[[open post: a new friend!]]

[ravkanwitch]

After speaking with Sagramore at the dance, Nina now has her heart set on finding a pet of some sort. She isn't necessarily lonely, not with so many friends, but sometimes when she lays in bed alone at night and thinks about her past, her memories, and her worries, it all feels... a little too quiet and empty-- alright, maybe she's slightly lonely. But only at night. And only when her mind gets away from her. That's why after her morning walk, she's planning on going to ask Aziraphale about producing a rabbit for her.

Is a rabbit right for her, though? She considers this as she takes one of her favorite routes through the forest; it eventually leads to a small waterfall and she's enjoyed watching it slowly freeze into ice and then slowly start melting again. She doesn't mind the cold too much, not with her Ravkan blood and Fjerdan tendencies, and this forest is starting to feel like home. Only on short, ambling walks, though. She enjoys her solitary walks and the feel of the wind and sun on her face -- but at the end of the night, she wants to be in a soft bed with silk sheets.¹

Perhaps rabbits are too skittish, too terrified of loud noises, Nina thinks to herself. She is a loud talker. She does like to talk to herself and sing terribly. Right as she considers these thoughts and as she makes her way past a large pile of rocks, she hears a low wuffling sound emerge from it. She pauses. A rabbit?? A small squeak emerges that is distinctly not rabbit-like. She walks towards the tumble of rocks as it squeaks again, and she stoops down to peer into a crevice followed by another. On the third try, small beady eyes stare back at her. She offers her hand to it, tentatively. In a flash, a small furry blur streaks out and up her arm, ending up on her shoulder. She screams -- stifling it and feeling slightly silly when she realizes that the definitely-not-rabbit is just sitting on her shoulder and not attacking her. She slowly turns her head, meeting eyes with a very self-satisfied, mischievous little face.

"Hi," she says, cautiously reaching up to touch it. The ferret makes a soft dooking noise. "Aww," she says, petting its head, at which point the ferret gently nips her and then makes a dash for her jacket pocket, making a huffing laughing sound. "Ow! You rascal." Nina's already gone. Head over heels. What a perfect little creature. As she makes her way back out of the forest and indoors, anyone is welcome to meet the newest resident of the mansion.

¹Nina Zenik, you would love glamping.

Comments

[summerdude]

"Hi, Khitka," Magnus breathes, and touches his pendants in turn. "Which one? Jack or Hanguang-jun's?"

[ravkanwitch]

Nina looks between the two of them, though it's clear what's being said by the question he's asking. The gold chain, Khitka says, with a little wiggle of her body as if she's ready to leap onto Magnus.

"No, that's not polite!" Nina tells her, holding her back.

[summerdude]

Magnus laughs. "It's fine," he says, holding out a hand so she has less far to jump. "Where did you find her?"

[ravkanwitch]

Khitka takes a leap and scrabbles up Magnus' arm to investigate the gold chain, making quiet noises of appreciation under her breath as she does. "She was in the woods in a rock pile! Then it seemed like she wanted to hitch a ride back with me, so," Nina shrugs slightly awkwardly. "Here she is!"

[summerdude]

"Khitka, do you know Hortense and Henrietta and Horatio?" Magnus asks, naming the kids of his favorite squirrel family in the area.

[ravkanwitch]

No! Khitka replies cheerfully. Those are silly names. They sound silly. Nina looks between Magnus and Khitka, wondering what she's saying now.

[summerdude]

"They're squirrels," Magnus explains, and then shrugs. He makes eye contact with Nina and grins. "So what do you think about Nina?"

[ravkanwitch]

She looks like a pushover, Khitka says slyly, with a flick of her tail.

"What's she saying?" Nina asks.

[summerdude]

"She likes your vibes," Magnus says, giving Khitka a warning look.

[ravkanwitch]

Everyone here seems too nice and trusting, Khitka continues cheerfully, not heeding Magnus' warning look.

"Oh, good," says Nina.

[summerdude]

"I can talk to every creature here," Magnus tells Khitka brightly. "And they can talk to me."

[ravkanwitch]

The sparrows seem boring, Khitka says, rather sassily. What do they have to talk about? Worms? ...Can you tell her I'm hungry?

Honestly, if Nina could hear this conversation right now, she would be appalled.

[summerdude]

"She's hungry," Magnus tells Nina. "And sparrows have very robust lives." They don't, actually, but it's the principle of the thing.

[ravkanwitch]

"Oh, I suppose we can find some food," Nina muses. "I think ferrets are omnivores."

They're bird brains, Khitka says gleefully.

[summerdude]

"Some birds are extremely smart," Magnus tells Khitka, pulling a half-eaten granola bar from his pocket in case she'd like a nibble of it. "So, like, keep that in mind."

[ravkanwitch]

"Is she arguing with you over birds?" Nina asks, a touch incredulous.

Khitka is done arguing about birds. She's now staring at the granola bar with rapt attention.

[summerdude]

"You've found a very opinionated ferret," Magnus tells Nina, holding out some crumbs for Khitka.

[ravkanwitch]

"Oh?" Nina asks.

But I'm right, Khitka declares, happily grabbing the crumbs and munching on them.

[summerdude]

"So many opinions about so many things," Magnus says. He offers Nina a smile. "What's up? How's stuff?"

[ravkanwitch]

"I've been doing pretty well... I didn't waste away during Dark," Nina says, with a little grin, as Khitka gives Magnus an irritated little squeak at that statement. "How about you? Is Alex settling in okay?"

[summerdude]

"Alex is great," with a blissful smile. "We're both pretty much adjusted to being here, and I think she's gotten over the shock of the whole, like, attack thing. So that's good."

[ravkanwitch]

"The attack?" Nina asks, tilting her head slightly.

[summerdude]

"Yeah, you know," Magnus, who assumes everyone has heard by now, says.

[ravkanwitch]

Nina shakes her head, not sure how she missed this. "I don't! Magnus, what happened?"

[summerdude]

"Oh, there was this whole falling sword situation, I almost died, I'm fine now, it's all good."