Day Three: As if the shadows weren't creepy enough, now they seem to be moving, stretching beyond where the light shouldn't let it reach. In the afternoon sun, the shadows still seem to be climbing; darkness is spreading across the city unnaturally. More than that, now sometimes it feels like you are being forcibly grabbed, like someone is trying to drag you into the darkness.
Arthur was on patrol as he tended to be at night. He had finished some work at home and after a nap was now refreshed enough for a nightly walk for any potential senshi. However, lately he wasn't so thrilled over this task. The city was getting strange at night and if it wasn't dogs, it was the chill presence that lingered in the dark alleyways and streets that he had to navigate in order to work.
His tail was bushy, alert and tense as he raced through a patch of shadows to a halo of light from a lamppost.
Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2019 7:32 pm
Soleiyu had seen quite enough shadows for one evening, for one week. It was almost impossible to get anything done when you couldn't make it half a block before something felt like it was groping for you from the darkness. He'd tried his hardest to keep pushing through the strange, awkward sensations--the outright unnerving and dangerous sensations. He had too much that needed to be done to be chased away by the slightest inconvenience, but this? This was different.
The last straw was only a moment ago.
He'd gotten used to the growing shadows, the increased darkness, the strange brushes. People tried to pick him up all the time so it didn't feel too different from normal, even if now he couldn't see who--or what--was trying to lift him up.
No, the last straw was when something in the shadows pulled at his tail with so much force he could feel it up his whole spine and into his brain.
He quit. He was going home. He let out a shrill yowl of pain and bolted, tail twisting out of the grip.
Before, when he was being chased by dogs, the city's lights had saved him. A lamp post was like a beacon of salvation and he bolted into the ring, shuddering as his fur stood on end.
He hadn't immediately noticed that he wasn't alone; as soon as he was in the light, he'd spun quickly to make sure he wasn't being followed. Before he could sit down to groom himself and inspect the damage to his tail, he noticed another Mauvian.
Soleiyu was immediately alert, suddenly sitting with more poise and grace. "...These shadows are really starting to get to me. Don't go back there, something's pulled my tail. Is it any safer in the direction you've come from?"
He'd spent enough time in the city that he had the basic layout of the area mapped in his head; he just wanted to plan the fastest, safest way to get home and out of all this trouble.
...But this new Mauvian was just enough to tempt him to linger for a moment longer. At least, while he had light to sit in.
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Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2019 6:12 am
Arthur liked Mauvians. They were the only connection to his people, his history, and his culture. Sadly, they were also hard to come by, especially alone. Most Mauvians had hitched themselves up to a senshi which made talking one on one much harder - among other fun activities.
As miserable as the events of the night were going, Destiny City had been kind enough to deliver a pretty little number his way. It might not be the best circumstances, but Arthur always worked with what he was given.
And what a gift he was given. A pristine white coat much thicker than his own, but a equally fashionable take on eyewear. Of Arthur had any recollection of having kin, he might be suspicious of this one. That being said, to his memory he had none which freed up the possibilities for the evening.
Smiling, he moved closer, noting the raised for of the other. "Sadly no. It seemed to be a bit of a mess that way too. I was nearly pulled into a storm drain."
At least the current dangers helped keep them together. "You seem to have had a fright." He said with sweet concern as he moved closer. "May I look at your tail? To make sure everything is alright?"
Kyuseisha no Hikari
Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2019 6:46 pm
Soleiyu's tail twitched once, either in agitation or habit; he couldn't see any damage himself but there really wasn't any harm in getting a second opinion. Besides, he enjoyed what attention he could get--and without assurances that everything was fine might one day evolve into a hypochondriac.
"If you please. I certainly don't mind." It beat having to twist awkwardly; he wasn't keen to make a fool of himself in front of anyone and digging through his fur in public might not have made the best impression. He allowed his tail to twitch in Arthur's direction before holding it still.
"Thank you," he added after he settled himself. "Nearly pulled into a storm drain, though? ...I can't stand this. Are you all right?"
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Posted: Mon Oct 21, 2019 7:22 am
"Oh I'm alright. They only ruffled my fur. I say compared to being chased by a member of Chaos or a youma, they aren't as ruthless. Though talking to them is pointless. I tried blasting them once but they just vanished like smoke and more came around." And he was just left exhausted and spending the night on a bench under a light till morning.
Moving over to the Mauvian, he brushed his side against him as he passed and sat to look at his tail - among other things.
"It looks fine but I'm not sure if anything is damaged underneath. I'll have to touch it." He said, and then gently placed his paw on the tail to lightly touch it and give a little pressure.
