asgardeventide | 001 > Nepeta: purrsue enquiries

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001 > Nepeta: purrsue enquiries

:33 < *ac yawns and covers her mouth with her paw befur taking a look around*
:33 < *this isnt where she went to sl33p yesterday, she thinks as she grooms her fur*
:33 < *the sl33py kitty doesnt remember falling asleep at all, actually!*
:33 < *so she finds it purrty unusual that shes somewhere so different now*
:33 < and this device is weird beclaws theres no trollian on it at all!
:33 < so it takes a pawfully long time to type all this
:33 < *ac bats at the display some more with her paws*
:33 < this is a pretty cute bracelet though :33

:33 < i dont suppaws any of my furrends are around here?
:33 < they are grey like me and have horns and some of them like karkitty yell a lot
:33 < i would appurreciate it furry much if anyone could tell me where to find them :33
:33 < especially equius beclaws im worried about him
:33 < hes big and has a broken horn and wears sunglasses all the time!
:33 < i guess thats it fur now!

[A few seconds of video flash on after the text cuts out - a small grey troll with cat-like horns and a kitty hat is indeed pawing at the bracelet's display, looking a great deal more anxious than the text let on.]

It can't be true, nuh uh, I was just having a furry furry bad dream...oh no! Oops.

[She notices her mistake with the transmission, and this time it cuts off finally.]

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[She's so upset she doesn't even realizing he's patting her head, something he never used to be able to do. She knows very well that 'hurt' isn't accurate, but she can't bring herself to say the word killed.]

It was not! It wasn't, it wasn't his right! What was I supposed to do without you?!

[Although hearing the Gamzee isn't here is a relief. She'd have taken his claws to him again the very next time she saw him.]

He is a highblood little one. You know this. It is not our place to stand up against one above our station. Karkat was quite... but no. It does not matter now. You are here, and we have a new war to fight together.

Let us not worry about the Bard of Rage, yes? You should not concern yourself too much with him. He may return, but if he does... he was calmer when I last saw him. For now, you are not without me, and you aren't about to become without me.

Stop calling me little! I don't care who or what he is! He killed my moirail! [She lets go of him, growling, quite beside herself now.]

It does matter. I know we're together now, but what if we get sent back? What then?

[He blinked. Her rage wasn't entirely something he didn't expect, but at the same time it was more pronounced than he was ever used to seeing. It shocked him and sent a little uncomfortable blue hue to his cheeks. He coughed once and glanced away.

This was more awkward in some ways than Aradia. Well, she knew.]

I suppose the cat's out of the bag... [nice try, Equius. Try not to say it so lamely next time.]

If we return, Aradia has spoken of something called dream bubbles. I would remain with them, with all those who have ...

...

...

Nepeta, did you follow my instructions?

[It is going to take so much more than cat jokes to pacify her just now.]

I did. I went and hid, I hid in the vents because it seemed the safest place and the hardest one for anyone to use to follow me. But then I ended up right above where you found Gamzee! I couldn't leave, you know I couldn't, I had to make sure you were okay! You'd have done the same for me! And then you weren't okay, you just let him...

[Something happened in that moment. Aradia's comments and how everyone had been dancing around the subject so very carefully all clicked. Now, Equius was a brilliant troll in his own way, but had the social comprehension of a rock. However, even he could eventually notice something right there in front of his face.

And just like that, he snapped a little, his teeth bared.]

He touched you, didn't he? Did the bard hurt you?!?

[She looks down, a horrible confused mess of angry and downright miserable. She hadn't meant to tell him, not like this, not after how it had hurt her to know he was dead. But she couldn't not confront him on what he'd allowed to happen to himself.]

I kept thinking you'd do something, I tried to do as you asked me and stayed hidden and waited for you to confront him! But I waited too long and then you were dead and I couldn't think. I was so unhappy, so angry!

I leapt out at him...

[He paused and his fingers clenched and finally, he closed his eyes and breathed in and out once. He needed a minute. No, he needed days. No, he needed months to process this. He wasn't designed to handle this. It was the Highblood's privilege, but she was his moirail.

