daemonized | RECOLLE IC CONTACT.

Didn’t I just say that I don’t want to even entertain the notion of a midlife crisis?

[THANKS FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT ROSALIND]

She was a birthday present. A generous gift by one of Grell’s close friends.

[Ardyn will wander over to where the little kitten is — a six month old calico, mewing curiously as he approaches. Wiggling just a little as he bends down to pick it up, cradling it in his arms. He walks over to Rosalind.]

Her name is Penelope. Say hello.

[Penelope mews again and it’s so obvious that Ardyn is smitten with this kitten… like a big softie that he is.]

Odysseus' wife? Or did you have another Penelope in mind?

[Give Rosalind's own little goblin this: he's taught her how to properly approach a cat. There's a lot more experience in the way she brushes her fingers against the top of Penelope's head, scritching one of her ears.

Or hey, maybe that's Fawkes' influence. Kinda hard not to know how to scratch an animal's ears when your boyfriend spouts a pair once every fortnight.

Either way! Penelope seems pleased, and in turn Rosalind as well.]

How many do you think you're going to end up? Just so I know. Six? Eight?

She already had the name Penelope when I was given her. Grell has taken to calling her Penny.

[Which he supposes doesn't answer the question, so-] If we're to go with the theme, then yes. We shall say her namesake is Odysseus' wife. Loyal thing that she'll grow up to be.

[Penny just continues to look pleased at the new attention, though a little paw does come up to bat at Rosalind's fingers playfully.]

And don't worry, I draw the line at eight cats.

[HE COMES FROM A CAT CRAZY FAMILY APPARENTLY, THIS PROBABLY ISN'T TRUE]

I'm going to stop coming over at six. Just so you're aware.

[Just so he knows. Rosalind smiles faintly, her fingers wiggling to keep the cat's attention, secretly delighted the cat seems interested in her.]

Mm . . . come here. Give her to me; you've a few things to open.

You wouldn't do such a thing.

[But he hands Penny over to Rosalind, little mewing thing that she is. Soft and cuddly, as all kittens should be.]

Look at you, becoming more of a cat person as the days pass.

Don't spoil this.

[She most certainly is not becoming that, and any sweetness or joy she feels at holding Penny carefully is completely coincidental.

But there are presents to open, and a cupcake (small, but bought from a bakery Rosalind enjoys who knows you oughtn't put too much frosting on sweets) for him to eat. The presents are fairly numerous: a piece of paper, first of all, telling him that this will be arriving soon; a giftcard to a local pet shop, because of course he's going to want more cat things, she's just accepted that; a book on particularly interesting law cases, ones that either appeal on a baser sense or are simply interesting from a law point of view, and--

And, alas, a scarf. It's garish, bright kelly green and patterned with little chocobos, and she hates it, which likely means he'll love it.]

[Oh, Rosalind. This is too much. She's too good of a friend. He would've been happy with just her company and the cupcake.

All of these things are met with (sincere) surprise and gratitude, because one always needs more things suited for drinking, one always needs more cat supplies, and one must always need more reading material when it comes to amusing law cases and why they were ruled on in a particular way. He laughs at the group of all these presents, thanking her, but when he gets to the chocobo scarf--

Well. It's frankly amazing.]

Chocobos!

[-he says, as if it weren't obvious when he admires the scarf in his hands. Because, yes, chocobos. He loves it.]

Of course that's your favorite.

[She sounds vastly amused, though. Rosalind sets Penny down in her lap, resting her chin in the palm of one hand.]

I was going to go for a tie, but I thought you'd appreciate that one more. There were socks, too. Perhaps I'll save those for Christmas.

[He's already wrapping it around his neck, never mind the fact that he's already wearing a scarf. But now he has two. I dare you to judge him.]

Oh, don't spoil it. I want chocobo Christmas socks to be a complete surprise.

[He laughs.]

If there's one good thing that's come out of this Retrospec nonsense, it's chocobos. Even you cannot argue against that.

[The U.S.S Judgement has long since sailed.]

I can argue against whatever I'd like, actually. Though I do admit, they're rather . . . cute, I suppose. In a feathery way. I still don't like riding them, though.

I raced one against my nephew once, you know.

[It ended... uh, interestingly.]

We should try it together sometime.

[He says to Rosalind, who literally just said she doesn't like riding them.]

I'd beat you.

[Maybe not, she remembers belatedly. He had as much of an upper class education as she did, and what's more, he actively loves the things. It's not hard to imagine he'd beat her easily; she's only ridden once in the past year.

But like hell she's gonna take that back, so.]

And what a shame it would be for me to shatter that confidence of yours after you most assuredly lose.

[He loves chocobos, and remembers vaguely based on his memories how to deal with them, how to ride them. And while that's no guarantee that it won't end in disaster, he seems confident enough.]

I'm not going to let you win simply because it's your birthday.

Which nephew did you race against?

That's fine, I'd win anyway.

[An innocent grin!]

Ah, Souji. It believe it was his idea initially.

[WE'LL JUST SEE ABOUT THAT, BUDDY, but it's not worth arguing right now.]

That seems about right. Is he as mad for them as he is for cats, or is it just a general love for animals?

Oh, I think it was only a general curiosity, back when they were new and unusual. [A wave of a hand, dismissively.]

That isn't to say that he's not fond of animals in general. A shared trait between himself and I.

RECOLLE IC CONTACT.

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