thephix | (exsilium) ic contact

I like Artemisia.

[And her eyebrows go up with that ow, though she's mostly focused on Maurice straining against her hold to try to investigate the new creature in their midst.]

Stay.

[He stills a little, but it's pretty clear his curiosity is winning out.]

( Moving slowly so he doesn't jostle the little cat, he holds his hand out to Maurice so he can get the smell off Donny. )

I think uh, t-technically? You're m-meant to keep them um, k-keep them separate.

( But that obviously isn't really feasible in this tiny tiny apartment. Instead, he's scooping the kitten up in his hand, listening to her mew loudly (she's got a good set of lungs) and resting her on his lap. Still away from Maurice, but yes. ) I g-guess I just gotta um, k-keep an eye on 'em.

[Maurice, in all his doggy glory, licks Donny's hand.]

I don't think Maurice would approve of being locked in the bathroom. [Since that's really the only other room in the apartment; she's upgraded since Donny and her found each other, but it's still a studio. If things with the store go well, she might think about finding them a bigger place.]

The biggest concern is him accidentally hurting her.

[Since Maurice isn't inclined to hurt anything on purpose, but he's a lot bigger than a tiny kitten.]

We c-can just, um.

( Man, he's not even sure. He's never actually had a cat before. ) M-make her lots of uh, escape routes? And I'll w-watch her. Right?

( Another little squeak from the cat, and she's all fluffed up and hissing a little as she hops and stomps towards Maurice. And jumps backwards. And forwards again. And batting with her paw. )

[Max lets Maurice move just a little, so that he's directly facing the kitten, huffing at it's antics, just trying to nose at her and make friends.]

Small spaces should help, as well.

[Since the tiny thing can get places that Maurice wouldn't be able to.]

( And the cat is batting at Maurice's face, skittering backwards before she investigates again, after reassuring herself the Donny mountain will protect her. )

Artemisia, b-be nice.

( So delighted, as he grins at Max. )

It'll be p-perfect.

Gentle. [That's for Maurice, who's blinking at being batted and trying to nuzzle the kitten. At the word, he looks questioninly at Max.] Be gentle with her.

[Maurice does know the word gentle, since Max has come home injured enough times that she had to teach him when to back off. She just hopes he'll remember it around the kitten.

She doesn't say anything to his comment about perfect, but she does look up and offer a smile. She's just glad he's happy.]

( the kitten finally relents, purring loudly - maybe from stress - as it presses against Maurice's muzzle and starts looking for Max's hand to demand attention from her, too. )

See? This is g-good.

( she's purring a lot and rubbing against Maurice. Donny pets Maurice, and glances back at Max.)

Thanks.

[Maurice makes a pleased grumbly sound, resting his head on the couch beside the kitten, so it can keep rubbing against him. Max, meanwhile, is eyeing Artemisia a little skeptically, before very carefully petting down her back, just once.

It looks so fragile, is all.]

This is your apartment, too.

[He still needed to check that it was alright to bring another animal into the place, but he doesn't need to thank her.]

( Artemisia is bumping against Maurice, trilling a little when Max pets her, before looking at her expectantly.

Meanwhile, Donny looks entirely besotted with the kitten, though his brow furrows a little. )

You f-found it.

( Worrying at the inside of his cheek. It feels more like her place, really. )

[Cat you have enough attention Max doesn't need to pat you as well.]

You pay rent, you live here, that makes it yours as well.

[It doesn't matter who found it, though she makes a note to include him in the search process if she does decide to get a bigger apartment.]

( Said cat is putting its paw on Maurice's snout and smooshing - more like faceplanting - against him. Apparently she's pleased with this new creature. )

Yeah, b-but.

( A little frown, but he dismisses it, ducking his head. She sets things up. If there was a problem, he'd leave, rather than expecting her to. Not that he thinks that is likely to happen, but still. )

Yeah. Okay. ( He's still more relaxed than before their vacation mission, but he's feeling like he should be more cautious, or something. )

[In playful retaliation, Maurice's tongue flicks out to lick the kitten, before he huffs and lets her go back to smooshing him.]

