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 Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 2:03 am
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Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 2:04 am
LOG ONE
Venatus Rex carefully lit his lantern. Sunset in Nightmare valley revealed no moon, not even the stars, so a light was needed- even though any light was a beacon for predators. He inhaled a rivulet of blood back up his nostril, wincing. He didn't want to wipe it away- he'd get the blood on his hooves and then, by contact, the Duel Monsters cards he was sorting in the shadow of his secret bower hid by a fallen and rotting tree. There was a flat stump he could use as a table.He sniffed again and coughed.
Shiki Misaki was running a bit late on her way to see Shenayve. She had been contacted earlier that day for a rush order of a new beret. At first she had declined the new request, she didn't do things at the drop of a hat; but, upon hearing that it was Shenayve and the circumstances...Needless to say, Shiki let the messenger know that she would be there later that evening. She had grabbed up her small travelling kit, full of everything she would need to measure Shenayve a new beret. It seemed she was quite excited that another of her kind was coming. Shiki smirked a little in the coming darkness, she remembered how it felt to be a teen and needing to impress. She still knew how it felt....Lost deep in thought, she was rather startled when she heard a cough. Peering in the darkness, she called tentatively, "Who's there?" She clutched Mr. Mew tighter
Rex blinked, scooped his cards into a pile, slid the deck into his leg holster and blew out the lantern. He crouched small and edged away from his hidden place; if he was going to be caught he would not reveal the location of his sanctuary. There was a little-used path from Dream Valley to Nightmare nearby- it was overgrown and pebbly with scattered shards of a luminescent stone that once bordered the sides of the path, placed there for the traveller at its construction, long long ago, in happier times. In the light from the faded glittery shards was a girl clutching a cat toy. He bit his lip, his initial reflex to help a girl hugging a squishy toy, but it was Nightmare Valley so he kept his guard up. "I live here," he said simply.
Shiki tilted her head as she peered into the growing darkness where he stood. "I asked who are you silly! Not where you live." She smiled into the darkness hopeful that he wasn't some pony with evil intentions--but if he was, well she had Mr. Mew.
Rex snorted softly. "Of course you did. I was just remarking on the paradox of asking someone in the place they live who was there." It was a mangled quote from V for Vendetta- he really liked that movie.
Shiki giggled a bit, "Oh masked man! Come out!" She reached out her hoof to him, "I see you know your V for Vendetta, don't you V?"
"If I don't have a mask, can I just go?" he asked reluctantly.
"No! Of course not! I want to see you!"
Rex paused, sniffed again and then backed away from the path. It was dangerous to talk to strangers at night, and he'd lost his concentration anyway. His nose wasn't stoppig bleeding so he should wash his gory-looking face in the stream nearby.
Shiki sighed, "You're not very trust are you V?" She looked dimly at the path. "Well if you aren't coming out then I must get on to see Shenayve."
Rex was curious after this last statement and decided to shadow her. It was a bit late for visitors. The stream biscected the path up ahead anyways- he could always wash his face there. He watched Shiki pass and blinked. "Hey- stop there! Don't walk on that moss, girl, jump over it or use the log. Didn't no-one tell you about the lunar plant?" he asked rhetorically, shaking his head.
"Lunar planet?" She looked in the direction of his voice then replied sceptically, " 'Are you like a crazy person'?"
"I'd rather be crazy than stupid," said Rex resentfully. "You step on that lunar plant and it will start gnawing on your ankles. Then you can crawl back to your herd. Or you can do as I say."
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Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 2:05 am
LOG TWO
Shiki blushed. "I'm sorry..." Her voice faded.
Rex blinked. Nightmare girls didn't blush like that. He frowned and with a rustle, retreated further into the underbrush.
Shiki felt inferior. It seemed like a constant feeling with her....Even a stranger could provoke it. "Do come out won't you V? I don't bite." Her eyes shined in the darkness as tears smarted in her eyes.
