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“I’ve been thinking of adopting a companion for Grand Bois Chéri,” Celeste said from behind the counter. “What do you think?”
Kyoko, never one to react rashly, didn’t have a chance to reply before Celeste was coming over to the table she’d settled down at, pot of tea in hand. The little table had already been set with two cups and saucers along with a small platter of cookies, perfect for a nighttime snack. After pouring the tea, to which Kyoko murmured her thanks, Celeste took a seat across from her.
“You know him best,” Kyoko said eventually. “You’re his owner, after all. If you think he’d enjoy having a friend, I see no problem with the idea. You certainly have the money and space to accommodate another pet. But what made you start considering this? Ever since opening the cafe, you’ve shown remarkable restraint not taking in any cats yourself.”
“Yes, I have had an admirable amount of self-control, haven’t I?” She preened at the compliment, a small smile playing at her lips as she surveyed the dimly lit cafe. Closed for the night, customers and employees alike had already taken their leave. Kyoko and Celeste were the only two still there with the cats. Some were dozing or grooming themselves, while a few others scampered around and played with each other, occasionally drawing a chuckle out of one or both of them.
“So,” Kyoko prompted gently. “Who’s the lucky cat?”
Celeste blew on her tea, taking a small sip while it was still hotter than Kyoko would tolerate. The old scar tissue enveloping her hands prickled at the thought under her gloves. “She’s sitting right over there, actually,” she said, pointing to a fluffy white cat perched atop a nearby cat tree. “Tofu. I’ll have to give her a more elegant name, of course, but she’s well-suited to joining the Ludenberg family. In fact, she reminds me of you. Serious and stubborn, deeply devoted to her ideals.”
“Devoted to her ideals?” Kyoko echoed, eventually deeming her own tea safe enough to take a sip of. “What ideals does a cat have?”
“Oh, you’d be surprised. She’s very sophisticated, much like myself.”
Kyoko grinned, unable to stop herself from laughing at her girlfriend. Intimidating and difficult to figure out though others might find her, she knew the truth. Deep down, beneath the persona of Celestia Ludenberg, Yasuhiro Taeko was a dreamer who loved cats and had a cute side.
“I thought you said she reminded you of me, not yourself.”
“Both can be true, dear. Should I say she’s the best sides of both of us?” Celeste offered, tilting her head inquisitively. It was only many years of practice that allowed Kyoko to maintain a poker face, embarrassed at the insinuation that this cat would be like their child.
“As you wish. I’m not sure anyone else will take note of the resemblance though.” On second thought, maybe that wasn’t true, she thought as she plucked a cookie from the plate. More than a few people seemed to think Grand Bois Chéri’s personality bore more than a passing resemblance to his owner’s, so perhaps Tofu would follow in his footsteps. At the very least, Kyoko was confident that she would be just as spoiled.
“That’s alright. What do they know anyway? I’ve already taken her profile off the cafe’s website. We can take her home tomorrow.”
“Oh, so you weren’t waiting for my input at all.” Kyoko raised an eyebrow, more amused than anything.
“You know me too well.” Celeste rose from her seat, heading over to the cat tree. “Tofu, come here and meet your second mother.”