Final day of training, pt 4: Lunch

“Well, I guess you are my familiar after all,” You tell the large, purring cat as you give her the pets and head-rubs she demands. “You’re only level 1, but that just means you have room to grow, I guess? I wonder how I make your Abilities stronger, do they just go up with your level or what?” The cat doesn’t answer, of course.

“More importantly,” Brighid cuts in, “Why did I come in from a morning of hard work, wanting to spend some cuddle time with my soul-mate before lunch, only to find my floor covered with ashes and you chanting some strange ritual, completely unresponsive, for the last hour?”

“Ummm, well, you see…” You blush and quickly explain the circumstances. Brighid, however, does not seem to consider your explanation as a good excuse.

“So you read the spellbook, realized it made you completely zone out for two hours, and then decided that spending four more hours casting a spell that takes all of your Concentration would be the best way to spend your time? Without even considering letting me know what was going on?” She glares at you. “I am supposed to be the reckless one, here. And that’s not even counting the absolute mess you made of my floor! I may be wearing your collar at the moment, but I am not cleaning that up, mister.

“There is a broom and a dustpan out in the forge. You can eat lunch once my floor is clean again -- if Riama and I leave you any.” She points imperiously towards the door and you slink out. When you return, cleaning supplies in hand, your brand new soul familiar is up on the table eating small cuts of meat from Brighid’s outstretched palm.

Traitor! You think at the cat. Riama looks over her shoulder at you, gives you a slow, completely unconcerned blink, and turns back to her feast. Brighid, for her part, completely ignores you as she spoils your familiar. “You are such a beautiful creature, so sleek and muscular and with such soft fur. Do not worry, your master may have a donkey’s brains sometimes but I will make sure you are fed and petted and given all the attention you deserve.”

“What are you -- are you trying to steal my familiar?! You're supposed to be completely and unbreakably loyal to me!” You splutter at the red-head and the black-furred cat.

Brighid doesn’t even look at you as she feeds the cat with one hand and strokes her head and neck with the other. “Riama is an intelligent being, not a pet or an object, so I cannot steal her. And I am not kidnapping her, either. If she prefers my company to yours, well, whose fault is that?” The loud, rumbling purr coming from the black-furred jaguar just adds extra weight to her betrayal.

“How typical,” you grumble out loud as you sweep the stone floor of Brighid’s home. “I add a second female to my life and instantly they both abandon me for each other. Next you’ll be conspiring against me. First I’ll have to make room for the cat on our bed, then I’ll be sleeping on the couch, and before I know it I’ll be shown the door.”

“Do you hear that, Riama? The donkey-brain does not even want to let you sleep on my nice, comfortable bed. Fortunately for you, it is my bed, not his.”

At that point you concede defeat and sweep up the rest of the ashes as quickly and efficiently as you can. The only salve to your wounded pride is that you get a Skill out of it, although not one you are eager to practice.

Congratulations! You have reached level 1 in Houskeeping. You are now Unskilled in Housekeeping.

Once you dump all the ashes into the street outside and return the broom and dustpan to their place in the forge, you take your place at the table and Brighid slides a plate over to you laden with slabs of Tusker meat. Riama, the furry little traitor, stands up and walks over to Brighid, rubbing her head against the centaur's chest and starting to lap at her skin. Brighid scoops the cat up into her arms and cradles her against her breasts. You give them both your most injured look as you wolf down your lunch. Once you finish your food and push your plate away, you briefly consider continuing the charade, but discard the idea. Instead, you tell Brighid, "You're right, Brighid. I wasn't thinking about anything but myself. I was too curious and too eager to learn the new Skill and use the new Ritual. I am sorry. Will you forgive me?"

Brighid looks down at the cat nestled against her bosom and asks, "What do you say, Riama? Should we forgive him?" The astral jaguar looks back up at her for a few moments, then squirms around in Brighid's arms and escapes back onto the table. She walks over to you, sits down on her haunches, meets your eyes with her silver ones, and reaches one forepaw out towards you. She places her paw carefully on your forehead, then gives you a very definite push. The force she exerts with just one foreleg isn't nearly enough to push you over, but you roll with it and topple over backwards off the cushions, sprawling out on the newly-cleaned floor. Riama hops down off of the table onto your belly -- which given her not inconsiderable weight drives the breath from your lungs -- then curls up and starts to purr happily with a mental <elation of victory>.

Brighid giggles and says, "I am not sure whether that is a yes or a no, so I will say that we are reserving our judgement at this time. If my Lord continues to act like a self-centered colt, I may have to investigate just what a 'couch' is so that we can make you sleep upon it. If not, perhaps we may deign to allow him to sleep with us tonight. Fair?"

"More than fair," You concede and lift an arm up towards Brighid, beckoning her over to you. She carefully kneels down on the hard stone floor and gently lays down on her side with her torso facing you, snuggling into your offered embrace. She strokes your loudly purring familiar with one hand -- <love. family.> -- and kisses you softly on the side of your neck.

"Of course I forgive you, Aidan. I understand your curiosity and would not even have been mad if you had just let me know, and I can already tell that your familiar is going to fit right in with us. Just remember this next time you decide to do something momentous without me, alright my love?" You just nod and hug her more tightly.