Trying not to fidget too much, Mistoffelees Quaxo was sitting at his desk. His-well, it was brand new in the way it was a new piece of furniture, because it wasn't by a long shot, nicked and scraped in different areas, but it was brand new to him-new desk.
He was just so excited to actually have a job, a honest nine to five, five days a week job. Which meant he wasn't quite prepared to face Macavity Hollister within the first four hours of said job.
He'd managed to get the scheduled meeting into Mr. Zimmerman's office with no problem, but halfway through said appointment this red tabby showed up and strolled over, stopping in front of his desk and giving him a long look. "Aren't you supposed to be all curvy and woman like?" he asked and Mistoffelees' ears flickered backward slightly. "I mean, you are the new secretary right?"
"Yes, I am," Mistoffelees replied, and blinked when Macavity perched himself on his desk. "Hey..."
"You really aren't as curvy as you're supposed to be," Macavity continued.
"I'm sorry to disappoint," Mistoffelees said. "But why are you on my desk? There are several perfectly nice chairs over there if you don't mind..."
"I prefer it here," Macavity told him with a grin.
Coricopat Zimmerman opened the door to his office about fifteen minutes later, nodding politely to the cat he had been meeting with, "Yes, thank you. I shall see what I can do for you later today. You'll hear from me in two days' time." Once the cat had left he turned to see if there was anything else on the schedule.
The mottled tom paused when he saw Macavity and closed his office door, taking a deep breath before opening it again and offering the red tabby a smile, "Macavity, what are you doing here?"
Macavity looked up from where he was still planted on top of a somewhat frazzled looking Mistoffelees' desk. "Cor!" he declared, slipping off the desk and striding over. "How you've been?"
"Well enough. What are you doing here?"
"You sound so wary," Macavity said with a grin, clapping him on the back. "I could have just stopped by you know."
Coricopat jumped slightly at that, eyeing the taller cat, "You never 'just stop by.' What do you want?"
"You just won't be content until I say I'm here for a favor will you?" Macavity said, still grinning as behind him Mistoffelees was working on setting his desk to rights.
The agent frowned, "No."
"Well, I'm here for a favor."
"That was an answer to it. No."
"Oh come on Cor," Mac wheedled. "How bad could it be?"
He sighed, "What's the favor, Mac?"
"I need a lead female singer. Preferably in a week."
"No."
"Why not?" Macavity cried and Mistoffelees shot him a look before returning his attention to his desk.
"Because I lose clients when I send them to work for you."
"Not all the time" Mac protested.
"Three recently."
"Out of what?" Macavity asked.
"Doesn't matter."
"Come on Cor I really need a gal in this role... unless of course, your latest secretary can warble high Cs I really need this."
"Leave my secretary out of this. Why do you come to me for all of this?"
"Cos you're the best agent this side of town, especially for musical talent and I can always wear you down for favors?"
"Do you know how many favors you already owe me?" Coricopat demanded.
"Lost track, that's not the point anyway. The point is I've got to get a soprano and in a week."
Coricopat rubbed his eyes, "I might have a gal...If she says she can't work with you though and you're less than two weeks into filming I will give her that out and you can start over."
For a moment Macavity almost argued and then just nodded. "Sure, deal."
"Alright. I'll talk to her tomorrow."
"Thanks," Mac said and glanced around. "Hey, you wanna go grab lunch?"
"You already asked your favor."
"Yeah, and now I'm hungry," Macavity said, spreading his arms.
"It's two o'clock."
Macavity paused, adjusting to that. "You're implying you already ate, aren't you?"
"I am."
Mac sighed at that. "Damn, I hate eating alone. Hey, think your new secretary will come with me?"
Cori glanced toward the small tom at the desk, arching an eyebrow, "I believe he's already eaten as well. Have you nocat else?"
Mistoffelees looked panicked at the idea for a moment, going back to the papers he'd been looking over quickly. Macavity meanwhile shrugged. "No cat as enjoyable."
"Well, then you will have to settle for somecat less enjoyable. I have work to do. I'll see you later, though?"
"Sounds good to me," Macavity said and made to tip an invisible hat, nodding to Mistoffelees on his way out, closing the door behind him.
Coricopat shook his head as the door closed, "Wonderful..."
Mistoffelees turned back to him. "Oh?"
"I was hoping to avoid another favor to him for a while."
"... Who was that and why do him favors then?" Mistoffelees asked, hoping he wasn't overstepping any major boundaries, but simply curious. "Also, does he come in a lot? Because I'm not sure the desk can take a disruption like that too often."
"That was Macavity Hollister-the director/producer?"
Mistoffelees nodded. "Right, of course. Mostly does musicals... Supposed to be compared to Orson Wells on a regular basis? That one?"
"Well, the one consolation is he hasn't reached Lang status."
Mistoffelees grinned at that. "True, I'm not sure I've heard him compared to Lang."
"Precisely. When I do, I'll stop sending clients to him."
That got a small laugh out of Mistoffelees. "Well... how often does he come blazing in here like that anyway?"
"When he needs a favor. So once in a while. Sharp implements scattered about your desk will usually dissuade him. I recommend a set of jacks."
Eyebrow rising, Mistoffelees nodded. "I was wondering about that on your desk... thanks for the advice, I'll see what I can find." He could always ask his brother if he had anything.
"Yes, well, is there anything further on the actual schedule today?"
Mistoffelees flipped through. "You have another appointment at three thirty. That appears to be it."
"Perfect. Thank you."
The shorter tom nodded, beaming. "You're welcome."
Coricopat looked him over briefly and then returned to his office.
