(no subject)

[playswithboys.livejournal.com]

Time: August 15th, 2000
Place: The bar
Status: Everyone except Adam
Summary: Pretty decorations...



Fuschia?

Well, that wasn't the primary color they had hoped for. Pepper sighed atop the ladder and fastened another corner with the staple gun. She was trying to go as fast as she could, but with how she had to keep moving the ladder every few staples, it was going slower than she'd hoped.

She'd seen what Wensley had prepared, though. It was gorgeous and likely delicious enough for everyone to end up wishing that he'd made another. He'd had to smack her hand away from it to keep her from trying any. Old habits died harder for Them.

She looked down at Wensley, grumbling, "Is this really all we could come up with? Looks like the decorations for that Princess Bash you had to babysit for at the Dawson's a few years back." Okay, it wasn't that bad. They'd managed a little blue and green in certain places. And it was decidedly lacking in screaming ten-year-olds in cheap lipstick and rouge. But, really.

She leaned back on the ladder, glancing out to where John and Azirphale (she was so proud of herself for finally figuring out how to pronounce his name right) stood. "How much time do you think we have out there?" she shout-whispered to them. "Roughly?"

Comments

[first-catwoman.livejournal.com]

She turned to Shadow, relaxing slightly, and returned the smile, walking over to lean on the bar.

//Hey handsome.// She looked down at it - white, and near enough to a loin cloth that she could feel remotely comfortable. //Thanks. You don't look so bad yourself.//

She gave a glance at the main group, in time to watch a spunky-looking red-head give the birthday boy a shot in the face with a water pistol. She raised one eyebrow. //If anyone squirts that near me they'll get a faceful o'claws...//

[classic-palm.livejournal.com]

Shadow chuckled.

"I wouldn't worry about it," he reassured her. "Unless it's your birthday too..."

Did gods even have birthdays? Shadow wasn't sure how practical that would be if one lived for so long, and anyway for many of them "birth" was probably a gradual thing rather than a defining moment when they were suddenly believed in.

"I'm sorry for running off the other day," he added, refering to the way he had ignored Bast when she had caught him in his altercation with Loki. "I uh, had a lot to deal with just then."

[first-catwoman.livejournal.com]

Bast laughed briefly. //No, it isn't. //She confirmed. //Anyway, when a girl gets to my age she's not much keen on being reminded how old she is.//

She gave him a brief smile. //It's okay. I kinda figured that. What happened between you and him - or it family bussiness and none of mine?//

[classic-palm.livejournal.com]

Shadow shrugged, not really wanting to go into it, mostly because he was in a good mood and didn't want to spoil the happy atmosphere of the party.

"Maybe later?" he asked. "It's not really material for a casual conversation. You want a drink?"

He offered her a smile, feeling a little shy somehow.

[first-catwoman.livejournal.com]

It never ceased to amaze Bast at how bashful he could be sometimes. More like the Shadow of a dust-bunny than a half-god built like a linebacker. Her tail twitched and a she nodded. //I'll hold you to that, hmm? It's my job to know secrets.//

Then she grinned. //Please. Irish cream, naturally. In a bowl or with a straw if you've got one.//

[classic-palm.livejournal.com]

The bar was extraordinarily well-stocked, which Shadow supposed wasn't really surprising. A quick trip into the back room yielded everything he needed to make the drink. There weren't any bowls, but that was probably just as well, he thought. It took him only a few minutes to make the drink, and he dropped a straw into it as he slid the glass to Bast.

"Enjoy," he said.

He didn't really want to talk about what Odin and Loki had done to get Shadow involved in Odin's life and the war he was planning. He'd told Pepper because he had been drunk and comfortable, but generally he didn't like talking about such private things. But he supposed that if he was going to tell anyone about it, it would be Bast. He wondered what she would think.

[first-catwoman.livejournal.com]

Bast took a long draw from the straw, then looked up, licking her lips, a smile in her eyes. //One of the best I've ever had. You've a bit of a talent there, I reckon. //

She turned and watched the others for a while, the tip of her tail swishing back and forth gently. After a moment, she said, //This is a good place, isn't it?//

[classic-palm.livejournal.com]

Shadow blinked in surprise, and then smiled.

"Yeah, yeah I think it is." He probably couldn't really have said why he felt so, although the part was certainly evidence for the thought. Despite everything, though, despite Loki and the possibility of Odin, despite Pippin being hurt at the barbecue and all the other things that Shadow had witnessed happening since he'd arrived, there was a feel about the manor that couldn't quite be identified or explained, but Bast was exactly right.

