Drabble Cascade #41 - Christmas: The Sounds of Children Playing (G, Wizard World 'Verse)

[charisstoma]

FB3X Drabble Cascade #41 - Christmas

Title: The Sounds of Children Playing (G, Wizard World 'Verse)
Author: charisstoma
Word count: 200
Prompt: Christmas
Wizards World ‘verse … yes again. Meridae has a lot to answer for.

It was the clink of metal being dropped and then rolling followed by the skittering of little paws on slick floor that drew the attention of the adults. Thoughts of ‘they probably have one of the new toys’ making them lose interest , before the realization that among the Christmas toys had not been anything like the latest play thing. There was a thankful collective sigh that it didn’t have that hollow sound of glass before Brian stood to see what it was.

Duke briefly raised his head off of his paws to notice that Brian ‘had it’. Rustled shaking of the newspaper said that Balthazar trusted Brian to handle anything that was a problem, he was the knight in the family after all and knew when to call for help if he needed it.

Brian looked down at the small kitten racing towards the carpet’s center with something golden clenched between his teeth, his siblings racing to see where he was going to drop the favored toy. It was Brian that pounced first.

Studying the golden ring carefully, he read, Made In China then released the toy to its fate deeming it safe. It was in the wrong ‘Verse.



Other parts of this arc of the Wizards' World 'Verse can be found Here
Or for the whole rest of the stories click on the Wizards' World tag.

Comments

[frogs_of_war]

Is the ring choking-hazard small, or more bracelet sized? I know Papas are magic, but I still worry about the kittens.

Non-toys are always more fun.

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

The ring has to fit a grown man's pointer finger to judge by Bilbo. Think it's too big for swallowing danger of small kittens.

Must be a magical ring if it fits hobbits and you'd think larger individuals, Ring Wraiths probably. Kind of like the Adventures of the Travelling Pants, one size fits all and makes the wearer look good on regardless of who's wearing them.

*sighs* I still have a holdover box fetish.

[frogs_of_war]

In the novels the ring changes to fit whoever slips it on, so if a kitten claw goes through the opening, it will shrink.

Bilbo puts it on his first finger as did Frodo (so he only loses one finger to Golum) but at the beginning of the movie, it shrinks from Saron sized to human finger sized when Isildur takes it. I can't remember which finger either wore it on.

But even if it was the sized to fit a man's pointer finger, it would still be chocking hazard sized for a kitten. A child can choke on anything small enough to fit down a toilet paper roll, kittens are much smaller, but a size 8 man's ring is less than an inch across.

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

hmmm. Growing up we had a cat get caught, and we're glad she was because us kids were going to get blamed otherwise, carrying off a visitors wrist watch. Why she did it *shrugs*? Who would believe the cat would be a kleptomaniac?

This and all the other things I've seen cats and kittens carry in their teeth. They're very delicate with their moving small things from point A to point B until they get to where they want it, when the object is let go. The object isn't totally inside the mouth, just far enough for the teeth to grab hold. Still, wouldn't trust a kitten with a balloon. That's a pounce/bite maneuver.

[meridae.livejournal.com]

Hey, don't blame me - this is Saskia's 'verse!!

(Isn't Brian worried the kittens will swallow the not-so-one ring?)

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

The kittens have very small mouths and the ring is big. The only thing that one of the cats in my long life has eaten that she shouldn't have was a sewing needle with thread attached. After the surgery, we kept track of the needles much much better. *shudders* The thread accordioned up her intestines.

*smiles* we are all so careful of our kittens here but they are not puppies or dogs who will eat so many things they shouldn't. Even the little ones are smarter than that. And they can't help it if things want to jump off shelves to get away from them.

[meridae.livejournal.com]

One of my workmate's had a cat who ate weed matting - she had to take the day off work to make sure the cat managed to poop it out so it didn't have to have surgery!

One of my brother's dogs was terribly for eating things - my brother was always pulling sticks and string and ladies stockings (or similar)out of it's butt!!

My boys are pretty good . . . although one of my other cats used to eat her longer furred sister's fur tufts. Heh.

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

eeeeewwwwweeee.

Dogs will clean the cat litter box if you don't stop them. Should say SOME dogs.

[meridae.livejournal.com]

Oh, sometimes I have to stop Jimmy (I think!) from chewing on the pins in my pin cushion. Weirdo!

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

Little Bit almost died. She ate the needle and thread at the same time as I dealt with my abraded cornea.

[meridae.livejournal.com]

She wanted to be injured in sympathy with you! So sweet!!

I still miss my Minxy - she was my one true soul cat and very sensitive to my moods and depression. We were very closely bonded. My boys and I are tightly bonded too, but not quite in the same way. They're more likely to get fed up with my moping and go and catch a mouse.

