Several weeks later, Macavity strolled into the bar that his girlfriend worked at, looking around in the bustle and heading for her. "Are you getting off soon?" he asked, approaching behind her.
She glanced over her shoulder at him, "We close up in an hour, and then I have to sweep up, but, yes?"
He made a soft sound. "And no cat else can do it?"
"I can see if the new kid can close up, but I don't know if I can get off before an hour's past."
"Well," he said, nuzzling against her. "That's something at least."
She offered him a bit of a smirk, "Alright, I'll see about getting off at close. Can I get you a drink while you wait?"
"Naw," he said with a grin. "Don't want to get slapped again after all."
"All right. You sticking around or coming back in an hour?"
"Haven't quite decided yet, how much do I get to distract you if I stick around?"
"Well, it's not a really busy night."
"You encouraging me to some dastardly deeds then?" he asked with a grin.
"Well, I don't know if dastardly is the right term, but you can distract me a bit."
Grinning still, he whirled her around slightly and glanced around. "I'll take what I can get then."
She grinned, leaning up to kiss his cheek, "I do have to make sure to do work too, though
"Just a little work?" he offered, going to sit down at one of the tables. "You can say I'm bothering you with my order if you like."
"Except you have yet to order anything..."
"How about the most beautiful gal in the place?" he said, still with a grin as his tail curled.
Grids blushed faintly at that, "Flatterer."
"Me? I have no idea what you're talking about," he said, tilting his head to one side. "So, how's the evening going on your end then?"
She shrugged, "Slowly. It's...different without Misto around."
"Not angry for me taking him, are you?" Macavity asked, tilting his head.
"Not really. Miss seeing him around, but it's good for him I think."
"Talk to him much since?" Macavity asked, tail swaying behind him.
She shook her head, "Not really..."
The taller tom paused, pursing his mouth. "Well, he seems to be settling into the set," he admitted, softly.
"So he's doing well, then. That's good to know."
"Yeah, he's... quite something," Macavity said. "I'm sorta annoyed at the world for hiding him so long."
"Do you think he's got a future in it?"
"If he wants it," Macavity said with a shrug. "He can sing, he can dance, he's fairly damn cute too."
Grids nodded, "He rather is. It certainly would do well for him."
"It might," Macavity murmured, tapping a claw against the table. "I feel sorta bad, getting him into it now."
"Wh-oh, right."
"Just, with him and Cor and already doing all of that... to bring him into somewhere where he's gonna be looked at all the time?" Macavity shrugged. "Don't know if I wanna."
"Well, it is up to him to decide..."
"So it probably is," Macavity sighed. "I'd sorta like Cor still talking to me though."
"Is..." Grids paused, "Is it a possibility that he wouldn't?"
"Well, if I get him and his lover up in front of the government? Yeah, I can see that ending some things. He was downright furious when I recruited Misto too."
She sighed, "Well, here's hoping they don't end up there, then."
He offered her a smile, though he sighed again. "Yeah, sounds about right. Hope we don't, will probably end up there anyway."
She traced a paw over his cheek, "You're worrying about things you don't have control over right now."
"Yeah, but, best friend and all that," he shrugged. "Doesn't that mean worrying about things?"
"I suppose it does, but don't go borrowing trouble."
"Don't you know by now how much I like trouble?" he smirked.
She offered him a bit of a grin, "I have some idea. I need to get some work done. I'll be back to check on you, alright?"
"Alright, alright," he said, finally waving her off. "If you must..."
Grids leaned down and kissed his cheek, "I'll be back."
"Better be," he hummed, watching her go.
o.o.o.
Several months into filming, and a couple weeks after the male singer was abruptly replaced by a tom that only came up to Bombalurina's collarbone, the singer found herself at a fairly disreputable looking pub. She wasn't entirely sure what she was doing there, except possibly looking for someplace that wasn't her empty apartment.
Munkustrap glanced up from where he was ordering his drink. One brow arched at the sight of the red queen and he moved over to her, once he had gotten his drink, "Miss...Smith, correct?"
The well shaped queen blinked a couple times, before smiling. "Ah, the sane Mr. Hollister. How lovely to see you."
That earned a smile, "And you, Miss. Do you mind terribly if I join you? It's a shame to drink alone."
"It rather is," she agreed with a nod. "Which is why it's perhaps a welcome event to see you here. You are more than invited to join me."
He settled across from her, "How have things been with you?"
"Filming, mostly," she said with a shrug. "It tends to take over your life after all."
