One of my favorite conceits is when an older character who seems harmless ends up a lot sharper and more aware than they seem to be. Another is that animals know best whether a person is worthwhile.
I worked both into this one.
Just for me.
.
The most venerable member of the St. Vincent family was an ancient ragdoll cat named The Duke, and he came shuffling into the living room just as gifts were being handed out to the children. As soon as The Duke saw Kisara, he perked up like a kitten and leaped into her lap, chirping and rubbing against her chin and purring so loudly that he sounded like an idling car; generally, he was making an absolute scene of it.
"Oh, good morning, Your Grace," said Kisara, scratching the old cat behind the ears. Tears welled up in her eyes; Mokuba and Noa shared a glance and smiled at the same time. "Look at you, so distinguished, yes, absolutely dashing."
Kisara's grandmother, still maintaining an animated conversation with Mokuba about the history of different animation studios—she was currently extolling the historic achievements of Don Bluth—pointed at the display and declared:
"We adopted him for Kay's brother, Rhett. He couldn't make it this year, poor darling. So busy. But you know how animals are. They pick their humans, and sometimes you just have to go right along with it."
Mokuba nodded; he actually didn't know—as he'd yet to decide what kind of pet he wanted, or even if he wanted one—but he knew when best to just ride the tide of a conversation.
They all watched as Henry stepped back into the house, Seto behind him, and there was a question hanging low in the air: how would the rest of the day go? Would Seto make an enemy today? Had he already made one? Mokuba had never been all that attached to Christmas as a holiday, but he hoped for Kisara's sake, and for the other kids in the house, that Seto had succeeded.
Henry cleared his throat. "Zelda?" he called, quietly. His wife stood up immediately; she seemed to understand something important was afoot. "Kay?" Kisara went stiff. "Could you come with me, please? I, ah . . . think we should have a family meeting right quick."
Mokuba prided himself on his ability to read people, especially adults, but Henry St. Vincent was guarded right now. It was impossible to glean anything from his face or his voice; he gave his eldest daughter a quick nod as Kisara set The Duke down on the couch beside her and stood up. She walked with her parents like a prisoner to the gallows, and the three of them stepped outside.
As she passed Seto, he laid a hand on her shoulder.
Seto sat down, near where Kisara had staked her claim to the room and held out a hand for The Duke to appraise. The old cat padded over to investigate this new person, sniffing animatedly. Seto watched this carefully, treating this meeting with just as much gravity as he had all the others in this house.
Kisara's grandfather spoke up. "Kay came here today to finally tell her mama and her daddy what they need to hear, didn't she?" He clicked a domino onto the table and smirked at Noa's distressed face; he'd been trying to win that time, and most definitively hadn't.
The man's eyes were clear, sharp, and locked on Seto. Mokuba couldn't help but smile.
"With luck," Seto said, "that won't be necessary. I hope for there to be a peaceful resolution to all this."
"You went out there to soften him up for her, didn't you?" Kisara's grandmother asked.
Seto tilted his head. "Am I so obvious?"
"You boys," she said, gesturing not just to Seto but to Mokuba and Noa as well, "walked into this house with tactical precision. I know an operation when I see one." She sat back in her chair and settled her hands in her lap. "I'm not condemning it one bit. I can tell you're not new to this. Good for you. And good for Kay-bear. She's lucky to have you."
Seto smirked. "We take care of your own."
The Duke settled onto the eldest Kaiba's lap and promptly fell asleep.