Warm Whispers [open - Skimble?]

[kamaria]

The sun was baking down from a bright blue sky, white cotton clouds sailing lazily by. Kamaria was lying on her back, arms tucked behind her head, on her favourite spot atop the old rusted car. She was gazing up at the clouds, picking out shapes and daydreaming, contentedly soaking up the warmth from the sun. It was a beautiful day.

Before long, she was drifting off to sleep.

...She was still lying on top of the car, when Skimbleshanks sauntered into view. He made his way over to her, big smile on his face. Without a word, he climbed onto the car, holding himself over her, green eyes twinkling. She saw something there, some warmth or something that made her all tingly, but before she could analyze it further, he leaned down and kissed her. Softly, gently. Kamaria let out a soft half-choked moan, and slipped her arms around Skimble's neck, losing herself in the kiss. Skimble shifted his weight over onto one bent arm, and let his free hand wander, caressing her side, her hip, her thigh, kiss growing more passionate...

Kamaria sat up with a start, blinking, heart beating a little faster. She looked up at the sky. The sun hung a little lower in the sky, but it was still the middle of the day, and it was still wonderfully warm.

With a blush, she looked around, hoping she hadn't made sounds in her sleep for anyone to hear.

These dreams were happening more and more frequently, and while they were definitely nice, they were also not helping her confusion and conflicted feelings. At all.

[isthatasock]

Skimble hurried along, sans waistcoat, muttering to himself.

"Foolish, foolish, foolish," he self berated. "Such errant forgetfulness. It's hardly tolerable. You're getting slack in your old age Skimble. Talking to yourself too."

He really was in a state. Something had ruffled him. He wasn't even properly dressed. He gotten in such a state that he left his den in just his pants and singlet, and had been too distracted all morning to realise how indecent he was. His shoulders were showing!

Still, at least it showed where Victor got his physique from. Although were it pointed out to him, Skimble would be very much embarrassed.

[kamaria]

Of course the first cat to appear in Kamaria's field of vision was Skimbleshanks. Of course. Kamaria blushed even more. He seemed flustered and preoccupied, though, so hopefully he hadn't heard anything.

She did a double take when she realized he was only half-dressed. Wow. Also, yum. Kamaria mentally shook herself. Not helping. Not helping at all. Anyway. Half-dressed in public? Skimbleshanks? Something was definitely up.

"Lost something?" she called to him, smiling somewhat awkwardly.

[isthatasock]

"Oh, I've been quite foolish," Skimble reiterated, actually pacing in a circle. "And I'm at quite a loss as for what to do now."

[kamaria]

Kamaria frowned, then.

"What have you done? I'm not all that good at advice, but I'm happy to try," she offered.

[isthatasock]

"Quite silly really," Skimbleshanks sighed. "I went to talk to Jenny about Tumble yesterday, and I left my waistcoat there to be mended, as on hem was undoing slightly, and I completely forgot to remove my watch first," he said. "Now I overslept, and Jenny's gone somewhere today, and I can't get into her den to retrieve it. I've been frazzled all morning. Only the sun to tell the time, and it's hardly reliable."

[kamaria]

Jenny. Oh. A twinge of jealousy.

"Forgot your watch? I didn't think that was possible!" Kamaria teased, trying to get a smile out of Skimble.

"Do you need to be somewhere at a specific time today? If not, there's no point worrying. You might as well just relax, and get it from her when she returns tonight," she said with a smile.

[isthatasock]

"I have nothing to do specifically today, no," Skimble muttered. "But that isn't the point!" he rallied. "I can't go around not knowing the time like some, some...disorganised thing!"

[kamaria]

Kamaria laughed, then. That was the Skimbleshanks she knew, for sure.

"Believe it or not, the world will not end, just because you won't be able to keep perfect track of time today. It's just one day. Trust me, you will survive," she said happily.

[isthatasock]

"But it's just so, so...Random," Skimble complained. "No timing. How will I know when to have lunch, when to go to bed?"

[kamaria]

Kamaria giggled.

"How about you just have lunch when you're hungry, and go to bed when you're tired? That's what us mere mortals do," she said with a smirk.

Skimble was really rather adorable when he was flustered.

[isthatasock]

"But that's not organised!" Skimble practically wailed. "Look at me, I'm not even dressed! I might as well strip off and run naked in the rain, it's such undignified behaviour."

[kamaria]

Kamaria couldn't help but laugh.

"Sorry for laughing," she said, apologetic grin on her face. "Can't help it."

