whole other level of intensity that reminded her of a wild animal, one that was crouched and ready to pounce at any given moment.

She did not expect that seemingly random question, or for his taloned finger to tap at the seemingly interesting tile. Harley stepped boldly forward to join the man to his left, close, enough to eye the exact tile that held his focus. She chose to reply, regardless of the strangeness of it. Alright, she'd bite. "Ceramic, probably." She relied. Was there something more to it? Some greater significance she wasn't aware of? She looked expectantly at him as if expecting him to elaborate, only for him to change the topic so abruptly.

The way he spoke was disjointed, searching, perhaps even strained and yet there was no question what he wondered. That amusement over Risque being called Risky, short-lived. It made sense. Hell, she would have been weary of her too, the way she was of them all.

She slipped those hands from her pockets in a subconscious sign to show she had nothing to hide. "Fuck no." The woman bit out with unwavering resolve. "I'm here all on my own. I was... actually here, trying to look for you. Not Marco or Polo. Now, I have a question of my own." Might as well just go right for the jugular so to speak. She wasn't really good with this particular delicate game anyways. She wanted answers and she wasn't going to get it playing hide and seek with the only being that possessed them.

Harley drew in a steadying breath and with it focusing her resolve. It felt odd talking about something that seemed taboo with someone she did not know. But the mention of the vampire queen... was the perfect segue that she could not afford to give up. "Tobias, look, I know you have spent some.... time.. within Syn.... With Risky.. and Darcy." She spoke of it like he fucking took a holiday there, like it was some kind of hotel of leisure that one could come and go from as they pleased. How far from the truth it was and he probably knew it too.. Maybe. She lowered down to his level, crouching by the crystalline pool, as she rested on the backs of her heels beside him. The unique hue of her gaze shifted to the side, seeking the other were's gaze. The words she spoke were quiet and somehow felt like she was speaking of something forbidden. Something that shouldn't be spoken out loud. Like they might hear their name whispered upon the night air and suddenly appear like a typical boogyman would. She lowered her fingertips, lightly caressing the warm water in an absentminded gesture. Maybe she should explain better. "You escaped. Somehow.. you managed what no one has ever done before. I want to know, how you did it. How did you escape Syn without any fallout?" There was no hint of a joke or sarcasm that was woven in those seriously spoken words. Each word felt like she placed her figurative cards right side up on the table, to show her hand, regardless of those odds being against her..

Harley Westward