Time spent with cats is never wasted.

[absentconstellation]

🧙 WHO: The Cat and YOU
⚔️️ WHAT: A Cat
🕒 WHEN: After the Event
🗺️ WHERE: Camelot
⚠️ WARNINGS: None anticipated

Warm in the Sun
The days are getting cooler, but the weather is still pleasant enough that the Cat enjoys spending most of his time out of doors. The architectural style of Camelot is such that there are plenty of fine spots to take a nap, and today he's chosen a decorative stone wall. It's out of the way enough that he doesn't feel crowded by people in the streets, far enough into the main road that it gets sun all day, and tall enough that other animals don't bother him. It's a rather lovely spot.

To passersby he is a perfectly round bun of black fur, turned golden in the sun. Anyone who comes too close will see him open a single purple eye, but otherwise he makes no move. With a bit of courage, you may even be able to pet him.

Begging for Attention
The mood in Camelot has been abysmal since the arrival of the refugees. It isn't only the tragedies that resulted in so many refugees, but the crowding and heightened tempers clashing against each other almost constantly. The Cat doesn't have any close friends that he particularly wants to see to, but he dislikes seeing so many people so unhappy when they were in high spirits just a few days before.

Spotting someone who looks particularly stressed but not particularly busy, he pads after them and meows.

Wildcard
[ Is your character somewhere they could feasibly be approached by a cat with teleportation powers? Congratulations, you've been visited by a purple eyed constellation. flamingchemist for questions or requests! ]

Comments

[prontissimo]

[ Alberto notices the Cat lose interest, of course, but one question still hangs in the air... ]

So, uh— do you have a name? Or are you just... Cat?

[absentconstellation]

I have had many names. You may call me what you like.

[ Yes, you can even call him Blackie if you want to. It won't be the first time, sadly. ]

[prontissimo]

Well... What was your favorite name you've been called?

[absentconstellation]

[ That's like asking him which of his children is his favorite. He doubts this child would understand that, though. ]

Most recently I was called Faithful.

[prontissimo]

Did you like that name?

[absentconstellation]

It was given me by someone I hold very dear. Of course I like it.

[prontissimo]

Hmm... [ Alberto hums thoughtfully, a vague lopsided smile still on his face as he considers. ]

So it's your favorite because of them. Not because of the name.

[ After a beat, he smiles a bit more warmly, looking the cat straight-on again. He figures that that name is special because the person is special — it shouldn't be the name Alberto calls him, if that's the case, in his book. That's special between just them. But he does have a good idea from that, he thinks. A nice spin on the same meaning, but with Alberto's own twist. ]

...Can I call you Fidel?

[absentconstellation]

[ A very astute observation. His whiskers turn forward in a cat smile. ]

You may.

[prontissimo]

Hah! Okay! Fidel, then~ I'm Alberto. Alberto Scorfano. Piacere~

[ He gives his own warm smile, leaning back against the wall comfortably again. He feels the flick of a tail against his shoulder, and gestures with a light wave of his hand to their silent companion. ]

Oh— and this is Carlo~ He can't talk. I mean— I don't think. Maybe. I dunno! Not to me...

[ Alberto has no idea if cats can talk to each other. These are questions he'd like answers to. On top of whether stars are fish and whether the sky is made of water. Yet no questions about how a cat is made of stars. He just... took that one as it was... Odd boy, this Alberto. ]

[absentconstellation]

A pleasure to meet you Alberto, Carlo. [ He nods at the cat, but makes no attempt to talk to him directly. ]

Unfortunately I have found that I am unable to communicate with the Beast People of this world.

[prontissimo]

[ Carlo gives a low, slow meow. Who knows what he's saying. But he does that thing where cats narrow their eyes, the slow blink, locking eyes with "Fidel." Alberto smiles, liking the term "Beast People," finding it quite inclusive. ]

Heh— "Beast People." I like that. Humans act like anyone who's not human don't count as "people." It's not right. Beast People, Monster People... People are people. Even if they can't talk. Right, Carlo~?

[ He strokes his familiar affectionately, pressing his ears down with his palm across his head as he pets it. The cat gives another raspy meow, a little happier sounding this time, for those whose ears are tuned to it. Not Alberto's. But he can vibe. ]

[absentconstellation]

[ The Cat narrows his eyes, almost but not quite closing them. He can't actually talk to this creature, so he can't trust them as he might otherwise. ]

They call themselves The People, but I have found that confuses humans. Most immortals can speak to the People if they wish.

[ Shockingly, the humanoid ones don't usually wish. ]

[prontissimo]

Immortals...? Wait, so you're immortal?! An immortal talking star-cat? Haaaa...~! Luca won't believe this, hah~

[ There's a trill of impressed laughter lacing his voice, a look of sheer delight in his eyes. He's absolutely writing a letter about this interaction as soon as he gets back to the inn! He's been plenty amazed since arriving in this world, but this honestly takes the cake— well, short of gaining magical powers and being spirited away to some interdimensional multiverse. But magical immortal talking star-cats... That's something. ]

[absentconstellation]

[ He turns to level an unimpressed stare at the boy. It's difficult to discern from any other expression a cat makes. ]

I am a constellation. Immortals can be killed. I cannot.

[prontissimo]

Wait, wait, wait— "Immortals can be killed." Isn't that, like— the opposite of being immortal...? Like, that's the whole point, if you're immortal, you never die, right? Whadya mean?

[ Hung up on semantics here, but he's fascinated by his new friend Fidel, so he wants to understand the ins and outs of all this magic-immortal-star-cat-constellation stuff. ]

[absentconstellation]

[ Yes this is a question a lot of humans ask. ]

The word "immortal" is not quite correct, but it is the best that humans can do. They do not fall ill or grow old. Unless they are killed intentionally or by accident, they might live forever.

Constellations, like the Gods, cannot be killed. This body may be destroyed, but I will simply return to the Realms of the Gods. I can make another if I wish.

[prontissimo]

Ahhh— so you chose to be a cat? Can you be something else, too? How's it work?

[ "Realms of the Gods" sounds quite lofty and above Alberto's comprehension, so as much as he's curious about that line, he... sticks to what he knows... ...He's still under the impression the sky is made of water and full of fish, after all. ]

[absentconstellation]

I did not, and I cannot. Whatever else I may be, I am most certainly a cat.

[prontissimo]

Huh. And... "the Realms of the Gods?" What's that? Where I'm from, there's really, just, y'know— above the surface, and below the surface, and uh, I think that's it?

[ Sounds like an expert. ]

[absentconstellation]

It is where the Gods reside. It is not a place that mortals can reach on their own.

[prontissimo]

Buuuuut— with the help of a magic talking star-cat, they can~?

[ Just a hunch, a wild stab in the dark… Kids — oy. ]

[absentconstellation]

They can. But they will not.

[ He's not really supposed to use magic on humans at all, strictly speaking. Humans problems are for human gods, not star cats. ]

[prontissimo]

Oh. Well, then, what do you do...? Don't you have magic-talking-star-cat duties or something?

[ Nosy kid. ]

[absentconstellation]

I do as I like. Constellations are responsible for nothing but themselves.

[prontissimo]

Heh. Like cats, then.

[ He gives a wry chuckle and weak smirk, but he's endeared by this weird cut-and-dry star-cat. He takes a look at the photograph he took and holds it out to "Fidel" once more, face lighting up ever so slightly. ]

Hey— do you want to keep this?

[ A little hard to follow this kid's train of thought... ]