#And Tough Guy is what these three call Munk

[recklessrex]

131 - Scar, Persi and Crash. I do hope this one makes a click on ur head 😅

Third time's the charm! ^^

“It’s midnight! Where the hell were you?”

If there was one thing Persimmian was good at, it was thinking on her feet. She could completely change her tactical approach in response to a changing situation in less than a second. She was a decision maker, a tactician, a cunning and quick-witted mot.

If there was anything Persi was not good at, it was waiting.

The colorpoint calico leaned against the wall near the entrance to the main chamber of the hideout, her arms crossed, her ears back, her eyes narrowed, her tail swishing rapidly back and forth. Her favorite chair awaited her, as did the celebratory booze someone had cracked open to share with the gang, but she was too restless to relax right now. It was all she could do to stand still against the wall instead of pacing up and down the room. She refused to let the gang see that she was worried.

Despite her efforts, they could tell something was up. They may not have guessed she was worried, but they might think she was pissed (which she was also, to be fair). Veteran members of the gang, however, recognized her body language as how she normally acts when she's thinking, usually when a quick decision needs to be made or plans need to be changed on the fly, but also when she's just quietly mulling over something. What, they have no idea, but they were used to their boss sitting around with her ears back, eyes narrowed, and tail swishing, just seeming to watch everything while the rest of the gang relaxed and enjoyed themselves, and they knew to leave her alone.

There were only two people that could get away with bugging her when she was brooding over some mystery thing, and those two people weren't here.

What her gang didn't realize was that it was rarely just one thing running through her mind, especially in the mood she was in now. Among the many thoughts that raced through her mind at this moment was a replay of the events of the evening, going over every detail she could call to mind, again and again, trying to find any clue that something had gone wrong.

Another thought was to list the multitude of perfectly ordinary things that could have delayed her friends' return to the hideout after the job, without causing them harm.

Still another, one that she would rather not think about, was to imagine all the things that could have happened to them on the way home, and another was assessing the likelihood of each scenario, good, bad, or neutral, and reassuring herself that they were probably fine. She trusted them to take care of themselves.

But as each minute ticked away, and still no spotted silver Aussie raising a toast to the gang's success only to poor it over some poor greenie's head, no dirt-colored scar-faced Brooklynite casually wrestling with anyone he can get ahold of between drinks, the idea that something had happened to them got harder and harder to wave away.

It was always harder to sort her mind out when the lads weren't around. She may have been devilishly clever, especially when it came to thinking on her feet, but long term planning had never been her strong point, that was Crash. He was the book-smart one too. He could patiently sort through tons of complex and sometimes conflicting information, considering scenario after scenario, rejecting the ones that didn't work and eventually landing on the best plan. His patient, organized approach to critical thinking would have been especially helpful to her now, with scenario after jumbled scenario flipping rapid-fire through her brain without any answers.

If Crash was the book-smart one, Scar was the sensible one. The guy that goes "Hey that leftover spilled beer on the table that we sopped up into a rag and squeezed into our glasses, yeah that probably has like cleaning liquids and shit in it now, and will probably poison us if we drink it," while everyone else is daring each other to drink what they think is just an awful tasting liquid. Say for example, the three of them had to find what was wrong with a car that won't start. Persi would have opened the hood and dove right in, looking for anything loose or that just didn't look right, Crash would be off to the side reading the owner's manual, while the first thing Scar would do would be to check the gas. His simple, level-headed approach to most obstacles had saved Persi's hide so many times over the years, and would have been a major comfort to her now.

She kicked the wall in frustration, startling a few nearby gang members, who quietly fled to the other side of the room. They were all too familiar with their boss's temper. She ignored them and checked her watch again, then crossed her arms once more, tapping her foot.

Where the fuck are they?

Her thoughts tumbled and tumbled around in her head faster than she could keep up with, until finally she gave up and did what she did best.

She made a decision.

"Fuck this," she growled, pushing up off the wall. Much of her gang eyed her nervously as she stormed out of the main chamber. She didn't care. She strode briskly through the passageways headed for one of the hideout's exits, ready to go on the hunt for her right-hand toms…

…and nearly ran right into the toms in question as they stumbled in through the same door she was about to exit.

"Eyyyy boss!" shouted Scar, raising his bottle in salute.

"Heya Perce!" said Crash with a little better volume control and the biggest derpiest grin plastered all over his face. "Where ya been?"

"Where've I been?" echoed Persi. "Where've I been?! I been here, where I'm s'posed to be! Where the fuck have you two idiots been?!"

