Sweeeeet

[ßlue]

<sub>The bell on the door chimed cheerily as someone came in to look at the candy. She was going to get fat someday. But she did love her sugar. Blue eyes turned this way and that, looking at the candies and chocolates on display. There was fudge, chocolate covered apples. Candied apples. Caramel coated apples dipped in every sort of topping you could imagine, made any way you wanted it, lashes with chocolate white milk or dark. She was in heaven. She was wearing a dark blood red beanie that made her cheeks look very pink with their flushed coldness. She was actually supposed to be getting a gift for one of the kids at the hospital but she would probably buy herself more junk than Little Tim. She smiled, pink lips stretching nicely over straight white teeth. The tip of her nose was a bit pink, shining in the light from the bulbs. She came up to the glass cases, eying all the chocolate masterpieces with lust. Mmmm... The smell was overwhelming her.

She was wearing a red scarf around her neck, think but warm, stripes of white making it look sort of like peppermint. She was wearing a white coat, taking off red gloves and putting them in her messenger bag, tucking them carefully around the two sleeping kittens inside. She had found them in a box on the sidewalk on the way over. She just had to take the poor things. They had been shivering in the cold. It was winter after all and a cardboard box was nothing against the elements. Rain Wind and Snow were horrible for baby animals. She'd already named them and everything. The little black and white one was Patches, and the little white one with black paws was Socks. She couldn't help herself when it came to animals with no homes. Wasn't this the time of giving?

"Excuse me, can I try some of those dark chocolate covered almonds please?"

She pointed with a long elegant finger to the small dark bobbles of chocolate sitting pretty and giving a small gleam in the light. The man behind the counter nodded, taking three with a small peice of wax paper and handing them to her. She popped one in her mouth, chewing and letting out a deep soft 'Mmmm...' slip from her. They were HEAVENLY!!!!!</sub>

[ßlue]

((SOMEONE PLEASE POST HERE!!! *wants to use Hope so bad* I DONT WANT HER TO DIE! i LIKE HER!))

[Melodia]

He ran a claw down the side of wood panneling, his golden-yellow eyes decisively looking over each jar of sugar-coated sweets. Truth be told, he was a man of self-discipline. He stuck to a strict diet of healthy foods, yet somehow was a regular at Juku Candy & Chocolates. His lips twitched into a little smile as he took a handful of sesame candies and opened a white paper bag in a single swoop, dropping them in and heading for the cash register.

His army-style black boots clunked against the old wooden boards that served as the floor as he made his way towards the line. He rolled the top of the bag in his hands, whistling casually. Another woman was in front of him, not unusual for a beautiful day like today. He, like any man would, casually ran his vision down the length of her body, looking without reluctance at her gentle feminine figure. He stopped at the hat, noticing the oddity of missing hair, and immediatly felt guilty for showing such an obsurd interest.

And then something else hit him; ironically enough, something that did not belong in a candy store. Fenton's ears perked and his face showed a slight curiousity. He sniffed silently and went forward, hesitating, before tapping the girl on the shoulder and speaking to her quietly, "Do you have kittens in there?"

[ßlue]

<sub>Hope let the almonds roll around in her mouth, pleased with the bitter sweet taste and then the soft crunch of the nut as she enjoyed its flavor. She closed her eyes a moment, nodding as she told the man three pounds of those and waited as he wrapped the top of a bag with red ribbon for her. It looked so pretty. She took it gently, smiling and about to look around again as she felt someone else come up in line behind her. She was going to go wander the cases, but she heard his voice, turning to look at him. Did she have kittens? She eyed the boy. A cat boy! She had learned to not be surprised by peoples appearances here in Lordight, some people just didn't look completely human, and you knew they wern't. But everyone was human, no matter how you looked and everyone should be treated the same. With Kindness. She flashed a smile at him, holding her bag closer and being careful as she nodded.

"Yeah, I found them in a box on the sidewalk. They were hungry so I'm going to bring them home. I take care of injured animals."

