The Mau The Merrier

>:33 | *Feline Curiosity: Disposable Camera*

The sun had completely hidden below the horizon, the moon taking its place and casting a blue glow across the city as {Y/N} trudged up the stairs to her apartment. The grocery bags dangling from her arms swayed with each step, their contents clinking and rustling softly with her movement. Balancing the weight, she managed to fish her keys out of her pocket and push open the door with her shoulder. 

Home at last. 

She kicked the door shut behind her and stood there for a moment, surveying the quiet, slightly cluttered space. It wasn’t much—a small studio with a scuffed floor and a mismatched assortment of furniture—but it was hers. That was good enough. 

Setting the bags on the counter, she sighed and stretched, feeling the satisfying pop of her joints after a long day. She eyed the groceries with a mix of triumph and mild regret. The shopping itself had been an adventure, sure, but now came the tedious part: putting everything away. 

She grumbled and looked around for something to procrastinate with. 'Aha...' she smirked to herself.

Before tackling the groceries, {Y/N} decided to unload her purse. She set it on the counter and began pulling out its chaotic contents. The first item was her beloved sushi, which she twirled in her fingers and squeezed before placing it neatly beside her fancy pen. Next came a small stash of coins, a crumpled receipt, and the grocery list she’d "acquired" earlier, now meticulously folded. A pastry wrapper, which had somehow found its way into her bag, was tossed into the trash. She fished out one map and set it aside before fishing out the other and tossing it next to the first. She unclipped the charm and separated the laser pointer, setting them both on the counter. Finally, she retrieved the camera she’d nabbed earlier, giving it a curious glance before placing it on the coffee table for later inspection. The bag now lighter, she gave it a satisfied shake before dumping it next to her front door and turning her attention to the groceries.

“Well,” she muttered, cracking her knuckles, “time to play Tetris with the fridge again.” 

She reached into the first bag and pulled out a loaf of bread, tucking it neatly into a small cupboard alongside a canister of rice and a jar of peanut butter. Next came a carton of milk and a container of heavy cream, both of which found a home on the mostly empty fridge shelf.

After a few minutes, the first group of bags were empty. She turned to the second, rummaging through their contents with a bit more enthusiasm. These ones held the things she had chosen—canned fish, her beloved heavy cream, and a small pile of candy. Each item she pulled out felt like a little victory, a reward for enduring the ordeal of the grocery store. 

The candy went onto the counter, forming a small mountain of brightly colored bags. She set aside a particularly tempting bag of gummy bears, making a mental note to dig into it later. 

By the time she reached the third and final group of bag, she was moving slower, savoring the quiet monotony of the task. The fridge was starting to look fuller, and for a fleeting moment, she felt like she had her life together. 

She placed the last item—a jar of strawberry jam—on the fridge door and stood back to admire her work. 

“Not bad,” she said to herself, shutting the fridge with a satisfied nod. 

Her gaze drifted to the candy pile on the counter. 

“Okay, maybe I went a little overboard,” she admitted, but the grin tugging at her lips said she didn’t regret it. 

With the groceries officially put away, she leaned against the counter, letting out a soft sigh. The apartment was quiet, save for the faint hum of the fridge and the distant sounds of the city outside. It was peaceful, almost too peaceful. 

Her eyes wandered around the room, landing on the recliner in the corner. It looked inviting, its worn cushions practically calling her name. For a moment, she debated what to do next. 

As she plopped down into the chair, her thoughts wandered. It was a little too quiet. She realized, much to her annoyance, that she actually missed Joe. His stupid, self- endangering antics and overly positive demeanor usually drove her up the wall, but now... the silence felt unnatural. 

“Ugh,” she muttered, tilting her head back. “I really am a single mom.” 

Looking for something to distract herself, her eyes fell on the camera sitting on the coffee table—a Canon EOS 30D she’d lifted from someone earlier. She picked it up, turning it over in her hands. She’d forgotten to take any pictures while she was out. Damn, she thought, mildly annoyed with herself. 

The camera felt heavy and professional in her hands, not at all like the cheap disposable ones you could grab at a corner store. She pressed the power button, the soft hum of the camera booting up breaking the silence. 

Her finger hovered over the playback dial, eager to see what the previous owner had captured. Maybe there were some artsy shots of sunsets or candid moments of city life. *Let’s see what we’ve got,* she thought, pressing the button to review the photos. 

The screen lit up, and her expectations were immediately shattered. 

The first image was... a penis. 

She stared at the screen, utterly deadpan. 

“Of course,” she muttered, rolling her eyes. “Why wouldn’t it be?” 

Still, her curiosity got the better of her. She pressed the button to go to the next photo. Another penis. 

And the next. 

And the next. 

Every single photo was a carefully framed, almost artistic shot of genitals. Different angles, different lighting, but all the same subject matter. 

By the tenth photo, she wasn’t even surprised anymore. Just disappointed. 

“Really? This is what humanity’s come to?” she asked aloud, as if someone might answer. “A perfectly good camera, and this is what you use it for? Dicks?” 

She flipped through the rest of the photos with growing disdain, the images becoming a blur of skin tones and unfortunate creativity. By the end, she let out a loud sigh, slumping back into her chair. 

The camera was still in her hand, but her patience had run out. With a dismissive flick of her wrist, she tossed it across the room. It landed with a dull thud on the floor, skidding a few inches before coming to a stop. She didn’t even check to see if it survived. 

“Waste of time,” she muttered, crossing her arms. “Should’ve just left it where I found it. Or thrown it out the window...” 

For a moment, she sat there in silence, staring at the ceiling. The absurdity of it all made her chuckle under her breath. 

“At least Joe doesn’t pull shit like this,” she said, shaking her head. 

She closed her eyes, letting herself sink into the chair. Maybe tomorrow would bring something better. Something that didn’t involve unexpected nudity. 

For now, she was done with humanity.