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

That's not just going to catch a mouse, that's shopping to bring you home a gift to relieve your feeling down. Nothing says snap out of it like, 'here I brought you a live rat. Come play pounce.'

Can just imagine the self satisfied looks between your furry guys as you screamed and then started playing hunt.

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

Nope. Still blaming you for getting the muses going again.

[meridae.livejournal.com]

Hey, I couldn't let the kittens go without Christmas!

Speaking of which!

Warne smiled softly at Ranel’s bewilderment and pulled his young husband close for a cuddle. “Kitten, why don’t we want the kittens climbing the tree?” He asked gently.

Ranel quirked an eyebrow at him and answered promptly. “Same reason you don’t want me in it – so it doesn’t get destroyed. And . . . well . . . they could get hurt I guess? I mean we don’t know how the magic in the lights and ornaments will react with their auras . . .”

“Both definite concerns,” Warne agreed. “But what are they going to do if they see their beloved Papa Ranel climbing in the branches?”

“Not so beloved now . . .” Ranel muttered.

Warne chuckled. “Maybe not, but they’ll still copy you, right?” Ranel didn’t answer, just squirming in discomfort because he knew Warne was right. “And what if they decide to copy you when we’re visiting . . . Oh, I don’t know, maybe Vicar Worthington on Boxing Day?”

More squirming, this time in distaste – the man was an obnoxious, odious bigot that none of the wizarding community in West-Haddington-Upon-Bridge liked.

“Yeah, exactly,” Warne agreed to Ranel’s unspoken realisation. “We have enough trouble convincing people like the Vicar that the kittens aren’t just animals as it is, and he’s seen you transform! If they act like animals . . .”

“Ummm . . .” Ranel’s movement stopped abruptly and his buried his face into Warne’s chest, skin burning in shame. “I’m . . . uh . . . sorry?”

Another soft chuckle as Warne tightened his embrace. “Oh Kitten, I’m sorry it’s so hard.” He nuzzled at Ranel’s soft black curls. “If it was just you and I, I would buy you a forest full of Christmas Trees to destroy, I swear. But you’re a role model now – the primary role model at the moment . . .”

“No! The kittens love you!” Ranel interrupted in protest.

“Yes, they do – but it’s you they look to for the example of how to behave at the moment, because you’re the one who feeds them and spends most of your time with them in feline form. Although,” and here Warne grinned smugly, “I do think Albert and Ellis prefer it when I’m the one who licks their butts. And I’m better at taming that tuft of fur on the back of Buttercup’s head.” Then he settled back, sighing again as Ranel shot him an evil look. “The truth is, my love, that the kittens are going to have a hard enough time in this world, just being what they are. If we want them to be regarded as anything more than fur coated power packs with no intelligence of their own, then we have to make sure they act like it.”

Ranel gave a sigh of his own, as he squeezed Warne in return. “I really messed up, didn’t I?”

Warne looked down at his love with a raised eyebrow. “No, not really. Just didn’t think much beyond the immediate comfort and security we enjoy here at home that keeps the kittens safe from the world. But we can’t always protect them . . . so they have to learn now. Even if climbing Christmas Trees is immense fun!”


Ranel returned Warne’s grin, his heart swelling with love for the husband who understood him – and his feline side – so well, even if he did have to curb it at times. “I really am sorry you know. You’re right – I didn’t think beyond the immediate. I guess . . . I’m just used to . . . you protect us so well, protect me so well. And before you, Papa Balthazar did the same . . . but the kittens might not be so lucky . . .”

“Heh, they will be if I have anything to do with it . . .” Warne muttered darkly before dropping a kiss on Ranel’s forehead. They rested together in silence for a few peaceful, relaxed moments.

“So . . . um . . . can the kittens have the tree back? And the decorations? If I promise to stay out of it? They really are very upset . . .”

“Yes, baby boy, the kittens can have Christmas back. I’d never take that from them, not for long anyway. How about we make a day of it tomorrow – go shopping for some new decorations in the morning – they can pick out a new, special one each – and then spend the afternoon redecorating the lounge. How does that sound?”

“Good . . . that sounds good.”

More quiet.

[meridae.livejournal.com]

(In two parts because it was long)

“You okay, kitten?” Warne murmured, with more gentle kisses to Ranel’s head.

A small sigh. “Yeah . . . I think so . . .” A pause and then a lean thigh slithered suggestively up and over Warne’s hips, the limb rubbing gently against Warne’s cock. “Mostly.”

“Mostly? That’s . . . concerning. Is there anything I can do to make you feel completely better?” Warne felt his cock fill quickly with blood; Ranel’s touch could sometimes take him from flaccidity to full erection within seconds. His husband had such a young, firm, smooth, virile . . . ummmm . . .

