Rose squinted a bit, trying to see the ocelot in the back of the enclosure. She was just barely able to spot him, and she had no idea where the other one was. She probably wouldn't be able to find the female if she tried.

"And... Ah ha! There she is." He pointed up to a perch mid-way up the tree, where the cat's head could be seen peeking out to look at them curiously.

"She's beautiful," Rose murmured as he pointed the cat out to her. She never would have been able to spot the ocelot on her own, the cat was too well-hidden.

The cat got up suddenly and jumped down from her perch, looking at them before flicking her tail in dismissal and moving away to find a better hiding spot. Damien laughed quietly.

Rose blinked.

"I take it she's something of a diva," she commented. The gesture from the cat struck her as a very spoiled, stuck-up move.

"Very much so. She also doesn't like us humans, as we're below her and exist solely to serve her." Damien rolled his eyes. "The male is much more laid-back."

"So she pretty much just puts up with you because you have the opposable thumbs," Rose said. "Sounds like my dad's crotchety old cat."

"Yes. And because I feed her." Damien shook his head. "She's the only one like this, though. Most of the others are much better. Once or twice I've gone into all of the cages with them, just to see. Most of them like me." He grinned suddenly. "It was fun."

Rose shook her head.

"I doubt I would ever be able to just walk into the same enclosed space as a creature that could drop down on me from above and open me up with it's claws," she said. She had a deep respect for anything that kill her without even thinking about it.

"Well I didn't exactly just walk in. I gave them warning, tested to see how they reacted as I got close to their cage, opened the door, things like that. I made sure they weren't likely to kill me the instant I walked in."

"Still," Rose replied, "I don't think I'd ever be that comfortable doing that."

"i'm one of the few that does, so you can just call me crazy." Damien shot her a smile, a little amused.

Rose grinned.

"Alright," she said, "you're crazy." She couldn't resist that one.

Damien laughed quietly. "Well then I'm happy insane." He grinned broadly.

Rose couldn't help but smile, too. His grin was infectious.

Damien chuckled and stretched a little. "Well, would you like to grab some food? It's about meal time, for me anyway."

"Sure," Rose agreed. She was getting a bit hungry herself. "You would know better than me what all's around here."

"Well, we have a little Mexican place over there, then the normal burgers and hot dogs and sandwiches up by the front," Damien said, looking around. "A few ice cream places, the little snack stands, and up at the other end we have a sit-down place that serves some Italian and some other things."

"It's up to you," Rose said. "You're the one who has to get back to work at some point." She didn't want to make him late or anything.

"This is most of what I do every day, plus some cleaning and feeding later on," Damien said with a shrug. "But come on. Let's go to the Mexican place. Maybe we can get Sera and I can see if our vet friend is around."

"Sounds like a plan to me," Rose replied. She felt bad about leaving Sera out, so getting lunch together sounded good.

Damien nodded and started walking over towards the little restaurant, pulling out his cell phone to test Taylor. Hey, you want to come grab lunch with myself and the two young ladies we met the other night?

Taylor was just sitting in his office going through some paperwork. It was one of those rare days where he was absolutely bored out of his mind, so he literally jumped on his phone when the message came in.

The distraction sounds wonderful.

Rose took out her phone to text Sera. She's lost track of her friend again, though she figured that Sera had gone to see something cute and furry.

Feel like getting some lunch? Damien is going to see if he can find that guy from the other night, the one you were making eyes at. Rose couldn't resist that tease.

We're over at the mini-Mexican place. Sera is supposed to meet up with us over here, Damien texted back. So you can make a pass at her. He grinned as he sent the message.

Oh like you're not making eyes at Damien, Sera shot right back. I'll meet you over there if you tell me where you are.

You know me too well, Taylor replied as he set his paperwork aside and stood up from his desk.

Hush, you, Rose sent back. We're going to meet at the little Mexican place.