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 Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 7:18 pm
Myles' brows knit and he seemed to be taking a moment to genuinely consider Nataniel's words. "You're right," he said after a moment. "I hadn't thought it could come across that way." He shifted positions, perhaps as if briefly made uncomfortable by the idea that he could even seem guilty.
Then, it passed; he relaxed and presented Nataniel with another smile. "I suppose I shouldn't worry, as long as she's happy. I think, you know. I'm afraid that someone will think I'm a bad owner and take her away from me." He was assessing things, replaying what he said and how he said it and why he said it.
"It'd break my heart to lose her. So I'm afraid that someone will think I'm unfit and try to give her to someone else. But," he shrugged again, "I think everyone has their insecurities. I try not to wear mine on my sleeve. But I'm weak for her, I love her. She's family. And I can't see myself having kids, so maybe a cat is the best I'll ever do. So it's like, if someone couldn't think of a name for their child so they named them 'Kid'! Or," he paused, reconsidering. "...Actually, if I was having a child, I'd want them to have a good name so people didn't make fun of them. I suppose cats aren't going to be name calling each other."
Probably.
The smile lingered on his face but he seemed to have relaxed a bit, now convinced that he'd uncovered the source of his distress.
"I guess, what I mean is, wouldn't you be afraid if someone thought something you did made a bad owner? If you thought that meant you might lose Dusk?"
It wasn't an accusatory question; Myles didn't quite seem to have the capacity to lash out or retaliate in any way. He simply asked with the same genuine concern and honesty that he couldn't seem to shake.
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Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2019 3:24 pm
As a generalization toward anything he may come across that was out of his ordinary, Nataniel tried to understand. He had a good memory. He was a logical man. He had a curiosity for the 'why' of things. Despite this, Nataniel simply could not dredge up the type of empathy that might lead him to understand why Myles felt the way he did. What was worse was that Nataniel was aware of this. He was aware that even if he put in the effort and tried to connect with the problem- with his classmate's feelings, he simply wouldn't get it.
It was too complicated for even a man with his level of comprehension to grasp. People were too complicated... Minds were too complicated... Feelings were too complicated. It was enough to try and sort through his own, but anyone else's were another matter entirely.
Who would Myles even come across that had the authority to take his cat from him? It didn't seem reasonable.
"I know I am an excellent owner," Nataniel retorted. Nothing he did merited losing her. No one would dare take her. She was a rodent with a far better life than some feeder mouse or test guinea pig, so never mind if anyone 'dared.' No one had the right to even try. Still, he wanted to try and understand this boy's sentiment.
...He was an owner... worried about losing his pet... And thinking she was the best he could do...
His teeth pinched together stiffly. Dusk was the best he could do. All he could hope for.
Nataniel sighed softly. "It is a difficult scenario for me to grasp," he admitted. "When there are so many homeless cats and dogs, so many in overcrowded shelters, so many confined in the houses of hoarders, it is almost absurd to think that anyone would go through the effort of taking a relatively happy cat away from someone because it wasn't given a name."
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Posted: Sun Sep 29, 2019 8:01 am
Myles paused and then smiled earnestly. "I like how confident you are. I'm sure Dusk is lucky to have you. If you say you're an excellent owner, I believe it."
There wasn't really much denying it, he figured; Nataniel had a sense about him that made Myles trust in the claim. He seemed to love the creature, and that usually indicated that they were in good hands.
Besides, what he said made sense; there was overcrowding in shelters. There were far worse things in the world than a poorly named animal. There were probably a lot of animals in good homes with bad names, too.
"Paranoia makes all these crazy situations pop up in my head sometimes. But I like how logical you are. I can't always think as clearly as that, all the obstacles and problems that might pop up always come to me, no matter how unreasonable or impossible they might seem. But, you're right," he said determinedly. "And maybe she'll get a name, and maybe she won't. But it doesn't change how much I love her and how much I'd do to keep her happy and healthy and safe."
