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Cardinal Companion (14) : In the dismal whites and blues and greys of winter, the bright red splash of a cardinal is a welcome difference. It’s not uncommon to see birds out and about, and it’s easy to spot these especially after a fresh snow. Wild birds typically mind their own business and don’t really care about you–except, this one does. An unusually curious cardinal finds you the subject of interest in its day, and oddly enough–it feels familiar to you. You can’t explain it, but the moment your eyes land on it, it feels like coming face to face with someone dear to you. The cardinal isn’t afraid of you and feels comfortable enough to approach you, or maybe even land on you. Perhaps it’s even brought you some small gift. The more time you spend with it, the more you pick up on its unique habits, which seem to have an uncanny resemblance to someone you’ve lost. Sometimes the cardinal even smells of them, or has similar traits. The cardinal doesn’t ever stay for long but when it leaves there is an undeniable feeling that someone very important to you has paid you a visit.
While it was cold, that didn't mean Aloysius wasn't going to leave the manor. Maybe not straying far but he wanted to walk around the home and check that all the things Alexandre had said needed to be done with the garden to keep the roses from dying had been taken care of. Keeping his warm coat on alongside the newest scarf he'd gotten from Liam for the holidays, he pulled his fiance with him as he stepped out into the cold and bright morning light. It was quiet out here, something that in the past had made this home feel like a prison. Now, it was someplace safe and warm, a quiet sanctuary outside and away from all the trouble that sprouted up near the city center.
"Just a quick walk around then we can go back to clean up from our breakfast, alright darling?" Today they'd cooked together, something he'd been too busy to manage alongside everything else. Making the effort felt like a way to balance out the few things he'd kept from them, like the most meetings he'd been having with order and the visits off this planet. It was justified that he held the information back, it wouldn't do anything but cause them harm and he couldn't risk that. Too soon they'd jump in to help but if they got hurt again because of it he wasn't sure he'd be able to handle it. So some secrets were better than new injuries and as long as he continued to avoid getting in a fight they would hopefully be none the wiser.
