inbox.

[tender]

action + written + crystal

Comments

[tender]

Why? Do you have a cat that needs to be adopted?

[justashotaway]

I have a cat that is mine. [A pause.] And Matthias'.

But there are kittens without a mother. Do you like cats?

[tender]

I do.

[ slowly — ]

Where did you find the kittens?

[justashotaway]

Here.

[Wait. That might not be specific enough.]

The Gallows.

[There we go.]

[tender]

They're strays? You can't find their mother?

[justashotaway]

They lived without their mother in the kitchen. The other kittens we took had a mother they could be returned to.

[tender]

I don't know if we shouldn't give them to someone better able to take care of them. Maybe Sawbones would know what to do.

[justashotaway]

Matthias says they are easy to care for.

[tender]

We've had cats on some ships I've sailed on before, and they did mostly take care of themselves. Kittens need a little more attention though, I imagine.

[ slowly understanding what fate has in store for her.... ]

[justashotaway]

They are soft, though. And they purr. There are reasons to attend to them.

[tender]

I know. I just...well, I've never really had pets.

The cats usually belonged to the cook.

[justashotaway]

I never had pets, either. Only meat. [A pause.] One has a spot on the end of its tail. You could have that one.

[tender]

Oh, me?

[ what!! ]

You aren't sure someone else would be better?

[justashotaway]

You would be kind to it.

[tender]

I would.

[ grimacing ]

Are you sure there isn't anyone else?

[justashotaway]

...If you do not want it, you do not have to take it.

[tender]

It's not that.

[ it's a little bit that ]

I just...I'm not sure I know how to take care of it.

[justashotaway]

[...well. she can reassure on this front, at least.]

It requires water, but only food if it does not catch anything to eat. It will need to relieve itself sometimes, so you must not leave it trapped in your room. It will come back to you because you will pet it and give it food and water. That is how it will know it belongs to you.

[tender]

That sounds very simple. It seemed like the one cook had required a lot more of him.

[justashotaway]

What did it require?

[did matthias forget to tell her something important about cats]

[tender]

He would keep the cat with him, on his shoulder. Sometimes in his apron.

[ what health codes ]

And he'd sing little songs.

[justashotaway]

You could do those things.

[tender]

Would it make you happy if I took the kitten?

[justashotaway]

Not if you do not want it.

[tender]

[ panicky internal scream ]

I can try it.