{SF} Perhaps You're Not a Clod

[Humphries]

Well, this appeared to be interesting. Humphries, who'd been assigned to work the festival since literally everyone was "strongly encouraged" to do so (and he couldn't help but want to get out of the Academy from time to time, even if he did have to dodge around clods who didn't seem to realize that you should treat all beings with dignity), had climbed atop one of the stands to observe. There had been what amounted to a ladder of boxes stacked up against the back side, making it that much easier for Humphries to take his journey upward. His inner feline couldn't help but be pleased with the increased elevation.

It also allowed him to watch. And he watched with some interest as a young man simply hung around not far from his perch. Normally this would just be another clod to ignore: a fool who was so wrapped up in his own world that he would hardly be worth the notice. It wasn't as though Humphries hadn't seen several teenagers simply wait for friends or mates to show up. This... this seemed different. This was purposeful waiting.

What are you waiting for? the cat wondered, staring down at him, his tail flicking. He edged forward slightly before laying flat, his full attentions on the young man now. There had to be something, yes? Yes, most definitely something, and Humphries was determined to discover just what that something happened to be.

Oliver King

[Oliver King]

Oliver stood with his back leaned against one of the poles holding one of the stands up, his brown eyes wandering over the crowd. He wasn't looking for anyone in particular, but he was looking. He was people watching. His eyes scanning the various people around, looking for anything - or anyone that would prove to be interesting in some way or manner.

Oliver had made a point of keeping himself as low on the social pyramid as he possibly could. Fewer people noticed you when they didn't know you. It made gathering information and getting around much easier. It made everything he stood for much easier.

Lazily, her lifted his hands above his head and stretched. He hoped that something, anything of interest would happen. Be it a dramatic scene or just a piece of conversation that would prove useful. Anything he could use to either further himself or sell to an interested party, like he had with those photos of Evelyn Conner. Ellen Banks had been more than grateful for them.

[Humphries]

Hmm, perhaps it wasn't quite as purposeful as Humphries had originally surmised? he kept watching, his attention focused on the young man. The cat followed the young man's gaze, noticing the subtle shifts. No, there did not seem to be any pattern there... or, well, there was a subtle one.

He was doing essentially what Humphries was: watching people. Humphries perked up then, rising up a little more fully. Really? He supposed that it could just be a bored teenager staring at nothing though. No reason to get worked up, at least, not quite yet. No, Humphries had to test a little further.

He scampered along the edge of his perch, got toward the end, and then let out a loud, plaintive meow. He'd then wait a few seconds, watching, before repeating again, his attention nearly entirely focused on the young man as he did so.