middaeg | (catch-all)

[Her prediction is more or less accurate. It takes a moment before they realize what she carries with her, but once the scent seems to hit each of them, the cubs begin doing everything they can to try and get some food out of her. Some are bold enough to try pawing at her legs in hopes that she might trip or they'll be noticed. Some try to look as sweet as possible, running out ahead of her before flopping over.]

I would not feed them something beneath me. They may be young, but they are Divine Beasts.

[It's important they have proper nutrition!!]

Divine beasts or not, they act like kittens.

[Her voice is wry, and she casts a glance over her shoulder, amused at him. Yes, she sees your flop tiny divine beast, and she'll tickle you with one paw foot before moving on.]

And kittens are always hungry.

[And...she's walking slowly because she's pretty sure one of them is trying to climb up her skirts.]

[That may or may not be what one of them is trying to do. It may even be trying to flap its little wings, hoping that it can take flight instead of having to make this climb, but its little wings are honestly too small for its rolypoly form to really get anywhere.]

When not into mischief.

[He doesn't mind having as many of these kittens around, of course, but they are prone to getting into things. Hence why they're being kept outside to scamper around with one another and attack bugs. Better that than a vase inside.]

[Yup, she feels the little flapping going on. It's adorable. But she can't stop or else she'll be swarmed.]

Which is always. I might have to take one in my arm- there's one of them that's a very good climber.

[Ozymandias does not offer to help her in making the journey across the yard. As long as she keeps moving, she'll likely outpace her little pursuers one way or another, but it's also more amusing this way.]

I trust you will manage.

You're so helpful. I'm not sure if this is confidence or you're enjoying this.

[She shook her head, but she was smiling a little. She was still moving, though it was a moderate pace-and she has to take a moment to carry the dish in one hand so she could tuck the very good Climber in the crook of her arm, so she can use both of her hands again.]

And I think it's amusement.

[The Climber is at first a little disgruntled at being picked up and tucked under her arm like this, but rather than sulk, it looks for the first sign of opportunity. Its front paws begin reaching as best it can towards the food and it does a careful wiggle to get closer.]

Are the two mutually exclusive?

[He huffs a laugh.]

[Little stretchy paws. Caren huffed quietly, and tried to keep it out of its reach.]

No, but you're clearly amused.

[How rude. She shook her head, and made to get ready to jump over the second gate inside. She's going to have to keep a grip of the Climber.]

Better that my mood be easy to read, [he says with a slight shrug and an even wider grin, clearly teasing her.] Shall I end my amusement and take that one from you?

[Because it's refusing to give up. Give. It. The. Goods.]

Oh yes, I'd be lost at sea without you being an easy read.

[She made a face at him, and turned around. Still holding the dish, but also? She's having to wrestle a divine kitten with one hand. Child no, not yet! Waaaait, can't get paw prints all over this.]

But please do. I don't know what she's been walking on.

[Ozymandias sets the cub in his arms down, which shakes itself off before puffing out its little chest. It clearly takes his setting it down as a concession and it has won the battle against the mighty pharaoh. Ozymandias doesn't burst its little bubble as he passes it to relieve Caren of her little climber, scooping this kitten up in his arms.]

Enough, all of you, [he says, placing his hand at the small of Caren's back to move her forward as he addresses her followers. Surprisingly, the kittens do actually pause in their pursuit, giving Caren a little breathing room before trying to follow after both Ozymandias and Caren.]

[Silly little thing. At least Ozy rescued her from the little climber-especially since it was moments away from touching what she was hoping would be his lunch.]

Thank you.

[That was a relief. She hadn't expected the touch but-it wasn't unwelcome. She moved forward, careful as she walked so she wouldn't step on one of his divine beasts (which were clearly not much beloved pets) as they walked beyond the gate and into the house.]

So...how did these divine beasts come into your life?

[They're kittens. They're actually kittens.]

I summoned them, of course.

