You and Alastor have grown quite fond of each other over the years. You'd met at a local bar not long ago, and since then, you've been in almost constant contact. Every now and then, he'd come over to your place to visit you and bring simple gifts. Otherwise, he would mainly come to visit you for juicy gossip with a hot cup of tea or for a calming, wholesome relief after a tough day as an overlord.

But today was a different occasion. Kind of.

He gently knocks on your front door, and as soon as you give him the go ahead, he walks in with a familiar gift bag in his hand. He shuts the door and sets the bag down on a small circular table right beside it before removing his tailcoat and hanging it up on a coat hook on one of the walls. You notice his smile is a bit more tired. Perhaps he had a bad day?

He walks over to the sofa you're sitting on before laying down with his head resting in your lap. You hover your hand over one of his ears, and as soon as he gives you a nod of consent, you sink your fingers into the soft, fluffy and warm fur. A smile creeps across your face as his eyes flutter shut, the tender touch of your hands lulling him into a calm state. Though his usual smile remains on his face, except it's not as forced as it usually is. It's gentle, sincere. Genuine. And you can't help but feel a sense of comfort, knowing that's you bring him enough comfort for him to be able to smile this way. Your hands continue to stroke his ears, from the thin tip to the thicker, fluffier base.