Whoops

      More staring.       Then the child looked down at himself, at his hands, at his tail, at his clothing, at everything. He was a cat? He wasn’t that different from the man before him. Did that mean the man was a cat too?       A confused frown appeared and brows furrowed.       “Cheshire doeshn’t remember anything…” he muttered, ears flattening against his skull. There was a sense of shame that came with admitting that and as a result there was an urge to cling to the tall stranger. The elder wouldn’t like that though — he barely even seemed to tolerate him at all.       The kitten sniffed. Was it so much to want a little less animosity?       “…Ish Cheshire bad…?” came the reluctant question. “Ish that why you don’t like Cheshire? Cheshire can be good!” Whether or not the declaration would at all help the situation was uncertain at best, and otherwise doubtful. It was worth a shot though.

                Just his luck, after all. The child didn’t remember a thing at all that happened to him. It was a surprise and yet not at the same time. When the cat was turned into a chain had it started as a child just like now, or did something just go terribly wrong? Why was he asking himself these questions, seriously? After all, he had no real drive to get to the bottom of it. Perhaps the stupid rabbit might. Cheshire had once been her cat before gaining the body of a chain much like a human.

                ”That’s great… Just great…" Now what was he suppose to do? He really needed to find someone else willing to take in the child because it certainly wasn’t going to be him. Hand raised to rub at his temble with a softt groan. Honestly… He didn’t need this right now.

                What came next from the child was perhaps more expected than anything else. Cheshire would’ve known about his fear of felines since their first encounter, but if this child didn’t remember anything, then he definitely wouldn’t remember that much. “I…I’m not the person you should be asking that to… I’d… I’d just rather stay ten feet away from any… felines." The word sent shivers up his spine. 

      Little ears flattened with the initial response. It sounded as if he'd done something wrong by being unable to remember this "Alice" person, even though he didn't mean to and couldn't help it. Thus he kept quiet for the time being -- worried that if he said anything else he might only get in more trouble.       Then the little Chain paled.       In his juvenile mind, such words were interpreted as an indication of departure. With that there came an intense fear of abandonment, of being left alone to wander about in search of some form of company without ever finding any. To one so young as he, that was the equivalent of death.       So he did as instinct bade and dashed forward, clinging to the man's leg and pleading for him not to go. Cheshire didn't know what the reaction would be, didn't understand the stranger's phobia, and so didn't realize that he would get anything worse than what he wanted.        Otherwise he never would have touched Gil in the first place.

      Chase the vicious squeaker? Oh, that indeed sounded fun~!       “If he runs into a wall, it won’t be Cheshire’s fault,” stated the humanoid cat with the slightest purr. He would laugh, certainly, but he couldn’t make the child run into a hard surface on purpose. Glen wouldn’t be able to blame him for that.

"… If he runs into a wall, it is no one’s fault but his own. Certainly it would not be your fault." He replied, glancing over his shoulder at the cat. "At the moment, Vince is away, running errands with Gilbert, but perhaps when he returns you can greet him." 

      "Glen's impish side is showing," was the chuckled remark. It wasn't often that the man ever displayed much mischievousness, if any, so to see it come out was pleasant. Cheshire was glad for it. If nothing else, it at least meant that Glen was relaxing around him.

Whoops

      A single red eye continued to look up at and watch the meanie-man, ear twitching at a distant sound and tail laying limp. Cheshire yawned then. He was all too tempted to go curl up somewhere and sleep for sixteen or so hours like a fair amount of other cats did, but for the moment he didn’t want to. He wanted to stay awake and find someone willing to stay with him. He didn’t like being alone after all — he was much too young to be on his own and was to some degree frightened.       With the stranger it wasn’t so bad at least.       That question though…       More bewilderment. The name was undoubtedly familiar, though the little kitten had no idea why. His expression only reflected that as he stared blankly at the tall person.       “Who’sh Alish?” asked the unknowing child. In his state he remembered neither his mistress nor her meat-loving sibling. All he really did remember was his own name.

