The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya & Hemingway ]
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Exotic Solos =&gt; Topic started by: Hemingway on 19-12-2009, 02:55:22</h2>
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				Title: <strong>The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Hemingway</strong> on <strong>19-12-2009, 02:55:22</strong>
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				Arrangements were made in advance, the pet picked from a list giving names and descriptions of each one, but no more. It was done discreetly, through unassuming transfers between anonymous bank accounts. In the end, the buyer would know only where to pick up their chosen pet. Usually it would be a warehouse, or the back room of a legitimate store.<br><br>Why the intricate web of secrets? Trade in <em>neko</em> or <em>catpeople</em> as house pets, was not in and of itself illegal. Such creatures were not recognized as human, regardless of their many similarities, and as such, ethical concerns were brushed aside. Many were bred for that particular purpose, trained from an early age, then sold in perfectly legit pet stores. Others, born outside of virtual slavery, were even less fortunate, guaranteed to live a life of poverty and grief, segregated into their own parts of town, away from humans. Of those, many ended up as pets once more, snatched from the streets – an act neither legal nor illegal – and sold in unregulated stores, with no training, no instruction, and no skills. It was the extralegal nature of such trade which made the secrecy necessary.<br><br>It was also one such pet <em>he</em> had bought.<br><br>"Shanna was her name," he informed the man behind the counter. <em>Shanna</em>, he found himself wondering if that was her real name, her birth name, if she'd ever been given one. What difference did it make? It made none.<br><br>It was a warehouse, rather than a store, he had been sent to, to collect his pet. Kept in cages that looked much too small, most of them seemed rather pathetic and miserable, having about them the look of utter defeat. It was clear that many had been beaten, broken lips and blue eyes being recurring features. The smell, too, was that of an ordinary pet shop, unfit for proper humans. Was it truly fit for these creatures, he wondered?<br><br>"I've already paid for her, just bring her here, and I can leave," he said to the man, feeling no remorse over the desire to wash his hands of the place. If just one was given a proper home, the best any pet could wish for, then surely that would be enough. It was only the place making him feel that way, and his reasons were far from unselfish. <br><br>He, Barclay, was many of the things most humans dreamed of being. In his field, few questioned his brilliance, his abilities as a renowned software engineer. Such work had led to prosperity, and while his wealth was modest, his was a pleasant life. But his work held not the secrets of life, or people, and above all, it was a lonely existence. It was possible to lose oneself in work, in a particular problem in the daytime, but at night, and lately even in the daytime, it felt hollow and meaningless, and empty. So, with no understanding of those around him, he turned to pets, whose simple minds and dependency made their love unconditional, and their purpose and motives easy to understand. Such was the sad truth.
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Oniya</strong> on <strong>19-12-2009, 04:47:05</strong>
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				Shanna was in a cage halfway to the back of the warehouse.&nbsp; She knew that, because whichever way she looked, the view was the same.&nbsp; Her tail switched angrily as the salesman made his way back to the very back of the row, and operated something like a forklift to pull her cage off of the top level and set it down on a wheeled dolly.&nbsp; She shrank away from him as he pushed the wire-and-sheet-metal box towards the front of the store.<br><br>What the salesman - and possibly the rest of the humans - didn't realize was how intelligent the nekos actually were.&nbsp; Oh, the pure-breds could get downright dim, but those that lived in the ghettos and had bred freely for generations were at least a match for an average human.&nbsp; Only ill-luck had aided in her capture.&nbsp; Intelligence counted for little when food supplies were low, and nekos had to venture farther and farther from their safe-holes to get enough to eat.&nbsp; Several days of short supplies had made Shanna reckless, and the smell of cooked meat had drawn her into the wrong alleyway.<br><br>What was worse was that the aroma had been purely chemical in nature.&nbsp; No one would waste a perfectly good steak as bait.&nbsp; Once the trap had sprung, imprisoning her in a box so small that she couldn't avoid the poking and prodding of her captors, the wonderful smell had dissipated.&nbsp; Oh, they had offered her 'food' later.&nbsp; Once they had pushed one needle into the space between her shoulder blades, and a second through her lower lip, she had been given a bowl of dry nuggets - nearly impossible to eat with the new metal ring in her mouth.<br><br>Modern medicine was such that the piercing had healed quickly, but between her lifestyle before capture and the unappetizing fodder, Shanna weighed a mere 100 pounds at the time of sale.&nbsp; Green eyes glared at both humans as the salesman crouched in front of the cage.<br><br>"She's been chipped and set up with a lead-ring," he said to the stranger, as he opened a small access door and reached in long enough to clip a fine, silver chain to the piercing.&nbsp; As Shanna hissed at him, her ears flattening, he tugged at it.&nbsp; A flash of pain forced her to move towards the front of the cage.&nbsp; "Even if she gets away from you, the chip can be tracked by satellite anywhere in the city.&nbsp; Naturally, it also prevents her from passing the boundary gates as well."<br><br>With a smile worthy of a used transport dealer, the shop owner opened the front door of the cage and passed the end of the chain - a decorative leather-like strap - to the stranger.&nbsp; "Pleasure doing business with you."
