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[ascatic]

Leon

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[ascatic]

A bird? [ he only hears some of it, as his voice is partially softened by being in the upper storeroom. ] Hold on, let me get a closer look.

[ and with a few lunchmeat and cheese sliders on a white plate, he comes out with half-smile and two black furred cat ears that were not there before. ]

Hm...

[ ear twitch. ]

[reaquila]

That's not part of a cosplay set, is it? I saw them move. [Pause.]

Old man....

[Is this some kind of realistic prop?]

When did you even get those?

[ascatic]

You saw what move?

[ he's almost forgotten about how active his ears can be, and when he realizes it, he looks away in order to avoid the minor blush on his cheeks. ]

I woke up with them a few mornings ago. They... don't look wrong, do they.

[ he's more or less resigned himself to furrydom. ]

[reaquila]

They look off, yeah. Sorry man. [He facepalms.]

Aren't you allergic to cats?

[Hello? Leon??? Aren't you going to die like this??? Nanashi looks in concern. Okay, so it's not a prop. It's time to be a bit more serious.]

[ascatic]

[ he thinks about it for a moment before taking a seat and crossing one leg over the other. ]

... I am. But technically I'm not a cat, right? I still have hands. Fingers. No whiskers. I believe I should be fine.

[ but even he has his doubts. what if he's actually sick right now and he doesn't know it?! ]

So. This is your... demon? It looks too cute to be a menace.

[reaquila]

Yeah, that's him. Caladrius is kind of an idiot. Try not to hold it against him.

[Nanashi facepalms and then sighs.]

I don't think he wants to hurt you.

[The demon looks up at Leon and stares in curiosity.]

[ascatic]

[ he lowers his head, down to Caladrius' eye level, and hums in thought. ]

... can it hurt me?

[ both of his ears twitch. ]

It seems awfully small, you know.

[reaquila]

Don't underestimate it. It's got sharp claws, see?

[Nanashi lifts up the demons feet revealing some razor sharp nails. You could definitely hurt yourself on these. ]

[ascatic]

[ hm. well, with those intimidating claws, there's no way he's going to try to make it angry--- and his ears fold back when thinking about how painful they might be if they scratch his hand or arm. ]

Sure, sure. Help yourself to the sandwiches... would you like some tea? Coffee? Juice? Soda? Water?

[ plenty of options for a Boy and his Demon. ]

[reaquila]

I'd like some coffee. What about you, birdbrain?

[Caladrius makes some kind of grumbling sound and flaps its wings.]

He wants to try a soda. Would you mind giving him one?

[ascatic]

Coffee and soda. One moment.

[ thankfully there's already a fresh pot, just having been brewed. the soda is pulled from a small fridge below the counter. ]

Sadly, I only have regular. I feel that a calorie-free and caffeine-free version would be better for a demon.

[ and with the coffee, he brings sugar cubes as well as whole milk in a tiny pitcher. ]

Here. So... what does he do?

[reaquila]

He messes around all the time and begs me for food.

[Nanashi is running out of pet food constantly. He doesn't understand why demons are so hungry all the time. ]

Other than that? Not much. Let's go with the caffeine free soda. What are you going to have? Tea?

[ascatic]

Yes. Of course, it is what we do best here.

[ said cheerfully, placing the tray down on the table. ]

Messes around... so you're telling me you received something that is basically like a child? Or at least, a young adult?

[ not that he's comparing Nanashi or anything because they're clearly opposites!!! ]

[reaquila]

He's definitely a kid...in demon years. I don't know how long their childhood lasts in human years. [Nanashi waits for the coffee to simmer down before drinking it. ]

Caldarius doesn't eat humans. I know for a fact that other ones do. Got memories of it and everything.

[Some memories he'd prefer not to recall during mealtime. Thank you.]

Do you want to know more about him?

[ascatic]

I suppose I do. [ pulling the mug of tea up to his lips, he takes a sip and eyes Caladrius. ]

But does he know we're talking about him? I'd hate to breach his privacy without his consent. That'd be rude.

[ he's half-joking, half-serious. HONESTLY he's super curious but he also doesn't want to get beaten up by a sensitive birdy. ok. ]

[reaquila]

Sorta? He gets me but he doesn't get you. I speak demon.

Caladrius doesn't understand basic English. [Nanashi laughs. Leon's doing fine. It's alright.]

Don't worry about it.

[ascatic]

Demon. [ okay, now he's a little skeptical. ] And what does demon sound like?

[ said as he takes another sip, looking down at the sandwiches and wondering when the last time he ate was. even this early, he sometimes would... forget.

which is why his stomach grumbles. ]

Hm. Hopefully not like that.

[reaquila]

I can't really explain what it sounds like? You're just gonna have to listen closely.

[Nanashi speaks with Caladrius in the demon tongue. His voice is incredibly distorted and it's hard to make out any real words.]

Didn't mean to freak you out with that.

[ascatic]

... but what did you say?

[ his ears twitch, then flatten in response. he's not freaked out! no, he's... he's just not really sure what was said and is also pretty sure he wouldn't know even if he did. the noise is unnatural, certainly not a language he knows from television or radio or anything of the sort, and... ]

And you just knew how to speak like that? Amazing.

[reaquila]

Told him to drink his damn soda. Don't just stare at it... birdbrain. [Nanashi ruffles Caladrius feathers and makes him drink up.]

I get the feeling that old me wasn't entirely human. Why else would he have this kind of power? I'd prefer to speak in english or japanese. [Then Nanashi takes a look at Leon's new ears.]

Looks like you weren't human back then too.

[ascatic]

[ that last bit has his ears fold back, not looking to hide the annoyance of being called out like that? OF COURSE HE WASN'T HUMAN look at him!!! ]

Well... it seems like that may be the case. Or, you just know a language that others don't. It doesn't necessarily mean you weren't human.

You know, like me.

[ and then he wiggles his ears, making them swivel to the left then right on command. ]

Also, he better drink up.

[reaquila]

Maybe I'll find out the answer someday. What exactly were you? Do you remember yet? Those ears...

[Are not human ones??? But Leon doesn't seem too different. It's odd.]

They're really fuzzy. Are you still the same old man?

[ascatic]

The last time I checked, I was still Leon Aksera: the owner of the Tea Kittle.

[ despite his ears doing their Thing, he leans back in his chair and sips his tea again. half of the mug is gone and he hums to himself. ]

I think I could have left it steeping longer. It's a little on the weak side, but the coffee should be okay. Jamie's been rubbing off on me.

[ a beat, then: ]

Are they really that distracting?

[reaquila]

They are!

[Nanashi moves in and starts pulling on Leon's ears. Rude. Tell this kid off or else he might have a field day with those new add-ons.]

See? I'm not just imagining it every time it twitches...

[ascatic]

[ even in Nanashi's hands, they twitch erratically as they get pulled--- because CLEARLY the person who they're attached to are becoming agitated.

also, ow? ]

Of course not! [ he tries to lean in the opposite direction to avoid additional tugs. ] Haven't you ever pet a cat before?! This is basically the same thing!