In The Golden Afternoon [open]

[bombalurina]

Bombalurina crossed her arms over her chest, looking scandalized. "Excuse me, as offended as I am that Misto doesnt want to touch them, I don't just let anyone grope me. Especially the unwilling." She stuck her tongue out at Misto.

She smiled at Tugger's compliments, but kept her arms hugged tightly around her. "Flattery will get you nowhere. You know better than that."

Bombalurina was perfectly fine with flattery, but it wasn't what she liked so much about Tugger. It was his ability to match wits with her, and be just as irritating as she was.

"Extremely selective? What the hell is that supposed to mean!" She was only pretending to be angry, and it was obvious, but she stood up and pointed an accusatory finger at Mistoffeles. "Admit I am one fine-ass specimen of a Queen. Admit it!" She smothered a laugh behind her hand, enjoying being silly. The sun was warm on her back and this late in the afternoon, Bom always felt a bit giddy.

[Mistoffelees]

Mistoffelees offered a grunt before he picked himself up and moved directly in front of Bombalurina. Even when holding himself upright, he was still considerably shorter. His hands lifted as if he might grope her chest though he changed his mind and went for her rump instead, almost immediately afterward letting go and sitting down.

"Happy?" A deep exhale was given. Women. What did cats ever see in them?

[Macavity]

Seriously?

Hiding in plain sight directly across from where the trio was stationed, Macavity balled his fist and rested his head against his knuckles. His bushy tail swayed lazily near his foot, both hanging casually over what was perhaps an old washer. The crime lord has situated himself there perhaps ten minutes prior, intrigued by the chatter about the Jellicles' most beloved silver-coated protector. Good ol' Munkustrap. Goody two-shoes indeed. Kind of a wuss.

Kind of handsome.

He hadn't made any sort of brash move or exhaled loudly. Macavity was content to observe them for the time being, situated comfortably in the junk. After all, he could use some more blackmail.

[The Rum Tum Tugger]

"That was a poor excuse for a grope," Tugger said. "You'll never find a man if you grope like that. You gotta make it felt."

He put his hand on Bomba's buttock, kneading firmly into the firmness.

[Mistoffelees]

"I know how to seduce a man properly, and I'm quite good at it. Now if you don't mind--" he began, nostril twitching slightly with his whiskers. It could have been worse. It could have been MUCH worse with the duo. And then, it was just strange, being so close to Tugger, and having Bombalurina in between them.

The symbolism was depressing.

[bombalurina]

Bombalurina started as Mistoffelees grabbed her ass, but put up with it, as part of the whole obnoxious joke.

"It really was. Just...pathetic work, really. I feel thoroughly un-violated-ACK!" she was unprepared for Tugger;s sneak attacked. "Oh, for fucks sake Tugger." She rolled her eyes, sighing deeply. Without stopping Tugger, she turned her head to face Misto.

"You're good at it? Oh please, do tell! What is your magical seduction technique?" She was mocking him, but she hoped Misto could tell it was all in good fun. The minute he told her to cut it out and was serious about it - she would.

She sniffed deeply, catching a hint of...something, strange, on the wind. But it was as gone as soon as it had come and she was having far too much fun to be worried about it.

[Macavity]

But the show was fantastic.

Macavity's ears swiveled momentarily, making sure he remained unnoticed, then perked his ears forward once more to listen in on this juicy conversation. He loved gossip. It was worth every breath. Gossip became blackmail. Blackmail made the world go 'round. A sly smirk formed on his lips. Life was grand.

[The Rum Tum Tugger]

Tugger just smirked as he removed his hand.

For his part, he smelt nothing. The closer related two cats were, the closer their smell, so Tugger could never tell when Munkustrap was round by smell.

"Prove it," Tugger said to Misto, relaxing. "Woo me."

[Mistoffelees]

The cat paused, for a moment trapped. The others were mocking him, didn't think he had it in him. He was challenged. He should walk away from it, he knew he should.

But it was too perfect a set up. Both Tugger and Bombalurina would be unsuspecting. They KNEW he never backed down from a challenge, save for the tit-gropage with Bombalurina but that was just unfair. It'd be a chance for something, something he might never have the opportunity for again. Maybe a taste would satiate his needs.

Mistoffelees rolled his eyes. "You aren't going to let up, are you?" A perfect response. "Fine." And he walked away from the duo, unbuttoning the three buttons on his sports' coat before he slid it off, shoulders pulling back in the gesture, not looking behind him, not having the faintest interest of doing so as he hung it up carefully, brushing off the excess dust, of which there was almost nothing. How had he managed to stay so pristine would always be a mystery.