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Hemingway</strong> on <strong>19-12-2009, 23:03:48</strong>
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				A scrawny creature she was, and her demeanor as agreeable as a feral cat cornered in a dark alley. Unhappy was not strong enough a word to describe how she seemed, but in her actions, her new owner saw no meanness or cruelty, only confusion and fear. Animals did not, unlike their human masters, disguise their feelings, and it was perhaps for that reason he felt the slightest pang of pity as the chain was tugged, and a slight ache as it was handed over to him.<br><br>Gently, he pulled the chain, simply to see what her reaction would be. "Shh, don't be afraid," Barclay whispered, hearing the words of the seller, but ignoring them. With half a nod, and a last, awkward glance at the shop owner, he departed, with the chain still in his hand, and the knowledge that any pain Shanna inflicted on herself but resisting, would be relieved the instant she followed.<br><br>Outside, his car waited. It was a sleek thing of all white, and had little in common with the cars of yesterday, being one in name only. In reality, ordinary roads had long since been rendered obsolete by a vast network of magnetic tracks on which the cars were more like little trains, than automobiles. Would Shanna ever have seen one, or witnessed the city's carline through a window, from the soaring tracks on which they traveled? Perhaps it would have been enough of a distraction, but taking no chances, she had still been restrained with magnetic cuffs in the back seat, as various sources of information he had consulted had recommended.<br><br>They finally arrived at his apartment complex, an unimaginably tall building of white and glass, slightly curved to resemble a crescent moon, its namesake. The car slipped into the underground parking lot, and he took her to the elevator, riding it far up, to where the doors opened right into his apartment.<br><br>A large, open room – a living room of sorts, with an adjoining office area – lit brightly by floor-to-ceiling windows welcomed them. As the building itself, the walls where spotless white, much of the furniture as well, made from a glossy plastic. Select, brightly-colored pieces brought much-needed color to the place; a couch of intense red, vases of brightest yellow, lampshades, artwork, and plants almost rubber-like in their greenness.<br><br>It was here he finally stopped, turning to his pet. It was here he first felt unsure of what to say, or do. <br><br>"Your new home, Shanna, how do you like it?"
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Oniya</strong> on <strong>20-12-2009, 03:28:54</strong>
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				As the chain went taut, Shanna stretched her neck enough to give just a little slack.&nbsp; The device was a cheap, but effective way of 'convincing' a reluctant neko to follow direction:&nbsp; the connection from chain to ring was just complicated enough that it couldn't be undone blindly, it was impossible by location for the neko to get a good look at it, and when pulled, the neko had the choice of following, or inflicting pain on sensitive flesh.<br><br><em>"Shh, don't be afraid."</em><br><br>The hiss was replaced by a dismissive 'sneeze'.&nbsp; Shanna wasn't afraid of either of these two humans.&nbsp; She was angry at being captured and manhandled.&nbsp; She was feeling pain from the lead.&nbsp; She didn't feel fear, though.<br><br>The salesman gave her a little additional 'incentive' to move.&nbsp; As soon as Barclay had the leash in hand, he operated a dial on the dolly that raised the back edge of the cage.&nbsp; Shanna scrabbled at the smooth floor briefly before she found herself dumped unceremoniously at Barclay's feet.<br><br>She was still not incredibly keen on following him, although the lip-ring got her moving quickly enough, and getting her cuffed was even a struggle.&nbsp; In that, her recent privations gave Barclay an advantage, as she simply wasn't strong enough to put up great resistance once a limb was captured.<br><br>The car itself was something that she had, in fact, seen before - at least from a distance - and therefore wasn't something terrifying on its own.&nbsp; As it lifted onto the cushion of force, though, she realized that it was going to be taking her far away from everything she'd known, and once they crossed the border into the city proper, there would be no return.&nbsp; As that border, marked by decorative arches drew near, she made one more futile attempt to escape, lunging against the magnetic cuffs with a tight whine in her throat.<br><br>The remainder of the trip was uneventful, save for some more token resistance between the car and the elevator.&nbsp; Her tail swished rapidly as the doors opened again, and her ears flattened as she heard him ask her a question.<br><br>Did he expect her to answer?&nbsp; Her mother had always told her that human thought of nekos as animals, despite the similarities between the two races.&nbsp; Did he even realize that she was able to speak?<br><br>"Oo-ah oo ah fink?"&nbsp; Okay, with the still-new piercing slightly irritated from the recent tugging, maybe talking wasn't the easiest way to convey her intelligence.