So endearing. Awww. Kamaria resisted the urge to hug him.

"Tell you what. Why don't you just give unorganized a chance for one day? I'll be happy to help," she offered, still smiling.

"The naked running won't be necessary, I assure you, although it would definitely be entertaining!"

[isthatasock]

Skimble sighed. "What choice do I have?" he asked glumly. "No one else has a watch."

[kamaria]

"Sorry, no, no watch. I promise it's possible to live without one, though. And it's just one day, in your case. It's not all bad," Kamaria said with a smile.

"Maybe you'll even enjoy yourself!" Gasp shock horror~

[isthatasock]

"Fine," Skimble admitted defeat. "But it is about time for my walk," he said, mildly displeased with the word about.

[kamaria]

"Walks are nice. Can I come?" Kamaria sad happily. It was going to be interesting seeing Skimble attempt to spend a day without being dictated by his watch, and she didn't want to miss any of it.

She also wouldn't pass up a chance to spend time with him, but that reason was harder for her to admit, still.

[isthatasock]

"I'm not adverse to company," Skimble said, smiling.

He offered his arm in a friendly, and gentlemanly, manner.

[kamaria]

Kamaria smiled. "Then I shall supply it!"

She hooked her arm around his, and felt her stomach do a light flip. She could definitely get used to being in such a close proximity to Skimble.

[isthatasock]

Skimble wandered along sedately.

"I'm sorry if Tumble made things awkward for you," he said after a while.

[kamaria]

Kamaria strolled along, quite content. She looked down at her feet with a sinking feeling when he brought up Tumble, though.

"You mean with calling me Claudia and stuff? Don't sweat it, it's okay. We, uh, we kind of got in a fight yesterday, though," she said quietly and sighed.

"Mistoffelees let slip that him and Victor are an item now, and Tumble... Well, he kind of exploded. He was livid. Ran off, and I, well, I followed him, in the hopes I might be able to comfort him in some way. Misto didn't follow. Coricopat appeared, and he picked up that something had happened to Misto, so we all went back to look for him. He was bleeding, and angry, and refused to say what had happened. The sight of the blood... it made something click for Tumble, and he, well, he kind of reverted into the state of mind he was in that day he called me Claudia. I led him away from Misto, and the blood, and we started talking again. I offered to help him find you, or Victor, or Pounce. Just... anyone important to him, you know? Figured either of you would be better at talking to him than me."

She paused.

"I'm sorry, I'm rambling. It's just... I'm not sure if I should be the one to say this, but I'm worried about him. He started talking about how he wished you loved him more, how he feels like you love Victor, even Mistoffelees, more than you love Tumble. I suggested he talk to you about it, and said that I didn't think it was true that you don't love him. It kind of ended up in a bit of a "why would you care", "why wouldn't you care" shouting-match. It... wasn't pretty. I didn't know what to say to him by the end of it, because he's so dead-set on thinking that he's nothing special, never will be, and that nobody loves him. Which is bull, but he refused to listen to me."

[isthatasock]

Skimble sighed. "I wish he had confidence in himself," he said. "I'm hardly here, and the only reason I ever spent more time with Victor was sorting out the messes he got himself in. Often calming Jenny down."

He sighed again. "It would be nice if he got angry more, really. He often just curls in on himself when upset. If he just punched on of the toms who upset him it might all be better."

[kamaria]

Kamaria nodded. "Better to let the anger out, than to bottle it all up."

She was quiet for a while.

"He also mentioned he hates how everyone walks on eggshells around him all the time. It's kind of hard not to, though, since he curls in on himself at the drop of a hat," she murmured.

[isthatasock]

"I just don't know what to do with him sometimes," Skimbleshanks said. "I don't want to upset him, but I don't want to baby him either."

A moment of silence as they walked. "His metal will certainly be tested soon, at any rate."

[kamaria]

"Exactly. It's a fine line," Kamaria murmured.

"Oh, how so?" she asked, looking at Skimble curiously.

[isthatasock]

"My brother intends to come for a visit," Skimble said, distastefully. "It could be a disaster."

[kamaria]

"You have a brother?" Kamaria blinked. "And one you're none too fond of, by the sounds of things?" she said with a small smirk.

[isthatasock]

"Oh, there's nothing wrong with him," Skimble said hurriedly. "He's just...hard to handle."

[kamaria]

"I'm intrigued," Kamaria said with a grin.

[isthatasock]

"Think as if Rum Tum Tugger was my brother," Skimble said. "That should give you a rough idea of what he's like."