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 Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2025 3:57 pm
If anyone had told me, Cuan thought, looking around at the bustle before her eyes, that we would be actively working with the Negaverse to save the world… The kitten shook her head and called her wits back from wandering. It was all very odd and mildly discomforting. But she couldn’t deny that without the additional man and cat and alien-power, they never would have been able to pull this off.
But she needed a break from blueprints and parts. She wanted a snack and some water. And maybe, she thought as she eyed a corrupt cat, a bit of conversation. She’d never spoken to one of the Negaverse cats before and this one looked like she might be friendly enough. Additionally, Cuan had been watching her for several minutes now and she’d been working hard sourcing out parts. If she didn’t take a break soon, she’d run the risk of wearing herself down to a thread and right now, well. None of them could afford the mistakes that would come with exhaustion. Really, she was only looking out for them all and not at all hoping to indulge in some snooping.
Getting to her feet, the little lykoi wandered over to the other cat and reached out a tiny paw to tap her.
“I’m taking a short eating break. Come with me, would you? You’ve been working so hard and I’m sure you could use the recharge as well. We’ll just let our acting crew chief know and go have a little snack, yes?”
By lucky coincidence, said ‘crew chief’ was standing close by and nodded permission. Smiling cheerfully, Cuan took a few steps and beckoned the other cat.
“Well? Let’s get some food! I’m Cuan.”
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Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2025 7:37 pm
Soyala would not have considered herself to be "working too hard." There was far too much at stake to worry about things like rest, or breaks, or...any of it. She'd managed to collect a decent pile of mechanical scrap, though, and she could be proud of that. Whatever her doubts, however strongly she had been considering how much she valued the Negaverse...
However lonely she was....
At least she could do this. At least she could be useful in this, if she was useful to no one else ever again.
The tap of another Mauvian's paw startled her, and she spun, a little defensively, bristling, but only for a moment--they were all in this together, weren't they? At least for the moment?
So perhaps it was safe to lower her hostility a little.
"....I apologize," she said, "you startled me. But yes, some food sounds lovely." She would lose track of herself if she didn't at least eat. And speaking with another Mauvian was a sort of working lunch, in its way.
"Soyala. It is...a pleasure to meet you, Cuan." A pleasure of a sort, even if dealing with the other side was not always the most pleasant thing. Even if she wondered, sometimes, what it would be like to be one of them, instead of one of the Negaverse's cats.
Foolish thoughts. Pointless. Disloyal. And yet.
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Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2025 9:32 am
Recoiling slightly as the other cat bristled, Cuan wondered if she’d misjudged things. Then, the cat, Soyala, apologized and the kitten felt that it was probably safe enough for her ears to return to their full upright positions. In an attempt to cover her jumbled feelings, Cuan took a moment to clean a paw delicately. Then, she smiled and nodded her head towards a cluster of tables.
“My senshi took it upon herself to make sure we Mauvians got proper food. She promised me that there’d be some decently cooked stuff, though I think I’m feeling partial to the bacon and avocado sandwiches that I know she’ll have snuck in for me. What do you fancy?”
It was a distinct disadvantage to not be able to assume a more humanoid form for things like eating and drinking. It felt so demeaning to get her nourishment out of a pet bowl on some days. Fortunately, Saiph was aware of this and often made sure that water was poured into actual cups and food wasn’t in kibble form. Approaching the tables, Cuan leapt lightly up onto one and sniffed. Well, Saiph had kept her word. There were cooked hamburger patties, hot dogs and sandwiches off to one side with a hand labeled sign saying, ‘For the Mauvians’. It was too bad there wasn’t any fish, but not everyone appreciated that particular aroma. Sniffing until she detected what she wanted, Cuan seized a half sandwich in her teeth, tottering slightly before jumping off of the table.
Setting her prize down, she tore into it for a moment, purring. Glancing at Soyala, she nodded encouragingly for the other cat to get something. She wanted to see if she could lure Soyala off where they could talk without risk of being overheard.
“Don’t be shy now, take whatever you like. And let’s take our food off, hmmm… how about over there?” she pointed with a paw. “We won’t be in danger of being stepped on that way. What do you think?”
It wasn’t difficult for Cuan to seem quite innocent. Her kittenish features helped with that, even if her lykoi traits warped the effect a little. Still, who could say no to a pair of big eyes and a tiny, cute face?
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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2025 11:24 pm
Soyala felt, truth be told, quite guilty about snapping at a kitten, and perhaps that was contributing to her willingess to go along with this, to trot over to the table of food and look around for something.
"Your Senshi is wise," Soyala said, propping herself up to take a proper look at the offerings. Honestly, there were good options, and her tail swished as she evaluated. "I prefer salmon to most anything, but given the circumstances..." That being, needing to sit out, and therefore less ideal for fish? It would have to do.
