stuff us in boxes that's where you want us

cardboard is boring, we brought our matches - look how it burns

There was way too much to see here. That much she could tell the moment she took in the under the glass-bottom pool garage to hold his expensive toys. There was a real missed opportunity if Tetradore didn't call it his cat cave. Although, there was nothing cavernous about that well-lit pristine space below. What other goodies could the alpha of the West be hiding here? Why did she care enough to wonder? Her exploration, however, was cut short when that unshakable feeling of being watched crept down her spine, made her feel exposed. Long gone were the moments she had felt like an invincible cat burglar slinking aboard the Ark. That was quick. It felt a whole lot like the hunter had become the prey and she didn't like it, not one bit. But the true question was.. who was lurking on her?

Harley could not ignore the way her skin seemed to crawl with awareness. Even more predominantly along the tattoo that traversed her spine. It was an odd sensation. Almost like the ink was buzzing with untapped energy, a slither of it along her spine. She shuddered involuntary from the feeling, rolling her shoulders in an attempt to get rid of it. She could not help the consideration that maybe she should hide, but aboard this new Ark there were few shadows to be lost in.. because no matter where she looked, she didn't see anyone. It almost felt like you were on display everywhere you went even when you weren't. Yet, how hiding was not in the woman's nature, not even when she didn't exactly feel like being caught. Instead, she took control of her own narrative and stepped out into the open trusting her gut that it had not betrayed her. Her striking violet eyes scanned those new surroundings before boldly calling out 'Marco' into the darkness. The only sound that met her was the waves crashing against the boat, the creaking of ropes that bound that ship.. and the whispering wind. Hm.

It was all very sudden when her suspicions were proven right. She wasn't alone. An angry shout NOT MARCO! caused the woman's head to snap to its source upward and over by the pool she just stood by. How did she miss him? Even more dreadful was that someone clearly didn't know that game. How had she not seen him? That was definitely not how the game should go and yet.. it hardly mattered, she found exactly who was watching her.

It just so happened to be the very being she was here for. It was ridiculously convenient to find Tobias, almost like he'd known, but then again.. it was his home, his pack. However, this was not the lanky man she remembered those few times she'd seen the man. He looked straight out of an anime or maybe even a furry convention. He was a decked out cat-boy in all its glory. What in the actual fuck. Harley seemed momentarily taken aback by that appearance, unable to look away from that tail that lashed about in quick succession clearly agitated along with that scowl he wore. Alright, there was nothing that offensive about that name Marco... even though it had been a game. Maybe she disturbed his nap.

Yet she couldn't be bothered to think of much else when she took in the sight of him. The sight of a real fucking tail and ears to match his leopard side on a human. Just when the woman thought she had seen it all, life decided to pull the rug from beneath her feet just to prove her otherwise.

Could she do that? Shift only parts of herself? It was disturbing to see in real life and yet even if she could, did she want to? She could not bring herself to look away.

However, fear was far from reach before she could not help that sound of amusement that finally crossed her lips. Her lips quirked, unable to help it. The tail, it was the tail. It was too much. It was painfully distracting and she could not help that distinct urge to touch it as it danced about in his anger.

Even as he had shifted his position to sit on a diving board, legs dangling off the edge. ok.. ok.. maybe it was rude to stare but how could she not? Maybe she didn't hang around enough weres. She drew closer to where he was, as if daring to take a better look. Her chin lifted so that her vivacious stare could meet Tobias' own. Yet with the distance, it was difficult to be sure. But one thing she could discern was that he was still angry and she hadn't even said anything halfway insulting yet. Wonderful. This was going perfectly. Yet, she wasn't exactly sure what he was pissed off at. Was it that she was lurking on Tetradore's ship? Or was it actually because she called out Marco and he thought she was referring to him? Strange. Yet it hardly mattered, she supposed. She had by some stroke of mad luck, found exactly who she needed to. It was almost too perfect to find that boyish looking man, sitting there with dangled legs kicking back and forth. He looked nothing like the hellraiser she imagined in her mind.. A being so terrible that not even hell itself wanted..

In fact, surprisingly, to her now narrowed eyes, he looked terribly innocent. How could that cause such a tizzy at Syn?

Harley rose a hand to place a sassy hand on her hip, despite the irritation that rolled off the catboy. He didn't look that scary. Yeah, his extra appendages looked a little disturbing on a human... but it was oddly something she could get used to once she could manage to pry her damn gaze from his tail.

The man's irritated voice filled the distance between them, stating what she had already known. He really didn't know that game? Odd. Everyone knew Marco Polo. Maybe he was trying to fuck with her. In that case, he was going to have to try a lot harder than that.

"Oh, my bad. I could barely recognize you with the tail and the ears. Do you wear them like that all the time? I could have sworn I would remember that." How could she keep a straight face, she hardly knew. She couldn't help but wonder where the hell that tail was attached to. Was it above the pants? Or was it somehow sticking awkwardly out? Maybe he cut out a tiny little hole for it? That would be a bitch to try and feed through. Why was she even thinking of this? "I really don't think a tail would suit me.. maybe the ears though." She offered with a brief casual shrug of her leather clad shoulders. She wished she could get a better look at his ears, did he still have human ones to go along with his feline ones? It was hard to tell with the mass of shaggy hair that concealed it so well. He might have needed a haircut or something to tame it. It gave him a wild look. Then again, maybe that's what he was going for. "Relax Tobias.. I didn't call you Marco.. It's a game.." She was about to go into detail... not quite understanding why she was bothering to explain any of this... She rose a brow at him, noticing she'd lost him. He was fucking with her! Maybe.. It was obvious to her that she wasn't going to get anything from him. Exactly what she was concerned about.

"You know what, don't worry about me, you do you. I am just.... Taking a little tour of the new ship. Who knows... maybe I will find... Polo." That iconic sarcasm slipped from her lips as if trying to call out the man, if that, in fact, was what he was doing. However, she realized how entirely too suspicious she sounded, even to her own terribly human ears and yet the goal was to get him talking. If he was going to eye her with such misplaced vehemence like that from up there. There was no way she was going to get him to answer her questions. This required... a new tactic. One that she wasn't quite sure was going to work. It was a risk that could backfire and yet when did a risk ever stop her?

If her suspicions were correct... He would be down from his high perch in no time.. Maybe. So how did you gather the attention of someone, usually a male, who didn't want to give it? Well, you act like you don't want it. Especially when they thought themselves to hold rank and she was damn good at getting the attention of 'authority' figures. Drastic times call for... shaking it up. She wasn't going to get anywhere with him yelling his offended head off. Tobias seemed to be a passionate kind of guy and certainly didn't need her added fire to that equation. Which was bound to happen if he continued to yell. Or worse, draw more attention. She either had to coax him onto equal ground or get on his level, either, she was willing and prepared to do whatever it took to get the answers she wanted. Even if it meant recklessly joining him on the diving board.

With that, she intentionally turned on the balls of her feet and ignored him. Well, it was a whole lot more like strutting away, each step was deliberate and confident. The raven haired woman didn't bother to attempt for quiet anymore, or to remain hidden. The spitfire was already caught, there was no point in hiding from someone when they already knew you were there. Especially when she actually wished to engage the leopard.

However, it was after only a handful of steps that she listened cautiously for the shuffling of feet.. or the typical grumblings she heard when she'd offended someone. She wondered how far she'd get, or if Tobias would just return back to his lounging leaving her no choice but to get on his level.

Harley Westward