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Jake [Zunar J5/9 Doric 4-7] (i_meow) wrote in we_coexist,
@ 2011-03-26 23:19:00

Entry tags:

jake, simon tam

Tuna Fish Omelettes and Blueberry Pancakes [Simon]
Jake was an early riser. It came with being a semi-nocturnal creature. He spent many hours of the day sleeping, and many hours of the night roaming around. Sometimes he went out. People called it prowling, but Jake just thought of it as going for a walk. The City was different under a cover of darkness. There were different smells, different sounds, different people. It was like an entirely new world. And, being an explorer from another galaxy, Jake was naturally curious about such things.

That and it was in his nature to walk across fences and howl (like alley cats were opt to)whilst others tried to catch up on a good night's sleep.

But everything aside, he was always the first one awake in the apartment. This usually worked out quite well for him and Jennifer because he could use the bathroom first and then start on breakfast. Jake had grown a certain penchant for cooking since arriving in The City. And breakfast foods were his favorite. Mostly because Jennifer was always around to compliment him on the taste. (Providing he did a good job.) And he liked the encouragement.

So there he was, fitting into his routine of cooking breakfast and reading the newspaper. (Telekinetic powers were a must for this endeavour, no doubt.) On the morning menu for the day was a tuna fish omelette with a side of blueberry pancakes. The aroma of fresh brewed coffee also lingered throughout the apartment. Naturally, however, Jake just poured himself a saucer of cream. He never could handle caffeine.

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i_conform
2011-03-27 04:10 am UTC (link)

Simon was still getting used to the routine, or more the cat who could move things with his mind. He'd lived in the City a while, and had seen and done some strange things, but the cat was really hard to take at times. There was a reason Simon hadn't moved beyond sleeping with Jennifer, and for now, Simon was calling that reason Jake.

The doctor had an early day, so he slid from bed, not before giving Jennifer a quick kiss on the temple, and made his way out of the room. He stopped as soon as the smell of fish hit him. While he understood that the cat liked to cook, he was beginning to wonder why it always had to be fish. There was such a thing as too much of a particular food in a diet. Variety, even for a cat, was a good idea.

Simon walked into the kitchen in nothing but a pair of pajama pants; it was what he slept in, and he didn't feel the need to change that much of his life because there was a more than sentient cat in the apartment. He scratched at his neck and looked over the repast.

"Coffee." Yes, he was such a good morning conversationalist.

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i_meow
2011-03-27 12:21 pm UTC (link)

If Simon wasn't sure how he felt about Jake, he could be sure that the feeling was mutual. Jake couldn't understand how Simon could just come over in the evenings, drag his feet about in the mornings, and then just run off. It seemed a little rude to Jake. (And Jake's culture wasn't even always that strict about monogamous relationships -- Cats had very large extended families, after all.)

Simon just seemed, well, kind of lazy to Jake. And that seemed a poor characteristic of a physician.

Jake watched from the top of the kitchen table as Simon wandered into the kitchen, half asleep, no doubt, and headed straight for the coffee. He canted his head to the side and then, with his telekinetic powers, turned the page of the current events section of the newspaper.

"Good morning."

Well, Simon might not have been a morning person. But Jake was! And it was about time the two of them had something resembling a conversation.

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i_conform
2011-03-27 08:28 pm UTC (link)

Simon wasn't lazy, not exactly. Then again, the cat didn't have to worry about fitting quality time with his significant other in with a rather busy schedule. Jake could come and go as he pleased, but Simon and Jennifer were both very busy professionals. Lately, the only time he got with her was when they were curled up in bed together. It wasn't that he liked that, but he would have that over nothing at all.

The good doctor poured a cup of coffee, put a little sugar in, then paused. "Mind if I have some cream?" Hey, at least he was aware enough to ask before just pouring it in. He waited for the answer, and finished fixing his coffee, not particular on whether it was black or a nice mocha color.

"Good morning. Cooking again?" Simon walked over to the table and sat down, watching things move on their own. It was a little disconcerting, even if he'd seen it a few times now. He took a sip of coffee, wincing at how it was still hot, but he didn't complain. He just sat there and stared at the cat.

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i_meow
2011-03-27 11:38 pm UTC (link)

Jake diverted his attention from Simon for a moment to make sure that he was flipping the pancakes properly. He didn't want to accidentally burn one side. (He was still perfecting the art of acquiring that golden brown hue.) He nodded his head at the request for cream.

Jake licked his right paw and used it to wash his face.

"I like to keep busy. Find new hobbies. Cooking is a good start to the morning. Helps me plan the rest of my day. And the smells open up the sinuses. Don't you think?"

Plus, Jake loved tuna. So he was trying to see how many different tuna concoctions he could create. Just to keep things interesting, of course.

"Do you have any hobbies?"

Besides sleeping, that is, Jake thought, somewhat sarcastically, to himself.

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i_conform
2011-03-27 11:50 pm UTC (link)

"Yes, but sometimes a smell other than tuna would be great. You do know that a diet without variety is bad for any animal that hasn't developed a highly specialized stomach? I'm sure that yours would do good with chicken, beef, or some other meat and possibly a few grains." Simon would feel much better if he didn't have to smell fish right off in the morning. It was a smell he could appreciate, but days of it in a row was beginning to wear on him.

"I don't have time for hobbies, Jake. I do good in getting by to see Jennifer and keeping up my health between shifts." He did have a rather well built body. It wasn't overly muscled, but it didn't lack definition. He did just enough to keep fit with the possible perk of having a nice body his girlfriend might not mind snuggling up to at night.

"I have a job that requires my attention." Plus, the last time he didn't pay attention to that job he created something of a pandemic. It wasn't pleasant, and one day he hoped to make it up to everyone in the City somehow. He still wasn't sure if that was even possible.