"I suppose that's true. How are you doing with my brother?"
"He is..." she paused a long moment. "Is a fascinating man. I'm not entirely sure it's a compliment, and I'm not sure I would ever set foot on his set again past this contract but... I feel like on the other hand this would probably be my best work."
Munkustrap nodded, "Sounds like Mac. He has a drive for the best, always has, and he expects to get it. Even if it means cats don't much care for working for him more than once, twice at the most."
She laughed. "But he still is the best. It's quite the feather in the hat to work with him. It's a film that I'm sure will go down in history. That being said? Doesn't mean I enjoy being on the actual set."
That earned a bit of a laugh in response, "No, and if you did I think you might be out of your mind."
Chuckling, she looked down at the drink she'd order, leaning against the bar. "It must have been quite... interesting growing up in the same house."
Munkus hesitated and shrugged, "It rather was, yes."
"He's the eldest, right? You can tell from how pushy he is."
"He is, yes, by two years. Then there's myself and our younger brother."
"A younger brother?" she asked, arching a brow. "Two younger brothers to push around. I can hardly imagine. How did the youngest survive then?"
"Well, he's currently touring Europe as a singer if that answers that question."
Bomba's brows shot up. "Pressed for excellence from an early age, hm?"
"...Something like that."
She laughed again. "I'm not sure you ever seem happy to talk about your brothers..."
Munkustrap smiled a bit at that, "Well, we don't always see eye to eye on much. But they are my brothers."
"It must be nice to have a family like that, even if they are overbearing on occasion," she said, taking a sip of the drink.
"It is, yes. Though there are days I think I may be the only sane one."
"Oh, you probably are," she said with a laugh. "Compared to your brother you certainly are, and the youngest in the family is usually hardly the sane one."
Munkustrap sipped at his drink, offering her a grin, "Well, they both have their moments anyhow."
Still grinning, she looked him over again. "Well, so long as they're good moments."
"They are," he agreed. "What of you? Any family?"
She paused, taking another sip. "Nothing like that," she said finally.
"I..." He nodded slightly, "I'm sorry to hear that."
In response, she rolled her shoulder. "I grew up. It's not like I knew what I was missing growing up anyway."
"I suppose that's true. Still, I can't imagine."
"It's hard to imagine the things you've never had," she said, quite seriously and philosophically, before laughing.
He grinned at that, "This is true."
"I hope you're not going to feel sorry for me," she said, giving him a long look.
His brow arched, "For not growing up with siblings you think are committablely insane some days? Hardly."
"Good. Because you looked like you were considering it," she flashed him a grin and returned to her drink.
"Only if you'd turned out the worse for it, and you appear to have managed well."
That got another laugh from her, and she inclined her head. "Good. Because I would hate for that pity to ruin our relationship."
He smiled a bit at that, "As would I."
Taking another sip of the drink, she looked him over. "So, how has life been treating you then? Since you don't deal with your crazy brothers every day."
"Well enough. The cases I've been taking on have been going well, so that's always good."
"Anything exciting cross your desk?" she asked, teasing.
He shrugged, "Not really, though that may be as much my own choice as anything. I'm avoiding anything of real note at the moment."
"Really? Why?" she asked, tilting her head to one side.
"Because my brother's a notorious Hollywood director? I prefer to stay in the background."
"But don't you ever get bored there?"
"Once in a while, but I find it suits me."
"Really?" she considered him again. "I guess it would suit. However, it seems sad to always live in the background or shadows."
"I grew up with Macavity and a younger brother who went on to perform. It's a place I'm accustomed to. There's safety there."
"But is safety the only thing you want?" she asked, tilting her head to the other side.
He shrugged, "It's done well enough for me so far."
"Think it always will then?"
"I don't know. I suppose I'll cross that bridge when I come to it."
"Sorry," she said after a moment, finishing her drink. "I'm an actress. I'm used to fighting for the spotlight. I certainly did not mean to make you feel uncomfortable."
He shook his head at that, "No, you didn't. I...suppose I haven't much thought about whether I really want more than safety."
"Well, everycat usually wants something."
"Well...to someday settle down. Step out of the shadows for somecat if not for everything in my life."
"Some cat?" she asked, tilting her head.
"I'm hardly inclined to stay in the shadows when it comes to relationships. I've seen how that works and it isn't well."
"So you're a single cat star then?" she asked with a faint smile.
He shrugged, "For now."