Rex bit back a sharp retort. "Hey, girl, don't cry now. C'mon, just get away from that trap there, it's not safe..." It's not safe to be alone in Nightmare Valley, let alone at night. Especially for a girl.
Shiki sniffed a bit as she wiped at her face. "Okay..." She stepped back a bit. "I imagine it's stupid for me to be out here alone."
"Yeah it is," said Rex shortly. He wiped blood off his nose. "I can't believe you let that Shenavye convince you that a hat needed urgent attention. It's a hat! It can wait to morning!" He shut his jaw with a snap. "Don't start crying again..."
She sniffed as she turned her face away a moment. "It's my job. This is what I do, how I earn my living. If I just say no to this kind of work then there won't be any work left." She tunred back towards him and looked into the darkness at him. "Well I do have to go on though. I promised."
"Ugh," grunted Rex. "That's such a Dream Valley thing to say. Well there are things that go bump in the night here, so I'll take you up to the herd. Just don't get freaked out, okay?" He didn't know why he offered, but it didn't seem worth it to try and convince her to come back in the morning, and if she disappeared he wouldn't like to think he could have stopped it.
Shiki smiled. "You're so gallant. And I'm not from Dream. I just joined Ember's herd here in Nightmare, but I am new to these parts."
"Are you gonna promise not to freak out?" asked Rex doggedly, refusing to be side-tracked.
"I promise." She smiled in his direction in the darkness.
Rex wiped his face again, but most of the blood was dried. His nosebleed was finally stopping. "Okay." He stepped out onto the path behind her. "You promised not to freak out," he warned.
She turned and squinted at him. "OH! You're hurt!" She ran to him, "Are you okay?"
Rex started in shock and stumbled backwards. "Don't touch it!" he said sharply. And I thought she'd run away screaming- I must look less scary than I thought. The thought didn't make him feel good at all.
Shiki stepped back. "Sorry. I guess it must hurt. What happened?"
Rex scowled. "What's it look like?' he asked sarcastically. "Someone hit me." He scratched some of the crusted stuff off. "Was gonna wash it off in the stream ahead... before you nearly killed yourself. C'mon, best get you to Shen."
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 1:19 am
LOG THREE
"Okay." She looked at his nose, "It doesn't look that bad." She was, of course, lying.
Rex frowned. "Sure it doesn't. I'm not infectious either." He passed her and leapt over the patch of lunar plant invading the path. "Yeah, er, I'm Venatus Rex," he said belatedly. "Here's I'll help you across the log bridge..."
Shiki offered out her hoof so that he could assist her. "I'll call you V or Vex." She giggled a bit. "I'm Shiki Misaki."
He grabbed her hoof, then released it- it was the one he'd wiped his face with earlier. "Sorry. Out of monogrammed hankies." He took her hoof with the other one.
Shiki made a bit of a face at the blood and his comments. Taking the bridge she was soon over. "Is it much further?"
"I could lie to you," said Rex, dropping her hoof and moving ahead. "But I get the sense it wouldn't be appreciated. We've a bit to go yet. Are you tired?"
"No, I don't think it would be appreciated." She blinked her eyes considering, "I'm a bit tired."
"Humph. You can probably get a bed for the night. When we get there. There's always someone who's afraid of the dark and wants a new person to talk to. Or you could brave the mansion. Don't think you'd last long there, though." He looked back at her. "The sooner we start the sooner you can rest, okay?" he added consolingly.
She walked close to him, her legs were so tired. "That'll be nice." She yawned a bit. "Wherever is fine."
Rex cleared his throat and moved on. "Yeah... Hmmm." He was out of things to talk about, so when he heard the gurgling of the stream, he sighed for gratitude of something to break the silence.
"I've always loved water. It's my favorite element." She giggled a bit. Shiki always giggled when she was tired.
"Cool," said Rex distractedly. They came upon the stream. "Just a sec," he said and he put his cold lantern down and leaved his hands in the cold rushing water, splashing his face clean.
