cat and norrabeth?
23. cat
“And what function does this officer serve on the ship?” Elizabeth says, amused, as the ship cat flops and sprawls languorously on the deck, belly exposed and paws reaching gently and with reasonable deniability to brush James’ shoes. Without looking away from his correspondence, James reaches down to stroke her glossy fur. Elizabeth is expecting some pragmatic answer from her stalwart husband—rat hunting, ship morale, &c. &c.—but to her surprise James says only, “Good luck.” “I suppose you need all of it you can get,” Elizabeth says lightly, “but does her black hair not cancel it out?” “That may explain some of my record,” he drawls, “though—Mr. Gibbs would have had us believe any bad luck is due to your presence, no?” James meets her narrowed eyes calmly, wryly. Further teasing is interrupted as the cat latches onto his shoe and begins to kick with her back feet, gnawing on the buckle. Unphased, he scoops up the cat and tucks her into the crook of his arm, holding her still as he returns to his paperwork, moving with such ease that Elizabeth knows this is part of their routine.
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