Not A Dog

[Humphries]

Students weren't allowed to have cats? Strange, Humphries thought that there was some kind of provision about having animals small enough to fit in cages. He knew that St. Bethany allowed cats and what have you, which helped him blend in with the environment all the more. Still, he wasn't going to question someone who was already here, even if he wasn't entirely convinced that said person had his full working faculties.

Humphries moved and rubbed again before letting out a soft meow, counting on the device to work. It did: you should not let him consume cats period. he should be eating mice or something along those lines. i can share. you are quite lucky i do not report you for having him attack me. now, on leash he is so why?

Oh blast it, the stupid thing had butchered the last question. Humphries closed his eyes in irritation again, flicking his tail. He would've sighed if he could, but settled for bobbing his head toward the snake's leash. There had to be an explanation for that, and Humphries wanted to hear it. He also wanted to see if he could potentially build some kind of disciplinary case here.

[Seiji Lockard]

Seiji was pretty sure students were not allowed to have cats, because while they could fit in a cage, they did not live in a cage. Students had to own pets that could live in their cages, because owning anything else meant you had to take it outside and give it exercise. Seiji could take his snakes out and leave them in his room and they would be fine but a dog or a cat would need a bit more than that. So students were allowed to have different rodents, birds, and small reptiles but the larger mammals they were not allowed to have. Unless the Bellefonte girls changed that rule, that was it the last time Seiji looked up the rules, which was at the moment since he pulled them up on his phone because he had a small amount of doubt for a moment and just wanted to confirm that he was right.

“I’m sorry. I do feed him the appropriate food but he just likes to try something different her and there but I’ll put a stop to it.” Seiji responded and he did feel a little weird for apologizing to a cat, but said cat was mutant so he still had to have respect for them. Ghost out a hiss, wanting to communicate that he was slightly insulted that a feline would think that he would want to share mice with Humphries. Seiji just gave Ghost a look and the snake went back into silence and just hung onto its master. Seiji blinked for a moment on the whole latter of what the cat texted him, it taking a moment for Seiji to get what the cat had meant to text.

“Oh, it’s his birthday today and he wanted me to take him on a walk like a dog. Normally I either just carry him around unless we are just going a short distance.” Seiji informed Humphries with a small smile, blushing a little in embarrassment. The cat probably thought Seiji was so weird, but it was his snake’s birthday and he and Ghost were super close. The albino four foot snake had been Seiji’s friend when he had none growing up at BA because many were weary of him and his snakes.

[Humphries]

Humphries was tempted to point out that clearly the snake had not been fed properly, as he was still attempting to consume the cat's tiny, delicious body. However, this felt to be harassing the young man a little, and he had been quite polite and attentive to what Humphries had said. Plus, the cat could look at the snake with something of a feline smile on his face, enjoying the ability to taunt the creature that really should be attempting to consume him whole.

The snake's... birthday. Humphries continued looking at it for a moment before looking up at the young man. it was the snake's birthday and... he had made a request. Humphries stared for several long seconds, not quite sure that he'd heard what he'd heard. Or perhaps the young man used some variant on English that Humphries was not aware of. Perhaps these Americans had a strange sort of slang.

i must have misheard you sent the cat, twisting his tail slightly and tossing his head. it sounded like you said snake had a birthday. because surely that couldn't possibly be. That would make Mr. Lockard the second cartoon character that Humphries had met since his arrival here, and the feline refused to believe there were that many insane people running around this school.

[Seiji Lockard]

Ghost was not actually hungry, the cat just smelled nice, and now most of his desire to eat the cat was mostly from just wanting the cat dad. Humphries had purposely rubbed up against his master and the snake could just tell the cat thought he was better than Ghost. People liked Ghost, Ghost was cool, and dog like; that was what Ghost was thinking to himself anyways. Seiji simply pet his snake on the head and told him to settle down some more. Ghost of course obeyed, but if he could give an evil eye, he was certainly still giving one to Humphries. Just that expression on the cat's face was enough to make Ghost want to lung at him, but he behaved himself and just nuzzled his master some more, seeking comfort as if he was some bullied child.

There was a silence then; well there was always a silence in terms of it only being Seiji talking, Ghost hissing, and Humphries meowing. It certainly would have been an odd sight to anyone looking in since it was pretty much Seiji talking to animals, but at this school it honestly was not that odd since being able to talk to animals was probably someone ability at the school. A text did come in, one that had Seiji confused for a moment when he read it. "You did not misunderstand me. Today is Ghost's birthday. Well, it's actually the day of when I first received him as a pet when I was a kid going to this school since I don't know the say that he was actually born or hatched out of his egg." Seiji clarified since he really didn't know such information but he pretty much had his snake's birthdays on the day that he would get them.