Hands scruffed up his hair in the front a little, the neck button and one below of his shirt undone though he was careful to keep the buttons around his wrists on and snug. Thumbs slid below the waistband of his pants, around the brim of his boxer-briefs.

Everything was perfect.

A breath was taken as he looked to his paws, energy somewhat sparking. Overhead, dark clouds began to roll in, alarmingly fast, shrouding the sun in shadow. The cat that turned around wasn't sweet-faced Misto, that Quaxo persona having settled down, playful and easy. No. It was vague. Aloof. Magical.

Carefully, he strode toward the duo, movement so smooth it gave the illusion of gliding. "Are you certain you want to see this, Rum Tum Tugger?" A purr, a wink at Bombalurina, the rumble of thunder overhead. "It might be... electrifying." A hand smoothed down Tugger's chest before closing around the buckle of his studded belt, giving a jerk and yank to pull the older and taller cat forward. His best friend.

Maybe Mister Mistoffelees was more like Mephistopheles than he thought.

He was going to hell for this, he was certain.

[bombalurina]

Bombalurina could just about feel the air crackle with electricity. What had been a nice, aunny afternoon, had suddenly turned dark and a bit foreboding, but in a way that made her skin crawl with excitement. Watching Mistoffelees take charge with the Tugger, she raised an eyebrow, a slow and wicked smile spreading across her face and a low, animal purr sounding from the back of her throat.

She leaned back against the car, content, for now, to watch Mistoffelees work his magic.

[The Rum Tum Tugger]

Tugger grinned as Mistoffelees worked. This was certainly a change of pace. He allowed himself to be pulled forward, standing casually, looking down at his friend. Right now he was more amused than attracted, but certainly more interested. It was a start.

[Mistoffelees]

The hand on Tugger's belt only tightened, a tug given to pull the tom even closer before he arched his back, breathing along Tugger's neck. God, the scent, it was intoxicating. It made his breath hotter in temperature, a crack of lightning sounding. A smirk pulled across Mistoffelees' face.

It was too easy.

... too... easy.

The free hand lowered, palm sliding hard over the front of Tugger's crotch, a rub given before he used fingers on the fly.

[The Rum Tum Tugger]

Tugger raised an eyebrow, settling into a amused, content purr. He never knew Misto had it in him to be so, well...sexual. How many toms had he tried this on? He seemed practised. Had it been Bomba, or any queen really, Tugger would already have had a raging erection. Right now he was merely, interested.

[Mistoffelees]

Why the fuck wasn't he hard?

It was hard to keep up the guise of domination, of anger, of challenge as he glanced down. That same hand moved toward the open fly.

He could picture it. Could imagine it. Could almost feel it.

But he didn't.

Mistoffelees more suddenly turned his back on Tugger, the skies lightening up, seemingly disinterested. "I changed my mind."

[The Rum Tum Tugger]

Tugger blinked.

"Well that was abrupt. You won't get anywhere is you change your mind like that."

Tugger stopped for a moment. "You ok?" he asked, realising that this wasn't just Misto's normal contriteness.

[Mistoffelees]

"I just..." A strain to find his words, a clear moment of struggle.

"I just changed my mind, okay?"

Stronger, forced. Ill.

He was quick to button up the top two buttons on his shirt, then pulling on his sports coat.

[The Rum Tum Tugger]

Tugger put his arm around Misto's shoulder.

"Seriously, what's the matter," he asked. "This isn't like you. I'm sorry if I pushed too much."

[Mistoffelees]

Don't...

Mistoffelees prayed he'd say it aloud, but instead he was silent, then found himself leaning against Tugger, head resting on the other's shoulder, eyes fallen shut. His head shook--no. He couldn't tell Tugger. He couldn't tell Bombalurina. He couldn't tell anyone.

So close. A moment so close to what he wanted, and the more glaring proof that Tugger wasn't invested in him. It any tom were remotely, there was no way they could keep their body under control.

Don't... just... stay here a bit longer.

There was the faint drops of a sprinkle before a soft rain fell, the drops on his face indistinguishable from other wetness--tears. That's the way it'd be. He wouldn't tell Tugger. He couldn't. It'd be over.

[Macavity]

Life was grand.

From his perch, Macavity heard and saw all. What he also saw was the greatest slab of blackmail he had come across all day. He paid no heed to the light drizzle from the grey clouds above. The tom folded his hands across his midsection, waiting for more to unfold. While he enjoyed all this, he was conscious of Bombalurina's presence and mildly worried that she'd pick up his scent on the breeze.

Until then, what a lovely show.

