Ludwig likes to have a whole zoo at home, Francis learns over the years.
He always heard of the German having dogs but nobody had ever told him that next to three dogs Ludwig also loves cats, horses, rabbits and birds. Or more animals in general.
So it comes as a surprise when they move together and Ludwig brings up the question of pets. His three dogs - all well-educated and very devoted (even to Francis after some time) - already have a firm place in their house, but before Francis can grasp what’s going on, they have four rabbits (‘cause Ludwig said they liked to live in groups), two parrots (an old pair from an animal shelter), three small turtles (which Ludwig had found in a carton next to a street), two horses (an very old breeding that Francis knows back from his Revolution days; they both love to go for a ride at weekends), an aquarium (which was Francis’s wish Ludwig fulfilled with building the basin himself) and storks in the neighbourhood on a tree.
As if that isn’t enough already, Ludwig has a special gift for him on his birthday.
“I read this article about French either having fishes or cats as pets… Well, since we already have fishes, I thought you perhaps would like these two since I am the one who is always getting his way… I - I mean, since most of our pets were my wish to keep -“
While Ludwig’s voice is fading more and more with each word, Francis can only stand there, in his arms two little kittens (big innocent eyes, soft fur and the most delicate things he has ever hold), totally speechless.
Ludwig can’t know of the cats he has had in his younger years, way before the wars and even after them, but then there hadn’t been much time to keep a cat anymore, no room in his apartment in Paris.
He tunes out Ludwig’s babbling, a bright smile growing on his lips and cuddles the two new family members closer. Then he shuts Ludwig up with a kiss.
Ludwig likes to have a whole zoo at home, Francis learns over the years.
He always heard of the German having dogs but nobody had ever told him that next to three dogs Ludwig also loves cats, horses, rabbits and birds. Or more animals in general.
So it comes as a surprise when they move together and Ludwig brings up the question of pets.
His three dogs - all well-educated and very devoted (even to Francis after some time) - already have a firm place in their house, but before Francis can grasp what’s going on, they have four rabbits (‘cause Ludwig said they liked to live in groups), two parrots (an old pair from an animal shelter), three small turtles (which Ludwig had found in a carton next to a street), two horses (an very old breeding that Francis knows back from his Revolution days; they both love to go for a ride at weekends), an aquarium (which was Francis’s wish Ludwig fulfilled with building the basin himself) and storks in the neighbourhood on a tree.
As if that isn’t enough already, Ludwig has a special gift for him on his birthday.
“I read this article about French either having fishes or cats as pets… Well, since we already have fishes, I thought you perhaps would like these two since I am the one who is always getting his way… I - I mean, since most of our pets were my wish to keep -“
While Ludwig’s voice is fading more and more with each word, Francis can only stand there, in his arms two little kittens (big innocent eyes, soft fur and the most delicate things he has ever hold), totally speechless.
Ludwig can’t know of the cats he has had in his younger years, way before the wars and even after them, but then there hadn’t been much time to keep a cat anymore, no room in his apartment in Paris.
He tunes out Ludwig’s babbling, a bright smile growing on his lips and cuddles the two new family members closer.
Then he shuts Ludwig up with a kiss.
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*takes notes*
WHAT? Oh, yes. AWWW.
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