...

Finally, he shook his head.]

We are here now. Let us not speak of it for now. I prefer it that you be frivolous and I be forced to chide you for it and teach you proper manners. We do not need to speak of the Bard.

He is not here, and I will never let him touch you again. Is that clear?

[No, it isn't clear. How can she be sure? He let Gamzee kill him, something she'd never expected of him, not even with how well she knew him. How can she tell what he might do if he ever shows up again?

She sinks down onto the ground, sitting there in a small, miserable ball. She doesn't want to be frivolous. She doesn't want to pretend things are okay and everything is normal. It's not.]

[He sighed and squatted down, shaking his head.]

I was...
I...
I was...

[He was having almost a painful time saying what he was about to say, so it would take him a minute. Finally, he got it out, but it wasn't easy.]

I was wrong. I cannot protect you while I am dead, and whatever privilege he possesses with his blood, it is not the same as ...

[Clench. No, that was wrong and he knew it... but he didn't care.]

He is not allowed to touch you, under any circumstances. I do not care what he is.

[That gets her to finally look up at him, her face tear-stained but...hopeful, somehow. She knows how much it must have cost him to say that, and she knows it shows the depth of how he feels about her for him to be admitting it at all now.

She stretches out to wrap her arms around his neck, barnacling herself to him.]

We're going to stay here together and be okay now, right?

We have a new game to play Nepeta, and another war to fight. I have no intention of returning to dream bubbles while you are still about. Yes, I think... we will be acceptable in this place.

[He reached over and tried to pat her on the head again. It was an awkward, unfamiliar gesture.]

[She makes a soft, tiny noise that could almost be a purr when he pats her head, nuzzling into his hand.]

You have to tell me all about the new game and how we play it, okay? I want us to win!

You will understand it far better, I assure you. This sort of game is to your taste. Well, at least the bringing color to this world.

...

I may even forgive my usual concerns about your obsessions. They might have tactical use.

Uh huh, I do like the sound of that part of it.

[She buries her face against his neck, clinging close and starting to feel at least a little bit soothed.]

Which obsessions? You complain about almost alll of them.

Your wall. It... is fitting, considering the house to which you have been assigned. I somehow am surprised that such a thing does not already exist considering some of their behavior.

Oh, that's right! I'll get to draw it all over again now! First I have to find out about alll the new pairings here!

Which house are you in, Equius?

Indeed. [He was partially suggesting it because at least he could watch it and keep her from being too foolish in the process, or so he told himself.] There are several, I am sure.

I was chosen for Freyr because of my glorious taste in art.

[Nepeta manages to hold back a snort at that - she knows what Equius considers to be art! - but the last thing she wants to do just now is hurt her moirail's feelings.]

That's great! Are the houses for Freyr and Freya close together? I want to be close by! Oh, oh, and they've given me a room here! Do you want to see it?

They are. Either neighboring districts or close to. I cannot remember.

Yes, let us see your room. That seems a good use of our time under the circumstances. I cannot remain forever however. It is uncomfortable.

Oh, good! I can come and visit you all the time. And my room is that way.

[She points, still clinging around his neck and hoping he'll take the hint and carry her.]

Why is it uncomfortable?

[He shrugged and tapped one of the walls before catching onto her intent and sighing, shaking his head and allowing her to ride. After all, she had just had a hard time of it. He could dote, right?]

These gods are territorial. They do not like us in other houses, and you will feel it when you visit. A few hours are fine though.

[He definitely could! Nepeta approves highly of being doted upon.]

Oh...I don't think I like the sound of that. Isn't there anywhere we could stay together where that wouldn't happen?

Hmmm? [Said, hauling her about.]

I believe there is paid housing if we find work. We could establish a commune for some of our fellows, at least the ones who are not severely derelict in some fashion such as the sea dweller.

I could work! It would be fun if a bunch of us could all live together! ...the ones who are less likely to fight, though. There was enough of that back home.

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