tcnetwork | LYDIA MARTIN

[There's a knock at the door. When Lydia opens it, there's no one there--save for a shopping bag and a plastic litter box. Inside, a soft blanket is folded up, and on that blanket is a tiny kitten with an exceptionally long tail that hangs over the edge of the box and onto the ground. The bag contains pet supplies: dishes, cans of food, toys, grooming implements, a bag of litter, and a little book about the species of this cat: an exotic and difficult to pronounce breed name that is simply "Sleeper" in vernacular. This particular cat is tele-empathic, and exceptionally intelligent. Their gifts allow them to shield their masters from nightmares and produce a calming aura on command.

The kitten wears a bright red bow around its neck as it sits there, absolutely content to lay without moving save for the twitch of the tip of its tail, dancing along the ground.

On the ribbon, there is a handwritten tag.]

Hello! My name is Celeste. I saw this funny looking man who stopped to talk to me today, and he told me all about you! Well, suffice to say I insisted he take me home to meet you and I confess: I already like you so much that I've decided to stay. I hope you don't mind, I promise I'm a very good girl, and I enjoy dogs a great deal! I'm very excited to meet my new big sister, Mia. Oh, and the funny looking man says that I'm almost as pretty as you are--and I am very pretty!

[ It's quite a surprise for Lydia to find another delivery on her doorstep so soon after the last one but even more so since this one is alive. At first, she isn't sure what to think until she reads the little book after the note and starts to put together the pieces why she has received such a gift.

After that, it is the process of getting Celeste set up in the house while introducing large dog to a small kitten. Which proves to be interesting but still easier due to the fact that she has a telepathic link to Mia and Celeste is tele-empathic.

Still, it's nearing suppertime when 'the funny looking man' gets a text message followed by a picture of Mia curled up on her bed and Celeste tucked in against her, both sleeping. ]

Celeste would like you to know that she is settling in quite well and I would like you to know that you're very sweet. How did you even find her?

[Charles is just starting to think about dinner when he gets the text and smiles, seeing who it's from--and the photo that accompanies it.]

How darling! I knew Mia would enjoy her--only children can get lonely.

I found a shop in the merchant dome. I wanted to do something for both you and Elle Feynman with all this prophetic nonsense about. I saw these little angels, and I picked up one for each of you.

Between you and I, however, I feel I gave you the prettier one.

You should have gotten one for yourself, Charles, but thank you. She's very sweet and I can see why you picked her out for me.

Also, you have to say that. :p

Oh, hardly. I sleep fine.

[...when he sleeps, mind you...]

I have to say that, do I? And why is that, pray tell?

I'm sure you do. When you actually sleep, right?

[ Spooky, it's almost like she knows... ]

I suppose you could be running around flirting with other people telling them that you're thinking of them at night.

When I do actually sleep, yes.

[SO SPOOPY.]

Darling, if you're going to have my bollocks, do it properly: ONLY thinking of them at night.

Nothing else. No dreams, no worries...just the touch of a hand, the curve of a smile, the laugh of a Siren.

The world does not exist beyond that.

Sometimes you manage the impossible and leave me a bit speechless. In a good way.

You flatter me, darling.

And I still say, with an absolute lack of romantic bias, I gave you the prettier of the kittens.

LYDIA MARTIN

5/25 - DELIVERY; midday

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