"Oh, yeah" said Scar, "we jus' got herr di'n' we?" His slur wasn't all from drink. The scar on his face twisted the left side of his lip ever so slightly, not much, but enough that he always slurred more than the others whenever they drank. But slur or no slur it was still clear that they were both drunk as a skunk. Their breath reeked of booze, and they had their arms slung over each other, leaning heavily on each other and holding each other semi-upright, though the door frame was doing most of that job at the moment.

She grabbed ahold of them them, Scar's jacket in one fist and Crash's shirt collar in the other, yanked them inside, making sure to deposit them against the wall to keep them upright, and slammed the entrance closed.

"Shit boss," drawled Crash, his accent thick with booze, "wha's the mattah?"

"Yeh, ligh'en up boss, i's cool" added Scar, gesturing with his bottle nonchalantly and spilling beer on the floor of the passageway.

Persi glared at them. Other than being completely off their tits, they seemed unharmed. She looked at her watch once more and balked.

“It’s midnight! Where the hell were you?” she demanded. "You was supposed to come straight back!"

"Oh yeh, we shtopped fo' a drink" slurred Scar. Crash nodded in agreement.

"There's plenty booze here!"

"Yeah but ya know, we was drinking with friends," explained Crash.

"Othah friends I mean" he added quickly. "You're mah friend, but like, ya know-"

"We ran inta (hic) RT," interrupted Scar

"Yea, ya know, an' we got chattin" continued Crash, "and like-"

"An' we got drinkin" said Scar. Crash nodded enthusiastically.

"An' then more a' his lot showed up"

"An' we's all drinkin heheh"

"An' it turned into a real party, mate!"

"Ya shoulda been der boss, waz great!"

"We 'ad a great time!"

Satisfied with their explanation, the lads stood (well mostly stood) waiting for her response with big, dopey, lovable grins on their faces. Persi sighed and pinched the bridge of her snout where it met her eyes, resisting the urge to beat the shit out of her best friends.

She might have to have "words" with RT about distracting her lads (though the next morning Crash would remind her that Tough Guy don't appreciate people messing with his brother and their pseudo-alliance with Tough Guy's tribe was worth maintaining, and Scar would remind her that RT had no idea there was anything to distract them from anyway).

She regarded her faithful troublemakers, still smiling dumbly at her. Anybody else would have gotten a beating, or maybe even a taste of claw. But not these two. She just couldn't do that to them. Not after everything they'd been through together. She sighed again. There was no point to even lecturing them, since they probably wouldn't remember it. No, she could deal with them in the morning.

"Come on," she sighed, grabbing them by the arms and half leading, half dragging them down the passageway. "That's enough fun for you two for one night. Time for my very smashed lads to go to bed."

[mystery-vixen]

I wrote this for @the-bafflement-of-scotland-yard

Jennyanydots being a mum for 1000 words? Bet.

Characters included: Jennyanydots, Munkustrap, Rum Tum Tugger, Macavity

Warnings: mentions of blood/violence

When Jennyanydots left her den that evening she hadn’t expected to be cornered by a slobbering dog. She had been on her way back from teaching her mice when the mutt found her and chased her two streets until he finally caught her right arm between his teeth. A shrill scream escaped her and she dug her claws deep into his face until he released his grip enough for her to rip free from his teeth.

There wasn’t a time in the cat’s life that she had been so close to meeting her end and the adrenaline that fueled her lively sprint home could be matched by a spring kitten. She had made it very close to her home before she met with a familiar young Tom who quickly rushed to her aid.

Relieved, she allowed for Munkustrap to take her the rest of the way home and now resided in her den with her adoptive son tending to her wound. The wrinkle in his brow that was so indicative of stress came and left his features as they sat in silence. Jenny could tell the Tom was thinking and she raised a hand over his as he worked.

His hands stilled over the wound and quickly his gaze rose to hers. She gave him a soft smile and gently patted his knuckles.

“I’m fine, dear,” she assured in the boldest tone she could muster. She saw his shoulders relax then and his jaw loosen, but could still see the concern in his eyes.

“Where was it?” His voice was calm and serious. She blinked for a moment as she recollected her thoughts of the incident. “The market’s side of town. I kept to the alleyway, don’t you worry —I always do. But, he came from nowhere. He chased me to the north entry of the junkyard, but he didn’t follow me inside.”

He nodded as he took in what she had told him. Again, she could see he was deep in thought and she gave his hand a light squeeze before pulling away and laying it to rest over her thigh.