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Hemingway</strong> on <strong>21-12-2009, 00:01:09</strong>
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				"You <em>think</em>" Barclay asked her, perching an eyebrow, uncertain of whether her words were words at all, or simply sounds. Nekos were capable of speech, he knew that. After all, they were virtually identical to humans, anatomically. Whether she knew how to speak, to form human words, on the other hand, was not so certain. It seemed she understood, on some level, and that was enough.<br><br>Shaking his head slightly, dismissing the thought, he pulled the leash again, very gently, as if to urge her closer. Coiling the chain up in his hand, he moved his hands up to loosen it from the piercing, and free her from it. With the chain gone, the piercing was simply a piece of pretty jewelry, entirely unassuming.<br><br>Building trust was important, or so he'd read. Removing the chain, he hoped, would make her feel to some extent trusted. She'd hopefully understand that he did not wish to inflict pain upon her. Never mind that she would be unable to open the elevator doors and escape, and was still hopelessly trapped after all.<br><br>"Why don't you have a look around, then join me in the living room. I'll have some milk for you, and we will go over a few rules. Understand? I think you do. Go on now, but don't take too long," he said, offered her a brief smile that felt just a little too forced, before going to wait in the living room couch, with a small bottle of milk meant as a treat for neko pets, just one of several items he had invested in over the past few days, recommended by various experts. Other items included a litter box, bowl for food, and a paddle for when, or if, she misbehaved badly enough to warrant physical punishment, or simple disciplining. <br><br>The apartment, beyond the parts she had already seen, included of a rather large bathroom, almost directly opposite the elevator doors. Turning left from the elevator doors would take one into the living room, while going right lead to a room smaller than the living room, one wall lined with books, and a colorful beanbag as its most notable features. At the opposite end of this room, an opening led into the kitchen area, which was technically part of the living room, while another door led to Barclay's bedroom. There was not, apparently, a separate room for the pet, and at the foot of the owner's bed, was a smaller, basket-like bed clearly meant for her. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Oniya</strong> on <strong>21-12-2009, 06:56:10</strong>
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				For a moment, she made no effort to move, only allowing one slender hand to rub delicately at the freed ring.&nbsp; As she did, she took in the room she was in - he was apparently someone who had a strong sense of being in control of his surroundings.&nbsp; He probably thought that he could control a pet just as easily, and had chosen the most challenging pet on the market - not a domesticated animal, but a feral neko.<br><br>Shanna wasn't altogether eager to 'explore her new home'.&nbsp; Unfortunately, she had to admit it would take some time before she was able to figure out how to escape the building at least.&nbsp; She also didn't want to give away too much too soon.&nbsp; If he didn't know what she was capable of doing, he wouldn't expect her to try certain things - and she'd learned a lot in her relatively young life.<br><br>Finally, she made a cursory inspection of the rooms that were open.&nbsp; There was no sign that she recognized what the library was - who had time for reading while struggling to survive?&nbsp; The sleeping arrangements caused her upper lip to curl.&nbsp; True, she'd slept in worse accommodations, but the implication was degrading, as was the presence of a litter box in the apartment.&nbsp; When she finally returned to the living room, she halted far enough away that he would have to move in order to touch her, much less clip that lead back on her.
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Hemingway</strong> on <strong>21-12-2009, 13:15:04</strong>
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				When there had been no sound of anything breaking, and Shanna appeared in the living room, he breathed a quiet sigh of relief. For a moment, he waited for her to sit, but quickly realized she was not going to, not on her own. So he motioned towards the far end of the couch, where she would indeed be out of reach, and placed the chain on the center of the table.<br><br>"How do you like your new home now?" he asked, tilting his head slightly, trying to appear as friendly as possible. "I'm sure you saw the box, and your bed. We'll get to those later. I just want you to know there will be a few rules and guidelines, and I'll explain them as we get to them." he continued, and as he spoke, he offered her the small bottle of milk she had been promised. "I will be lenient while you're still getting used to things around here, but you'll learn fast, won't you? Above all, listen to what I say. You are to do nothing without first asking permission. Naturally, you may breathe, and speak unless I say otherwise, but if you wish to eat, sleep, watch television or use the litter box, you are to ask for my permission. If not, you will be punished, but I'm sure you understand that, no? I think you're a clever girl, or you wouldn't be alive – isn't that so?"<br><br>Barclay paused for a moment, keeping his eyes on her, trying to judge her reaction. While he didn't expect her to accept her no life just like that, he was hoping to see at least some sign that she understood her situation.<br><br>"About your name ..." he continued, after a while, "Shanna, was that name given to you at birth? It's a pretty name, isn't it? You may keep it, for now, but understand that your name is whatever I say it is, or, if you're very good, what you wish it to be. In time, we may set up different rules for different names, and perhaps I'll even let you be <em>Shanna</em> on occasion. Now ... I understand it may be a lot at once. Would you like to hear about rewards as well, or would you rather relax? Eat, maybe? You look like you've been starved half to death, you poor thing."
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Oniya</strong> on <strong>21-12-2009, 20:17:46</strong>
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				Primly, Shanna perched at the very edge of the couch, watching him warily.&nbsp; Her mouth watered at the sight of the milk, but she restrained herself until and unless he set it down.&nbsp; As he spoke to her, detailing his rules, her eyes narrowed.&nbsp; Eating might have been something she was used to forgoing from time to time, but sleeping (as long as she could find a safe place) and using the bathroom (at least until she got away from where she was sleeping) were things she was accustomed to dealing with as they were needed.&nbsp; She didn't answer his question verbally, but from the way her tail lashed, she understood - and she didn't like his terms.<br><br>Then, he started prattling on again.&nbsp; Humans seemed to do that a lot, from what she'd seen in the past few days.&nbsp; When he paused again, she determined to make her opinions known a little better.<br><br>"I - ammm -" she stumbled as the sound made the ring vibrate a little.&nbsp; "Sha-nna."&nbsp; It was her name, and a perfectly good one - but he'd asked her something else in the meantime.&nbsp; Eat.&nbsp; Food?&nbsp; She was certainly interested in that!&nbsp; But, then again, the man in the room of cages had offered food, and the memory of that caused her ears to flatten once more.<br><br>"Rrrreal food?" she asked suspiciously.&nbsp; Her speech was still tentative, as English was a familiar but rarely used language, and there was no disguising her feline accent.
