Death is Not an Escape

“oh, definitely,” alex nodded in agreement. “i don’t want any cat fights here, they get crazy. it’s only a matter of time before the whole place is scattered in boxes. i don’t get it, i always buy them nice things but they just plop right in the box it came in,” she shook her head, chuckling at the thought. “honestly… me either. it’s kind of sad but at the same time they’re my babies so i don’t think i’d have it any other way.” 

“I mean my daughter was the same way.” He said, a sad smile forming on his face. “I bought her so many gifts and toys and instead she just wanted to chew on the boxes they came in if Mia and I would let her.” He smiled, clinging to the memory of those few months with Rose and Mia before the village. “I get it. I’ve been thinking about talking to you about getting a pet of my own.” He admitted, shrugging. 

benji meowed after he had apologized, alex nodded as if she could understand her pet. “he said: as you should be – benji, sheesh, where do you get the cattitude?” alex shook her head, chuckling. “my request would be that you supply one for his sister too, so she doesn’t get jealous. but then he might get jealous so i wouldn’t do that in front of him. good luck, they’re always watching.”

“Sounds like I’ll have to be particularly sneaky. But I bet I can figure it out. I’ll just have to order more stuff shipped to the apartment.” He pointed out with a chuckle. “So an excess of cardboard boxes and some more attention for the kitties.” he smiled, reaching out to stroke the cat in Alex’s hand. “Not like I have much other than giving the cats attention going on in my life anyways.” He pointed out with a chuckle. 

“Really? I guess I did befriend a demon once and we talked for a couple days and then when my father came home, he sent him back to Edom and scolded me for being weak.” Jonathan told him. “I don’t know, but I am told that you shouldn’t care about animals and such. They don’t do anything but make you weak and cause you a distraction and I wasn’t supposed to get distracted.”

“Sounds like your father was a real bitch.” Frank said simply, shrugging at him. “Sounds like the fact that you’re away from him is a good thing.” He relaxed, looking at the other man. “Animals are awesome. They’re fucking awesome. And that’s a fact. Seriously. Lt. Borks was supposed to be a service dog according to the shelter but he was too damn smart and he went rogue and so the owners gave him up. Which means he turns on the lights at his own pleasure which is kinda hilarious.” 

“You are saying these names like they are something I’ve heard before. I’m assuming you are talking about dogs. We didn’t have pets growing up.” Jonathan admitted with a shrug. “Not very creative with the names I see.” He commented, looking over at him. “Possibly?”

“I’m introducing them. That’s all.” He said with a shrug. “Seriously? No dogs? That must suck. I didn’t have many pets, but I played with a group of feral cats when I was younger. They only bit me a few times.” He laughed. “I let them name themselves. When I asked what they wanted to be called they responded, so I added titles to go with it.” He joked, shrugging. “Possibly. Come on, seriously? Animals are pretty awesome. They don’t judge. Some people would call me a demon, but my animals, they never cared what I did or who I was.” 

“my baby benji,” alex said with a smile as she showed him her cat. “he said that you’ve been neglecting him, not giving him enough attention, ignoring him,” she continued to list on. she quickly covered her cat’s ears before she whispered, “he’s a bit spoiled so don’t be offended”. she moved her hand off her pet’s ear, petting him instead. “he said he will forgive you, under one condition – you provide a new cardboard box for him to sit in.”

“Oh well, Benji, I’m very sorry that I haven’t given you enough attention.” He reached over to scratch under the cat’s chin, a small smile forming on his face. He liked cats. And dogs too, but cats in particular were a soft spot for him. Animals had never betrayed him. Other than crows, but that was less the crows and more Miranda. “I’m sure I can spare a cardboard box for Benji.” He promised, smiling. “Any other egregious errors I can correct for you and Benji?” He offered, rubbing his wrist absently as phantom pains spiked through his arm. 

“nope, definitely not sketched out.” dash shook his head as his roommate waved the empty vial in front of him. “oh– nothing, as usual. i was thinking… it’s almost the fourth of july. now i know what you’re thinking… ‘dash, australians don’t celebrate america’s independence day’, which you’re right, but that’s just my excuse to throw another party. i promise i won’t trash the place again.”

“Canadians also don’t tend to celebrate the fourth of July.” He teased Dash, laughing as he looked over at his roommate. “As long as you promise I don’t have to spend the next week cleaning after you have the party, I don’t mind a party.” He told the other man. “Wanna go for a run in a little? Let everything settle and then I’m in the mood to get out of here.” 

“that’s good, while i don’t have pets or anything, this place brought my saber, something i would be lost without it.” she replied to them. an’ya has been a jedi her whole life and while she wanted to live her life a bit, she knew she would be lost without the force. “originally, i don’t know, most of my life i lived on a planet called coruscant.”

“Good thing. Seems like even though this place wants to hold us hostage, it doesn’t take away what’s most important. We kept out possessions. Just lost our homes.” They sighed, staring up at the sky for a moment. “I have a lot of friends that I had to abandon in their fight.” they sighed, looking back at An’ya. “But there’s nothing I can do about anything from the ground.” 

“This is a lot different than what I’m used to. Must say, while I miss the lycans running around, I’m grateful for the convenience of modern tech again. Any idea where the nearest bar is??” 

“I don’t know what happened here that I ended up in this place, but let me just be clear I’m really glad I didn’t put my money in the bank. This is why no one should trust banks. I just put my money in a shoebox and hope for the best.”