✐+ cats
〘楓〙
Her kimono may get dirty as she sits on the stairs of the pavilion, back facing away from the concert hall where festivities were being held but she can’t bring herself to care if the scarlet silk finds itself dirtied with dust. Her hand softly pets the gray fur of a cat, listening to it loudly purr in the quiet night. The moon was still high in the sky, past midnight but she knew she would be stuck here long. The stray cat she befriended was better company than the moroi in the hall, each pulling their facade of good will, when in reality they would clash for positions of power in the coming seasons.
While she would normally stay by her faithful guardian, he was on watch with the other dhampirs that swore to guard her race–He had given her a few looks of encouragement, before retaining his diligent and stoic mask. She’d apologize later she tells herself, but the suffocating air almost reminded her of how it must have been in the middle ages. Her kind was unchanging, and hopelessly stubborn as they cling to past ideals and reject the new. It’s why every party had to be in some traditional inn, far away from humans who weren’t feeders. The cat’s ears prick up suddenly, and it jumps out of her lap and into the bushes. Soon she hears footsteps on the cement gazebo, and feels a haori drape around her shoulders.
“You reek of perfume.” She states plainly, as the other stands by her side before plopping down next to her. The moroi didn’t need to ask what he’d been doing since he saw him walk off with a woman earlier. She wrinkles her nose at the scent, wishing her nose were stuffed instead.
“Can I try your perfume next, princess?”
“I’d rather have a strigoi rip out my throat and throw my dead body in a dumpster.”
A bark of laughter sounds from the man as she feels his cerulean gaze bore into her. She wouldn’t bother acknowledging his presence, since that would only encourage him to, as he puts, ‘capture her.’ She sees the feline face peek out of the bushes, clearly wary of the man’s presence.
“Your dhampir toy won’t like it if you sat stuff like that.”
Ah, how she could almost hear the corners of his lips pulling into a smirk. It was infuriating, but she’d never show it. Any reaction to him would just goad the man into trying to get more from her.
“That’s a shame.” Another deep laugh echos in the night air, and she resists the urge to scoff in reply. It was always like this with the two of them, pointless words and annoying retorts. Nothing would change their position however, and she wishes she was back in America where all her pressures of being a family heir was left to rot in her gilded cage.
The gray cat takes a few steps forward as she tries to beckon it back.
“Careful, or I might just marry you right now.” He hums in reply. She wrinkles her nose again, but she can just blame it on the gaudy perfume that drifted to her nose.
“Wow, you and monogamy? Just for me? I’ll call the priest myself.” He stands, but she can still picture that smirk in her head as he looks down on her. The cat freezes up, and rushes back into the bushes. She sighs quietly, as the man speaks again.
“Your mother’s looking for you. Come back inside before you freeze.” He turns, and she rolls her eyes in a silent reply, going back to beckoning the gray cat. It peeks out, but it’s only when his footsteps recede, that it comes out again headbutting her hand with a purr.
“I’d rather freeze than spend another moment suffocating.” The cat seems to meow in reply and she chooses to think it said ‘same.’