She smiled at him brightly, being careful not to eye his long soft looking ears. He had beautiful yellowy eyes. Or was it more hazel? It looked sort of like light sen through honey. It was pretty and had a sweetness to him. She also noted he was a bit taller than her. She had to tilt her head to look up into his eyes. It was a romantic sort of height, the height you always seem to imagine the men in romance novels or in books where you have to look up at them as they kiss you. He had on army boots and he looked like a soldier. Was he in the army? Probably worked for Lordight itself. A security guard? No, more likely he had more training than just a security guard. Some sort of captain or General? Seemed more likely, but Hope wasn't one to judge people so quickly. She didn't read books by their covers, she liked flipping the pages and reading them with care, slowly and letting the mood settle so she knew every little thing.</sub>

[Melodia]

Fenton smiled back at her sort of akwardly. He never took his eyes off of her as he passed the white paper bag over the counter and then his cash. He sauntered, leaning up against the counter, his left ear twitched slightly as he heard the faint rustling of the kittens in her bag. "Thought so. I smelled them," He said lightly, his eyes bright and kind. He clasped a paw around the bag as the man handed it back to him and side-stepped Hope, pushing open the door. His ears rung as the little welcome bell chimed above him, the noise resounding in his eardrums. He held the door open for her with common courtesy. "Wots your name Miss, don't mind my asking?"

[ßlue]

<sub>Hope gave a glance back at the candies as he held the door open for her. She needed to buy more for Tiny Tim. She told him she'd buy him 3 kinds. But she had nothing to do all day and she would come back. She smiled at him, letting her bag rest against her side, arm over it protectively so the kittens wouldn't get squashed. She opened the top, looking in on them and seeing two pairs of bright blue eyes looking at her curiously. They were awake now, hearing the bell of the door as she walked out. She traded the bag of almonds for the kitten, holding Patches and Socks carefully as she looked back at the cat boy who was being so polite to her. Hope always seemed to forget she had no hair. What was her name? She smiled at her.

"I'm Hope. And these two I have named Patches and Socks... Do you mind holding one?"

Socks squirmed in her arms, feeling better than he had in days since his birth. His ears twitched around, listening to all the people walking by and letting the sun dazzle him. Patches was more calm, taking in the world around him with a quiet intrigue as his head turned slowly this way and that. What an odd and loud place this was.</sub>

[Melodia]

Fenton's twitched in his mind. Patches and Socks. He knew about a thousand cats named Patches and Socks. But he didn't show his dislike for the names at all. He smiled, flashing a row of shiny, sharp teeth, casually sauntering around her and the kittens. "I was just going to ask," He said. Two clawed hands, slightly tanned and thin, reached forward and took up Socks.

He held the tiny kitten close to his face. Fenton was silent, yet if you read his eyes they would say so much. This little thing was half of him, seeing as he was part cat and part human. He knew his mother had a cat, Seth. Apparently they make good company because of mind-speak and all that. He had just returned from a scouting on Lordight's west coast, his final stretch before becoming a Roaming General. It had good perks--getting to do things at his leisure, ready to be called upon in the face of battle. This was the first week of his promotion, actually, and he was living alone. Maybe it was time to get a cat.

He grinned, exposing two sharp cat fangs. "Hello there, Socks," Fenton said aloud, only common courtesy to Hope. There was a mute silence as he listened for follow up thoughts. They were jumbled and illiterate, seeing as they were only young kittens. His eyebrows furrowed slightly as he listened to his thoughts and then he laughed, murmuring, "A little rebel, aren't you? Just like me when I was little."

["Parker!"]

[Seth that cat.... XDDD rofl]

[ßlue]

<sub>Hope smiled, watching as he looked into the kitten's blue eyes. She wondered a moment if he could hear the kitten. He was half cat himself. But he spoke aloud to the kitten and she waved the thought away. If he wanted to tell her anything he would. She petted Patches gently, finger running over his soft fur on his head, around his cute little ears and scratching his chin. A deep but soft rumble came from him and Hope smiled as they walked together, Hope just remembering that he hadn't said his own name. She looked at him sideways, giggling lightly as he said the kitten was like himself when he was young. How cute they were together. The kitten and the cat boy. It was sweet. She let Patches snuggle into her arms a little further, knowing the kitten must be feeling relaxed and totally comfortable now, not seeming the slightest bit disturbed that his brother wasn't near him anymore. She wanted to give the kitten a bath when she got home, then she'd find a little collar for him and she'd put up an ad. She loved all the animals she took in, and it was always hard to let them go, but she couldn't keep all of them. Only the ones that she couldn't find a home for. She had about six animals right now that she couldn't find homes for. Three of those six she knew didn't want to leave her and would never be able to grow attatched to a real family if anyone did take them. There was an old scarred up irish setter mutt. She had found him in bad shape. People had been fighting him with other dogs. Poor thing, but he'd grow use t her and even licked her hand affectionately sometimes. The dog's hips were giving out from old age now. She'd had him for about five years and he'd already been about three when she found him. She didn't always come up with the most creative names and she'd named him Rusty for the color of his fur. Her attention was drawn back to the kitten and cat boy.

