An early Thursday evening will Find Ivan Fontane sitting upon his couch, a pair of reading glasses perched upon the bridge of his nose as he looks over the the latest issue of the local newspaper casually. Beside him, curled up into a tight little ball, is the youngest addition to the Fontane family, the kitten dozing off in a light, but restive nap. Every once in a while, Ivan strokes its fur gently. Yes, it looks as though all is good in the Fontane Apartment.
That is, until the doorbell rings and a stranger makes their desire to enter the room known. Puck the kitten jumps up in surprise and immediately mauls the first thing it sees - Ivan's hand. "Ack! Puck! Stop it!" He cries emphatically, before jumping up himself to escape the kitten's rage and answer the door.
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Scarlett is no stranger; though she may as well be at this point. Really, she could have let herself into the apartment, but considering how much of a douche her brother was the last time she ran into him? That's not going to happen. So she waits. Patiently. Arms folded across her chest, neither of them in a cast, a bag dangling from them.
The noise in the apartment doesn't make her turn and run either. It's simply that she figures her brother is up to something; not unusual for her to think that at all. While she waits, she checks the bag, then makes a through the peep hole in the door.
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Ivan's hand is newly scratched. It is smarting, but with a hiss of pain, Ivan swings his front door open only to quirk his brows upwards in surprise. Scarlett hadn't, after all, been the person he had expected to find. Ever. "Scar," he offers quite civilly, trying his best to suppress the dry humor that threatens to creep into his voice. "Eh. What're you…?" Doing here.
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"I brought some salve for Faith," Scarlett says. She may dislike her brother at this moment, but that doesn't mean she wants his girlfriend to suffer. "Anti-scarring cream. Non-magical, but it works wonders." It's the type she's been using for years, to do away with her clumsiness when working with jewelry. She's human, and not as perfect as she likes to portray. "Although it looks like you'll be needing some as well." A glance given to the scratch, then the bag is unceremoniously shoved at him.
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Upon feeling and seeing Scarlett's frostiness, all incentive Ivan might have had to behave and play nice disappears. Behind the reading glasses, green eyes are rolled liberally, and he manages to grab at the bag as it is thrust in his gut. "Yeah," he drawls, unimpressed and unenthusiastic. "Thanks. I suppose you can return to never talking to me again ever until the next time." He's not going to close the door on her, or kick her out. But she's not making things very easy, and instead of making any decisions on the matter he turns to deposit the bag over on his kitchen counter.
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"That was the plan." Scarlett doesn't cross the threshold. Not until realizing he has a curious cat creature in the apartment, does she enter and nudge the door shut with her foot. "Though until the next time, what? The next time one of you gets nearly torn apart by a rogue werewolf? The next time you run off at the mouth while drunk? The next time you run to Vegas and get married?"
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Ivan does have a curious cat creature in the apartment. It's a tiny black furball, with wide blue eyes that is currently sitting in an imperial fashion and grooming itself. When it catches whiff of the new scent in the apartment, the creature shoots upwards, stiff as a board, as he watches Scarlett. Trying to decipher what to do about her presence, and what will benefit it the most. There is a tentative 'meow'.
"All of the above, perhaps. But, you can't be serious. So I got drunk and said stupid shit - who doesn't?" Ivan doesn't look impressed. More annoyed than anything else. "Thanks, by the way. For making an innocent situation into a really awkward conversation. But it turned out for the best."
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The cat is just watched curiously. No wonder they had to drop three stupid hamsters off at her place. Caged creatures and Scarlett do not do very well together, and that is why Helen has them until she can get the one she promised to take to Carter. "I don't," she replies, not once taking her eyes off the kitten. "A familiar, Ivan? How perfectly quaint." Though it may not be a familiar, the fact that it's a black cat doesn't go unnoticed. Someone may just be getting a tacky "witches" hat in the future.
"All I did was tell her the truth when she asked. Why should I lie to her about what an ass you are when drunk? She's been with you long enough now that I'm sure she knows."
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"No, you do fairly well coming off as fairly idiotic when sober. So I suppose that's a distinction that's important to make. Why are you still h- what?" Ivan blinks. Not once, but twice as he peers down to the kitten that has recently unraveled itself from his ball to slink over towards Scarlett. Trying to see if it can get the adoration and attention from this new woman that it deserves. "Oh…Puck. He's not a familiar. More like an agent of the devil." Beat. "Yeah, right. Like I'm sure she was that specific when asking questions. I'm not even sure what your motivation was when you brought over the ring, short of trying to spite me in some…insane Scarlett way. But it wasn't done with pure and good intentions."
