middaeg | (catch-all)

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.

[The little sphinx loaf is adorable. If Caren was anyone else, she would have been overcome with the need to pet it.]

It would have been tragic if I had been, say, a dog. It would have conflicted with my very nature, and I would have expired.

Are you hungry? Or should I put the food away?

[The sphinx's tail flicks a few times before it also curls and completes the loaf.]

Even if I were not hungry, you've brought it all this way. It would be remiss of me not to at least try what you have brought as an offering.

[He gestures for her to proceed with the food. A seamless gesture that plucks another cub off the table just as it manages to leap its way up.]

[What a beautiful companion loaf. How is she not cooing over this adorable creature??? And creatures???]

Then I'll cut off a small piece.

[Thank you for your quick save Ozy. She moved to grab a few things from the kitchen, and came back with plates, a knife, and forks.]

Though I will warn you-I do plan on making this a regular routine.

[Rather than placing the sphinx that leaped onto the table on the floor, Ozymandias merely draws it in close and holds it to his chest while Caren fetches a few things from the kitchen.]

Do you? [He huffs a small laugh.] Do not tell me you're concerned for my health.

[Smart move, since the sphinx would and could try to go back onto the table. Caren made a soft noise, amused, even as she set the plates on the table.]

That would be motherly, wouldn't it? And quite out of character.

[She shook her head.]

No, it's practical. It's easier to cook for two then it is for one.

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