welcome to wonderland

“it’s the only washington d.c. i know about,” cat said with a small shrug. “the invisible thing brought you here, didn’t it?”

“...you’re in washington d.c.,” cat said, probably more deadpan than she intended. “that’s it. just washington d.c. it’s a place. that’s where you are.”

“not all of us are like that. i lived there my entire life until i showed up here, i only had a few situations where i felt less than someone else. people say most people in hollywood are terrible people, but that’s just because that’s the only thing the media cares to show or portray. usually celebrities. it sucks, but it’s life, i guess,” cat said. “mm... i had a situation like that in high school. my best friend and i were better actresses and singers than one girl, and she seemed to always get all the best parts or solos. i’m not saying we deserved those parts every single time... but we did. we worked our entire school careers at that school... and then she came in and got literally everything handed to her and didn’t have to be good at anything. left those of us with actual talent in the dust. still pisses me off, even if it makes me sound conceited and self-centered.” cat knew it made her sound like a brat, but it was the truth. “some birds you can have a conversation with. most just repeat words now and then because they know where those specific phrases go during a certain time, event, mood, or tone - but some you can talk to. it would be a very loose conversation, but the difference between those birds and the birds that can mimic human phrases is, the ‘talking’ birds can understand what they’re saying and what you’re saying. it’s pretty cool. rare, though. most people will never meet a bird that can truly talk with a person.”

“oh no, that would be pure torture. my anxiety would be through the roof if i knew how and when i would die. i wouldn’t be able to do things i want to do before i go, i’d be too worried about the actual moment.”

cat shrugged. “i guess because i know it’s a low possibility of it happening. we’re more likely to trip over a blade of grass, roll down a hill and unalive than we are to meet our demise by the sun imploding. it’s just something i’d like to know what would happen to us if it did happen. it’s one of the many mysteries of the universe.”

“the government is everywhere here, jadey, you can’t go all stabby on people with your scissors. we’re adults, we don’t get to pull the ‘i do what i want’ card and get away with things. we get in serious trouble if we break the rules,” cat said with furrowed brows. “well, rex is a very believable puppet... i don’t miss him, though. it’s been nice not being told i’m unstable. doesn’t matter that i might be, i don’t like to hear it,” she said. rex’s digs at her mental health always bothered her. it wasn’t her fault, though. and despite people thinking they knew about her, they always assumed the wrong diagnosis. always. “well... i like to focus on the good memories. those are the important ones.” cat knew the bad memories were just as important sometimes, but the bad memories were the painful ones, and the ones she didn’t want to remember. “i get tested once a month, i don’t need any complications. or unexpected babies. the thought of a possible pregnancy is scary enough, let alone actually getting pregnant. fingers crossed next week’s test isn’t positive,” she said, only half joking. “i wouldn’t have caught anything from robbie anyways... no one else would mess around with him. except gabriella, maybe... and she learned to stay away from him.” she wasn’t proud of it, but she’d threatened that poor girl the night of that event. it wasn’t her best moment, and she’d apologize now if she could. now being grown, she’d probably apologize for a lot of things.

“really? my experience is the opposite - it’s usually the women that nag. of course, i’m from hollywood. most - not all, but most of the time any nagging is coming from the girls. it’s good to know that’s not always the case, cause it’s those girls that make all girls look like they just nag and complain all the time. i hate being judged as one of those girls before people get to know me. it takes a lot for me to complain about something,” cat said. “well, this particular family doesn’t - at least, not that i’ve ever heard. so i can understand the frustration. i don’t have kids yet, but i’m not going to expect anyone to watch their mouth just because my kid is around. not unless it’s inappropriate. some things shouldn’t be talked about in front of kids, but i don’t think i’ve ever been in that situation before, so i assume it’s not often that something like that happens.”

“please don’t use them on anybody. find a trash can to cut up instead. it’ll keep you busy,” cat said. although she herself wasn’t scared of her friend, she knew she probably should have been. “well i dunno, rex told me i was forgettable once...” she said with a small shrug. “a bender - who do you think i am? if anyone’s gonna go on a bender it’s probably trina. i couldn’t figure out how to get home, so... i went to school instead,” cat said with a proud smile. most would assume she wasn’t a great student, but throughout her lifetime going to school, she’d been in honors classes. she may not have been street smart or had much common sense - at least growing up - but she was book smart. “not all memories are bad. i have good memories. like the cow-wow... oh, or the time my brother stopped himself from throwing a hammer at me, that was a good day. kept going on about something about a flamingo, though, so... i dunno,” she shrugged. “oh, me and robbie were... never mind.”

“barely. i’m not a big drinker, but even i can handle my drinks,” she said. she also knew when to stop and how long to wait before she drove if driving was a necessity. she was terrified of doing the wrong thing. “i feel like people that don’t know what a virgin drink is, don’t have any business drinking to begin with.”

“ohhh, yeah probably not unless you’ve done the schooling or have experience. there are other positions in a vet’s office other than a medical profession though, like the receptionist. she’s mainly responsible for booking appointments and bringing the animals to me,” cat said. “well... you’d probably be behind the register at first, but i’m sure they’d get you out on the floor. everyone has to start somewhere when it comes to retail.”

cat smiled. “jolly. i like that word. reminds me of santa when i was a little kid,” she said. come to think of it, that word was only ever connected to christmas time for her. “or jolly balls. i use a lot of jolly balls at work.”

“jade!” cat said, giving her friend a hug - but a quick one, cause she knew jade wasn’t a hugger. “no one needs to be cut - you didn’t bring your scissors did you? please so no,” she said. “well, how do you think i feel? i’ve been stuck here for ten years, i don’t even remember what my parents faces look like,” cat muttered as she picked at her cuticles. “at least you had clothes on when you got here. that’s a plus.”

“you’re not qualified for waitressing? there are no qualifications for that, you just take orders and pass out food and drinks. well, there’s more to it than that, but that’s the main job. that’s how i paid off my schooling,” cat said. she wouldn’t mention the escorting she did on the side to help out with that. “mm... what about starting off in a furniture shop? it’s a good place to start in interior design if you like decor.”

cat looked over to where she was pointing, listening to her as she sipped at her drink. she let out a small snort, followed by a giggle at the ridiculousness. “kinda reminds me of girls that drink one wine cooler and think they’re completely smashed,” she said. “does he know what a virgin drink is? cause... that’s kinda sad and pathetic.”

“oh, good, cause it’s my favorite and someone told me the other day it makes me look ‘too desperate’. whatever that means,” cat said with a shrug. “i’m not desperate.”

“there’s some women that can be pretty annoying. and mean. but i agree, i do know some annoying guys,” she said, with rex the puppet in mind. “yeah, every other word just about is a bad word. my neighbor’s little girl heard it and started repeating it... momma was not very happy with dr. cat, i’ll tell you that much,” she said.

“i think about it all the time,” she admitted. she did. she thought about a lot of things all the time. “like, if it imploded, would it blast into earth? would it be quick? would we, yanno... be de-lived? and if we would, would it be quick? i mean, i’m not worried about it happening anytime soon, but i’ve always wondered if it did, what would happen.”