milliways_bar | (no subject)

(no subject)

There was a blind girl sitting happily at the bar, finishing a glass of juice. She'd been around, just keeping mostly to herself, but she seemed quite happy to be out and about this day.

Say hi? She's ever so friendly and loves meeting new people.

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*A small soft something brushes by her foot, lightly.*

Momentarily startled, Ivy jerked her foot away. "Who's there?" she asked.

*The cat looks up at her and miaows very deliberately.*

Miaow?

Ivy smiled at the sound. "Well, hello kitty. Are you lost?"

*The cat wraps around her ankle, all soft, warm fur. It purrs delightfully, a richly content sound.*

A giggle erupted from her throat, and Ivy bent to reach for the cat, timidly at first until she was sure of where he was. Making contact with his back, she gave him several long strokes along the length of his spine.

*The purr loudens almost instantly as the cat's back arches to follow the stroking. Happy kitty.*

"Do you live here, kitty? Who do you belong to?" No answer seemed forthcoming, but she continued to pet the cat nonetheless.

*Her fingers as they pet the cat will not find any collar around its neck. It seems too well-kept to be a stray, though. A soft head is pushed under her hand, its ears in clear need of a scritching.*

Which she obliged, of course. Ivy thought it odd that a cat would be wandering around inside the bar, but then again, Milliways was generally odd.

*People come to Milliways from all sorts of worlds. Not all of them are human. Why should a cat be barred? Or a not'cat, for that matter? The cat's purring pauses for a second. It knows that scritchers who are forced to lean to scritch soon get tired of leaning, and then the scritches stop. The kitty wonders about leaping up into the blind girl's lap.*

Ivy might be startled, but would certainly not find a cat in the lap disagreeable.

*Were he anything other than a cat (cough), he would apologize later for her startlement. The small kitty leaps lightly onto her lap.*

Were he anything other than a cat, Ivy would have been a little more than startled. Thankfully, he was a cat just then, and she started only a bit when he lept into her lap.

"You are very friendly," she cooed, stroking his head.

*The cat leans up and rubs its head under her chin, its whiskers tickling.*

Ivy laughed, wiggling in her seat. "I wonder what your name is," she said, scritching behind his ears.

*The cat leans against her, purring warmly. If he were to try and answer, he'd have to go through the work of choosing which name to give. This girl pets well, he decides. He might adopt her.*

Not a new person, but perhaps a welcome one anyway.

Caspian settles down next to her and orders some juice for himself.

"Now who's been hiding?"

Ivy turned at the sound of his voice, grinning. "It was not intentional," she swore. "I have been studying. You could have come to see me, you know."

"True," he says, and grins back. "But I have been busy, too. What are you been studying?"

"My letters," she replied matter-of-factly. "So that I can read to you, remember."

He brightens, delighted. "That's wonderful news, Ivy. I have been looking forward to hearing you, and I'm sure the horses will love it, too." His grin widens.

"And have you found some stories that you'd like to read?"

"The stories I have been reading have not been very interesting," she admitted. "Bar has been giving me books for beginners, you see. But I hope to be able to read more advanced stories soon." She had been studying quite dilligently.

"I can tell you've been working very hard," he smiles, feeling oddly proud of her efforts. "You will be able to give your family a wonderful surprise when you see them again. Didn't you say your father had always wanted you to be able to read? He'll be very proud."

Ivy returned his smile, if somewhat ruefully. "Yes, he did," she answered quietly. "How have you been?" she asked suddenly, looking to change the subject. "And how do your horses fare?"

He blinks, taken slightly aback by this sudden change of topic, but considers her questions.

"Well," he tells her, "the horses and I both, although--" his expression turns slightly inward, "--I am worried for a friend of mine. But I have kept busy, you know, as always."

"Is everything well?" she asked, concerned for him. "What worries you so?"

Caspian looks troubled.

"A friend--Susan Delgado, who gave me the job in the stables--she and her friends were on the way to wage a war of some kind. She was worried about the losses that arrive in any battle, and I hope that she and her friends are safe."

His mouth quirks, slightly. "They seem a capable group of fighters. I'm sure they gained victory."

"A battle? For what? Have they been gone a very long time?" Ivy was concerned herself, if only because she could hear how worried his tone was.

"Aye, I have not seen or spoken to her since last week, but that is nothing strange. I don't doubt that they'll be done soon and safe, but I've seen too many wars to be completely at ease."

He smiles at her, though, and covers her hand with his. "Thank you." For your sympathy. For being here.

Ivy turned her hand up so that she could grip against his palm. "Of course," she answered, squeezing. "I am sorry that your friend has had to endure such a thing. That anyone does."

He smiles at her, and with his free hand delicately traces the line of her cheek to her chin.

"It is the balance of the world," he replies. "Death and life, peace and war. Perhaps it is unfair, but that is the way it has always been."

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