“Well . . . I think maybe riding your cock would help . . .” Ranel ventured solemnly, moving to straddle Warne’s body properly. Warne reciprocated by putting his hands on Ranel’s hips and moving the young man around so his cock was properly positioned and pressed against Ranel’s hole.

“Do you now?” Warne asked, helping Ranel rise up and begin to impale himself on Warne’s cock.

“Yeah,” Ranel breathed, sinking down. “Oh gods . . . that’s good . . .” he gasped. “A-and . . . I think . . . m-maybe you should . . . s-spank me, just a bit . . . to m-make sure the message really gets through . . .”

“Mmmhmmm? Well, I think that can be arranged . . . but right now? Ride Daddy’s cock, baby, there’s a good boy.”

Closing his eyes, Ranel sank down further, letting Warne’s cock penetrate him as deeply as possible as he began to enthusiastically comply with his husband’s request.

[frogs_of_war]

Man, Warne plays Daddy to Ranel, doesn't he?

I was going to say that Warne treated Ranel like he was six when asking the questions, not like he was a partner or equal who had messed up, but then I got to the second half and see that this is a game the two play. If they enjoy the 'daddy' and 'good boy' stuff, who am I to judge.

[meridae.livejournal.com]

It's an interesting dynamic. It will change as Ranel matures, but the daddy bit will always be a part of their sex life.

[meridae.livejournal.com]

Also, maybe I simplified the questioning a bit too much . . . or maybe the schmoopy affection bits made it seem dumbed down, but I use questioning very much like this at work, and yes, sometimes I have to break it down into teeny tiny steps to lead people where I want them to go.

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

*grins* And then there's the X-rated part. Nice delineation and um... action?

Oh man, Warne is either going to be sucked dry, in which case his sperm count will go down thus preventing more litters sooner, or he'll be anti-aged keeping up with Ranel. Both possibilities are good and um not exclusive of each other.

[meridae.livejournal.com]

I thought you might like the climax. Heheheh.

Given that Warne is older than anybody knows, I don't think he's going to have much trouble keeping up with Ranel for a long time to . . ah . . come.

I actually know a lot of Warne's back story, which would be a huge epic of a fic in itself, but he's sworn me to secrecy.

Ugh, too much pepper on my potatoes (trying to disguise the odd tasting leftover Christmas ham).

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

Pepper was highly prized in medieval times to make palatable meat that had gone 'odd'.
After my stint in the ER and then the hospital with some old tomato sauce.... yeah. I don't do that any more. Be careful.

Washing and browning the meat and heating, in the manner you desire, the heck out of it *nods* all good things. Better is the adapted thinking, I can't hide those calories this bad meat's potential from myself so I will throw this out without eating it.

[meridae.livejournal.com]

Oh the ham isn't off, just cured differently in a way that made it taste funny to me. That'll mteach me to try a new brand from a small business.

(My brother used to work for a small foods shop - salamis, sausages etc at xmas I'd visit when they were smoking the xmas hams and he'd cut me bits off straight from the smoke house. So good!

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

oooooh YUM

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

Oooooh this worked out for justification better than I even imagined. Excellent.
Warne has redeemed himself in my eyes.
It's easy to forget that there are bigots out there who look down on Familiars and Warne is very politically sauve

[meridae.livejournal.com]

Ranel is not Warne's first familiar, and Warne has long experience with wizards who regard their familiars as nothing more than non-sentient slaves who are to be used and abused. He also knows about the black market slave trade in familiars and their offspring. So yeah, very protective and determined the same won't happen to his babies (or any of Ranel's brothers/nephews).

But he also knows that one day the kittens will go off on their own whether he lets them or not (just try and keep Buttercup at home!), so he's working out ways to protect them even when he's not around.

I get the feeling and and Bazaar are conniving and plotting behind the scenes on this one.

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

Puzzle pieces clicking together. The reason that Warne has a cat form, that Ranel first met him in, is some covert working he's done in the past to stop the slave trade in familiars.

*evil cackles* Imagine thinking you've caught a familiar and the familiar able to crisp your bones from the inside out. *teeth showing*

[meridae.livejournal.com]

I think the reason Warne has a cat form is that he's a transfiguration wizard and the pinnacle of skill is to be able to transform oneself (so basically, he's a show off). Of course, no doubt he put the skill to more practical uses later on.

If you ask Warne why he was in cat form the first time he met Ranel, he'll just tell you he liked basking in the sun, and had nothing to do with making contact to the infamous familiar family living next door to him, and absolutely NOTHING to do with the Wizard's Council.

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

"Papa," asked Buttercup, "how did you meet Papa Ranel? And why aren't you a familiar like us if you're a cat?"

[thwax.livejournal.com]

Fun and lovely imagery :)

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

No cautioning cry of choking hazzard. *grins* Cats really are quite careful *dark frown* unless it with a sewing needle with thread in it.

I liked that scene, there's a hominess about it.