LIVE FAST AND DIE YOUNG / o, collapse

ROSEMARY ROUX

Not much time at all passes before more members gather to see her tired niece, and she appreciates that they seem as concerned as she is. She glances at Lucifer in slight surprise at his offer, though; she never quite expected men to sign up for caregiver roles, but she wouldn't complain if the guardian wanted to protect Goldie. Turning her attention back to the bashful kitten, her heart jerking as the usually cheerful girl turns sullen. Rosemary fights off the urge to back off; their reprimands weren't harsh at all, and a smidgen of harsh truth is kind in moderation. "Everyone needs sleep, Goldie," she murmurs softly, but the ocelot can't think of anything more to add after everything the others spoke.

She turns to her satchel, rummaging her paws around its contents, as Coldblue steps in beside her. Smiling softly as she hears his words to Goldie, Rosemary wonders - for the first time in her life - whether she missed anything by not having any brothers or uncles or male cousins. The thought vanishes as she pulls out a two small tins of dried poppy; more than enough for a month's worth of tea each, despite their small size. Sliding one to Goldie and the other to Coldblue, she speaks, "You put a teaspoon of this in a small cup of boiling water, then you let it seep for five minutes. Once that's done, remove the leaves and let the water cool before drinking it." She's made tea for Goldie before, and she is almost certain the two of them might've seen her make tea a few times. Still, some basic instructions can't hurt anyone.

© MADI