catch-all (partly open; partly closed)

[catasstrophy]

Who: Konoe and friends acquaintances (and enemies, and whatever)
When: May
Where: ~around~
What: All the things! So far: herb quest with Dylas; Mrs. Mitten quest with... you?
Warnings: The general stupidity of a catboy chasing a cat? 🙀 Will edit as things come up.
Feel free to use the format/tense you're most comfortable with! I will happily adapt.
If you want to wildcard me for whatever, go right ahead. You're likely to find Konoe around the city, following the magic classes the coven's giving, maybe attempting some very minor magic in a secluded spot, sitting on a rooftop looking out over the city and trying not to feel lonely, or... very much lost because he has no sense of direction.

[closed] HERBOLOGY HELP

It's not for the reward that Konoe does this; in fact, he's not sure what the reward even is. But he's been wanting to take a look at the forest, even if it's supposed to be dangerous, and this gives him the perfect excuse to finally do it. And, since he's not alone... he doesn't have to worry about getting lost either. (Shut up.)

It's strange how much the forest feels comfortable and familiar, yet something about it is still very much off. The smell of the trees and plants is not so different than that of the world he grew up in, but there's definitely something odd on top of that, very faint and sickly sweet, yet anything but sweet at the same time. That's new. The Void never smelled like anything... but then, that only made it more dangerous.

This still feels more like home than a city ever could. Konoe appreciates the comforts of a city, but it's hard to beat scents for nostalgia.

"Follow the river in the forest, it said..." And that's what they're doing. "Do you think it's much further?" He doesn't mind either way. He's just trying to make conversation, in his own way - and perhaps trying to calm down somewhat, with that eerie sickly sweet scent lightly prickling at his nose.


[open] MRS. MITTENS

In a city full of magic and monsters, there's a wide variety of things one should expect to see, and very little that should surprise you. Even so, the sight in front of you may raise a few eyebrows.

"Hey - wait!" There's a young man with a tail and cat ears, his hood long since fallen off his head and flapping behind him like the rest of his mantle. He's running at a pretty impressive speed, jumping obstacles... and perhaps knocking over a thing or two (hopefully not a person or two) in the process, oops.

That's not really the noteworthy thing here, though. The strangest thing to note is that he's chasing... a cat. The catboy is chasing a cat.

"I'll give you milk, so come here already!" He remembers that these Cats are supposed to like milk. He has still not accepted that they apparently - supposedly - can't talk, though... and even if he did, he expects them to at least understand what he's saying.

Clearly this particular Cat is just very rude.

Comments

[catasstrophy]

[It's a complicated question, even if it doesn't seem to be.]

I don't know... if returning to my world would benefit it.

[He was kind of cursed, supposedly bound to bring about that world's end, for a while there. Even if he no longer seems to be cursed, there's no way of knowing that the curse wouldn't come back if he returned.]

But I at least want to know what happened. And... [He pauses, trying to figure out where to draw the line between what's sensible and what he wants.] If I can let people know that I'm okay, that would be good.

[Few enough people would worry about him, but one or two might. He doesn't want to burden them with unnecessary worries.]

[veilfires]

[Lonely words. The gaze Solas is affixing Konoe with becomes sympathetic.]

A sad appraisal to make of yourself.

[Which is not to say it’s wrong: he cannot guess the meaning and context of words from a stranger from a strange world. But he is sensitive to the presence of hidden pain. He does not need to understand to respect it. He adds:]

I hope that, with effort, we will yet find a way to pass such a message back to your world.

[catasstrophy]

[Maybe it is sad, at that. But it is the way it is, and it's nothing personal. Konoe may not always be the most selfless, but he at least knows better than to risk the existence of his world for a selfish desire to return to it.

This world isn't so bad, anyway. It's just kind of lonely, being the only cat.]

Yeah. [He nods in determination. That's honestly as much as he wants to do with his own world. He doesn't want Tokino to think he died. Even if he supposes it's entirely possible he did die, in that world.]

... You want to go back to your world?

[veilfires]

[He inclines his head in the affirmative, slow and serious.]

Yes. I could not abandon it now. [Though in effect he did, when he stepped through a mirror - another betrayal he must do what he can to set right.] My world teeters on the brink of final catastrophe. I must do what I can to help save it.

[Were he speaking candidly, he would even say that his world needs him. There’s a marked distinction to be drawn there, between the pair of them.]

[catasstrophy]

[It really is the exact opposite from Konoe, isn't it? Saving the world or destroying it, by design or otherwise. That makes it a little awkward to talk about, but Konoe is still curious.]

What were you going to do? To save it.

[It's not like Konoe can just do the same thing in his own world and be fine... but he'll take any tips he can, at this point.

