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Post by gumbiecat on Jun 13, 2010 10:26:38 GMT -5
Jenny didn't ask for a lot of things in life. Well, perhaps she did, but they were within reason with trying to organize the mice, the beetles, other beasts... her family. Well, maybe that one was a bit more difficult to maintain.
For the past hour, she'd sat on the front porch, perfectly content in the sun. Maybe she'd venture to Jellicle Territory later, that Munkustrap certainly was a good man, or even go to Tumblebrutus's humans and make sure he was happy. If he wasn't, all hell would break loose, she was certain.
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Post by isthatasock on Jun 13, 2010 21:40:12 GMT -5
Skimble walked up the front porch. He had his shirt in his hands, somewhat hesitant.
"Are the humans around?" he asked, much wanting to put his shirt back on, not strip off.
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Post by gumbiecat on Jun 13, 2010 21:51:40 GMT -5
"Would I be sitting here naked if not?" Jenny replied, giving a warmer smile to Skimbleshanks as she patted the space next to her. "Haven't seen you around here in awhile. Come to visit me... or..." Her voice trailed off, and she frowned.
"What'd Victor do this time?"
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Post by isthatasock on Jun 13, 2010 21:58:36 GMT -5
Skimble sighed and rather hesitantly stripped off his pants. He still was uncomfortable naked around Jenny. Especially...certain parts. Which were far too big in his opinion.
"Actually I came about my waistcoat," he said. "I left my watch in it."
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Post by gumbiecat on Jun 13, 2010 22:03:56 GMT -5
"Oh." Surprise came to her features before the warmer expression came to her face. "I'll get it in just a few moments. I want to absorb as much sun as possible." The thought that Skimbleshanks had come for something as simple as his waistcoat that she went to repair was a Godsend. Anything was that meant Victor wasn't getting in a shit load of trouble.
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Post by isthatasock on Jun 13, 2010 23:53:29 GMT -5
Skimble sat down beside Jenny, legs crossed. The sun was nice. But he supposed he had to spoil the mood soon.
"Speaking of Victor," he said, deciding to start with the less concerning news. "It seems he is dating Mistoffelees now."
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Post by gumbiecat on Jun 13, 2010 23:58:50 GMT -5
"... dating?"
A pin could have dropped.
"As in the normal sense of the word? ... with another tom? ... with the Magical Mr. Mistoffelees?"
Disgust came to her features then. It was wrong on so many levels. They were both toms, it wasn't to work that way. And Mistoffelees was the boy wonder, just about, one she perceived as innocent, one she let play with Tumblebrutus when they were younger kits.
"There needs to be an end to this," she said after a moment. "He's rebelling. It's not right. It could rub off on Tumblebrutus. He doesn't need that."
She knit her fingers together in worry. "Surely there are queens that would work for Victor. Nice ones that could straighten him out. ... I mean get him on the right path. Victoria, maybe..."
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Post by isthatasock on Jun 14, 2010 0:05:21 GMT -5
"I'm sure this isn't rebelling," Skimble reasoned. "An actual relationship is a step up for Victor. And I think Mistoffelees will be good for him. Might ground him more."
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Post by gumbiecat on Jun 14, 2010 0:09:24 GMT -5
"You're supporting this?"
Her face became more cross. "He's probably turning to another... another tom... because of a lack of a paternal figure! This isn't right. They'll torment him. He'll have it harder. And Mistoffelees is just a boy. He's almost as young as Tumble! And what happens when Tumblebrutus, undoubtedly, wants to follow in his big brother's footsteps? How can you support this? Tell me, how?"
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Post by isthatasock on Jun 14, 2010 0:20:13 GMT -5
"Because not supporting it would be worse," Skimble reasoned. "If you try to stop him, Victor will only push it further. Mistoffelees is respectable, and could be good for him. And you cannot blame me for not being around," he continued. "I do the best I can. And as for Mistoffelees's age, well, Victor already made a point which we are in no position to argue."