Shiki sat down heavily and yawned. "Tired...." She watched him in the dim light.
Rex scrubbed his face one last time and wiped his eyes on his foreleg. "Best go on now, Shkiki," he said quietly. He grabbed her hoof and pulled her upright. "Just hop across this stream and then it's... almost smooth off to the herd." He snorted with laughter. "You know I could be leading you far far away- you don't even know if I know where I'm going."
Shiki rubbed her eyes, and dragged Mr Mew along like a child with a small teddy bear. "I trust you though, you wouldn't do that to me."
Rex frowned. This girl didn't fit here. "So. You've got... a cat..." He said haltingly.
"Mr. Mew," she nodded as she snugged him to her. "I don't' go anywhere without him."
"That's... nice. Isn't mew a pink pokemon?' he asked in confusion.
"Pokemon?" She looked at him oddly, "What's that? Mr. Mew is a cat of course."
"Er a pokemon... is a contraction of pocket monsters... they're little... or big, I guess, can be big... strange animals. A mew is a pink cat thing that can fly."
"That's lovely." Shiki tried to snuggle into his shoulder as they walked. "Pink kitties..."
"With bright big eyes," Rex illustrated. "They can fly too."
"Pink flying kitties!" She giggled louder. "I love kitties don't you?"
"Er... Not really," said Rex. "Not a cat person myself."
"But, they're kitties!" Shiki looked at him rather tearfully, her sleepiness had made her a mess of emotions.
"Yeah they're... cats," he said nervously. "They're evil little things. You can like them, I'm not stopping you."
She stopped rather indignantly. "They aren't evil just because you don't like them." She frowned as she hugged Mr. Mew closer.
"I agree," he said stiffly. "I don't like them because they're evil."
Shiki frowned and said nothing. She wasn't particularly awake enough to argue.
Rex continued down the path with Shiki in tow. Lights shone through the forest trees. "We're getting close. I'll drop you at Shen's place then see about getting you home."
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 1:24 am
LOG FOUR
"Okay." She tried to wipe the sleep from her eyes. Shiki wanted to look good to meet Shenayve, after all she was a seryph! Maybe she'd have time before V got back to tidy up a bit...
He lead her off the path and through a fringe of trees to the little huts on the main street. "Shh now," he muttered. "Everyone's asleep. Her place is this one," he said, guiding her to a hut with the lights off. He glanced at Shiki and lifted his hoof to rap on the door. He frowned and changed his mind, gently pushing the door open. There was no light at all in the place, and the only sound was deep breathing from the corner. He backed out. "She's gone to bed," he said quietly. "You can do you hat in the morning. We got to find you a place to stay."
Shiki nodded, "Where am I going to stay? Am I staying with you?"
Rex blinked. "With..." he glanced at the door and tugged Shiki into the street. "With me? I'm... well wouldn't you be more comfortable with a girl?"
"Why would I mind staying with you?" She looked up at him honestly, "We're friends...You're nice. I feel safe with you."
Rex blushed. "But... I'm a... well aren't you afraid of... you're a girl," he said haltingly. "Shouldn't girls be... I dunno, paranoid?"
She blinked her eyes slowly, "Paranoid of what?"
"Er... males in general and... being in strange places at night and... well, especially sleeping in places with guys you just met?"
Shiki blinked again as she yawned. "You mean sex?" She smiled sleepily at him. "I can see, you're a gentleman. I may have only known you for a bit, but longer than anyone else here. You could have done anything the woods to me and you didn't. You wouldn't bring me to a civilised place to treat me bad."
Blood rushed to Rex's face. "Uh... God, I thought you were supposed to be the squeamish one. I can see you're stubborn," he scowled. "Fine. My place is at the end of the road." He lead her to a slightly dilapidated place. It looked like it had been kicked a few times and the owner had lost heart in keeping it orderly. He opened the door for her. "You can... have the bed." He tried not to think of the hard ground that would be his bed.
