catnap with destiny [open]

[regalduchess]

...Perhaps it is true that cats have nine lives.

Three days after the crocodile, Duchess wakes up in the same place she'd died (swiftly, not fast enough for blood to stain past the collar). She's curled up as if in a light catnap on the windowseat in one of the halls, but the dust on the velvet cushions betrays the truth.

Duchess opens her eyes slowly against the light that filters in. Warmth puddles on her back, slips away on her shadowed paws and tail curled under her body.

...despite how nice it feels, she still has a phantom ache in her throat. She'll sit at the windowseat for a while, alternately grooming her fur into perfection or soaking up the sun.

A little later, she'll pad down into the gardens and inspect the newest... additions to the landscape.  It's entirely possible that anyone could run into her, either at the windowseat, the gardens, or anywhere in-between.

Comments

[itstheend]

A moment of memory. This is not the first time someone has called Chara's name lovely. The only lovely thing about them it seems, unless the definition can be stretched to include LOVEly.

"Lovely," they concur, curling their fingers to scratch behind Duchess's ears as the nuzzle naturally invites, "but ill-fitting. Whereas I could see you very much as a Duchess."

She has the regal bearing for it, and the care taken to her appearance. Isn't there a saying, that all cats are nobility? The only rule Chara would be inclined to accept, to be honest.

Frisk presses against the divide of their mind like, well, a kid holding their palms up to the glass of a candy store. *Chara, can I...? They hesitate and then nod, a small but still observable movement, and retreat back into themself.

The child continues to stroke and pet Duchess, but they seem more relaxed, and their face has fallen into a content neutrality, eyes almost shuttered closed.

[regalduchess]

Duchess kicks up a purr in her chest, eyes squeezing shut in contentment.

"Thank you, little one."

She can sense the shift. One does not live without children without tuning in to eccentricities quickly, and the hands that touch her feel reassuringly soft, but still different.

It goes uncommented on. She winds around their ankles, encouraging her new friend to scratch down her back. Duchess is nothing if not gently insistent; and she has no doubts that Chara won't mind obliging.

[itstheend]

Scratch down her back Frisk does, smiling a little. It's always good when Chara actually lets them come to the fore. They can feel the sunlight properly, and the fur under fingers not their own. Chara was right. It is very soft.

Cat monsters know secrets, but you have to ask the right way.

"Do you like cupcakes?" It's Chara's voice, but quieter, warmer. "I have some!"

They reluctantly remove one hand to start going through the pockets. Chara unverbally expresses displeasure at their starting horde being given away, but it rolls off like oil on water. They're not going to run out!

[regalduchess]

"...although I have human speech, I have a cat mouth, and those are not good at tasting sugar." But she doesn't want to disappoint Chara... and she doesn't want to get poisoned, either, so she'll take just a little.

"I suppose a little bit can't hurt!"

[itstheend]

"Oh," Frisk says. They didn't know cats had trouble tasting sweet things. It seems like a shame. "I'm sorry. I just kind of thought..." That it would be fine.

Unfortunately, Chara went straight for the chocolate flavoured ones, so maybe a very little. Frisk knows it's bad for dogs, but doesn't know if it's bad for cats. They remove a rather squished example from their pocket and hold it out like a peace offering. They were going to also take one for themself, but they don't want to rub it in if she's only going to be having a small bit.

Inwardly, Chara rolls their eyes.

"Can you do magic?" Frisk asks with curiosity; it's less of a 'are you capable of it' and more of a 'can I see?' question.

[regalduchess]

"Oh, I don't believe so. Speaking your language is a magic in itself, so... I suppose?" She waves her tail, tilting her head in a facsimile of a shrug.

"Thank you, darling." She takes a small nibble and nothing more-- she might get a stomachache, but nothing worse.

[itstheend]

Honestly if Frisk knew she'd get that much they'd be upset with themselves, but as it is they beam, and start eating the rest of the cupcake. "You're welcome!" they say.

She can't do magic? Oh, Frisk's heard of that. Monsters who are... there's a word for it they can't remember, but it's stuck in their head as magic-deaf. Who have all or most of their magic going into keeping them alive, and can't use it for other things very much.

It's always been a sad thing to Frisk, despite being similarly magic-impaired. Humans just aren't supposed to have magic, they think, but to monsters, it's what they are.

"Sorry," they say, looking chastened. "I shouldn't have just guessed you could like that." They try to ignore an intrigued Chara internally carding at what else they know of magic.

[regalduchess]

At somepoint, Duchess will have to tell everyone that magic is not, and never has been, native to her. It's a sad thing; but comforting, too. She will never have to worry about her magic backfiring and hurting anyone.

"I do not think I am a monster. I am just a cat."

[itstheend]

Frisk just sort of. Looks at her. Does not compute. Not in their paradigm.

"But... you're talking."

Is it she is a monster but just doesn't consider herself worthy of the title, like Chara pretends they're a demon? They ignore an I do not pretend! from within. That only makes them feel sadder about this.

[regalduchess]

"I couldn't talk to you in this way before I arrived at the castle. Perhaps the castle is lending me some of its magic."

She wishes she knew; neither she, the child, or any of the other denizens seem to have any idea.

[itstheend]

"'In this way'," they quote. "But you could still talk?"

If that's true, it means cats are a third variety of people. Frisk has no problem accepting this, and neither does Chara. "Okay. Sorry I thought you were a monster."

Being mistaken for something or someone you're not isn't a thing people enjoy, in their experience. They tilt their head at her, curious.

"Does the castle do that for everyone?"

It would explain how people from different worlds can communicate, Chara muses.

[regalduchess]

"Oh, I certainly hope so!"

She hides a smile behind a paw. "nd do not worry, my dear. You didn't know any better. But I assure you, I am fully cat."

She bats at their hand, encouraging more scratches.

[itstheend]

"Okay."

Frisk nods and happily obliges with more scratching, humming. They're used to petting dogs more, and it may show, but plenty of cat monsters liked this too.

It's good that she seems fine with the faux pas. And even if she's not a monster, they're still going to ask.

"Do you know any secrets 'bout this place?"

[regalduchess]

Duchess purrs and luxuriates in the scratching for a few seconds, question floating on the top of her mind; unanswered for the moment, but present.

"I know that the rooms change." A pause. "I know that it seems to provide anything we may need, with a little looking."

[itstheend]

"Anything?" Frisk says, continuing to scratch. "Like... things from home?" Could they find a butterscotch cinnamon pie if they went through all the cupboards, for example?

Frisk stop killing yourself with sappy nostalgia.

[regalduchess]

"I suppose." Except for a new collar, or one that is more elegant than the plain white band she has now.

"Think of what you desire, and I assume you'll find it eventually."

[itstheend]

"That's... really good to know, thanks Duchess!" Frisk's tone is genuinely warm and grateful. Chara is itching impatiently under their skin and they're tempted to ask for five more minutes but... best not to push it, given their past together.

They reluctantly fall back and Chara takes their place at the fore, not missing a beat on the scratching.

The sunlight's so warm.

[regalduchess]

Duchess sticks around to enjoy the petting for a minute more, though careful not to overindulge; if she gets sore, then she won't be able to fully enjoy any scratches she may get later.

"I'm afraid that I must go, my dear. I need to make sure that everyone else is safe."

[itstheend]

"Understandable," Chara says with a small nod. Not they themself know the sentiment in personal experience, but they can understand it. "I have things I need to do myself."

Given how small this place is, they're bound to run into each other again sometime. They stop scratching, and stand up, dusting off their trousers.

"Be seeing you, Duchess."

Off they go.