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Hemingway</strong> on <strong>22-12-2009, 01:45:31</strong>
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				Reading the neko's reaction was a simple matter, even for someone as isolated as her new master. It was easy to tell she wanted the milk, but that she would not take it. So, wishing to show his sincerity, he placed the milk on the table, half-way between them, and gestured towards it. She'd been promised milk, after all, so milk she would have.<br><br>As for her reaction to the rules, this was almost entirely lost on him. While he could see her tail swishing back and forth, he could not tell from it how she felt about the rules, only that she had understood. But that was enough.<br><br>Finally, there came a real reaction from her, as he had expected. She looked famished, it was plain to see, and he suspected that what little she had used to eat, had not been of a very high quality. Briefly he wondered if the "food" he had seen at the warehouse would have been a step up, or down. Either way, her reaction, her genuine interest, gave him an almost triumphant feeling, causing him to lean back slightly, as if to display his superiority. At last, something with which to show her his good intentions, and that her new life would come with perks as well.<br><br>"<em>Real</em> food," he said, "Human food. You will eat from a bowl, on the floor – if you behave very well, we may discuss occasionally eating at the table at some point in the far future – but you will eat proper, natural food. Pet food is all artificial. You'll only be given that if you misbehave, so be good, Shanna. Come now, we'll prepare a proper steak for you," Barclay continued, getting off the couch, and motioning for her to follow him to the adjoining kitchen area.
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Oniya</strong> on <strong>22-12-2009, 04:44:39</strong>
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				Shanna grabbed up the milk as soon as he leaned back from placing it.&nbsp; The speed at which it disappeared attested to how her life had been up to that point.&nbsp; A portion of milk - and not even one in danger of being spoiled! - was something to take advantage of before another took it away.<br><br>Not all of the ghetto nekos had it so bad.&nbsp; Some had things that they had found or that they could do that would be possible to trade for food, shelter, or the like.&nbsp; Shanna was in the stage of being too young to have that kind of 'credit' to barter, and too old to be dependent on a parent.<br><br>The milk vanished quickly, cold enough that it left a brief ache in her temples.&nbsp; It didn't seem to diminish her enthusiastic gulping in the slightest, although she made a point of grooming the area around her ears diligently after finishing.<br><br>Perhaps she could put up with this until she found a way to escape.<br><br>"Rrrreal food," she said again, and there was a bit more of a purr in her voice.&nbsp; She watched as he headed for the kitchen, waiting several seconds before following him, despite the temptation.&nbsp; She still wasn't going to get closer to him than absolutely necessary.
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Hemingway</strong> on <strong>26-12-2009, 01:47:04</strong>
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				As he walked, with her following behind, he could not help but smile at the fact she had, at least for now, been won over. In the center of the kitchen area was a counter with several stools placed around it, one of which he pulled out, and gestured towards. "Sit, won't you?" he asked, though he did not bother to turn and see if she did.<br><br>Whether he was a man who preferred to cook for himself, or that was something reserved for special occasions, no one could have told from his kitchen. It was clean and tidy to perfection, almost as though it was a mere prop. But his refrigerator was both full and organized, and closer inspection would reveal that everything in it was of a high quality. Including the promised steak, which had been bought just the previous day, with this particular purpose in mind.<br><br>As he shut the door, he briefly turned, about to ask her how she wanted it, but stopped himself. A creature such as her would have no preference, he was sure of it. Instead, he turned right away, and went about the cooking. Butter was melted, and the entire dish finished in a matter of minutes, still pink and red on the inside. It was then placed in a bowl, which in turn was placed on the floor, while he took a seat by the counter, where he could watch her eat.<br><br>"Go ahead, enjoy it."
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Oniya</strong> on <strong>26-12-2009, 08:40:05</strong>
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				Shanna watched his every move perched on one of the stools - as far from the action as possible.&nbsp; Emerald, slit-pupiled eyes never left his hands as the steak was prepared, and her tail swung slowly from side to side.&nbsp; Every so often, her hips trembled as if she were barely containing the desire to leap at the the morsel even as it seared over the heat.&nbsp; <br><br>As it was lifted down to a bowl, she acted on that impulse.&nbsp; Like a flash, she darted at the meal and took it to the farthest corner of the kitchen.&nbsp; Heedless of the meat's temperature, she tore at it, gulping down sizable chunks without even bothering to chew.&nbsp; All that time, she watched him for any sign that this delicacy was going to be snatched back from her fingers.
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Hemingway</strong> on <strong>30-12-2009, 00:54:10</strong>
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				Barclay sat, and watched. Shanna revealed much by how she ate, even he could see. Her apparent fear that the meat was to be taken from her, filled him with the slightest sense of pity. Pity that was quickly replaced by satisfaction, realizing that this meant she enjoyed it as well.<br><br>"Slowly, kitty," he cooed, from his place by the counter, far out of reach, "It'll taste better if you eat slowly, and you won't choke on it, or hurt yourself. I'm not going to take it from you, and there's no one else here," he said, though he realized it was unlikely to make an impression on the scared feline. With growing fascination he watched her consume it, unable to do anything but hope that, at least on some level, she would understand that she had nothing to fear, and eventually, to trust him.<br><br>"When you're done, I want you to lick your fingers clean, then come over here and wash your hands – and your face. You can leave the bowl, I'll take care of that, but only this one time. You're free to rest after that, or explore, but remember the rules. Later .. no, that's it for now."
