Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Be there in a moment..!" A voice lilted from around some shelves further back in the shop. It was a quiet sort of place, with a distinct lack of technology besides the free wifi that filled the front sitting area with college students and well dressed people on laptops. Small stern signs noted that there were no drinks allowed in the shop proper and that excessive volume was discouraged.

When Algie finally appeared he may have looked near identical to when Autumn saw him in other ashdown. The truth was that his wardrobe all looked much the same- sweaters and blazers and button up shirts, always in layers and with a very proper posture. His eyes were very green behind his glasses and he adjusted them and smiled politely at Autumn.

Of course he recognized her. Selfie with the deer monster. Really.

"Autumn was it?" He was pleasant, despite his stern countenance during their unique experience. "I'm Algernon. Algie if you'd like."

His hand extended for a gentle shake. He was oh so polite and oh so English. "How can I help you?"

"Oh ah- really?" Alg looked a bit flattered but unsure what to do with it. It wasn't being called great, or even smart, but the idea that anyone was just talking about him at all..

But.. then.. there was a kitten. It was small and fluffy and it was being held up and... look at it though. It wasn't a commonly known fact that Algie was a huge sucker for cats. At least three times as a child he'd stayed home from school because he'd found a litter of abandoned kittens and his family and Jeremiah had to tear him away from them physically.

He clearly had a bit more self control as an adult. Clearly.

"A small cat- for me- well I," he had the food, bowls, and even that shelter he'd made when the winter here was especially horrible, "I mean I don't have- but it is- I mean-"

He was sort of making grabby hands towards it, not so subtle grabby hands.

They could get to the books in a minute.

Algie took the kitten and immediately was holding it up in front of his face. Its bottom sat in one of his large hands, and its front paws curled around his other.

He was vaguely aware of rules being given to him, "Ah yes... of course. Rosalinde? Is that the mum cat?" He glanced down at the basket she had.

He did get a curious look and leaned forward as the kitten was brought to his chest and sort of curled against him in his hand, "What do you mean by 'they make flowers' exactly?"

"Huh." Algie actually adjusted his glasses again as he spotted the flowers appearing on the cat's head, "Well isn't that something.."

He then looked at the kitten, speaking to it, "Will you be doing that?"

The kitten yawned at him and blinked it's large eyes. It didn't look very magical. Maybe he'd be lucky enough to get the squib kitten.

"Well-" Algie stood up straighter, the kitten now trying to turn around in his hand and pressing against his chest, "Thank you. Very much... We'll have to exchange numbers and-" Yes he was kitten enraptured.

"Were you still needing some books?" The author remembered what she'd said when she came in, books on magical cats.

The exaggerated wink was met with a bit of a flat stare. Only the kitten's presence seemed to prevent a much more obvious expression of displeasure. He really wasn't into strangers knowing his romantic business.

"Well- hrm," moving on, "Not sure about magical cats but there is a pet section."

Alg motioned with his free hand, as the other seemed to be occupied with his kitten who had stretched out along the seam of his arm and was draped and seemingly already asleep. "This way.."

Except in his turn for the back he bumped a dolly for restocking. A few magazines had shifted and tumbled into his path- Better Homes and Gardens and Cat Fancy.

He actually couldn't help but laugh a bit as he bent to retreive them, "Any interest?" Alg chuckled.

(beneath the stacks of magazines lies a thin journal.)



(it's old and well-worn)

(it's autumn's handwriting inside)

(autumn's voice)

(and autumn's description of how to care for the othercats)

(...but when could autumn have written it)

Autumn's face went ashen at the journal, and with trembling hands, she flipped it open. Most definitely her handwriting. Most definitely how she wrote. She could feel her legs weakening, and before she could collapse, Autumn very quickly lowered herself to sit on the floor. Throat thick, she flipped to a random page.

"-and Algie says Violetta is doing well. Not nearly so bold as The Princess, she's somehow bigger than expected, which is funny. I wonder who their dad is."

A heavy swallow, and she flipped to another page.

"--learned from Rosalinde NOT to trim the flowers on her head. It seems to physically hurt her, poor baby, and she won't stop bitching to me about how it hurt. I should text everyone and let them know."

She looked up, face very grim compared to how entertained she'd been moments ago.

"I didn't. I didn't write this."