“Don’t you worry about me, Munk. I’m as tough as they come. You know that.” She snuggled against the couch she was sitting on and Munk rose from his position kneeled in front of her. He pulled the quilt beside her over and onto her lap, patting it down so that it folded snuggly around her. She gave him a grateful smile in response and patted the seat beside her for him to sit.

Munkustrap didn’t take the offer because his attention was turned to the door when a crash sounded from outside. After a beat Tugger burst inside, appearing breathless and worn out as if he’d been running for some time. “Mum!” He called and Jenny gasped quietly at seeing him.

“Oh, Tugger. What have you done to yourself?” She glanced to Munk for a second who appeared as perplexed as she was. “Please, sit down.”

Tugger wasted no time before he bounded towards her and sat thigh to thigh with his adoptive mother. “Tantomile told me she saw you running from a dog. Is that true?” He asked worriedly while Munk sat down on the floor beside them.

“It is, dear,” she nodded to him. “But, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me, please.”

He appeared distressed at her confirmation and her assurances did little to waver that stress. He glared, but it wasn’t at her admission. “Dogs,” he practically spat and ruffled his mane before wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “Don’t worry, mum. I’ll walk you home from teaching from now on!”

Jenny shook her head at the offer, although flattered. “Oh, Tugger. Don’t. You have a life you have to live. You don’t need to take me home every night,” she shushed him. She turned her attention to Munk sitting on the floor beside her and she reached a hand to him. He gently took her hand in his and smiled kindly to her.

“Both of you are far too sweet.”

As if a whirlwind had begun in her living room a gust of wind brought their attention to the spot before them. Before their eyes a very tall, ginger cat appeared in a puff of smoke. “Mother!” Macavity shouted once he’d materialized and Jenny saw his face fade to ghostly white when he noticed his brothers in the room with them.

From her peripheral vision, the mother cat could see a smug grin spread Tugger’s face at his brother’s embarrassment.

Macavity collected himself quickly, crossing his arms over his chest as his eyes glazed over the three. He was always an intelligent Tom and she’d known him very often to read a room before he prepared for any kind of interaction. “Are you alright?” Finally left his lips and she nodded slowly to him in an attempt to ease the clear concern she could see in his eyes.

“I am. Your brothers have been taking good care of me,” she explained. “Please, join us. Will you?”

His eyes shifted between Munkustrap and Tugger. He remained unmoved when he asked his second question. “Are you hurt?”

A short sigh escaped her. She could make him sit when they were alone. She’d brought a gentle side of Macavity out a few times, but he wouldn’t join in when others were involved. His brothers proved no different, it appeared. One day at a time, my dear, she thought.

“I was.” She raised her arm for him to see and his gaze locked on it as if nothing else in the entire world was more important. “Munkustrap did an excellent job cleaning and bandaging it for me.” She glanced down to the grey Tom on the floor and gave a gentle smile.

When Jenny looked back to Macavity she could practically feel the anger radiating off of him like heat off a flame. He chewed his cheek. A habit that she’d tried to stop, but he was decidedly more stubborn than his brothers.

“I’ll be back,” he said before turning on his heel.

“Hey!” Tugger called after him. “Don’t go doing something stupid!” Jenny placed a hand on Tugger’s thigh, earning his attention and forcing him to be quiet. She gave him a kind smile to relax him and turned to Macavity.

“Do what you must, dear. But, nothing too severe,” she said as he stepped away. “Macavity.” He halfway turned to look at her. His expression was unreadable, aside from his stare being intense as it always was. “Please, be careful.. and hurry back.”

After a short moment he nodded and turned back away, leaving the three alone again. She relaxed more against her seat when he left and she confidently waited for him to return.

“No chill with that guy,” Tugger muttered as he also wiggled in his seat to get more comfortable.

“Can we get you anything?” Munkustrap asked and Jenny shook her head with a content sigh. “No. Thank you. I’m simply content having the two of you here.”

Jennyanydots had known much heartbreak. She’d endured many lonely nights. She’d lost two loving parents. She’d suffered numerous failed pregnancies and then had watched a close friend leave her own three kittens.

It all seemed worth it now. Now that she was surrounded by such loving children who stayed close to her even in adulthood.

All boys grew to be so different from one another, but they all loved her and they all showed their love in different ways. She was proud of that and she loved them all so dearly.

[mikemortgage]

Huawei likely faces 5G ban in Canada, security experts say

Canada will probably ban Huawei Technologies Co. from its 5G network, analysts and security experts say, though Prime Minister Justin Trudeau may delay the decision as long as possible to avoid jeopardizing three Canadians detained in China.

