Part One: Out of the Shadows
Before the Jellicle Ball
Chapter Two: Lost
By the shadows of the night I go
I moved away from the crowded room
That sea of shallow faces masked in warm regret
They don't know how to feel, they don't know what is lost...
It had been a week since Macavity had left her to die. Everyone had come to see her at Jenny and Skimble's place. They all made a fuss over Plato of course and ignored the fact he was Macavity's son. Demeter felt at peace here, but still she felt so confused and then the fact every sound she heard caused her instant alarm. Jenny had said something about trauma, mental and physical. Spells and other devices as well, but the gold and black queen hardly heard a word, she was still in a daze, lost and so frightened and she was beginning to ignore her son, he reminded her to much of his Father and Demeter was beginning to not want anything at all to do with the kit.
" Bomba, I'm glad you're here, she won't feed him or anything." Jenny spoke quietly, afraid that her patient might hear what she was saying," She won't even look at the poor thing. She claims he reminds her to much of Macavity. I'm almost tempted to ship the kit to Jelly's, but Jemi is a handful right now what with hitting her later kittenhood," Everlasting Cat knows I have my hands full enough with Vicki and Etcy. And Electra is still such a small thing. She gets into everything! Just this morning in fact--"
"Jenny. Hon I really hate to interrupt your story, but I could take him. I am his Aunt after all. I can get Teazer and Jerrie to steal some milk for the squirt." Bomba offered, her eyes lingering on the small red, gold and brown form. His body striped with black here and there much like his mother," He does look a lot like his pops don't he." The red queen sighed," Poor kid."
Jenny gave an astonished look, but then promptly remembered what and who she was dealing with and curbed her anger," I suppose... but please don't let that tom of yours be too much of an influence on him. All we need is another Tugger." The gumbie cat shook her head in utter disbelief of the Rum Tum Tugger.
"What about my brother?"
Bomba grinned," He's charming as ever Munkie." The smart scarlet coated feline's dark brow slowly rose at the fact her tomfriend's brother, who had just entered the humble abode of the railway cat's and his mate was hiding something behind his back, and she could smell them," Daisies huh Munkie?" A tell all smirk crossed her lips.
"Um... well I figured it might brighten Dem's-- Demeter's day up a little... she's been through a lot...and uh yeah." The strong silver tabby blundered like a school boy with a crush," And please don't call me Munkie... that's what Tugger calls me anytime he's trying to get something."
The red cat laughed," Sorry, I date that hunk of fur so I can't help but act like he does every so often. Deme likes Daisies. Be good to her Handsome." Bomba scooped up her Nephew and paused just before the tall tom," She needs a feller like you Munkus." The sexy queen placed a peck on the tom's cheek and excused herself. The red queen knew that if her sister hadn't ran off with Macavity, she and Munkustrap would've been mated and Plato would have had a better Father.
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"Whoa." The Rum Tum Tugger, or just Tugger as his friends call him stopped mid strut and took a double take at his queenfriend," Boms, babe there something you haven't told me?" The maine coon, who took after his Dad that way at least looked at his red queen with a curious stare.
"His name is Plato and no he isn't mine. He's Deme's." Bombalurina watched Tugger, closely as he moved up and gave the kit a sniff.
"Mac's too." He spat in disgust," Poor brat. Whoa! Hey!" The Tugger had barely a second to steer clear of a set of tiny claws that swiped at his nose," Chill it kiddo."
"I'm not a brat. I'm Plato. I'm gonna rule the world someday. Huh Aunt Boma?" The kitten had spunk, probably due to the father's side. Not probably, most likely.
Bomba could only chuckle," Sure thing kid, but right now what you're gunna do is take a nap."
" Not ..." yawn," sleepy. "The kitten tried to protest, but his eyes just seemed to feel all the more heavy.
"You can bunk the kid in my place if you want Boms. I need to talk to you bout some stuff I'm hearing anyhow." Tugger offered, trying his best to be supportive in the situation.
"Thanks Tug, really." The red queen smiled and tickled the tom just under his chin, which instantly got her a deep rumbling purr and a nuzzle.
"Keep that up Doll and the Squirt will have to go else where." Tugger growled in a seductive manner at his queen, who only gave a grin and raised brow back at him.
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Munkustrap was quiet, his movements silent and stealth like as he approached the basket
that Demeter occupied. She was asleep, her slender form curled up in one rounded corner of the space. She looked so venerable, so alone and scared. The young tom didn't understand why he felt so drawn to her. She was a tainted queen, she had left the tribe to pursue a dangerous relationship, but she had been pardoned under the circumstances and welcomed back by his Father and the tribe as a whole, no one had objected, but mostly the Jellicle Sentinel figured it was out of pity for her situation.
With no sound he settled next to the gold and black form, his own large black and silver body curling around hers, his strong arms coming around her as he placed the daisies next to the basket. His movements were slow and careful, he did not want to wake her; she was so beautiful in her sleep. His half brother had been a fool, he lost something so precious just because she wouldn't act exactly how he wished, or bared him enough kittens, whatever stupid reason that sorry excuse for a Jellicle had.
He felt her move slightly, her small frame turning, her eyes opened and staring widely at his face, he could only smile," Hey." His voice was soft, caring and gentle. He couldn't understand why he felt like this, she had just been a friend back when they were kittens... which really wasn't that long ago.
"Hey." She said in return, her body stretching, pressing more against his in doing so. In realization of this, the young queen blushed," How...how long have you, well you know..." She was quite at a loss for words, and feeling very awkward currently.
"Been here?" he smiled, her nervousness making her dare he think it, cute," Not long. I ... um I brought you something." Munkustrap smiled boldly and retrieved the daisies, holding them out to her.
