Author: Kunichimi, Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2020 12:19 PM, Post Subject: Spiritual Convalescence [P/Event]

There was no worry that came from the feline within her arms as she began walking. Kunichimi continued his soft purr as she swayed to and fro. She was moving with such rhythm that he closed his eyes in contentment. Yes, he could be in her arms for hours. Could she be more than just a soul to comfort? Normally, he was not a house cat, but he felt a connection to her that inspired a deeper longing to stay with her. Almost as if she was his.

With the realization, Kunichimi gave another mew as he repositioned himself so he was stretched along her chest, his nose nuzzling against her earlobe. He wanted to see how she would react to the interaction. He rubbed his cheek against hers momentarily, covering her scent with his own. Then his dry nose would return to nuzzle against her. Still, he kept purring as he was ever so conscious with his claws. Not once did they extend and prick her perfect flesh.

It was far too easy to envision a lazy night before a fire. He would be curled up in her lap, her hand lazily stroking his fur. As she cared for him, he would care for her. No mice would frighten her. Her nights would be guarded, her days full of companionship. Loneliness will be banished, forever to be a distant fuzzy memory, a nightmarish dream to be forgotten. Kunichimi would be the best feline companion anyone had ever seen.

Author: Lady in Black, Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2020 3:24 PM, Post Subject: Spiritual Convalescence [P/Event]

The cat’s purr was music to her ears. It rumbled strongly against her, making her smile grow and grow. And it’s mew—it was so sweet, like it came from a kitten. It pushed into the ear rub. “Do you like that?” She asked with a little bubble of laughter. And, as though to answer her, the feline licked her fingers. She giggled from the ticklish sensation.

Many lifetimes have passed since she’d last had a feline companion. However, she’d had enough to know acts of love and affection. Cats were harder to read than dogs—they were more cunning, cautious, and independent. Cats cared less about the interests of others. Or so it is assumed. While the truth of the matter is that cats can be just as protective, loyal, and loving towards their owners as dogs are. They were simply more careful with where, and whom, to place their trusts. Some cat owners can raise a cat from birth and build an unbreakable bond, while others raise their cats and end up in a love-hate relationship. The latter was more common.

Her hands stroked down the cat’s back as it stood to lick at her chin. Instinctively, she drew her lips in tightly to prevent them from being caught by the rough little tongue. For whatever reason, the cat had taken quite a shine to her. Perhaps she need not dance alone after all.

She took the tom into her hands and lifted him. Holding him lovingly in her arms, she rose from her seat and moved through the crowd. Many eyes watched her oddly, while others seemed to think it was rather cute. And on the dance floor, she swayed back and forth, dancing with her little kitty.

Author: Kunichimi, Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2020 2:36 PM, Post Subject: Spiritual Convalescence [P/Event]

Her gentle hands lifted his feline body up. Oh, he was careful with his claws, keeping them tucked into their knuckles as he settled onto her lap, his purr deepening as she stroked his fur. Kunichimi gave a soft meow as his answer to the questions. He was not lost, nor would he ever have an owner for he was Nekojin. Nekojins were almost too prideful to be called housecats or pets. They were nomadic.

Nor was he a stray. Shido Kunichimi was not a feral cat either. All thoughts were scattered as she began to scratch behind his ear, his head instantly pressing into the action for more. She was good, knew just what he liked! The Nekojin continued to purr as he moved to lick at her fingers, his dry tongue gently scratching against her fair skin. He knew that this soul was going to need a lot more than an hour's worth of cuddling and companionship. She would need a lot more time and devotion.

Shido stood and turned, standing on his hind legs as his nose reached for her chin. There, his tongue continued to lick at her skin, showering her with affection. It showed her how loving he was, how affectionate and strong in personality he was. He cared, and it showed. So when she wrapped her arms around him and stood, he merely accepted the new position without fuss.

Author: Lady in Black, Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2020 10:44 AM, Post Subject: Spiritual Convalescence [P/Event]

A soft smile was on her sweet face as she watched the dancers spin.. It reminded her how much she loved to dance. The elegance of it, almost like poetry in motion. It was yet another trait that was never lost through all of her reincarnations. She wished to join them, so spin ‘round and ‘round and ‘round, until all of her worries are washed away. She had no partner. But, in truth she didn’t entirely need one. Not for the kind of dancing she wished to partake in, that is. Yet her dress wasn’t quite suited for it, neither was the occasion, nor the dancing that’s already transpiring. Perhaps some other time then.

