The Answer to Everything ((1910))

[victoriousscarf]

Macavity stormed into the cafeteria as if it owned him more than it could pay. He dropped his bag and sat down more carefully, mindful of his still hurting ribs. "That bitch," he growled, not giving the other tom at the table much more of a greeting than that.

[Meadowlark]

Coricopat looked up from the book he was skimming. "You were offered tea again, hm?"

[victoriousscarf]

"What gave it away?" Mac growled again, wanting to slump but not willing to put that pressure on his still healing ribs. "She still hasn't figured out tea isn't the answer ta everythin'."

[Meadowlark]

"Well, at least she's acknowledging there's a problem--even if she isn't being helpful. It's more than the teachers have done." The mottled tom reasoned.

[victoriousscarf]

Mac barred his teeth but took a deep breath after that, hunching his shoulders slightly. "Doesn't make it bloody alright," he muttered. "Or any less annoying. And she had damn well better admit there's a problem, she's been treating my bruises and cracked ribs for years now."

[Meadowlark]

"Well, what's she supposed to do about it, Mac. I mean really." The older cat spoke, even as he returned his gaze to his textbook.

[victoriousscarf]

That got another growl from Macavity. "Not offerin' me tea would be a start."

[Meadowlark]

"Not everyone knows your aversion to it."

[victoriousscarf]

"Years, Cori, she's known me for years," Mac replied, glancing over at Coricopat's text book. He made a snorting sound. "Don't you know that subject by heart yet?"

[Meadowlark]

Coricopat looked up at his friend for a moment before glancing back down at the text. "I have an exam this afternoon. As to her...it's what she feels she can do."

[victoriousscarf]

"You'll do fine," Mac said, not as a compliment but simply as a fact. "There's a reason you're the top of the bloody class." He didn't address the second part of the statement. He was angry and he hardly wanted to think about the other in anything like a positive light.

[Meadowlark]

Cori looked up again, it was one thing for Mac to use that tone regarding the idiot nurse, but in reference to class standing. "What's gotten you all riled?"

[victoriousscarf]

Mac rolled a shoulder. "Idiot nurse, asshole teachers, school year bein' almost over and havin' to deal with it bein' summer soon, and the fact it's painful ta breath isn't enough? What makes you ask?"

[Meadowlark]

"Cause you're being clipped and snappish about things you aren't usually."

[victoriousscarf]

Another roll of the shoulder. "It's a bad week," he said, voice forcibly not a growl. "Idiots for brains brothers ain't helpin'. Or nurses with tea."