"I do think it would be pretty hard to transport such hot things safely but perhaps you could make some kind of magical carrying case for them. They'd make great diplomatic gifts, for sure."

That's smart!

"What is, the carrying case or the concept of diplomatic gifts?"

Both but more the first one.

I may have thought of it sometime but I have so many new things to think of.

"You do, you've been busy! I'm really looking forward to seeing what else you come up with."

I think it would be good to learn how to like cats.

"Well, you could get a kitten of your own and I think if you handle them every day and feed them yourself they get to be more the sort of thing one might like."

The one from yesterday or are there others?

"There are always more kittens than anyone wants, though I don't know how many of them are around the castle granary at any given time. They're born in litters, though, so if there was one kitten nobody culled there are probably a few more."

............He said she shouldn't bring that up in casual conversation.  She'll ask later, or not at all.

...he maybe guesses what she's not saying, and he doesn't say it either. "They come in a variety of colors, and some of them are fluffier than others, and stuff like that, they might also have personality differences but I'm not sure how much of that is just upbringing you wouldn't be able to distinguish in kittenhood."

Jane or I can ask if there are more.  Maybe the one I saw would be fine.

"Well, if you didn't like it much maybe try holding a couple more in case one of them obviously suits you better, but sure."

It is going to be soooo many days before she can touch him and nothing is going to help, unless -

Well, she probably shouldn't ask that right now, either.

Can I see you again after this?

"Sure, I can accompany you and Jane back to your room."

Thank you.

...And despite her innovation keeping the chalk dust off her fingers, she really should probably eat more and more quickly than she has been.  Nom.

Cymbeline finishes eating first, but waits for her and walks with them when Jane wheels Cyllene along.

Angled privately, once they get to her room:

Do humans cull cats or do cats?

"Humans do it. If there's too many cats they spread out away from where people want them - they'll go after chicks and goslings instead of mice and rats, for instance, or there'll just be so many it'll be hard to get a minute's peace when you step outside - so when there are more than seems like a useful amount someone will drown some."

....Nod.

Does anyone eat them, then?

"Someone might eat a cat if they were starving, but they aren't popular as food."

Why not?

"Not very tasty, not very big, and when they're as big as they get they're inconvenient to pen and handle if they haven't been raised as pets - especially if you want to have them hunting for their own food - so they'd be trouble to slaughter."

I see.

She erases, and starts writing - hm, on paper - such that even he can't see it until she's done.

I want to like cats because you said it may make wanting to touch you and not being able to less bad.  I have also thought that having baths is very nice and maybe I should give one or some to Jane sometime because I like her and want things to be good for her and also maybe as I would touch a cat?  Or even you?  But I think she may not like it.  Do you know if she would?