You Ruined It [[VIOLENCE + SEX]]

[Plato]

"Cheer the hell up, Emokid!" Plato's voice was loud and obnoxious as he half-tackled the cat. They were both the same age, but there might have been some differences. Such as the broken heart syndrome, which Plato had yet to experience as he never even had a girlfriend. There were too few girls!!! But, if he was careful, he totally was able to spy on some of the queens when changing. Had to find some way to see some bazambas.

Arms draped loosely around him, he yawned somewhat grotesquely. "Your loser brother was being a loser before." A sage nod. "I put him in place and told him to shut the hell up." Thumbs up were offered.

[Tumblebrutus]

Not too far away, Tumblebrutus kicked at the dirt, a soccer ball near him, tugging at the t-shirt he wore with jeans that seemed too short. Twelve was a sensationally awful year, and everything sucked outside of his human home. His human family was awesome, so why couldn't the Jellicles be awesome too? Taking his place as an omega type effin' sucked. His body was in a constant pain from sudden growth spurts, clothes fitting one day, then not the next. Speaking was a nightmare, his voice sounding froggy most of the time, sudden changes of pitch happening all too frequently, sometimes more a falsetto, other times dropping too low. It was embarrassing. Embarrassing like the time he screamed when he saw his reflection in the mirror after stripping and noticing a few changes in his lower regions.

Almost as embarrassing as the stains in his sheets any time he slept at the junkyard.

He used a finger to trace a design in the dirt. Where were the other kits and kittens? It was boring and he wanted to play. But maybe not as much as before. He wouldn't have been sitting and fidgeting were it not for falling in a back handspring, the growth spurt affecting his change in gravity.

It was embarrassing, and it sucked.

[Victor]

"Touch him and you die," Victor snapped, grabbing Plato's shirt, claws ripping though.

Normally he wouldn't be so upset, but he was still feeling sad, and any venting was good. Even if Plato didn't really deserve it, at least he might be nicer to Tumble.

[Plato]

"GAH! DUDE! I just got this, man!" he protested, sucking in his stomach to avoid being scraped in the process. "Man, seriously, what's with you? You're supposed to like messing with his head and stuff. That's what brothers do. Or well, it's totally what I'd do. Or... huh."

[flashgordon]

Munkustrap started slowly towards the two, having seen Victor and Plato firs. He turned to Victor, George still held securely to him.

"Victor?" He said, his voice soft, regretful. "I have some bad news. Where's your brother?"

[Plato]

"... who's the kit?" Plato asked, suddenly more subdued and curious.

[Victor]

"Huh?" Victor asked, his grip on Plato slackening.

He stared at the kitten for moment, then scowled at the question.

"Why don't you ask him where he is?" he snapped, releasing Plato and poking him in the chest.

[Plato]

"HEY!" Plato protested, jerking back a little, though his mood was more somber. Something was off. "He's sulking that way, just behind the dumpster. Just because he didn't land an acropass right." A glance was given to the kitten again, then Munkustrap. "... who's that?"

[flashgordon]

Munkustrap sighed. "Apparently his name is George." He said, looking down at the kitten. "It seems something has happened, and his mother has passed." He looked up at Victor somewhat awkwardly, honestly unsure of what to say. This was a strange and delicate situation... or at least had the potential to be.

[Victor]

"So how'd he end up here?" Victor asked. "And what's it got to do with Tumble?" he added, wondering why Munkustrap wanted to find him.

[flashgordon]

"Mungojerrie and a queen brought him to me." Munkustrap gave a soft sigh, looking to Victor. "The body looks like Claudia, and I'm fairly certain this must be her kitten. In which case, he is your relative." He said, looking down at George, who still slept.

"He needs to know as well.

[Victor]

Victor didn't answer. He couldn't. That was not what he'd been expecting.

He slumped, leaning against Plato. He opened his mouth to say something, but went no further.

[flashgordon]

Munkustrap gave a soft sigh, looking to him with a deep frown. "I just... need help telling Tumblebrutus. I'm not entirely sure how." He glanced down at George, rubbing his back gently.

"And then we'll figure out what to do with the body, and with him."

[Plato]

Plato stepped in as the helping hand, both arms encircling Victor to help support his body. He wasn't sure how else to respond at first, never one to really experience true loss before. He rubbed Victor's back then looked to Munkustrap. "Are we going to have to see the body?" he asked quietly, mind reeling slightly. Tumblebrutus... it was hard to categorize him. He wasn't too much younger than them, really.