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Oniya</strong> on <strong>30-12-2009, 04:39:53</strong>
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				Despite his words - if they even registered - Shanna didn't slow her pace until the last morsel of the steak was gone.&nbsp; Licking her fingers clean was second nature - wasting <em>any</em> food on the street was something that just wasn't done.<br><br>Washing, on the other hand, wasn't - not as much.&nbsp; She bathed when she was able to, but it wasn't a real priority.&nbsp; Her ears went back as she was directed to the sink, which was also a little closer to the human than she was comfortable with being.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Hemingway</strong> on <strong>03-01-2010, 02:27:59</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Barclay remained seated. If he even understood her reluctance, beyond having to approach him, he made no sign that he was going to make it easier for her. It would be a test for her, a small one, but significant. If, as he hoped, she did step closer and wash her hands, even if very quickly, only to jump away again, it might also help make her feel comfortable in his presence, bit by bit, exposing her to it.<br><br>"Aren't you going to wash your hands, kitty?" he asked her, after a moment. "I won't have you going around touching things without washing your hands, so get to it. I want you to show me your hands afterward, too, to make sure you cleaned them properly. If you're good, and you behave later on, I might let you have some more milk before you sleep, but not unless you do as I say. You will have to learn this sooner or later, Shanna."
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Oniya</strong> on <strong>03-01-2010, 08:13:25</strong>
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				Shanna's ears remained flattened, and her tail lashed violently as she approached the sink.&nbsp; Her eyes never left him, except for the briefest of moments as she assessed the faucet's operation.&nbsp; It wasn't a complete compliance with his rules, however - her attempt at 'washing' involved catching the water in cupped hands and bringing it to her face, drinking most of it and only allowing a little to wet the area around her nose, mouth and chin.<br><br>As far as she was concerned, that was the part of her face that might be considered 'dirty', and the treatment did manage to get rid of the evidence of the steak that she'd just eaten.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Hemingway</strong> on <strong>04-01-2010, 14:33:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Barclay kept his eyes on his pet as she washed, then he backed away. Shanna had done as asked, and he too would keep his end of the bargain. How else would she come to trust him? "You're behaving remarkably well, kitty. I trust you'll continue. Like I said, rest or explore, as you like. Remember the rules, and if there's anything you want, ask."<br><br>While keeping half an eye on Shanna, making sure nothing was broken, her owner cleaned the bowl, by hand. Then, he went to sit by his computer, on the elevated deck in the corner of the living room, his office space. From there, he could see the entire living room, and keep an eye on his pet so long as she didn't venture to the other side of the apartment. But he'd said she could explore, and if she did, he would simply have to trust her. Why not? He expected her to trust him, after all. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Oniya</strong> on <strong>04-01-2010, 22:35:42</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Shanna's sole desire at that point was to be away from Barclay.&nbsp; She watched him carefully for a short time, and then started to make her way towards the hidden areas of the apartment.&nbsp; Even walking, she had the mannerisms of a wild creature - every few steps, she would make sure of where Barclay was before resuming her course.&nbsp; It wasn't long before she was out of sight.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Hemingway</strong> on <strong>04-01-2010, 22:41:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Barclay saw his pet skulking off, but he did not follow. Unless he heard something being torn, or broken, he would stay. She deserved that level of trust, he felt. Belongings, if ruined, could be replaced, so to find her at all if she did break something, would be solely for the purpose of punishing her for her misdeeds. It was not at all a calculated risk.<br><br>She was likely to attempt escape, that he realized. It would, however, be impossible. Unless she managed to open a window and climb sheer glass hundreds of stories down, or managed to trick him into operating the elevator, she was a prisoner. Why not let her explore, and find it out for herself?
