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Birthdays. Bah. Who needed them?

It was in this mindset that Sodalite had started on his evening quota of energy. Even though the higher ups had new technology that was supposed to make the draining of energy less noticeable and less hands-on, but seriously, where was the fun in that? The Captain had been keeping a surreptitious gaze on the trail that ran parallel to the area of the woods he was currently staked out in. The auras of other individuals pinged noticeably on his radar but he paid them no mind. He wasn't really doing any harm by simply being out here. No one should pay him mind. Idly his fingers flexed on the cane portion of his weapon.

He hated waiting.

Waiting caused time to slow down and he was already getting tired. How much longer would this individual take to walk by?

Scowling up at the sky that was visible through the tree's canopy did nothing to negate his foul mood. The chosen recipient of his attention today had no idea that she was the unlucky one that caught his eye but considering that her routine was so very predictable, it made it easier to single her out. Just tonight there seemed to have been a noticeable delay in her passing through the park.

One more glance towards the sky and Sodalite had had enough. He wasn't going to skulk in the shadows any longer. Teleporting was still a new sensation but with a concentration that he rarely showed except while playing chess did Sodalite disappear with naught but a slight pop before reappearing closer to the area that his target would be coming from.

Draining is the goal but there is a need for caution, he mused as he found a new position to wait in. In the distance horses could be seen grazing in an open paddock... hopefully she'll be too tired to put up much of a fight.

Elliott was thankful for the subtlety of his aura compared to the nearly oppressive aura of the captain. If he was careful, perhaps he could beam the man and chase him off his mission. It required staying out of sight, though. Easier for most Mauvians, he was certain.

As a Mauvian who resembled the Earth species Maine coon--at least, so far as Dahlia has told him--Elliott was not most Mauvians. He knew he was on the larger size.

Horses, of course, were still larger.

While keeping an eye on the captain, he slipped through hay and horses, in and out of the stables. Could he find a good angle?

Perhaps he could, but he could not manage to find an angle that did not cause him to run into the stable hand. Elliott made a shocked noise as he just about did, holding himself a few places away. Right, this one was human. Better to not hint at his secret.

He mewed quietly as an apology.

The sight of a cat was nothing unusual around this place. Tory figured that this animal that had nearly run into her was one of the various felines that lingered around the stables in order to keep the mice and rat population down. Although there was a questioning look in her gaze as she took in the cat's size before she gave a thoughtful frown. She was pretty sure that she had never seen this particular feline before. It's soft meowing at her was enough to bring a soft peal of laughter from her throat. The large feline almost seemed to express remorse for nearly running into her. Too cute.

It was the sudden wave of fatigue that washed over her that had Tory fighting to cover the large yawn that suddenly erupted from deep within. Bringing her hand up though had the intended effect of bringing her attention to the fact that she wasn't as alone as she had believed she was. The tread of booted feet had stopped and Tory took in the sight of the older man standing just far enough away that she merely shook her head in response to the suggestion that had been made.

"It's fine. The cat isn't really doing any harm. I just startle easily at times."

Taking in the appearance of the man once more did Tory make a small clicking sound with her tongue before pointing towards the building that housed an indoor riding ring. "If you're looking for the owner, you'll most likely find them holding a "beginner's only" lesson over in that building there."

Kneeling down Tory reached out to allow the large cat to sniff at her fingers if it deigned to do so before realizing that the man hadn't moved. If he wanted to be a creep, well, Tory wouldn't stand for being hassled. "Look, it's late. I'm tired and I'm not in a mood to be stared at."

Feeling the softest brush of fur tickle the edge of her fingers Tory sighed. Introduction time to a new furry friend would have to wait. She moved to straightened out before feeling another wave of exhaustion overtake her. Even on her busiest days she never felt this run down. "Know what, you aren't even worth the effort. I'm out of here."

Strolling closer to the fence that made up the paddock would see distance put between the dark-haired man and herself. Of the cat Tory wasn't sure what it was up to but she just wanted to get home now.

Nope. This was not how the encounter would end. Even as his target made some quip about where to find the owner of the stables did he frown. Amusing as it would be to just show up and drain a whole apparent class of beginner riders that hadn't been the plan. Although maybe ... maybe that was a viable solution. Sodalite got a rather intrigued look on his face before he slowly turned away from the cat and the girl, "thanks for the information. I think I will go see the owner ... and this beginner's only class."

He was certain that the redhead wouldn't get too far away and his gaze fell back onto the feline. Something about the way it seemed to be looking back at him as it trailed after her made him pause.