Shiki walked into the place. It was very old...very...well very. "No! I can't take the bed," she protested. "I'll sleep on the floor."
Rex grumbled at her incoherently. He seemed to get she wouldn't budge once she made a decision, so he didn't bother arguing. He just grabbed one of his pillows and the thinner of the two blankets and made himself a fold-over pallet on the ground. He lay down on it and thumped the pillow with his head decisively. "Goodnight. I'm closing my eyes now- so you can sleep in whatever you like."
Shiki frowned at him and took the other blanket and pillow and fixed up a pallet beside him. "I'll sleep in this. I always bring extra clothes."
Rex fought against the urge to crack and eye and turned over. He mumbled something.
Shiki watched him for a moment then cuddled up closer, but wary for anymore mumblings.
Rex tensed, but relaxed, counting seconds. Fifteen. Sixteen...
Shiki snuggled a bit closer and started to doze off. She missed having someone to cuddle with.
Rex wore an expression of extreme discomfort. What the bleeding hell? Aren't girls supposed to be CONSERVATIVE???? God if it were anyone else, she'd have been dead by now...
Her hoof moved as her eyelids quivered in the fight against sleep. Her hoof slid around his waist as she nestled into his back. Shiki's voice was soft and low in her sleep, "God...how I've missed you..."
Rex's eyes opened wide. Oh. My. God. Just go to sleep already!
She murmurred again then her body started to shake a bit, as she cried in her sleep.
Rex's bottom lip began to quiver. Poor girl. I guess it's not her fault she's so suicidal. He shifted a bit. There was no response. Nearly time.
Shiki sobbed harder, "ADAM!" The voice came like a tortured cry. "Adam..." She sobbed again, then the cries began to soften.
Rex blinked. No idea how I'll get to sleep with this... Ugh. He slid away from her and tucked her blanket around her. Then he edged his arms around her, rose to his knees, and wobbled over to his bed, plopping her on top and sliding a pillow under her head. He sighed and rubbed his back and headed to his pallet. He felt something squish under him. He felt around in the dark. He'd stepped on Mr. Mew. He picked him up and tucked him in with Shiki, before finding him hard bed. He glanced around before snuggling into Shiki's warm spot.
For a moment, Shiki thought she felt Adam holding her again, but then the warmth left her and she was cold and alone.
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 11:08 pm
LOG FIVE
Shiki was in the half place between sleep and awake. Her heart felt like it was thumping out of her chest, Adam was there...but no! He was leaving. Walking away from her...always walking away....She woke up in the soft comfort of a bed, shivering slightly. Looking around she finally remembered where she was at. "Vex?" She called it out to the lump of covers on the floor.
Rex gargle-snorted and coughed and woke himself up- very unattractively. He looked up blearily. "Why am I on the ground?" he mumbled vaguely. "Did they set my mattress on fire again?" He blinked away the haze and saw Shiki. "Oh." He swallowed painfully. "Hello."
Shiki ran her hand through her ruffled hair as she frowned down at him. "You moved me?"
"Yeah," said Rex. "You're a girl, and a guest, so you should have the bed. And you don't have any concept of personal space," he added as a joke.
Shiki's face flushed. Biting her lip, she turned her face away for a moment. Keeping her voice, cool and measured she spoke. "I'm sorry that I invaded your space."
Rex sat up and scrubbed his eyes. "It wasn't that- it was just hard for me to sleep is all." He groaned and hefted himself up to his feet. "Best get you to see Shenavye today. I'm... gonna go... dunk my head in the pool out the back," he added. "You... do what you like." He nodded awkwardly and closed the door behind him.
Shiki sat there for a moment not moving, then wiping at her eyes she got up. Picking up her bag, she rummaged through and started to change clothes. Guys were stupid. Really stupid. She had needed someone last night, and the first person she opened up to...Didn't want anything to do with her.
