Announcement

[edwards on bebop]

Eddie had always preferred the sanctuary of her own room. After all, everything there was in her control, there were countless ways to kill any kind of boredom, and if it was really terrible, she could just go visit Devlin next door. Unfortunately for her, Eddie had a pet. The cougar never seemed to mind, really, but she'd been getting restless. Eddie was sure that in her own way she'd asked her owner to take her out for a walk or something.

So she did.

To the garden, because it was close by and apparently nice. It was where Eddie took the confused animal (A cougar named Tiger, you'd be confused too) when this kind of thing happened. Lucky it was a good day. Eddie had been lying on the grass, using her cougar as some kind of pillow under the shining sun. But she'd fallen asleep, encased in one of those plaguing nightmares.

The cougar, half awake herself, just watched the occasional random movement from her owner. The dreams had been getting worse. But soon enough, she heard unfamiliar footsteps. The animal's head rose up to glance in the direction of the noise.

[Yoshika]

Zxaine and Damion frequented the Garden these days, her eyes shadowed his eyes curious. Thus this is where she was today, it was a nice enough day and she didn't want to keep Damion inside all day long, so they were starting their first lap around the garden's walkways. She was taking one of the less used paths today, liking the solitude, thus when she rounded the corner of hedges she was surprised to see a girl and a cougar there.

"Oh...." The girl gasped, pausing mid step to look at the cat. Damion walked a few more steps before looking back at Zxaine then over to Tiger.

"Hello. Don't mind her, we didn't expect anyone out here." He called to the other big cat, his silver fur looking as if it was freshly brushed and free of the normal shed of this season.

"Yes... I'm sorry. Are we disturbing you and your mistress?" The girl finished, resuming her walk until she was within talking distance of the cat. She knelt and reached one of her hands out, allowing the cougar to scent her before she pet her. "I'm Zxaine, and this is Damion. What are you called?"

[edwards on bebop]

"Hello. Don't mind her, we didn't expect anyone out here."

Tiger knew there was someone! But even after they saw the two of them, they decided to approach. Instantly, the cougar's eyes fell on the animal beside the girl, her head twisting curiously. She didn't speak, not giving a word as she waited. They must have wanted something, she was sure. Her gaze flicked to her owner, still trapped in a world of uninterrupted slumber.

"Yes... I'm sorry. Are we disturbing you and your mistress?"

Imagine this as a surprise! This girl was talking to her! That didn't happen, ever. It was a little confusing, actually. The two of them kept closing distance. Tiger didn't seem to mind. Someone to talk to was good, she supposed. After wondering if the girl could understand her, the cougar decided to test a theory out. "When she sleeps it's difficult to wake her. Quite a sleeping disorder, if you ask me."

"I'm Zxaine, and this is Damion. What are you called?"

Picking up the girls scent, Tiger felt at ease with the strangers, allowing the girl to teach over and pet her. "Ironically enough, she's given me the name Tiger."

[Yoshika]

The cougar didn't speak at first, and Zxaine was momentarily worried that she'd never learned feline language skills... being as she lived with a human. The girl looked at Eddie for a moment then sat on the grass, tossing her arm around Damion and rubbing his neck. As the feline spoke she smiled.

"When she sleeps it's difficult to wake her. Quite a sleeping disorder, if you ask me."

"Hmmm. That could be a problem, has she sought help about it? Sleeping disorders can cause a wide array of other problems." Zxi responded with a slow nod, it was nice to hear a new feline voice. Damion was wonderful, but she talked to him all the time. She scratched around the side of the cougars jaw and neck, knowing that Damion enjoyed those spots as well.

"Ironically enough, she's given me the name Tiger."

"Tiger huh? Well that certainly is an ironic name, but it is a good one none the less. A pleasure to meet you Tiger."

"Yes, it is nice to meet another of my species in this place so muddied with humans. What floor do you reside on?" Damion purred to the other, his long furred tail swishing.

[edwards on bebop]

"Hmmm. That could be a problem, has she sought help about it? Sleeping disorders can cause a wide array of other problems."

