Trust Is Not In the Job Description ((91))

[Tsughi]

"No offense taken," Slois reassured. "I completely deserve it."

[victoriousscarf]

"Then why are you still here?" Mistoffelees asked, looking back at him. "If you understand why I'm wary and might not want you here?"

[Tsughi]

There was a pregnant pause before the tabby replied. "That is a good question," Slois said and looked down at his paws. "I'm just tired of running and while you may not want me here completely- or even at all- you're the only cat to show hospitality." He shrugged his shoulders. "I also owe you a lot. It would hardly be fair to just run off without paying you back somehow."

[victoriousscarf]

"I meant here, standing in front of me, tonight," Mistoffelees said. "Last time you were here after hours you were holding a weapon to my head. You'll excuse me if I'm not entirely gracious about the fact you're still here."

[Tsughi]

The taller tom shrugged his shoulders. "Habit?" He said but didn't elaborate. "If you want me to leave, I will." Slois suggusted and gestured to the door. "But you are more armed than I am at this point. All I have is my claws while you have my knives and revolver somewhere."

[victoriousscarf]

"Having and being able to use are entirely different things," Mistoffelees said. "Besides, I'm not so stupid as to under estimate claws on somecat that's taller and stronger and faster than me."

[Tsughi]

"True, but while in your possession I am unable to use them," Slois said, flicking an ear. If he was going to stay then he would need to discuss Mistoffelees carrying around at least one of the weapons so he could be armed if an emergency happened. That would be a conversation for a different time. "My claws are hardly as sharp as your friend- Coricapot... no Corycapat.... Coricopat? Yeah I think it was Coricopat- but I can file them down." Somehow Slois knew that Fayst would not approve. Filing down his claws would leave him practically defenseless, which was stupid considering their situation. "On second thought, filing them down isn't a good idea." He frowned slightly before he looked down at the other. "Backing up to previous thoughts, if you don't want me here, I can leave. Staying here is obviously going to require a little trust which you don't have for me and I am leery about having for you."

[victoriousscarf]

Mistoffelees tried not to tense when Slois got Coricopat's name so terribly wrong. "You could always find more weapons," he said softly. "Whether you hand your current ones to me or not." He paused, considering the other. "No cat in their right minds think I should have hired you. So you might consider walking a bit carefully."

[Tsughi]

"Fayst has always been better at treading lightly than I have," Slois said as he looked over the other. "I'm trying, honestly. I can't promise I won't be a threat; I always will be, to be truthful. But I gave you my word I would no bring harm to you or anycat who is your friend. I do not intend to break that promise; I do have some upbringing afterall."

[victoriousscarf]

"Do you now?" Mistoffelees murmured, a bit sarcastically. Breeding after all had done nothing for his uncle.

[Tsughi]

Slois gritted his teeth for a long moment. "We-" He began but his jaws snapped shut, cutting off the sentence. The twin was about to delve into his history, but he realized that his brother was not there to give his consent for Mistoffelees to know. He was hardly going to make such a discision without his brother. "We had events happen to us, like everyone else, that caused this to happen."

[victoriousscarf]

Mistoffelees was tired, probably cranky and all sorts of put out. "Every cat has events that happen to them," he replied. "But breeding means next to nothing, all things considered. The aristocrats are the worst of the bunch and the poor from broken homes run the city."

[Tsughi]

"Where does that put you then?" The words slipped out of Slois' mouth before he could think twice. The moment he did realize he regreted it, but he had already said it and he couldn't take it back. His tail flickered behind him as he considered his next words.

[victoriousscarf]

"Right in the middle," he said after a pause. "I have half the breeding and currently the fortune but only have the breeding and I certainly didn't live most of my life here. But you can't assume things of cats based off such an abstract idea of breeding."

[Tsughi]

"How did we even get talking about breeding?" The tabby rubbed his forhead with one paw. "I simply meant I knew how to keep my honor and therefore my word."