Good.

[That they've reached this agreement, as Max unclips the leash from Maurice's collar, since it seems like he's not about to go bounding after the kitten. She's sure they'll have to keep watch, but things are calm enough for the moment.]

There's going to be fur on everything, isn't there?

[That seems to be A Thing with cats, and while Maurice does shed a little, at least he's a short haired dog.]

( The kitten jumps off the sofa, still purring, rubbing up against Maurice's legs and stomping around on its short legs. )

M-most of my uh, shirts are g-grey.

( Not that many, actually, but he does manage another little smile, gently nudging her shoulder with his own. ) I g-get lint rollers.

[There's a bit of a pout at that, because she doesn't wear very much grey.

Maurice is entirely unconcered about this, moving around so he can keep watching the kitten, bumping her with his nose but being careful not to tread on her.]

Let's hope we can find some.

[Do they have lint rollers in post apocalyptic London?]

Or I'll m-make some. Out of uh, t-tape? It's w-what I did at home.

( Lint rollers are crazy expensive, seriously. Sticky tape worked just fine. Student budget life. )

Fur c-coat, otherwise?

( With a little smile, conspiratorial. )

[Good god, Donny.

Sometimes Max worries about you.]

I'm sure I can find a substitute other than tape.

[She's making so many faces at him right now.]

Fake fur.

[thank you very much]

I'll d-do it uh, do it b-by hand.

( See, that's love and commitment right there, Max. )

Yep. Insulated by finest uh, finest fake fur. It's very p-protective, I hear.

[Very, very slowly, she reaches across to press a finger over his lips in a be quiet gesture.

It's playful, though, even if she's looking at him as if he might be insane.]

You're being ridiculous.

[so ridiculous]

( Well. Okay then.

He is just going to gently nip her finger with his teeth, careful not to hurt her with his retaliation.
And then he's pouting just a little. )

[Adonis did you just bite her?

Excuse Max while she huffs and pulls her hand away, throwing both hands up in an exasperated sort of gesture, very over the top and maybe just a little bit Italian.]

Is this just because you have a kitten?

[That he's being so ~~adorable~~ ridiculous.

And she's just going to pour herself a second glass of wine so she can judge him while sipping it.

It's slightly undone by the fact Artemisia followed her to the bench and is rubbing against Max's ankles.

Sigh, cats.]

Nuh uh.

( still smiling, and maybe he's smiling too much, ducking his head and sheepishly trying to banish it away. That's not entirely successful with the kitten rubbing up against Max and Maurice flopping onto his belly as he keeps watching his new toy.

Donny huffs a quiet laugh and watched as she gets her wine, kicking off his boots and drawing both feet up onto the couch. )

I w-was um, always this annoying.

I'm sure you're not.

[But - ugh - the kitten is making adorable sounds and with a sigh, Max crouches down to carefully scoop her up. Glass of wine in one hand and kitten in the other, she makes her way back to the couch, sitting at the opposite end to Donny but stretching her legs out so they're in his lap.

It's definitely only so that she can set the kitten down in her own lap and it has plenty of room to move about on her legs. It has nothing to do with the fact she just likes touching him, even if it's in little ways like this.]

Is this your w-way if asking for a foot rub?

( eyebrows raised a little, but only playfully. Donny idly lets his hands slide down one of her calves, warmth in his touch to soothe her muscles. )

She l-likes you.

( Tiny cat might be kneading Max's leg.)

[She raises her eyebrows right back, looking at him over the rim of her glass.]

If I wanted a foot rub I'd ask for one.

[Not that she doesn't smile at the warmth in his touch.]

Of course she does.

[Everyone likes Max, animals included.]

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html please

It felt neglected

the most obvious explanation

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