Sowing Seeds

[buon_giorno]

"Come here...isn't your paw hurt?"

Giorno had full intentions of stealing a mid-day nap, but Croccante was high on one of the broken pillars beside the door to his room. The white cat eyed him but didn't come down. Giorno sighed and rubbed his head. Just looking up for too long was hard when he had been on his feet for longer than an hour or two.

It had been just two days since he cured Joseph. He had slept almost the rest of the day through and that was all he was allowing himself after making himself so scarce for a whole week. At some point doubt would creep into the community gossip and that was the last thing he needed to manage.

Giorno leaned against the pillar and put some of his energy into the ivy vines that crept up it. The flowers burst open, surprising the small cat, and urging her to leap down--right onto his head. He quickly pried her out of his now-mussed curls and inspected her paw. A little splinter poked out of the pink pad, and he squinted to pluck it out--and missed. And tried again--and missed. His hands were shaking. Croccante's tail was swishing in irritation. He summoned all his focus and managed to fix his fingers around it to pull it out, and the fluffy cat bolted out of his arms not a moment later.

"Yes, yes...you're welcome." Giorno watched her take off down the hall.

Comments

[unchill_chuck]

"Yeah, yeah." Chilchuck was already unloading his pack from his back. He knew when he was outmatched. 'A lot of evidence it took us to get to this conclusion.'

When he pulled out a bag of jerky, the fox's ears popped straight up. He tossed it a strip--and it bounded up to catch it in mid-air.

[scholarandaprincess]

"It's rather social with people already!" Zelda pulled out a notebook to begin taking notes.

[unchill_chuck]

"Most things will be if you feed 'em like this." It had demolished the jerky and Chilchuck flicked it a berry for it to jump up and catch. And another. And another. And another. And another.

[shepard]

"You must have a real weakness for the princess if you're being this generous."

[unchill_chuck]

The tips of Chilchuck's ears turned red.

"Look, I just know how to pick my battles," he said as he and the fox played a game of tug of war with another strip of jerky.

[shepard]

"I won't be surprised if he follows up home now."

[unchill_chuck]

Chilchuck released his hold on the meat and the fox went tumbling back. Unbothered, it seemed to laugh at ‘winning’ the game.

“It might as well…little freeloader.” Chilchuck stood and brushed his clothes off. “C’mon, let’s hurry back to the villa before Giorno settles in for his beauty sleep.”

[julibahana]

"...and so that was what we were thinking," Juli finished, explaining to Giorno what the rest of them had discovered during their outing.

"Did I miss anything?" She glanced over at the others, waiting for any of them to fill in any details she omitted that they felt were important.

[buon_giorno]

Though everyone shook their heads, it was clear Zelda was holding back a spiel. Having Juli ask was calculated, clearly. 'Does Her Highness really see me as so stingy with my time?'

Even though everyone had arrived just in time for dinner and the smell of it permeated the dining hall, Giorno was only drinking tea.

"...Well, with how much effort it's made to ingratiate itself, how could I say no?" The fox was curled up around Chilchuck's leg where he sat, occasionally brushing his ear with the tip of it's furry tail.

[scholarandaprincess]

"Excellent. I've already identified the perfect plot towards the valley. I'll have the proposal ready in time for our next meeting."

[unchill_chuck]

Chilchuck was already one plate of food and two pints in by the time Juli finished her recap. He dangled a bit of the grilled meet over the fox's nose. "Behave for the next two days, understand? You'll get plenty of this as long as you don't go after the chickens."

[shepard]

"Did we all forget the most important part of this meeting?" Shepard gestured to the fox with the pint she held in her hand. "Anyone got a name for the little guy?"

[buon_giorno]

"It's a female fox," Giorno piped up. "It's head is more triangular, you see...should that affect your decision."

[unchill_chuck]

Chilchuck looked at Zelda, who looked back at him. "...Wait, seriously? You're the one who wanted this thing in the first place."

[scholarandaprincess]

"I'm invested in the ecological preservation of my kingdom's species. ...However, names are a personal affair, and she appears fondest of you."

[unchill_chuck]

Chilchuck squinted down a the fox and then back at Shepard--and he was too tipsy not to be a little obvious about it. The fox's fur was the same shade of red as her hair.

"...Maridew." Chilchuck slugged back another mouthful of ale. "If you're gonna put me on the spot, she's getting a Half-foot name."

[shepard]

"Cute."

[julibahana]

"I really like it!"

[shepard]

"Hope you have more of those names up your sleeves in case she's eating for more than one."

Shepard couldn't help it. She loved giving Chilchuck a hard time.

[buon_giorno]

"Cats are known to seek out human assistance when they're expecting. Perhaps it's the same for foxes."

[unchill_chuck]

Chilchuck's ears burned. 'Oh good. Since when did Mr. Detached join in on the hyuks?'

"Right. I think I've named enough girls for one lifetime."

[scholarandaprincess]

"What was that?" Zelda asked, not quite able to make out his mumbling.

[unchill_chuck]

"I said sure. Now get on making that enclosure nice and big."

[julibahana]

Juli hummed to herself. "I know we still need the official report before we really get building, but I can think of two people who can probably get an early start on drafting the enclosure."

[shepard]

"This is easily the most efficient government I've witnessed in the entire universe and half of you are still minors. Wonder what that says about us adults."

Shepard took a final swig of her drink.