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CLEMENTINE FARLEY OFTEN BREAKS THE RULES. It's not like she has malicious intent in this rule breaking. No, the cruelty stems from the rules themselves. Truly, why is it so hard to get a properly priced apartment that allows pets?
This is why Mena has been hiding her many creatures with great delicacy from her very nice, very anti-man and pet landlady, Miss Agnella Esposito. It's not very hard to shirk past the woman with a wounded bird, all she has to say is that no, Miss Esposito, I do not have a bird in my hand, this is just a crumpled up handkerchief. Muffliato works rather nicely on her apartment. No dog barks or owl chirps escape the confines of her walls.
The most recent creature that Mena has found is, like many others, a runt, left to die in a wet cardboard box. It's a little kitten, the only one that hadn't been taken by a good Samaritan. It is far too tiny for its own good, with only three good feet, the front right paw all mangled.
Mena has the little cat wrapped up in her coat. She presses her cheek against the top of its head. It's far too cold and probably far too hungry. She wonders where the mother is, if she died in childbirth or if the owner simply didn't want to have kittens. Either way, the kitten is hers now. What shall she name it?
"Oh dear," is the first thing her cousin, Bernard Farley, says when he sees her. "Another one? Mena, we're supposed to be having lunch. I've got work to get back to."
"Oh, don't be a spoilsport. We can bring her to lunch. She needs food, anyway."
Bernard huffs, but relents. He knows that when there is a creature, Mena will always choose it over anything else. Having a kitten stuffed in his cousin's coat wouldn't ruin his meal. It's not as if it hasn't happened before. Why, last time it was a slug in a jar. That made lunch rather unappealing.
"So," Mena says, petting the ginger cat's little head. "Would it be possible to stop and get her some milk?"
Bernard and Mena sit on the curb, the kitten—now named Cherry—lapping at a small tin of milk whilst the two adults munch on their hot dogs. The cousins always have lunch together, and sometimes dinner, though Bernard has to change his voice to one of a woman's and pretends to be Bernadette so he can sneak past Miss Esposito. They have whatever they can find, which is generally from a street cart.
"How's work?" Mena asks.
Bernard sighs. "Not horrible. The amount of unpermitted wands is, frankly, astonishing."
"This is America, Bernie," Mena reminds.
Bernard laughs. "Yes, I keep on forgetting that it seems. But I did get to talk to Tina today." His mouth twitches into a smile, one that Mena knows quite well.
Bernie has had feelings for Mena's neighbor and his co-worker since Ilvermorny, though he has never had the guts to fuss up to it. The woman can't blame him, Tina is quite terrifying before you really get to know her. A Thunderbird with a heart of gold, talking to her at first would have been rather daunting. Luckily for Mena, it was Queenie, Tina's younger sister, that first introduced herself when the woman had moved right next to them. Now, when Bernard is swamped with work or studying how to become a wandmaker, Mena finds herself having dinner with them.
"Perhaps I can invite Tina over when you visit?" Mena asks tentatively, adjusting her hat as she speaks.
"No, no, I'm quite alright. This is perfectly fine. Maybe one day I might ask her to have lunch with me instead of forcing you out of your apartment."
Mena furrows her brow. "Bernie, I would follow you to the end of the world and back."
"Even if your animals are on the opposite edge?" Bernie teases.
Mena scoffs. "Oh, don't make me lie to you, please. I was trying so hard to make you feel better."
Bernie laughs, causing a smile to twist upon Mena's lips. The woman watches as all joy dies on her cousin's face. The man frowns, fists pressed harshly onto his knees. Mena turns to where his gaze lies. Her expression goes cold and she picks up Cherry.
In a procession, the Second Salemers march, solemn and proper. The boy, Credence, holds onto their flag, hands breaking a wand as fire surrounds it. The leader, the mother, Mary Lou Barebones, is a vile woman, collecting strays for her own maniacal means. She feeds the children on the street solely so they can pass out her leaflets. A woman filled with hate, hate directed at Mena's kind. Still, Mary Lou smiles at the woman as she passes, unknowing of her magic. Mena would laugh if she wasn't deathly terrified of the Barebones. They are the reason why Tina's not an Auror anymore, after all.
"Repugnant," Bertie hisses under his breath.
"I—Bernie, I'm going home now. I don't want to be out—"
Cherry meows in agreement.
The two cousins stand up, lunches long gone, yet stomachs still feeling empty. It's odd how much a single woman can strike fear into those much more powerful. Mena and Bernie part ways, going opposite directions—the woman away from the crowd and the man to it.
Mena looks down at the kitten tucked into her coat, tracing the line between her tiny nose and the top of her forehead. Cherry soon falls asleep. The woman sucks in a filling breath, the shakiness from before dissipating as she focuses on her new pet.
Mena's shoulder slams into someone else's, throwing her off-kilter enough that she has to stand still. She looks up, saying, "I'm sorry—"
"I apologize," the blue-coated man counters, ducking as he speaks. He quickly departs, leaving Mena in his haste.
Cherry meows, breaking Mena's concentration, reminding her of her true task. "Oh, I'm sorry, darling, let's get you back to my apartment, alright?"
Mena stands in front of the door, holding the kitten close. She whispers, "Cherry, you have to be as quiet as a mouse," before tucking her further into her coat, making the animal completely covered.
The stairs creak under Mena's footsteps, alerting the landlady of her presence. She winces.
"Is that you, Clementine?" Miss Esposito calls out.
"Yes, it is!"
"Are there men with you?"
"Absolutely not!"
"Are there any animals with you?"
"Miss Esposito, I would never!"
Cherry looks up at the woman as if to counter the argument, mouth beginning to open. Mena masks the meow with a very loud cough of her own.
"Are you sick?" Miss Esposito asks.
"Just allergies! Have a good afternoon!"
Mena makes sure to close and lock the door fully behind her before setting Cherry down on the closest crate, nestling her beside the other baby animals she has rescued. A few Kneazles and two puppies quickly curl around the kitten, giving her the warmth that she needs.
Mena looks around her apartment, at the cages floating about, filled with moths, at the bugs that crawl about their designated crates, at the lizards walking up the walls, at the mangy looking dog named Puck, who was her first to rescue, and smiles.
No pets allowed. Mena lets out a little laugh.
author's note!
mena being the og cat mom, we love to see it
bernie came out of nowhere in my mind, but now he's here to stay so uh enjoy this wand loving dork
also, nena first interaction! not much happened, i'm afraid, but don't you worry! they'll soon be awkward messes over each other, just you wait
also thank you danni (again) for giving me the emma corrin gifs i desperately needed. you're the best <33
