OPEN POST; [ HERLOCK SHOLMES / TGAA ]

[retroductions]

(( hold you in my dreams ))

Comments

[velluminous]

[ heart skipping beats. she loves him, she loves him, she wishes she could take him to bed again right now and ride all the nervous energy in her out.

wrapping her arms around his back, and her tail around the back of one knee—safe, with Iris watching. she swallows a hiccough and smiles into his mouth. ]

You play beautifully.

[retroductions]

[Tilts his forehead gently against hers, smiling bright, careful of her horns as usual.

He loves her, too. Radiantly so.]

Better than you even remember, hm? There was not much room to grow, but even I’ve improved since my return to London!

[velluminous]

You have loved people to play for.

[retroductions]

[Hey not to interrupt, but suddenly, there's a small cat sitting nearby and looking up at the trio.]

Miaow.

[velluminous]

—No!!

[retroductions]

Yes!

[Wait, what? Oh.]

Ah, did I forget to mention we have a cat? [yes you did, sholmes] This is Wagahai!

[Wagahai: miaow.]

[velluminous]

[ she restrains herself valiantly from backing away ]

Well, keep it elsewhere.

[bestbuds]

[Iris bends down and scoops up Wagahai with both arms. The cat resists about as much as a stuffed animal would: not at all.]

Oh, do you dislike cats, Sprezzie?

[velluminous]

Animals. Small animals.

1/2

[bestbuds]

All small animals?

[retroductions]

[This, at least, is not news to Sholmes.]

You will find that Wagahai is both a harmless creature and rather hardy in her own right. Your fear may remain at a minimum, though we will do our best to not let her accost you.

[Wagahai would never.]

[velluminous]

[ again, that wrinkle of frustration, even shame, for the part of her which cannot help this. she doesn't like them, and perhaps that makes her the most tiefling of all her traits. little creatures are too easy to break, too small, too unpredictable, and often, they do not like her. or so she believes. ]

I don't...

[bestbuds]

[Her uncertainty is clear, and she tries to add helpfully-]

Waggy just has her little bow now, but we can add a bell, too. So you can hear her if she's nearby.

[She won't ever be jumpscared by her again.]

[velluminous]

[ THE BELL TOLLS FOR ME ]

This would be preferred, yes...

[bestbuds]

Wonderful! Maybe we can go shopping for a pretty new collar together, then?

[velluminous]

Yes. I would like that.

[ is it strange to see her so immediately helpless to Iris' charms, or did he anticipate exactly this? ]

1/2

[retroductions]

[He anticipated it to a degree. How wonderful, now, to see exactly the degree in which it’s happening.]

Oh! Take me with you!

[Implored like he’s not the adult and Iris is not the child.]

Sprezzatura must experience one of the many excitements of living in London — shopping! And I’ll not deprive myself of the opportunity, either. I’m in need of new bowstrings.

[retroductions]

Mrriaow.

/3

[velluminous]

I do enjoy to—

[velluminous]

[ stutters ]

[velluminous]

—shop.

1/2

[bestbuds]

[…Poor Sprezzie.]

…Maybe Waggy and I will retire to my room for a bit? What do you say, Waggy?

[retroductions]

[Predictably-]

Miaow.

[velluminous]

[ making her feel like she has to go to her room? ]

Ah...

[bestbuds]

[Iris' powers of observation may not have reached the same level of Sholmes' yet, but it's not hard to read the way Sprezzatura's on the verge of feeling guilty-]

Oh, don't worry. I give it ten minutes or so before Waggy falls asleep on my bed, and then I'll be out to join the both of you again, if you like!

[Cats have a tendency to prioritize naps above all else. Wagahai is no different.]