[attr="class","wildpkmn"]

[attr="class","wildtag"]Calpurnia Kubrick

[attr="class","wildnote"] WHAT WILL YOU DO?

[attr="class","text"]

The older woman was surprised to find her ice cream soon salted. This place had been one of the last places her husband had taken her out on a date. She always teased him for his choices, their simplicity beneath her. And, yet, there was a certain charm to enjoying ice cream like two starstruck teenagers. A chuckle emerged from her mouth as she remembered their last visit here.
[break][break]
The joking way her husband had tapped her nose with the tip of his cone. Her flustered irritation as she scolded him. But the scientist did not stop him as he wrapped warm fingers in hers. Then, they’d giggle conspiratorially about their little secret. How both of them decried junk food but snuck away to enjoy ice cream cones in peace. “How the mighty do fall,” Calpurnia murmured to the cat beside her. “This is nothing more than flavored milk."
[break][break]

As she took another swipe at her come, Calpurnia’s eyes caught on a movement in the trees. Her nose wrinkled as she caught metal. A splash of acid hit the ground as the Varoom chugged by, ruining her appetite. “What a disgusting creature." Her observation ended with a plop as she dropped her cone onto a plate beside her companion.
[break][break]

Like all cats, he had no problem lapping it up.

NOTES

✦ Skipping

[attr="class","wildpkmn"]

[attr="class","wildtag"]Calpurnia Kubrick

[attr="class","wildnote"] WHAT WILL YOU DO?

[attr="class","text"]

It was rare for Calpurnia to show physical affection. Especially with Pokemon. Touching and groping a partner was one thing, but it was done for control, certainly not out of any sense of attachment.
[break][break]


But, as he finished lapping up his treat, a hand reached out to gently brush the Purrugly’s ears. A vulnerable moment shared between two souls—a temporary slippage of the mask. As quick as it appeared, the hand pulled back. “What a barbarian, Purrsy!” Calpurnia teased with a tremble in her voice. “I didn’t even give you a spoon.” The cat did not look up though he felt her touch and hesitance.
[break][break]

Soon, Calpurnia’s eyes drifted to the forest around them. She watched as a Yanma flittered idly between two trees. A chuckle escaped. Though she did not believe in the tripe, these bugs symbolized all sorts of things to occultists. Horoscopes and such amused her. So did the symbology. The biggest among them was change and agility. Then, there was the story of them being once great dragons felled by silver tongues.
[break][break]


As it vanished, the woman took out her phone. A hand traced the initials carved into the tabletop.

NOTES

✦ Skipping

[attr="class","wildpkmn"]

[attr="class","wildtag"]Calpurnia Kubrick

[attr="class","wildnote"] WHAT WILL YOU DO?

[attr="class","text"]

Calpurna sighed as she scrolled through Instagram. The things her children posted seemed so strange. Occasionally, the scientist adjusted the phone screen, trying to keep it in the shadows of the trees above. A brief pause followed as her eyes caught on an old picture from her son’s profile. A small smile tugged at her lips. How had she forgotten he held his hands like that? “I miss him, you know?”
[break][break]
The Purrugly does not look up from the last drops of his treat. His ears, however, are tilted forward. His tail lashes from side to side as he fights the urge to roll his eyes. “Purr.”His voice is full of derision. They knew better than to speak about things like this around one another. Frankly, it gave him indigestion. Eventually, he lifts yellow eyes to meet violet ones.
[break][break]

But the mask is firmly back in place. That little dismissal reminded her of how silly she was being. "Hmph." Crying over missing husbands did as much good as sobbing over spoiled milk. “Let’s go.” Calpurnia’s voice is icy, but not out of any sense of malice. It’s the only way she knows to freeze the hurt. With a look of relief, the pampered cat toddles after her.
[break][break]

As she passes the edge of the seating area, her eyes catch on what look to be rafflesia blooms. With a look of resignation, she tosses a ball at it. Trusting Purrseus to retrieve their test subject, the woman leaves the taste of salty ice cream behind.

NOTES

✦ on the climb to hedgehog