If You're Sure This Works ((37))

[sybbil]

His grin was infectious, as Maggie began to grin as well. "Yes, my mother's brother. He was the one who got me a job here, since he's the head-cook. I may complain about the tom, but he's family. What can you do..." Her eyes caught the newspaper, and the rent notices. Her heart did a little leap. "If you don't mind me asking, are you between residences?"

[victoriousscarf]

"Must be nice," he murmured, in response to the uncle thing, though one of his ears flickered back at her next question. "I, um, that is..." his ear flattened. "Yes," he finally admitted. "I am trying to find some room to rent."

[sybbil]

"Well, we have an extra room. Uncle Ox always gets a place that's too big for all three of us and Uncle Fred always teases him. We could put you up in the guest room if you like." She paused, and then spoke again slowly. "What I mean to say is, we have an extra room if you are interested."

[victoriousscarf]

For a moment all Misto could do was blink at her, flabbergasted. "I... that is, I... what?" He shook his head slightly, more to clear it than to say no. "I mean, that is, that would be nice but..." He shot a look toward the kitchen where the massive white head had appeared from. "I... it's a rather sudden offer, give me a minute... shouldn't you at least talk to..." he motioned with a paw toward the kitchen. "Before something like that?"

[sybbil]

She shrugged, barely controlling her breathing. "We were going to put an ad in the paper anyway. The way I see it, this way we won't have to waste our time finding a boarder." She glanced towards the kitchen. "...Though I do see your point. If you would wait for a moment, I'll go consult the cooks."

[victoriousscarf]

Misto swallowed, pulling the soup toward him. "I'm not moving for a bit," he murmured, ears flickering slightly.

[sybbil]

She nodded and turned on her heel, walking briskly back to the kitchen. The door swung closed behind her and there were a couple of moments of quiet. Suddenly, a blast of laughter, a loud thud, a squawk, and then there was silence again.

The door swung open again and a gangly black-and-white cat walked purposefully out of the kitchen. He took the seat across from Mistoffelees gingerly, and placed his paws on the table within Mistoffelees' sight. He spoke in a baritone drawl. "My niece tells me that you are looking for a place to stay."

[victoriousscarf]

Blinking, Misto set the spoon that he had been eating with down. "Um, yes, it does look like."

[sybbil]

Fred rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Well, Mr. Mistoffelees, we do have a room that we can rent to you at a low price considering that we don't actually need the money. I assume you work here at the Demoniaque, yes? I have certainly seen you around here often enough to presume that fact."

[victoriousscarf]

Pausing a moment, Misto nodded, ear flickering slightly again at the combination of Mr. and his first name. "Yes, I do work here. Evenings mostly."

[sybbil]

Nodding, Fred continued. "Works well enough for us, we have late nights in the kitchen often enough and I'm a night-owl as it is. I will warn you, my brother can be a high holy terror in the mornings. When would you need the room by?"

[victoriousscarf]

Misto raised a shoulder. "Um, whenever it's ready by?"

[sybbil]

Fred regarded the younger tom with interested eyes. "Tonight then. I was just about to send Ox and Maggie home anyway. She can make sure there are fresh linens on the bed." Smiling gently, Fred raised his eyebrows. "In that desperate of straits, lad?"

[victoriousscarf]

"I... have work a couple more hours," he said softly. "And it's not... quite that desperate yet. I have a place to sleep. It's just..." a couch of somecat currently not on speaking terms with him. "I would prefer to be out of their fur as soon as possible." He paused for a moment, considering the other. "Thank you."

[sybbil]

"You are most welcome, young tom. Now, house rules: watch your step, since most everybody, even my cheeky little niece, keeps odd hours about the place. Clean up your mess, or else it all piles up. Make sure you let us know if friends are going to be coming over, blah blah blah. And lady friends will have to keep their hands to themselves. Nothing is more awkward than coming home to a roommate having a personal petting party with their lady loves on the sofa." He paused for a moment. "Is there anything else you need to know?"