Home Sweet Apartment

[fredless]

Suitcases, samples, and carrier in hand, Fred turned the key in her door with just two fingers, and kicked it open with light satisfaction. She didn't travel all that much, but Fred didn't think she would ever get used to just how long days that involved it were. Of course part of the reason was what she still held in her hands, all her others bags already located on the floor. Placing the carrier on the kitchen counter, Fred paused to pat its lid with light reassurance before collecting the nessecery samples and storing them in her fridge. The files she had collected for Gavin went right into her briefcase, and suitcase somewhere in the general direction of Fred's bedroom...almost.

She wanted to get back to the carrier.

And to the reason her already promising long day had delivered at something just past that. Slowly opening the small door, Fred reached in to free a small, almost delicately-boned grey tabby, with the most perfectly rounded paws and the most knowing eyes Fred had ever seen. And she wasn't even just considering cats there. Fred had been shocked to find him sleeping in her suitcase just a half-day before she was supposed to leave. That was until she remembered Ben, and their conversation about cats, and his...whims? With Wesley and Ben both out of the house, and left alone with the Butler that never spoke, it was hard for Fred to confirm that exactly, but she didn't see how it could be anything else.

And Pi already felt like much more than just a whim. Holding him close for just a second longer, Fred curled her fingers and gently scratched beneath his chin before setting him down on the floor just next to the couch. Fred settled there herself, sinking into the green cushions abd kicking off her shoes. She was sure that getting all the nessecery papers and sometimes quarantines to bring Pi home were going to be complicated, but the miniute Fred had started to inquire over the phone, listing her business address for contact information, she had been assured she could travel today. All that was needed was a carrier and to arrive for her normally scheduled flight.

It seemed strange, but Fred accepted in it stride. She was tired, and ready to be home.

"So...what do you think?"


((Open to Pi, and backdated as well. Did I mention I am never going away that long again?))

Comments

[reallyoldguy.livejournal.com]

That he was never flying international again unless it was first class?

Methos stretched, front paws out long. He yawned. Unrolled he tongue. Her apartment tasted better than his mouth.

He was in desperate need of a beer.

He wound around her ankles a bit, testing the feel of her carpet between his feet. Decent enough. He should be able to manage a decent run without his claws sticking, when need be. But--

Beer.

He jumped up on her lap, stretch up to give her chin a nuzzle because it was just lovely what one could get away with while fuzzy and cute, leaving his paws in such inappropriate places, before peering past her shoulders to get a decent lay of the flat.

She could do with a bit more decorating, but he'd lay off on any inner commentary since--there. Kitchen.

Time for a flying leap over the back of the couch.

He had to work on that always landing on ones feet thing.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

Fred smiled down at the cat now in her lap, and ran her fingers in light circular motions through his coat. She enjoyed the different patterns in Pi's coat, some of them not even visible on the surface.

She sucked in a quick breath at being used as a springboard, but when Pi landed rather awkwardly Fred was on her feet, hoping that it was just a side effect of traveling. Concerned, Fred followed him into the kitchen.

[reallyoldguy.livejournal.com]

Which was convenient, because Methos had yet to master refrigerators, with paws.

He stared up at it.

"Meow?"

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

Fred imediately felt bad. And when she realised she didn't think on these things before coming home? She felt worse. She flashed a guilty smile, and hopefully an apology in Pi's direction. "I'm so sorry", Fred offered, opening the fridge.

Tuna...and not much else. At least that was still good. Fred would have to go to the store sometime tomorrow. Briefly eyeing some take out menu or the other on the fridge, Fred retrieved the tuna. She kept it cold for when she made salad with it, and after opening the can Fred carefully divided half of it, then placed it in a small bowl just in front of Pi.

[reallyoldguy.livejournal.com]

Well.

Yes.

Tuna was acceptable. It wasn't as if he would eat cat food but beer though Methos had caught a glimpse of the fridge. It was very clean. Very white. Nearly empty.

Suspiciously absent of. Beer.

