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It had seemed like a perfectly innocent idea. Really, what could have gone wrong with giving the last of his sandwich to the stray cat that had been following Grian around insistently for a while. He didn’t even particularly like tuna and mayonnaise, but it had been the cheapest thing in the café. He was happy to drop the last few bites in front of the shaggy brown tabby padding along a few steps behind him. He didn’t take more than a second to watch as the cat picked up the leftovers, turning away as soon as it bent down to sniff at it. He was sure he’d have peace from it, finally, now that its hunger was satiated. The worst he could imagine happening was that the cat would run after him, meowing for more.
He most definitely didn’t expect to turn back to see a half-man half-feline monstrosity writhing on the sidewalk behind him. He screamed, backing up with a scurry of feet until his back hit a light pole, head banging against the metal. The creature before him finally straightened up, the last of the feline features melting into his face. He sighed in relief.
"Ah, sorry you had to see that. Not the prettiest sight, I know..." he giggled, "Anyway, thanks for turning me back!"
"What the fuck," Grian breathed, his eyes still wide with fright.
"Oh! Right, I should introduce myself," the cat-man said, stepping forward, "I'm Scar! I've kind of been cursed by some sort of magic witch being to turn into a cat every time I try to scam somebody until they show me an act of kindness." He held out his hand expectantly, as if he could expect Grian, who was still frozen in place, jaws agape, to reach out and shake it. It didn't happen. Scar waited for just a moment more before shrugging and petting Grian on the shoulder, startling him into looking up at Scar again.
"Yeah... sorry for pretending to call from your bank the other day, by the way. Usually I sell my fake healing crystals to some poor gullible fellow who finds my shop, but I thought maybe if I did it virtually I could find a loophole in the witch's curse. Apparently not. Just made the job of finding you all the more difficult. Goodness, but you don't go out often, I've been stuck as a cat for weeks! Tsk tsk tsk... You need to spend more time in the fresh air!" He took a large, gasping breath in as if to demonstrate, only to start coughing as the stinking city air flooded his lungs. "Or not... Maybe I get you. But at least you could've left your door ajar to let a poor stray kitten inside!" He laughed, though Grian was still not responding.
"Well... I guess I'll go now... It was nice talking to you! Thanks for turning me back again! See yah!" He waved enthusiastically, as if that was what would make Grian start moving again. It wasn't. He wasn't sure if he'd even blinked the whole time he'd been staring at him with those wide, surprised eyes. But no matter. It wasn't his responsibility anymore. As soon as he lost sight of the man, he was already plotting how to find a working loophole in his curse. Because if anything is true, it is that nothing can stop a Scar from scamming people.