USER: #2471A3 - Minor Crafting Assistance Requested

[unfatalist]

Good morning. If I may, I'd like to make a request for some minor assistance, from anyone in the town who might possess the requisite expertise to assist me in a small endeavor of mine.

Recently, I came into possession of a cat; I expect some residents of Chroma may have seen it wandering around, as I believe it was a stray prior to my adopting it, and as such it is already accustomed to something of an independent lifestyle as opposed to that of a more domesticated housecat. She's rather distinctive — cream-white fur, with black ears, face, paws, and tail. Her name is Pearl, though I'm not certain if she's had that name long enough as yet to recognize it as her own. If you should happen to see her around, please be kind to her; if you happen to see her getting up to something she shouldn't, please either let me know or simply apprehend her and bring her back home.

In the interest of responsible pet ownership, I'd like to have her fitted with some sort of collar and tag to help identify her when she decides to take herself for a constitutional. Ideally, I'd also like it to include a bell or rattle of some variety, though that's largely a whim for my own benefit, as it would make it easier to identify when she's getting up to mischief around the house.

Assistance in this endeavor would be much appreciated, and I'll naturally recompense your time and industry accordingly — with the offer to prepare a favorite meal of yours, perhaps.

Comments

[unfatalist]

Plenty of time to discuss custodial arrangements, I suppose, if worst comes to worst.

And alimony, of course.

[bittybat]

ALIMONY? They aren't married, they're animals! Besides, Pennyworth would never dishonor himself or me by getting a divorce.

[unfatalist]

He's an honorable sort of cat, then? Good, I'm glad to hear it. Pearl deserves a gentleman.

[bittybat]

His honor should never be called into question. If there were any [this is text but he legit pauses here for like 20 seconds to think of a good word] relations, he would not let anything harm her, and he would not abandon her. His loyalty and duty almost surpasses the man for whom he's named.

[DAMIAN WAYNE BELIEVES IN HIS CAT.]

[unfatalist]

Really. I'd very much like to hear more about the man for whom he's named, then, if you're willing. He sounds like a fine and noble fellow.

[bittybat]

Alfred Pennyworth. My father’s butler and his father’s before him.

He is one of the greatest men I know. There isn’t enough time to tell all the things he has done for us. The Wayne family is his family, and he would neither betray nor give up on them. Nothing is foreign to him. He can accomplish any task given to him with perfection, but he is known for his cooking and his medical expertise. Above all else, he is humble and kind. He knows what to say when you need advice. It wouldn’t be the same without him.

[Thank God this is not in person. Damian misses Alfred...]

They both wear tuxedos. He helped me rescue him. It was a fitting namesake.

[unfatalist]

[...Oh. Well. That all sounds altogether too familiar, doesn't it. And hits a bit close to home, too.]

This may sound like something of an odd question, but may I ask when he began his service to your family?

I'm curious because I began mine when I was six years old, and it's been...much the same for me, all my life. Though I've not spent much of it in a tuxedo, admittedly.

[bittybat]

The tuxedo is what makes him one hell of a butler.

Meet me on the docks of Bluo, and I'll tell you about him.

[unfatalist]

Agreed, on the condition that we both leave our cats at home.

[our cats have BANGED on those DOCKS maybe]

[bittybat]

Pennyworth is here on the boathouse with me, and that is where he'll be staying.

[Look... he wouldn't... have chosen the docks... but they're right there... Scene of the crime.]

[unfatalist]

Expect me shortly, then.

[And when he shows up, it will not be empty-handed; apparently he's got a pair of covered dishes with him, one of which smells distinctly like fish, and the other which is...also fish-inclined, but somewhat less powerful, with a richer and more layered aroma.]

[bittybat]

[Oh... Waiting on the docks, as it didn't take him long to cross over from the boathouse to them by raft, Damian hadn't expected... food. His brows knit in confusion.]

Is this supposed to be Pearl's dowry?

[unfatalist]

Hardly. Just an observation that conversation often goes well over food.

[He offers them out, obligingly.]

The smaller one is for Pennyworth; it's fish prepared in a similar manner to the way that Pearl likes it. The larger is a chowder — fish, potatoes, corn, vegetables from the garden.

[bittybat]

[Carefully, Damian takes them both. This is nice...... He hates it. Being nice to him is the worst. He combats it with the only way he knows how: being insufferable.]

I'm vegetarian.

[unfatalist]

Good heavens. A teenage boy that only eats vegetables; it's like you're the direct antithesis of my personal charge.

[Clearly if we ever all have dinner together, he must endeavor to keep Noctis and Damian far, far apart, lest Noct put all of his vegetables on Damian's plate, and Damian actually enjoy it.]

My apologies, though, if the fish presents a problem for you. I'll replace it with something different another day, if you'll permit me to take a raincheck.

[bittybat]

I saved a cow from a beef processing slaughterhouse. I didn't like the conditions. Now I'm a vegetarian.

[He would gladly eat all of Noctis' veggies and love them.]

Don't worry about it. Very rarely, I'll eat fish so long as they are humanely caught and prepared. If I don't, I'll give it to Jon so he doesn't starve like an idiot. [Friends.] Pennyworth and I are grateful regardless.

I wanted to speak to you in person because Pennyworth's history is not exclusive from my father's history. There are some things I don't think he would like broadcasted to the entire town.

[unfatalist]

In this instance, I can personally vouch for the supply chain that led to the fish in that chowder, and it didn't suffer. But the decision is yours; the giver of a gift has no say over how that gift is used, once given.