As Trudeau awaits a security review ahead the 5G roll out, former envoys to China, ex-spy chiefs and telecom analysts are increasingly of the view that Canada will follow some of its allies in freezing out Huawei from the next-generation network.

“I think a ban is likely,” Richard Fadden, a former national security adviser to Trudeau, said in an interview. He thinks Huawei’s presence in 5G would pose a risk to national security, adding that some of Canada’s allies are shunning Huawei. “I think it’s important for Canada to remember it’s in, and of, the West.”

Huawei fades from U.S. headlines, but still looms large over Trump’s trade talks with China

While the U.S. warns the world off Huawei, this tiny Canadian town rolls out the welcome mat

As Canada reviews Huawei’s role in 5G networks, opportunities open for other telecom suppliers

Canada would join countries including the U.S., Australia and New Zealand that have blocked or limited the use of Huawei equipment. Germany and other European governments have also been weighing whether to place restrictions over concerns that Chinese intelligence could use the networks to spy on other countries, fears the company has dismissed.

Tough Decision

For Trudeau, it’s arguably the most fraught decision he has faced in his almost four years as prime minister. He must balance his ties with the U.S. and China with the fate of three detained Canadians, while also facing pressure from intelligence partners and domestic telecom companies. China’s envoy to Ottawa has warned of “repercussions,” if Canada bans Huawei. If Trudeau allows Huawei, he’d look like he was bowing to Chinese pressure and would risk alienating close allies.

Canadian Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said a security review over 5G is ongoing, and he declined to speculate Tuesday on when a decision will be made.

Countries including the U.S., Australia and New Zealand have blocked or limited the use of Huawei equipment.

“I want to see a decision as rapidly as possible but I also want to see the process done correctly,” he told reporters in Ottawa. “We want to examine all of that so that we understand not only the advantages of the technology, but also where the potential vulnerabilities and weaknesses are, where threats or risks may come from.”

Huawei warned that a ban would be a setback for Canada.

“To reverse this would set Canada’s wireless competitive advantage back years,” Huawei Canada said in a statement. “We are confident the Canadian government is committed to a thorough review and we have received no indication that a policy determination has been made.”

Close Watch

Canada’s three major telecommunications companies are watching closely. Telus Corp. and BCE Inc.’s Bell Canada are the most heavily invested with Huawei and would be impacted by a ban, analysts say. Rogers Communications Inc. uses Ericsson AB of Sweden and wouldn’t be affected, analysts say. Any ban would only apply to 5G networks, and not the existing 4G or previous systems, according to a National Bank Financial report.

The telecom companies have kept a low profile since the arrest in Vancouver of Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou in December, though Telus defended its use of Huawei equipment in a note to employees. Telus and BCE didn’t return calls seeking comment. Banning Huawei would leave Canadian telecoms with essentially two main choices: Nokia Oyj and Ericsson. Rogers said it’s partnering with Ericsson, including for its 5G roll-out.

“We suspect that the most likely outcome is a 5G ban on Huawei,” Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce analysts Robert Bek, Todd Coupland, Kulveer Grewal and Amy Dyck said in a blog published Monday. That would be “most problematic for just Bell and Telus, but with spending requirements that would not likely stick to valuations.”

Diplomatic View

Former ambassadors to China also expect a ban. “Eventually, the Canadian government will have no choice but to prevent Huawei from working on 5G in Canada,” said Guy Saint-Jacques, the envoy from 2012 to 2016. The risks have grown too big, he said. But Trudeau may wait as China continues to detain Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, he said. A third Canadian also faces a death sentence.

Trudeau “has to wait as long as he can,” said Saint-Jacques, now a senior fellow at a pair of Canadian university institutes. “We are in for a period of turbulence.”

David Mulroney, Canada’s ambassador to China from 2009 to 2012, said the timing of any announcement is crucial. “While I don’t see how it is possible for Huawei to be a serious contender, the government will want to think carefully about how and when to make that announcement,” he said in an email.

5G Vulnerability

There are many unknowns with telecom technology that make it difficult, if not impossible, to guarantee impenetrability.

“There are vulnerabilities in all of them all the time, and they’re always being patched,” and 5G will be no different, said Christopher Parsons, a research associate at the Citizen Lab, in the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs. A foreign intelligence service could conceivably access Canada’s network by either opening up a so-called back door, or by a telecom company simply not reporting or fixing a vulnerability that pops up on its own, he said.

Fadden, also a former head of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, said there’s no way to safeguard the system entirely — which, for him, rules out any kind of middle-option that restricts but doesn’t ban Huawei. “Given enough time, they’ll break through,” he said.

