Skylar is there for a couple hours, before the vet is grabbing him and bringing him into a room. He finds Crimson's cat awake when it happens, and can't even hide the way his entire face lights up. She's lying down, and looks a bit healthier. Her fur probably is adding more to her size, possibly since she's finally been groomed properly.

It's finally clicking, however, and guilt is really setting in. This entire time, that's what it was. The scratching in the past, was her trying to get out or trying to get his attention. The reason it was louder this time must've been from the desperation of reaching the end. The thud... well, the thud was probably her body giving out. She was starving.

"I just have a couple questions for you, then you're free to go to the desk and pay." The veterinarian says, and Skylar nods, standing beside the table that the cat is on. She hasn't looked away from Skylar since he entered the room, and is staying pretty still. She likely just doesn't have the energy to move around much.

"For one, where did you find her?"

What? Why does he want to know that? Is that a normal vet question? Skylar doesn't know, he's never had a pet before.

"Uh... an abandoned apartment," he lies, though he does his best to stick as close to the truth as he can.  He can't help himself from following up with, "why?"

The guy nods, and appears to be writing something on his clipboard. Skylar just waits patiently, glancing at the cat after a moment. She is now laying her head on the table, eyes closed.

"Well, her coloring is very rare." The vet informs him. "It's strange to find a brown cat at all, let alone one that has been malnourished so badly. Most take excellent care of them. They don't last as strays."

Yeah, now that he mentions it, Skylar can't remember a time he's ever seen a solid brown cat in his life. She's also very fluffy, and now that she looks healthier and isn't a heartbreak to look at, quite cute.

Well, Crimson does have money. He could probably afford to own any animal he would ever want. Skylar is unsure why he would own a cat, just to neglect her so badly, but whatever. He's given up trying to figure that asshole out.

"So, which apartment complex? We might want to look into it." The man finishes. Skylar purses his lips. Shit, he probably should've expected this. 

"Uh, I don't know. It was... that way," Skylar answers, pointing in a random direction that is probably not correct. The vet frowns at him, and does question him a bit more, but Skylar is unable to answer pretty much anything else. The guy eventually lets Skylar go, after making him promise to take care of her, and then Skylar is free.

The vet supplies him a carrier, which is where he puts the cat. She weighs next to nothing, and he's also given several papers about caring for her and the proper ways to restore her weight and stuff, which he shoves in his bag. When Skylar pays at the desk, they give him even more direction. In the end, the entire visit lasts about four hours.

When Skylar is finally free, however, he is completely lost. He has no fucking clue what to do at first, but then it occurs to him that he has no cat supplies. As in, he owns nothing to aid in taking care of this animal, which is evidently now going to be his responsibility. He's hesitant at first, but the man saying that her breed is so rare makes him nervous. He doesn't want someone to adopt her for the wrong reason, if he were to give her up.

Also... the doctor strongly recommended he keep her. He said something about her having already formed an emotional attachment to him, and how she's been through enough without having to suffer an abandonment.

Essentially, the vet guilt tripped Skylar into keeping her, despite both of them likely being fully aware he is not fit to be a parent. He can't even take care of himself!

Skylar sighs, deciding that he should prioritize aforementioned pet supplies. Luckily, he has money for it now. Unluckily, there is no fucking question about it. If he ever sees Crimson again, that man will kill him on the spot.

Well, at least he can't find Skylar by looking for his car anymore. Didn't think that through, did he? He did show up to Ashton's place that one time, which is where Skylar is now residing, but there's no way he knows that. He definitely thinks Skylar is still living with his father, who everyone knows does not reside in the city.

So, at least he's good on that front. He's nervous for the day his luck runs out, though.

Skylar needs a lot of help at the pet store. He doesn't know shit about cats, and it is very obvious. Luckily, the girl that works there is a lot of help. He gets the basics: food and water bowls, a litter box, cat food and cat litter, and even some toys.

When it's all said and done, Skylar has so much shit. He has two plastic bags of pet supplies in one hand, a carrier with said pet in the other, and the bag on his back that he always has with him.

It's too much for him to walk back to Ashton's. He is far too weighed down. So, he pays for a bus ticket. The wad of 20's in total was $500. In the end, after the life saving vet visit and buying all the supplies, he is left with a little less than $30. After the bus ticket, it's closer to $25. So, he has more money than before, but not by much.

When Skylar is finally arriving back at Ashton's, it is about 10:00 at night. It's dark outside, and Skylar is exhausted. He's also super fucking paranoid that at any moment Crimson is gonna come out of the bushes or something and kill him. Thankfully, that doesn't happen. However, he does almost lose his mind when he realizes that Ashton locked the door. He also never gave Skylar a key.

Oh, Skylar's not in the mood for this. He genuinely thinks about going out and buying a sledgehammer—because he probably has just enough money for that—and busting this shit down out of pure rage. However, the door is pretty strong, and he's not sure if that would even work. Also... too much of a hassle. So, Skylar just sets the cat and all her supplies down, before fishing in his bag for his lock picking kit.

It takes about five minutes, but he is eventually able to get it open. Then, he packs it up and is back on his way. Walking up the stairs is a pain in the ass, but he's able to make do. It takes everything in him not to pass out on the bed as soon as he enters his bedroom, not remembering to shut the door behind himself.

Skylar sets out the food and water bowls and sets up the litter box and everything, putting the leftover containers in his closet. He also purchased the cat a little bed, which he sets on the dresser beside her whole set up. He puts the toys next to that, and then he's done fucking with this for the night.

So, Skylar walks over to the carrier, and opens the door.

Nothing happens.

The cat stays inside there, and when he leans down to look inside, he finds two bright yellow eyes staring at him. She looks nervous, body shaking a bit. He decides that staring at her probably isn't helping, and just shrugs.

"Suit yourself." Skylar tells her. He leaves the door to the carrier open so she can leave whenever she wants, and then walks over to his bed.

Skylar barely even remembers to take some cytozine before he's passing out.