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Post by gumbiecat on Jun 14, 2010 0:27:32 GMT -5
Hands pressed to her head, small ears flattening, stress coming to her face. "If you told him it was a bad idea, he'd listen. You're always so lenient with the boys and they get into more and more trouble. Victor just hangs out more and more with those... idiots. At least Alonzo has some shred of decency, but the others-" she turned up her nose, then buried her head in those hands.
"He's doing it to spite us. And then he'll do something worse. Then maybe get sick, or get a queen pregnant. Where did I go wrong with him as a parent? I thought I was a good mother. I was there for him. I was always there for him." Her eyes squeezed shut, a few tears trickling down her cheeks. No, no this was terrible for Victor. Absolutely terrible. It was abnormal.
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Post by isthatasock on Jun 14, 2010 0:32:46 GMT -5
"Well, look at it this way," Skimble said, "It's probably best for Mistoffelees. I know he only likes toms, and for him, the options are limited. It is better than ending up with Coricopat, isn't it?"
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Post by gumbiecat on Jun 14, 2010 0:38:35 GMT -5
Jennyanydots wasn't certain if Skimbleshanks could say anything worse.
"You care more about Mistoffelees than your own damn son?!"
Livid was an understatement.
"I don't CARE if it's best for Mistoffelees. He's not my damn son. I could care less if he got together with that psychic cat. Keep the magical freaks together! What I care about is my damned sons! I would have thought you'd have loved them enough to care about their well-being rather than some tom who isn't family!"
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Post by isthatasock on Jun 14, 2010 0:41:45 GMT -5
"I want them to be happy!" Skimbleshanks snapped back. "This is what Victor wants. It's not our place to tell him who he can see. If you try and control his life he'll drift further away!"
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Post by gumbiecat on Jun 14, 2010 0:48:00 GMT -5
"I don't want them to be happy! I want Victor to be happy, and in the long run he won't be if he keeps this up! I don't know what your deal is with Mistoffelees, and why you've always favored the damn cat, but it's not right, and you know it! And I'm not going to let him go gallevanting off into a dangerous situation where he could get killed!"
She hiccuped with the last word before turning her face away sharply despite the hands that covered it. Eight kittens, five of which she didn't even know the whereabouts of, one horribly murdered, and two remaining sons who were up to trouble. She'd tried for kittens after Tumblebrutus, but it never happened. And had she kept a tighter rein on Claudia, she wouldn't be dead.
"He'll die. You'll let him die if you don't help intervene. And I don't care if he hates me but I'm not letting him ruin his life and get killed."
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Post by isthatasock on Jun 14, 2010 0:58:27 GMT -5
"Victor is strong," Skimble said. "He's too much like my brother. But he always comes out on top and bounces back."
He put a hand on Jenny's shoulder. "I won't let either of the boys die," he said quietly. "I promise. If either of them goes missing, I will find them, no matter what. Forsake the train for them."
Coming from Skimble, the notion of giving up the train meant a lot.
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Post by gumbiecat on Jun 14, 2010 1:03:50 GMT -5
There was no comfort on her face though she turned her head, arms wrapping around his shoulders, face burying into his neck. It was a touching sentiment, but there was no way he could promise something like that, could he? There was no way he could understand the severity.
Victor worried her, worried her sick, in fact. Enough that she tried to intervene when she could with his life, but she was busy. She had her home life, the mice and the cockroaches to take care of, and the problems would be solved. She knew that. So why couldn't she solve the issue with her sons?
And Tumblebrutus... she didn't know what to do with him. She never meant to raise an omega type, all her other children having alpha tendencies. She'd tried to help him, encouraged him to be friends with Pouncival even though she could barely stand the brat, and still he was incompetent when it came to his own independence.
She squeezed harder, a shake of her head given.
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Post by isthatasock on Jun 14, 2010 1:21:46 GMT -5
"Everything will be alright," Skimble said. "The boys come from good strong genes," he pointed out with a small smile. "You don't put up with what you don't want. They are your sons. They will get their own way in the end."