"So what's your name then? Socks must want to know. I know I do."

She smiled beautifully at him. Her parents had believed in braces and as soon as she had been 'cured' she'd gotten some. Her teeth now straight and able to pull off the brightest smiles, like right now. She was already hoping that she could convince the cat boy to take Socks. The kitten needed a home and she was almost sure he didn't have any pets. The sooner she got animals a home the sooner they could have good full lives and be loved and love back. It made her overflow with joy to think about the happy lives of all those little animals. She was a good judge of character and never gave animals to a family or person she thought would treat them badly. Who better to treat a cat then a cat boy? It was DESTINY!!!</sub>

[Melodia]

He lowered the kitten from in front of his face. After all, Socks had been blocking his view of Hope. He got this little twinge when he looked straight at her, not a bad twinge, just this little odd sensation. It might have been her blue eyes, or the way the light suddenly glimmered off her smile, or the abnormality of having no hair. Wasn't that just the way people worked, though? Their eyes being drawn to things that are different about people, things that are not necessarily ordinary? He knew, did he ever. People looked at him the same way. Having large gray ears, a tail and cat-eyes didn't really let him "blend in with the crowd."

"Fenton," He said, lowering his eyes almost shamefully as he was staring at her head. His bright, amber gaze adverted back to the kitten, who yawned and then nearly licked his nose with his tongue. Fenton cleared his throat and straightened, his tail curling behind him akwardly as he asked, "Were you going to keep him? Because, you know, living alone can be, well...lonely." He almost laughed at his lame choice of words but didn't, biting down on his lower lip and unconsciously widening his eyes to an adorable pleading look.

[ßlue]

((XD he gets it from his father))

<sub>Hope beamed at him, not noticing him look away guiltily. She never remembered she didn't have hair and people thought it was strange, but she had always been beautiful, even without hair. Her skin was silky smooth and even if she couldn't curl her golden strands around her fingers anymore, sometimes she liked running her hand over her head as if running it through hair. It was nice, soft, smooth. The red beanie didn't exactly hide the fact she had no hair. She petted the kitten Patches, feeling the small purr vibrate through her fingers. It was nice to be needed. She perked as he asked her if she was going to keep them. She grinned, flashing him her sunniest smile, warmth seeping from her in waves.

"No, I take in animals all the time. I care for them, make them feel better and then I give them away to good families. A few I cant find homes for I keep, but I do get most of them into good hands. Would you like to keep him? You can give him whatever name you want, I'm sure he would just love a new home. Boxes aren't nearly as warm as a good family. I think everyone should have somebody or else... Yes, it can get rather lonely."

Her eyes sparkled compassionately at him, a warm wisdom that soothed. She was an optimist, of course. Someone who had lived through cancer tended to be optimistic about things. She smiled, feeling happiness bubble in her. Had she found the kitten a home already?! How wonderful!

"If you aren't sure if you want a pet you can keep him for a sort of trial period. I have other animals back home, if you'd like to come take a look I'd be delighted, I love giving my animals the opportunity to find a fresh start. Hold on..."

She put Patches in one hand, the kitten probably grumbling about the sudden uncomfortable position of being held in one of her hands, but he mewled once and then kept silent. observing his surroundings. She was digging in her bag and pulled out a little white card with gold print on it. She smiled, handing it to him.

"That has my address, home phone, and cell phone. If you need some cat food you can always come by and get some. Sometimes people don't have the money to keep a pet but I like to help out when I can."

