"We both live at the orphanage," said Kat.
Vivian's eyes widened and she raised her hands in shock, dropping all the plates and cups she was holding directly into the sink."How can such sweet girls like yourselves be still there? That orphanage has such a good adoption rate. No, I won't have it I'll adopt you both immediately," cried Vivian. Kat's eyes nearly fell out of her head.
* You can't just adopt a child like that, and don't you have a roommate to consul first before adopting to kids. *
"Ah, Vivian, isn't it a bit quick to make a decision like that?" said Kat.
"I suppose your right. In that case I'll just adopt Sylvie. Thinking about it more clearly she is much cuter than you," said Vivian poking her tongue out at Kat.
"No, I want to stay with Kat," said Sylvie who had somehow crawled onto Kat's lap during the conversation without her noticing. *Sylvie has stealth powers now? Does her magic know no bounds?* Vivian burst out laughing at that.
"Of course, I should have known. Curses," said Vivian clicking her fingers in fake outrage.
"Seriously though, that place really does have such a great adoption rate, I even knew a few people at my University who grew up there for a while. How is it that you two are still there after any length of time at all?" said Vivian.
"Well, Sylvie is really shy most of the time. I'm surprised she gets along so well with you. But in the few instances where she might have been considered for adoption she spent most of it hiding after she ran off somewhere," said Kat with Sylvie nodding in her lap, innocent smile affixed on her face.
"Well…" said Vivian pointedly looking at Kat and waiting for the story to continue.Sighing, Kat complied, "As for me, I don't really know, I've lived there longer than anyone else. I'm both the youngest and the oldest person the orphanage has ever looked after. Gramps has been there my whole life, and as for why I was never adopted out: I don't really know."
"Ah, sorry for asking you to leave then. I didn't know the place meant so much to you. Please come and visit any time though it's fine hanging out," said Vivian still with a smile.
Kat sighed again, "Well actually Vivian that's just it. Because I've been there so long, I'm about to turn eighteen and that means I can't stay at the orphanage afterwards. I was hoping to find a place after Gramps told me, and then all these summoning shenanigans started happening and I just haven't had time to think about it"
"Sooo, maybe, that's why I asked you to be serious about this because I do need a place to stay and Sylvie made me promise to let her come with me if I could. And well I don't know you that well yet, but you're really nice to be around. Sylvie somehow trusts you and you're apparently willing to take us both in. So it's just. I need some time to think and I need to know your serious," said Kat.
Vivian paused, and thought over Kat's words for a long time before dragging the smile off her face. It was clear she was fighting her lips to keep them from curling up as she spoke, "I really do think you are both so sweet, and you're right I really should ask my roommate before I commit to anything, but, I would like to try. Please think about it and next time you come to visit, we can have a proper talk about this. I didn't really want to just spring something like this on you, I didn't think it would be quite so big a deal, but it is, and I don't want to pressure you both into anything."
The three nodded and Kat and Sylvie stood up to leave. None of them wanted to leave on such a serious note but Vivian wasn't going to pressure the two anymore until Kat and Sylvie walked up to her. Kat walked over to Vivian and wrapped her tail and both arms around her pulling her tight. The two shared a long embrace before separating. This was when Sylvie motioned for Vivian to bend down, and when she complied Sylvie gave her a pat on the head a few times and a quick hug.
"We will be back Vivian," said Kat as Sylvie and her stood in the entranceway, before departing from the house.
"I'll see you both then," said Vivian as she waved them off.
##
Sitting on her bed, Kat stared at the ceiling lost in thought. * Why did things have to get so complicated? I was already struggling to figure out what I should tell Gramps when I talk to him. Do I tell him I've become a demon? That I've magically bound his wife's best clothes to myself? What the hell do I say about Vivian? She was just so bubbly, and it felt nice to be around her. I probably wouldn't bother considering how close I am to finishing school, but I don't have anywhere else lined up. But at the same time I really don't want Vivian to think I'm only staying at her place because I'm getting kicked out. Then again, I hardly know Vivian. What other reason am I supposed to choose, because she was nice to me for a couple hours? That's not hard, I've seen plenty of people act like obedient children until I turn away for a second. I wish everyone was as calm as Sylvie. And that's the other thing, isn't it?*
*By agreeing to adopt Sylvie as well, this is no longer about me. It's abundantly clear that she won't stay at Vivian's without me and as much as I want to take that as I sign I should stay away, there is plenty of evidence to the contrary. Mostly that Sylvie was willing to entertain her antics, she let Vivian hug her for that whole conversation at Lily's and she even pat her on the head when she was looking for praise. Let's not even get started on the fact that Sylvie was the one who suggested we stay over for lunch. I just don't know what I'm supposed to do? *
*That's not even considering the implications of what she knows. She knows about all my changes since becoming a demon, the system the summonings, everything. I don't regret telling her. At least I don't think I do. She took it so well, and it just seemed natural to bring her into everything with us. And she's even offering us a play to stay after hearing about all my crazy happenings. Could it get any better? Is that why I'm so hung up on this? I've found the perfect solution to all my problems and I can't bring myself to believe it's real. I get to stay in town near Lily, and Gramps. Sylvie would be living with me and having Vivian around seems like it would always be fun.*
*Maybe…* Kat's further thoughts were interrupted by a light knocking on her door. Quickly hiding her tail, she got up to investigate who it was. Kat opened the door to find Sylvie clutching a pillow in front of her. Quickly ushering her in, Kat wrapped Sylvie up in her lap."What's wrong Sylvie, you look like you have something on your mind?" said Kat."I'm thinking about what Vivian said. Do you want to stay with her Kat?" asked Sylvie.
