Shallow Hearts

[eliaza]

Oswin

Oswin fidgeted in her hiding spot. Then she stifled a yawn. Botheration-ing Gilbert had been such fun, and she hadn't even got to finish her story! She had been briefly entertained by watching him interact...if it could be called interaction...with the new queen who had come up. But now she felt the need to jump back into the fray.

She stepped out from where she'd been hiding. "You're just rude to everybody, ain't you, Gilbykins?" She giggled. That would make him so angry. "Hello," she added, nodding to Jinx.

[Deleted]

Gilbert

The scrawny tom was still blinking back the anger he had picked up from Jinx. His eyes were a little hazy as they scoped Oswin's reappearance and it took great mental strength not to lash out at the annoying queen. "Sod off. Trash, and leave Jinx alone. Or bug the hell out of her and face the consequences, makes no difference to me." Gilbert sneered and began walking away once again. Too many filthy and strung out cats in those streets.

[eliaza]

Oswin

Oswin pouted. "You're so mean." She looked at Jinx again, as if she needed confirmation of her words. "He's real mean, isn't he?" She faced Gilbert again, hands on her hips. "Now, listen," she sighed, as if she were a mother having to explain a very simple concept to a dumb kitten, "you should try being nice for once. Then people might actually like you." She gave a satisfied nod, as if she had just spoken Great Wisdom.

[shizoo]

JINX

Bimbo?? Jinx wearily dropped her backpack & started to laugh quietly, her anger disipating as fast as it had come. Her eyes changed again sparkling in blues, greens & pinks.
Then she saw the new cat & saw their interaction- What were they, siblings? she wondered.
"Hold it" she said between giggles. "It's ok, miss, he wasn't that rude & I poked him first." She looked at Gilbert defiantly leaving her strange eyes uncovered. 
Given his surly reaction to being touched, she didn't offer a hand, but he didn't seem dangerous. Using her hard-won survival skills, she looked at the female as well. She just seemed a little different, but who was she to judge?
"Can we call a truce maybe? At least for a moment please? I could use some help."  The little queen figured she had little to lose by asking, they didn't seem likely to attack her & well, she might gain some information. If not, she wouldn't be any worse off.
"Can you tell me where I am? I'm looking for a tribe of cats living in this area. The Jellicles?"

[Deleted]

Gilbert

The surly tom was a bit surprised that Jinx hadn't caught on to the fact that he knew her name, but was grateful she didn't catch his slip up. He had to make sure he didn't make any more slips because of his "gift". Though Gilbert's line of thought did end when he heard the queen mention the jellicles. Rolling his eyes he spoke. "Great, another one of those. Maybe you're related huh, Oswin? With your 'jellicle' dad and all." He spoke, but it was clear he still didn't believe Oswin's wild story about having a jellicle father. "But you two girls will have plenty to talk about. And Oswin, you forget that I don't give a damn what others think of me." Gilbert walked away from the girls and off into the shadows. He didn't need two of them annoying him to tears. Gilbert was on a mission. Either some catnip or a strong beer would calm his nerves. He wasn't going to get high or drunk, he wasn't like that. But sometimes he did need something to ground him, from his dark past and the thoughts/memories/emotions he siphoned from others.

[Exit Gilbert]

[eliaza]

Oswin

Oswin pursed her lips in a pout as Gilbert walked away. "Jerk," she growled through her teeth, for the moment more on her surly-hench side (as much of a surly-hench side as she had, which wasn't much) than her manic-kitten side. "Why do you even exist. You hate everyone." All at once she whirled back around to face Jinx, some of Gilbert's parting words ringing in her mind. Related? Her and Jinx? Maybe! Maybe they both had family in the Jellicles! "Hey," she burst out, pointing her paw at Jinx, "what's your mum and dad's names?"

[shizoo]

JINX

Jinx blinked at the thin tom's abrupt exit & then looked at the small female chattering to her, automatically ducking her head so her bangs covered her unusual eyes again. OK. .  what had just happened here? she wondered for a moment, then shook her head. Not my business.
Cautiously, she looked at the thin mouthy female. Now why would she want to know about my parents?
Deciding to stick with the truth, just not all of it, she replied, "Well, I'm not a Jellicle, I have no family. I was raised by a cat I was given to when I was little. I am looking for the Jellicles because I was told they would sometimes take in orphans like myself. Are you a Jellicle then?"
Given her background, Jinx was more than wary of cats who pried too much. You just never knew who might betray given the chance. With both her 'uncle' & the 'Fayd' possibly looking for her, she couldn't be too careful.

[eliaza]

Oswin

Oswin blinked. "Jellicle? What? No! I barely even know what a Jellicle is!" She stopped to catch her breath. No way she wanted people actually thinking she was Jellicle. If something got back to Macavity, she could be labeled a traitor... Of course, she couldn't let this stranger know where she did come from either. "I am from a very dangerous clan of cats," she said ominously. "If I told you who they were, I would have to kill you. So don't ask!"

[shizoo]

JINX

Jinx blinked in surprise, her ears flipping back for a moment. Her eyes spat out false sparks of confused color before she could mask them with her bangs again. Cautiously, she looked at the little female. She didn't look like a follower of Fayd. Of course they usually made sure everyone knew they were around. Bunch of creepy bullies.
"Well, you're welcome ot all the secrets you can hold I guess." she answered. "I'm just looking for a home. .a place to belong." The small female looked tired for a moment. "So is you tribe looking for new members?" she half-joked. She didn't really want to belong to a tribe that killed off people over stupid things though. .

