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Chou had grown quite a bit in the months since Jack had given him to Alcuin; though despite his long and lanky build, he was still full of kittenish energy, and as Alcuin sat in the grass outside his home, the light gray kitten darted about around him, chasing some small insect

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Alcuin offered a warm, grateful smile when he reached the man, taking the kitten with ease, since as soon as Chou saw him he mewed and started scrambling out of the man's grasp toward him.

"Yes," he said in French, looking pleased at being addressed so. "He is beginning to test his boundaries as he grows, I think." He scratched behind the cat's ears and added, having noted the accent, "And we can speak English if you prefer. I suppose it is rather odd to cultivate a bilingual cat, but he seems to simply like the way French sounds."

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"Peaceful... yes. Mostly." Alcuin could not help but think of Ysandre's death after all. He smiled and added, "After four years here, I think I am even beginning to think in English, in truth." He shifted Chou smoothly into one arm, unwilling to put him down now that he'd seen his propensity for wandering off. But now he could offer the unfamiliar man his hand. "I am Alcuin no Delaunay."

He recognized the man's appearance, of course - but had known as soon as he addressed him in French that he was not Dr. Chase, and the difference became more pronounced the longer they spoke.

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As Alcuin pulled his hand away, his eyes widened a touch. "Ishiah. Oh, you're..." He was not fond of labels, and had difficulty ascribing them, so rather than finishing his thought, he simply allowed a bright smile to spread on his face and say, "Robin has spoken of you."

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"Positive, yes, and yes, I know." Alcuin offered him a small smile, meant to be reassuring. He found himself a touch surprised that Robin had not mentioned him at all - but then, given Robin's insistence that Alcuin represented above all else a temptation, perhaps it was not that surprising after all.

"He is... staying here." Alcuin nodded to his home, behind them. "Ah, intermittently."