There’s plenty of ways to look at a cat such as Scrimshaw, it's rare that his image or personality is static. Like fish swimming below the surface, there’s always a sense of movement to this tom. Most could tell he’d excel in being a speaker of sorts, always having a way with words and a means to get himself in and out of trouble. He’s captivating in his ways, alluringly earnest about his beliefs and his dedication to them. Though he may garner frustration, he’s quick to slip out of poor situations, much like an eel.

There’s no doubt Scrimshaw is driven when it comes down to it. He sees the world as a puzzle to solve, curious about its functions. Deeper, though, is his innate need to secure his spot in the world. Security was never an option before, but now there's a purpose. How he gets to his goal, is another question entirely. A cat such as Scrimshaw has to be hardy to get where he did, and to continue climbing upwards. The world was never gifted, hand wrapped on platter to him. He learned quickly that to survive, you develop thick skin, and to keep that skin thick, you keep your throat right at the fangs.

It’s no surprise that Scrimshaw learned to be practical at an early age, as well. There’s little time to dwell on misgivings when life carries on around you. Understanding the world at face value was key to his survival, and never expecting more than the dredges of life was enough to ensure that. If you worked hard, you got places, no matter the means to get there.

Unpredictability came with the territory. There’s no sense in routine when you wake up each day in a new place. Scrimshaw had to learn to keep himself on his toes, prepare himself for whatever was thrown at him. That, in turn, made him quite the innovative type, figuring out new ways around a situation at the drop of a hat. Scrimshaw always has his mind on the future, not one to dwell, and is often the first to jump head first into new developments. It never pays to sit and wait.

For that same reason, you could easily describe Scrimshaw as ostentatious. He’s outspoken in his beliefs, sometimes even vulgar in getting his point across. He doesn’t find the spotlight important, happy enough to be outspoken to his friends, but if onlookers saw, Scrimshaw wouldn’t shy away, either.

Admittedly, Scrimshaw has a very distinct understanding of the way the world works. And because of that, he also understands that sometimes to get somewhere, appeasing others is the safest bet. Not that the tom lacks dignity, but it certainly isn’t always at the forefront of his mind. Being kind is no sign of weakness to Scrimshaw, after all.

Getting to his core, though, it's an unfortunate truth that despite everything, Scrimshaw cares most of all for himself. Being self-serving is something that he learned early in life, and is nigh impossible to shake. There are few, if any cats, he’d put over himself when things came down to it. His goals are almost entirely focused on getting himself higher up on the hierarchy, and Scrimshaw understands that sometimes breaking a few eggs is the cost. Even moreso, there’s many facets to Scrimshaw, and with it, it is to be understood that there’s no one “true” Scrimshaw. He’s enigmatic that way, constantly shifting his demeanour around certain cats. For a cat who speaks as much as he does, there is very little Scrimshaw truly says about himself.

It’s no doubt that Scrimshaw is observant; he has to be to get what he wants. He can’t help his shrewdness most of the time. Being judgemental of small things helps keep himself sure of his own capabilities, though it's rarely something he brings up. Being fickle is a must for Scrimshaw. It’s how he maintains his composure, and how he makes sure that he’ll never be hurt. To keep others at arm's length saves him plenty of dilemmas further down the line. To be constantly moving is to never be truly seen, like a flickering mirage of something. Only half of a real cat.