Ward Elcock, another former CSIS chief, also thinks Canada will ban Huawei from 5G.

“I think they probably will,” he said in a phone interview Tuesday. “I don’t think they’re going to rush to make the decision any time soon, and I wouldn’t do it either in the context of what’s going on.”

–With assistance from Greg Quinn and Natalie Obiko Pearson.

Bloomberg.com

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[recklessrex]

I've talked at length about Sullivan, and I know I still need to flesh out those bullet points, but for now please allow me introduce you to some of my other Cats OCs

I've got quite a few, so to keep this from getting super long, I'll break it down into parts.

Part 1: the "Alleycat Triplets"

(not actual triplets, just always together)

Persimmian

(per-SIM-mee-an) Not "persimmon." Persimmian. An intense, short-tempered alley cat that values looking tough, but mellows somewhat with adulthood.

Doesn't put up with your bullshit

Stubborn, proud, and irritable

Used to be more aggressive and violent than she is now

Has mellowed but is very much not mellow

Resting bitch face

Vigilant and alert

Mind always racing

Excellent tactician, but poor long-term strategist

Lives in the moment

Must do something with hands

Lots of arm-crossing as a result

Intense serious business mode

Enjoys joking and messing around in down time

Sense of humor is mostly dry sarcasm, mockery, and blunt insults

Will laugh at your misfortune, but not at your pain

Loves her two best friends dearly but is too proud to say it out loud

Became the leader of an alleygang in mid-adolescence that was once the Jellicle's closest neighbors

Demi

About Munk's age (used to consider him a rival)

Lean and athletic

Soft medium-length fur

Colorpoint with a little bit of diluted orange in the points, making her technically a calico colorpoint

Deep blue eyes

Floofy tail

Nickname: Persi

Scaramouche

(skahr-ah-MOOSH) Member of Persi's gang and one of her two BBFs.

Also acts tough, but more as a job or for fun

Actually a laid-back goofball

Calm and nonchalant

Believes he's not smart, but has more common sense than Persi or Crash

Sees the bigger picture

Almost impossible to get him down or get under his skin

Forgives easily

Bores easily too

Master of casual snark and playful teasing

Will fight you for fun then offer you a drink

Unshakeably loyal to Persi and fiercely protective of both her and Crash

Bi

Slightly older than Persi

Tall and slender

Short scruffy fur

Solid brown

Scar crossing over left eye from left forehead to upper left lip, causing a slight sneer

Bright yellow-green eyes

Blind in scarred eye, but very good at hiding it, even Persi and Crash sometimes forget.

Sometimes slurs when excited or upset because of his damaged lip

Nickname: Scar, and he's so proud to finally have the scar to go with his name

Crashendo

(kraa-SHEN-doh) Member of Persi's gang and the final member of the alleycat BFF trio.

More openly kind and friendly than his friends

Still very good at posturing and intimidation when the situation calls for it

Acts generally chill and care-free but secretly worries a lot

Fast learner, good memory

Technically the smart one, even if he's not always wise or sensible

Pays attention to the details

Brings the sass

Loves rough housing and acrobatics

Sensitive and empathic

Will gladly listen to your life story

Will also gladly tell you exactly why you suck

Intensely loyal and faithful to Persi and Scar, whom he considers his soulmates

Demi/Bi

A bit younger than Persi and Scar, closer to Tugger's age

Small and sturdy

Short smooth fur

Silver bengal-like markings

Warm golden eyes

Nickname: Crash or Crashie

All three:

Are almost never apart

Might as well be literally chained together because it wouldn't even bother them

Have no patience for idiots, bullies, or people that threaten or hurt the other two

Have called Munk "Tough Guy" since adolescence

No they don't remember which one of them called him that first

Are the first ones that called Alonzo "Patchwork" which eventually got picked up by Macavity's gang

Used to call Tugger "R.T." and still do occasionally

Think Asparagus (Jr) is "a pretty cool dude"

And that the twins are "stealth badasses"

No they don't know what that's supposed to mean

Are a force to be reckoned with in a street fight

Less useful, but still get by, in one on one combat

Will absolutely team up on your ass

Would literally die for each other

Some pics to show what I mean by "calico colorpoint" (not Persi's exact markings):

and "silver bengal-like" (he's not actually a Bengal, just unsure what else to call these markings):

UPDATE: I've added some pics of what Scar kinda looks like. The left pic is his shade of brown and face shape, the right is my best attempt at photoshopping his scar onto a brown cat, though I realized too late I was using the wrong color for the scar, it should be a more pinky greyish kinda tan color if that makes sense...

Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6