fandomtownies | The Cat Business Office, Monday

The Cat Business Office, Monday

As the sun rose over Fandom Town, there was one moment where it broke through the clouds and the rain, bathing the street in gold light that bounced around and gleamed off the wet surfaces. The sight lasted only a moment, and when the golden glow faded there was a new building in the formerly empty space between Sanctity and Where in the World. A moment of silence before the bell jangled of its own accord, the door opened, and the Baron stepped out. It had arrived without incident, but he seemed to be running low on a few things. Oh well. He glanced up and down the empty street before stepping back inside. It was a spot of tea and a scone he was after wanting now. Fandom could wait. At least until it was a bit drier.

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Alfred stopped by and looked at the small building. Without even reading the sign, he had a feeling that he had, indeed, found the Baron's place of bussiness. He kneeled down and rapped politely on the door.

The Baron quickly donned his coat again and answered the door, smiling at his visitor and inclining his head. "Alfred. Good day. Do come in. You'll find the interior is far roomier than it appears. I've just put the kettle on."

"Well then, if you don't mind I'll just come in," Alfred said, falling to his hands and knees and crawling through the door.

Alfred will find that he has plenty of room to sit on the tasteful Oriental rug before the couch. The Baron shakes off his coat and lays it over the back of his chair as he attends to the tea things. "I have scones as well," he offers. "Milk or sugar?"

Alfred notes that the Oriental rug is indeed quite tasteful as he takes a seat and shrugs off his coat, folding it on his lap. "Sugar and a little milk, please," he responds.

The Baron fixes the tea and hands him the small, Baron-scaled cup, extending half a normal-sized scone on a plate. "The bakery in town, Jeff, the God of Biscuits, makes excellent scones. I accidentally crashed a party there last night."

[[*growls* The Conservatives won my riding . . .]]

"Does it now? I'm meeting a student there tonight. I saw the party early on but I thought that the students wouldn't want an old fogey like me around runing their party." He sipped at the tea. "Mmm, excellent."

"Thank you," the Baron murmured. "The Baron's Special Blend. Always slightly different." He took a sip of his own and smiled. "The students seem like an excellent group. Everyone I have met in Fandom has been very friendly." He chuckled. "Makes me slightly suspicious."

"They do, though I'm afraid that I've only made the aquaintance of three and I'm afraid I may have left a bad impression on two of them. I'm actually meeting one of those two at Jeff's tonight. He's to be my student."

"I had thought you weren't a teacher. On what subject are you to instruct him?" ~~There may have been a bit of catnip in the Baron's tea. He's getting creative with his sentence structure.~~

"Well, this one fell into my lap, as it were. Or rather, he fell onto the floor. One of the students up at the school is a butler and a part time vampire hunter for the British Government. He is quite talented, though I'm afraid he is also very untrainted. Unfocused, as it were. I don't know exactly who raised him, but I believe he needs a little more... personal attention."

The Baron's cup hit his saucer with a slight too-loud clink. He quickly recovered. "Then it is noble of you to take up the slack." ~~And with an impressive show of butler-fu.~~ "I have not personally encountered vampires myself. Should I be concerned in Fandom?"

Alfred frowned. "I'm not sure. I noticed a few posters up warning against the creatures, specifically two of them. And with the maor and police force gone, the town seems like it might be somewhat defenseless before order is restored." He took a sip of tea. "I, myself, am not worried for my safety, but could you defend yourself against such an adversary, Baron? I'm afraid I know little of you, as we only met yesterday."

The Baron smirked. "I would whack him in the kneecaps and run away." He took another sip. "To be honest, usually I deal with cats. At least in any sort of fighting capacity. However, I would like to think that I can do for myself. Very well, actually." Another sip. "I hope that it will not come to such a situation."

Alfred nodded. "I suppose that you would not present too great a target to a vampire and would, subsequently, be ignored. I'm not sure that they drink the blood of cats." He took a sip of his tea. "Where are you from exactly, Baron? I don't believe I've heard of a Barrony of Gikkingen."

The Baron might have looked shamefaced. "I'm not really a Baron. Nor am I really a cat. I was a figurine, created by an artisan with magic in his blood and love in his heart. Animated by magic. I used to live in an alternate dimension, a sort of magical gated community." He took a sip. "If that is too esoteric, pretend that I said it was in the Kingdom of Cats."

