"At least you've kept a photo? If I'd had a chance to bottle up something like that when I was a boy, I would have done it in a heartbeat, and damn the consequences." He snags another cookie before he settles back again. "I'm... not certain if I should ask...? I don't want to bring up an unpleasant topic..."

Slinking under her chair, the cat sniffs delicately at her ankle.