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Evenings in the Marsyas island home were a routine affair. Dinner, washing up, a bedtime story in the living room. That was now Linus’ responsibility, after Arthur was encouraged (read: bullied) to step aside, as Linus was much better at it, apparently. This only lightly bruised Arthur’s ego, and was made more tolerable by the fact that it meant Arthur could snuggle up next to him on the couch as he read. Sometimes it was even with a gnome or hellspawn (or both) cuddled up under his arm, all of them rapt by Linus’ voice. After storytime, it was upstairs for a quick wash, maintaining dental hygiene, and tucking everybody in.
What normally followed would vary, depending on the efforts of the day.
This particular evening saw Linus and Arthur return to the living room, intent on resuming their respective novels at either end of the couch, their legs entangled in the middle. Freshly brewed mugs of tea steamed nearby as they read.
Not ten minutes after they’d settled in, Calliope padded into the room, eyeing them both warily.
Linus set his book down and made his usual vocal attempts to woo her into coming close. She ignored him as she sauntered past, opting for the side of the couch where Arthur was half-reclined, his nose still in his book. Her tail swished from side to side before she hopped up onto the couch cushions. Arthur peered over the edge of his book in surprise.
Linus gaped as Calliope butted her head repeatedly against Arthur’s leg, before swiftly trotting onto his lap. She spun once, twice, and then - both their eyes widened - she nestled against his front, curling into a ball of black fluff.
“This must be a stray animal,” Linus muttered, his heart warming at the sight of his two companions bundled together. “She’s never taken to anyone like this before.” He considered for a moment. “Except Sal, I suppose.”
Arthur sat very still, and said quietly so as not to disturb her, “Perhaps she likes the warmth.”
“You are pleasantly warm,” Linus conceded.
A contented crackling sound radiated from the pile of fur on Arthur’s lap.
Arthur’s mouth fell open. “Is she… purring?”
Linus huffed. “I would be purring too, if I were sitting on your lap.” He balked, and upon realising what he’d said, promptly turned a brilliant shade of scarlet.
Arthur gaped at Linus for a moment. Then his mouth split into a huge grin, crinkling the corners of his eyes. “You’ll have to join the queue, I’m afraid.”
Linus groaned and covered his face with both hands. “I can’t believe I said that out loud.”
“Neither can I."
Calliope blinked sleepily.
“Lucky little thing,” Linus grumbled.
Arthur chuckled. “A little jealous, are we?”
“No,” Linus said primly. “That implies I fear she will take you from me. But that is not quite true. What I am experiencing is envy.” He sniffed, then opened his book back up, pretending to resume his reading.
“Ah,” Arthur said brightly. “Don’t you wish you were her?”
“What? I can’t hear you,” Linus said, “I’m too engrossed in my book.”
“I wasn’t aware you’d learned to read upside-down.”
Linus blinked. His book was indeed the wrong way up. He snapped it shut, and Calliope’s eyes opened, staring accusingly at him for disturbing the peace with his antics.
“You are both menaces of the highest order,” Linus complained, setting his book on the armrest. “Perhaps it is jealousy, after all. And, in fact, she can have you. You deserve each other.”
“Did you hear that, Calliope?” Arthur cooed, as Calliope closed her eyes. “Our plan to run away together is finally coming to fruition.” He ran his hand gently along the fur on her back, and the purring increased in volume. “Isn’t that grand?”
Linus clenched his jaw, his arms crossed petulantly. “You are wretched beings. I loathe the pair of you.”
Arthur laughed. “We love you too.”
(Later, as they were tucking themselves into bed, Linus had his turn when Arthur pulled him down onto his lap, offering several prolonged kisses as penance. This didn’t elicit any purring from Linus, to Arthur’s disappointment, though it still seemed welcome. At Linus’ insistence, Arthur was also very apologetic and reassured Linus that he would not, in fact, be eloping with the cat.)