Patting the small girl on the head and tightening her tail a bit Kat sighed. "I don't know Sylvie. I really don't know what to do this time.""Why not Kat?" asked Sylvie as if fully expecting Kat to have all the answers."Well, it's all gotten so complicated in just a day hasn't it Sylvie? This morning, do you remember what Gramps said this morning?" said Kat. Sylvie nodded in response. "Well originally I was going to tell him about the demon stuff, and just be honest with him and just deal with whatever came out of it. Now I don't know if I should mention it at all, especially if I'm moving out soon. Gramps has enough stuff to worry about, and I'm not sure what to do about Vivian, it all seems perfect for everything and maybe I just can't quite accept that," said Kat.
"Do you remember what Vivian said today Kat?" asked Sylvie.
"Well Vivian said a lot of things, didn't she?" said Kat.
"Vivian said it's bad to lie to your friends right Kat," said Sylvie.
"Yeah…" said Kat.
"Well is Gramps a friend?" said Sylvie. Kat sighed at this. It seems Sylvie is better at this than she was.
"No Gramps is more than a friend. I guess you're right. I shouldn't lie to him. I'll tell him everything. Now I just have to figure out what to do concerning Vivian's offer," said Kat.
"But you said it was perfect, didn't you Kat? If it's perfect what more do you need?" said Sylvie.
"Well, when something seems a little too good you get suspicious, I guess, and don't just throw this on me, you'd be coming too. Don't you remember? Vivian said you were much cuter," said Kat.
Sylvie laughed, "I want to stay with Kat no matter what, but Vivian is nice and we can always visit." * Why do I get the feeling she means we can always visit the orphanage and not that we can always visit Vivian? Aw well this is tomorrow's problem. Maybe Gramps is the one who will have the answers. They say with age comes experience.*
Vongrak's Fun Fact: Vivian as a character was developed for just 1 joke. She was only supposed to be a character that would be ok with kids using her house for breaking and entering. That's it. We have already far exceeded her original plot relevance by this point but looks like she won't be the unimportant background character she was designed to be.
It was Sunday afternoon, the day after Kat had heard Vivian's offer and she was standing in front of Gramps's office door, course of action decided. *It's a 50/50 shot that Gramps is actually behind this door. Normally I'd never catch his tail but he said to come and chat, and he does always seem to know when someone really needs to see him.* Knocking on the heavy door, Kat stood and waited. There was a thick silence until the door swung open to reveal Gramps already walking back behind his desk. *Ok, step one find Gramps. You've thought this through Kat, stick to the plan.* Walking up to sit on the chair across from Gramps's desk, Kat faced him waiting for a moment and speaking first.
"Gramps, I'm here for advice," said Kat.
"Advice… I'm not sure I've ever had to give you that before, at least not in recent times. I thought you were here because I asked, but I suppose I can afford to offer you some advice," said Gramps with a slight grin.
"Do you know someone called Vivian, an architect and designer in the city?" said Kat.
"Yes actually, she's quite well known for a few reasons, good and bad both I suppose, though I'm quite fond of the eccentric lass myself. She actually did the plans for the orphanage extension; shame I haven't gotten around to financing the construction… Why do you ask Kat?" said Gramps.
"Well, when I was visiting Lily, I met her. She lives next door, sort of anyway, to Vivian and, well she said something interesting," said Kat.
"Well don't keep an old man waiting, the time will get me before the suspense will," said Gramps.
"She offered to adopt me and Sylvie," said Kat.
Gramps paused, seeming to ponder the statement as if he could peel back all the layers contained within that sentence searching for something he wasn't quite finding.
"I see, but something tells me that's not everything is it? Care to continue Kat?" said Gramps.
