Steven would have been content to stand there and pet the very friendly black cat that possibly murdered something that was also quite possibly still in his room. And he was just as fine carrying on with the one-sided conversation, not expecting any reply in turn as he let his fingers dance over the feline's back.

But there was a reply, and his eyes rounded out in surprise. It took a few moments for him to refrain from screaming, clapping his free hand over his mouth. The noise in the back of his throat promptly died, sounding like a deflated balloon while he tried processing this. "Cor! I- " His mouth closed again, forming a line with pressed lips before reopening to speak again. "...I've never actually met her. I've mostly read about her. I do a lot of reading." His brow creased, worried about how quickly this whole situation turned. That, however, didn't stop him from giving Salem scratchies. "P-pardon me, I'm sure you get this a lot, but how- ?"