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Dropping down to a crouched position, Scarlett offers a hand out to the kitten. She may not be a fan of rodents, but she gets along with other animals just fine. "You named him Puck, what did you expect him to be? Some sort of darling little angel?" No matter the lore Puck comes from, he's always depicted as a mischievous character. "She asked what happened and what was said. So I told her." That is really all there is to it. It's not as though Scarlett went out of her way to offer more than what was asked. "It's a protection ring, Ivan. The same type I sold to Robert. Was she even wearing it when attacked? If so, I'll need to know so that I can weave stronger magic into them."
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Puck seems to be fine. With a cheerful mew, he presses against Scarlett's hand, demanding to be pet, really. "…He was named after a hockey puck," Ivan clarifies for posterity's sake, frowning as he lifts his hand to rub at the back of his neck. "She was wearing it when attacked. She's always wearing the ring." He made sure of it, after all. With one inspired request on his part. As for anything else she might have said, including a certain name - Ivan ignores it all.
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The kitten gets pet, and scritched, and lifted up. Scarlett cradles the cutesy little thing in her arms, wondering whether she should get one for the shop. Once that dratted rodent is gone that is. "Aren't you adorable?" Then she blinks over at Ivan. "A hockey puck? Either way, names have a lot of meaning, no matter where they come from. Puck denotes mischief, and if that's his true name, then expect it."
Though immediately after that, she's frowning. A deep, dark frown. "Fuck." One word issued, a long sigh exhaled. "It should have kept her safe, Ivan. I'm sorry." While the ring was just a garden-variety protection type, it should have kept her a lot safer than that. "I'd ask for it back in order to reset the spell on it, but I'll just work on another, a stronger one."
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Ivan watches the display, taking silent note of Scarlett's behavior as he observes the remarkable woman-kitten relationship in action. If he weren't so happily settled, then he'd have to add this to his arsenal of moves to pull - because both Faith and Scarlett, strong women in their own rights - have been seduced by the miniature fluffball. Puck, the tiny attention whore, is eating it up happily and snuggling against Scarlett's form. "I…yeah. A hockey puck. It was Faith's idea…it made sense…"
Ahem. Putting their own differences aside, Scarlett's genuine apology and self-blame does well for their strained sibling relationship. He's truly sympathetic to her cause. "No, Scarlett. Don't apologize. I'm serious - this was in no way your fault. Honestly? I'm…I'm beyond grateful she was wearing your ring, Scarlett. I think it saved her life. She wasn't bitten - she was almost bitten but she wasn't, and I've no doubt that it's thanks to you that I still have her with me today. I…thank you. I…I owe my happiness to you. My life, even."
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Happy, adorable little fluffball in her arms nearly gets dropped. Adjusting herself so that she's got a better hold on the kitten, the female Fontane twin remains silent. The snuggly cat gets a nice little ear rub before she speaks.
"I'll still work on something stronger," she says finally, though it's quiet. "Had I thought for one second that the — well whatever it is would go after someone outside of the Cornett family, I would have thrown in a werewolf protection charm, but I can only make those during the full moon and the last time I made any, I slept for almost a full day afterward." Strong powers she may have, but even she's prone to a bit of weakness.
Scarlett does add, "You're welcome."
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Near death experiences really have a way of putting things in prospective, don't they? After pausing to nibble on the inside of his stubbly cheek, Ivan eventually lets out a loaded sigh. His hand is lifted, and he proceeds to run his hand through his hair before stepping forward towards his sister. "This is - this is stupid, isn't it? This, whatever it is, in between us. Now's not the time for us to act like children anymore. I don't…think we can afford it, Scar. Not when things are so uncertain out there, and…" Beat. "I don't…if something happened to you while we were busy fighting or something, I don't know what I'd do…"
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Logic and practicality are what is needed right now. Scarlett finally crouches down again to gently place the kitten on the floor, giving it one more little ruffley pet before she stands and watches her brother. "You'd do what any one would, I suspect. You'd get mad, you'd get even with whatever hurt me, and you'd keep on living." It's not said in jest, rather dead seriousness. "You've never been the type to worry or wallow, don't start that on me now."