He could figure that Humphries probably saw this a little weird, because they were snakes but Seiji was one of those people who would celebrate his pet's birthday. No matter if it was a dog, cat, snake, frog, or whatever the animal was. Ghost was important to him and birthdays where his way of celebrating that bond that he had with his snakes. "I let them each pick something with in reason they want to have or do on their birthday." Seiji added, hoping that would clear up any additional or possible confusion.

[Humphries]

The fool actually celebrated the snake's birthday. Humphries flicked his tail and seemed to sigh, his shoulders sagging slightly. Such potential wasted on someone who was just so utterly foolish. Well, there was sometimes no helping it when it came to matters like this. At least the young man still showed proper respect, and that counted a good deal.

reason does not include eating staff the cat felt necessary to send. He eyed the snake for a few moments longer, his eyes narrowing. Humphries was tempted to just seek revenge anyway, just to further prove his superiority over the beast. He flicked his tail and looked back up at Seiji, considering.

you work school, yes? where work? he sent. He was half sure that Seiji had mentioned it previously, but he couldn't quite recall. The snake and its... birthday had been somewhat distracting and all.

[Seiji Lockard]

Seiji was still watching Humphries, but he didn’t really know what was going through the cats mind about what he thought on Seiji celebrating his snake’s birthday. It was important to Seiji and even if someone judged him on it, he would not change what he did. He was used to people thinking he was weird or probably saying things about him behind his back or in their heads. He had dealt with it for years and come to accept it and didn’t let such things get in the way his own happiness. Another text came in, bringing up the fact again that Ghost had basically tried to eat Humphries. “I understand, again I apologize for his behavior and you should not have to worry about him trying to eat you again.” Seiji informed Humphries and then looked to Ghost. “Right, Ghost?” He asked his snake who turned his head away for a moment before giving it a small nod because he would obey his master.

Seiji gave Ghost a pet then when the snake nodded, Ghost naturally nuzzling into it but still keeping an eye on the cat. He would obey his master and not eat the cat, but he made no promises about perhaps scaring the snake or following him around. He would be a cat stalker, or more specifically a Humphries stalker to keep the cat on edge. That was what Ghost was planning on but he never really knew if he would keep to such a task where there were other things he could end up doing. The phone buzzed again with the text being a little bit confusing but Seiji still got the gist of it. “I do yes. I’m still a college student but the school also has me working for them as the Side-Effect specialist. So if you ever want me to run some test on you to help you perhaps…regain your human form, just let me know.” Seiji informed that cat, since that would be in the realm of what Seiji could do.

It would take some work of course and Seiji would have to get some samples from Humphries in order to even start working on something but it was possible. Since the cat was directly stuck using his mutant mutation, it would be difficult to pinpoint it all but not impossible. Things would certainly be a lot easier if he had samples of Humphries not using his power.

[Humphries]

More apologizing, which soothed some of Humphries' nerves and ego. He looked archly at the snake again, practically gloating over his superiority now. Surely the dumb reptile wouldn't dare disobey his master. Humphries would make certain of that.

Ah, an answer. Humphries looked up at the respectful young man as he continued. The information did seem familiar, and Humphries wondered if he'd just forgotten it or something. That did happen from time to time: the penalty for maintaining a feline brain. At least he hadn't been distracted by string or anything as ridiculous as that. So far, no one had thought to use that.

not interest in human sent Humphries. Feigning a lack of interest in humans happened to be the easiest thing for a cat to do though, as Humphries bent down to lick his paw, gesturing with it in an almost absent matter. He paused for a moment, considered, and then shifted slightly. thank for thought. not needed. like this. chose this.

Then Humphries ended with a very satisfied purr.

[Seiji Lockard]

Humphries was right to think that Ghost would obey, but that did not mean that Ghost was going to give in so easily just yet. He would wait; wait like a poisonous snake would after biting its victim. Letting the poison do their dirty work before finishing the job by swallowing their prey whole. Ghost was a boa constrictor and other then possibly infecting someone with the bacteria in his mouth, there was not going to be any poison slowly effecting anyone they he bit. No, his stile was more to squeeze the life out of his pretty and crush their bones. Just the thought of it greatly pleased the snake as he started to fantasize about doing just that to the snake. Seiji let it slide since there was nothing bad about thinking it. The familiar buzzing of his phone alerted him to another text as he read it over.