The faintest ping of an aura had the captain scrutinizing the pair even closer before he turned away from both of them. One tired redhead vs several potential other targets - on paper - it sounded like a better deal but putting the idea into motion might prove trickier - he would have to be careful. He grimaced at the feeling that he was simply letting a guaranteed target go on the fact that she had unwittingly given him a better option. He still had the energy he had siphoned from her, but it most certainly wasn't enough for quota.

Did the agent simply... Leave?

He supposed that this stable hand fed him another target. Elliott would have pursued the agent, but he had another problem in front of him. This senshi starseed could not simply wait for him to return from providing a beam to the captain. If he was able to detect it, it was only a matter of time before a Mauvian aligned to Chaos would notice it.

And then this sweet girl would be doomed to be stuck with Chaos and their lies. His bonded senshi was a freed senshi. Elliott did not want to accidentally doom another senshi to that fate.

Well. With the captain gone, it made it a bit easier to answer her question and also make sure no one else was around them. Elliott quickly cased the area as he kept following the new senshi. It looked clear enough. "It is alright, miss. I have a home already."

Would that startle her? Perhaps he should have given another type of warning. What could he have done differently, though? Continuing forward, he offered, "I am following you because there is something interesting about your heart, and I wish to keep it away from that other man."

"Oh, okay then," well it was good that the cat had a home to go to. Victoria took about three more steps forward before the shock registered about what the cat had just said. No, scratch that, the shock wasn't over what words had come out of the cat's mouth ... it was the fact that the cat was speaking at all. The surrealism of the moment was probably just due to how tired she was and Tory had been about to brush it off as her imagination but then the cat ... spoke again.

Now her gaze turned almost comically to stare at the rather large animal before she made a brief sound of confusion in reply before simply shaking her head.

"I've finally managed to fall asleep while walking. It's the only reasonable explanation for talking cats," but even as she tried to deny the scenario did Tory find herself falling into another crouched position to stare directly into this cat's vivid blue eyes before shaking her head.

"I'm not sure I understand what you mean but what is special about my heart?"

Well, if she was in a dream state - wouldn't it be better to simply go with the flow as it were?

"If I'm not sleeping, then how are you talking?"

Was that the most pertinent question that she could pose of the talking animal? It probably wasn't, but at the moment it was the only one that escaped from her mouth. Shaking her head Tory took a step back from the rather large feline before the other words that it had said finally made it through the small amount of resistance that had sprung up when the cat initially spoke. With that resistance gone, Tory gave the animal a curious look. The warning that others could come after her for this potential magic in her heart to take it by force gave the girl a moment's pause. That did not sound at all pleasant to have to deal with.

"So, this magic that I am apparently all about, how can you show me what you mean? I'm just a little confused here. What is this magic?"

She had yet to actually express a permission of sorts and it seemed as if the cat was waiting for her to do so. Tory glanced back towards the buildings she'd come from earlier and then to the open field where it now seemed as if a few horses were showing signs of agitation. Was this because of the presence of the cat or something else?

I don't understand a single thing this cat is saying, but should I just go with it so I can see to the horses after? I wonder what has spooked them.

"You're awfully polite, you know. If you need my permission you have it."

Here's hoping I don't regret whatever is about to happen.

Well, this was certainly interesting. Tory’s thoughts were scattered even as she attempted to give her full attention to Elliott. When he spoke again Tory’s eyes locked onto the cat’s own before she mentally corrected herself with the correct term: Mauvian. It explained what he was and how he could apparently talk with human speech but she was still confused.

Even as the cat rose to his full height and began to circle her did Tory’s mind keep going back to the same simple conclusion. The truth was, it scared the heck out of her.

I’m magical. Who would have thought it? But I wonder what that means exactly. Will I now be forced to keep some deadly little secret about myself from others?

When Elliott returned to stand in front of her Tory kept all of her senses on high alert before she was presented with a pen that had appeared out of thin air. Was this more magic then? Even as she ran her fingers over the odd design of the pen-like object, she managed to look up to perform a quick check on the horses that were on the other side of the fence. Why did this need to happen here? It was also strange that she was still feeling utterly exhausted, “so, I need to be holding onto this pen and saying what you told me to?”

Tory looked at the pen before she looked back down to Elliott before shrugging her shoulders in a gesture that was silently asking, ‘what do I have to lose?’ Her voice was firm, yet almost silent as she uttered the phrase the Mauvian had instructed her to use.

“Karaka Power, Make-up.”

There was the sensation of something happening, albeit what it was exactly Tory didn’t know, and when the sensation stopped she glanced down at the garment she appeared to be dressed in before daring to kneel down in order to chuck the cat under its chin, gently.

“So, what’s with the magical wardrobe change,” and she paused, already distracted by a feeling that was nearby, “and while I don’t know what it is I’m sensing … why does it feel like something shouldn’t be here?”