Tiger looked down to her owner once more. The issue with sleeping properly had been an ongoing one. She remembered the countless times Sapphire, the part fox girl that lived with them, had asked Eddie to seek some kind of professional advice, to no avail. "She has not. It doesn't seem like such a problem to her."

"Tiger huh? Well that certainly is an ironic name, but it is a good one none the less. A pleasure to meet you Tiger."

The cougar gave some kind of nod as a response to the girl, before another voice caught her attention.

"Yes, it is nice to meet another of my species in this place so muddied with humans. What floor do you reside on?"

Eddie shuffled slightly, moving to roll over slightly and hook an arm up around the cougar's body. "The second floor. Room thirteen."

[Yoshika]

"She has not. It doesn't seem like such a problem to her."

Both Zxaine and Damion frowned at this. Zxaine had dealt with an insomnia problem before and it was never a good thing when your sleep patterns were messed up, or so the expert told her. Caused problems anywhere from crankiness, moodiness, and physical ails. The two looked at the other girl in syncronization then shook their heads, returning attention to Tiger.

"Prolly not the wisest thing she could do. At the very least she should talk to the school nurse. She's very kind." Zxi said softly, remembering her twisted ankle.

"A specialist would really be best though. Otherwise she might find herself developing symptoms that could be dangerous... changes in behavior and the like." Damion finished.

"The second floor. Room thirteen."

The two looked at each other, blinking their eyes.

"Seriously?"

"How terribly ironic... you're across the hall from us. We're floor 2 room 14. I wonder why we've never seen you around before now... do you come to the gardens much?" the girl questioned. If she didn't get out much then she'd offer to bring the cougar with on their outings...unless she was bound like Damion was... then it would be difficult.

[edwards on bebop]

"Prolly not the wisest thing she could do. At the very least she should talk to the school nurse. She's very kind."

"She's... stubborn." There was no other way to describe Eddie, really. Especially when it came to things like this. The cougar watched the bowler's hat tumble from her owner's head down to the grass as the girl had moved again.

"Seriously?"

The animal could only stare at the two, wondering what had got them so stunned.

"How terribly ironic... you're across the hall from us. We're floor 2 room 14. I wonder why we've never seen you around before now... do you come to the gardens much?"

Tiger shook her head, her gaze once more flicking down to her owner. A lazy little thing, if nothing else. "We don't get out much. Or rather, she doesn't seem to want to. I have the freedom to wander around if I want, but I'd rather not do such a thing on my own."

[Yoshika]

"She's... stubborn."

Ah so that was it. Stubborn girls should learn when they need help. Ah well, Zxaine might bring it up to the currently sleeping chick at some point, probably not but whatever.

"I see. A shame." Damion responded, his ears flipping forward. As the hat fell he bent over and lifted it carefully in his teeth, setting it back on Eddie's head. This complete he lay back down beside his mistress and purred for more attention, pressing his head against her elbow then swiping his tongue across the spot for good measure.

"We don't get out much. Or rather, she doesn't seem to want to. I have the freedom to wander around if I want, but I'd rather not do such a thing on my own."

"That's too bad, large cats need exercise. If you'd like you're welcome to accompany us when we take our walks. It would be far safer then you wandering around on your own anyways. I'm sure some would be afraid if they saw a large feline without a human... most are still afraid of Damion." The girl offered, her lips lifting in a smile. She liked talking to the felines, they were without all the conflicting signals of humans. They said what they meant.

"Indeed. I'm always welcoming of others of my kind, it gives us someone else to talk to."

[edwards on bebop]

"I see. A shame."

The cougar nodded, watching as the other animal took hold of her owner's hat, doing his best to place it back on Eddie's head. The girl twitched slightly under the new feeling. In her mind she was caught in something particularly awful; her hand tightening on the cougar's fur slightly. "She often has these kinds of dreams. Especially as of late."

Zxaine's offer was a generous one. It was something the cougar could easily consider, especially considering how close they lived. But of course, there was the matter of the young Australian's consent. "You would have to ask her. She goes by Eddie." Tiger couldn't just wander off with a stranger to the girl, now could she.