                This wasn’t getting anymore comfortable for him. Why was he even sticking around here in the first place? This little beast could do anything, much like Cheshire did to him! Even if he was… kind of tiny now… and the most he could probably do was bite him… Though, he most likely still had his chain powers which could be a potential problem. Gilbert felt the growing desire to go back to what he’d been doing prior to running into the kitten chain. He had no idea how he deaged, but certainly Gilbert had no desire to learn that reasoning.

                ”Alice?" He repeated, sort of guessing the strange pronunciation had been for her name. Gilbert wasn’t quite used to saying it either, but it sounded strange off a child’s tongue. "You were Alice’s cat way back…? You wanted to protect the memories she didn’t wish to remember…?”

                Would that even ring a bell to a child? He at least repeated what he’d learned about Cheshire through Break, but didn’t mean that’d make much of a difference.

      More staring.       Then the child looked down at himself, at his hands, at his tail, at his clothing, at everything. He was a cat? He wasn't that different from the man before him. Did that mean the man was a cat too?       A confused frown appeared and brows furrowed.       "Cheshire doeshn't remember anything..." he muttered, ears flattening against his skull. There was a sense of shame that came with admitting that and as a result there was an urge to cling to the tall stranger. The elder wouldn't like that though -- he barely even seemed to tolerate him at all.       The kitten sniffed. Was it so much to want a little less animosity?       "...Ish Cheshire bad...?" came the reluctant question. "Ish that why you don't like Cheshire? Cheshire can be good!" Whether or not the declaration would at all help the situation was uncertain at best, and otherwise doubtful. It was worth a shot though.

      The feline pouted, a soft huff escaping as shoulders slumped ever so slightly while he continued to trod after the man.       “Fine…” There was little doubt that he was unhappy about being forbidden from “returning the child’s favor”, but he would relent. He still considered the Baskervilles family of sorts after all. It would be stupid to gain their animosity over one, murderous brat.

"Good kitty." He said, a faint smiling ghosting over his face. He could tell just what the Chain was feeling, what he was thinking. Cheshire was an open book. "You are forbidden from harming him, but you may chase him, if you desire." That at least, should be fun. 

      Chase the vicious squeaker? Oh, that indeed sounded fun~!       "If he runs into a wall, it won't be Cheshire's fault," stated the humanoid cat with the slightest purr. He would laugh, certainly, but he couldn't make the child run into a hard surface on purpose. Glen wouldn't be able to blame him for that.

Whoops

      The little kitten-boy was befuddled. He didn’t understand why the stranger was acting so, as if he were either disgusted or afraid of him even though he’d done nothing wrong. Cheshire almost wanted to cry because of it. He had to be a big boy though. He had to be a big boy since he was all alone so he couldn’t cry, had to try to ignore the sadness no matter how difficult.       It became much easier with the exclaimed questioned, for confusion took over and left room for very little else. Why was the meanie so surprised?       Head tilted, brow furrowed, and the feline child gave a slow nod.       “Yesh…?” This wasn’t making much sense. “Cheshire ish Cheshire’sh name…”

                Whether he’d done nothing wrong or not hardly mattered in the raven’s mind. This being before him still had the appendages of a cat, which set him off as entirely wary. His frame stiffened and eyes stared down at the the child-like feline unable to shake the fear. Cats weren’t his strong suits no doubt about it, uncertain if they might snap and attack him out of the blue or not. Just because he was actually bigger than them meant nothing to his mind.

                Arms gradually folded over his chest while staring down at the child chain. What the hell happened anyways? Last he’d seen this chain, they were in his dimension to rescue Alice and Break brought the chain to his end. How’d he come back… especially in such a young form?! The raven began t think back on what he could possibly do by this point, but there was no way he’d be staying in the same vicinity with the cat-child at all. Even this small amount of space between them had the raven’s skin crawling.