No interest in human? So he does not want to be able to turn back into a human ever again? Odd. Seiji thought to himself as his mind tried to work out what benefit would a mutant have to live the life shifted as something else. Perhaps Humphries had a tough life as a human and being a cat was just much easier. Seiji could relate to that on some level because growing up he had been teased or avoided a lot and he did sometimes wish that he could just turn into a snake and be left alone. Sadly his power did not allow him to do that so he just grew to live and accept it all as things were. So while he was trying to not judge Humphries, he was just a little bit. More text, ones of Humphries making a point that he was happy the way he was. While Seiji may not have been able to agree he certainly was pleased that at least Humphries was happy with his life. "So long as you are happy like that, I guess that is what is important." Seiji responded as he knelt down in front of the cat.

Reaching a hand out to scratch the cat behind his ears as a smile started to spread across his face at hearing Humphries purr. "Would it be weird if I asked to still study you? Not as in cut you up on a table but to just get a few samples and monitored you from time to time?" Seiji asked and while if this had been just an animal he would do as he liked, but Humphries was a fellow mutant, even if he chose the life of just a cat.

[Humphries]

Humphries flicked his tail, taking the acceptance of his state in stride. He was quite pleased being who he was, and he actively avoided any attempts to get back. He knew the risks; he wasn't a fool. He also knew that he simply didn't care about them. Better to have fewer years enjoying yourself and being who you were then pretending to be something you weren't for several more years.

As for the second question, that required more thought. Humphries curled up, adjusting for a moment. His head swiveled as he began licking himself, a habit he'd picked up while thinking. Routine motion always helped with mulling things over, and Humphries did need to bathe himself regularly. But it didn't immediately answer the question: should he allow the human to study him? They had in the past. There were certainly benefits, and Humphries supposed it would cause the school to think more kindly toward him.

So he unfurled himself and moved, stretching and letting out a meow. The phone would buzz with the full answer: i have no issue with study. do not want invade. simple look. Ergh, he meant that he didn't want invasive procedures, and he wasn't certain that the human would get that. Well, he could wait and see, at any rate.

[Seiji Lockard]

Seiji had asked the question, the one if he could study the cat and the lack of response had him worried that he might have crossed a line somewhere. He did do that from time to time because of his curiosity and wanting to know more about powers. He did not mean to come off as rude or creepy but when you started to talk about peoples powers that sometimes happened. Especially with those who did not like their powers or didn't feel comfortable talking about their powers in general. Seiji personally could never understand why someone would not want to talk about their power with another mutant, especially one that was a side-effect specialist who could end up helping them out in so many ways. Perhaps I should just say I was joking. Seiji thought to himself for a moment with Ghost chiming in a thought about how dissecting Humphries would probably get the best results for research.

Seiji just gave Ghost a look at that since a dissection would require Humphries to die or to be on a lot of pain medication and knocked out. It was doable but it all just seemed to mad scientist like with so many laws probably being broken in there in a few places. Humphries was at least not hissing or giving Seiji a look like he was mad at him. Instead the cat was simply licking himself...brining up all sort of other questions that threatened to bubble out of Seiji's mouth. "What is getting a hair ball like?" Seiji could not help that one that slipped through and was just thankful that it was one of the more docile of the questions he could have ended up asking. The whole time Seiji was basically staring at the cat, watching his every move and even when the phone buzzed her was still staring as he read the text. Finally blinking when he started to grow confused at the words on his screen.

So Humphries was fine being studies, but not being invaded...and something about a simple look. Okay, Seiji's mind was working to try and decode what that could have meant. Coming up with a few possibilities but he was not really sure. "Umm...I'm guessing you mean that I can watch you but not like say, cut you open or collect DNA samples?" Seiji asked giving his best guess but it was clear in his voice that he was uncertain.

[Humphries]

Humphries stared as the human asked his inane question. No meowing, no moving, just a long, hard stare. Felines were perfectly capable of letting humanity know precisely how many different variations of idiot were, and Humphries proved that in those few seconds. The look he leveled at the young man would've made stern-faced librarians who'd been working their jobs for decades feel jealous. Then, once Humphries was absolutely certain he had conveyed the sheer idiocy of the question, he flicked his tail dismissively.

sample DNA available sent Humphries soon, twisting and turning, even bobbing his head. send for at old school. send quick. can do blood draw and hair if wish. It certainly wouldn't be the first time a scientist had opted to take advantage of the situation, and Humphries knew it would benefit him in the long run. If he were the cat that helped people make some kind of breakthrough in mutant science, then everyone would remember him for the rest of mutant history.

