His cat was the best cat
Silverwing013
Summary:
This cat began as an attempt to sway Daniel and Madeline. To look good. A rich man creating a certain and very pretty picture.
But she ended up being quite something. And Vlad grew quite attached. He even cast aside his current plot so he could gain her forgiveness and give her entertainment.
For SapphireShield.
Prompt:
Vlad goes to absurd lengths to spoil his cat.
It'd been a joke, but a common one and Vlad could listen.
So he bought a cat. Kitten. An overgrown kitten. Close enough to an adult where Vlad didn't have to fuss with any issues.
Proving he could listen. And wasn't it a nice thing? To have a pet in a family?
And as far as cats went, they were independent creatures. Which Vlad appreciated. They needed far less attention than some disgusting slobbering dog.
It ought to be a proper one, fitting to its new family. So of course he purchased a liberal amount of items and the best out there. As well as a personalized leather black collar from Versace. Looked dashing resting against the white fur.
Very matching. Image was important.
After all, owning a cat also made him appear more relatable to the public and he was the mayor of Amity Park.
It, of course, had to be the best.
Vlad procured and created various puzzle apparatuses for the creature. And was pleased to find it was quite clever. Quick to figure them out.
Exploring it's new home, he noticed it seemed to favor spending most of its time in the lab area.
Smart and clever. Drawn to science. And it was a gorgeous young cat.
Quite like...
Vlad sat on the end of his bed, looking at the cat curled upon a pillow.
"That's it. Let's call you Maddie, hm?"
And much like it's namesake of the wonderful Madeline, the cat twitched its tail at him and leapt off of Vlad's bed, choosing to be elsewhere.
It shouldn't be that difficult to win over a cat.
If he could win over the cat, then he could win over Madeline too. Not only Daniel. With Daniel, this could show he could listen to the boy and perhaps get the willful child to listen to him in return. With Madeline, show a sensitive and caring side in tending to a creature. It was a good and time proven method for a reason.
That he wasn't cold hearted as she thought in wanting her and wishing her husband was dead.
Besides. If the cat didn't help Vlad, he could just get rid of it. Right.
Then again, he did just decide to name it Maddie since it resembled Madeline...
And she deserved the best.
He was the best.
Definitely better than Jack Fenton.
He'll just keep with saying it was his sister's cat he was looking after. In case this did not pan out. And Daniel had given him such flack over Danielle's name. As if the boy was one to talk.
Winning over this cat was more difficult than Vlad thought it would be.
Right now, Maddie the cat was choosing to ignore him and the toy he'd bought for her. Vlad waggled it, trying to tempt her. Come on! He had not bought all these toys to be ignored! But she kept her gaze locked upon the door to the room.
Clicking his tongue, Vlad shifted closer, flicking his wrist again.
Maddie sprinted off and pounced. Onto a little black speck? Vlad leaned and saw that Maddie had captured and killed a bug.
Fierce. Precise. Deadly effective. With focus to be admired.
More living up to her namesake.
Shame Maddie didn't have more fitting prey in his mansion in how clean he kept it.
Lifting up a phone, he made a call and received a delivery of several rats within minutes.
"Hey Maddie. Allow me to help you hone those skills. Hm? You'll like this. Here kitty, kitty. Maddie get back here!"
Hunkering low, ears flattening, she took off and under his office bureau. He had to get down on the floor to look at her. Growling at him.
"I bought you a gift. You should appreciate these things. I can do you much better than a bug."
Reaching intangibly into the box, Vlad pulled out a single gray rat. Maddie's eyes went large, attention on the offering. Vlad smirked and reached under with his other hand, drawing Maddie back out without getting clawed.
"See? I know what you like and can give you the best." He lowered Maddie and the rat to the floor, letting go of the rat first. "There you are. Enjoy Maddie."
As soon as he let go, Maddie gave chase and wanting to see how well she did, Vlad flew after to watch.
The rat didn't stand a chance, he thought proudly.
Hm. It didn't matter as the personality shone through and Maddie was the best, but best to take care of those sellers. No one treated Vlad a fool. Lying over her breeding lineage? Trimming her long luscious fur and dying it? Tut tut.
"They don't know who they messed with, do they Maddie? Shall we show them? Hm?"
Maddie yawned and battered their fake breeding paperwork to the floor.
"Ah yes. That's an excellent idea."
"I said I was sorry. Don't worry, Vortex has been taken care of. Maddie. Come on. We were doing so well before."
Cantankerous and grumpy, Maddie finally turned her head. Her ears lifting. Whiskers still looking a bit too fried.
"See? Let me pamper you. I've got your favorite brush."
Tilting her head, her eyes latched onto it. And then she rubbed her face against it and along it and then butted her head into his hand.
Delighted, Vlad set the brush down and gave her the affection she wanted from him. He worked his way down and grinned as she flopped, allowing him access to her stomach. This was the best they'd been in days after the incident with the spectral barometer he'd used on Vortex ricocheted to hit her.
"Well come here then."
Picking her up, Maddie stayed limp and allowed it. "Such a good kitty. Is all forgiven? I would never hurt you on purpose. Never. That was all on that other guy. And I know you can handle yourself. Yes you can."
"Uh, sir?"
Vlad paused in rubbing against Maddie, nose still pressed to the cat's stomach as he held Maddie up in midair.
Caught.
"What, Skulker?" He snapped.
Yowling, Maddie the cat took a swipe at his face and leapt away. Darting up to the desk beneath the window. Sitting primly, tail lashing around her as she glared across the room.
"Now look what you've done. And it'd been going so well today too..."
"Right." The ghost in the tech suit didn't look at all moved or entertained, more like he was questioning Vlad's position of being in charge. "You told me to come by for my next assignment. A good hunt was promised. Not me watching you fawn over some silly cat."
Vlad slowly grinned.
A short time later he had a bird's eye view of Maddie proving she could hold her own against ghosts and Skulker learning his place below Maddie.
Ah yes. His cat was the best cat.
"Good job Maddie." He petted and praised her. "But let's try not to eat this one."
"This one?! What other ghosts have you tormented with your cat?!" Skulker squeakily screeched out as he flailed, attempting and failing to get his tiny body free from Maddie's clutches.
Vlad merely smiled, extremely pleased, and scratched Maddie under her chin. Ignoring Skulker's struggles. The ghost wiggled even more and Vlad removed his hand before Skulker could grasp a hold to use it as leverage free.
"Ah, ah. Skulker. You know the importance between a hunter and their prey. You know your place here. Pity Maddie cannot be larger, hm? Well. There is an idea. Now that the promised good hunt is complete, I need you to begin making a suit for Maddie. Once and if you can get free from her clutches. Ta."
Author Notes:
So. Uh. This marks a second time I've had a cat torment Skulker. Hahaha. Sorry Skulker. I find it hilarious.
A sorta continuation with Say hello to my new hunting buddy.