[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/z6cC6JC.png[/img]

[b]&

[h1]Kimble[/h1][/b][/center]

It was another day for the city of Penrose. Relatively pleasant in atmosphere, though light flurries of snow fell to the ground as winter continued to grip the city. But it certainly could have been worse.

In Beacon HQ things remained busy. Girls trained, hung out, ate food, and enjoyed the luxuries that the HQ could provide while the city was still in such a rough state. Many did not want to be alone in a time like this, so Beacon had turned to providing temporary housing for its members to give them some companionship.

Through it all moved Alicia. She didn’t necessarily need to, but she wanted to. No doubt she would have been told if there were any issues. But after being gone so long she wanted to reassure those who were still nervous about her and suspected heresy.

So she walked through the main common areas, stopping to chat with Beacon members both new and old. They talked about how things were going, if any supplies were needed, caught up on the newest movies and tv shows, and a whole host of other topics. It was time well spent, before she had to turn to the business of administration. 

Sure, some of the Ascendancy members might still be cold, but she liked to think she was at least recovering some ground and some trust with it. So she hummed as she walked along, headed to her next destination.

Along the way, she heard movement behind her, and spotted Kimble; she was following behind, attempting to stay hidden from her. "Ah!" She meekly walked up to Alicia, smiling nervously. "Sorry, nya. I know Mistress is very busy and shouldn't be bothered. Still, I wanted to see you." Alicia noticed that at first glance the former catgirl seemed to have her bestial qualities back, but it was just an illusion brought by Sylvia's technical feats; she wore a cat-eared headband that perfectly camouflaged into her hair, and a robotic pair of tails that were attached to a belt concealed under her jacket. "Please don't be myad."

Glancing back out of the corner of her eye, Alicia nearly missed it as Kimble flickered in and out of sight. She didn’t know what the girl was doing, but played along with it for a bit longer until it had become obvious that she had been spotted. 

But it soon came to an end, Alicia smiling as Kimble approached. Her eyes flashed for a moment, Third Eye identifying the magic and its source. [color=aba000]”It’s fine,”[/color] she assured Kimble with a dismissive wave. [color=aba000]”This is kinda off time for me anyway. So I’m not actually that busy.”[/color]

Smiling, she patted Kimble on the head. [color=aba000]”So, how’s it going? Are you having some trouble adjusting after using the White Coin?”[/color]

Kimble's eyes brightened and her mouth opened from sheer joy. "Really? How nyanderful!" She purred upon receiving the head pat, and the headband-mounted ears flicked, imitating real ears.
Afterwards she gave a loving cat smile to Alicia. She nodded, looking a bit unsure. "A bit. It's a big change, nyeh. But Sylvia's gifts help a lot!" Her tails whipped behind her. "They help me relax, though the meanies stare at them."

There was something inherently cute about the way the fake ears moved, almost as if they were imitating the real deal. Just as Sylvia had promised, she could get up to a lot more when she didn’t have to also worry about running the place. 

[color=aba000]”Oh? What else has changed?”[/color] she asked. [color=aba000]”Or is it just the lack of a tail throwing off your balance?”[/color]

Kimble swayed from side to side. “Nhh, a bit, but it’s not that bad. I have very good balanyance!”
To demonstrate, she backflipped into a handstand, and then another backflip into a perfect landing. “What really changed is losing the sniffing skill!” She sniffed the air. “Nyaw I can’t smell Mistress’ scent unless I’m this close.” She came closer to Alicia, continuing her little sniffs. “But people don’t like it if you smell them this close.” She averted her eyes, and stepped away. “Um, Mistress...” She looked like she had something to say, but lacked the courage for it.

[color=aba000]”Well, I guess trade offs are to be expected,”[/color] Alicia noted. Kimble would earn short applause for her display before things returned to normal. Kimble’s hesitation was noticed, yet it seemed as though she was struggling to say whatever it was that was on her mind. 

Because of that Alicia decided to go first. [color=aba000]”Well, I’m glad to hear you’re doing better. Especially after how the Ascendancy treated you.”[/color] She knew that they felt like they had a reason, but it could only come off as excessive in her eyes. Not that that was new when it came to that organization. [color=aba000]”You shouldn’t have had to go through that.”[/color]

“Nhh,  it’s okay. As long as I can be with Mistress, all my sadness flies away.” She looked up at Alicia. “Mistress, could I ask you...” She took a deep breath. “...On a...nh...date?” She bit her lip, and took one of her tails in her hands. “I mean, if you’re not busy this week.”