The smile that had crossed her lips quickly faded in sight of the flowers. He used to bring her daisies, in memory of this, Demeter bit down on her lip not realizing she was backing away from her old kittenhood friend.
"Deme...don't-- don't you li-- like them?" The silver tabby stuttered, his heart falling and cracking with each scoot back she took," I guess I'll be going now. See ya around Demeter." His tone was full of hurt, he couldn't even look at her as he left. He had never felt so out of place in his life till now.
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She stayed curled in the corner, her green/brown eyes just staring helplessly at the flowers left behind. Munkustrap had looked so hurt by her actions, it wasn't his fault, he didn't know. Demeter kept telling herself this over and over long after the tom had left. She would not however go near the flowers, it was just too much and perhaps it scared her that the tabby was trying so hard to please her, because the last tom who tried almost as hard had hurt her. Had used her and she did not want that to happen again.
" How are you feeling deary? You look much better and oh! Look at this, Munkus brought your flowers, how sweet of him." Jenny smiled and gave the queen under her care a wink," I'll go put them in a vase and water for you. I'll just be a mo---"
"I... I don't want them." She spoke shyly, her voice barely a whisper and her eyes wide with unmistakable fear.
"Oh." All the joy in the gumbie cat's face faded at Demeter's words, she had so hoped that Munkustrap was to settle down, he'd be good for the golden queen too. In fact Jennyanydots strong believed that they would be good for each other. Without another word, the elder queen left the room, the daisies in hand. Why had Demeter looked so frightened by them? Perhaps Macavity had given her flowers once... maybe. Yes, yes, that was surely the reason. She'd just have a chat with Munkus and tell him to be more careful of his choices that's all.
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"What!" Bombalurina stepped back, she could not believe the piece of gossip her tomfriend had just relayed to her, it was insane, and it was completely absurd! She couldn't believe it and yet it did make perfect sense," Jemima... Jelly's Jemi? You can't be ser--" The look on Tugger's face was a rare one, it was very serious," ious...oh rumpus you are!"
" Think about it Bomsie. Have you looked at the kit's fur? Red, and black. Her designs very similar to Deme's. Only thing that's different is the white, but then again not all kittens hold a perfect resemblance to their parents. Munkus nor Lonz does to Old D that's for sure. I do, but only a slight." Tugger was stretched out across a cushion from an old sofa he had come across a while back, and Bomba was using his stomach as a pillow as they talked," Also the fact of Jemi's age too, the fact she has no parents. Poor kid has to live with two old goats."
Bomba scoffed and shook her head slowly," Jelly is not an old goat, just a..a... what do humans call it?"
" Spinster?" Tugger offered knowing a lot of quote slang terms.
"Yes. A Spinster. Thank you." The red queen gave a smile and tickled her tom at his ribs," I mean all she really does is take care of her pops, Gus that is. Oh and help Jenny out here and there."
Tugger reluctantly batted the queen's paw away from his ribs with a smirk," Right. Anyhow it's gotta be the real deal, I heard the old bats talking about it myself. Vicki heard it too. I was escorting her home last night only to find -- Oof! hey what was--" Tugger let a gasp of air out as Bomba's fist connected with his gut a second time.
" You know exactly what that was for! I can't believe you, still hepped with the kittens huh?" The red queen was not to happy at all with the main coon, in fact she was down right upset," I... I thought you said you'd give your ways as you call them a rest when I agreed to be your mate Tugger. And Vicki... she's... she's no older than Jemima!"
"Shit. Boms...I'm sor--"
"You always say you're sorry Rum Tum. Do you ever mean it? I stopped being a heart breaker, why can't you? It's not that hard... why-- why can't you be more like Munkustrap?" Bombalurina's paw instantly went over her mouth as she realized what she had said. It was the worst thing to say to Rum Tum Tugger, the middle brother and always out shadowed by his brother's goodness," Tugger... I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I just got a lot on my mind right now and... and I'm not thinking."
Tugger gave a snort, which sounded more like disgusted laughter and shook his head," Why? Why does everyone want me to be like that damn stick in the mud? He's so perfect, Tugger why don't you try looking up to your brother more? Tugger, why can't you be like Munkustrap, why can't you do this like him, why can't you do that. " His paws came down hard on the cushion," I'm not Munkustrap. I ain't ever going to be him babe. You want Mr Knight in Silver Tabby Armour by all means go get him. He's so bad with women he'd take you in a second just to learn how to be good." With claws bared he pointed towards the doorway of his lair," I'm tired of doing this Bomba. It ain't working anymore." His sighed, defeated.
She did not know what to say, for a moment all Bombalurina could do was sit there and stare. She didn't know how badly being in Munkustrap's shadow effected Tugger, most of the time he cracked jokes when someone said things to him such as he just mentioned. After a moment she found her voice and simply nodded in agreeance," You're... you're right. I'm tired too. Maybe we ought to give it a break for a while."
"No. Sorry Bomba, but this is it. It's over. I can't keep fighting like this with you or walk on eggshells just to keep you happy. You're jealousy is driving me nuts girl. I so much as look at another female and you get pissified." Had he really just said that? Had he just shunned the only woman that could ever be his equal? Possibly the only queen he could ever love? Did he love her? For once... the Rum Tum Tugger was unsure. He had no idea, he just suddenly felt a little lost as he watched the scarlet queen gather Plato and leave. Had that been tears in her eyes? Had he made her cry. Deject he sat down, placing his head in his paws," What have I done?...Oh Everlasting Cat what have I done?"
End of Chapter Two...