"It doesn't seem as if they hurt your marvelous cost though. Would be a shame to hurt such a wonderfuly full and pristine white tail."
Kyuseisha no Hikari
Posted: Mon Oct 21, 2019 4:31 pm
Soleiyu seemed to appreciate the attention; he didn't even mind Arthur pawing at it. "I'm grateful for that. Thank you." The compliment was charming, as well as the assessment of any potential injury. "Though, you're one to talk. Your fur is lovely. You must be saying somewhere nice?" he prompted; he himself was presently very spoiled and had the luxury of a household of people to tend to his needs, and a handful of Senshi to pamper him.
It wasn't all frivolous though; he worked hard, and was always fussing over them. He needed them to be okay and was constantly working on trying to improve little trinkets and gadgets around the house.
His question may have been rhetorical; he would not have minded an answer, if only because the conversation made him feel like he was speaking to an equal--someone who knew what he was, who understood. Someone who didn't look at him and just think 'talking cat'.
"I hope so, at least. It would be a pity of someone of your class wasn't being well taken care of. I'm offended that anything even thought to harass you."
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Posted: Mon Oct 21, 2019 5:29 pm
"I own my own place. I made a fake identity to love in the human world. I work online. Technology is wonderful for us Mauvians in a way. We can make ourselves anyone and make new lives for those around us." He said, moving to settle himself beside the other.
"I take care of myself and I like taking care if others."
He smiled to him.
"You know. Dangerous shadows make a barrier. We might have a hard time crossing the shadows, but others have a hard time getting through them to us. It's a rare opportunity." He thought out loud.
"Do you have another form? I'd like to see how beautiful you are in a different light."
Kyuseisha no Hikari
Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2019 8:26 am
Soleiyu remained sitting next to Arthur, offering a pleasant smile in return. It was a relief to have someone next to him, especially after all that trouble earlier. He was impressed with Arthur's independence, ears perking with the idea that Arthur could have a fake identity, to exist in this world as more than just a cat. To have a role beyond just what he knew. He found himself nodding along to the Mauvian's words, but his smile faded just slightly at the question of another form.
"That will have to wait for another night," he said apologetically. His tail was back to twitching just slightly. "...I'm afraid I haven't been awake for long enough to have accessed that."
A sting to his pride; he didn't like accepting inferiority so he shrugged and looked to Arthur. "I'll have to come find you when I do, though. I apologize for being behind. You've achieved another form?"
He assumed Arthur wouldn't have asked if he hadn't; from what he could infer, he supposed he must have been fairly successful. In a way, Soleiyu was jealous. He'd gotten a late start but he was doing all that he could to catch up. Maybe it wasn't enough, though.
The thought of shadows grabbing him seemed a greater inconvenience; it was holding him back. He'd have to go home and see if he couldn't devise something to chase away the shadows so he could keep pushing forward. He didn't know what was holding him back from access his true power but there was a fire in him that told him he needed to keep pushing forward until he unlocked it--until he unlocked more.
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Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2019 7:36 pm
"I do but I think it would be dangerous if I blasted that energy here unless you were comfortable with that. Though I do find myself very comfortable by your side. It's such a pleasant place to be in and among all these shadows, possibility the brightest from the radiance beside me." He said with a curling little purr.
"I actually do not live that far off and there is safety in numbers. Would you like an escort home or would you be so opposed to maybe spending the night? My place is very spacious and I can be very accommodating of any of your nightly needs."
He leaned against that soft white shoulder and smiled to him. It was so rare to happen across another Mauvian that it was always a shame and a crime not to extend the time he could be with them. Kainite was sadly gone and he needed to move on. Back in the saddle as they say, or maybe back in the bed if he could manage such a nice evening.
Kyuseisha no Hikari
Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2019 4:51 am
"No, no," Soleiyu insisted, mulling over the burst of energy it would cause. "I wouldn't want you to do anything reckless. I'm sure I'll see it one day." Not tonight, he imagined; he didn't want to draw attention to either of them if they were already being harassed. The warmth Arthur gave off was undeniably appealing to Soleiyu but it didn't take him long to sort through his priorities.
"Unfortunately, I'll have to decline. For tonight," he assured, as if he meant not to insult Arthur. "I'd love to talk more, really. But I've made promises to finish a project tonight and I don't know how I could live with myself if I broke my word. I have a house full of people who worry about me. They know I'm not a cat, but sometimes I think they forget I'm not as fragile or helpless as one."
