2020-04-20 - Cat Diary 04-20-20

It's a calm afternoon at the famous gallery. Nothing too unusual appear to be going on, at least for this place. Queso is, hiding, for now and Hera sits down on a small couch in a far off corner of the area. Her dutiful dog, Hans, rests his head on her lap and she rubs the top of his head as the large puppy seems to be enjoying the snuggle time. In her free hand, she sips at a cup of coffee, hopefully decaf if she knows what is good for her.

Ducking under the doorframe there's sans warning this time of the bulky gorilla passing by the windows. He merely opens the door, and keeps it held open, already in conversation with the woman he enters with, a small smile on his face, "... and I figured that way it could hold my weight. Because I'm a fatty." Waiting for Kailey to pass by, Everett releases the door letting it swing closed and then tucks his hands into his front pockets, watching her looking at the gallery, occasionally looking around for something small and furry and not visible.

Everett wanted to show her something, and so Kailey is here. "Soooo fat," She says with a smirk as he opens the door, poking him in his hard belly0. The place is given the slow once-over. Green eyes skip around the place as she comes to a stop a few feet inside, hands in her hoodie pocket. Curiousity and a faint smile touch her lips. "Can't say I've been to that many galleries before. Museums sure....Surprised?" She looks away from inspecting the place to the giant called Everett.

Hera feels Hans tense up and seeing some people walk in, she can understand why. It's her 'favorite' mountain of muscle of course but seems as if he brought someone? Boy, the temptation to ask if he has any catnip is there but for now Hera behaves herself. "Didn't expect to see you come back so soon." She says and then, as if on cue, without the theme song of Jaws, in pads Queso to see Mr. Shaggy again. The cat gives his loud "MEOWR" which might be a bit of a battle cry? Maybe it's best not to know but seeing the smaller figure come in, she nods politely and says, "Hello Miss."

"I am surprised," Everett says, with a peek to his poked belly0, his smile never-the-less not wavering. Turning his attention to Hera, his smile continues, "After the cat scratch fever I got yesterday, I figured I had to show her," he nods his head to Kailey, "who the brave woman was that gave me those." He points to his face and the scratches that aren't there anymore. The cat sound attracts his attention for a minute before he remembers his duties pointing while he makes the introductions. "Miss Foster," don't count on that happening twice. "This is Miss Holt. She's an artist, a good one, I think but I might be a bit biased." His right hand comes out and with it, he touches the small of Kailey's back. Then he's put off the feline long enough, and takes a couple of steps to greet the fuzzbutt, using the same hand he touched Kailey with to reach inside his jacket. Catnip, no. But he has a packet of beef jerky that he starts to open while sinking to his knees, "Hey, puss-puss."

Kailey turns towards Hera then and the hands in her pockets come out. One to wave with while the other settles absently on her belly. "Hello," She says cheerfully when introduced. Though she gives Everett a bit of side-eye, "You can call me Kailey. -Please- call me Kailey?" She gives a chuckle before her eyes go to the cat. The woman's whole face lights up when she sees Queso. "OOooohh! Aren't you a bonnie thing?" She says with her voice pitched just a wee bit higher. Down she squats, holding out a hand to the cat, and makes kissy noises. "Hello pretty kitty! Can I give you lovings?" Her long fingers wiggle invitingly. But then Everett has to break out the jerky. "Can I have a piece?"

Hera looks at Everett wide eyed when he addresses her oh so formally. "Okkkkk" she says, "You might want to consider switching to decaf or well, something?" Queso looks at the new woman a bit strangely, not quite knowing what to make of her. Fortunately the cat /is/ pretty which might have saved him many times from a much darker fate. Still, Hera cautions, "You might not want to tease the animals. As you know, he does like your hair."

The first piece from the open bag of Chef's Cut jerk is offered over his shoulder, of course. Waiting for Queso to approach, Everett's mood doesn't spoil. "Who's my kitty?" He turns to look at Kailey, "See, told you there was a pretty cat here. And if you like this one there's another at this comic store I won't first place at with these huge ear tuffs." With his index fingers, Everett mimics said ear tuffs for a second.