Rex went and jumped into the pool, flipping his yellow hair back. He bobbled for a while, then clambered out and sat by his front door to dry while Shiki... did what... Shiki... wanted to do.
Smoothing the front of her shirt, in a self-conscious way Shiki became lost in thought. What was she doing now? What about the rest of her life? She coudln't think about that...yet she coudn't stop her hoof from touching the ring that dangled on a chain beneath her shirt.
Shiki was taking quite a while... Rex was becoming a bit worried. He knocked on his own door. "Hey, Shiki, are you okay?"
Shiki turned to the door without really seeing. "I'm done. Come in Vex."
Rex opened the door. "I don't need to come in," he said. "I just wanted to make sure you were good. Uhm... ready to go?"
"I'll never be ready." Her eyes held a burning look as she walked past him. "But let's go anyways."
Rex's eyes bulged and he hurried to his feet and followed her. "Uhm ok. Sure." He followed her down the main street.
Shiki paused for a moment, as she reapplied some lipgloss. "What's she like?"
Rex shok his damp hair. "Shenavye? Primadonna wannabe. Guess she's a bit upset her best friend turned nursemaid. Bit prickly."
"What do you meah her best friend turned nursemaid?" Shiki looked confused. "Remember I"m new to these parts."
Rex sighed. "Shenavye's BFF was Jin Kyoshi. He turned darkside once upon a time and shacked up with the Green Lady and now is at her beck and call. Like a slave. Or a nursemaid." He frowned. "I guess she always figured he would never leave her."
"Does he love her?" Her eyes looked at somethign far away.
Rex glanced at her. "Does he love the Green Lady? Well... yeah. He braved exile for her."
"Then why is Shenayve angry about it then?" Her eyes focused back on him, a sad wistful look on her face.
Rex shrugged. "Dunno. She's not the type of girl to let something go easy- even if it wants to go." He frowned at the dirt. "The girls hat about it when they're bored. Compassion says that She must be in love with him too, and that by choosing the Green Lady, he passed her over. But, you know, bring it up, and she'll choke you."
Shki smiled and started back walking. "I'll remember not to. I know my place in these things."
They reached the door. "Cool. Well. Here you go. Um. Yeah." He glanced around anxiously.
"Aren't you coming with me?" She reached for his hoof.
"Uh, Shenavye doesn't like me," said Rex nervously. "I guess I'll see you around, Shiki."
Shiki nodded. "Let's not make her mad. Will you wait for me?"
Rex blinekd furiously. "Not here. Look. Uhm. I'll sit at the path so when you're done... I'll take you home."
Shiki nodded. "Let's not make her mad. Will you wait for me?"
"Okay, bye," said Rex and he almost bolted down the road and into the ferns.
Shiki's face displayed a bit of shock, but turning she went on in to meet Shenayve.
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Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 1:55 am
LOG SIX
Shiki took a deep breath, and knocked on Shenayve's door.
The door jerked open. "Who're you?" asked Shenavye tersely.
Shiki jumped back and almost stumbled. "I'm Shiki Misaki, I'm here to fit you for a beret."
"Oh!" said Shenavye, suprised. "You're not expected." She smiled woodenly. "Come in. Will it take long?" She back away from the door and closed it behind Shiki.
Shiki hurried in, a little taken aback by Shenayve's actions. "No, not long at all. What are you looking for in a beret?"
Shenavye sat down on a tassled stool. "Something cute to wear. Not blue, not green, something that won't clash with my wings or eyes. Maybe white with pretty pink bows?" She shrugged. "I'm not the seamstress... what do you think?"
Shiki tilted her head slightly, "I think cream with pale pink bows. I'd say about a size...7. If you don't mind." She pulled out her tape measure to check the size. "Venatius Rex brought me here today..."
Shenavye smiled. "That sounds nice. Uh, him. Well I hope you've better taste in fashion then with your friends."
