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Post by Adrien Baillon on Jan 10, 2020 14:46:16 GMT -5
It took Adrien a moment, but he gave Adrian a triumphant, wolfish grin.
"A pity you don't offer me comfort."
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Jan 10, 2020 14:46:59 GMT -5
"Oh, pardon me. Two extra blankets, then."
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Jan 10, 2020 14:47:27 GMT -5
The sound of Adrien's laughter joined that of the raindrops on the sidewalk.
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Jan 10, 2020 14:53:31 GMT -5
"I have a spare toothbrush, I think, if you don't mind using that. Unused, of course-"
The car pulled over, and Veidt gestured for Adrien to get in first.
If the driver recognized Veidt when he got in, he didn't say anything. It wasn't a terribly long drive; most of it ran right alongside the river, and came to a stop at a building probably around the same age as Adrien's but propped up by significantly higher rents, with a doorman who tipped his hat to Veidt on the way in and appeared to discreetly avoid commenting on Adrien at all.
It wasn't until they were in the elevator that Veidt abruptly laughed.
"Do you feel as though we're getting away with something?"
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Jan 10, 2020 14:59:51 GMT -5
"If you mean that that man did not think I was your son, then yes," said Adrien in a bright, but quiet voice, taking Veidt's arm and momentarily resting his damp head on his shoulder. It was a gesture that could have taken place between two old friends as well as any other pair that were reasonably fond of each other, but how Adrien meant it was unclear.
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Jan 10, 2020 15:29:09 GMT -5
"You're going to need a towel or two before you can even go to bed," Veidt observed. "When you get in, just leave your things outside the door and I'll gather him, all right? The laundry service is done for the night but I can't imagine they won't let me handle it myself."
The elevator doors opened directly onto a dim open space. Veidt reached toward the wall to turn on a light, revealing a spacious, vaguely old-fashioned penthouse, all brass fixtures and herringbone-patterned hardwood floors and purple area rugs.
"You'll have to pardon me. I haven't had company in some time..."
Something rumbled suspiciously in the far distance. Veidt made a placating gesture back at Adrien as he stepped in and stepped out of his wet shoes.
"It's all right girl, it's just me. I brought a friend, that's all," he called, as something vaguely feline and very large emerged from down the hall and strode into the light.
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Jan 10, 2020 15:30:20 GMT -5
Adrien ran towards the enormous monster that Adrian Veidt called his pet, his own shoes squeaking.
"Wow, can I touch her?"
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Jan 10, 2020 15:35:52 GMT -5
The creature didn't leave him the option, as she gave him a distinctly housecat-like rub of her massive, reddish-purple head right along his hip hard enough to knock him over.
"Bubastis," Veidt cautioned.
The creature- her long-eared head nearly half as broad as Veidt's chest- didn't give him time to help Adrien up. She turned around and excitedly put her front paws on her master's shoulders, which he returned with a hug.
"It's all right, girl. He's supposed to be here..."
Veidt looked over the creature's shoulder with a sympathetic laugh as Adrien got up again.
"My apologies. This is Bubastis."
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Jan 10, 2020 15:38:04 GMT -5
"That's the biggest kitty I ever saw," he said happily. As Veidt had learned from his yoga lessons, Adrien was resilient. He joined him to stroke her enormous, plum-colored flank.
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Jan 10, 2020 15:43:03 GMT -5
"She's a genetically engineered lynx," said Veidt. "Well- mostly lynx, at any rate. She's rather thoroughly housebroken, I'm afraid-"
Bubastis responded by enthusiastically licking the side of Veidt's face and a good quarter of his hair. Veidt looked deeply unimpressed.
"That's not an insult, you know."
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Jan 10, 2020 15:47:49 GMT -5
Adrien clapped his hand over his mouth as he laughed in delight.
"It looks like it's you that's housebroken."
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Jan 10, 2020 15:57:48 GMT -5
"Would you like anything to drink?" Veidt asked dryly. "Tomorrow is Saturday."
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Jan 10, 2020 16:04:00 GMT -5
"Are you offering me wine, Monsieur Veidt?" he asked flirtatiously, before he could recall himself.
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Jan 10, 2020 16:07:07 GMT -5
"If you'd like it."
He spread his arms, which prompted Bubastis to climb down with an annoyed choof! noise. "Let me bestow charity on you."
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Jan 10, 2020 16:09:34 GMT -5
"Oho. No cheap stuff, then."
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