ellectrical | (no subject)

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Elle is curled up into one side of the couch, head leaned against the arm, sparks snapping around her neck. Farrah, who has chosen to settle on her stomach, is watching the sparks crackle, head moving back and forth very slightly as the electricity flares and flashes on her skin.

Fortunately, she hasn't resorted to batting her paw at them.

That probably wouldn't be pleasant for anyone.

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Likely not.

This may also explain why Steve McQueen is watching them both intently from his perch on the cat tree.

X would join him, but she was planning on sitting on the other side of the couch.

It is comfortable there.

And eventually he will sneak over to join them. Being left out is not fun. (For a cat.)

Elle, in turn, is watching X.

Well, partly. She's also keeping an eye on the cats, to make sure the whole sparks situation remains a cold war.

Finally, "It's - okay that I'm here?"

She doesn't really doubt the answer, but it would still be nice to hear X say it.

X's head turns rather faster than it usually does, and her response follows hard on its heels.

"Yes."

Beat.

"It is always okay."

It is nice to hear it.

But now Elle feels as little bad about having to ask, and she looks back down to Farrah.

X doesn't quite frown, but it's close.

"Elle."

Beat.

"You are not okay?"

Elle feels oddly caught, not wanting to lie, but not sure she should be truthful, either.

Eventually -

"I guess - not."

X hesitates, frown growing deeper.

Then --

"I am allowed to ask?"

"Yeah."

Though this isn't followed by an immediate answer.

"Okay."

X falls silent, though.

She is not sure how to ask.

The sparks snap to her forearm just as Farrah finally bats her paw at Elle's neck. Thankfully, her claws remain retracted.

"I don't know if I -

"- talk right."

Beat.

"All the time."

As surprising an observation as that is.

X is quiet for a few long moments.

Then she stretches out her foot and nudges Elle's leg.

Gently.

"I know I do not."

If that is possibly relevant.

Her target gone, Farrah twitches twice, then curls back up against Elle's stomach. Elle doesn't react.

"I hear it, a lot. But I don't - understand it."

She thinks X probably knows that about her, too.

Edited 2012-12-11 21:02 (UTC)

X hesitates.

"I am not very good at guessing. Either."

Beat.

"Figurative language is confusing."

For one.

"Does it -"

She resettles slightly on the couch, curling more around Farrah.

"- bother anyone?"

X looks a little startled, but --

"The way I talk?"

It's not like she has to think hard about it, really.

"Yes. But I do not have to talk to people who make fun of me."

She pronounces those last couple of words very carefully. Certain expressions are not a natural part of X's daily language. Go figure.

"People have explained. Before."

"I don't mind it. When they make fun of me."

"I do," X says, matter-of-factly. "When they are my friends."

That is true.

Elle goes still.

Murmured, "If I wasn't friends with anyone who made fun of me..."

X's shrug is one-shouldered, quick, and a little awkward.

"If it does not hurt you -- "

She pauses, looking for the right words. The ones she settles on are --

"It is okay. But it is different. If you mind."

Still murmured, "I mind..."

Then, a little more loudly, "I mind if I think they're lying."

X frowns, just a little.

"About you?"

Beat.

"Or to you."

They are different.

Right?

Elle glances up.

"To me."

"Oh."

X absorbs that.

Then, carefully --

"But you know. That they are lying."

Beat.

"That is important."

Especially if they are plotting.

Elle looks away again.

"I can't know. For sure."

Not like X.

"Oh."

X does not know what else to say.

So she sits quietly instead, at least for a few moments.

"But you want to?"