Who wouldn't want to have that kind of impact?

[Seiji Lockard]

Seiji ended up ruffling his hair under the gaze of the cat, feeling like he was getting a ‘you’re stupid look’ from the feline. He knew he was smart but that intelligence only went so far, because there were different levels of intelligence. You could be book smart, street smart, people smart, etc. Seiji liked to think that his area of intelligence was with snakes and mutation. Past that, he felt like he was lost on all other levels of life. This was what happened when you spent so many years with just snakes and your work as you grew up. It had again been more of a recent occurrence where actually living warm human beings started to deal with him on the level that they were now.

Humphries was not a human, at least he was mainly a cat now and liked being a cat so should he had been considered just a cat then? Seiji was going to think about that and likely have something of a debate with himself over the matter. More text came in that Seiji quickly read and nodded his head in understanding over the matter. It would not be that hard to get a hold of the samples and Humphries seemed to also be willing to give some fresh samples. Unless Seiji was misunderstanding. It was highly possible that he was since the texts were not super clear.

“So…could I take you for samples now?” Seiji asked as he was already reaching to pick up Humphries, assuming he was going to say yes. He still wanted the answer to his first question but he would figure it out on his own or try and ask later. He still had other question, more of them probably odd but Seiji’s curiosity was getting the better of him. “How long have you been stuck as a cat?” Seiji asked that was not the question he really wanted to ask but it was the most appropriate.

[Humphries]

Wait, what was the human doing? Just as Humphries had been starting to twist and send what amounted to "later," the young man bent down to pick him up. Humphries certainly didn't appreciate this, and, again showing himself to be quite the feline, he made this known as most felines did: by growling low and dangerous under his breath.

The growling did not cease as Seiji kept asking. In fact, Humphries stiffened his body and twisted and turned, giving Seiji a very severe look. he couldn't quite communicate as well as he'd like, at least not via text, not while being held. However, his body language, mixed with his expression, should be enough for even Seiji to understand.

Put the cat down or face his claws.

[Seiji Lockard]

Seiji could easily tell by the way the cat felt in his arms that he had done something wrong, he should have asked and waited. People and especially cats didn't like to just be picked up out of the blue if they didn't know you very well. Humphries and Seiji were still getting to know each other and Seiji was slightly pushing it. He could not help it. He forgot personal boundaries when he got excited about the potential to learn and figure something out. Here was a mutant stuck in a feline state because of their power and there was so much to learn from it all. What happened to the cell that clearly would be damaged over time? His lifespan most certainly had to have would be cut if half or possibly more now. Was he at a higher risk of getting cancer or some cat like sickness?

So many questions and Seiji wanted to know them all by either finding them out with the help of science or asking questions. Clearly he was not supposed to be doing either of which at the moment and he gave an apologetic look in return to Humphries. "I'm...I apologize. I'm crossing to many lines, right?" Seiji asked but it was more of a rhetorical question as he went to careful put Humphries back on the ground. Ghost was pleased that the fur ball rat was back on the ground where it belonged, beneath him as he remained on his master, wrapping his body around Seiji's middle section so he was not dragging on the ground. "I'll umm...I'll see you later then? Around would probably be a better word. I'll probably see you around a lot now, not that I will be full out stalking you, not on purpose anyways but uh...I'll go now before I say anymore." Seiji said as he was already moving away, knowing his rambling got the better of him.

"I'll talk...text you later Humphries. It was really nice meeting you." Seiji said with a wide smile because it really had been a real treat. A scientific advancement treat that now had Seiji wondering if Humphries liked cat treats. He was going to make sure to buy some next time he went out to sort of pay the cat for what things he was going to have to end up dealing with when it came to Seiji.

[Humphries]

It appeared as though Humphries' hissing had sent the right message, as he'd expected. He landed softly on his feet, trotted a few steps away, and then began licking himself all over, the cat reflexes kicking in stronger then usual for a few moments. He still heard the young man speaking, though at first Humphries ignored him.

As Seiji spoke of going, however, Humphries figured he should leave the boy a dead mouse. After all, pathetic hunters needed to be helped, or they'd never get better. So eh unwound himself and shifted, adding an audible meow. make appoinment. will come to lab. give samples. sterile went right to Seiji's phone.

Then the cat curled up into a seated position, looking up expectantly at Seiji. A goodbye, and Humphries let out one last meow, not needing to send a text. Seiji Lockard, a most interesting individual indeed. Humphries would have to see if there was potential in working further with him. Something told him there certainly was.