When someone completes ten roleplays or solos that include the wisp in some way (either through its active presence in the RP or by referencing it somehow in the RP), they can then pursue a solo or roleplay where the wisp will explode in a burst of energy, only to reform in the shape of a companion creature. This creature will be small, no larger than a medium sized dog, but they can take the form of any magical or non magical creature.
Backdated to 7/9/24.
Mel was leaning over her coffee table, the top half of her body resting on the cool surface, and her head resting on her arms. The TV was on in the background; she’d turned on one of her favorite shows to try and relax, but her mind kept drifting to her various experiences of late so it was nothing more than occasionally dramatic white noise in the background at this point. It was a rare sight to see her in significantly lower spirits; not that she put up a front while out and about, but she often tried her best not to look too bogged down to keep people from worrying about her. The stress of everything of late, though, was doing a good job of bringing her mood to an all-time low. It didn’t help that she didn’t have anyone she felt she could vent to about a lot of it, so she could feel herself slowly slipping into one of those episodes of hers.
It was okay, right? Once in a while?
She heaved a heavy sigh and turned her head so her face was buried in her arms. It wasn’t okay, she knew, but still. It was so tempting to just get lost in her own little world for a bit. Escape from everything for a little while.
Between being in a position to even consider that, knight life, and civilian life, she wasn’t sure which one was more concerning.
“Nearly dying?” she murmured, going back to that time in the alley with a corrupt senshi and getting her starseed manhandled for the very first time. She’d never known any pain quite like it; excruciating felt like an understatement, but it’s what often came to mind when she thought of it.
“Being frustrated with work?” she went on, her recent dissatisfaction with her career coming to the fore. Since becoming a knight she often found herself questioning if what she was doing for her career was enough. Could any civilian position get ahead of the chaos that seemed to run rampant in the city? Not even counting what crimes she thought she could safely attribute to Chaos, but just chaos in general. She had passing thoughts about it before, and still sometimes did. Maybe she could do more in a position similar to Erica’s, being out on the streets and trying to stop bad things from happening in real time. As a forensics person she was on the other side of the fence, putting in the effort to make someone who already did a bad thing accountable for what they did. And while that was a good thing–of course it was a good thing, she didn’t doubt that–it was all after the fact. There was already a victim out there, waiting for the wheel of justice to turn.
Sometimes it turned so painfully slowly, she knew, and she sometimes questioned how much help she actually was in that whole process.
She always had to go back to the fact that she was more of a scientist at heart, though, and while she couldn’t contribute to anything on the front end, she still had a part to play on the back end of things. Her work still mattered, she knew that, but still. Doubt just had a way of creeping in and sticking to her when she was in one of these moods.
“How about progress on my wonder?” Her voice was muffled, given she still had her face buried in her arms. The thoughts that nearly followed were interrupted by the feeling of the furball stirring beside her, and she adjusted herself so she could see what made her pup move. Lulu had been snuggled up to her since earlier, having sensed the mood she was in. Mel was more than grateful to not be truly alone when she got like this, and while she often cuddled up with her pup for all the comforting snuggles, there were also times when she didn’t. Even in those times, Lulu still insisted on being nearby, and Mel loved her all the more for it.
What she saw was her pup reacting to another now-familiar calming presence, and she gave an amused smile as Lulu sniffed at the wisp that had joined them. Reaching down, she gave her pup some reassuring pets.
“I nearly forgot about you,” she said to the wisp. It bobbed to and fro at her words, as though she hurt its feelings, and she couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight. Lulu picked up on the slightly brighter energy and gave a whisper of a bark as she watched the wisp as well.
“Sorry, sorry,” she said, “I just have had a lot on my mind. I guess I should say I was kinda wondering where you were? Since you’re normally around when I’m feeling off, but I feel like I haven’t seen you in a while.”
That seemed to lighten its mood, and it started floating up to her. Mel straightened herself out as it did, and the wisp continued to float up until it was at her eye level. She blinked curiously at it; she wasn’t exactly sure what to do so she just watched as it slowly backed away from her. The motion made her a little nervous, and she was about to say something when it suddenly burst before her eyes.
It blinded her for a second, and as she opened her eyes and braced herself for heartbreak she was surprised to see a very curious looking creature floating where the wisp had just been.
Mel stared at it for a long moment. It stared right back at her, but soon it broke off the staring contest by crinkling its eyes and floating closer. It cuddled up right to her cheek, and she could feel the warmth radiating off of it. It was a soothing warmth, she thought, and she closed her eyes and sank into that feeling. While it didn’t make her doubts and worries go away, it certainly kept her from focusing on them quite so hard. It buoyed her spirits in the same way that Lulu did, though it did it in its own little way.
“Thank you,” she said quietly as she opened her eyes. The creature floated back a bit and seemed to smile, twirling in place at her words and getting a giggle out of her. Lulu gave another whisper of a bark from where she lay, watching with eyes that said that she found a new friend. The creature floated down closer to her and gave another twirl, to which Lulu leaned in with a curious sniff. And the two exchanged interactions like this for a while, playful as they got to know each other.
The sight was endearing, and Mel felt her heart melting because of it, her concerns slowly fading into the background. In the back of her mind, she knew they’d come back to her eventually, and would continue to visit her until she came to some kind of conclusion or came up with a solution to put them to rest. For now, though, she could focus on this. Her little family, of sorts, who always sought to comfort her when she wasn’t at her best.
“Since you’re family now,” she said, resting her head on her hand as she continued to watch them, “you’re gonna need a name.”
1237 (gdocs)