"You know," Shadow said. "The first day I was here I met Gabriel and Belial walking arm-in-arm down the hallway." A demon and an angel, quite obviously in a relationship. Shadow wondered.

[first-catwoman.livejournal.com]

She nodded, errrring thoughtfully. //There's a long story there, with a lot of dark bits that make me feel like I don't want to know that particular set of secrets.//

Bast took another sip of her drink and licked her lips again, ears flicking back and forth.

//You know, John told me that Gabriel came to last year's hallow'een party in a maid's outfit.// She made a pleasant sound, half purr and half laugh. //I'm still looking for the photos.//

[classic-palm.livejournal.com]

Shadow was slightly disturbed (if quite amused) by the mental image that conjured up. He was finding that stereotypes were as untrue about supernaturals as they were of ordinary humans... he supposed that was fair enough, but he had thought that angels and demons would have to more or less live up to what people believed of them, as the deities of other pantheons seemed to. More or less.

He found himself smiling a little more widely at Bast at hearing her soft purr/laugh. It was a sweet, attractive sort of sound.

He poured himself a Cabernet and raised his glass to the goddess.

"To Adam," he said, feeling a little more than odd at toasting the birth of the anti-christ.

[first-catwoman.livejournal.com]

Bast grinned back, and clinked her glass against Shadow's. //To Adam.// She agreed, then admitted, feeling a bit stupid, //No-one's told me what he is yet, you know. I know he's the boss-cat around here, and he's something powerful, but I haven't been able to figure his species.//

[classic-palm.livejournal.com]

Shadow choked on his drink. He could see no reason Bast shouldn't know, however, so he coughed, swallowed carefully, and answered slowly.

"From what I understand..." he said softly, "he's the anti-christ. But... he's not really following the expected path. I was told that he's actually working to stop the Apocalypse." He understands now why Pippin didn't want to say the words; it feels fairly ridiculous, even taking into consideration the fact that the woman he is talking to is half cat. "That's why he started this place," he continued. "As a sort-of... safe house."

[first-catwoman.livejournal.com]

Bast's ears flicked back in suprise, then she grinned. //Really? heh. I bet Lucifer didn't expect his son to follow in his footsteps quite so much...//

[classic-palm.livejournal.com]

Shadow chuckled. "Like father like son," he murmured. "I hadn't even thought of that."

"But how have you been?" he asked. "I haven't seen you around much since I got here. Enjoying your new form?"

It was a little weird to see her like this; Shadow'd only ever seen her in full cat form before, except for that one night.

[first-catwoman.livejournal.com]

Bast's tail lashed, and she rolled her shoulders in a kind of revealing shrug.

//I'm getting used to it.// She admitted. //I'm sorta stuck this way, you know. A few thousand years not having to walk on this plain without a tail screwed up my balance to no end. I meant to just grow a tail on my human form, but it slipped and I can't quite figure it out. Until I do, I'm back the way I was in -//she's too frustrated to form the word, so sends an impression of dry heat, chaotic blackness, and painful seperation instead. //-Egypt, before all this mess.//

[classic-palm.livejournal.com]

"Huh," Shadow nodded and sipped his wine. "I'm sorry. Anything I can do?"

He didn't like the frustrated feeling he was getting from her, and even without taking into account the debt he owed her for what she had done for him once he really wanted to be able to make her feel better, as unlikely as it was that he'd be able to.

[first-catwoman.livejournal.com]

She grinned briefly, without a great deal of humour. //Not unless you know a whole lot about shape-shifting - but it's okay, really.//

Without really thinking about it, she put her furred hand over his. //I'm sure I'll be okay. I've gotten this far, right?//

[classic-palm.livejournal.com]

“Right,” Shadow answered, almost unconsciously turning his hand to grasp her furry one, rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand. And that was pretty damned far.

“I'm glad you're here,” he said impulsively. “It's good to see you again.”

[first-catwoman.livejournal.com]

Bast was being very careful not to overeact to his stroking her fur - yes, it was only on the back of her hand, but that was still enough to make her tail flick upwards and a surprised - and very pleased - purr to start deep in her throat.

She blinked and focussed on his words, then smiled widely. //It's nice to be seen. Honestly, the last time we...met, I thought I was condemed to stay as little brown cat forever. You changed that, gave me a bit of hope. Gave some hope to everyone, from the sound of it.//

Her ears flicked back briefly, embarassed, then very slowly and deliberatly raised his hand to her cheek, and rubbed against it, still purring quietly. //Thankyou.//