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Posted: Sun Sep 29, 2019 3:18 pm
Confident. It wasn't a word Nataniel typically described himself with. He certainly took a lot of pride in what he did, and it was true that he liked to be sure of anything he tended to follow through on... But he'd always associated 'confident' with someone particularly bold and daring. It was louder than simple pride, somehow, though perhaps not quite as wicked in it connotations...
For someone like Myles, who had only just met him, to say something that sounded so much like a compliment was nice. If perhaps also a bit inaccurate. Despite the claim, Nat knew how selfish he could be with his precious Dusk, but that wasn't information to bother Myles with.
"Thank you," Nat murmured quietly. "I did enough research that I do believe she is happy most of the time." Such was the limit of his capabilities. 'Most of the time.' How selfish, indeed.
Where had they been going, again? The walk had led them from the booth, which admittedly suited Nataniel just fine, but neither was it as productive as Nat had claimed it would be. They were doing more talking to each other than they were to anyone else. Another oddity. He'd expected to simply let Myles engage any passerby they came across while Nat stood off to the side, himself. Dusk was, of course, always a welcome distraction, though.
He curled his fingers in his pockets and rolled his shoulders back in an inconspicuous stretch. Paranoia was something akin to fear, wasn't it? As Nataniel had always expected, fear made people act and think irrationally, which was quite ridiculous really, considering that fear stemmed from lack of information. How could anyone act with so little thought? Simply being knowledgeable about the topic at hand should be enough to dispel whatever paranoia Myles felt. "It isn't really about confidence, I think," Nataniel started slowly. "It is more a matter of ensuring you use all the resources you are given. There's any number of ways for you to actually see if not naming a cat is a crime worth having her taken from you. If it were me, I would be less concerned over having her taken and more so over how unpredictable cats can be. Is she indoor or outdoor? Some combination?"
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Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2019 6:50 pm
Myles seemed like he was genuinely taking everything Nataniel said to heart, really considering it. He wasn't making eye contact, but he was looking around for anyone that might have dropped any money, for anyone that looked like they were stressed or was asking around.
No one fit the bill though, and he was starting to wonder if they shouldn't just head back to their booth and keep trying their best to spread information for their cause.
"She's indoor. I don't live in a great neighborhood, and I don't figure someone would want to hurt her on purpose, but people are pretty reckless. And also might be cruel enough to pick on her. She's awfully sweet and trusting. But I make sure she gets exercise, and good food, and regular vet trips. So...I guess...I am doing my best," he tried to justify. "...She's got a lot of energy, and she likes to sit in the window, but she doesn't really try to get out. I think she..."
He paused. "Oh. Maybe she knows that she's safe and loved and has everything she needs at home so doesn't try to get out?" he suggested. "...Of course, she is still a cat. And I know they do what they want to do and answer to know one. But. I'd like to think that she wants to be home with me. Ah, I miss her now," he rubbed the back of his neck and laughed almost nervously. "...I want to go home and squeeze her. As soon as we're done with this, that's what I'm going to do," he said, drawing out his phone to check the time.
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Posted: Thu Oct 10, 2019 7:07 am
Nataniel could be judgmental. He was aware of this and accepted it as something that was unlikely to change, given how impossible it was to keep such thoughts from streaking across his mind. And there were so many people who so often made poor choices that it was hard not to simply ridicule those poor choices and pass judgement on what kind of person would do such absurd things.
He eyed Myles, thinking that on some level the variety of encounter (forced together by school obligations on a project Nat only barely had an interest in) may have lent itself to a bit of a sour taste, at first. Coupled with the other man's almost passively defensive attitude which typically Nat would've found... unappealing, might have led him to believe that he was not prepared to spend more time with this boy than was necessary.
But as with all things, patience could yield more information.
They did not see eye to eye on everything, Nataniel could tell as much. He would not have bothered explaining himself to anyone who thought he wasn't a good pet owner, and he certainly didn't care about someone being so irresponsible as to lose their money that they deserved having it returned to them.