It would be a lie to say Alicia had not totally been expecting a question such as this. She knew Kimble’s feelings after all. And after what Penny had said to her a few days ago she was more committed to carrying out that discovery. She’d just been busy with trying to get settled after the long absence. 

[color=aba000]”Sure,”[/color] she agreed with a smile. [color=aba000]”As long as you promise to try and use my name rather than ‘Mistress’ while we’re on the date. Okay?”[/color] That would have implied things about her relationship with Kimble that she didn’t want normal people to think. Besides, it might be useful practice.

Kimble was about to yell out a great cheer upon hearing her positive answer when she heard the condition for it, causing her to stifle it with hands on her mouth. “Mmmph!” She attempted speaking, blinked upon realizing her hands blocked her voice, and lowered them.
“But Mistr-!” She made a cute squeak as she caught herself. “Nhh...Okay, I promise, nya. I’ll do anything for you. So when do you want to go?” She asked, bouncing in place. “And what do you want to do, nya?”

Well, Alicia wasn’t expecting perfection off this first time. But at least Kimble was willing to try. That was good enough. Now she just needed to think of something for them to do. 

After a bit of thinking she presented an idea. [color=aba000]”I know an arts and crafts place in town. If it’s not closed we could do some painting?”[/color] That might be fun. And it was probably safer than going to a haunted house, since there was probably an actual ghost at whatever one they ended up choosing.

“Painting?” Kimble’s ears flicked up in surprise, a curious look in her face. “I’ve never done it before, but with Mhh-Alicia, I bet it’s going to be fun!”

[hr]
Later, after Alicia was done with work for the day, she and Kimble went to the crafting shop to do some painting, the latter having removed her cat accessories and untransformed, looking like her usual self. Kimble first wanted to paint a portrait of Alicia, but the shopkeeper managed to persuade her to go for a still life painting, and placed a bowl of fruits on a stool for her to capture into art.
Kimble got into the painting activity fast, constantly moving her head back and forth between the canvas and the fruit bowl. “I’m gonna paint the best painting ever, and give it to Mis-NHHH!” She grit her teeth. “-to Alicia!” Despite her troubles though, Kimble had held on to her promise, showing how much value she put into Alicia’s trust in her.

Inside the crafts shop, Alicia was also engaged in painting. For her it was a modestly sized vase of flowers, to contrast with the fruit bowl that Kimble was currently working on. It was nice to do, relaxing in a way. And beyond her own efforts she was impressed by how well Kimble was keeping up with her promise. 

Glancing over at her companion, Alicia flashed her a warm look. [color=aba000]”So, Kimble, did you have any sorts of hobbies or interests before that period under Justine?”[/color] She had said she wanted to get to know Kimble better, and now it was time to do just that. 

Kimble drew her lips in her mouth as she thought for an answer. “Nhh...I do like knitting, especially with big balls of yarn! And I like gardening, because you can grow pretty flowers and catnip! I tend to sleep late on Mondays...I hate Mondays, nya.” The shopkeep raised an eyebrow at the verbal tic, and Kimble was startled, quickly correcting herself. “It’s a joke from Garfield, he’s a cat you see, so I added that in!” The shopkeep seemed to doubt the excuse, but decided not to inquire further on it. Kimble made sure they weren’t looking in her direction, and quietly sighed in relief. “Anyway, I did all kinds of things when I was with Mama Lamashtu. She seemed so fond of me...” She frowned, looking quite sad. “...So why did she abandon me when Justine came?”

[color=aba000]”Huh. Gardening I can see, but I wouldn’t have expected knitting,”[/color] Alicia admitted as she paused her painting to think about it. There was a slight interruption from the person managing the shop, but they soon went on their way and allowed the girls to converse once more. 

As Kimble’s regrets swelled, Alicia couldn’t help but inquire further. [color=aba000]”She was your Patron? Or a fellow magical girl?”[/color] she asked. She suspected the former, though it was not impossible that it was a different answer.

“Mama Lamashtu is...Well, my mother,” she answered, glancing in the shopkeeper's direction. “She’s given me so much, and I was really happy to be with her. But, stuff you know happened, and I never heard from her again. She couldn’t have just forgotten me, n-now did she?” She said, suppressing her vocal tic. “Because if she did, she’d be a bad Mama.”

Alicia’s expression shifted towards a frown as Kimble related what happened. It certainly looked that way, but she didn’t want to ruin the happy memories that Kimble had of that time. There would be no point in doing so. 