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"Yeah - well, I'd also hate myself for not being there to save you, and for letting you go without doing my damnedest to fix things. So - so, I'm going to fix that. I'm going out on a limb here, Scarlett. I'm doing my best, even though I don't know how to play this position." Ivan pleads, endearing to his sister not with his customary 'whoops!' grin, but rather a solemn purse of his lips. He is deadly serious himself, enough that he doesn't even notice his kitten bouncing back into the living room.
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"It's called an apology," Scarlett teases, trying her damnedest to lighten the situation just a little. "It does wonders in that position." She's well aware that it's not all he's talking about, but it's a start. "I don't need saving either," she offers, much more gently. "I'm a big girl, Ivan." A big girl with a lot of power behind her. "I can hold my own better than most. So don't worry. You're stuck with me a while yet."
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"But in my defense I…" Ivan jumps immediately in the direction of defensive, before pausing to purse his lips. It's slow, but eventually he looks down to the floor, his eyes shutting before letting out a slow sigh. "Alright…" Beat. "I'm…I'm sorry. And maybe you don't but it doesn't mean that I can't save you every once in a while."
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Two words, it's all it really takes to put things back on track. Scarlett grins as he jumps to his own defense, nods, and then exhales a sigh. "Look, I'm thinking of starting a coven. I was never good at being part of Umbra, and since I keep running into other witches in the city, I was thinking it might be good if we were all on the same side." Before he can jump into an argument, she holds up her hand in a stop-motion. "You're welcome to join if you want to, but I'm not going to sway you from grandfather. It's just that we're not at home any longer, Ivan, and I think it would be good for Helen to see some of the family support and get to learn new branches of magic."
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It's with surprise that Ivan looks upwards, locking his eyes with Scarletts when she switches the topic of conversation on him. Never had he believed it'd be so simple and quick and painless to fix. As it is, he's rather out of sorts when she extends her idea, as well as the invitation. "Thinking of starting a…oh. Oh, well, that's a…good idea." He offers to her, stunned. Slowly, as he considers the ramifications of her invitation, he licks his lips. "I…I don't want to leave Umbra yet. There's still things for me to do. But, I'd like to take part of the get togethers. I think it's a good idea."
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Apologies are an ancient miracle, passed down through the generations. While they don't fix everything right away, it fixes things enough that he seems to be forgiven. At least until his next outburst of stupidity. "As long as you promise not to spy for Grandfather, then I have no issues with it. I think we'll be a bit more eclectic than Umbra is, as I want to allow witches from any religion to join." There's a smile, then a nod. If she can secure at least two people, then she can open the coven with more ease. While she's not intending it to adhere strictly to Wiccan beliefs, since she doesn't follow those herself, she's well aware that to start a gathering there needs to be more than a partnership.
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"Spy?" Ivan picks up on her word usage immediately, quirking a brow upwards as he fixes her with a faintly incredulous look. The corner of his lip tilts upwards as the man proceeds to cross his arms over his broad chest, before snickering. "Spying for grandfather at your coven, eh? Well, what exactly are you planning to do at these meetings? Taking over the world?" He's clearly amused by this.
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"Not hardly," Scarlett says with a laugh. "I want to focus it on doing good, and blending individual traits and strengths into a pool of knowledge for those who join." There is no desire for gained power, no desire to do harm. Just share her own wealth of knowledge and learn from others who have grown up and been shaped with other experiences. "But I know Grandfather, and he will take it as an insult, since I refused to join Umbra upon turning eighteen."
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"Well, as far as I know, it's none of Grandfather's business what the witches of Dallas are doing. I…trust you, Scarlett. But if you'd rather I not attend, then that's fine too. I won't take offense, I promise." Ivan points out before leaning back against the counter in a casual fashion. "Again…I think that's a great idea, you know. Unity, and community, and the lot of it. It's brilliant."
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Whether Grandfather has plans for Dallas via using Ivan or not, Scarlett just shrugs. "It may not be his business what the witches of Dallas are doing, but I think he'll make it his business if his grandchildren are involved." There's a nod, then a blink. "I hope that's a fake plant." Pointing toward the living room, she motions to the little kitten, that's happily noming away on something green. "You are welcome to come. I'm not going out recruiting, but I doubt that we'll turn people away." Unless they're all into using their abilities for something wrong, or are of the un-living persuasion.