[eliaza]

Oswin

Oswin shrugged, feigning nonchalance - though truthfully, she wanted to grab Jinx by the shoulders, get in her face, and shout "No!" There was no way she would wish anyone else to be in her situation. Macavity's tribe were a horrible lot - she wasn't even sure why, but she knew that the way things went in their tribe wasn't...well...good, or right, somehow. But of course she couldn't risk being overheard saying things like that. "Only if you like killing and spying," she told Jinx. She grinned in spite of herself. "Spying is fun."

[shizoo]

JINX

The petite queen looked at Oswin curiously. She was an odd little queen wasn't she? Actually, after the initial impression, Jinx realized the little female was much younger than she had originally thought.
Poor thing, she looks bored & . .  a little scared? Jinx wondered about the tribe Oswin was describing, they sounded like people to avoid. Jinx had no interest in getting involved in local politics at this time, however, she had enough trouble avoiding the Fayd crowd.
Please, one crowd of murderous jerks at a time.  she thought wryly.
"Well, spying can be fun," she agreed, her eyes sending out laughing little sparks of blue & green, "But sometimes it depends on who you're spying on! I don't suppose you could show me how to find the Jellicles or how to at least avoid. .  the more dangeorus areas? I have some toys, you might like in exchange for your help."
She didn't have much, but she'd found some sparklie baubles, cat toys & bells. Maybe the other queen would like those?

[eliaza]

Oswin

All at once, Oswin's countenance brightened. "Toys?" She clapped her paws together. "Did you hear that, Estella?! She has toys! We can have a game with something besides sticks!" Then she remembered what Jinx had asked her to do in exchange for these toys, and she turned back to the other queen, eyes narrowed. "Why d'you want me to show you where the Jellicles are? Are you a spy? Are you really trying to figure out where Mac-- Er, where my tribe's territory is?" She growled. "In fact, what makes you think I know anything about where the Jellicles are?"

[shizoo]

JINX

The small cat stared at Oswin for a moment, then gave her an easy smile, hoping to defuse the tension suddenly emanating from the younger queen. "Look kiddo, I was told there were some tribes here that took in strays & the Jellicles was the best pick, that's all."
She carefully didn't mention Oswin's slip when she mentioned 'Mac' that had given her the clue about the young queen's origins. Jinx had heard a lot on the streets about Macavity's organization too-some good, some bad. It all seemed to depend on who you spoke with. It looked like Oswin had had some bad experiences.
Jinx's tender heart felt for the little queen, but she took care not to show it. She sighed ruefully, It seemed physical abuse & living on the run hadn't stamped out all her compassion, though sometimes she wondered if life would be easier without it. She could tell, Oswin knew more than she was saying, but she was scared of something-or someone. 
Jinx nodded to the little queen & fished out a brightly colored ball with sparkles & a small bell inside. "Look, if you don't know, that's fine, but if you have any ideas at all, I'd sure appreciate it. I've been searching for a home for a long time. You wouldn't have to go there or anything, but I'll give you this if you can just tell me where to find a Jellicle or an area they tend to hang out."
She held the toy up to the light so that it shimmered. "I swear, I won't tell anyone how I came by the information period, OK? Do we have a deal?"

[eliaza]

Oswin

Oswin's eyes followed the shiny object, completely and utterly dazzled. When the bell inside jingled, her paw reached out and swatted it. She was all kitten now - she'd been completely caught the minute that shiny ball came into sight. "It's a deal," she grinned. Then she looked around, and beckoned Jinx closer. "But it's our secret, right?" she whispered.

((super short - sorry XD Do you want them to actually go to the junkyard, or her just tell her how to get there? Interesting/fun things could happen if Ossie got found bringing Jinx to the 'yard...))

[shizoo]

((sorry I've been so slow))

JINX

The small queen watched Oswin in mixed fascination & caution--quietly amused at her reaction to the shiny toy. What was the little queen so afraid of? she wondered.
"Sure, if you don't mind taking me there, that would be incredibly helpful, but if you don't want to go there, you could just tell me how to get there." she suggested, her heart going out to the kitten. She'd been hunted enough in her short life, that she had made fear her friend.

"I would give you the jingleball either way." she added. "Plus it could be our secret. I wouldn't tell, I promise."
Jinx made a 'cross your heart gesture' as her eyes sparkled & wheeled with colors--predominantly pinks, greens & blues.

((ooc: sure, she can take her to the yard, that could be lots of fun. ))

[eliaza]

Oswin

Oswin waved a paw dismissively, going from terrified to 'not-bothered' in a matter of seconds. Now that she had a shiny toy, and Jinx's word that she wouldn't 'tell-on' her, she was itching for a trip to the yard. It was always so fun to spy on those cats, whether it was giggling at a young couple in love who had no idea she was there and said the most ridiculous funny things, or something more serious, like finding out secrets that Macavity would be happy to hear...if she decided to tell him, that is. "No problem, I'll take ya there," she assured Jinx. "I'm a Master Spy, y'know," she added proudly. She snatched the shiny ball out of Jinx's paw and gave it a shake, smiling in satisfaction as it jingled in her ear. "Let's go!"

((we could start a new thread in the yard, or if there's one that's already started that would make sense, they could join an existing one and "accidentally" happen upon whoever is there... what do you think? This will be fun... ))