nexuses | can't a man have some coffee in peace

Entry tags:

can't a man have some coffee in peace

[The thread that connects him to the supreme primarch's power has unraveled, taking with it his wings. Rent of what makes him an archangel, he's no better than a human with a purpose thrust unto him by a weakened witch. All in all, the whole situation reeks of nonsense.

Indolence won't help his brooding any. Sandalphon tours the city instead, pointedly taking the less populated path. Even then, too many people approach him with their wares and saccharine smiles, and he rebuffs each one with a single-word response. It's not soon enough when he slips into a shop that smells faintly of coffee, hoping for some peace and quiet.

But even here, the employees jump at every person to come around. Sandalphon grits his teeth in reflex annoyance when a rehearsed greeting and a request for an order is thrown his way. He hadn't intended to buy anything. Still, he can't just turn around and leave.]

Fine. Give me coffee.

[That unleashes a whole new can of beans. Regular or decaf? Perhaps a mocha, a latte, or a cappucino? And what about ice?

Does any of this matter? No one makes coffee like Lucifer. It hasn't been more than two hours, and Sandalphon wants to quit Shehui.]

That doesn't matter to me. Make what you want.

[At the very least, the service is quick—too quick. Sandalphon eyes the cup in his grasp with mild suspicion. What's with the lid?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[This lack of concern for a potential invasion is highly alarming, and Sandalphon has words for Lucifer.

But before that happens, he glances over his shoulder and nods, then returns to his crouch. (He's happy to see Lucifer, of course.) It's pitch black under the couch, so he can't see anything. He'd sweep the space with his arm, but there's no telling what's lurking in the darkness.

If Lucifer isn't saying anything, perhaps it means that he's not aware of a mysterious presence in the apartment.]

Something's here.

Oh? [He tilts his head a little, thoughtfully.] Do you mean the kitten?

[First of all, that implies there is potentially more than one mysterious presence in the apartment—]

[They will have words.

Sandalphon's head snaps up, then back down as he visually sweeps the dark space under the couch. Nothing. It's hiding from him.]

. . . Kitten?

Indeed. I set it down when I returned, but I haven't been able to get a hold of it since.

[That doesn't explain anything!!]

[Set it down? He brought it inside?]

Why did you bring a cat into the apartment?

[And more importantly, where did he get it?]

I fear I was unsure of where else to bring it. [That also explains nothing. Incredible. Fortunately, this time, he elaborates:] As I was returning here for the evening, I ran into someone watching over an abundance of kittens. When they saw me, they were very insistent that I take one home.

[He leaves out the part where they showered him in compliments(?), saying that he was very beautiful and seemed like a very gentle, caring person, one who would do well with children or animals or even their grandpa. It was really awkward but as usual, his protests fell on deaf ears.]

It appears as though the mother recently gave birth, and they were unable to care for so many kittens. I could not abandon it, but I knew not where else to take him.

[In other words, the kitten was forced on Lucifer, who surprisingly didn't reject the gesture. Then again, with the way things are now, perhaps it should be a given that Lucifer would take to the spontaneous more these days. Sandalphon shouldn't be so surprised—and he isn't upset or anything of the sort.

Sighing, he straightens and climbs onto his feet. The cat won't come out, so he won't force it. He looks at Lucifer.]

Do you intend to keep it?

Not necessarily. If you have a suitable alternative in mind, I would hear it. However, I shouldn't like to abandon it.

[That was really the major concern. Despite never having interacted with any before, he knew that cats could be pretty self-sufficient, but this one was still so young... If the original owner could not take care of it, then someone had to.]

[There are places that take care of animals like these, he's certain; however, such establishments would have closed hours ago, so they don't mean anything to Sandalphon now.]

There's nothing we can do this late, but it can't stay under the couch all night. [And, clearly, the kitten is not willing to show itself while they're standing around and chatting. Lucifer mentioned that he hasn't been able to get a hold of the cat since, but Sandalphon doesn't have a proper frame of reference for this evasive behavior. Why is it hiding so intently?] Is it me?

...I'm not sure. [That's the honest answer, unfortunately. Lucifer had not been with the kitten very long to know its preferences. He seems thoughtful, looking at the spot below the couch as if he expects the kitten to reappear.] It's difficult to imagine, however.

[He's biased.]

If we can borrow some food, we may be able to entice it out.

[Surely the roommates won't mind if it's for a cute and fluffy cat.]

[Why is it difficult for a kitten to be wary of his scowl? Lucifer makes strange comments, sometimes.]

What type of food does a cat like?

[They can't offer coffee, and the last thing he wants is to kill the kitten on accident.]