"I'm curious to the cat that could get you out of the shadows," she said with a teasing smile before glancing down at her empty glass and then the clock.
He followed her gaze to the clock, "Well, we could always talk about it over drinks again?"
She arched a brow. "It's a nice enough place here. Same time, next week?" she offered.
"I look forward to it."
Offering him an almost hesitant smile, she nodded. "So shall I. So long as your brother doesn't destroy my sanity in the meantime that is."
"If you've survived him this long you should make it."
She laughed. "I don't know, as we're starting to wrap up I think he's getting more domineering."
Munkustrap smiled at that, "Well, I do hope your sanity holds out."
"I'll do my damnest to hold onto it," she said, returning the smile. "But to do that, I should be in bed at just about this hour. Until next week, then."
"Until next week. Good night."
"Good night," she murmured, nodding her head to him once more before heading out of the bar into the cool night air.
o.o.o.
Taking a breath, Mistoffelees raised a paw to knock at Coricopat's door. The idea of coming over was still strange to him, and he was feeling exhausted from a long day of Macavity making him do the same scene over and over. And yet, there was nowhere else he'd rather be at the moment.
Coricopat answered the door moments after the knock came. He'd had a long day of dealing with clients and his new secretary, who we was ready to strangle. He smiled at the sight of Mistoffelees, "Hello, come on in."
"Hey," Mistoffelees said, stepping inside and holding up a bottle. "I have no idea about you, but tonight felt like a wine night. If nothing else, it made me feel better about showing up empty-pawed the last two times."
Coricopat smiled as he closed the door. Leaning down he kissed the other lightly and took the bottle, "Wine sounds like a wonderful idea tonight."
"Long day?" the smaller asked, feeling almost petulant about the brief kiss.
"Yes. Yours?"
"Long," Mistoffelees replied, sitting down on the couch and watching the other. "Your best friend really knows how to work cats."
Coricopat paused only long enough to grab a couple of wine glasses before moving over to join Mistoffelees on the couch, "He does. A slave driver would be an apt description, I believe?"
"I think that's what everyone else calls him," Mistoffelees said, sinking further into the furniture. "Your couch is nicer than mine. But yes, I think some of the extras have long since broken and left."
"Well, extras will do that," he poured a couple of glasses of the wine, offering one to the smaller tom.
"Yeah," he murmured, taking the glass and pulling his legs up beneath him.
"How are things going beyond the filming?"
"I don't know, really," he said, sinking down a little more. "Ricky's skipping school again, I'm at the set all day and I miss Grids, and hell, I miss you," he said, finally turning back to the mottled tom.
Coricopat moved a little nearer, reaching out to touch the other's shoulder, "I miss you as well. I know it doesn't help, but I do. Have you talked to him about the skipping?"
"Yeah," he said, swallowing at the touch. "Gives me something back about the terrible situation our education is. I think he's right, and damn he's smart, but I would feel much more comfortable if he would actually go to school."
"Have...you seen about him testing into a higher grade, or if they would allow that?"
Tilting his head back, the smaller considered. "A higher grade?"
"What grade is he in now?"
"He's a sophomore," Mistoffelees said. "I could, well, see about it. Maybe at the end of the semester?"
"Couldn't hurt, might give him more of a challenge."
"As long as he doesn't end up failing out of it you mean," Mistoffelees said, shifting closer.
Coricopat put an arm around the other and drew him closer, "Do you think he would?"
"I don't know," he murmured, curling up. "I'm not sure of much at the moment."
"I'm sure it'll work out."
"I certainly hope so," Mistoffelees sighed. "Filming will wrap up soon but..."
"But...?"
"I'm not really sure what I'm doing is all."
"Figure that out when you get there, hm?"
"I don't know, I sort of would like to know some things before then," he murmured. "I like acting, I didn't expect to and now I do, but I have no idea about sustaining it, or..." he sighed.
"You've got the voice for musicals, and the presence for a sustained career, if Mac's right."
"But," he paused, and sighed. "I don't know."
"I know. It's a large decision. And it doesn't have to be made tonight."
Humming, the smaller curled up against him more, sipping the wine. "How are you?"
"Tired, ready to skin the new secretary. She reordered my filing cabinet."
"That bad?" Mistoffelees smiled. "Can you find anything at all?"
"I've managed, but it did take some adjustment."
"It's almost too bad I can't come and reorganize it back for you," he said with a grin, taking another sip.
Coricopat laughed quietly at that, "Almost, yes. I would have preferred not to have to organize it at all."
