Kitty's Keeper/No Clean Blades

III

John returned with tea half an hour later. Kitty was so absorbed by their book that they didn't hear him enter. John, upon noticing this, made it a point to place the tea tray on the side table as audibly as he could. Kitty stirred, but that was the extent of their surprise. They looked up, disinterested. "Hello, John. Didn't see you there."

"No, ye didn't. Must be an enchanting book."

"Oh, it is!" From there, Kitty started to explain the intricacies of stone selection, carving design, and ultimate placement to a partially invested John. "I think I want my carving to also be a table. Imagine a large rectangular slab with a ribbon of delicate designs wrapped around it. We wouldn't have to worry about pigment as every sacrifice would paint them a vivid crimson!"

"How...practical."

"I'm so glad you think so! Do you think George will think so too?"

John poured the first cup. "I'm sure he will. Honey?"

"No, thank you."

"No frills, few smiles. You're George's acolyte, alright."

Kitty smirked. "I will take that as a compliment."

"Yeh, ye would." He served Kitty their cup on a saucer. "There you are."

"Thank you." They inhaled its fragrant scent, then took a sip. "Delicious. What is it?"

"Chamaemelum nobile."

"Nobile... That's noble in Infernum, yeah?"

"Indeed. The Noble Ground Apple. Purrfect for relaxing."

"Ground Apple? That's an odd name for a plant..." They took a deeper sip. "Ah, well." Then another, nearly draining it. "At least it tastes good—"

"Temperance, dear Kitty! Too much and you'll fall right asleep!" John lifted the teapot. "Tell ye what: I'll pour you another half cup, but that's all."

"Thank you."

"And if you drift off, don't blame me!"

"I won't, I won't!"

John chuckled and served the refreshed cup. Kitty drained it at a breath, then resumed reading. The tea flowed through their body like the gentle waves of low tide, and they made a note to buy their own next time the band went to market.

John, meanwhile, decided a full body tongue bath was in order. He turned into a cat once again and started licking his paws.

"Look at these illustrations!" the human uttered suddenly, interrupting the journey of John's tongue to his white stomach. The cat looked up to find Kitty displaying block prints of stone art on several pages. John nodded politely at each one, adding some inoffensive comment about their beauty, then resumed grooming, adding that images add a certain value to a book.

"A book with imagery is all well and good for some people in some cases, but a book with images is a real scream for everyone."

"It's certainly one for me."

At length, John found himself clean and bored with the chaise he was sitting in. After a stretch and a shake, he walked off the cushioned surface and into the air, climbing ever higher until he could loaf above Kitty's head and lord over all he surveyed.

Kitty couldn't resist looking up, as much as the book called to them. How was John doing that? (Also why, but that was a less pertinent question when it came to John.) There wasn't even the pretense of glass under his tufted paws! He just hung there!

John regarded the human as if for the first time. "Yes, Kitty?" he inquired, turning. "Is this bothering you?"

Kitty watched John's tail flick back and forth. Back and forth... They shook their head. "Not so much bothering," they clarified, "But it is..."