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"Yeah…that reminds me." Ivan gruffs, uncomfortably rubbing at the outer portion of his arm. "There's been - wait, what? Yeah, we only have fake plants and…" Which means that Puck is gnawing on the choking hazard that is a fake floor plant. After a moment, Ivan shoots forward into the living room with exaggerated motions of surprise, launching himself down to immediately pry the green thing out of the kitten's mouth. "Bad! Bad Puck - if you die, I'm dead, you little bugger!" He loves the kitten. Really. It just drives him crazy.
After this brief interlude, he sighs and gets to his feet and turns solemnly to Scarlett. "There's been a vampire going around, stirring trouble. One with considerable control over magic. Said he used to be a witch. Don't interact with him. He's a trouble maker, intent on stirring trouble between vampiric relations and humans. And he's already approached Helen in an attempt to use her to manipulate me."
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"The only members of the non-living I bother to associate with are those that are sent to me via word of mouth through the art community." Scarlett shrugs her shoulders a little, in a nonchalant manner. "And they generally send humans to the studio during the day to pick up their commissions." As of yet, she's not really met a vampire, nor does she honestly care to. "Should he attempt to start trouble with me, I'll call you." There's a tiny pause, and she smirks. "Or I'll just call grandfather and tell him. I'm sure that will take care of the issue swiftly." She'll be indebted then, but she can handle it if it's going to cause less issues for her family down the line.
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Ivan nods slowly, licking his lips in a ginger fashion. "I know you can take care of yourself. I just wanted to warn you preemptively, particularly since he seems to be driven to bother me. He mentioned tutoring one of you, whether I forbade it or not. Which…I suppose, means that I need to speak to Helen. And extensively at that. But, please - if he talks to you, tell me. And take note of what he says, as well. His name - Dietrich Eberle, I believe."
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Her brow furrows upward, and Scarlett just peers at her brother. "Everything I have ever learned about the craft I have taught myself. I'm not about to let some self-serving vampire even attempt to teach me anything." It's likely a bit high-handed of her to say so, but she can't help being proud that she's managed to learn so much in a short time. "Just come over some time. We can have a family council. You can see the renovations." Her eyes drift toward the room. "When Faith is feeling better."
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"A family council, eh?" Ivan follows along Scarlett's line of sight, before recognizing what she has in mind. He smiles faintly, shoving the presumptuous kitten away from the plan before straightening himself up. "I think I will then. And then…maybe I can bring Faith along, and we can spend an afternoon together. The lot of us. Just…laid back and all, right? A nice family get together. Sounds good?"
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"Provided I don't have to cook?" Scarlett is the queen of takeout food. She'd likely cook more nutritious meals if she had time, but it's just easier after working on intricate items and paintings all day to order up some takeout. "Just give me a call the day before so I can make sure the apartment is tidy?" It's generally never in a mess, but she'll want to straighten up a few of Helen's things beforehand.
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Ivan grins faintly, a hand rubbing the back of his neck faintly. "Tell you what, sis. I'll cook. We'll make an event out of it. It'll be awesome. Anyway - does this mean you're good? With us, I mean. Me and her. Because…ah, yeah. You weren't always quite…enthusiastic about it before." Hell, they've gone through everything already. They might as well end it on a positive-ish note.
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A shrug is all he gets. She's not necessarily enthusiastic about it now either. Scarlett just gives him a very odd look. "I think if she doesn't fly off her rocker, she'll keep you grounded." If she does? That's just something that he'll have to consider for his career and such. "Though I do think you should tell mother that you're actually somewhat settled down."
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"Well, geez. Don't tire yourself, now." Ivan offers with wry amusement, though he doesn't seem particularly bothered. Though approval and a blessing would have been nice, he wont let her opinion on the matter effect the reality of the situation. "Yeah - maybe," he offers then when she mentions telling their mother. "I was thinking. When the family meets up for the reunion…of bringing her along. You know, introducing her to ma and all."
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"I think you should maybe tell her first, Ivan. Don't just fly down and spring a girl on her when all the news around here points her as crazy." Scarlett gives her brother a very stern look. "Hey, you did ask. I like her well enough, but I also want what's absolutely best for my brother." She's honest about it, at the very least. "I'm not sure if I'm going to go. To the reunion I mean."