                ”Alright… Alright… Then… I’d suppose you’d want Alice right…?" Saying her name sounded foreign off his tongue, but the child Cheshire wouldn’t understand stupid rabbit.

      A single red eye continued to look up at and watch the meanie-man, ear twitching at a distant sound and tail laying limp. Cheshire yawned then. He was all too tempted to go curl up somewhere and sleep for sixteen or so hours like a fair amount of other cats did, but for the moment he didn't want to. He wanted to stay awake and find someone willing to stay with him. He didn't like being alone after all -- he was much too young to be on his own and was to some degree frightened.       With the stranger it wasn't so bad at least.       That question though...       More bewilderment. The name was undoubtedly familiar, though the little kitten had no idea why. His expression only reflected that as he stared blankly at the tall person.       "Who'sh Alish?" asked the unknowing child. In his state he remembered neither his mistress nor her meat-loving sibling. All he really did remember was his own name.

      “Cheshire thinks there are exceptions,” explained the feline. “He wouldn’t be here otherwise.” Speaking of his death though… “Can Cheshire go gouge out Vincent’s eyes by the way? Or at least one? He owes Cheshire a new set of eyes now.” Along with his dead body, but details details.

"Absolutely not. Vincent is under my protection, if you harm him, you shall have bigger things to worry about than just he." He replied, not missing a single step as he walked. 

      The feline pouted, a soft huff escaping as shoulders slumped ever so slightly while he continued to trod after the man.       "Fine..." There was little doubt that he was unhappy about being forbidden from "returning the child's favor", but he would relent. He still considered the Baskervilles family of sorts after all. It would be stupid to gain their animosity over one, murderous brat.

      “Yes you do.” Apparently he just didn’t recognize him. “Cheshire is… Was… Alice’s cat. He’s not sure if he’s still considered her cat though. Being a Chain is confusing.” He was a feline, a human, and some sort of Abyss-creature all in one after all. It was going to take a while for him to get used to that, he thought as he trailed after the Baskerville’s head.

He stopped suddenly, staring straight ahead. 

"Alice’s cat? But he was killed. There’s no way to make a Chain from a dead person, or creature." He replied before shaking his head and starting on his way again. 

      "Cheshire thinks there are exceptions," explained the feline. "He wouldn't be here otherwise." Speaking of his death though... "Can Cheshire go gouge out Vincent's eyes by the way? Or at least one? He owes Cheshire a new set of eyes now." Along with his dead body, but details details.

      “Cheshire just wants to be here,” was the cat’s answer, glad that he was simply being allowed to stay. Though he hadn’t been a Chain for very long, he knew that they generally weren’t welcomed for one reason or another.       Something was bothering him though.       “…Did something happen while Cheshire was away? He remembers Glen being warmer than this.”

"… I am not sure what you mean, I do not know you." He replied, turning and walking away, expecting the cat Chain to follow.

      "Yes you do." Apparently he just didn't recognize him. "Cheshire is... Was... Alice's cat. He's not sure if he's still considered her cat though. Being a Chain is confusing." He was a feline, a human, and some sort of Abyss-creature all in one after all. It was going to take a while for him to get used to that, he thought as he trailed after the Baskerville's head.

      “Cheshire doesn’t want to play though… He just missed everyone.” And Alice and the Alice he hated had switched so he certainly didn’t want to be in the Abyss with her and those stupid dolls at the moment. Always yanking on his ears and tail…       “Is it okay if Cheshire stays with Glen for a little?”

"… So long as you do not get in my way, I do not care if you are here or not." He replied, waving a hand dismissively. "Did you have something you wished to do, or just wish to be here?"

      "Cheshire just wants to be here," was the cat's answer, glad that he was simply being allowed to stay. Though he hadn't been a Chain for very long, he knew that they generally weren't welcomed for one reason or another.       Something was bothering him though.       "...Did something happen while Cheshire was away? He remembers Glen being warmer than this."

