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 Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2017 7:09 pm
The cemetery near Asterion University was a familiar haunt for Chaesh, who came to visit and tend to the unmarked and neglected gravesites at least once a week. Coming armed with flowers, trinkets of various sorts, and kinetic toys for the amusement of the spirits around here, they'd clear the graves, sometimes give them a good scrub, and make sure things were on the up-and-up.
It wasn't as common that there'd be someone else here, at least not someone alive. But there was one face that Chaesh had long-since learned was a regular.
Tao.
And did they ever have something to try to cheer up the hybrid with today. After all of the bouquet had been distributed between the graves, the kumiho was quick to scamper towards the tree the girl was moping in.
"Hey boo! Why so blue?" they called in greeting, as they had, oh, at least a half-dozen times before. Maybe this time they had something that would convince their friend that they weren't going to just walk out of her life, and that they really did want her around.
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Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2017 8:05 pm
 - --Tail curled around the branch of the tree, Tao Hua had made it a point to avoid people this day. Slurs had been thrown at her yet again by one particular Naiad, mostly about her heritage. Her mother being a bakeneko, mostly. No matter how many times she tried to keep herself composed, it still stung so badly each time. they had come up with something worse this time; the fact that each time they seemed to come close to someone, they left. She'd never have kids. she'd never find love.
They took advantage of her weak points.
But as of late...as of a while now, actually, coming here had yielded something that managed to cheer her up, just a little bit.
And there it was.
Chae did make her happy, even if sometimes she didn't show it. And at this point, she came here out of habit. To maybe, maybe see if Chae would still show up.
"...They found me again, today. After work." She admitted. But then, she looked down with a smile. A rare smile. "But they were wrong cuz, you're here, huh?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2017 8:12 pm
Well, that would just not do. "Of course I am! And you know they're just bigots, right? Whatever they say, that's just them trying to paint their insecurities on someone else so they feel better about themselves," the kumiho stated firmly, moving to sit beside Tao, and reaching to put an arm around her.
"I'd say put it out of your mind, but... I know that's not how it works for you. So, would you rather talk about it, so I can argue with them post-time, or do you want to talk about something else?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2017 8:46 pm
- --Tao couldn't come up with any other way to get to it, so she got down to the point. There was no other way to get into it.
"I wanna prove them wrong." She curled up on herself a bit, and leaned against her friend. "Like...show them that I'm not...gonna lose you or anyone else. And, have a kid, even. With. Someone. Who."
She trailed off, a slight pink tinge on her cheeks. It was so difficult to not get flustered, even moreso around Chaesh. Her tail twitched and she twiddled her thumbs restlessly.
"...I'm sorry! I shouldn't be putting this on you...."
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Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2017 8:51 pm
Chaesh blinked, eyes wide as they finally registered the implications of what Tao Hua had asked them. Okay, just keep your cool, man.
Don't smile, don't smile don't smile, just take it easy....
"You... you want a kid? Really? I... uh, Tao. Before we go any further with this line of inquiry, do me a favour and just... just look in my bag." They nudged it over to her, a clear indication that she was welcome to reach into the bottom of the otherwise-empty shopping bag, to find the relatively large, conspicuously-wrapped box at the bottom, clearly waiting for her.
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Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2017 8:55 pm
- --"N-now don't think of it as me trying to, um, tether myself to you!" Oh no there she went, about to panic. There was nothing worse than being thought poorly of in her mind, and she didn't want to lose a friend over conflicting feelings. She'd already lost someone over a particularly bad bout of depression that the other just didn't understand. "I...I just...thin...."
A bag?
Tao peered at the bag, and then at Chaesh, then back to the bag. She did in fact reach in to grasp at the box, but instead of pulling it out, she jolted back, as if she'd been bitten by a snake.
"What...what is it?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2017 9:01 pm
Chaesh blinked a couple times, expression briefly flickering to an almost distressed one, then one of amusement, before resolving into their best approximation of a calm and reassuring visage. "It's just a present, Tao. It's not going to hurt you, I promise." Especially not her feelings! The kumiho leaned down, reaching to pluck the wrapped gift out of the bag, and placed it firmly in Tao's lap.
"It's for you," they said, to make certain it was adequately clear to the neko-hybrid, if the brown wrapping paper, blue ribbon, and little paper orchid weren't hint enough for the skittish woman.
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Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2017 9:11 pm
 - --Tao could...hardly believe it as she picked up the box again, and very, very carefully unwrapped it. The paper wasn't ripped, the ribbon was gently untied, and once the paper was folded, ribbon set neatly, and little orchid placed on top of them, Tao Hua opened the box.
The stone felt so light in her hands, and she held it like one would a priceless artifact. Careful, gentle, and oh so very much treating the stone as if it were about to break at any moment.
"...I wish I had asked a little sooner!" she joked, leaning over to gently nuzzle Chaesh's cheek, a huge, genuine smile on her face.
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Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2017 9:13 pm
Okay, now was the time to grin. They leaned in, moving to gently bonk foreheads with her in an affectionate gesture at first.
"Yeah, but if you'd asked sooner, I wouldn't've had this for you, would I?" Chesh asked, turning to nuzzle back, so their noses brushed, before leaning in for a small, sweet kiss. Things couldn't have gone any better! And they were going to do this thing. Together.
Wow. This is it– this is really happening.
"So, if you're really sure about this... we could swing around the agency and pick up another stone or two. Figure it'd be best to give them a sibling or two, right?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2017 9:17 pm
- --Just about leaping, her tail whipping to and fro in her excitement, she only paused to gather up the box, the wrappings, and wait for Chaesh. So many things were running through her mind, so many ideas and so much happiness spread through her body that her smile was just too much for her fact to handle, almost. She hadn't smiled in so long, the muscles hurt, but Tao Hua enjoyed even having the chance to smile so much. Sure, the monster known as depression might hit her soon, but this happiness would be held onto for as long as possible.
"I'm sure! And yes! Let's!"
For the first time in forever....things looked up!
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