In reply to Andy Black (msg # 638):

Victoria snugly settled into Andy's lap as she waited for breakfast to be served.

  She smiled, and said "Thank you.  And no, you're fully clothed.  I didn't think we were doing classic nude sculpture."  She stroked his cheek, and he noticed the blood on the sides of her (now retracted) claws.  Clear scabs that were fingernail shaped.  She grinned back at Oswald, and said "Thank you, Grandpa.  It should really help, you loaning us what we need to educate me."

Ozzy had made a LOT of French Toast and sausage, though the reason why would soon be obvious. As he was serving some up to the rest of them, a lot of it found its way to his and Andy's plates, and when the rest had been served, he started to utterly INHALE the food. His appetite had clearly increased since they'd last seen him. Which only made sense, given that he'd darn near doubled in height.

{{You okay, love? Your nails look like they hurt.}}

Oswald continued to sip his tea, already having had breakfast.

  She happily syruped her french toast and began to happily munch on it as she answered {{Remember I did say 'sorta retractile'?  Well, they DO retract.  Watch.}}  She held up one hand, and curled her fingers, extending the claws and then retracting them.  {{But they hadn't fully separated from the nail beds, which is why I get Advil with my breakfast.  I didn't realize they weren't fully, umm, separated, until I ripped them loose retracting them.  And they bled.}}  The tip of her tail went 'swish, swish, swish' across his arm as she nibbled happily too.

Ozzy grinned as she ate happily, enjoying the feel of her tail across his arm. As he ate, though, he frowned and tugged his collar off, saying, "Aww... it IS too tight. I can breathe and all, but every time I swallow, it digs a bit. We probably DO need to get me a belt or something. Luckily, we can probably find a spiked or studded one at Hot Topic, same as we found this collar. I just hope we can fit the tag on there."

  She tipped her head up, leaning against his chest, and said "Well, that, or we could see if we can figure out how to make a bigger one with a velvet lining for you.  I haven't practiced sewing on leather a lot, it takes some heavier duty tools than I've had access to.  But adding a ring to hang a tag from won't be hard.  Most belts aren't lined, so that's something we will have to figure out first, love.  I could braid you a cord to hang it on in the meantime, if you prefer, or make you a necklace chain?"  She stroked her tail lightly up and down his forearm, affectionately caressing.

That brought the grin back to Ozzy's face as he started to gently stroke her head, running his fingers through her hair as he said, "I know that whatever we end up doing, you'll do a good job, love. You seem to have a real talent for making things, that's for certain."

  He saw her ears flick, but couldn't see the blush under the fur.  She said softly "I love your faith in me.  Gives me something to live up to, love."  She squiggled around, until she was sitting more sideways on his lap, and could lean her right side against his chest.  She felt all over silky.  {{Hope you like a fuzzy me, as Grandpa says this is me for the foreseeable future, love.  One catgirl for you!}}

Ozzy grinned and said, "I'm just basing it on what I've seen so far. You've never let me down, love."

{{And I do like the new you. Part of me will always have a soft spot for the old you, but so long as it's YOU in there, I'm not particular to what packaging you come in. Though you are a VERY sexy catgirl, and you feel oh so silky soft against me. I have the feeling that I'm going to enjoy having an enhanced sense of touch even more, now!}}

Oswald couldn't help but chuckle and smile at Ozzy and Clarissa. He had to admit, they made a very cute couple, though that was mostly Clarissa's doing.

  She grinned, and said "I will always do my best for you, my love.  Besides, I can always raid the library and all.  What I don't know, I can find out.  Because there's no WAY that anyone makes clothes that are designed for someone nine feet tall.  Or more."  She gave him another kiss on the chest, that tail of hers still flicking along his arm, up and down, and she wolfed down a sausage as she spoke mentally.  {{I seem to be fuzzy ALL OVER.  So . . . yeah.  I get to be petted all the more!  YAY!}}

Ozzy chuckled and said, "Heh, yeah. I'm still growing, which is crazy. So long as I don't end up Godzilla sized, though, I think I'll be fine."

He continued to stroke his hand through her hair as he thought, {{Indeed you do. Though I may have to worry about hairballs, if you catch my meaning. But, hey, it'll be worth it.}}

  She grinned, nibbling her french toast delicately.  She DID seem to be adapting to her nails having become claws, although he caught her giving them glances every now and then.    {{Going to have to see if I can turn the stuff in those to something other than mutagen.  And I am sure!  Coating me in syrup may not be advisable until we figure out how much I shed.  Or if I do.  Gods know, my tail seems to be a fluffy-plume!  It's like a Persian cat's tail!}}  That tail flicked to stroke his side, then back to his arm, where he didn't have a 'shirt' covering his skin.  He could tell she loved the feel of his hand stroking through her hair.  She'd shiver every now and then.

Ozzy grinned as he watched her eat, still petting her all the while.

{{We can both look into that, love. I know I'd like to be able to use my tail without worrying about making the bad guys stronger. Maybe a paralyzing venom? If I hit in the right spot, my actual stinger wouldn't do all that much permanent damage, I don't think. It's just a REALLY BIG needle.}}

  She nodded, and grinned at him around a sausage as she answered {{Have to look into the spellbooks, love.  I'm SURE there's something that lets a mage change a substance from one thing to another.  Transmutation?  Transformation?  Something like that.  Making one chemical liquid into another has to be easier than lead into gold.}}  She held up her left hand, letting him see the claws, extending them until they were at full length, and he could SEE the pink gems of the sparkling droplets of the mutagen on the sharp, wicked tips of them.

