“Let’s say…18 inches in head-to-body length and 9.1-9.8 inches in height. Looks all good…skeleton I’ve double checked. Strictly adhere to cat anatomy and should allow maximum mobility and balance… What’s next…For claws we have four, each with toes…”

The workroom is dark, filled with rusty smell. Bunch of wrenches, nails and tin lay around the corner, spread out messily like they’ve been turned over. Dark as it is, something in his hands reflects absurd glow, sending chills down his spine.

He looks at the paints, and shakes his head. “Nah let’s not bother. I’ll go with iron gray.”

He solemly cup those pearls, delicately clutch them with thumb and index finger. The glass clicks in the place, sending out a crisp “Ding”.

He waits.

Slowly and subtly, the pearls move. Spectral lights shine out of the eye bucket of - the cat. Domestic, love to be with you, never abandon you. When you return home, your hearts “melt” when you see cats, the book says.

He wants to try that, to see what that even means.

The cat stares at him.

They are confronting each other, not sure of the first move.

The cat moves close to him. He waits in silence.

The iron gray circles elegantly around his ankle, purring out its satisfaction. He feels the iron heating up by his own skin.

He smiles, quietly greeting it. “Hi.”

The cat cheerfully answers him. “Meow.”