He gave Fred a long, assessing look.

This was bad. Very bad. But thankfully it was the 21st century and there were online grocery stores that delivered.

...could they deliver alcohol in Massachusetts? He should know this.

His tail twitched. And his nose.

Why didn't he know this?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

Fred croutched down to floor level, studying one now-close feline nose. "I know it's not cat food, but I'll pick some up tomorrow...maybe some that comes in those little pouches. They look like they might be good."

She stood, straightened her skirt, and now looked ever-so-slightly and sternly down at Pi. "You should think about eating though, I know I am."

Fred's eyes moved over to the take out menus that decorated her fridge once more.

[reallyoldguy.livejournal.com]

Cat food? Pouches?

A shiver crept down Methos' spine and he made a great display of eating the tuna. Mmmm, good tuna. Yummy tuna. Slurp. Munch. Nothing to crunch but see how yummy? He went around Fred's ankles then back to eating, loudly.

Which was really undignified but-- pouches?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

Fred reached down to pat his head once, then twice, before she closed her eyes and simply selected one of the menus blindly.

Hmmm.....Thai food. It sounded absolutely -- well hunger curing. Fred smiled into the phone as she placed her order.

[reallyoldguy.livejournal.com]

Spicy.

Methos eyed Fred.

Either she really was that brave or.

He nudged his bowl over. There was a little left. He was willing to share.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

"No...no," Fred laughed a little, unable to stop herself from scrathing behind one of Pi's ears. "That's all for you, and I normally add a bit to mine first. And you've got to be hungry. I doubt the gave you even the first peanut in flight."

She drifted over to the couch, then stretched out on it.

"Besides, mine's on the way."

[reallyoldguy.livejournal.com]

The scratching was nice.

Methos purred until he licked the bowl clean, nudging it toward the dishwasher and investigating the rest of the kitchen. Satisfied, there was the rest of the flat to see.

Yes, yes, yes. And he had made a good choice with the bed.

He was smug when he leapt up on the couch and snuggled in next to Fred. He even indulged her in the foolishness of rolling on his back to bat lightly at her hair, catching it with his paws to lick.

If she wouldn't dye it, maybe they could frost the tips?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

Fred couldn't hide her smile when Pi returned to the couch, returning to his perch much more gracefully than he had left it. Fred rewarded him with continued petting.

"You certainly look pleased with yourself."

He seemed content to bat her hair, so Fred reached for the tv remote.

[reallyoldguy.livejournal.com]

Methos most certainly was, even if he felt Fred's hair should come with a warning label. It might smell like honey and oatmeal, but it certainly didn't taste that way. The texture was a bit off too. Oatmeal was more, and this was--

Methos chewed a bit, distracted by the sound of the television.

Anything good on?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

Fred cycled through all of her channels twice before deciding on the History channel. She tugged the blanket from the back of her couch until it draped over her feet, then settled further ino the couch.

[reallyoldguy.livejournal.com]

If Methos couldn't argue with the History channel? He was going to hide under the blanket too.

Idiots.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

Fred worked to keep as still as possible, not really wanting to disturb Pi from his hiding place. Besides, he was warm and...comforting. So that's right where she stayed, at least until a knock sounded at the door.

Fred untangled herself as gently as could be done, and went to claim her dinner.

[reallyoldguy.livejournal.com]

Methos waited until her footsteps were a reasonable distance before pouncing on the remote. It was that or shred the couch so he could suffocate himself in stuffing.

That was not history. That was a travesty.

Rather like the bare nature of the flat.

Cat paws were made for remotes but Methos persevered. It wasn't that far to HGTV and how convenient. The scary lady who made a purple chair work in a red room was on.

Besides, Methos could respect any woman who walked around with chocolates as part of her color palette.

Mmmmm, and did Fred's food smell good.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

Fred returned just in time to see Pi remove himself from the remote, and she arched one eyebrow in his direction. Well, she wanted to arch it...but it might have turned out as more of a wink. Whatever the result, Fred smiled right through it.

