[ Naturally, she sees it when the mask falls into place. Dorothea has been on the stage too long to mistake the act of slipping into character; she watches it in the mirror every day, after all, and she knows better than to bring it up in conversation. They're two performers in an unscripted play, writing the dialog as they go and seeing what lands. ]
You'd be surprised. [ Or maybe he wouldn't. Dorothea suspects that's closer to the truth. ] But I agree with you.
[ The mother cat meows and trots over, rubbing her body against Dorothea's legs in a display of familiarity. In return, Dorothea crouches and pets her, employing an even sweeter baby voice than Claude had been using. ]
Hello, Diamond. Hello, babies. My goodness, but you're all so beautiful. We're going to have to come up with some wonderful names for each and every one of you.
[ She winks in Claude's direction, picking up Diamond and sitting down next to him with the cat in her lap. From a pocket inside her jacket, she produces a wrapped-up scrap of fish, watching in amusement as the cat gobbles it up excitedly. ]
[Well, Mamacat likes her, so that's a good sign. He's still not sure whether she's mocking him or not when she babytalks her, though... but he'll act like he's giving her the benefit of the doubt.
Some of that newly formed tension softens when Dorothea plops down next to him, producing some fish of her own for Mamacat-- or, Diamond, apparently.]
A fancy name for a fancy lady! I'm afraid the names I've been coming up with don't quite match. [He scritches the forehead of the kitten trying to swipe at his fingers.] I've been calling this one Wobbles, and for this one, [he gestures to the kitten splayed out across his thigh, completely conked out] I was thinking Linhardt.
Wobbles! [ Dorothea's face lights up. ] That's adorable, I love it! And Linhardt is perfect for that one, but I'll probably end up calling it Lin for short.
[ One of the kittens begins to knead against her thigh, but Dorothea is quick to scoop it up in her hands to keep from being pricked by its needle-like claws. ] How about... Biscuit, for this one. What do you think?
[ Her hold of the little kitten is delicate, but supportive. She nuzzles it gently and giggles when it licks her, scrunching up her nose. ] You're all so sweet.
[He has to admit it, Dorothea is very charming. It doesn't even feel like it's entirely an act, but then, maybe she's just that good of an actress. That was her profession, after all.
Well, he's hardly one to judge. Pot, kettle, etc. He grins as she holds Biscuit up to her face and the kitten gives her a little lick.] Sounds good to me. I bet Diamond's glad to have her choice of babysitters on call. [He winks, reaching over to scritch under the lady Diamond's chin. She closes her eyes in bliss, purring loudly.] These are probably the most spoiled strays in existence. No wonder there's so many of them.
[ The real question you have to ask yourself, Claude, is why anyone would pretend to love kittens when they're basically the most perfect creatures on the goddess' green earth? Dorothea lowers her hand, keeping Biscuit secure against her chest as Diamond forms a cat loaf in her lap. ]
Once you know where it's easy to get food, or find safe places to sleep, why would you go anywhere else? I'm a little envious, actually; they'll always have people to look after them here at the monastery, they don't have to work or march into deadly battles... They get treated better than a lot of people do.
[ Not that it's their fault, and she's not mad at them for it. She drops a kiss on the top of Biscuit's head and sighs as Diamond purrs contently thanks to Claude's attentions. ]
I've never been able to keep any pets for myself, but I was friendly with a few strays growing up in Enbarr. Just like the ones here, the cats especially were welcomed by people looking to rid their pantries of vermin.
[It's less pretending to love kittens and more false friendliness towards him that he's concerned about. He sweeps Wobbles up in one hand, making the kitten squeak as he deposits her in the open front of his jacket. She immediately settles in to snooze against his chest.]
See, that's what I like about cats. They totally get forming mutually beneficial relationships without losing their independence.
Being independent is well and good, but isn't it better to know you have someplace to call home at the end of the day? And people to belong with? Not to. Just... with. Maybe that's my own wishful thinking; I've never really had a home to speak of. The opera was almost like a family, but. [ She shrugs, looking somber for a moment but quickly shaking it off with a smile. ] You don't want to hear about all of that.
[ Pointing to another one of the kittens, she says: ] Teaspoon, for this one, because it's small and silver colored. There's another cat here on campus that I call Silver Spoon, and they favor enough that I'd be willing to bet he's the father of a few of these kittens. And maybe Ginger for this one.
[Claude can't help looking at her anew after that little diversion, reassessing who it is exactly he's talking to. Dorothea, the only commoner in the Black Eagle house.
An outsider. Someone who doesn't quite belong. Like him. Her words touch some aching part of his heart, but he quickly covers up the feeling, somewhat relieved himself at the topic change, but he can't help but comment.] I don't mind hearing about it. You make a good point.
[Lightly, like it isn't something he's longed for all his life- somewhere he feels like he truly belongs, people he belongs with. His gaze follows her gesture to the kitten, and he chuckles hearing what she's named one of the other cats on campus.] Does Silver Spoon have an attitude problem or something?