"Oh, I'm sure," Mistoffelees laughed softly, starting to slowly relax.
The older tom sipped at his wine, one paw absently running up and down Mistoffelees' arm, "But filming is going well at least, yes?"
"Yeah," Mistoffelees nodded. "If I never talk to Mac again, that'll be okay though, right?"
Coricopat laughed, "Well, he is my best friend, but I suppose that can be permitted."
"Oh good." Shifting, the younger sighed. "He's not bad, I guess, just... when it comes to directing? God."
"Yes, I have heard him a bit of a tyrant."
"A bit," Mistoffelees looked up at him, pausing. "I mean, as I said, filming's almost over, and I guess we'll have to see how it does..."
"And it's got your foot in the door if you choose to pursue anything further. Working for Macavity is rather like a badge of honor in some ways, and to have it be your first job and deal with having a singing role? Well..."
"So you think it's a good thing?" Mistoffelees asked, tilting his head. "I mean, if I can deal with him I can deal with anyone right?"
"I...As your agent I strongly advise it. As myself..I advise it as well, though with perhaps more caution."
"If I end up... I don't know, staring in things, can you imagine the scrutiny?" the smaller asked.
"It will...be extensive, yes."
"Can we, can we get away with that?" he asked.
"I think so. If you avoid controversial roles and the like."
"And you'll advise me on all that?" he asked, smiling.
Coricopat offered him a gentle smile, "I will, I'll be there every step of the way."
"Promise?" he leaned his head back.
"I promise," Coricopat kissed the other lightly.
Fumbling for a moment to set the wine glass down without knocking it over, Mistoffelees slid both his hands around Coricopat's shoulders, pulling him deeper into the kiss. Coricopat managed to set his wineglass down too, pulling the other close and drawing him onto his lap.
Following the motion, Mistoffelees made a small sound, wrapping himself closer. Coricopat purred, running his paws down the other's spine.
The smaller tom shifted at that, making a low sound and drawing back slightly. "What are you...?"
"Hm? What..? I..."
Shifting, Mistoffelees blushed. "I just... I..."
"Do...do you want me to stop?"
"No," he said, though it was faint. "I'm fairly certain I don't just..."
"Just...?" Coricopat asked, breathing shallowly
"Just," he laughed softly from where he was still on the other's lap. "If you don't stop, what's gonna happen?"
"Well, my bed's that direction," he nodded toward the bedroom, murmuring quietly. "But only if you're alright with that."
For a long moment, Mistoffelees just stared at him. "Are you?"
Coricopat nodded, "I am."
Mistoffelees considered him a very long moment, not quite moving one way or the other. "And if I am?"
"Then...well..."
"Well?" he asked quietly. "I mean, we are, we've been, in a relationship a while now but," he shook his head, unsure what he was trying to say.
Coricopat hesitated, "We have been. And I..."
"You?" Mistoffelees leaned a bit forward.
The taller tom kissed him gently, "I would like to, if you would permit it, spend the night making love to you."
Eyes widening, a shudder went through the smaller tom as he stared Coricopat. "Alright," he said, throat dry.
"Alright?"
"Sorry, what I actually meant was, oh everlasting cat, yes," he said, yanking Coricopat back into a kiss.
That garnered a smirk against the kiss as he leaned into it, "We should move if we're going to..."
"Oh," he managed. "Erm, move? Does that mean me?"
"I could attempt to carry you but I don't know how well that would work."
Eyes going wide again, Mistoffelees laughed. "I don't know, I'd sorta like to see you try now."
That earned a bit of a smile and a kiss as Coricopat shifted the other so he could better stand up and carry the other. Mistoffelees moved with him, suddenly feeling unsure again. "Cori..."
"...Yes...?"
"I," he rested this foreheads together. "I love you," he said, voice very low.
"I love you too. Very much," Coricopat kissed the other gently.
Offering him a smile, Mistoffelees leaned in for a quick kiss. "So, you gonna try and carry me or should I work on standing on my own?"
"I think it might be best if you try standing on your own. Would rather not risk dropping you."
Laughing, Mistoffelees cupped Coricopat's face in his hands, kissing him hard as he started to stand, pulling the other with him. Coricopat leaned into the kiss, purring as he guided the other back toward the bedroom.
Just checkin' in with all our pairings. We hope everyone has been enjoying the chapter and more regular installments! Please drop us a review, it means a lot to us to hear people are reading.