Suck it Hans, cats are just better.

"Kailey knows all about teasing animals," Everett supplies before he reaches for a second piece, bites a small portion off and just about throws it before he reconsiders and stands. Offering the bag up to Hera he questions, "Is it ok to feed him? I don't want to presume." A pause of a second or two before caffeinated or not, Everett adds, "Miss Foster."

Kailey continues to make clucking and kissing noises at the kitty. The piece of jerky is mostly devoured by her, but she saves a tidbit for the cat. After another second she just settles onto her knees with a quiet grunt. "At least when it comes to apes," She quips to Everett as her smirk momentarily returns. "So this is your gallery?" This question is directed at Hera with another flash of a smile. But mostly? She's paying attention to the kitty and trying to get him to sniff her fingers and accept her offering of love and affection. "What's their name?" A nod to the cat is given.

Queso just decides it sit on his butt and make a bit of a pawing motion with his front foot. That's a cute gesture, but it could turn lethal if they aren't careful. The cat doesn't seem to be all that interested in jerky. Picky eater it seems.

But Hera coughs a little as Everett is all too formal. "Miss Foster?" he asks, "What, you aren't going to ridicule me about my age? No butt on the window? It's not that cold right now after all." She's certainly not seen this charming side to the man but a smile is given to Kailey. "Yes, all kinds of art are featured here and the kitty there is Queso. My chief of security here is Hans. My family." She smiles.

"Ook."
The question about the gallery ownership was leveled at Hera, sure. Everybody understands that, but that doesn't stop the ape from replying, "Yeah. This is where I go when I need to get my hot, hot, dripping hot culture on. It's on the way to the gym." He adds, pointing a little up the strip mall direction where the Pump It is. "Since we moved it's more of a jog, though."

Hera gives the litany of his ... sure, let's call them crimes, and he gives a sideways look down at Kailey, his smile not budging a bit. "I don't know what she's talking about," he says with his deep voice, though he's not at all convincing. "Well, that's not your whole family," he says, turning back. "There's your cousin and Jessica, your girlfriend. And a few of the other regulars like Kim." At her name, Everett looks back down at Kailey. Seems they know her.

Kailey also gives Everett a glance. Especially at the 'butt' comment. Amusement seems to be the prime tell on her face as she eyes the big man. "Did you -moon- this woman?" She asks slightly askance. The jerky is eaten since the kitty doesn't seem to care. And she scoots a little closer while giving Ev the look. "I can't leave you alone for a minute, can I?" She looks at the dog and a fond smile crosses her lips. "I didn't have any pets growing up...or family," She snorts a bit. "I always wanted a cat though." That hand is offered to the kitty again as she scoots closer. "Hello Queso. May I pet you now?" She waits till she has been sniffed before attempting a stroke along his spine. When Everett mentions Kim's name there may be a very soft snort of amusement and eye roll. Just a tiny one.

Hera whistles a little as Everett apparently is around long enough to know /that/ much about her. "Jessica, the true light of my life and Devlin, yes, my darling cousin. I admit the artists that come and go are a bit of a family to me. I didn't have any family growing up either but, that was years ago." Queso then looks over at the woman and, for now, moves in to try to brush against her. No telling how long the affection will last though.

How guilty but also coy could one large goon look? His green eyes roll up to look diagonally towards the ceiling, while his smile turns sheepish. "Welllll," he starts, in that way that means 'yes, but'. "Not her specifically. And I might have had a little bit to drink," he adds, indicating a small about between large thumb and fore-finger. He closes the jerky and puts it back into his leather jacket, before putting the piece he's holding onto in his mouth. Maybe so he won't say anything more incriminating. "Eye wah mah-ing sahwah elz." He pauses, chews and pushes the soft jerky into his left cheek after poorly getting across he was trying to moon someone else. "Not my fault there was a pottery class going on."

That should answer her question, from twerking to James Blunt, to mooning Art Galleries. No. He probably shouldn't be left alone to his own devices. "He really likes hair," Everett offers helpfully from his standing position. "We had all kinds of cats."