Ozzy said, "Whoah. It's a good thing this stuff doesn't go with itself, I guess, 'cause I know you got me with your claws on accident earlier. Mutating again would not be fun."

He then grinned and let her finish her sausage before he kissed her, saying, "I guess it's a good thing you're with me, huh? Don't have to watch your claws around me. I'm immune to the mutagen, and the wounds will heal right back up."

  She kissed back, and giggled as she told him "Stuff seems to automatically begin to seep when I extend them.  I was lucky to be with you before, love.  That's just an extra good reason to tell other guys to keep their mitts to themselves, or they may be VERY sorry!  Not all girls have the good sense to know the true essence of a man isn't what shows in the mirror, but what lies in his heart.  You're still a hella-sexy beastie though, Ozzy.  BIG hella sexy beastie!"  She grinned, her tail wrapping right around his arm as he held her up high enough to kiss.  She was only half his height standing, sitting down, she was even tinier!!

Ozzy just grinned and said, "Well, if you don't feel like mutating anybody, I could always just smash them for you. It's not like we're ever very far apart for long, love."

Oswald chuckled and said, "So long as you don't kill them, it sounds like an idea."

  Clarissa giggled, and said "Well, the two of us will be a HUGE hit if we go to any Anime Cons, Grandpa.  But I know something else we should do.  Once we visit both our Moms, we need to see if my wings are more than decorative.  And if so, Ozzy, YOU get to teach me to fly."  She considered that a fair requirement!  {{I don't want to mutate anyone, so it is a good plan.  And I love how easily you pick me up!  Makes me feel all dainty and delicate and petite!}}

Ozzy sighed in what was clearly mock exasperation as he said, "Fine, if you insist. I guess I can show you the ropes."

He then grinned and added, "And would we just go as us? I dunno of any costumes we could pull off anymore. We ARE the costumes!"

{{And you ARE dainty and delicate and petite, love. My own sexy little catgirl! You can even ride on my back, now. I do have two good sets of handlebars on my head for you!}}

  She giggled, and said "Well, they're pretty.  But I don't know if I can fly on them yet.  They're long enough to be way awkward if I unfold them in HERE though."  She delicately arched one, slightly, not wanting to whap anyone, and Ozzy could see the almost metallic silver tipping on the primaries and secondaries, with the iridescent quality to the downy inner feathers, and overfeathers that insulated them.  Gorgeous, really.  She said "I could probably make us maid and butler costumes.  We could go as a Maid and her Combat Butler partner?"  Her grin was playful.  {{I like that idea.  I'll just want to watch BOTH sets of claws.  My toenails turned into claws too.  And if I fall out of the sky by accident, I know you'll catch me.}}  Clearly, trusting faithfully in him to catch her should she fall.

Ozzy grinned and lovingly stroked her feathered wings, saying, "They ARE pretty! They go well with the rest of you. White, with that long, lovely black hair on top. And I think we'll make a good pair, so long as we can get a big enough suit for me."

He then blushed, for apparently no reason to those not in on the telepathic side of their conversation, and thought, {{Heh, you know I will. And don't worry too much about it. I'm used to your nails on my back, love. You didn't see the welts you raised before I left for work?}}

  She shivered, her eyes closing as she did, that wing stretching out to prolong that caress as she said "Ooohhhh, and they're sensitive.  That feels really nice."  She grinned, and said "I'm SURE I can get a big enough suit made for you.  The problem is, when are you done GROWING?  You're getting taller, love."  She snagged his horns to tug him close for a hot kiss.  {{I did.  And that was BEFORE I had claws!  I shudder to think what your back might look like should I NOT watch what these wicked things can do!  They're CURVED!  Like a cat's!}}

He grinned and said, "Oh, you like that? I'll have to keep that in mind."

As they kissed, he switched back to stroking her hair as he thought, {{I can take it. It's not like I don't regenerate, love. Benefit of being a mutant, I suppose.}}

He then pulled away as he realized that Grandpa had 'ported back in, having stealthily poofed away while the couples were gazing dreamily into each other's eyes. He returned with a gift card and the teddy bear that had been requested, saying, "These are what you needed, yes?"

  Clarissa looked, and grinned, reaching out to snag Oswald Sr. in a hug as she said "Yes!  Thank you, Grandpa.  My Mom collects the teddy bears, and that one just came out yesterday.  It will tickle her pink."  She grinned happily, still perched on Ozzy's forearm.  Her tail curled happily around his arm.  The other two items, Ozzy's check card and the gift card, she handed to Ozzy.  "Will you forgive us if we run off to get our Mom's their presents, Grandpa?  And again, thank you."

Ozzy grinned and said, "Yeah. Thanks, Grandpa."

Mr. Gysbourne just chuckled and said, "You're welcome. I don't mind helping out. I know it's got to be hard getting around, as big as you are!"

Ozzy shrugged and said, "Eh, only indoors. Speaking of which, I have GOT to get outside! I'm starting to cramp up!"