[color=aba000]”Well, I wasn’t there so I can’t say for sure,”[/color] she conceded as her brush lightly worked over curves and edges of the painting. [color=aba000]”It could be that she didn’t have the power to match up against Justine and her Patron. Maybe she thought you were dead.”[/color] There were reasons, though it was pure speculation at this point..

Then she looked over to Kimble again. [color=aba000]”Have you thought about trying to find her to get answers?”[/color]

Kimble shook her head in response. "Not really. Mama was nice, but...She was often distant, and never cared so deeply. But you do. I've never been happier than when I've been with you...Alicia." Her lips curled into a smile, having succeeded in getting over her mannerisms. "I want to stay with you, no matter what."

Hearing Kimble’s reluctance, Alicia nodded as she finished up the segment of the painting that she had been working on. The brush dropped slightly in her grip as she was confronted by that warm smile. [color=aba000]”I can’t imagine what it’s like, being abandoned by your patron. And that sort of devotion, I’m not sure that I deserve it.”[/color] 

Turning, she placed a hand on Kimble’s shoulder. [color=aba000]”Still, I’ll do my best to live up to your expectations. There’s plenty of years ahead for the both of us.”[/color]

Kimble nodded, a cat smile on her face as she slightly leaned her face against Alicia’s hand. “We sure do! And I’ll do my best to be the best pet you’ve ever had!” Once again the shopkeeper raised an eyebrow. Once again, the former catgirl was fast to react. “A pal! Ah, I accidentally said the wrong thing, sorry.” Kimble excused herself with an awkward smile, and once again she sighed in relief when the moment passed.

Well, at this point convincing the shopkeeper that they weren’t weirdos was probably out of the cards. [color=aba000]”I still think I’d prefer a pal to a pet anyway,”[/color] she admitted.

Returning to her painting, a thought did occur to her. It would have been hard to forget, given the vitriol with which it had been said. [color=aba000]”Actually Kimble, do you remember Mika? That girl from the tournament with the shapeshifting powers? Did you do something to her after that event was over?”[/color] It seemed uncharacteristic for her companion, but it was best to ask and make sure first.

“Uh-huh,” Kimble nodded her head, and followed it up by leaning her head to the side, looking puzzled. “No, why do you ask?”

[color=aba000]”I ran into her while I was at Brittany’s shop to buy some things. She got really in my face about some ridiculous conspiracy about how we were plotting to ruin her life, and she mentioned you specifically,”[/color] Alicia explained with a shrug. She was just as clueless now as she had been back at that time. 

Clearly that girl had problems.

Kimble's expression turned into a sad one. “Oh...I’d never do that...Unless they tried to hurt you,” she mumbled the last part to herself.

[color=aba000]”I didn’t think so. But since we’re here I figured I’d check,”[/color] Alicia assured her. She didn’t mention the rest of the exchange, since there was no point in making Kimble paranoid for no reason. 

Having addressed that topic, she tried to steer things back in a more positive direction. [color=aba000]”So, how’s the painting going?”[/color]

“Almost finished!” She turned the painting to show it, and Alicia saw the result: her paint strokes were haphazard and blotchy, similar to a child’s first time attempting to paint. But for it’s faults, it did resemble the fruit bowl on a basic level. “What do you think?”

[color=aba000]”You’re catching on quick,”[/color] Alicia told her with a grin. [color=aba000]”There’s room for improvement, but as long as you’re enjoying yourself it doesn’t matter that much. It’s all about the experience, not the result.”[/color] She was far from an expert personally, though she suspected that Kimble would not see it that way. Her painting was not as rough as Kimble’s was, but there were still plenty of errors, mixed colors, and the like on her own portrait.

“Yeah!” Kimble responded with enthusiasm, and went back to making her painting; she seemed to take Alicia’s words very seriously as she carefully added finishing touches to the work.
It didn’t take long before the both of them were finished. After Alicia paid the shopkeeper, they took the dried paintings, Kimble carrying hers excitedly with arms up in the air, like she was about to go sledding.
“This was a wonderful date, Alicia! Thank you so much for bringing me here!” She hopped up to give a little peck on Alicia’s cheek, giggling a bit afterwards.

Things wrapped up fairly quickly. With her painting dry Alicia paid the shopkeep, and the duo returned to the brisk wintery outdoors with products in hand. She shivered, but found herself buoyed by Kimble’s exuberance. 

[color=aba000]”You’re welcome,”[/color] she replied, picking up a light blush at the swift kiss. [color=aba000]”I said I wanted to get to know you better, so I’m learning. Feel free to interrupt my important work of walking around in the future.”[/color]

Kimble herself also blushed, and used the painting to partially hide her face. "Ok...I will." And so they continued to do from then on.