[Level 16, Stormwind City]

The chapel proved to provide no haven, as it was filled with soldiers talking of grand plans to kill and conquer. Disgusted, Victorie quietly returned to the city. Here, she sought refuge in simple tasks, like a visit to her storage locker and a tradesman, who gave her a few silvers in exchange for some odds and ends she'd collected in her travels. She had very little money and it was getting difficult to scrape together enough for beds and meals. Slipping through the busy streets, Victorie roamed about the city, frustration and desperation mounting high. In her misery, she spied a small boy walking near the river, a little white kitten following at his heels. Victorie's depression lifted at the sight, and she ran ahead lightly to catch up with the kitten.

 

As Victorie knelt to pet the kitten, she heard the boy say, "I can't believe they won't let me keep your sister." Victorie looked up from her fascination with the kitten's soft fur and peered closely at the boy. "You can't keep this sweet little cat? But what will you do with her?" she asked. The boy said nothing, but stared at the river behind her. Victorie turned to look at the deep river, confused for a moment, then comprehension dawning. "No, no, nothing but that. I will take her! I will keep her safe." The boy simply smiled and said he'd need 54 silver for the kitten. Victorie eagerly counted her coins, realizing she only had 54 silver and 51 copper to her name. Without hesitation, she gave the boy nearly everything she had. He silently gave her a little cat carrier and walked off, the coins jingling loudly in his pocket. 

 

Victorie looked at the cat carrier in her hand, and then down at the little kitten at her feet. "We don't need this silly box for you," she said softly to the cat. She set the carrier down by the side of the road, already forgotten, and resumed her affectionate petting of the kitten. "I will keep you safe, little one," she crooned to the kitten, who purred loudly in response. "Would you like to be my friend?"

Happy sweet 16, Victorie! Between exploration of Tirisfal Glades and Silverpine Forest last night, and a couple new quests in Redridge this morning, she's made it to 16! I went back to the city to train, nearly depleting all the gold I had. Then as I'm running through the city, just crossing over the bridge from Old Town into the Dwarven District, I spy Timmy with his little white kitten following him. And, sure enough, he has the White Kitten for sale! Amazing ... in all the time I've been playing, I've yet to see Timmy with his kitten still available. I even tried waiting for him by the flower shop a few times last year. The funny thing is that moments before I'd just been thinking of Timmy and his little kitten, and how much Victorie would like that kitten, knowing her interest in little animals. Then, bam, there he is in front of her. But, there is a problem ... Victorie has just over 54 silver and the cat is exactly 54 silver. I can just barely afford him, but if I do that, I will have virtually no money left. What would Victorie do? She'd "rescue" the kitten. So I bought it and now I'm broke. But at least I can say that I stayed in character! Time for more mining! As a side note, I just checked the auction house and I could sell that kitten for at least 30 gold, which sure would help Victorie. But I won't, because she wouldn't. So now Victorie has a pet!

This random encounter with Timmy and the kitten make me realize how Victorie's character is coming into focus without my setting a clear definition of it in the start. She is proving to be incredibly naive and rather sweet, but also overly emotional and terribly stubborn. Interesting. I usually prefer the roleplay the strong, independent type. But I will go with it and see where it leads.