Watching him a moment, Mistoffelees turned back to his desk, humming softly under his breath as he finished up what he had been working on before Macavity came whirling in and out.
Several hours later, after having run home to shower and eat dinner, Mistoffelees blew into the bar that had been his only job for the past year up until a week ago.
Griddlebone looked up from where she was wiping down tables, "Evening, Misto."
Grinning, he caught her around the waist and spun around her once. "Evening!"
That elicited a startled laugh from the white queen, "Well, aren't' you in a chipper mood today."
"I got a job," he said and paused. "I mean, don't get me wrong, I love this place, but actual normal, nine to five job."
"You'll still be coming in, right?"
He nodded. "Yup."
"...When are you sleeping?"
His grin half faltered but remained strong. "I talked to our dear ol' boss and he said I can leave early on weeknights, and I only work four nights anyway, so I'll get extra sleep on the others, and hey that's what naps are for."
"Alright...Just don't work yourself to exhaustion, hm?"
"I will try to avoid that," he promised, bouncing back behind the bar.
She laughed, turning back to her work.
He sang softly as he prepared things for that night.
"You and your music…" She shook her head, smiling as she went to locate a broom.
"You saying something bad about my music?" he asked with a grin, disappearing behind the bar to get something from one of the bottom cabinets.
"Of course not, Maestro."
He only grinned wider and took a moment to launch into the only aria he knew, trying to match the grand title she'd given him. He gave up a minute into it however.
Grids laughed, shaking her head again, "You're incorrigible."
"Me?" he said, placing a paw on his chest, trying to school his face in an innocent expression.
"Yes, you."
His grin only widened and he started serenading her as he made sure the bar was clean.
"Careful, I'm a sucker for a good voice." She grinned at him.
He arched a brow at her. "Oh really?" he drawled.
"Really."
He grinned again, wiping down the bar and putting the rag away. "Grids, my dear, I love you dearly... and it would be like dating my sister if I had one."
She laughed, "Very very true."
"That being said? My voice enjoys the compliment it just received."
"I'm glad I can do that service to your voice."
He bowed low and had to quickly catch a glass he'd nearly knocked over.
"Careful there."
He held the glass up triumphantly. "It has been saved!"
"Hurrah!"
"And I didn't even have to slay any dragons to do so either."
"Always a plus," she said, glancing toward the clock. He looked up as well, busily finishing the last of the preparations he needed to make. She returned the broom to the closet and checked the main room over one last time.
He offered her a grin from where he was. "Looks good Grids."
"Thank you. Now to wait for opening time."
He nodded, glanced at the clock and came around the bar, swinging her around again. "Time enough for a dance to pass it better?" he joked with a grin.
She laughed, "If you're the one paying the jukebox."
"With my new hard earned money from two jobs?" he said with a grin.
She grinned, "Well, you asked me to dance, it's only fair that you pay the piper."
He grinned, slipping over to the jukebox, picking out a song and slipping back, holding out his paws. Still grinning as well, she placed her paws in his.
More so she wouldn't smack him than anything else, he paused a moment to feel the beat, before leading into a basic. She followed him, waiting for him to cue her through the dance. Once he was sure they'd both adjusted to the beat, he started throwing in other moves, leading her through a series of turns and breaks.
Grids followed them well, finally stopping when the music ended, grinning at him. "Thank you."
"Of course," he said, having spun her at the last beat.
Early in the morning hours, Mistoffelees finally made it back to the apartment, no longer nearly as bouncy but still somewhat humming under his breath.
Ricky was curled up on one end of the couch with his nose buried in a book. He glanced up as his brother came in, "Hey."
"Hey," Misto replied and glanced at the clock. "Don't you have school tomorrow?"
Ricky looked at the clock too, "Yeah."
"Just because I stay up to insane hours doesn't mean you should," Misto tried to tell him sternly and yawned halfway through.
The younger tom shrugged, "I'm all ready for bed, I just wanted to see you were home."
Misto offered him a small smile, and set down on the couch beside him. He reached out and ruffled Ricky's headfur lightly. "Thanks."
The teen pulled his head away, smoothing his fur back down, "Hey!"
His older brother just grinned wider. "You're so cute sometimes."
Ricky scowled at him, "'Cute'?"
"Mhm," Misto said with a quick nod. "Downright adorable."
"...Right. What's got you in such a good mood?"
"I had a good day," he replied, leaning against the couch. "... Even if my desk was violated at work."
"Oh?"
"I had the illustrious film director Macavity Hollister sit on it for fifteen minutes."
Ricky's brows shot up, "That drill sergeant director?"
"Mhm," Misto said, nodding. "That one. Came in to bother my boss and was deeply disappointed I wasn't... curvy and womanlike."
The younger brother laughed, "Well, he'll have to deal with that then." He glanced toward the clock gain, "I'd better get to bed..."
Misto nodded and stretched. "Yes, you should. Who am I kidding? I should. I have to be up to be at the office at nine..."
"Alright, sleep well, Misto."
"You too," he said, leaning over to kiss him on top of the head. "Have a good day at school tomorrow."
Ricky grimaced at the motion, but nodded, "Yeah, have a good day at work."
"Thanks," Misto said and rose, still bouncing slightly as he got ready for bed.
Here we are, with a historical AU. They're anamorphic cats in this one, and Mistoffelees is a little too pleased with having jukeboxes around.
Re Pairings: same business as usual. They grow out of the story, so it's up to you to discover them, but there's going to be some slash in there. But just one pairing.
Also, Ricky is an OC that shows up every once and a while, and in this case he fit rather well in here.
