Daily excerpt from today's writing, chapter 25 of Palmarosa:
‘Your naivete is very nearly charming,’ Raphael said, smiling above him. ‘Do you know how many I’ve witnessed in these moments of tumult and conflict? Almost enough to know exactly what thoughts move through your insignificant mind. I took you out of the dusty dark and restored you, saved you, and you mock me before strangers.’
‘I want- I think I want to go ahead with the second contract. I don’t want to wait any longer.’
Raphael’s cold smile broadened. ‘If we’re sharing our thoughts, Astarion, then I think I want to punish you first for consistently breaking with our first contract. A more patient devil would wait, but I’ve been patient enough. Besides, I shan’t be too cruel. It will be proportionate, I assure you.’
Astarion was rather losing his appetite.
‘Now?’ Astarion said. ‘And if I…don’t want to commit to the second contract?’
‘Oh, you will,’ Raphael practically purred. ‘You’ll bear my marks and bruises and you still will. Haven’t you realised that the reason no gods heed you, is that you already have one that you cannot forsake no matter what?’
Astarion stared up at him in confusion. Raphael crouched down, eyes flashing golden-amber.
‘It is the sun, my aberrational wretch. All of you fear it, but your lives revolve around it. It’s all you’ve ever wanted since you lost it, and you’ll choose it before you’d choose your own sanity. So here you are, quite mad, and watch – Astarion, my pet – you’re about to agree to the punishment, and walk with me quite willingly, and still sign your signature in blood at the end of the day.’
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A spell for warmth, a spell for comfort, a blanket for silence.
Morgana paced about the room, he's all alone again. Well, that's to be expected when Ren is now going about his usual schedule of hanging out with other people after school, it's always a good thing to deepen his bond with others. And quite frankly, Morgana prefers that right now, to be alone. It helps, the silence, allowing his thoughts to be loud enough for him to think everything through properly. Though now'd he think about it, even with Ren around the silence still lingers, considering how he isn't much of a talker, yet despite that, it was warm. Silence blanketing him in a warmth just by the presence of someone else he trusts and care for as a friend. One of the first friends that Morgana even had ever since he woke up in… this form. A cat… How useless.
They defeated Okumura, accomplished their mission and now all they have to do is wait, like always. But the feelings of self-doubt doesn't vanish just as easily as that, the feelings of uselessness that lingers even though a day or two had passed. He mostly had been pushing such feelings at the back of his mind the past couple of days, the air around them is still somewhat tense, with the public believing in the Phantom Thieves more and more. It isn't just them waiting on Okumura's change of heart now, but the majority of the public too. Not to mention having a new addition to the team means some readjustments in strategies and training so that Haru could get used to it all. There just hasn't been time for Morgana to focus on his feelings at all. Was there even a reason to?
He'll get over this in the future anyway. Right, he can prove to everyone just how helpful and useful he can be in the future! There will be more opportunities then! So there's really no need to linger on it… Really…
Morgana huffed, in the end, he still feels a bit heavy.
He then heard the sound of footsteps climbing up the stairs, that might be Ren, so Morgana stood still, shaking his head and took a deep breath to compose himself. It'll be fine, he shouldn't worry Ren about this.
“You're bac—”
Ah. It's just Kaito.
Kaito laughed, “Whoa, I never thought I'd see a cat quickly shift expressions from excited to disappointed in seconds!”
Morgana sighed, though it only came out as a huff. Well, at least this time he didn't mimic Ren's voice.
“Heeey~ Cat got your tongue?” Kaito teased.
Ugh, Morgana doesn't have the time nor the energy to deal with this. Kaito can't even understand him so what's the point in speaking? It'll only come out as meows so Morgana can't even just tell him to shut up or leave him alone. This is the worst, he'd rather talk to Ryuji instead.
With another huff, Morgana tried his best to glare at Kaito before turning around to lay on the cough, curling his body into a ball and putting a paw on his ears, he knows it's useless with how sensitive cat's ears are but muffling even just some of Kaito's voice is enough for him and maybe, just maybe, it'll come off as a clear message that Morgana doesn't wanna listen to him at all.
Seconds pass in silence.
A moment, and then another. And yet… Morgana can still feel someone's gaze on him.
UGH! SERIOUSLY JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!
Morgana stood and quickly turned to face Kaito with the intent to hiss and bare his teeth, much like an annoyed cat would, it'd be obvious then, right?
But… he stopped midway.
Kaito still stood by the stairs, a serious expression on his face, it was rare for him to have such an expression when he's always smiles and tricks. His eyes were focused on Morgana, scanning his body from top to bottom, what is he looking for exactly?
“You—” Though Morgana knew only a meow would reach Kaito's ears, he couldn't help but try to speak anyway.
“Are you upset about something?” An attempt that was cut-off by Kaito's sudden question.
What… What is he—
Kaito's lips curled into a small smile, one that strangely feels genuine, not unlike the others he had which only felt like… a mask, “Eheheh, I don't know. It just feels like it. You're a smart kitty so I thought that maybe… … Say, can I sit next to you?”
. . .
Morgana doesn't really know what's happening anymore. Kaito is enshrouded in one too many mysteries, possibly even more than that Detective Prince. How can he figure that out when he can't even understand what Morgana's saying in the first place? Just from body language? Of a CAT? …Aren't all cats supposed to be easily irritated and annoyed?
. . .
Morgana huffed, he moved over to the other end of the couch, allowing space for Kaito to sit down on.
“Thanks!” Kaito sat down, seemingly making sure to leave out enough space between them.
“So… Hmm…” Kaito put a hand on his chin, deep in thought, most likely figuring out on how to cheer up a cat.
Morgana can't help but feel slightly moved by that.
“Uhh… I don't really know how to cheer up a cat. I don't even know what you're upset about.” He chuckled, “I doubt I can even figure that one out!”
A beat of silence pass, though strangely it wasn't as cold as before.
“How about…” He grinned, flicking his hand, a red rose appeared seemingly out of thin air, “some magic tricks?”
Morgana huffed, in his head he wore a smirk, such an expression not quite easily done on a cat's face, “What other magic tricks are there anyway?”
After all, Kaito has done at least a number of it already whenever he's around them. He seems to really enjoy doing it.
“Oh? Is that possibly doubt towards the many tricks up my sleeves?” Kaito wagged his finger while clicking his tongue, “Never doubt a magician's tricks, smart feline!”
And with a toothy grin, Kaito stood up, opening his arms wide as he announced, “Welcome to Kaito's special magic show! I'll be sure to make you smile, my furry friend.”
Morgana huffed, in a friendly mocking tone, as a means to take up Kaito's challenge, and another as a way to say “Cat's can't smile, dumbass.”
“Ehehehe! Keep your eyes peeled now! You don't wanna miss a second of this after all!”
Frankly, Morgana's problems still lingers, something he'd have to deal with in the future. But despite that, he didn't feel as heavy as before. In the comfort of the couch, Morgana watched a magician weaved spells in the form of tricks, all to cheer up a mere cat. And maybe, that's all Morgana needed today.
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