"And you must be strong soon," he added. "Be that rock of righteous strength. My little brother is coming to stay, and I can't handle him myself."
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Post by gumbiecat on Jun 14, 2010 8:38:55 GMT -5
"I don't think we'll be that fortunate this time. It's not right. It's just not--" and she paused, exhaling. "The infamous Edgar? Why is he coming? And when? If Victor's wild now, surely that'll backfire and make it worse. God, and Tumblebrutus--maybe it's not a good idea for him to be out. I could encourage him to stay with his human family for a few days."
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Post by isthatasock on Jun 14, 2010 8:42:56 GMT -5
"I don't know when," Skimble said. "He doesn't run on a schedule," he sniffed. "All I was told was that he wanted to see us. Last I knew he was somewhere in Europe."
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Post by gumbiecat on Jun 14, 2010 8:51:42 GMT -5
"That could be years," she murmured, almost hopefully so. Maybe by then Victor could be sorted out somehow. Maybe she could set him up with a respectable queen. And Tumblebrutus... he was still too young. Much too young to be thinking about that sort of stuff. Maybe not too young to arrange something for him.
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Post by isthatasock on Jun 14, 2010 8:55:09 GMT -5
"I think it's defiantly soon," Skimble admitted. "Anywhere from a week, to, well, now."
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Post by gumbiecat on Jun 14, 2010 9:01:32 GMT -5
"... shite."
A frustrated sound escaped her lips as she knit her fingers together. "Tumble's... too young... for this galavanting. Maybe... do you think he'd still be at his human home?"
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Post by isthatasock on Jun 14, 2010 9:07:15 GMT -5
"He's been around the yard mostly lately," Skimble said. "Plus I think Edgar is intent on meeting both of his nephews. I don't think we can hide him."
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Post by gumbiecat on Jun 14, 2010 9:18:47 GMT -5
"Then maybe we'll get Pouncival to play as Tumblebrutus. I don't think it's a good idea for Tumble to be around with all the stories you've told about your sibling." And Jenny herself rose to her feet, bustling toward the edge of the stairs as she withdrew a small bundle, one tossed toward Skimble complete with his pocket watch, the other with her own clothes, a new summer dress to accommodate the heat. Dressing quickly, and slipping into a pair of small work boots, she looked ready for affirmative action.
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Post by isthatasock on Jun 14, 2010 9:24:52 GMT -5
"Maybe he won't stay long," Skimble suggested, hopping awkwardly to get his pants on. "I'm sure we're too dull for his exciting tastes."
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Post by gumbiecat on Jun 14, 2010 9:27:36 GMT -5
"It doesn't matter. Remember the disaster when Tumblebrutus first discovered the Rum Tum Tugger?" That, she felt, was a nightmare, and something that never left her youngest as he often gyrated his hips, then looking to the others in awe as if saying, "how cool was that?!" The idea of modesty never was there with Tumblebrutus, at least not in that sense, and with the way cats talked around in the Junkyard, looked like some of Skimbleshanks' physical aspects were passed down to both sons. It was a recipe for disaster.
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Post by isthatasock on Jun 14, 2010 19:49:07 GMT -5
"I know, but Tumble's older now," Skimble reasoned. "Maybe he won't take to him. Edgar can be quite confronting, with any luck Tumble will avoid him of his own accord."
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Post by gumbiecat on Jun 14, 2010 22:44:06 GMT -5
"You honestly believe that? He gravitates toward any of the new cats like moths to a lamp." Her ears flattened further as she took a few steps, stopping to make sure Skimbleshanks would be walking with her. "And he's still much too young. You can't deny that."
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Post by isthatasock on Jun 15, 2010 4:48:38 GMT -5
Skimbleshanks hurried to catch up, buttoning his shirt and waistcoat. "I don't know," he admitted. "But is there wally much more damage Edgar can do that Tugger can't?"
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