      Such a simple statement — a simple truth — and yet it briefly threw the feline off-guard. Bandaged eye sockets looked down at himself, at his hand, and lingered. Sometimes he forgot that. A Chain… Yes, he was a Chain now. It was a more useful state of existence than his previous one had been, yet… He wasn’t entirely sure he liked it.       The eyeless gaze adjusted to again fixate on the man before him.       “…Does Glen dislike that Cheshire is a Chain?”

"I neither like, nor dislike, you as a Chain." He replied, leaning against the wall and considering the cat in front of him. "Perhaps I should allow you to play with my Raven or Owl. After all, do cats not like playing with birds?" He mused.

      "Cheshire doesn't want to play though... He just missed everyone." And Alice and the Alice he hated had switched so he certainly didn't want to be in the Abyss with her and those stupid dolls at the moment. Always yanking on his ears and tail...       "Is it okay if Cheshire stays with Glen for a little?"

      There was not an immediate response from the Chain. He leaned forward, sniffing, examining the Baskerville’s scent, only pulling away and releasing the man after several moments.       “You smell very strange,” he said. “Cheshire wonders why.”

"Yes and you are a chain." He replied, ignoring the question, instead pushing Cheshire away from him. 

      Such a simple statement -- a simple truth -- and yet it briefly threw the feline off-guard. Bandaged eye sockets looked down at himself, at his hand, and lingered. Sometimes he forgot that. A Chain... Yes, he was a Chain now. It was a more useful state of existence than his previous one had been, yet... He wasn't entirely sure he liked it.       The eyeless gaze adjusted to again fixate on the man before him.       "...Does Glen dislike that Cheshire is a Chain?"

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Whoops

       Here, a tail drooped and a clawed hand was used to rub the child’s nose. An acrid, bitter stench was coming from the man, and he didn’t like it — nor did he know where it came from. Either way it didn’t matter. Whoever this stranger was, he clearly had no wish to play. That was certainly a shame for the poor kitten. Being alone in a strange, big place wasn’t at all fun.        So he remained where he was.       “Cheshire hashn’t found anyone elsh,” was his retort, somewhat garbled thanks to his difficulty with that squirmy wormy letter. At any rate it didn’t matter so long as he was understood.       Temptation was present however, an urge to simply cling to the person’s leg making itself known in the little feliforme. He didn’t though. He may not have been able to recall much past his name, but some manners remained.

                  Another step was taken back from the cat-like child.                   Shivers traveled up along his spine until he got a                   safe distance between him and the feline. He                   wondered where he could’ve even come from to                   begin with, seeing as the only cats allowed around                   were Ada’s two. Even though he hated cats with a                   strong passion, as well as feared them, a part inside                   him felt he couldn’t just leave this guy alone.

                  Taking in a deep breath, he let out a groaned sigh,                   hand raised to rub at the back of his head awkwardly.                   As long as he didn’t get too close to him, he’d probably                    be able to handle it. When the child spoke up, Gilbert                   froze up with a confused expression mixed into the shock.                   Did he just… call himself…?! The shock only heightened                   inside the raven’s body while staring at him. How did..?!

                      ”D—Did you just call yourself Cheshire..?!”

      The little kitten-boy was befuddled. He didn't understand why the stranger was acting so, as if he were either disgusted or afraid of him even though he'd done nothing wrong. Cheshire almost wanted to cry because of it. He had to be a big boy though. He had to be a big boy since he was all alone so he couldn't cry, had to try to ignore the sadness no matter how difficult.       It became much easier with the exclaimed questioned, for confusion took over and left room for very little else. Why was the meanie so surprised?       Head tilted, brow furrowed, and the feline child gave a slow nod.       "Yesh...?" This wasn't making much sense. "Cheshire ish Cheshire'sh name..."