[Hmm... Admittedly, this was a pretty minor detail compared to the sorts of things he spent most of his time on, but...]

Some meat would likely get its attention. However, since it's still young, perhaps a bit of milk would be better.

[He was far from an expert on cats. All of what he knew about them was what he'd seen in relation to people and even then it was just not terribly significant.]

Milk . . . There should be some in the refrigerator.

[Sandalphon makes to the appliance in question, from which he pulls out a carton of milk. Since no one in the apartment drinks it with regularity, the carton is fairly full. He pours the milk into a small bowl with a slight dip, then offers the bowl to Lucifer.]

[It's a little endearing, the way that he defers to him anyway when Lucifer did not consider himself much more knowledgeable on the subject. Still, rarely one to show doubt, he accepts the bowl and returns to the other room, where the cat had taken shelter. He kneels down, placing the bowl on the floor near the sofa before standing back up and stepping away.

He turns back to Sandalphon.]

I'd like to call out to him, but I worry we might startle him. I think it may be best to allow him to come out of his own accord.

[There was no telling how long that would take, but trying to force the kitten out would probably be counterproductive.]

[Sandalphon watches from the doorway, because perhaps it really is him and the kitten will be more receptive to Lucifer's approach. As of now, they've got no such luck, but what Lucifer proposes next makes sense. He nods.]

I'd like to keep an eye on it.

[Which is to say, they can park themselves to the side and mind their business until the kitten decides to come out. It's almost ridiculous how much room they have to give the skittish creature.]

Good idea. I would like to see how it responds as well.

[Especially if it was going to be staying here for an undetermined amount of time... It might help for them to get a feel for the kitten's personality this way.

Lucifer joins him by the doorway, glancing in the missing cat's direction once more before he continues:]

Aside from that... incident, the evening was fairly uneventful, on my part. How about yours?

[The way he's situated, it's easy for Sandalphon to see whether the kitten has left its hiding spot or not. So far, not yet.]

The same as always. Nothing of note happened.

[There's always something going on in Shehui. He's learned to weed out the fluff in his observations with each and every day that's passed.]

Are you still concealing your face?

[Read: are the denizens of this place still lacking self-control?]

[He frowns a little at his question, vague frustration apparent on his face.]

Yes, unfortunately. [He probably slacked on it a little more than he should, but... While on one hand, he didn't blame the people for being, er, distracted (after all, it wasn't their fault he'd been made with such a beautiful face), he still didn't like the idea of being forced to hide away for that very same reason. Before, he didn't have much of a say in whether or not he could interact with the world, but now, there was no reason not to... Aside from his apparent beauty.] It's troublesome at times, but I will manage. I'm fortunate in that I have you.

[He felt bad having to rely on Sandalphon in this way, but he was grateful for it nonetheless—his presence made things easier in multiple ways.]

[He knits his eyebrows. To begin with, Lucifer shouldn't have to be forced into this arrangement. Ultimately, though, he gives a nod in response.]

If there's anything that you need, tell me.

[Sandalphon doesn't doubt that Lucifer can take care of himself; however, if there's any way that he can make these difficult accommodations easier on the latter, then he's willing to do whatever it takes—including kitten rearing.]

Of course. I would be grateful for your assistance. [His expression softens.] I only regret that I must burden you with such mundane tasks.

[Like... kitten rearing... Even though he's sure Sandalphon will make a wonderful kitten dad. But between things like that and running errands for him and the like, it felt— a bit beneath him. He considered him an equal, and yet he had no choice but to ask him things like this... It was unfortunate.]

Until we determine what to do with him, I imagine we'll need proper cat food.

[Better him than Lucifer, if they must engage in those mundane tasks.]

Right . . . There are a few stores I can think of that should carry such a thing. I'll look for them in the morning.

[Then snapping his head in the direction of the sofa, Sandalphon squints. He could've sworn that he saw something like a paw sticking out in the open. He keeps his voice even and soft.]

Did you see that?

[He smiles a little, less because of the kitten's movement and more because of Sandalphon's reaction. He turns to look in the direction of the kitten and nods.]

It looks like he may be interested.

[That seems like a good sign, at least!!]

[Listen, that kitten is the whole reason they're loitering in the doorway. Not willing to spook the creature after all that effort, Sandalphon falls quiet. The paw slips back under the sofa, and that seems to be the end of that—until a gray head emerges to sniff tentatively at the bowl of milk.

The kitten, still wary of its surroundings but led by its sensitive nose, slowly inches toward the drink. Sandalphon, meanwhile, may as well be a statue with how still he is.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

can't a man have some coffee in peace

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject