[ Eager to get rid of him? The Cat has to laugh, because if only Charles knew how thoroughly false even the idea of that is, he'd laugh too. But the Cat's mirth doesn't last long, suffocated quickly before it's had a chance to start by the sudden reverie that overwhelms his senses completely. For a moment, instinct has him certain that there is some kind of ambush taking place — that whatever had happened to Charles, whatever had forced him to return here and had stolen his memories, is catching up with him and has therefore dragged the one getting close to him, protecting him (however loose the Cat's ability to protect anyone is) into the mess alongside him. Panic sets in, claws digging in to the arms of his throne as he's sat up straight, but soon enough the scene around them starts to flicker and chance, and rather than feeling fear at being somewhere else against his will, curiosity rears its head in him, replacing that more cowardly instinct, as the Cat's eyes fall easily upon the small boy before him.
Of course he recognises him. Even without the earring or the chain or the kohl dusted eyes or his familiar outfit, the dark curling hair and the little peak to his ears is instantly familiar, but neither as familiar as his dark eyes when they widen as the cat comes in to focus slinking through the fence. Thoughts of how and why he's being shown this fall away as he takes a step closer, watching as the Cat is clearly tempted by the offered tuna, but knows better than any pampered house cat to accept a bribe and lets his claws do the talking. The Cat can remember that anger himself, has seen it and even felt it so many times... but he's very rarely seen anyone react the way young Charles does — not with anger, but with understanding.
Children, especially boys, often favour dogs because it's easier to get them to like you. Cats require finer methods, careful planning, dedication that most kids deem too much effort, especially when the cat in question has grown past kittenhood. It makes the Cat king wonder why he keeps trying, even as time wears on, even as Charles gets little success for his attempts...
By the time the clearer memory comes around, the Cat still doesn't have an answer, but the beginning sprouts of one starts to form when he hears the shouting pressed behind a closed door, when he sees the boy shivering and hurt, when he sees the Cat recognise that fear and relate to it, and bump up against his hand.
He remembers to breathe about the same time as the memory slips away, exhaling a slow breath of quiet understanding into the strange void around him. ]
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Of course he recognises him. Even without the earring or the chain or the kohl dusted eyes or his familiar outfit, the dark curling hair and the little peak to his ears is instantly familiar, but neither as familiar as his dark eyes when they widen as the cat comes in to focus slinking through the fence. Thoughts of how and why he's being shown this fall away as he takes a step closer, watching as the Cat is clearly tempted by the offered tuna, but knows better than any pampered house cat to accept a bribe and lets his claws do the talking. The Cat can remember that anger himself, has seen it and even felt it so many times... but he's very rarely seen anyone react the way young Charles does — not with anger, but with understanding.
Children, especially boys, often favour dogs because it's easier to get them to like you. Cats require finer methods, careful planning, dedication that most kids deem too much effort, especially when the cat in question has grown past kittenhood. It makes the Cat king wonder why he keeps trying, even as time wears on, even as Charles gets little success for his attempts...
By the time the clearer memory comes around, the Cat still doesn't have an answer, but the beginning sprouts of one starts to form when he hears the shouting pressed behind a closed door, when he sees the boy shivering and hurt, when he sees the Cat recognise that fear and relate to it, and bump up against his hand.
He remembers to breathe about the same time as the memory slips away, exhaling a slow breath of quiet understanding into the strange void around him. ]