Her eyes shined at him in hope. The hopes that he would take the kitten and give it a good warm home somewhere. He was a cat boy, she was sure he would take the best of care to the little infant cat. She was now also determined to make him take the kitten. She was happy, beaming, a victorious sort of light coming to her. She loved her job. Even if she didn't get paid for it.</sub>

[Melodia]

He didn't really make any big show of it, but Fenton was elated. After Socks had matured a little (and maybe was renamed?) he would be a great, clean, small roomate for those lonely nights of eating by hisself or catching up on a good book. He pulled the kitten closer to him, holding him with one hand against his chest while he addressed Hope.

"I'd love to take him," He said, his insides sort of twisting at the irony of her words. Everybody should have somebody... Did she have anybody? Well, of course, she said she had animals back at her place. And probably someone else, too, a pretty woman like her (even with the minor detail of no hair. There were caring, considerate men who could look past that, right?) And that was more than enough company for her. He bitterly battered his hopes down to a defeated pulp. He had learned never to set his expectations too high, because, like in battle, the unexpected is always looming around in the shadows, waiting to defy all potential plans and eliminate all hope.

He snapped back to attention. His ears, which were slowly relaxing, perked back up to full attention and his yellow eyes widened as he took the card. He glanced at it, then folded it once using one hand and then putting it into his pocket. Fenton cleared his throat, slightly swaying on his heels. "I'm always interested in...company," He said, the pause in his sentence akward, as though he wasn't sure how to put it. "I'm free all day. I could stop by your place and see what other animals you have. I own a good sized home, you know, gets sort of quiet being by yourself..." He trailed off, looking at the ground because he was making and idiot out of himself and he knew it.

[ßlue]

<sub>Hope watched him, grinning brilliantly so it almost seemed like she was glowing. You may not have been able to tell out in sunlight, but she did glow, a bright white light and depending on how happy she was determined how bright she was. But she was always happy and when she was sad she always had hope to make her glow just a little...Her attention was brought back to him. He said yes. He would come take a look. Maybe he would take two or three animals with him besides socks?! She skipped, loving it and thinking ahead. He started talking again. It was lonely sometimes by yourself. She heard the pause, almost felt the sudden small sadness radiate from him and looked at him, her eyes brimming with compassion. Awww, he was lonely? She felt now was time to dish out a few words of encouragement as she started towards her house.

"You know, people think they need someone special to not be lonely, but you can be surrounded by others and still feel like no one understands. I find animals pay closer attention to you than people do. And... dont worry. I get lonely sometimes too. But you know what i do when I start feeling lonely? I start thinking of all the animal's lives that depend on me, all my friends and family and everyone I have ever helped and I smile because I know I've done good in the world."

She smiled at him nicely, her soul seeming to vibrate a sort of calm happiness. She loved making people smile. It was her most beloved gift. They turned down another street, getting away from the market.</sub>

((they'll walk there, she has a small apartment ^_^ but I dont know where it is exactly and I dont want to have to make a new bored when they are going to go back to the candy shop. XD Tiny Tim still wants his gummi bears...))

[Melodia]

"Optomist?" Fenton asked, his eyebrows raising at the question. His hand was warm from holding the kitten against his chest. It was asleep, he could tell because when he tapped into mind-speak he found an empty slate. Using his thumb he caressed the soft fur along his back, smiling silently to hisself when he heard purring. "Yes, I suppose animals do keep good company," He found himself saying, flashing a smile that exposed his two kitty-fangs. "I have so many siblings I lost count. Maybe four or five. They were never very much fun, always getting on with their own lives and never paying much attention to me. I think it's the human aspect, the more developed, able part of our brains that cause the good nature of the cat to slip away," He said timidly, clearing his throat when he realized that he as beginning to ramble. And that he had compared himself to a single-minded beast.

"So, um, what is your profession?" He asked, picking up on a new conversation. "You can probably tell I'm with the guard," He said, motioning towards his army-style boots and vest with his free hand. Heck, he wasn't on duty, but the attire was comfortable and gave him some respect.