"Indeed. I'm always welcoming of others of my kind, it gives us someone else to talk to."

Not willing to waste any more time, Tiger shifted slightly, causing her owner's head to roll slightly, the simple movement doing something to pull the girl into a kind of half-slumber. Not quite asleep. Not quite awake. It was when the cougar's tail began practically swatting at Eddie where she was pulled to consciousness. And imagine her surprise when she opened her eyes to see a stranger sitting with her. She got a jolt from the fright, eyes wincing as she pulled her hat into its rightful place as she sat up.

"Are you... Were you just-" Eddie glanced back at Tiger, who inched closer to her owner now that she was up and sitting, "-Talking to me," Eddie pointed to herself, before to the feline at her side, "Or her."

[Yoshika]

"She often has these kinds of dreams. Especially as of late."

Zxaine nodded, noting how the girl's fingers curled in the cougar's fur tighter. Nightmares were terrible, though she had a feeling the girl was experiencing Night Terrors, which were far far worse. The teleporter felt bad for the other girl, her brows twisting together.

"You would have to ask her. She goes by Eddie."

"Eddie, that name sounds familiar... hrm. Well then, I shall ask her when she rouses. It would be nice to have the company." She responded kindly, nodding her head and smiling warmly. Zxaine reclined in the grass as Tiger moved, gently rousing the girl. Both Zxi and Damion watched on silently, their eyes interested in how the two would interact since they clearly could not easily speak to one another. The girl smiled when Eddie's face twisted in surprise, lifting one of her hands to wave.

"Are you... Were you just-"

Zxaine waited patiently, not usually one of her strong points, as the girl looked back at the cougar then returned her gaze to her.

"-Talking to me,"

She blinked as Eddie pointed to herself, then smiled when she pointed to Tiger.

"Or her."

"Her. She is a very fine speaking companion, you have taught her excellent vocabulary. A very fine, young cougar indeed. Wouldn't it be kind of crazy to talk to a girl who is sleeping when I have a roused individual whom to have conversation with?" Zxaine responded kindly, rubbing Damion's head. "I suppose I should introduce myself. I'm Zxaine Fisher, this is my familiar, Damion. And Tiger tells me you are Eddie, correct?"

[edwards on bebop]

"Her. She is a very fine speaking companion, you have taught her excellent vocabulary. A very fine, young cougar indeed. Wouldn't it be kind of crazy to talk to a girl who is sleeping when I have a roused individual whom to have conversation with?"

Eddie sat up, rubbing her eyes to try and pull herself completely out of slumber. It was a difficult thing to do; once Eddie was forced to wake up it was all she could do to keep herself up. More sleep was looking really tempting right about now, even with this strange random person sitting near her. Eddie was some kind of paranoid.

"Just about as crazy as talking to a cougar itself, eh?" She said jokingly. But seriously, it was a little weird to wake up and see a girl talking to her pet. Then again, this was a school for people with special powers. Not much was weird considering where they were.

"I suppose I should introduce myself. I'm Zxaine Fisher, this is my familiar, Damion. And Tiger tells me you are Eddie, correct?"

"Eddie, Tiger." Eddie looked to her feline quickly, "But something tells me you already know that." Then some kind of strange thought hit her, and she had to ask. "This is real, right. Not some stupid crossover nightmare?" If Tiger could, she'd laugh.

[Yoshika]

"Just about as crazy as talking to a cougar itself, eh?"

The friendly expression on Zxaine's face flickered for a millisecond, her body tensing before she let it go. It sounded like the other girl was joking anyways.

"I suppose some would think it was weird." she answered quietly, but she shrugged. "I can talk to any animal of the feline persuasion.... I really don't think it's that weird."

"Eddie, Tiger."

Both Zxaine and Damion nodded in unison, though they already knew which of the two was which.

"But something tells me you already know that."

"I did. Your cougar told me. As I said, she is a very good conversationalist, though she seems a bit under exercised. I could take her out when I bring Damion if you'd like." The girl offered, rubbing Damion's head then reaching across to rub Tiger's.