He sighed, partially exasperated and partially amused. It seemed he had calmed down a bit; he gave one last shake to dispel any lingering anxiety from being snatched at from the shadows. "You've already been so helpful, are you sure you don't want an escort home, if you live nearby? I'm off in that direction," he nodded his head to indicate. "It's the least I can do after you've been so kind, to make sure you get home safely."
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Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2019 7:24 am
"An escort? Well I wouldn't be opposed to that at all." He said, delighted by the chance of spending more time with him. Getting up, he moved with him in the direction indicated. "I'm not too far off. If you would like to earn up inside, you certainly can." And if he could get him inside, who knows what else he could convince him to do.
The thought was thrilling.
"I suppose I shouldn't stay a stranger. My name is Arthur. What is it that you are working in? Do you specialized in a field of study?" He asked, wondering what could keep the man's interest to keep him thinking if home.
Kyuseisha no Hikari
Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2019 5:10 am
Soleiyu pushed himself up promptly and let a shiver trail from the base of his neck to his tail, stretching as it moved along his body. "We'll see how this walk goes, if it's too menacing I might take you up on that." It would only be wise to seek shelter if the night stayed this dangerous. He eyed every shadow with caution and reproach, brushing against Arthur's shoulder with his own as he trotted to catch up with him.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Arthur. I'm Soleiyu. I dabble," he shrugged, not particularly self conscious of his experiments and research but certainly very protective of them. "Right now, I'm very interested in the magic of Senshi groups. Courts, especially. That's my project for the week. I have an old text I'm trying to translate, one of the Senshi in the Court found it on their homeworld. Only, it doesn't make much sense. Every time I think I might have decoded something, it turns up to be wrong. So I've got a few programs running back at the house to try and help me. That, and I'm distilling some flowers. I don't want them to set too long, I'm worried my mixture will be too acidic and will eat away at them. I'm testing the strength of their properties. Also from homeworlds. All the humans are busy researching Earth, but there's such a variety of worlds out there, with all their information lost or too hard to find. I want to make my senshi stronger, I want to equip her with all that she needs to survive. And perhaps find a way to chase away her intended," he rolled his eyes. "...She's too good for him, I don't know why she keeps him around. She could do better. I have to chaperone, they're such naughty children. Always getting into trouble. He's such a bad influence."
He huffed, eyes scanning the area intently as if he anticipated another attack any moment now. When he got a second to relax, his gaze settled on Arthur. "And you? Do you have projects?"
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Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2020 10:53 am
"Only a few. I am currently working on renovating a area in headquarters to become a library. A central hub for research our side can use to both become better educated but look up whatever they might need to give them a sees or fuel their own research. I also want it to search as a place to collect artifacts from the different worlds. We might be able to translate them, but preservation is key and possibly one discovery might let us see common influences between them. The past had such a wide network between moons and planets and other celestial bodies that I would love to see the scope of it and who was aligned with who. Bit for now, it is just a lot of buying furniture and books off of Amazon and used book sellers. Whatever is most realevent as I'm finding it myself."...
It was still a ways to go. The big area had only a few shelves full of books and even that was a lot. A few hundred at least. But bit by bit he would get it completed. It might take him a year or two though.
"Personally, I'm just trying to help other senshi with projects and am hoping to become one myself. I heard it can be done and there is some information on the process. There just hasn't been enough celestial material around for the job. Not without breaking into a lab and I'm no James Bond."
He chuckled to himself.
"You sound far more up in your studies than I am. I have just started with algorithms but I'm impressed and in awe of what you have going on your plate. Though I guess I should be grateful I am not watching over the Chasity of a senshi. I only have a younger Mauvian living with me. Far as I can tell, he hasn't expressed any interest in anyone."
Kyuseisha no Hikari
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 6:12 pm
Soleiyu nodded as he listened with rapt attention. The idea of a library of combined resources--of artifacts--was interesting enough that Arthur already had his support on the project. Of course, for all the interest he had in Arthur's project, his own pride couldn't help but swell a bit when the Mauvian complimented his work.
Were he a lesser cat, he might have purred. Instead, he managed to just walk with his head a little higher.
"You're lucky," he sighed. "...I need to get them more organized, and more focused. I just have to find the right young man to introduce her to. That way, if she's going to be distracted by love, she's at least got a man with proper character. Though, I'm not sure I could imagine taking care of a little one."
While he had heard a bit about Mauvian Senshi, he knew he had a few resources he could look into for that. He didn't want to waste his time with Arthur asking about that, not when he was fascinated with the thought of young Mauvians, of new Mauvians. Fascinated with the thought of Arthur's love life. "Is he yours?" he asked, taking a few seconds to watch his expression between scanning the shadows for trouble.