Kailey grins at the cat as he decides she is worthy of affection. For now. So he is offered chin and ear scritchings and more pets. Ever careful not to venture towards the belly. "Yeah. Family is what you make when you don't have one, I suppose," She says. Maybe a hint of old pain is in her voice, but her smile is warm. Even if focused on the cat. "You were making what??" She asks as he talks with food in his mouth. Her hair, being in braids at the moment, is only so condusive to cat play. But she wiggles the tufted end at Queso playfully. "All kinds of cats? Does that mean we can get one?" All so innocently said as she continues to focus on Queso.

Hera still seems surprised at how polite Ev is but she moves to stand on her feet to give the woman a proper introduction. "Hera" she says as she extends her hand to the woman, "It's a pleasure to meet you. Can I get you something to drink? I always have wine to offer."

Everett makes a thoughtful sound, chewing then pausing, "Well. You'll have to ask Lillian. If she says yes," and his voice takes on a parental tone, "and you promise to feed it and take care of it, then I don't suppose I have any reason to say no. I'll distract her," he nods his head towards Hera, "and you grab him and stuff him in your overalls. We'll make a dash for it." Everett's green eyes go large, while he smiles softly, clearly not serious. "I thought I did introductions. My apologies," clearly Kailey's company keeps Everett on his best behavior. "You should show her some of your art. Would you like me to pour?" he asks them, Kailey first, Hera second.

Kailey looks up at Hera and get to her feet with a soft grunt. She takes the hand for a shake, grip frim but not pressing. "Nice to meet you. As I said, call me Kailey," She says warmly. The offer of wine has her looking down at her protruding belly and then back up. "I'll decline the wine, thanks. What have you got that's non-alcoholic?" Another glance is given to Everett, but she drops the cat commentary for now.

Hera offers up other options, "Coffee and water actually. There's not too many drinks to be had here outside of those three things. The water and coffee are really not that special, but my cousin is fond of a good cup of bean juice."

He's not a brute, ... well ok, he is a brute. But he would still help Kailey when she starts to stand. "Her cousin, Devlin. He's an EMT type guy. He's pretty stand up. Calls me Everette every now and then though which is a little weird. Maybe he's French?" Everett says questioningly, while he looks over at Hera. And then down at the cat. So tempting.

"Water is good," Kailey says with a nod. Everett's suggestion to show off her art takes a moment before, "Oh! Sure." And she is pulling out her phone. "I mostly do spray paint art." And she shows a picture on her phone, offering it to Hera.

Hera goes to get a bottle of water and offers it to the woman. Her eyes then fall on the phone as she studies the masterpiece offered. "Nice, very nice." she says, "Maybe you can bring one of your works by sometime. I could see about offering it to the public for sale if you're interested in that sort of thing."

"Thanks," Kailey says as she takes the water and opens it. "I've been waiting for warmer weather to make some new ones. But I could do that." The woman takes a quick drink from the bottle. "What sort of commission or what not is there?" She asks as she swipes to another picture. This one more space that San Francisco skyline. "And...what kind of stuff do people like around here?" Again she looks around at the various pieces hanging or otherwise displayed.

Temptation. Too. Strong.

While water is gotten, Everett meanders towards the kitty, close enough Queso doesn't have to go far to claim his ankles and crouches over to give the fuzzy guy some head scratches while his long hair dangles. Temptation all around. "Without me, I imagine," Everett offers, looking over his shoulder.

Hera watches the two for a bit and eyes Everett's hair. His head seems to be free of concern though. She knows she has something to tend to in the back and with a bit of a smirk she says, "I need to check out the inventory there. Thanks for stopping in though and Kailey, I'd love to see your work. Bring it by sometime." With that, she steps out.

Kailey moves around the room as Hera heads off. She sips the water as she goes. Taking in the general feel while Everett is probably mauled by his hair-play. She'll giggle and point later. It takes her about ten minutes to fully peruse before she comes back and says, "So...comic store?" And off they go.