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i_meow
2011-03-28 03:04 pm UTC (link)

Jake was considerably put off. He didn't have to cook breakfast for the humans of the house. He didn't have to try and make pleasant conversation with the fellow who didn't even really live in the apartment. Hell, as a cat, he didn't have to clean up after his own excrement if he didn't want to.

But he did. Because Jake had manners and class. And because his mother, and all of the other mothers, had raised him with dignity and with the sense that he should respect all worldly lifeforms (even if they were bipedal, lacking in technological sophistication, and, on the whole, not as intelligent as his own species.)

"My apologies. I must have missed the course in astronomy when they explained how the universe revolved around Dr. Tam."

Jake was ... a little annoyed. And it showed most dramatically when he accidentally flipped the blueberry pancake onto the floor.

"I had a job, too, before I arrived here. I have, what translates to human culture, as a PhD in astrophysics. I'm also trained in operating all five ship classes in my people's nonterrestrial, faster-than-light aircraft. I graduated at the top of my class in quantum theory. And I helped my mother raised fifteen brothers and sisters. And that was just her first litter. So, please. Don't talk to me like I'm a household animal. I'm Jennifer's roommate and her friend."

Of course, Simon may not have been trying to pick a fight at all. But Jake had been feeling like an outcast as of late. And, for whatever reason, he decided he needed to stand up and vent his frustrations. And Simon was the one there to hear it.

It could have been worse. He could have taken his claws to the furniture.

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i_conform
2011-03-30 12:15 am UTC (link)

Simon was about to take a sip of coffee when Jake made that particular retort, about the universe revolving around him the Dr. Tam. It wouldn't be the first time someone had suggested Simon thought such, and Simon truly doubted it would be the last. It was the first time, however, that Simon had been told such by a talking cat who was currently ruining the breakfast he was making.

The good doctor set down his coffee cup, having not taken the sip after all, and stood and quickly took the few steps to pick up the pancake. He didn't throw it away. Instead he pulled out a paper towel and set it on the counter.

"I'll feed it to the birds on the way to work." Simon might have been wealthy growing up, and even here in the City, he made decent enough money. But, his time on Serenity had taught him to share food, and to make sure it didn't go to waste.

"I am sure you're a very intelligent being. As are your people, but just as humans are subject to their own physiology, so are you. You are a cat, Jake. I am concerned with what you eat, even though I am a doctor for humans. I do hope you're eating other meats than fish. Making sure you get enough grain in your diet that is fitting for cats. Plus, fish every day must get old." Simon shook his head. How was it he couldn't even socialize with a cat? Then again, he bet if Jake were a dog, he'd possibly have a better time of it. Dogs seemed more forgiving.

"I'll also have you know, if we're going to compare ourselves. I was the top of my class, youngest in MedCad to become a surgeon. I would have gone on to a very prestigious career had I not given it all up to save my sister from a dark fate - and I do not mean something selfish like I thought she was marrying the wrong man. I care about Jennifer, too, so don't talk to me as if you're a jealous boyfriend. I am her boyfriend." Well, if Jake wanted a fight.

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i_meow
2011-04-01 02:27 pm UTC (link)

"And do you monitor all of my meals, Dr. Tam? Because unless I'm mistaken, you don't follow me around during lunch and dinner. So how is having fish for breakfast everyday any different than a human that has cereal for breakfast everyday? Are you going to assume that the human has cereal for the rest of his meals, as well?"

Jake didn't have tuna on the planet he was from. It was an unknown species in his repertoire. Since arriving on Earth, and then in The City, he had grown quite a penchant for the fish. Fish which he had never had until recently.

But, of course, Simon wouldn't know that because he wouldn't take out any time to know anything about Jake. He was just a cat, after all.

"Well, since you are so intent on being the dominant male in the house, then consider it yours. Don't worry. I didn't spray the spare bedroom."

Jake took one last lick of cream and then jumped off the table, landing on the linoleum floor with a gentle plop. He would just go pack up his catnip mice and be on his way. He could call Jennifer and apologize for not bidding farewell later.

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i_conform
2011-04-01 10:35 pm UTC (link)

Simon wasn't expecting that reaction. Of course, he supposed he should have. This really would have gone better had Jake been a dog. He followed the cat, shaking his head.

"You misunderstand. I would question any diet that consisted of the same thing often. Cereal must be supplemented by fruits, protein, other foods - breakfast cannot always be cereal." He wasn't going to let this one go, not yet.

"It's not my house, Jake. I know that, but you have to admit, you snapped at me for voicing my concern for you and Jennifer. I was simply making an observation. Look, I'm have to go. I have to get in a run before work. I'll call Jennifer once I get into the office. Don't do anything drastic because you think I'm a horse's ass." He was trying to make amends, sort of.

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i_meow
2011-04-02 10:58 pm UTC (link)

"You obviously misunderstand by thinking I want to continue having a conversation with you."

Jake scampered into his room and filled a little bag with a few catnip mice, a can of tuna, and a little bit of yarn (something which amused him on those long evenings alone.) He didn't need to carry the small parsel in his teeth. That's what telekinesis was for. After packing up what little items he needed, he padded out into the living area.

"I snapped at you for treating me like some sort of subspecies. The universe is a vast place. Not every intelligent lifeform has hairless skin and walks on two legs. I'm sick of being treat like an animal by the people in this city. By people in my own house."

Frank never treated him that way. Frank had always treated him like an equal. Oh, why couldn't he be back there with him now? Back with his real friends. Back with Lucybell.

"Enjoy your run."

The front door opened and Jake ran out, slamming the door behind him.

Jennifer would understand. At least, Jake hoped she did. But this had probably been a bad idea from the start. Living with people. He just wasn't one of them. They would never understand him. And, maybe, that feeling was mutual.

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