Tale of the Cat and the Jinn

"Well, then, Aladdin. Let us indulge in the old tradition of sharing a meal."

Felicia winks back at them before letting go of their hands and getting a starting run. As she has a thousand times before, she grapples out to the next building and sails out into the night. Curious grey eyes turn back in excitement to see how her new friend plans to keep up.

Moonlight catches the silver of her hair even as she moves through the shadows. While not quite a game of chase, Felicia does not give the djinn pause as she goes, both eager to show her new friend to a good meal and to go home.



Felicia pauses on the upper roof of her home, looks to ensure her friend is near, and then slides down the ladder to her patio. The fact that she has such a luxury in New York City says so very much about her wealth, but she does not know nor care if it translates to her friend.

"Welcome to my little home, Aladdin," she says while pulling open her sliding door. It is silent on its tracks and reveals a very open floor plan on the other side. "Kitchen is this way and the bathroom is off the hall to the right if you need it."

As she moves, Cat disconnects the armor plating over her chest and drops it on the couch before unzipping the upper half. She folds the material down and ties it at her waist like an unwanted sweater. This action reveals a simple, gray tank top and an array of freckles and scars along her arms.

"It'll take a few minutes while I heat up the food. I hope that is alright," she calls over her shoulder while promptly digging into her fridge.

The djinn disappearing in a faint glitter of stars is something she knows she won't forget any time soon. Despite living in New York, Felicia has kept most magical people out of her little life. After all, she is just a thief.

"Thank you, Aladdin," she calls out to her friend with three stacks of brightly colored Tupperware in her arms. The fridge shuts a little hard as she kicks it shut, moving to place her goodies on the counter. "Most things around here are very modern or very, very expensive. It is a give-and-take. That patio out there is my main reason for living here."

Felicia lifts her head to wink at her friend before she reaches above her head for plates. She moves about the kitchen as if she has spent years behind the counter, a movement and flow to her motions.

"When was the last time a mortal cooked for you and what was it," she asks as she places a pot on the stovetop. Felicia fills the pot with the leftover Gumbo and leaves it to warm up. "Following that, what was the best thing you've ever had? Do you get to eat mortal food often?"

She stops before she asks another foot question and laughs at herself. "I guess you can tell I'm a bit hungry."

Cat listens as she busies herself about the kitchen, setting the rice to warm.

"I never knew Mozart loved food like that. You only ever really hear about his music and those accomplishments," she says with a little hum of thought, multitasking like a pro. "Kinda makes you wonder what type of stories they'll tell about you after you're gone- If they'll tell stories about you. Some people say you only ever truly die when you are forgotten."

A silicone ladle is inserted into the pot of gumbo, and she stirs it to prevent it from burning. She tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear and grins.

"When I'm not working, I like trying new foods or making something different. While it is in the USA, you can find quite a bit of food from around the world here. You gotta know where to look for it." She glances up over the counter and into the living room. "If you could do anything right now, what would it be?"

"I'll give you that one. Wolfgang does sound like my kinda guy. There's something about someone who's just a little cocky that's fun, does that makes sense?" She shakes her head, thinking of Peter and remembering fragments of some event or another. Slowly, her memories of him are fading into only the brightest and most important ones. Felicia isn't as sad about that as she may have thought she would be.

"The Black Death," she asks despite being very certain that it is the event Aladdin is referring to. "Were people much the same back then? I'd imagine there are parts of humanity that never change no matter the circumstances around them. Things that tear us apart like pride and hate and things that bring us close like camaraderie and kindness."

Felicia shrugs one shoulder as she checks the temperature of the gumbo. These are all thoughts that she would usually keep to herself. There is something freeing about talking to someone who has no exposure to her, no previously built ideas of who she is.

"How warm do you like your food? Do you handle spice well?" Felicia layers the bottoms of both bowls with the re-heated rice, proud that it is still soft rather than getting hard. "Oh, did you want to eat in here or out on the balcony? It has a great view of the city."

"Hermes?" There is a little grin on her lips as Felicia ladles gumbo into the bowls, remembering the way Tante LeBlanc would hum to herself as she cooked. "Someone who knows how to make you laugh is worth almost any trouble they can put you through in the process. Some of my best stories involve a dork with too many quips."

The gas stove shuts off with a click and Felicia places the bowls, silverware, two cups, and a jug of water on a little wooden serving tray with curling metal handles. It is one of the few things she still has that came from her father's home.

"My amazing balcony has a truly beautiful view. Some days, I can almost convince myself I can see the stars past all the city lights." She grins at Aladdin, leading the way through the living room and back out through the glass sliding doors. Upon stepping out, the sounds of the city become clear again and there is a comfort to be found in the hustle and bustle. A strange, beautiful familiarity. Like the pulse of a nation.

"I think I will have to invite you over whenever I think of a new recipe. I will spoil you rotten with good food, Aladdin."

And she laughs because it is fun and silly to think she could spoil a djinn.

She laughs because she knows she will try.