[The fish didn't suffer, he says, unlike most of the things that Ignis eats, which regularly involves hunting it down in a dungeon and kicking the shit out of it before abruptly deciding that he can carve and make a delicious roast out of this thing, holy shit.]

And I can appreciate the need for discretion. I spent my first several weeks here operating under an assumed name for the sake of keeping certain aspects of my charge's history under wraps, until such time as he'd made the decision to be public about them. So please, feel free to censor your tale as you see fit; I'm merely curious, not seeking to pry.

[bittybat]

[Damian nods. Fine. He doesn't know Ignis very well, but he has a decent read on people's intentions. Ignis doesn't strike him as the type to be shady... even if Waynes are suspicious of everyone in general anyway.

Is he trying to poison Pennyworth for the pregnancy transgression? Hmm.] I believe Father would have, too; however, I and two others we know from our world are here. It would have been difficult. [Ignis can commiserate.]

To answer your previously asked question: Pennyworth was hired by my father's parents when Pennyworth was younger. His resume was something they valued being one of the most prominent families of Gotham City. He wouldn't be a detriment should... anything happen. He had skills necessary to be the servant of the Waynes.

Pennyworth became father's legal caretaker after his parents were murdered when father was a child.

[unfatalist]

...I can see why that's not something your father would want spread around.

[His tone strikes a careful balance between understanding and matter-of-fact; certainly it's the sort of topic that would ordinarily call for empathy, but he's astute enough to pick up on the sense that Damian doesn't seem to expect or even want it. The point of the story isn't an emotional one; this isn't a play at the heartstrings. The fact that there might be strong emotions involved seems to be more incidental than anything else.

And that's all right. Ignis can appreciate that; he's certainly navigated enough of Noct's moods to have developed a sense of how to take his cues from the person he's dealing with.]

And I see that the familial bond runs both ways. He considers the Waynes his family — and they consider him a part of theirs, just as much.

[bittybat]

[Without voicing it, Damian appreciates it in return. He hates when people pity him and his father unnecessarily. The tale is sad, but the journey has started to become better.]

Yes. [Unsure of how to venture, Damian glances away to the edge of the docks, brows together. It seems as if he isn’t sure either what to say or how to say it. He’s never been one good with words... especially good ones.] He... He’s a good man. I would want nor choose any other to be with my father. Without him, I don’t know if my father would have been the man he is today. For that, I couldn’t... ever hope to give Pennyworth the right gratitude.

Dealing with me more than anything else.

[unfatalist]

[He's quiet a minute, himself, surreptitiously giving Damian his space by looking out over the water himself instead of in his direction, and keeps his eyes fixed on the distance as he gathers up his own thoughts.]

You may find this a bit presumptuous of me, so I'll ask your pardon in advance for that.

[A pause.]

But I would imagine that if you told him as much, he would say that he needs no gratitude, and that nothing he's done has ever been with the expectation of receiving it.

People who haven't been in that same situation will ask, sometimes, how one does it. How can one be so faithful, so loyal, so devoted to another person — what do they do for you in return. What have they ever done for you, to be worthy of such a thing.

[...]

The truth is, they needn't do a thing for you. It's not about pay or gratitude or recompense. What makes it worth it is seeing, firsthand, who they become, and the good that they do, and having the chance to be there at their side while they do it.

[bittybat]

[The only reason he doesn't cry right now is because he has never seen the absolute anguish Alfred and Bruce--Alfred especially--went through when he died. Spending their days sliding their eyes in a virtual reality machine, trying desperately to change the mistakes they made, to keep him from dying.

Alfred blamed himself the most. He had let him go out that night. Always encouraging.]

He would. I think that's what I like best about him. [His green eyes flick up to Ignis, then away again, feeling awkward struggling to talk about Alfred when he loves the old man very much. His fingers grip the edge of the dishes.] We can't even get him to take a vacation.

Father is... fortunate to have him. He's intelligent and handy and very cheeky. If you try to give up, he won't let you. [Damian follows Ignis' gaze out over the water.] If you don't know how to navigate our family, he'll show you where to go. None of us would be together without Alfred. He's the glue.

And I miss him.

I didn't thank him enough when I should have. I didn't tell him any of this because... I was stupid.

[unfatalist]

Is there something keeping you from telling him? Aside from being here, I mean. But when you return?

[He hesitates.]

Or is that...not possible, the way that things are?

[bittybat]

I don't even know if I'm going to return. I don't know if any of us are going to return. [He sighs, eyes lowering.] It's possible. I'm just...

[He shakes his head when he can't find the right thing to say, and perhaps that's enough indication of what the problem may be in itself. Slowly, his head tips back and he glances up at Ignis.]

Why are you so interested in Pennyworth's life?

[unfatalist]

Well. Because he's clearly important to you, for one thing.

[But that's not the whole reason, is it? He's already let his hand show a little bit prior to now, but — well. Damian has set the standard for honesty and sharing in this conversation; now he's got his set parameters to work within, himself.]

But in large part, because...when I was six years old, I left my parents to pursue a career of service, and the man I served asked me to please take care of his son, a boy of three. That boy's mother had passed away, and his father was...not always able to be a present part of his life, as much as he may have liked. I ended up filling that role, to a large extent. Caring for a boy who relied on me more than anyone else.

When you said that your family was Mr. Pennyworth's family, I understood that sentiment very personally. The bloodline I serve...on some level, they were my family, too.