[ Dorothea arches her brows a little when Claude says he doesn't mind hearing about her past, but she's also found in her life that nobles don't really like listening to commoners airing their grievances. See, he's not the only one who's grappled with the false friendliness of people with ulterior motives.
In any case, it's not like her history isn't common knowledge in Adrestia; she'll tell him about it sometime when she feels more like pouring out her heart, but it's better to keep things casual while they're both covered in kittens. ]
Spoonie's not bad, no, he's actually very friendly. He's just very demanding--more of a diva than I am. [ She chuckles at the little joke. ] Once he knows you'll pet him and pay attention to him, he won't leave you alone. He's one of the few cats I've ever met that won't try and bite your hand off if you rub his stomach. He's gray and fluffy, but he's white from his chin down to his belly, and he has little white mittens, too. I might try and take him with me when I graduate, but don't tell anyone I said so.
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You'd be surprised. [ Or maybe he wouldn't. Dorothea suspects that's closer to the truth. ] But I agree with you.
[ The mother cat meows and trots over, rubbing her body against Dorothea's legs in a display of familiarity. In return, Dorothea crouches and pets her, employing an even sweeter baby voice than Claude had been using. ]
Hello, Diamond. Hello, babies. My goodness, but you're all so beautiful. We're going to have to come up with some wonderful names for each and every one of you.
[ She winks in Claude's direction, picking up Diamond and sitting down next to him with the cat in her lap. From a pocket inside her jacket, she produces a wrapped-up scrap of fish, watching in amusement as the cat gobbles it up excitedly. ]
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Some of that newly formed tension softens when Dorothea plops down next to him, producing some fish of her own for Mamacat-- or, Diamond, apparently.]
A fancy name for a fancy lady! I'm afraid the names I've been coming up with don't quite match. [He scritches the forehead of the kitten trying to swipe at his fingers.] I've been calling this one Wobbles, and for this one, [he gestures to the kitten splayed out across his thigh, completely conked out] I was thinking Linhardt.
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[ One of the kittens begins to knead against her thigh, but Dorothea is quick to scoop it up in her hands to keep from being pricked by its needle-like claws. ] How about... Biscuit, for this one. What do you think?
[ Her hold of the little kitten is delicate, but supportive. She nuzzles it gently and giggles when it licks her, scrunching up her nose. ] You're all so sweet.
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Well, he's hardly one to judge. Pot, kettle, etc. He grins as she holds Biscuit up to her face and the kitten gives her a little lick.] Sounds good to me. I bet Diamond's glad to have her choice of babysitters on call. [He winks, reaching over to scritch under the lady Diamond's chin. She closes her eyes in bliss, purring loudly.] These are probably the most spoiled strays in existence. No wonder there's so many of them.
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Once you know where it's easy to get food, or find safe places to sleep, why would you go anywhere else? I'm a little envious, actually; they'll always have people to look after them here at the monastery, they don't have to work or march into deadly battles... They get treated better than a lot of people do.
[ Not that it's their fault, and she's not mad at them for it. She drops a kiss on the top of Biscuit's head and sighs as Diamond purrs contently thanks to Claude's attentions. ]
I've never been able to keep any pets for myself, but I was friendly with a few strays growing up in Enbarr. Just like the ones here, the cats especially were welcomed by people looking to rid their pantries of vermin.
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See, that's what I like about cats. They totally get forming mutually beneficial relationships without losing their independence.
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[ Pointing to another one of the kittens, she says: ] Teaspoon, for this one, because it's small and silver colored. There's another cat here on campus that I call Silver Spoon, and they favor enough that I'd be willing to bet he's the father of a few of these kittens. And maybe Ginger for this one.
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An outsider. Someone who doesn't quite belong. Like him. Her words touch some aching part of his heart, but he quickly covers up the feeling, somewhat relieved himself at the topic change, but he can't help but comment.] I don't mind hearing about it. You make a good point.
[Lightly, like it isn't something he's longed for all his life- somewhere he feels like he truly belongs, people he belongs with. His gaze follows her gesture to the kitten, and he chuckles hearing what she's named one of the other cats on campus.] Does Silver Spoon have an attitude problem or something?
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In any case, it's not like her history isn't common knowledge in Adrestia; she'll tell him about it sometime when she feels more like pouring out her heart, but it's better to keep things casual while they're both covered in kittens. ]
Spoonie's not bad, no, he's actually very friendly. He's just very demanding--more of a diva than I am. [ She chuckles at the little joke. ] Once he knows you'll pet him and pay attention to him, he won't leave you alone. He's one of the few cats I've ever met that won't try and bite your hand off if you rub his stomach. He's gray and fluffy, but he's white from his chin down to his belly, and he has little white mittens, too. I might try and take him with me when I graduate, but don't tell anyone I said so.