"Well, it's just that, I've been somewhat unsure as to whether I should accept her offer or not. It seems a bit too good to be true. I don't really think I personally need to be adopted but when Vivian suggested just adopting Sylvie as a joke it was made quite clear that Sylvie wouldn't accept unless I did," said Kat.
"Indeed. I suppose that does complicate matters, but isn't this a big opportunity for you Kat? To finally be adopted after all these years, I remember you were always wondering when you'd get to leave when you were a lot shorter," said Gramps.
"Well Gramps, I'm just a bit taller now and it hasn't bothered me for years. The two major complicating factors are Sylvie, and the one-year timeline. I'm still quite confident I could find a place to stay before the end of the year, but even if the risk is small, which I do think it is, Vivian is offering me a chance to ignore that risk entirely and it's a tempting offer. Then there is Sylvie, I really do want to convince her to stay with Vivian, but not only did she insist that she wouldn't leave without me I promised her that I'd try and make sure she could stay with me after I left," said Kat.
"Seems a bit overconfident to promise Sylvie she'd likely be able to stay with you," said Gramps.
"You try saying no when she looks at you and pouts with her eyes all turned up towards you, I swear she's casting a spell on you," said Kat.
Waving towards Kat to signal he conceded the point Gramps continued, "So what's the problem then?"
"Well, even if I did manage to secure a place for myself, and I was able to provide for the two of us, I doubt I'd get the free time to actually take care of Sylvie properly. Here at the orphanage you always make us food, and even though she is very attached to me the other kids are at least around for most of the day and somehow Vivian managed to not scare Sylvie off at all. She even sat on her lap for a while." said Kat.
"Kat, you still haven't told me what your concern is though. I can't help you if all you do is explain to me why staying with Vivian would be a good idea," said Gramps with warm understanding.
"Right well, it's just I hardly know her, and it only took a few hours for her to offer to adopt two people. Surely that can't be normal right? It just feels too good to me I think," said Kat.
"Well, define normal Kat. Would you really be considering this so much if Vivian was more normal? Look at my office, I collect rugs and shove them all in my office, is that normal? Sylvie thinks too much for her a nine-year-old and her own good, is that normal?"
Gramps paused for a moment before looking at Kat and saying, "And what about you Kat? Are you normal?" His stare seemed to pierce through her soul but before she could say anything Gramps continued,
"Nonetheless, from what I know of Vivian that sort of decision is pretty normal for her to make. She's very impulsive but she has good enough intuition that things turn out well… most of the time."
Could Gramps possibly know about the demon stuff? There is no way but… what was that last part Gramps?
"I see, so what do you recommend Gramps?" said Kat.
"Well, first I'd recommend talking to Sylvie, what has she got to say on the matter?" asked Gramps.
"I spoke with Sylvie a fair bit yesterday, and, she seemed to think I was overthinking this whole thing," said Kat. Gramps laughed at that.
"Heh, haha, ha, I think that made me five years younger. Oh what a day, to see that young Sylvie telling someone else to stop overthinking things. The joys of watching so many kids grow up," said Gramps.
"Honestly Kat, I think this is a great offer. I've known of Vivian and she has a really good reputation around town in regard to all things. If you enjoy her company, I'd advise you to accept her offer. Of course, I'll do my due diligence as the caretaker of this orphanage and you kids to do some investigation on her, but honestly, she's a bit too well known around town for her to hide much, especially considering she grew up here from what I know. Besides, unlike so many of the others, you'll still be in town.
You can visit whenever you want. In fact, you should come and visit me from time to time lest this old man might think you've forgotten him," said Gramps with a chuckle. "Seriously though Kat. You are welcome to return here at any time, no questions asked and damn the consequences if you really need a place to stay. And if the orphanage is a bit far to run, I think you said Lily lived nearby. I'm still sorry I have to make you leave in a year, but if you can move out somewhere so close and with Sylvie to keep you company, perhaps this old heart can rest easy."
"Thanks Gramps," said Kat with slight tears in her eyes. "I really needed to just get this all through my head I think."
"Anytime Kat, anytime," said Gramps. Kat stood up and walked towards the door, just as she stood on the threshold she paused for but a moment, turning slightly she stopped when she heard Gramps say, "That's enough surprises for an old man like me in one day, you can talk about the other one next time." Closing the door firmly behind her Kat sighed.
*How much does the old man know? How could I even have thought about hiding it from him. Sylvie noticed in a day and she hasn't known me anywhere near as long as Gramps has. Not only that but he probably knows me better than I know myself. Should I go back and tell him… No, he seems to think it's not quite time yet, I'll trust that.* Kat returned to her room.
Vongrak's Fun Facts: Did you know the first summoning I came up with was actually the one with the elf king? I didn't write it first because this was all back when the story was just an idea but it was how I kicked everything off. The advisors where new additions though.