"Hello precious one," the Rum Tum Tugger sidled up to Cassandra and ran his paw along her smooth cream and brown coat, admiring its sleekness. "Been up to any mischief lately?"
"Hello lover," the dark point Abyssinian replied. "Nothing the other girls don't know about yet. I know you keep up with all the gossip." She curled into his side, giving his shoulder a friendly lick before concentrating on cleaning one of her paws.
"It's true, I do." Tugger smirked. Everyone wanted to share their news with him. Talking of which, "I hear you've been seeing little Mistoffelees in odd corners of the Junkyard. "He's a bit young, isn't he?"
"Jealous, Tugger? Nothing to worry about. I've just been helping him with his dance." The elegant Queen gave a luxurious stretch, posing for a moment then relaxing back into his side. "He admires my poise, and wanted to know how to do some of my movements for his show." She ran a paw through the air making mystic motions. Tugger caught it and gave the back of her paw a light kiss.
Cassandra laughed and pulled her paw away to bat playfully at Tugger's shoulder. He was such a flirt! "Mistoffelees also had Pouncival teach him how to do a proper forward roll for his dance. In return he taught Pounce some leaps and turns. It took a while to get the roll right – but he learnt what I had to show him quickly."
"But you've been seen with him quite a bit," Tugger complained with a slight mew of disapproval.
"He showed me some magic tricks after that, and let me help him perform some for the others. Such a talented Tom."
"That he is," the Rum Tum Tugger replied, smiling as he recalled the incident with the beetle and the cork, a tale Mistoffelees had graciously kept to himself. He had not come out well in that story, and was grateful for the younger Toms discretion. "Thank you for looking out for him."
"Entirely my pleasure. I had to make myself scarce anyway – certain things were heating up a little too fast, if you know what I mean," she gave a smirk and ran one paw sexily down her side.
"Oh, really? Well, if you need any help with Alonzo, you know I'm always available to make a little mischief." He smiled at Cassandra's raised eyebrow, but they both knew what was what.
"We'll see." Cassandra rubbed her head along his chin and gave a playful nip. Tugger reared his head out of reach, shaking his head in mock annoyance.
"You're going to be his mate one day, you know that, don't you?" he teased, a look of superiority settling over his handsome features.
"So long as he doesn't know it yet, lover, I can have my fun." Cassandra purred. The two cats grinned at each other and settled down for a cat nap, closely entwined and purring with contentment.
….
On the other side of the Junkyard Mister Mistoffelees and Victoria were also curled close to each other, whispering confidences and batting half-heartedly at a toy ball.
"I think he likes me," Victoria said, hitting the ball to Mistoffelees. Bat.
"How can you tell? He kinda likes everyone," Mistoffelees answered with a return hit. Bat.
"He likes my dancing," she counted. Bat.
"Everyone likes your dancing," Mistoffelees replied reasonably. Bat.
"Not everyone tells me," Victoria pouted. Bat.
"I tell you!" Mistoffelees complained. Bat.
"You don't count. And he gave me a mouse the other day," she shared excitedly. "It wasn't even dead yet and we hunted it together and it was fun!" this last was said in a bit of a rush, as it had only happened recently and she still felt quite thrilled about it. Bat.
"He hangs about with the Rum Tum Tugger fan club, trying to imitate him," Mister Mistoffelees drawled with some disdain.
He might like the Rum Tum Tugger, but he found the other cats' reactions to the handsome Tom annoying. And Tugger himself could be a pain, with his 'let's stay in' or 'let's go out', or 'don't crowd me' or 'oh, are you busy – let me sit on you and demand attention' antics. Bat.
"Well, why shouldn't he? The Rum Tum Tugger is gorgeous!" Victoria swooned and missed the ball, having to get up and retrieve it. She had found the ball and picked it up when Plato walked into view, and she abandoned their game to go and talk to him.
/Urgh,/ thought Mistoffelees grumpily, annoyed at how easily she had forgotten him. Well, Plato was welcome to her, and if they wanted to do the mating dance, good luck to them! He didn't care. Just so long as Plato didn't hurt her.
Mistoffelees had been getting better at throwing lightning, so the other Tom had better behave, or there would be a bolt to the butt coming his way!
And a discontented Mistoffelees curled up to calm himself with thoughts of his ineffable name.