#kitty | thread

     A sharpened pencil is in her grip, glasses perched on her mink nose as she hunkers over a heavy stack of spreadsheets. She was thorough and her penchant for organization was unmatched. Something that HE was in need of. Not that his files weren’t in order. They were. But a second set of eyes on his numbers and inventory was never a bad thing.

     She taps her eraser to her temple, pushing it through her fluffy hair as her brows tents and her eyes squint as she tries to read some of his haphazard scrawlings. He must of wrote this when he was mad. Big shocker. 

     Kitty sticks her pencil against her head and her shell shaped ear and sighs, pulling the paper up so she could flash it at the criminal.

    ❛ Basil. I will ask you this ONCE and only ONCE..❜  Her tone is steady and serious. One might think she’s about to disclose something important. A leak on his fiendish foe’s newest exploits. A tip towards a case that may be entirely life changing. Or at least thrilling for his ever seeking mind....

    Her icy hues narrow, delicate brow raising quizzically as she stares toward her sleuthing beau. Hands cross over her chest and she towers over him. For someone so small and petite, she was certainly doing her best at being threatening. Her tone is hard as she finally speaks --

     Blue eyes narrow at his disguise, razor sharp with critical observance-- Honestly, Kitty didn’t have to be well educated to see through ..... THIS thrown together mess. She’s half certain that the only way Basil had gotten his way in here with his cheap DRAG was because the majority of the patrons and staff were drunk out of their minds and couldn’t tell the difference between a poorly dressed woman and a man failing to pass as one. 

     A sigh breezes through her nostrils in contained frustration, a hand planting to her temple to rub out her grievances. Tonight was meant to be a slow night at the Rat Trap. Clearly , that was no longer the case. With a tilt up of her chin, the dancer quickly crosses the warped floors to meet the poorly disguised detective. Her well manicured hand snatches out in a blur of white and grabs for his arm, yanking at his elbow sharply so he would HAVE to follow her to a more secluded corner of the pub.

       Truthfully, Kitty had heard of Ratigan’s ..... episodes before this. But that was just it-- HEARD. She had never actually witnessed one for herself as she always managed to be absent during one. Frankly, she considered herself lucky. His temper was harsh enough on its own but with the added fuel of his purely volatile ferocity that came with his .... lineage ..... it truly was terrifying. She couldn’t hide the yelp and gasp that had left her lips the second Ratigan literally tore into the first mouse-- the traitorous fool, left in a wet pile of blood soaked fur, wheezing as he tried to get air-- surely the blood filling his throat. That one would suffocate first, listening to his..... accomplice meet the same awful fate that he had. 

       She was the one who dug up the work on these two, had given it to the Professor seeking the affirmation she always craved. Which she had received in abundance but.... she didn’t know that she also would witness a literal massacre.

      Perhaps anyone sane would have ran, would have at least hidden. But Kitty didn’t dare move. She watched it all-- hand held to her mouth as her heart beat boomed within her chest-- FEAR overtaking her. Fight or flight was kicking in. But instead of either of those options, a third option arose-- APPEASE. She shakily ventured closer to her wounded, heaving employer, hands gently laying at the larger’s abdomen. Thankfully he seemed cognizant enough to comply-- that was a godsend. Kitty wouldn’t know how to react if he ever attacked HER like that. She was quick, sure. But...... not that quick.

             A note is stored away to avoid this outcome as much as she can.

       A quivering smile is placed at her lips and she works to keep her voice soft, calm and, above all, reassuring. He squeezes her hand and Kitty almost flinches-- instead shutting her eyes tightly before she tilts her head, sapphire hues fluttering up towards him as she worked to counterbalance his staggering weight. Someone else would have to deal with this mess that was soaking the marble floor-- or she would, later. After Ratigan was sorted. ❛  If you’ll let me..... I can inspect your side, Professor. But... lets get to your quarters first. ❜   Kitty adjusts her posture, putting pressure at her knees as she is ready to brace his weight as she slowly leads him in the direction of his room. 