[flashgordon]

Munkustrap thought for a moment, looking to them. "If Victor thinks he can... just to be sure." He said softly, sighing.

"I don't want to subject anyone to anything they don't want to see. But we do ened to know." He hated the look on Victor's face... how would Tumblebrutus react?

[Victor]

Victor nodded mutely. He moved slightly to cling to Plato. Mostly because he was there. And he was one of Victor's closest friends. Even if he did pick on Tumble. Victor, Plato and Alonzo grew up together.

"Before you we tell Tumble," he croaked, holding back tears. "You might be wrong."

[Plato]

Plato looked at Victor before he nodded his head and grunted, pulling the other to his feet with a seemingly ease. A hand smoothed over his side before it looped behind his back, using his strength to support him. "Where... where is... it--she?" Plato asked, correcting himself.

No. He had no idea what Victor could be feeling. His mother was hit by a car but he never witnessed it.

[Victor]

Victor leaned on Plato. How could this happen? She disappeared for ages, then turns up dead, with a kitten.

"Who's the father?" he asked quietly.

[flashgordon]

"This way." Munkustrap said quietly, turning and starting away slowly. He hated having to subject anyone to this, but there wasn't anything more to it. It just... had to be done. What a grim task lay ahead.

"Don't know the father." Munk said softly, glancing to them. "No one said."

He took them over to the bundle, Mungojerrie looking up, the tom obviously getting ancy having been left alone with the body.

[Victor]

Victor knew what was wrapped in there, but he didn't approach. He didn't want to get close, let alone touch it.

Please let them be wrong.

[Plato]

Plato exhaled as he looked to his friend, then the bundle. "Do you want me to check?" he asked gently, carefully. He didn't know the family too well, but he'd been around long enough. They were an interesting group, somewhat close until Claudia seemingly left. Maybe she got pregnant. He hadn't talked much with Victor about it, nor Tumblebrutus, though he was becoming more and more scarce the more time he spent with his human home. He really was a perfect house cat; indoor and outdoor was a luxury.

[Victor]

Victor nodded silently again. His hold on Plato slackened slightly, to allow his friend to move away. He already felt rather sick.

[flashgordon]

Munkustrap stepped to the side, rubbing George's back carefully before stepping to Victor, somewhat shielding him from the bundle.

"Would you like to hold him?" He asked softly, glancing down at George then back to Victor.

[Victor]

Victor looked hesitantly at the kitted for a while, before shaking his head. He couldn't. Not yet. He had to grasp one thing at a time. George was too much now.

[Plato]

Plato took a deep breath before he walked toward Mungojerrie, then the covered form. Carefully, he kneeled before it, taking care to lean over as he peeled back just enough of the sheet to see her face and neck but keep it hidden from Victor... He'd do it for Victor...

Immediately, he dropped that section of sheet, hiding it from sight as he scrambled backward on the ground, tripping as he fell on his ass.

He fought to keep from vomiting, eyes wide, head shaking, staring at Mungojerrie. "Don't... don't let Victor see... see her..." he whispered, struggling to get to his feet again as he walked behind Munkustrap. "... I'm sorry, Vic..."

[Victor]

Victor just nodded again, turning to Munkustrap.

"You tell Tumble," he said, with a surprisingly level voice. "I can't."

He turned and walked awkwardly into the Yard. The sound of a sob drifting back.

[flashgordon]

Munkustrap sighed, hugging the kitten to him and looking back at Plato. "So it is her?" He asked, his frown deep in his features. He had known it would be, but hoped it hadn't.

"We need to tell Tumblebrutus as soon as possible so we can do what we must with the body." He mumbled softly to himself, unsure, looking down at George.

[Plato]

The cat nodded his head, trying to stand taller. "Should I--should I go after Victor or leave him alone? What do... what should I do?" he asked warily.

[flashgordon]

Munkustrap paused before looking to Plato. "Leave him be. I think it's better for him that way, at least for now. He needs time to deal with it." He said softly, rubbing George's back slowly, mostly to sooth himself. "Just... go get Tumble."

[Plato]

Plato exhaled as he picked up the pace, moving into a jog before he slowed. A deep sigh was offered. "... hey uh... Tumble...?" Plato swallowed before he touched the other's back. "... Munk needs to talk with you. Come on." He didn't wait for the other's reply. He couldn't as he took off again.