She took a swift sip from her wine and nearly coughed it up when something mewed and rubbed up against her. Looking down, her smile became more sincere to see that it was a cat. “Hello there,” she spoke to it curiously. Setting her wine aside, Iona leaned down and scooped the feline into her arms. It was set upon her lap, her dainty hand stroking it silk-like black pelt. “Are you lost? Do you have an owner?” She inquired, knowing full well that she would go unanswered. It wore no collar, nothing suggesting it belonged to another. But not all people put such things upon their little feline friends. It could be a stray that wandered in, lured by the aroma of food, or perhaps curious about the noise. Its fur was smooth, a little more smooth than she’d normally see on a stray. A runaway? Abandoned?

Briefly she looked about her surroundings for anyone seeming to be searching for something missing. When she’d decided there were too many to look over, she turned her watery eyes back to the kitty. She gave it a little scratch behind the ear.

Author: Kunichimi, Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2020 3:36 PM, Post Subject: Spiritual Convalescence [P/Event]

Shido Kunichimi had spent most of his life living on the streets. Despite this, Kunichimi prided himself on his cleanliness. It was a streak of vanity that refused to let a single strand of fur stick out of place. He wasn't always a lonely neko, but the last few years have been increasingly so. Kunichimi would actively seek out anyone who was upset, rub up against them, and be a friend when they needed one most. As doors became more and more open to the neko, so too did his loneliness grow.

These souls were not the one he was seeking, the soul most in dispair. Time only multiplied the grief, the desperation to find this one soul. It was beginning to be too much to even leave his perch where he lay miserable, lazily watching people meander past. When a ferret spied him, raising itself up on its hind legs, it stared at him. Kunichimi sat up, staring back as he twitched an ear. The ferret flicked its tail, Kunichimi mirrored it. "Yes, I'm not wholly cat. So what?" he grumbled to the ferret.

To his surprise, the ferret approached him, pulled something out of its little satchel, and plopped it before the cat before scurrying off. Inside was an invitation. Not just any invitation. It was *his* invitation to the grand party everyone had been buzzing about! Kunichimi was about to dismiss it when he could feel it tug at him. The one he had been searching for was near. Naturally, his curiosity picked him up onto his feet, bounding through the streets as he renewed his search for that person. It led him to the doors of the party.

He entered the nifty looking establishment where he began to take things slow. The first thing he noticed was the beautiful fiery bird at the entrance, but he must not let himself get sidetracked. Someone here needed him. Inch by inch, foot by foot, the cat walked past everyone he could see, hoping to find that which tugged at him. That was when he saw her. She was gorgeous in her starry dress of the night sky, her silver hair, skin fair. One might say that she might rival the goddess of who the party was thrown for. But he could see the ache, the hurt. Kunichimi cautiously approached her, gave a soft meow as he rubbed up against her with a light purr.

Author: Lady in Black, Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2020 12:33 PM, Post Subject: Spiritual Convalescence [P/Event]

She supposed a little time spent away from solitude would do no harm. Even as far as she resided, word had spread of a party being thrown in the honor of a deitie’s birthday. Iona had no affairs with the Gods or Goddesses. She was more connected with the supernatural spirits, the souls of the living and dead. And yet, it seemed a very important event. It was her reasoning that Angela’s life shall be celebrated nonetheless, and so she decided a single night to join in the celebration would do her well. So long as she didn’t allow herself to become too close to another.

Without having the money to buy a fancy dress, she made one by her own hands. The one she wore when she went to the Hanging Gardens was kept within her wardrobe. But it resurfaced memories—ones she was not quite ready to face quite yet without a broken heart. So she altered it. She quite liked the modesty, and the tiny diamonds glittered like stars consistently. But the white—white didn’t suit her. Indeed it was the purest color, but black went with her pale complexion and silver hair far better. She changed the color to match the night, altered the sleeves to sit off shoulder, and the length was extended to drag behind her. When it was done, the diamonds indeed looked like stars. The fabric she’d chosen for the skirt shimmered differently whenever the light changed, from dark blues to purples. Like subtle nebulas.

As for her hair, she kept it in its natural state.

She boarded an airship to reach the desert, retracing her steps from the last time she stood in Canelux. Once again, she found herself staring at the statue of the mother and child in the bazaar. Only this time, when she experienced the vision of herself with a swollen belly, she knew why. She turned away, feeling quite hollow as she found her way to the festivities. She paused as the crowds came into view. Not a single face looked familiar—she knew not a single soul. That single thought seemed to solidify just how alone she was in the world. Loneliness sunk deep.

Iona mustered the courage to keep going. The laughter, the lightheartedness, the smiles all around made her heart warm for their happiness. She poured herself a glass of wine and found a seat where she could sit alone, and enjoy the festivities in silence.