[ßlue]

<sub>Hope looked at him sideways, listening as he said he had many brothers and sisters. Four or five? Wow. Hope herself was an only child. Good nature of the cat? It sounded like he wanted to be closer with his family. Well, the only person who could make him closer to them was himself. She might have said something then to him, but he moved on. What was her profession. She beamed, happy that she would get to tell him. She loved talking with people. Then it would make sense that she was in the candy store getting candy for Tiny Tim. He confirmed her thoughts that he was a military man. In the guard. She looked him up and down again, beaming innocently in an airy minded manner she had as they walked up the steps to her apartment.

"Oh, I work at the hospital. I suppose you could call me a nurse. I help make people feel better. It's what I do. Thats... what they did to me. But it helps people, and no one ever really knows that I can do it other than the people who get cured and some other people who can feel it. I think the animals know. I volunteer at a shelter just down the street too."

She smiled at him, taking out a small silver key and turning the lock on her door. You could already hear the pitter patter of claws on linoleum and small animal sounds. Rusty was already sitting at the door wagging his tail. She smiled, rubbing the dog's head between his ears as he wagged his tail, the white hair on his muzzle looking like dust had collected on him and refused to let go. There were a few cats laying around, three kittens ran up to her. There was a large tank against the corner that held three green garden snakes laying on heat rocks. There was a pink plastic tub with sand in it that on closer inspection had four tortoises in it. Everything seemed to have it's space in her small apartment so things somehow didn't seem cluttered. She went through a doorway to the left, walking through it to a small kitchen.

Sammy! You know you shouldn't be up there!"

It was scolding but a small laugh worked it's way in as she picked up the squirrel on the counter. It ran up to her shoulder, sitting there and looking at the new arrival. She smiled, motioning.

"You can look at everyone here or sit down, I have to feed the baby birds a second...I found three of them after a cat got their mother. I... didn't get there in time."

There was a sadness that crawled through her eyes before she smiled, a peanut somehow appearing in her hand as she gave it to the Squirrel Sammy and walked down a small hallway where suddenly the sound of peeping came. They heard her coming, three little heads bobbing up and chirping. They knew she would feed them. They were in a little box in her room. She dug a small box out of her pocket and a pair of tweezers off the table as she got close to the box.

"Awww, I know I know... Here ya go..."

She opened the box, small meal worms wiggling around as she plucked them up with tweezers and fed a few of them to the baby birds. She laughed lightly in a chiming voice, replacing the lid to the box of worms.

A few of the cats in the room took notice of the new man. Was this a possible family? Would one of them get adopted? They looked at each other, one, a black cat with vibrant green eyes sat on the couch and the other two, a pair of Calico cats standing on the floor. Hope had left this new male here. What was... he had ears! and a tail! Was he a new animal? Was she going to keep him as well? They wondered to themselves in whispers. The black cat hopped off the couch, being the youngest cat male, and walked up to the two Calicos. Oy, Shelly, Annie, whats up with the new one? Annie had what looked like a black mask on her face, white and orange fur dancing around it. She was the oldest cat since Jelly left. She wasn't that old, almost three years old, but that was a bit bad. The kittens didn't care about being adopted, but as soon as they were old enough to realize Hope couldn't care about them forever, that she wanted them to go out and be happy they tried to respect that and act properly when a human came to see them. Shelly was the second oldest, she was just past two. Tommy, the black male was a year and a half. Annie kept her eyes on the new arrival. He seemed to be holding a kitten. Was the kitten staying? What was going on?

I dont know... c'mon, we'd better go say hello... She wandered forward, meowling lightly in a seductive way that she hoped said 'hellooooo, wanna pet me?' She bumped her head against his leg. pick me uuuup, adopt meeeee... You know you want toooo... Shelly flicked her tail, nodding to herself as she picked up too. They had to try. Tommy sat down, watching suspiciously from afar. Hmmm, he didn't know what to think. Of course they didn't knwo he could understand them. not yet. Alright, I suppose I can play this game. I mean, not that I care or anything... He padded forward, eyes looking lazy. He had been passed up four times now. Annie and Shelly had been passed up too, Shelly had been here since she was just a kitten, but they never showed if it bothered them. It bugged Tommy. He was just as good as the other cats. He was better. He was sleek, had black fur, he was trim. He didn't get it...</sub>

((^_^ if you adopt any of the cats, can I play them? :3))