With the cat in his arms finally calmed down some, he leans down to lick at its ears.]

[veilfires]

[He goes to answer – with the preface that the plans made are in no way good plans, and intending to make all the necessary omissions.

But Konoe licking the cat surprises him so much he pulls up short and he laughs aloud, not unkindly. Every day he finds something new and unexpected. He says, with sincere warmth, unable to hold back his curiosity now his ignorance has been revealed:]

I have never met someone of a nature like yours, Konoe. I have known shapeshifters who came to prefer the shape of an animal to that of an elf, but you would not still inhabit the body you do if you were a mere shapeshifter. Who are your people?

[catasstrophy]

[Laughing is fine, but when Konoe belatedly realizes it's laughing at him, he makes a noise that almost sounds like he's coughing up a furball. (Don't worry, he doesn't do that.) Listen, it's not his fault if this is an awkward moment for his motherly(???) instincts to awaken! Grooming is perfectly normal, and he can't believe he hasn't found a single person who realizes this.

He gives the cat another lick on the ear or two - just on principle, and to show how intimidated he isn't - before answering.]

I'm a cat. [Wait - that has only ever lead to confusion before. He glances down at the actual cat in his arms.] A ribika.

Everyone's like this, where I'm from.

[He means the way he looks, more than licking around, but...]

[veilfires]

[He can understand the difference. He’ll remember cat, if it’s what Konoe prefers.]

And I am an elf. [An apology is due, so he adds:] I should not have laughed. I was surprised, but that only marks my ignorance.

[As they’ve been walking while chatting, they’ve been strolling through the leafy campus, and are approaching the library entrance now. Inside, there’s a reception desk where Solas means to ask directions as said. He muses:]

You are alone here, then, stranded in a strange world among strange people. [From a lost elf to a lost cat, he sympathises with that.]

[catasstrophy]

[Konoe doesn't really prefer either term. "Cat" is more commonly used where he's from, but it's also more likely to lead to confusion here. Ribika works just as well, but feels a little more formal. It's kind of like "human" and "homo sapiens" are interchangeable, but not quite the same.]

An elf...

[He repeats the unfamiliar term, trying to figure out the defining characteristics of the species. The ears, maybe...? Apart from that, he couldn't tell.

Really, though, isn't it weird that it's always the ears? Or maybe he's just weirdly focused on those without realizing..?]

It's the same for you, right? [He's not offended. Much. Okay, he's a little offended, but he'd rather pretend that nothing happened than to make a big deal out of it.] As long as you realize, it's fine.

[Since Solas called himself ignorant, Konoe can only accept his apology of sorts. There's no point in arguing with someone who's already given in.]

[veilfires]

[It’s always the ears.]

Just the same. [Echoed agreeably.]

Is the world of cats much different from Geargadas?

[A material, linear plane, or a world of dreams and spirits where will defines what is real? He suspects, from Konoe’s manner, the former – but the intermingled cat characteristics, which reminds him of shapeshifters and werewolves, leaves him curious about what role spirits might play in it.]

[catasstrophy]

No. This city is a little different, but not much.

[The technology of this place is miles beyond the complete lack of it that Konoe's world has, but apart from that, it's similar enough.]

The forests are like it, too.

The only real difference is the population.

[Only cats, like he said. There are monsters, too, but they're not like the monsters here.

Then there's demons, but the less said about those, the better.]

[veilfires]

[A material world, then, as he suspected.]

People do more to give a world character than trees or buildings. That difference could be great.

[Which is true enough – and it’s also true that difference can amount to not much. While talking they draw close enough to the doors that either of them could pop in to the reception desk, so he adds,]

We can ask directions here. How is the cat?

[catasstrophy]

It is... and it isn't.

[It's hard to explain just how different (or not) his world is. For the most part, it's the same. If the population is different, Konoe honestly couldn't tell if that is what makes things different, or if it's just his feeling of detachment, being away from other cats, that's the difference.

It's funny how he never felt any connection to his species, before, yet being away from it makes him realize how much he's missing.]

She's calm. [He looks down at her.] A little hungry, maybe.

That's what you get for running away.

[He says that, but he scritches the cat's ears anyway, his behavior not matching his verbal attitude at all.]

call it a thread hereabouts? <:

[veilfires]

[It’s strange to be alone and far from home. Solas benefits from having this be the second time he’s been unwillingly dragged into a new world, and surrounded by a strange people who not his own but yet are in many ways a mirror of his people. There’s a frame of reference he’s working with that gives him an idea of what Konoe might be feeling.

That sympathy goes into the smile he gives Mrs Mittens.]

Good.

[She yawns and starts to nuzzle Konoe’s fingers.]

Maybe we can impose further and find some lunch for her.