Dite's Decadent Delights | Wednesday

[begmetwice]

While one might think Irene would be spending her time planning for a long-foretold shopping excursion -- well, one would be wrong. Their route had been planned for weeks now, and Irene had contingencies built upon contingencies.

No, today was for something even better: a Back-to-School Sale. Granted, the new little ones weren't on the island, yet, but just as well -- surely their teachers were stocking up on all things needed for a successful year ahead of the students' arrival, right? Pencils. Notebooks. Alcohol. And buzzing things:

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[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Jon peeked through the door and waved as he came in. "I'm a little worried at what sorts of things you think teachers might need."

[begmetwice]

"It's very stressful, Jon, being a teacher," Irene told him with an only slightly cryptic smile. "Nothing for the classroom, naturally. But Margo would do well to run a special on her bath bombs and the like for similar reason, I'd imagine."

There. She kept it nice and classily vague, there.

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"Ah. R-right. That's a thing. I'd, um. Be more likely to go with the bath bombs, but I suppose I can appreciate your help on behalf of my colleagues."

And he was going to change the subject now. "I haven't seen you in a while; I hope you've been well."

[begmetwice]

And here Irene was more than happy to point out that she actually was doing her duty as a citizen of the town and personally working to make sure at least one of his colleagues stayed relaxed thanks to her own diligent sacrifices!

But fine, Jon, have your polite conversation change.

"I'm grand," she told him with a bright grin. "Got a dog, I have shopping planned this week, and nothing stupid's happened in ages." Nothing since the kraken drill, really, which meant they were due for something she hated soon. "And yourself?"

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"Oh! I, um. I have a cat now. Temporarily. I'm not sure for how long, but she's lovely. I wouldn't have taken you for a dog person."

[begmetwice]

"You, on the other hand, practically have 'cat person' tattooed across your forehead, love," Irene informed him crisply. "And I actually didn't expect to get a dog, but I saw her and here we are. She's an English bulldog, at least. Clementine."

And hopefully not upstairs munching on something red-soled and expensive as they spoke.

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"Well. Heh." Jon couldn't really argue that. "I'm sure she's delightful, if she has your approval. I look forward to meeting her."

Not really, but he wasn't dreading it, either. Dogs he could take or leave. And any dog of Irene's was sure to be well-behaved.

[begmetwice]

"And how did you come into possession of this temporary cat?" Irene wondered. "Did she inform you it was only a temporary arrangement?"

Seemed like a fairly cat-like thing to do.

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"I got her from Shunsui, who was looking after her, but he had to go somewhere," Jon answered. "Apparently he got her from Tisarwat and Lucille, but they were looking after her for someone else?"

He shrugged, at a loss. "I have no idea if I'm meant to be keeping her until he gets back or her owner does. She's a proper lady, though." His expression softened. "It's been good to have someone. Or, er. Well, you know what I mean."

[begmetwice]

Irene softened, because she did, indeed, know exactly what he meant. It was why she'd gotten Clementine in the first place -- because she could feel herself slipping deeper and deeper into loneliness, and it wasn't even winter yet.

"And your kittycat doesn't mind being passed around like a loaned Tupperware?" Irene teased lightly. "I'm sure she loves the attention, actually."

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"She's a cat, and a queen to boot," Jon said, smiling. "So long as she's given the proper worship, I think she's happy. Here." He took out his phone.

Because of course he had pictures. He still had pictures of Goose on his phone, and he'd only had him for a weekend. "This is Issa."

[begmetwice]

"Hello, Issa. My kind of lady." A prissy, elegant queen who loved attention? Please, Irene, continue with the shocking pronouncements. "She's lovely."

And of course, like parents in the park, Irene was reaching for her own phone -- but her actual lock screen was a picture of the little pile of wrinkles that was Clementine, so she didn't have to look far. "My Clemmie."

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"Oh, good lord." Jon was absolutely grinning now. "And here I thought you'd never put up with a single wrinkle."

Look, he might be a cat person, but that dog was damn adorable.