Padraic was utterly silent, his jaw tense and his eyes fixed Kitty’s as he hovered like an ominous, shadowy specter in her doorway. She hadn’t come in to work today, nor had she warned him of her absence—that was very unlike her. Paying an unannounced visit to her flat—which essentially amounted to breaking and entering—would yield the reason why; as she sat at her vanity, staring at him through the mirror, he could see a spray of red across her cheek and a stain on her blouse. Whether the blood was hers or not, he wasn’t able to deduce from this angle. But the immediate swell of anger—and concern, perhaps?—caused his ears to burn crimson and his hazel eyes to flash like molten gold. “Kitty,” his voice was low, a feral growl lacing his words, “should I be concerned if that blood belongs to you…or someone else?”

      She should have known he’d be stopping by -- especially with this little stint of absence. Padraic was a man of order. He loathed when others were late. And Kitty was wildly aware of this. Which was why she usually showed up EARLY whenever Padraic needed her or, if she were unavailable for any unforeseen reason, she’d always inform him ahead of time. Consistency. Loyalty. It was only part of what made her so good at her job and it had wiggled her into his good graces. But, today TRUANCY was in the cards, whether they liked it or not.

    Normally, Kitty was so thorough-- no one followed her home from the club. Like a cat in the dark, she slipped out of sight and into her car and took her way home but, this time, she had unexpected company. He had been a regular, one of the lower tiered patrons and, as often was the case, Kitty had caught his eye. The fellow had managed to follow the dancer home for several nights without her catching on, keeping hidden from the chanteuse. Casing the place, looking to ensure she would be alone when he decided to act. And, lucky for HIM, she had been. When she had gotten home from work the night prior, he had been waiting for her. The moment she had opened the door, he had rushed her, knocking the woman to the ground and yanking her into the flat behind him. It had taken all she had to force the much larger man off of her and she certainly had the marks to prove it. If she hadn’t prepared for a situation like this already, Kitty was sure she’d be in an even worse state. STILL , that did not mean she was pleased with the outcome. Or with  the battered and now cold corpse that was stashed in her bathroom.

    At first, Kitty tries to avoid Padraic’s eyes, directing her gaze down to a random place upon her vanity instead. But she forces a smile that was none too believable, the strain on her expression more than obvious. And if that were not a give away, the shake of her hands was an crystal clear indicator. Still, the brunette weakly beams, crossing her arms defensively as she turns in her seat to face him anyway. Once he saw her head on, he would see some dark bruising along her left cheek and eye, the skin tender and even cut in a few places. Kitty’s usual air of coolness is nonexistent, however she does not seem to be AWARE of that fact. She stays seated, knowing at least that if she were to stand, she’d probably fall right back down again.

     A closet or something , he says ... She brings him out for a NICE night out ( just so their interactions were not bound by the walls of the Rat Trap -- a girl wants to explore, after all ) and this is what he requests? Well... Kitty can’t say she’s surprised.

     A smirk tugs at her lips and the mouse can not help but chuckle in response. Her rounded hips lightly sway as the taller KNEADS into her plump sides, eliciting a soft purr in her chest as a result.

     Kitty leans her self against Darren, wrapping her own delicate hands around his sides as she peeks upwards to him. Her nails press against him and the mouse rakes her perfectly filed manicure coyly down his form.

           ❛  I take it that this is a bit more of a pressing matter, then?❜  The chanteuse hums, idly drawing her finger tips along his waist band -- as if she were DEBATING on taking action on his request.

     Her thin tail flips behind her as she leans upon the bar counter, posture almost FELINE - like despite her status. The doe’s attention is pressed upon him, her intrigue alight. It’s her job to know EVERYONE, after all. 

     ❛  It all depends.❜  Those icy eyes flutter and Kitty grins, always glad for the chance to engage in a verbal SPAR.

       ❛  Do you consider yourself FUN, darling? Because ... --❜    She flicks her gaze over him and then focuses her eyes on his face, coquettishly smiling all the while.

         ❛   Professor -- ❜  Those blue hues of hers flicker to the right, her body soon after swiveling in that very direction to look at the figure who loomed in a cloud of smoke, way back in the very corner of her dressing room. She tightens the silken robe at her waist, the makeup she had been playing with at her vanity for her stage stint is quickly forgotten.

     Kitty finds her already perfect posture straightening more, her body calling to attention, as it were. She knows better than to not give her full, undivided attention to Professor Padraic Ratigan. If the Professor was in the room, you paid heed. And since she enjoyed being on the payroll (and staying within his good graces) , she was mostly CERTAINLY going to give all her loyalty whenever she could.

      A polite smile finds its way onto that fair face of hers and the doe rests her palms to her lap, legs casually crossing over one another.