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Oniya</strong> on <strong>04-01-2010, 22:55:21</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				As she investigated the rest of the rooms again, she eventually found herself in the strange room with all the paper and the large pillow on the floor.&nbsp; It was quiet in there, and more importantly, it wasn't the pet-bed she'd seen elsewhere in the apartment.&nbsp; She settled herself down on that soft seat and started to collect her thoughts.&nbsp; <br><br>The stresses and exhaustion of being captured and sold, however, had taken a lot out of her.&nbsp; Despite being in a strange place, and despite the 'rules' that she had been given, she had soon fallen into a light doze.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Hemingway</strong> on <strong>04-01-2010, 23:09:15</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Barclay heard nothing, and so nothing was done. Either she was busy sneaking around, or she'd fallen asleep in some unlikely place, like the cats he'd heard of that preferred to sleep in the sink. Perhaps later he would check on her, but until then, he would allow her some privacy, and spend time getting some work done. While his work was flexible and done on his own terms, procrastination was never an issue for him and his work, as it was with other things. It was as much relaxation as anything else, and the challenge of creating software, and finding elegant solution to complex problems, was both a challenge to him, and a necessary thing which, if he went without for too long, his mind would ache for. It was no wonder he had become successful in his field, when he so enjoyed what he did.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Oniya</strong> on <strong>05-01-2010, 21:53:20</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				A mere hour later, she woke.&nbsp; She'd learned not to sleep for too long in a strange place - or even really in a safe place - but it was enough to refresh her.&nbsp; For a little while, she examined the collections of papers, viewing most of them upside down, unless there was a picture to orient her.&nbsp; After a while, that bored her, so she left that room, gave a cursory glance towards the bedroom, and then headed back in the direction of the elevator.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Hemingway</strong> on <strong>05-01-2010, 23:08:48</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Barclay heard Shanna rising from the bean bag chair, that telltale sound of its shifting insides. Beyond that, nothing. How much time had passed, he couldn't say, having been absorbed completely by his work, as was often the case. But it was, he felt, time to chat with Shanna once again. So he saved his work, took all the necessary precautions to keep anyone from stealing it, and left the computer, to sit in the couch. He waited, to see if she might be headed back, but he would not wait long.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Oniya</strong> on <strong>06-01-2010, 04:39:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Shanna's pace was a little more even when she came into view.&nbsp; In the hidden reaches of the apartment, she didn't have to worry about him observing her, but she froze as soon as she got to a point where she could see him again.<br><br>She wasn't sure about him, not in the slightest.&nbsp; She hadn't expected to be left to her own devices for so long, especially by someone who claimed to 'own' her.&nbsp; At the moment, though, he wasn't chasing after her, and her ears flicked from a position of interest to one of suspicion and back several times as she observed <em>him</em>.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Hemingway</strong> on <strong>08-01-2010, 01:41:20</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Barclay could tell he was being regarded, before ever catching a glimpse of Shanna. She seemed to him almost curious, and he allowed her the needed time. What rush was there? Perhaps he was being too lenient, allowing her to get used to freedom, when in reality her only freedom was that given by him. What then?<br><br>He shrugged, to no one in particular, as he often did when thoughts crossed from his imagination to reality by themselves - a word spoken or a grimace made that had not been intended. Would it seem strange? Perhaps. When he decided she had been given enough time, he called for her, his tone friendly, welcoming. "Shanna, kitty, come sit, won't you?" he asked, patting the couch next to him, and making sure to move to the furthest edge of it, wanting her to see she would be out of the reach of danger. "We should talk, kitty. I would like for you to say something, too. You aren't a prisoner her, not a captive."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Oniya</strong> on <strong>08-01-2010, 07:12:20</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Shanna cocked her head, ears going forward.&nbsp; He wanted to talk?&nbsp; And he was saying she wasn't a prisoner - that was interesting, all things considered.&nbsp; With the chip implanted by the man he'd bought her from, she certainly couldn't get out of the city, but that <em>did</em> still leave a fair amount of territory...<br><br>Delicately, she took a wide arc around the room to get to the indicated part of the couch, again perching close to the edge.&nbsp; She would have to hear how he was going to explain this.<br><br>"You wan' make talk?&nbsp; Human talk-talk with neko?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Hemingway</strong> on <strong>13-01-2010, 02:47:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Barclay was genuinely surprised at how well Shanna seemed to be responding to his words, though he took care not to make it all too apparent. She still sat perched on the edge of the couch, but for the first time, she had responded directly to his words. It was a pleasant thing to hear, even if her voice, the broken manner in which they were spoken, brought a slight ache of pity to his heart.<br><br>"I want to talk, yes," he said, his tone friendly, but trying his hardest not to sound condescending, "I'd like that very much. Why is that such a surprise to you? You're used to humans hunting for nekos, and talking to them, but not with them?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Oniya</strong> on <strong>13-01-2010, 04:00:09</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Shanna regarded him quizzically for a little while, carefully framing a reply to his question.&nbsp; She wasn't even used to humans talking <em>to</em> her in any way that showed they thought she'd understand.&nbsp; The man at the shop had spoken, yes, but more like he was talking to himself.<br><br>"Hunt, yes," she said, nodding.&nbsp; She'd seen the large, black transports cruising slowly through the ghettos, collecting the careless or slower nekos.&nbsp; "Talk <em>near,</em> yes."&nbsp; She had learned most of her own command of English in that way, listening to snippets of conversation while the participants took little notice of her presence.&nbsp; "Talk-talk, no."&nbsp; With her final sentence, she made a back and forth motion with her hands in an attempt to indicate dialog.