"This is real, right. Not some stupid crossover nightmare?"

Damion laughed, his jaw parting and his ears flicking back and forth in amusement, and Zxaine chuckled quietly.

"She wonders over the realness of talking to a cat when she's in a school with people who can do far more extrordinary things?" Damion purred, licking his muzzle.

"You're quite awake, I assure you. Do you have nightmares often?" She asked innocently, Tiger had already told her that she did. Increasingly so. But she didn't go off telling Eddie that, might get the kitty in trouble.

[edwards on bebop]

"I did. Your cougar told me. As I said, she is a very good conversationalist, though she seems a bit under exercised. I could take her out when I bring Damion if you'd like."

Tiger allowed the girl, who was no longer a stranger to her but to her owner, to pet her once more. Eddie only watched, not one to stop someone from giving her cougar attention if she was willing to accept it. Eddie wasn't controlling like that. So this girl could really talk to her? Eddie wondered what the cougar often had to say. "Sure, if you want to." Interesting. Perhaps it could be worthwhile befriending this girl.

"You're quite awake, I assure you. Do you have nightmares often?"

Eddie eyed the girl cautiously, carefully. Did she really just ask that? It was something she wouldn't dare discuss with her own roommate, or the two other friends who she would bother to talk to often. Why, then, would she explain the recent plaguing nightmares that seem to get her every night to a complete stranger? It was too personal, she decided quickly. "Not really. Infrequently. Everyone gets them." She explained non nonchalantly. Use an uninteresting tone to throw the girl off.

"So you can talk to her, eh? Anything interesting to say?"

[Yoshika]

"Sure, if you want to."

Damion smiled and licked his paw, how did Zxaine know he smiled? Well she knows these things. He is her cat after all. Zxaine nodded her head. However, she noted when the girl started to watch her carefully.

"Not really. Infrequently. Everyone gets them."

"I don't... had Night Terrors as a child so I take a happy little pill before bed and I don't dream at all.... better then night terrors. I guess you wouldn't know much about that kinda stuff though" The girl responded slowly, her tone just as nonchalant, looking up at the leaves as the light played against them. She hummed tunelessly and the snow leopard stretched across her lap.

"So you can talk to her, eh? Anything interesting to say?"

"Normal cat things, how squirrels are tasty and humans are weird creatures. Things like that... She thinks highly of you it seems." Zxaine mumbled, looking at Tiger. "Anything you'd like me to translate while she's listenin to the strange cat lady?"

[edwards on bebop]

"I don't... had Night Terrors as a child so I take a happy little pill before bed and I don't dream at all.... better then night terrors. I guess you wouldn't know much about that kinda stuff though"

Damn. Well this girl just shot her lie in the foot, didn't she? Didn't she think it was a little too much information to give a stranger; to tell her that she took pills to sleep? Maybe they had more in common than Eddie thought. Then again, the only other thing on that list was owning a large, clearly unconventional pet. That was pretty important, though!

Why did this all still seem terribly weird? Eddie supposed it was because she never thought she'd have to worry about what the Cougar could say. For fear of being called a neglectful owner, she'd pretend the thing didn't have a voice!

"Normal cat things, how squirrels are tasty and humans are weird creatures. Things like that... She thinks highly of you it seems."

This girl had to stop killing Eddie's plans, already! But at least this one wasn't bad. So Tiger didn't hate her? Not even because of the name? "Fierce as. At least I'm not hated. If someone had named me something completely irrelevant to what I was, I'd might have been raging since birth." And there will be no comments about Eddie seemingly having a boys name! STOP THINKING IT!

"Anything you'd like me to translate while she's listening to the strange cat lady?"

Eddie shrugged, her hand falling back to pet the Cougar on the head. "Honestly, I never thought about talking to her? It seems really... weird." At a school like this? She knew how ridiculous she sounded, "But I guess not a lot about this is conventional. I kinda found her on the street once. I don't really know how she got there." Zxaine would hear the Tiger's voice cut over her owner's, "I escaped from the Zoo." Win.