Shiki frowned a bit, as she wrote down some things. "Why do you think he's horrid?" She tapped her pencil to the notepad, "Any particular fabric or any other accessories you'll be wearing?"
Shenavye blinked, a bit turned around by the leap-frogging conversation. "No I... don't think I'll be wearing anything else. Oh because. Well. He's weird. No-one talks to him because he's so annoying."
Shiki looked up from her notepad, "No earrings? Necklace? Nothing? Hmm..." She made a few notes. "He is a bit odd, but aren't we all?"
Shenavye frowned. "No. What's wrong with no earrings? Any jewellery I wear makes me took too done- as if I would need any more stones upon me than my coral wings." Then. "Speak for yourself. He just bugs everyone. Talking about his stupid card games."
"I don't believe he mentioned them to me." Shiki looked at her wings for a long minute. "They are very decorative..."
"And they work too," said Shenavye proudly. "I was the first Seryph child, you know. Oh, then you were very lucky. He goes on and on about them. Only Compassion spends any large amount of time with him, and even then she gets sick of him. She's spending time with some red demon lately. Probably got sick of having a lonely guy dragging at her skirts..."
Shiki smoothed her clothes and tucked the notepad back into her bag. "When do you need this by? I think he's rather nice. What else do you know about him?"
"I don't know," said Shenavye. "I don't know when my new friend will be arriving. So whenever you like, really." She picked up a brush and ran it through her lovely hair. "He came up with the other CYOs last year with his card games, challenging everyone. He used to hang around with Shoubu but something happened... There's not much about him."
Shiki nodded. "I'll finish it up soon then. A week tops. I wonder what happened with that?" She gazed off for a moment. "He sure is a unique and interesting fellow."
"I don't find him so," said Shenavye quietly. "He's not handsome or interesting enough for me. I barely know him at all. We used to be such a tight family..."
"But then it grows and fissures happen. It happened to Ember's friend Nite Owl. Yongnian up and quit the herd one day and since then there's been three separate groups. And there's rumours of a 4th and 5th in the mountains."
"We have nod had that much dissent," said Shenavye quietly. "We just don't know each other like we used to. Too many newcomers. Too many orphaned children." She shook her head.
Shiki nodded. "I understand. These are different times."
"Yes. Uh. Sorry. You want a drink? I've got... chocolate milk?"
She nodded absently. "Yes, please. Mind if I sit?"
"Go nuts," said Shenavye absently, passing Shiki a cooled tetrapak of flavoured milk. "I only have a small chiller. Or it would be in something different to a box."
Shiki giggled a bit, and poked the straw through the top. Taking a few sips she nodded. "Thanks. So...What can you tell me about this new visitor?"
"Only that he's a he, fully grown and a seryph, like myself..." She took a pull of her own drink. "I don't know what he looks like, when he's coming- not even his name."
"Oh wow." Shiki sipped a bit more. "And your reasons for impressing?" Her eyes twinkled playfully.
Shenavye looked at Shiki as though she had just suggested playing in mud. "He's a seryph. The only one I will know. Any girl would try and look her best for such a one."
Shiki bilnked her eyes a bit rapidly. "Well maybe I should come over a meet him too." She smoothed the folds of her skirt.
Shenavye's lips folded tightly. "I'm sure if you asked he would meet you," she said in a low tone.
Folding her hooves in her lap, she smiled. "I'm sorry. I was being rather catty. I'd be charmed to meet him, but equally charmed to meet anyone else."
Shenavye frowned. "We are... diminished. I suppose I should be happy that anyone is interested romantically with one of my kind."
"I understand, but it's never easy for someone to want what you want."
Shenavye blinked. "Are you sure you took a chocolate milk? No schnapps in that?"
Giggling, Shiki put down her milk for a moment. "No, I just mean that it's tough when something you're excited about becomes the excitement of someone else. It takes something away from you. You know?"