"Over there looks lovely," she agreed. Somewhere peaceful where they could eat and then go back to work when they felt ready.
She selected a hamburger patty, leapt down from the table, and trotted off towards where Cuan had suggested, tail raised in pride as if she had achieved some great victory.
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Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2025 1:45 pm
"Salmon is so good!" Cuan agreed readily. "If you haven't yet, try it with a dash of lemon juice. I wish we could have had some, but I suspect salmon is a touch beyond my senshi's skill level."
Leading the way, the kitten plonked herself down, half in shadow and began to eat in earnest. She couldn't help feeling a little amused by Soyala's upright tail. Really, other than the distressing aura, she was just like any other cat Cuan had met. Not so different after all.
What a pity she'd gotten stuck on the wrong side.
Crunching through bacon, the little lykoi considered her next move. She badly wanted to pick the older cat's brains a bit, but she also didn't want to damage the fragile rapport. Watching carefully, she waited until it seemed that Soyala had handled the worst of her hunger before clearing her throat delicately.
"Forgive me if this is rude," she began, "But I've never really spoken to a mauvian from your side before. May I ask what you think of them? Just cat to cat. I promise that nothing you say will go beyond us. I guess I'm just trying to understand."
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Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2025 8:21 pm
Soyala gave the kitten a nod. Salmon with lemon...always a pleasure. Once, she'd had someone who was glad to prepare it for her in so many different ways, but...well. He had chosen a different path for himself.
She settled in the shade, taking a bite of her hamburger patty, and made a purry little noise of contentment as she did. Delicious, really.
"Even if salmon is beyond her," she praised, "your Senshi makes quite good hamburgers." Even if it wasn't her usual pick, it was still better than...eugh....cat food. Bless whoever Cuan was attached to for not being fool enough to provide that abomination.
The question made her ears drop, a little, and she took another bite of hamburger as a polite way to give herself a moment before beginning to answer.
"They are...all I have ever known," she said, finally. "And I serve, because it is what I am meant to do. It isn't so bad, really."
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Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 12:10 pm
Noting the rapid droop of Soyala's ears, Cuan wisely said nothing, but contrived to look as sympathetic and understanding as possible. Which wasn't that difficult. She pitied the other cat deeply. Taking a few more bites of food, she considered her options. It seemed to her that Soyala had been upset by her question, though whether is was due to being offended or simly unhappy, she couldn't judge.
Though she suspected the latter because who could be truly happy being mired in Chaos?
"Of course," she instead said, pouring warmth into her voice. "Forgive me, it was an unfair question given that they are all you've known. It is admirable to serve so faithfully and I only hope that they are worthy of that service."
A couple more bites were eaten before Cuan decided that she was pleasantly full. Purring a little, she began to wash her face and ears. Soyala may have said it wasn't so bad, but no one ever used those words in that order when things really were okay. So she corrected course and began to extol the virtues of her own side.
"The White Moon is all I've known and I suppose it makes me biased, but I love my senshi dearly and can't imagine serving anyone else. And though I've had my differences with others, I know that they would have my back in a heartbeat. Without question or hesitation. I imagine that it must be similar for you. I've always believed that while we may serve our senshi and knight, or officers in your case, I suppose, that they serve us just as much. It's quite the equitable arrangement, don't you think?"
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Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 12:54 pm
Soyala made a little assenting purr of reply. She would have thought, at one point, that there was no question. Those she served were more than worthy of her service. Perhaps some still were, though she wasn't certain she could say that about the larger organization.
She had tried. Tried to fill her days with things, to prove her use to herself and to the Negaverse, and yet it had not felt fulfilling. It had not felt like anything remotely close to what she wanted to do. It had...simply felt like going through the motions and wondering where the purpose was.
Perhaps there wasn't one.
Perhaps that wasn't something to burden this poor kitten with.
She took a few more bites of her hamburger patty, and found herself mostly through it by the time she considered answering Cuan's question.
"Ideally, yes. And we are certainly well cared for. The Negaverse respects our technical capabilities, and the Dark Mirror our aid in helping them Awaken and grow stronger." Though, in truth, she was mostly periphery in both situations. A fact she had accepted, once. "It is as it is. I do what I can. And sometimes, there are...things like this. Things that fill the soul. A chance to use our talents for the benefit of all."
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Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 1:28 pm
Things that fill the soul, hmm? Perhaps that was her in. She didn't want to demoralize Soyala, but just make her consider her options. Because in Cuan's opinion there was a great difference in simply having one's physical needs met and feeling fulfilled.