&nbsp; <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Hemingway</strong> on <strong>13-01-2010, 13:44:01</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Barclay listened intently, nodding as she explained to indicate he understood, a strange thing for him to do. It was as he'd suspected, then, but their conversation was far from over. After a brief pause, he moved, leaning towards her, relaxing. There was nothing threatening in his slow, deliberate movements, not wishing to startle the neko, only to make her used to his presence.<br><br>"Tell me more, Shanna. Tell me about you," he said, gesturing towards her with his hand, as if for her to go on. "What makes you happy? What makes you sad?"<br><br>Was it good training, allowing the pet such freedoms? Perhaps not - probably, even. But then, he did not want a dumb and docile, with no will and no instinct. It was far more tragic than that.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Oniya</strong> on <strong>13-01-2010, 19:57:40</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Maybe it was his casual ease, but the approach didn't cause Shanna to skitter off.&nbsp; True, her ears flattened, and she leaned further towards the edge of the couch, but it was a more promising reaction.&nbsp; <br><br>Sad was easy for her.&nbsp; "Sad from rain - from snow - from hungry," she said, ticking off the items on long, slender fingers.&nbsp; Happy was harder, and she frowned in thought as she tried to come up with an answer.&nbsp; Suddenly, her eyes brightened.&nbsp; "Hotpipes," she declared.&nbsp; "Hotpipes make happy."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Hemingway</strong> on <strong>15-01-2010, 02:54:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Smiling was easy as Shanna listed what made her sad, though it was not without a bitter sadness. Such simple things they were, and so easily remedied. Barclay expected they were a reflection of her world, and that as it expanded, as old worries were replaced by new ones, the things which made her sad would change as well. In time, she would miss the rain, able only to watch it from behind glass windows.<br><br>"Nothing else?" he asked, far more interested in the things she liked, as he thought only natural. "What about music?" he suggested, only to realize she might never have heard proper music, or <em>listened</em>. "What about friends?" he added instead, for surely, she would have had friends in the slums? He sighed, and for a while, was quiet.<br><br>"I want you to be happy, Shanna. Understand that. I know you're afraid, but I know you're not stupid. I know you will probably try to escape," he said, pausing again, to sigh, "Just try to behave, won't you? I don't want to have to punish you, to make you sad. I want to be happy, and I want you to be happy. It doesn't sound that bad, does it?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Oniya</strong> on <strong>15-01-2010, 05:51:49</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Music was a scarce occurrence in the slums.&nbsp; Perhaps one could call the rhythm of traffic and the humming of generators 'music', but there was nothing of the concert hall, or even recorded music.&nbsp; Friends, on the other hand - Shanna's ears twitched at the word, and her tail lashed.<br><br>She <em>had</em> had friends - and the fact that they were in the slums, and she was now 'chipped' meant that they might as well be on the other side of the world.&nbsp; Even mentioning them might put them at risk of being sought out by this human, or possibly another.<br><br>"No," she said curtly.&nbsp; The novelty of the apartment returned to being a pen.&nbsp; Suddenly, a thought struck her, and she eyed him slyly.&nbsp; "Not 'prisoner', nothing to 'escape'," she pointed out.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Hemingway</strong> on <strong>16-01-2010, 02:51:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Barclay sighed, though it was not for anything Shanna had said, or done. While they were indeed speaking, which seemed to him like remarkable progress, he still felt as though he was missing much, not getting the full impression from their conversation. It felt so much like an uphill battle, one in which he did not even know which way was up, and which was down.<br><br>"You aren't a prisoner, no. But you can't leave, not on your own," he explained, a touch of sadness and regret in his voice. Was it right to keep her as a pet? It was too late to do anything about it now, but had it been right? If she did not come to enjoy her new life, he was inclined to think it had been wrong, and cruel. Whatever it took, he would at least try. She could have ended up in far crueler hands. Or she could have been free. Free, and barely surviving on the fringes of society. What a horrible dilemma.<br><br><em>Music soothes even the savage beast</em>, Barclay had heard. While it seemed like a useless defense against wild carnivores, he did not see how it could harm to try exposing Shanna to it. With a few clicks of the remote, the music began, quiet, smooth jazz, the sort of music which almost seemed to blend into the background, relaxing and beautiful.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Oniya</strong> on <strong>16-01-2010, 05:04:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Shanna's ears perked up immediately as the music started, swiveling like tiny radar dishes.&nbsp; Slowly, the lashing of her tail stilled, although the tip continued to twitch occasionally, nearly in time with the music.&nbsp; Her eyes never left Barclay, however.<br><br>"Not leave," she said cautiously.&nbsp; "Not leave - not captive."&nbsp; The two concepts didn't mesh at all with each other in her mind.&nbsp; Still, she could pick up some of the conflict in his voice as well.&nbsp; &nbsp;"Human not like Shanna must stay?"&nbsp; It was by far the longest attempt at a sentence she had made, and she wasn't at all sure if it translated her observations.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Hemingway</strong> on <strong>18-01-2010, 13:56:24</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Barclay's eyes did not leave her either, narrowing as he tried to decipher the meaning of her words. Nearly a minute had passed before he spoke, slightly uncertain. "You're wondering if ... I'm not happy that you have to stay? You're quite smart, aren't you? It's ... more complicated than that, though," he explained, and sighed slightly. "I don't want you to be unhappy, and I'm sad you lost your friends. But I can't set you free now, you'd just be captured again, and that would've been true whether I bought you, or someone else. I think you're lucky - I'll take good care of you - but I know you must not feel that way."<br><br>If only she understood his meaning. Shanna was bright, she'd already demonstrated that clearly, but words were not, after all, her greatest asset. By then, he felt they'd spent far too long discussing her freedom, which seemed utterly pointless, perhaps even detrimental. "We shouldn't talk any more about that," he said, cutting the conversation short. "Sit here for a while, listen to the music, then we'll sleep. Tomorrow, things might seem better."