CLOSED - Open that door if you love me

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WHO: Anders and Nathaniel
WHAT: Nathaniel and Anders go searching Skyhold for kittens.
WHEN: Slightly backdated, prior to Emprise du Lion things
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: KITTENS.

Nathaniel enters their shared room with a pillow, newly bartered from another resident, and sits on his bedroll to place it.

"I keep seeing cats around," he says casually. "Especially close to the kitchen. Today I saw some...new ones."

Comments

[justice_is_blond]

His breath catches as the kitten's set on his knee, and he hastily moves to make sure it doesn't fall off, cradling the little one. It's warm and fragile and squeaks again and there is no hope for Anders remaining aloof.

He lifts it up and rubs his cheek against its head, bringing another little squeak. Justice still feels that this is a thing that should not be done but Anders is lost.

"Who is adorable, hmm?" Tiny claws poke at his fingertips as the cat bats at what it can see. Despite the fact that he's just discussed the very likely possibility of his own death soon here, Anders is starting to smile. "All right. You win. Now I'll have three roommates instead of simply two. You'd best hope Nate over there appreciates what he's just done."

Justice, Nathaniel, and a kitten. If Varric was writing the story, it would be an utter disaster. ...It still might be. At least now it will be an adorably fuzzy disaster.

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There we go. There's that familiar smile. It gets a smile out of Nathaniel, too, watching that little cuddle between them. Maybe if Anders had had more reasons to smile like this, he wouldn't have gone violent.

And, because it feels appropriate, Nathaniel moves in for a half-hug. Manly stuff, patting on the back and everything.

"Do you have a name yet?"

[justice_is_blond]

He's a little surprised by the hug, but Anders relaxes into it almost right away. Touch, physical contact, is something he rarely gets enough of. He can't really... return the hug at the moment, though. His hands are full.

"A name?" The small smile turns a little incredulous with the addition of a raised eyebrow. "You just handed," he gently lifts the cat's tail, "her to me. Or rather, deposited her on my lap. A good name takes time. Ser Pounce-a-lot only got his name quickly because I'd been saving it." There's a pause as he looks down at the kitten.

"...But I could call her the Hero of Purrelden."

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"Isn't that more of a title than a name?" Nathaniel breaks the half-hug and reaches out to touch a fingertip to one little paw. "I imagine nothing I come up with will be ridiculous enough for you."

[justice_is_blond]

"It probably won't. I want it to be funny, and that's not Howe you are."

She opens her eyes, giving up on napping to flex her paws and bat at Nate's finger. Anders gently rubs her head, marveling at how soft she is. And tiny. He can't get away from tiny. He's seen cats this small before, but never held one. Never owned one.

"But you could make your suggestions before I shoot them down, if you'd like. Keep in mind it has to be adorable. Do you know what adorable is?"

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"Well." This, for one thing. Not just the kitten, but Anders with the kitten. "I've heard of it. I could give it a go. Archon Hissarian? Fuzzy...fuzz-something. Isn't fuzz supposed to be adorable?"

[justice_is_blond]

He manages to pull his gaze up from the cat so he can look at Nathaniel.

"Nate. I respect you dearly. But this is painful. Please never try naming a cat again." There's a definite lightness to his voice, though. How he's missed having a cat. Even more than that, though, he's missed having friends. This likely won't last long, but he has people around him who know who he is and don't despise him for it.

Anders lifts the cat up to his chest and slowly, carefully gets to his feet.

"Shall we introduce her to her new home? I'm going to need to gather up sand, find a small box and another pillow..." There's several things to do, but he sounds pleased as he lists them off. He is pleased.

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A soft chuckle at the admonishment. Apparently Nathaniel is fine with never having to name a cat.

"I'll find a box and get sand. You take care of the adorable parts."