"Fine we'll change the channel." She settled back on the couch, and began to mix her rice into deep, plastic bowl filled with beef rama. The heavy spices did a lot to wake Fred up, and she studied the tv again.


"What are you trying to say exactly," Fred sent her cat a glance before unwrapping the fork.

[reallyoldguy.livejournal.com]

That if Fred wasn't going to put color in her hair, at least put it on her walls?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

Fred scooped up an acceptable amount of rice and beef, and paused before taking a bite.

"I haven't exactly had a lot of time, just so you know."

And why, Fred wondered, did she feel the need to talk so much to her new pet? Was this normal? I mean...not that she had ever been normal. But was it?

[reallyoldguy.livejournal.com]

It was all right, Methos talked back.

"Meow, reow, meowmreowrrrrw."

She should really take his advice. He had been decorating a long time. Longer than Jane Lockhart and while he admired her palette? Perhaps she should eat her chocolate instead of. No. No. What was she doing with that shade of green?

Were cats supposed to be able to see green?

Dogs weren't.

He was tempted to switch to animal planet.

Not that it necessarily applied since he wasn't a real cat.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

"Mreow...yourself," Fred laughed, having decided it was only polite to use Pi's own language every now and then. For that he got another scratch behind the ears, and then it was back to dinner.

She was hungrier than she thought.

[reallyoldguy.livejournal.com]

But so hungry she couldn't share?

Methos made a show of sliding up, a winding path that got him in her lap, nose in her food and then peering hungrily at her.

Big eyes.

Huge.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

"Ok ok," Fred laughed, unable to do anything but surrender to those eyes. "I guess half a can of tuna wasn't so much really."

Carefully Fred selected a nice, bitable piece of beef, and used her fork to present it to Pi. Fred really wasn't all that delicate...at least about her food.

[reallyoldguy.livejournal.com]

Somehow?

It seemed spicier on a cat tongue.

Perhaps it was the lack of beer?

"Meow," for you still have much to learn, young Padawan.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

Fred watched closely as Pi chewed on his bit of extra dinner, and hoped that it really was ok for him. Assured as much as she could be, Fred went back to her dinner, half-watching the tv.

[reallyoldguy.livejournal.com]

That place on Newberry, it delivered! It did. Ha!

He would foil the beerless fridge!

Methos purred.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

Purring...was good.

Fred finished her dinner silently, slow and content, every movement measured. When she was done she collected her trash, then traded Pi's dinner dish for a bowl of water. After a quick nod, Fred flicked off the kitchen light and the tv, and scooped up the still purring cat. He was a warm ball of fur in her arms.

Not even bothering to change Fred gently placed Pi onto the bed, and the collapsed onto it.

[reallyoldguy.livejournal.com]

No silk? No satin? No sleeping in the buff?

Methos would pout, but he'd have to stop purring and he'd learned from Wes, night time purring lead to sleeping.

Sleeping? Lead to him having the place to himself.

The sooner he had that?

The sooner he could order beer.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

Fred yawned, and her fingers curled up to scratch under Pi's chin aonce more. She grabbed two pillows from the back of the bed, then curled up in the center of it. Her lips curved slightly as she patted a space just to her right.


"See?" Fred managed to almost hide the yawn this time. "Plenty of room."


She'd just unpack tomorrow.

[reallyoldguy.livejournal.com]

Just to her right?

Oh no, Methos slipped in right next to Fred.

Warm and soft, in all the right places.

Though she was a bit boney. They would have to feed her more.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

Content, happy, and more than pleased to let out a sigh, Fred offered her arm as at place for Pi to rest his head, and those knowing eyes. It was there if he wanted it.

And then she welcomed sleep.

[reallyoldguy.livejournal.com]

Methos purred until Fred's breathing was even, but just as he was about to sneak away a thought occurred to him.

No unpacking meant the computer was still snug in its' bacg.

He wouldn't be able to--bugger it.

Foiled again.