"Oh, do you work with the Court as well? My impression had been that things were not terribly amicable between the Negaverse and the Court. Of course, my only source for that was one of the Dark Mirrors who purified. She had told me at the time that several of them were nearly at each other's throats."
If those relations had improved, it was certainly something to keep in mind. Though it wasn't relevant beyond being able to simply drop the word purified into the conversation.
"Of course, we all do what we can for our charges and if your basic needs are met and you're treated kindly, it is difficult to complain. It doesn't sound terribly fulfilling though, just being wanted for your ability to awaken or your technical abilities. Do they respect, love and care for you for yourself? That's just as important in my books."
She sounded very sure of herself, which wasn't that strange. Cuan often felt quite certain of how things should be. And maybe she was only projecting what she thought Soyala ought to feel and think. But on the chance that she was reading things rightly, she wanted the other cat to know that she didn't have to stay somewhere where she wasn't happy out of a sense of obligation. Duty and feeling valued for your skills was important, to be sure. But so was feeling well, soul-full and loved for just being you.
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Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2025 10:23 pm
"At times, yes." More frequently, sometimes, than with the Negaverse. Negaverse Senshi were few and far between, and mostly managed by the General-Sovereigns regardless. "Relations are...complicated, but no one has ever implied I should not help if it is needed."
She lifted up her paw to wash it, as if to emphasize how unbothered she was by the possibility of complications in that particular relationship. Whatever nonsense went on between the leadership if the Negaverse and the Dark Mirror, her duty was to Senshi.
And this, here? Working on satellites to protect the world? It felt....
Well. It felt better than helping build a rocket to infect a Senshi's world with Chaos, that was for certain.
"I had...people who loved me, once." Mruikabushi had wanted to know who she was other than a Guardian Cat, had encouraged her hobbies and joys. Quartz had always been kind to her. "But they have all left. So, I must make my way on my own."
Even if she didn't want to. Even if it broke her heart. Even if she was...tired. Even if all she wanted was to do things like this, and like gently guiding Farbauti, and...
Oh, she wanted to have the certainty Cuan had. Perhaps it was just youth and inexperience, but it must have felt nice, to know where you belonged.
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Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 8:15 am
Nodding, Cuan accepted the explanation of the current state of things between the Dark Mirror Court and the Negaverse. It sounded like that particular rift hadn’t been mended fully. So, one less thing to worry about for now.
Oh, but Cuan’s heart twinged for a moment when Soyala spoke about people who’d loved her once. The hurt was so evident to the kitten and reminded her of the time between leaving Chariklo and finding Saiph. She’d felt so lost and small and... and… worthless. And that break had been a mutual choice. Soyala’s choice of words made it fairly clear that her losses had not been decided on by all parties. Pity and an overwhelming need to give the other cat some comfort drove the kitten to act purely on impulse. Moving quickly, she got up and went to Soyala, leaning up against the older cat and rubbing her cheek against the other cat and purring gently. She would have considered trying to groom the other cat if she hadn’t thought that Soyala might object to a kitten clambering over her.
“Loss is hard,” she said softly. “It’s terrible to feel left behind and alone. But…”
They were getting close to the end of what time could be reasonably expected of a quick snack break. And the last thing she wanted was for someone to come looking for them. She didn’t have much time and there were so many wrinkles to work through. But, Cuan felt that Soyala was someone that was, ultimately, a good person at heart. It was a shame that destiny had placed her amongst the wrong crowd.
Still, she had to go carefully or risk being unceremoniously shut out.
“But,” she continued, “You don’t have to do this on your own. You don’t have to be alone with only your duty. I know how prickly your side can get when certain, ah, subjects come up, so I won’t put you into that position.”
The little lykoi rubbed her cheek against Soyala’s side once more before carefully backing away. Things like this were so delicate and she couldn’t push her luck too far. Still, that didn’t stop her from making the offer, even if it was couched in not-so-clear words.
“There are so many people waiting and willing to open their hearts up to you if you ever decide that duty alone isn’t enough anymore. And I’m always here if you need to talk.”
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Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 5:17 pm
Soyala was surprised, for a moment, when Cuan leaned in next to her, but she found herself relaxing into the affection, glad for the kindness being shown to her. It was...surprising, the way other Mauvians were willing to reach across lines, to make her feel warm and welcomed, even given everything she was. How she, to some degree, represented a perversion of what they had to believe a Guardian Cat should be.
And yet. They made her feel wanted. Safe.
Like maybe she could be more than a tool in the service of the Negaverse.
"You are...very kind, Cuan. And I will think about everything you've said." She bumped her head against Cuan's cheek, glad for the kindness the other Mauvian had offered her.
Perhaps things did not have to be as they were. Perhaps there was somewhere else to go.
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