He could, however, respect someone who honored a commitment made to bring a creature into their life so fully. It pleased him on a strangely fulfilling level that Myles thought to consider the neighborhood and the well-being of his cat. A barest of smiles ghosted over his lips. "She is lucky to have you, then, isn't she?" After a short pause, "We can head back to the booth, for now, Myles. It is a bit hot at this time of day, so it stands to reason that there would be less activity. We can start getting everything ready to put away, if you are ready."
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Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2019 6:36 am
Myles considered this for only a moment and then nodded; while he looked a little disappointed that there was someone out there, completely oblivious that they had lost their money, he could only hope it was someone who had enough of it that they might not ever notice.
“That sounds like a good plan.” He was pale, and that mixed with the sun and heat didn’t always make a good combination. He could probably stand to be more cautious that his skin didn’t wind up matching his hair.
“Do you have plans for the rest of the day?” He asked as they made their way back to the booth. He didn’t hesitate to slide the money into the little box of donations, nor did he seem to care to be responsible for it for much longer. He was forgetful and typically had horrible luck; the less money he was responsible for, the better.
He began to clean up the papers that they had, mindful to keep everything organized. “I’m going home to do schoolwork, myself. But I had fun today, thanks for being my partner.”
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Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2019 6:38 am
Of course the thought of leaving freely pleased Nataniel. Even though he could tolerate heat and sun and social activity, he still deeply preferred to simply be at home, enjoying the comforts of peace and seclusion. "To some extent," he admitted with a roll of his shoulders. "I am likely to sit on my computer for most the rest of the night. Dusk will need her exercise this evening, and then I fall asleep sometime between eight and nine so that I can be up around three tomorrow morning."
Nothing more or less than 'the usual,' though even Nataniel understood that it didn't often sound appealing to anyone else.
He took a handful of flyers from the table and carefully slid them into his satchel backpack before moving to roll up the selection of posters attached to the front of the table. It really was quite a hassle to even just set up and take down... But it seemed like a few volunteers from class had opted to handle the return of things like table and chairs to the campus. Just making sure they had all of what they brought with them would be enough.
"There is little reason to thank me," Nataniel replied. "It was simply required." But he could've been much worse off, couldn't he have? Myles wasn't obnoxious as some people could be, not useless like others. "But... Thank you, as well."
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Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2019 4:13 pm
Myles seemed happy enough with today; if he had thought anything was off or unpleasant he didn't let it show. Instead, he wore the same lopsided smile and walked with the same bounce in his step. "That sounds like a good plan to me. I hope we get more projects together. I mean, if we're going to have to do them! The way you talk about Dusk makes me really happy. And I know you'll do your share of the work!" he laughed.
He was cleaning up, a little clumsily but it seemed like that was just his nature. If he moved slower he might have been more efficient but he seemed like he might have just had a little too much enthusiasm.
It didn't take long to get the booth sorted out and when they had finished, he looked at Nataniel with another smile. "I'll see you in class! Have a good day!"
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Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 9:05 am
'Why?' Nataniel wondered as he watched Myles as inconspicuously as possible from the corner of his eye. He considered himself a decent group partner, if only for his intelligence and commitment to success, but at their age and grade, everyone in their class should be committed to success. They were paying for it, after all...And surely no one would take on summer classes unless they were prepared for all that it entailed...
An unasked for heat crawled for his face as he slung his bag over his shoulder. Nat only infrequently conversed with others and so only very infrequently received compliments of any variety.
And he felt strangely, almost uncomfortably complimented by Myles' words.
"Right," he agreed softly. "You too. Mm..." His gaze flickered in the direction he needed to walk to head home, then back to Myles very briefly. "Good luck with your cat." And he moved at a brisk pace away, almost hurriedly. Dealing with people was only very rarely no awkward, after all.
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