Policeman and the cat

44 - Just 9

Not the bottom of the lake, but under a clear blue morning sky, there were a lot of voices all around-- Chilli was snuggling up to his ear while Nelly was sleeping on his stomach. He had a bit more memories this time.

One thing had not changed as far as he could figure, he had fought a lot of people, he had drunk a ton, there were bets again and August's family seemed to have good luck at this - Sarah had won stuff this time.

But the things that had changed were - a)their clothes had self-repaired, b)Chilli's proportions had changed, she no longer looked like a teenager, but a little grown-up doll, her clothes too had become more elaborate, c) this time half the time people attacked him first, not the other way around and he got to fight a far bigger variety of opponents d)...

D was the killer. He had just the smallest glimpse of biting into Layla's neck and not in a nice vampire-like gesture, but a solid, real, feral, animal-like bite, that had him taste her blood. It should have hurt, but her expression was inviting to eat more and Ian was pretty sure he and Nelly had merged and were doing that to Layla together. And they were doing more than just biting, crap--

Of all the things they could have done-- and it did not help that along with that bite, they drained a chunk of her aether and it was delicious.

Nelly woke up as well, yet rather than telling anything she smiled, kissed him and he got her memories as small video bits with sensations included. Getting memory pieces from her, he figured how to return them and gave his own as well. Then he sat up and took a moment to process it.

It wasn't just Layla they had literally and metaphorically eaten. Nina was on that list well and Ian could only hope it wasn't like with fights. No, if it was like that with fights-- it was naive to think Layla and Nina were the only ones--

Ian felt a familiar presence and looked over at Bermont, his lips naturally forming a smile.

Bermont returned the smile and leaned down to do the same thing Nelly had done - gave him memories of six reviews of his ambrosia. It was different times and in the memories, the party sounds were hushed like they were a fair distance away from it. There were also no other people around, Bermont was properly keeping a secret.

[[It was already night at that point. August let out a breath. "Ian, huh? Tell him to learn different alignments, spices are best burned up in dark alignment, they infuse more completely. He feels like a guy who might like fire-aligned things, but not in this one. Good work otherwise."]]

[[Tiamat smiled like a Cheshire cat "Purple will be sad to know you got his first one, but hmm, it's wonderful, but if he does want to improve, then I can tell outright the ice is incomplete." Tiamat looked somewhere sideways, her pupils narrowing a lot - "of course it is, he hasn't completed Lacus' book yet."]]

[["Agh, this is great," Noren said. "Nothing less expected from the lad who outdrank me. I wouldn't change a thing in it! That's the whole charm of newbie ambrosia, imperfect, but lots of love."]]

[[Riveria smiled. "Ice is incomplete, but it's ambrosia, it doesn't need to be perfect to bring joy."]]

[[Leum smiled. "Tell Ian to snipe Riveria with ice spears, she'll shoot back properly made ones, he's the type who learns well by feeling things with his body. But that's being nitpicky, I'd happily drink it anytime, ambrosia doesn't need to be perfect."]]

[["Amusing!" Gertrude, the dragon with reddish-gold hair said, her eyes sparkling over. "I'd gladly buy a barrel of this."

"This is his first one, he's looking for advice on improving." Bermont's voice sounded different inside.

"What a silly person, ambrosia doesn't need to be perfect," Gertrude said. "If he's set on improving, tell him to make more, trade it for other ambrosia of all kinds and drink it. Ambrosia needs to match the maker's taste, not other people's tastes."]]