Owl from Mello to A

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

A,

Hey, just wanted to make sure you and the kittens cats are doing okay. If you need anything, let me know. I'll be in the common room for a while, avoiding the library like the plague if you want to talk.

M.

Comments

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"Willow bark can make your stomach hurt if you are sensitive, but it should not make you sleepy. Meadowsweet is gentler, and not so bitter, but it is not as strong."

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

I blink. I hadn't expected a botany lesson, but the information may be useful. "Does willow bark bother your stomach?" I ask. "I know aspirin does a number on mine if I don't eat with it."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"It has not upset my stomach, but I have not had a large dose yet. Maybe if I had more it would bother me more."

He's had more need for herbal sedatives.

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

"Let's try it without today, since I'm mostly just going to see what you do and don't know. Was martial arts part of your training? I know they changed the program, but I'm not entirely sure how much."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

A frowns a little. "I did not learn martial arts. They just wanted me to know things."

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

Great, a rank beginner, but one of us, so he'll learn quickly, I"m sure. "Well, now you can learn more practical things." I stop, waiting for him to open the door to his room.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"Practical like medicine?" He presses his hand to the door and murmurs the password, pushing it open. Schrodinger and Einstein swarm him with vaguely accusatory-sounding meows.

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

Once in the door, I squat and hold out my hand to see if one of them is willing to come to me. "Yeah, a bit, though medicine uses your brain and martial arts uses your body. It may take a little bit for you to get used to it, making your body work differently."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

Schrodinger continues to harangue A with reproachful mews, but Einstein greets Mello happily enough, sniffing at his hand.

Despite the young white cat's scolding, A fetches the tin of catnip from the top shelf of the closet.

"Here, give them a little of this."

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

I don't bother hiding a smile at Schrodinger's 'queening' over A. I scratch Ein's ears and back as he walks under my hand. I sit crosslegged on the floor before taking the tin from A.

Ein's ears perk and he begins rubbing at my arms and then the tin when I take it from A. Even Schrodinger seems interested in it, for all she continues miaoing at A.

"Oh, so you know what this is?" I ask Ein, teasing his chin a bit before opening the tin and taking out a pinch.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

A laughs at the way Einstein hops up on his hind legs, trying to paw his way into the tin. Schrodinger is a little calmer about it, although once A gives her sufficient reassuring scratches behind the ears, she saunters over proudly for her share.

"You see? They are very fond of it."

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

It's a relief to hear him laugh. It means I got through on some level.

Unsure what to do with the catnip and unwilling to put the tin down, I sprinkle it on the ground in front of me. Ein gives me an offended look before rolling on the ground in front of me. "Well," I say, affronted. "I guess I did that wrong." I try to sound offended, but end up laughing.

Shrodinger puts her paw on my knee, meowing for my attention. "Okay, here," I say, offering her a pinch from the palm of my hand."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

Flopping around in the scattered catnip, Einstein is already drooling a little, and batting at the air, lying on his back. Schrodinger sniffs Mello's hand daintily before vigorously snuffling his hand, licking and inhaling.

"They are your friends for always, now."

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

I laugh, reaching over to play with Einstein after I give A back the tin as Schrodinger has her way with my hand. "As long as they don't follow me home, then I'm glad to have them as friends," I reply around the giggles I can't quite hold back. It tickles to have Schrodinger licking and trying to get all the nip off my hand.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"I am the one who grows the catnip," A says in an overly serious tone. "They will always return to me."

That, and he spoils them rotten with little treats and affection.

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

I can't help but grin at his tone. "That is good, because as much as I enjoy playing with them, I wouldn't want to sleep with them and Near would worry about his legos if they were in the room."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"I would not want them to be around legos. Legos are small enough to fit in their mouths. They could be hurt."

And that would be bad.

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

"And we don't want that," I say and then Ein demands my attention, grabbing my hand and gnawing at my fingers. I tickle his belly, growling a little at him. He looks surprised at me and then starts fighting with my hand. I laugh and rock him on his back, trying to rub his nose while he tries to bite my finger.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

A laughs too, at the way Einstein kicks at Mello's wrist.

"Be careful," he says. "He is too dazed from catnip to remember the gentleness he is learning."

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

"I will," I reply. I reach over with my other hand and rub Ein's nose. He looks at me over my finger in his mouth with great offense. I pick him up and pull him into my lap and he curls up, no longer interested in fighting.

Schrodinger noses my hand. "Looking for more?" I ask, turning my hand over.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

Schrodinger rests a paw on Mello's wrist, trying to hold his wrist in place while she searches his hand for more catnip.

"They will devour as much as you give them, and roll in the rest. And Einstein is drooling on your leg."

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

"Sorry, Schrodinger, there's no more, but I'll pet you," I say to the silly white fuzz ball. She looks at me rather offended and stalks away, nose in the air.

I poke at Ein a little with a finger. He just purrs at me. "Oh, well. Leather cleans pretty easy. I'll just wipe it off before we head out." I stroke Ein's back, watching Schrodinger butt up against A.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

A pulls Schrodinger into his lap, where she rolls onto her back, all four legs waving in the air. Her purring is loud enough to be heard across the room.

"This is a good reason to grow catnip," A says.

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

"It is," I agree, really glad that leather is resistant to claws. Ein is kneading at my leg as if my rubbing his back the best thing in the world. For a stoned cat, it probably is. "When they fall asleep, we'll go," I murmur.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"They should not be on our laps, then. Or they will wake up when we move."