Shenavye's mouth fell open slightly. Then her lips folded together. "Yes I do."
"I wont take your joy away. If you won't take mine." She rose to leave. "I think I should find Vex now, don't you?"
"Ves?" she snorted. "I suppose that's a good name. Sure. See you later. And thanks."
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Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:01 am
LOG SEVEN
"This is where you live?" asked Rex, looking around. "It's not much like home..."
Shiki sighed. "I know it's rather a depressing little room..." The walls were bare and dull looking grey. "I need to fix it up, but...I just..."
"Just what?" asked Rex. "You're a seamstress- shouldn't you at least have curtains? Sorry that came out wrong..." he muttered. "I just meant, you're a colourful girl. I thought you'd live more colourfully."
"No, I'm rather dull." She sat down on the plan dark blue quilt that covered her bed. "I'm not very...colourful alone." Her eyes looked up at him. "You don't have to go anytime soon do you?"
"Nah I don't," said Rex. "Well I think you're colourful. What other girl keeps a teddy bear wherever she went?" He smiled at her nicely. "It's different."
"It's a cat. " She smiled radiantly back at him. Patting the bed, she snuggled Mr. Mew to her. "I just get so lonely...even when I'm with others."
Rex sat next to her. "I know that feeling. At least Mr Mew won't run away,' he said and laughed.
She squeezed Mr. Mew softly as a tear fell down on his head. "No, he's the only one that has never left me."
"Ahh, Shiki... I won't leave you," he said quietly.
She looked up at him, the tears running down her face. "But I've been promised that before. I want to believe...I really do." Shiki stifled a sob.
Rex put his arm around her. "That's okay. You don't have to believe me."
Shiki buried her head into his shoulder. "But I do...I need to...I want to. I want you..."
Rex put his head on hers and gently tugged Mr Mew out of her kung-fu steely grip. "You know Shiki," said Rex in a squeaky voice, moving the cat as he talked, "I reckon you should let this guy Rex help pimp out your place. I like purple on the walls, don't you? Better than gray." He flipped Mr Mew so his arms waved in the air.
She giggled at it. "I woudln't do that to mew. He can get pretty mad." She looked around. "What about purple curtains and green walls with some lovely lilacs painted on. And the ceiling painted like the night sky?" Her eyes were shining brightly as she dabbed away at the tears.
Rex frowned pensively. "Yellow walls instead of green. Green makes you homesick. Purple's bad enough- makes you depressed. But it's your choice." He poked her nose.
She giggled harder. "I adore green! It makes me think of meadows. It reminds me of picnics and friends. I've never been on a picnic before. But it sounds so lovely."
"I'll take you on a picnic," said Rex suddenly.
"Really?" Shiki clapped her hooves together.
"Yeah, sure," said Rex uncertainly. "Whenever you like."
Shiki giggled and kissed his check blushingly. Then suddenly she jumped up and twirled about the room. "Today has been wonderful!" Her face glowed.
Rex laughed slowly. "I didn't think anyone could say that after a morning with Shenavye."
"She wasn't THAT bad. She's excited about meeting another of her kind. Sort of...someone who's the same as you." She sighed. "Don't you just feel elated?"
"Uh, no," said Rex dryly. "Anyone new that Shenavye wants to impress is not someone I'm gonna like."
Shiki giggled as she knelt back at his feet. "Why don't you talk about yourself more? I'd like to hear."
"S'not a lot about me to tell. I'm here. They don't like me. I'm kind of a freak. I'm okay with that. Minus the occasional nosebleed."
"Nosebleeds? Why?" She wrinkled her nose at him as she scrutinised his nose as if it was about to explode in blood.
"They hit me sometimes," said Rex bitterly. "C'mon that's not nice to talk about."
"Well they're not nice. Let's not talk about them Where were you before here?"
"I wasn't anywhere before here," he said quietly. "Hey, now, what's wrong with hearing about you?"
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