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"If she makes me happy, if she grounds me, and settles me, and does all these things…doesn't that mean she's absolutely the best for me?" Ivan counters, quirking his brows upwards slowly. "I love her, Scarlett. She loves me. I would've thought you'd be ecstatic that I've given up sleeping around and hard partying. You certainly never approved of that either." Beat. "Eh? Why wouldn't you go to the Reunion this year?"
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"I never said you didn't, Ivan." Scarlett rolls her eyes at him a little. "I got that when you were in the midst of proposing to her in a bar while you were drunk." There's a small, sisterly sigh, then she adds, "Just make sure that you have your priorities straight." She's got a feeling that if his girlfriend goes off the deep end again, it'll be a career ruiner. Especially once they go really public. "I don't approve or disapprove. I just want you to be happy, and if this is it, so be it." The reunion is still being discussed, so she replies, "I've got two out of three siblings here now."
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"I have my priorities straight. I know what I'm doing." Maybe. Perhaps. Possibly. However, Ivan furrows his brows slightly as she speaks grimly. "Yeah…but what about seeing mom or dad?" Ivan's always been a bit of a parental kiss ass and mommy's little boy. Special and pampered and loved. "I…Eh. I've gotchya. I was thinking of convincing the rents to have it take place somewhere exotic this year - in Hawaii or something. Beautiful beaches, warm company…s'nothing better."
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Scarlett can't really say one way or another as to his priorities. Only he'll know that for certain. "Mom and dad? They can always come here." She stretches her arms up over her head, stiff from standing still so long. "Ew. Hawaii is so passe. Nassau would be better. Or the Grand Caymans. Less tourists, nicer beaches."
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"Well…shit. That's quite elitist of you. Frankly? I'm willing to go anywhere but Texas. I just want…a break from the homeland for a bit, if you know what I mean? If you can understand." Ivan shrugs his shoulders idly, taking in a deep breath as he glances around the room. "Puck? Puck - where'd that kiddo go… Anyway. So…" Beat. "Do…you want something to eat or something? To sit down? I don't know how long you want to stick around for, but you're welcome to stay."
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"Elitist? To want my parents to visit me for a change?" Scarlett stretches again, then points behind the television. "He's over there. You should consider getting wire guards." To stop the kitten from electrocuting himself. "I understand. You don't want them to meet her here where they think she's insane." Fair enough. "Nassau has a lot to do, and a really nice resort. I'll look into it when I get back to the studio." Which she should be doing soon. "Nah, I'm good. I need to run by the pet store for Helen, since you dropped those rats off at my place."
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"No," Ivan laughs faintly, grinning over to her. "For figuring Hawaii wasn't good enough for you! But, ah - yeah. Definitely. If you could send me whatever you find, that'd be great." He gets to the floor, reaching over to grab hold of the kitten with one massive hand and drag him closer to him. "Heh. Sorry about that. But, hey - they make good pets when they aren't multiplying like crazy. At least…easy, manageable pets."
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"Ivan, you gave me an animal. In a cage." Scarlett nearly cringes at that, but she's trying to not make such a huge deal out of it. Otherwise Helen may just find herself rodentless one of these days. "You know how I am about stuff like that. It may not be me in that cage, but it still gives me the creeps." Claustrophobia for the win! "I'd much rather have a kitten." Maybe she'll take a look at them when she stops at the pet store. "I can email it to your office. Will that work for you?"
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"Don't think of it as a cage. Think of it as a tiny home, Sis. It'll be good for you. It'll help you get over your fears and give you something to love and appreciate. But…I mean, you could always give them up to the petstore like we ended up doing for a couple of them. Grab a kitten instead as well. And, yeah - that'll work great. Thanks, Scarlett."
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"It's a rodent." Nose wrinkling, she just shakes her head. "I found a home for mine, Helen can keep hers." Scarlett is not going to make her baby sister give up her pets. "Perfect. I'll get to the pet shop before it closes. I think Helen needs some of that wood shavings stuff, and probably a little wheel for them or something. Make sure to give Faith that salve, she'll appreciate it when it doesn't scar." The female Fontane twin starts for the door. "Don't forget to call me when you want that get together either." She'll slip out quickly, so the kitten doesn't bolt into the hall.