[Where certain other kings might say this with disdain either for having to acknowledge the summoning of such small and vulnerable creatures or for having to answer a question that should have an obvious answer. But Ozymandias, instead, says this both with a bit of resignation and pride.]

They were not entirely my intention, of course. I had hoped for a fully matured sphinx, not these little ones.

[But botched summoning or not, he's not exactly resentful of the kittens if the way he spoke of them earlier was any indication. They are still worthy of respect even when getting into all sorts of hijinx. The kitten he removed from Caren clambers its way onto his shoulders, which he permits.]

Ah.

[Some would have sneered at her, but thankfully Ozy is too polite to do such a thing.]

Maybe once you've expanded your well of magic, you'll be able to summon one at full maturity? But having these companions in the meantime...

They are adorable.

[And mischief making. She glances up at him, and his little companion curled up over his shoulders. And for a few moments she wondered what it would have been like, if she had ever been given or she had made a pet somewhere.

No..no. She was too much like her father to make it possible.]

[The sphinx on his shoulders seems quite content up there. While it's no closer to what Caren has brought, it arguably has a much better vantage point for observing relative to its siblings, who are all still making their way in from the yard. Some have managed to lose interest in Caren's food for the moment, trotting on past her. Others clearly have not, but hang back patiently so as not to disobey Ozymandias. After the last cub has made its way inside, Ozymandias closes the front door behind it.]

It certainly makes up for some of their misbehavior.

[She also wouldn't be surprised if the little kitten decided to have a nap up there, higher then all their siblings. Lucky sphinx.

Mostly Caren is glad they're not tripping the pair of them up, even once they come inside. Caren takes a few moments to carefully shake off her feet-it's the best she can do, unless there's a mat she can wipe her feet on. The perils of being unable to wear shoes.]

At least some of it is because they want your attention. I don't blame them- I'm sure they're just bored.

Had I known I would summon an army of kittens, I might have been more prepared.

[He'd go full-on crazy cat lady. Ain't no stopping him.]

[As with before, Ozymandias leads her further into the house to where they can comfortably sit. The sphinx on his shoulders remains perfectly balanced with the sway of his steps.]

You could have made a few cat trees.

[Or modified his home a bit so he could ensure they would be always entertained, even when he wasn't there.

Just live your happy cat lady life Ozy, she ain't gonna stop you. She will, however, look for a place to put down the food so the pair of them can sample before the kitties swipe some.]

[Ozymandias casts a curious look over his shoulder (and the kitten) back at Caren.]

Cat trees?

[...Are the trees outside not enough for them??]

Oh, you don't know of those?

[How curious! She would have thought they'd be all over the place.]

They're usually covered in carpet, or other materials that cats like to scratch. It's a way they can get their scratching urges on other things then the furnishings- and they get to climb on top of things and survey the room from a safe place.

Rather then, say, on top of something dangerous, like a narrow space between the ceiling and the bookshelf.

[As Caren describes them, Ozymandias must admit that they seem a good idea to have around. Perhaps it is something to consider if he continues to accidentally summon kittens rather than the Divine Beast(s) he's trying for.]

I am not certain it would be enough to dissuade some of these young ones, but it is certainly an idea.

They'd at least enjoy having their own perch.

[She shrugged. She wouldn't mind trying to help making them with him, or at least tell him how they were made, from what she's seen in magazines and such.]

But they're cats. Nothing discourages them to do what they want to do.

[She would know, being a cat right.]

[Ozymandias can't help but laugh as he stops and moves aside for her to enter the room first and take up a seat for herself.]

Speaking from personal experience?

[She huffs, and moves towards a nearby surface so she can put the food down and not let the cats get to it.

Then she'll sit down, and carefully move so her tail and wings aren't taking up all the space.]

Naturally.

Some may have argued I was catlike, even before the tail.

[Ozymandias sits across from her at the table. The sphinx on his shoulder certainly begins eyeing what Caren's brought again, but also seems content still on his shoulders. It folds its legs underneath itself in a little sphinx loaf.]

How fortunate then that if you were to be made Monster that you would develop so many feline traits then.

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