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Oniya</strong> on <strong>18-01-2010, 22:35:45</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Shanna actually smiled as Barclay 'translated' her broken English, and her tail wrapped comfortably around her knees.&nbsp; He'd grasped exactly what she'd been trying to ask - even if he had confirmed the worst of her suspicions.<br><br>She couldn't leave.&nbsp; Her ability to go where she wanted, when she wanted was completely gone.&nbsp; True, there was food here - good food - and there were comfortable places to sleep and possibly hide, but it was still a much smaller range than she was used to.<br><br>Her ears pricked forward again as he spoke, identifying the pleasant but unusual sounds as 'music', and indicating he had nothing more to say for now.&nbsp; With nothing else to do, she started grooming the tail that was now resting in her lap, combing through the soft fur with her fingers.<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Hemingway</strong> on <strong>19-01-2010, 01:33:44</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				With the feline grooming her tail next to him and the lights above dim, the gentle music slowly lulled Barclay into a comfortable half-sleep. A pleasant tingling made its way up his spine, seeming to stop just between his shoulders, though he could not say why. It lasted while they sat there, until he reluctantly began to rise, sighing as he pushed himself from his seat, turned the volume of the music down, before stopping it entirely, and turning to offer Shanna a weary smile. <br><br>"We should sleep now, kitten, but first we brush our teeth. Have you done that before?" he asked, in a hushed voice, "I have a toothbrush for you, come along," and he motioned for her to follow him to the bathroom, not waiting to see if she did. Once there, he squeezed some blue gel from a tube onto his own brush, and began, letting her follow by example, if needed. Once done, he waited for her, before leaving for the bedroom.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Oniya</strong> on <strong>19-01-2010, 03:27:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Shanna watched him curiously.&nbsp; She hadn't engaged in this sort of behavior - of course, a diet low in refined sugar hadn't made her prone to tooth disease either.&nbsp; The gel had an interesting scent to it though, and the last thing he had given her had tasted good, so she decided to give it a try.<br><br>At first, her ears flattened from the intensity of the mint taste, and she looked at Barclay as if he had lost his mind.&nbsp; Hesitantly, she mashed the brush around in her mouth in a rough approximation of what he was doing.&nbsp; The end result was that foam soon surrounded her lips like a caricature of rabies, and her ears sagged morosely to the sides.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Hemingway</strong> on <strong>21-01-2010, 23:07:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Barclay couldn't help but smile at the disappointing results of Shanna's brushing. It seemed it might have been more difficult than he'd imagined it would be, though that made perfect sense. Regardless, he decided not to push the matter at that hour of that day, content with simply wiping her mouth with a tissue, removing the remains of the white foam, and leading her towards the bedroom. Brushing could wait a few hours.<br><br>He allowed her to enter first, though she had already seen the room hours before. By then, he found himself sleepier than he'd imagined, and eager to go to bed. For that reason, he decided against explaining any rules at length. "You'll sleep in the basket," he wearily explained, as though it was not evident. It was not at all an awful bed, having all the softness of an ordinary bed, though somewhat lacking in width and length. "If you wake up before me, you may wander and explore as you were allowed today, but you are not to touch anything besides the couch, chairs ... the bean bag&nbsp; chair ... and above all, you are not to use the bathroom, not until I've instructed you. If it's an emergency, you are to wake me first. Understand? I'd be very disappointed otherwise, I hope you understand." 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Oniya</strong> on <strong>26-01-2010, 18:26:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Shanna glanced at the basket disdainfully.&nbsp; It was actually far more comfortable-looking than most of the places she'd slept, but the idea that she was being <em>told</em> where to sleep still rankled.&nbsp; Besides, the human was obviously choosing an even more prime sleeping area for himself.<br><br>She was tired, though, and first sat down in the basket before making a big show of arranging herself into a semi-curled position.&nbsp; She wouldn't close her eyes until Barclay was making the even sounds of someone who was asleep, however.&nbsp; Thanks to her nap, she would also wake a little over four hours later.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Hemingway</strong> on <strong>27-01-2010, 03:22:49</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Weariness washed quickly over him, and of what had happened prior to him falling asleep, he recalled only undressing, crawling into bed, looking up to check on his pet once, then nothing. Barclay slept soundly, dreamlessly, snoring lightly. Nothing short of a proper commotion would wake him, not until the morning, which he made a habit of sleeping some hours into, getting out of bed no sooner than 9, at the very earliest. It was one of the advantages of having a high degree of flexibility in his work, and a pattern he had not been able to break, however hard he tried.<br><br>Perhaps fortunately, there were no disturbances that morning – no early phone calls ( though this was hardly a surprise, as they were exceedingly rare to begin with ), no one at the elevator ( less surprising still ), nothing. Just the quiet hum of the refrigerator, heaters adjusting themselves, the sort of noises anyone living in a modern home would long since have gotten used to. And Barclay slept through it all.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece [ Oniya &amp; Hemingway ]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Oniya</strong> on <strong>29-01-2010, 16:49:26</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Shanna's ears were pricked forward as she once again explored the apartment, but this time, her explorations were with purpose.&nbsp; She had eaten far better than she had in a while, and the rich food had left her feeling somewhat uncomfortable.&nbsp; She recalled that the human had instructed her to wake him - but then again, he had also told her she was not supposed to sleep without permission, and she'd already done that while he was working.<br><br>Moving as silently as she could, she made her way to the bathroom and curled her lip at the tray left for her.&nbsp; He couldn't see her.&nbsp; How would he know?&nbsp; All he'd be able to tell was that the box was still clean.&nbsp; With that rationale, she proceeded to use the regular facilities without the slightest remorse.
			</dd>
		</dl>
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