misborncat | carpe-ho_ras [closed, for Merlin]

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carpe-ho_ras [closed, for Merlin]

Asato didn't like the rain. He huddled up further under the tree canopy and curled his tail around him further. His cloak was getting soaked through and he figured he'd eventually have to brave the full force of the spring storm to get inside the mansion and dry off, but he wasn't really looking forward to that.

Times like this, he missed his tiny hut in his home village. Or even Bardo's inn. Something warm and safe.

Like I said, for Merlin, but if someone wants to chat with a water-logged kitty, feel free to poke me.

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There's a grumble coming from the kitchen that might sound like 'a little too much'.

His ears flick towards Merlin's grumble.

"You're not ever curious?" It's a totally innocent question, but that's how he's taken to mean 'mind my own business'.

"Curious, yes," he says, after shooting a bit of a dark look in the direction of the kitchen. "But not particularly sociable. I haven't had the best experience with...people in general."

There were a lot of rocks and angry people involved in his growing up.

This Conspicuous Silence^TM is brought to you by the kitchen. In fact, it's rather noisy silence - he's making food noisily.

Don't mind him, he'll just be there, listening, ha. It's the first time that Sebastian opens up, and he doesn't want to jinx it.

Merlin has had his share of pitchforks: that inconvenient episode with Lord Vortigern and his need for the blood of a boy who did not have a father was rather hard to forget.

The cat is oblivious to the Silence.

"Oh." Asato's ears lower just a bit at that. "You seem nice to me. And you have pretty eyes." He's trying to be friendly, really, and doing his best not to come across as too ignorant.

Asato is very familiar with thrown stones. And fires. And pichforks. And hate. And angry cats. And ... yeah. Let's stop there.

Sebastian blinks a little at the comment on his eyes, and then almost laughs. "Thank you. They stand out. People don't always like that." Though that wasn't their problem with him - it was always what he was.

And he made a handy target for ladies who found themselves accused of infidelity. It was all the incubus's fault. "I'm sure you understand."

There's again a grumble about people being idiots, coming from the kitchen!

His ears lower again. "Yes. I do. My fur stood out back home." Of course, nobody was ever using him as a scapegoat for infidelity, but he'd been blamed for failure of crops, death of game animals, and even simple natural occurances like floods and deep winters.

"But... People here must like them? Many people here stand out in one way or another."

His smile curves a little. "Depends on who you ask. Most of the people I've met haven't been terribly interested in what I have to say for myself and more in... well." He shakes himself a little. "That's why I'm here."

Stupid goddamn knights.

Merlin just shakes his head. He would say, no, son, you're here because you were a victim of circumstance.

"Those who think with their swords rarely think well," Merlin says from the kitchen. "But this place is a safe place."

Asato has no idea what the 'well' means, but he nods anyway. "I think this is a good place. It reminds me of home, without the bad stuff." He smiles.

"And you seem nice to me too."

Sebastian doesn't like to talk much about certain things. The whole episode where he flipped out, killed Guinevere, and ended up on the run from several knights who'd never cared about her before is one of them.

"As far as I'm concerned, you're welcome," Sebastian says, with a slightly faint smile of his own. "I'm sure Merlin appreciates the company. He doesn't think I talk enough."

Merlin would agree about the knights - that's one of the reasons he gave Sebastian shelter: doing something to annoy Kay and the others seemed like a fun idea at the time. That, and well. He didn't quite mind the company, on the contrary.

"Nonsense," the wizard replies from the kitchen. "A hermit likes his quiet."

There's evident fondness in his voice.

Asato brightens, glad he's at least not being shunned or something. "I'm not exactly the loudest one around," he admits. "But ... I'm glad to be here. Thank you."

Sebastian gives Merlin a dubious look, but a faint smile even touches on his face before he looks back to Asato. "Don't thank me, thank the host. We even have an extra bed since the moody bard left."

Merlin wants to know why one you're talking about, Sebastian.

"Hmmm mmm," he mutters from where he is, and the stew is coming along nicely.

"I don't need to take someone elses bed," he's quick to say.

"Don't be ridiculous," Sebastian says, almost sharply, though not quite. "It's not his anymore. It's yours. As far as I'm concerned, that's it."

Either? Both?

Merlin nods, and comes back to sit with them, the food is cooking nicely. He speaks as he prepares another pipe.

"I agree," he says kind. "At least one of them left of his own choice - his bed is yours."

If the other returns, well. His bed will be there. Heh.

Asato looks from one to the other, then smiles and relaxes. "Alright then. Thank you. Both of you."

Sebastian shrugs, perhaps a little awkwardly. "No need to thank me, it's no skin off my back."

Merlin smiles a bit more, shakes his head. "All the same, you are welcome, sons," he tells them both.

"Old men may grump at times, but they do rejoice in company, silent or otherwise."

There's probably a pleasant smell starting to emanate from the kitchen. Merlin's pipe is lit and clove fills the air around him.

Asato's ear flatten and he ducks his head in embarrassment. He felt rather like a kitten again here with the two of them and wasn't sure if he liked it. But ... sons?

Before he can say anything though, his stomach growls loudly. "Oh,um, sorry..."

Sebastian grimaces at Asato a little, probably for the same word, and shakes his head, slightly. "Is that almost ready?" Sebastian asks, his voice dry again, almost wry. "I think our new housemate is hungry."

"Aye, aye," Merlin replies - and if he's noticed the non-verbal cues, he's studiously ignoring them. An old and lonely man can have his illusions, can't he?

"Show him where the necessities are, Sebastian - and help yourselves. I'm not your wetnurse, now, am I?"

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carpe-ho_ras [closed, for Merlin]

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