[bombalurina]

Bombalurina had never seen anyones body language change so quickly. Misto had gone from irritated and embarassed, to fully confident and in control of the situation, and the crashed and burned into a pit of dejectedness. The jagged breaks between moods was positively jarring, but seeing her friend look so low triggered every weird, maternal, comforting urge in the Scarlet Queen. She pushed off from her perch on the car and stepped lightly around to face Misto, taking him gently by the arms.

"Misto, honey, you okay? The weathers looking pretty nasty." The weather being, of course, indicative of his mood.

The rain brought with it an onslaught of new smells, ones that been trapped by the heat of the afternoon. She raised her hand, sniffing, brow wrinkling. The rain was rapidly washing away the scent, but there was another cat here, or perhaps there had been one recently. The smell was similar to that of Munkustrap and Tugger, but something was different. Wrong. Off.

Peering over Misto's shoulder, she spoke to Tugger. "You smell something weird?" She asked softly, the phrase removed from the conversation with Misto. She turned her head, trying to find a better source of the scent, but turned her head back to Misto, realizing he was more important than any suspicious smell. "Seriously, Misto, what's up." He eyes were wide and begging him to confide in her, although he probably never would.

[Mistoffelees]

If Mistoffelees had a strength, clever would be near the top of his list. Tugger felt warm beside him, as did Bombalurina, but he overlooked something. A comment about smell.

If Skimbleshanks were there, he'd ask his friend about it, but until then he shifted his weight, an index finger tapping his lower lip, head turning from side to side in thought.

A glimmer of something. An irregularity in the pattern.

Mistoffelees rose to his feet, body rounded forth, arms circulating as if he were bundling up a gift before his arms outspread in the air. Lights flickered, the Junkyard brightened, and, horrifically, the visage came to him on the higher perch, the fearsome Mafia overlord so frightening people were afraid when hearing his name.

"Macavity!" he shouted as he pointed, body bracing itself.

[Macavity]

"Oh, shit."

Macavity had expected this. To be noticed, that is; not to have the lights turned on and be completely exposed. Now was the time to decide the next course of action, and he had a mere second to do it.

Smiling, the lounging tom wiggled his fingers at the three below in a sort of mocking 'hello' gesture, then grabbed onto the junk and got to his feet in one fluid motion. He scaled the pile of discarded memories with speed and accuracy, standing at the top at last and looking down at the trio. It was then, here, he hesitated. This wasn't his territory. He could be easily outnumbered in a matter of minutes. He'd do best to flee.

But first, he pointed down towards Mistoffelees, then vanished over the hill of junk.

[Mistoffelees]

The finger that pointed his direction was unnerving, unsettling. He'd had a moment where he wanted to chase, to follow, but now, more than ever, he wanted to curl up and hide.

"... I think I should go back to my human home," he mumbled.

[The Rum Tum Tugger]

Tugger stared at the point where Macavity had disappeared. He didn't move.

"What the hell was that?"

[bombalurina]

Visibly shaken, Bombalurina turned to Misto and Tugger, eyes wide and wild.

"What...the fuck." She said slowly, trying to unclench her muscles and finding it a bit difficult. She'd been practically paralyzed with fear the moment Misto had yelled that name. That name.

"Anyone have any idea what the hell just happened?"

[Mistoffelees]

"I don't know. I don't care. I don't want to stay right in the open anymore," Mistoffelees said, a bit more quickly, unaware of the step he took closer to the duo, as if they were able to protect him. He'd been too stressed, to say the least, and it was disconcerting to have Macavity be right there.

[The Rum Tum Tugger]

"I think we should never tell anybody that happened," Tugger said slowly, only just realising that his fly was still down and doing it up.

"Nobody needs a freaked, anal Munkustrap questioning us."

[Mistoffelees]

"I can't believe I'm agreeing with you for once, Tugger," Mistoffelees said. Though it could sound like a jerkish thing to say, those words had a lot charged in them, and meant a lot. And, though he wasn't quite as aware of it, he stepped in beside Tugger once more as if seeking protection, or maybe comfort. The last thing he wanted to do was swell the asshole's ego, but it seemed too serious otherwise.

[The Rum Tum Tugger]

Tugger put his hand on Misto's shoulder without thinking. He was too freaked out to think about his ego.

"I feel it's my nap time," Tugger said slowly. "Away...in my den...Oblivious."

[Mistoffelees]

"Make room for two," Mistoffelees said without thinking, almost then seeming glued to the other's side as he gave Tugger a nudge. Sometimes, a best friend was really needed in freaky times like this wherever Macavity was concerned. Anything was needed, really, whenever Macavity was concerned actually.

But the other was just watching. Why? It didn't seem like he was meaning harm. It was perplexing.