Alfred laughed. "My dear Baron, I have seen far too much for anything to be particularly esoteric to me." He took another sip of tea and frowned a little. "I'm sorry, but could I possibly get a refill?"

"Of course." The Baron refills the cup quickly but neatly. "I had forgotten about human-sized mouths. You do not seem much surprised to hear of the Kingdom of Cats, either."

"Thank you Baron," Alfred said graciously. "Well, as I said, I have seen a little too much in my time to be particularly suprised at anything. Also I knew a bit about the Kingdom beforehand, though I suspect my information is woefully out of date."

"The King has abdicated in favour of his son, Prince Lune," the Baron replied as he poured himself another cup. "An admirable lad, married his sweetheart though she was a simple serving maid. I have great hopes for him."

"Ahh, I'm afraid my information is quite out of date then," Alfred said, sipping his tea. "The last I heard of Prince Lune had only recently been born. That was just before I quit."

"I assume, then, that you were also British Intelligence?" the Baron said nonchalantly. "You did strike me as somewhat more than a simple gentleman's gentleman. More hot?" He lifted the pot.

"Yes, thank you," Alfred replied. "And yes, I was British Intelligence for some time. Did several things that I would have to kill anyone I told about. Saved the world once or twice as well."

The Baron filled his visitor's cup. "An impressive record. I think I know who I would wish to find in case of, say, a zombie attack."

Alfred laughed. "I heard about the zombie attacks, though it troubles me that no cause was found. And yes, should there ever be a zombie attack, by all means take refuge in my restaurant."

"Gladly." The Baron sighed. "Welcome to Fandom indeed. I almost fear for my own safety. And then I consider how much fun is to be had. I may write a scholarly journal on the town."

[[Frakking notifications are going walkies.]]

Alfred laughs. "A scholarly journal on Fandom? That might be interesting indeed. Are you worried for your safety, Baron? The town is indeed lawless these days. If you wish to hole up with me until things have settled down, you are more than welcome to."

~~OMGDIRTY~~ "Thank you for the offer, Alfred, but this office is my home. If need be, I can and will defend it for as long as is needed." The Baron has a firm look on his ~~face~~ snout and a determined glint in his eye. "And I have reinforcements readily at hand."

~~BaronxAlfred OTP!~~ "Well, I am most pleased to hear that," Alfred said. "I take it you have contacts within the kingdom that will assist you?"

~~THEIRLOVEISSOTHWARTEDBYSPECIES~~ The Baron mused for a moment. "I suppose you may know of him. In your intel on the Kingdom, have you heard of the criminal Renaldo Moon?"

"The name is not unfamiliar to me," Alfred responded, sipping his tea.

"My, how non-committal of you," the Baron replied, deadpan. "There are some who think he's the same cat at that known as Muta. An old friend of mine. My contacts extend beyond the Kingdom, though not too far in this place."

Alfred smiled. "It is not for me to judge, but it is good to know that you have friends to call upon if something happens. Given what I heard of Zombie Weekend, they might be very good friends to know indeed."

"I thank you for your concern," the Baron replied. "I hope it will not seem improper of me to wish you the same luck in friends. You may always call on me in a tight spot." He smiled. "The sign does say, 'If you're in a trouble, there's a place you can go.'"

[[Okay, this? Fun. But I require REM to function. So soonish sleepingness.]]

"And I will be sure to do so. Friends are one of life's great treasures. Who else can we count on when our backs are to the wall?" He put his tea cup down. "And now, if you'll excuse me, I'm afraid I must take my leave. Only I have an appointment with the student later tonight and I must prepare a gift for him."

_{[[Cursed humang bodies and their need for sleep. That's cool. And I love that someone else knows Alfred. Especially the British Intelligence part.]]}

"Of course. Thank you for the visit. It was a most welcome office-warming." The Baron takes the tea cup and stands to see Alfred out. Well, watch him carefully back out of the door on hands and knees. "Be careful . . . my friend."

[[I love that Alfred has dirt on the Kingdom of Cats. Night!]]

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The Cat Business Office, Monday

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