#ccsemberclub

"The club is closing down." She says, with a somber look.

"Oh darn, don't worry hon, it'll open up again"

"Drat, I thought maybe the furnishings would be on discount."

She sits on a stool and slowly spins in a circle. Wheee.

"She wants to help clean up, Miss CC."

"Oh? ' CC ponders "Part time or full? "

"Part time, but I shall use my whole attention, or as near as I can manage? It is ever so boring to be rich."

"Ah, you're bored"

"Must I be, to wish to hunt?" Her tail swishes. "Or perhaps I am hungry. Or I know the joy of the chase."

"Why don't you ladies take a seat and I'll finish closing out and locking up." he offers as the staff is ready to be checked out and depart.

"I can keep it?" Delighted, she spins around on her stool once more.

Stodgepole makes quick work of dismissing the staff, locking the doors and bolting them, and then he returns.

CC takes her seat

And she smiles "You're welcome to visit "

"My name should be on it, so that others know it is my own." A grin.

"Oh sorry, no " A chuckle

"Indeed, that is a step too far; the Ember Club is CC's." Stodgepole insists firmly.

"It isn't a step at all, it is a seat." She reasons.

"I think she's poking the bear, so to speak, darling" A chuckle

"Which has it's place."

"You are willing to bear with me, which is saying much. Even mine own sister dear has locked the door to the basement." A pout.

"Oh dear. Im sorry"

"Are memories so short, then?"

A curious tilt of her head.

"You seemed tight"

"If she did not wish me to read her thoughts, then she should't have written them down."

"Oh dear, the diary borrow trick. Well, you brought that one on yourself dear"

".... by getting caught."

Ahem but a nod

"And if I got caught, at least she would give me her attention? But alas, she shut me away, a greater punishment than any sisterly slap." A sulk.

"Ah." an understanding.

"Father and Mother are playing at house. I am tired of the simply game. Do you have any other here? Cards, dice, parcheesi?"

"Games can be made sometimes"

"How do you feel about chess? Too serious?"

She considers. "I do not wish to be a pawn. A cat should be a queen, but that sounds like an awful lot of work. Perhaps I may be one of the little horsies, they move in unexpected ways."

Stodgepole makes an equivocating nod from side to side with his head. "Well. To answer your question no. We don't have any games here. But it might be that I could overhear the names of someone, or someones, who do."

She claps her hands in delight. "How marvelous."

"It will take a few days."

"I can wait. I am endlessly patient."

She has found the jar of cherries for drinks. Yum!

"Mmm out of house and home" Amused

"If I were a duck, you could put it on my bill." She says with a smile. "Alas, good Master Card will have to cover my expenses."

He waves that away. "We'll come to an agreement on such matters."

"Rightly so!" She tries a pearl onion, makes a face.

"Okay okay. " A chuckle "Tell me, dear do you sing or dance ..well that is?"

She considers this question. "As well as the actors in the 2019 Cats, but not as well as those from the original Broadway?"

"Oh" A nod "Well, I've seen worse."

"Indeed?" an eyebrow, dubious.

"Sing something for us, or dance as you like" CC suggests

Stodgepole settles back to watch.