[early morning cat posting]

[sevenhorrorsmods]

Who: everyone
When: July 25
Where: class 3-C
What: a few visitors!
Warnings: none!

[On Friday morning at 6:00 a.m. on the dot, the student body is awoken not by the bell, but by the sound of meowing echoing over the intercom.

[It's not just the PA system, either. Soft, gentle, and very cute mewls fill the classroom hallways; distant on floors one and two, but much louder on floor three. Intrepid explorers who follow the noise will find that one of the third floor classrooms has been overtaken by a pack of ghostly cats!]

[Each creature is the size of a normal housecat, and has the mannerisms of one. That is, they will attempt to hop into your lap for some prime cuddling time, ears and tails flicking adorably all the while. Their bodies are a pale, ghostly white, and their eyes glow a soft, gentle blue. Although they are translucent, they are still solid to the touch, and they feel just like a normal cat does. Soft fur and everything! Aren't they precious? Aren't they just so stinkin' cute??? DON'T YOU JUST WANT TO SMOOSH THEIR ROUND LI'L KITTEN FACES??]

[So long as characters are kind to the cat spirits, the Nekomata are completely harmless. They just want to play and snuggle!! Although. . .]

[Anyone who touches a cat spirit will find themselves hit with a sudden need for physical contact. This can range from something small (desiring a high five) to something bigger (needing to CUDDLE THE SHIT outta someone). Being surrounded by more than one Nekomata means the compulsion becomes stronger, too! One cat means it can probably be safely ignored, but five?? If you don't HOLD SOMEONE'S HAND RIGHT THIS SECOND you JUST MAY DIE!!]

[Oh, so you don't like cats? No problem! The Nekomata are mischievous creatures, and they WILL leap onto people's backs and shoulders without warning. Being cat spirits, they can also teleport from one place to another, so. . . you can be minding your own business one second, blink, and then be staring into the eyes of a cute cat spirit perched on your lap the next.]

[The Nekomata will be drawn towards members of Anzen more than anyone else per their target lock curse, but they are excited to shower literally anyone in a bit of cute kitty affection, regardless of their homeroom]

[Please let me know if your character is being violent and/or aggressive towards the Nekomata. Otherwise, enjoy some compulsive physical bonding with a cute ghostly flair!]

Comments

[ratiocinations]

[He must count his blessings: at least the cats are not making that huge a fool of him. Holmes would be gracious enough to take at least one or two off his hands, but they seem not all interested in him.

Chuckles.]

Of course not, dear fellow. [okay maybe a little bit] But you are doing well to confirm what we spoke about last, regarding your classroom's possible "curse."

And if it must be confirmed, at least it is with seemingly harmless ghost-cats and not life-threatening ghouls.

[ordimame]

[eventually, Puck sways, before plopping himself quite firmly into the nearest seat. this seems to help his cause, because the cats stop hanging off of his arms to gather pleasantly in his lap]

That's what Smith said earlier. . . [a mild groan] You're both going to jinx us, you know?

[ratiocinations]

[Scoffs! Well. He will take a seat at the neighboring desk beside him and continue looking through it.]

I don't believe in superstitions or jinxes.

[ ... ]

Though perhaps I should start. Still. It does not change what I've said: better to confirm it this way and be prepared for future encounters when they come.

[ordimame]

[digging fingers behind Nekomata ears to give the creatures a few scritches]

I guess you have a point there. . . [a pause] . . . has your-- ah, "affliction," started acting up again?

[ratiocinations]

[There is a brief pause as he rummages around, his hand stilling-]

Beyond the incident with Ms Botan? [Ah, did he mention that one to Mr Puck already? Well. No matter.] I have felt the inclination with a fellow "classmate" who sought to steal my cigarettes, but thus far, I've had it under control.

[Knock on wood.]

1/2

[ordimame]

[hol' up. he wants to ask about the incident with Botan because?? no?? he hasn't heard about that yet?? but Mister Adair distracts him with something far more important]

[ordimame]

You have cigarettes?

[BINCH, SHARE]

[ratiocinations]

[Grins. That is the look of a man who also misses his cigarettes, he thinks.]

Oh, yes. We received items from home recently, weren't we? [Some of them were, anyway.] Those were mine.

[ordimame]

[. . . nnnngh, the temptation. . . especially considering how stressed out this place makes him. . . he knows it's a poor habit and an even poorer coping mechanism, but nicotine and ash numb from the inside out, and gods is that what he needs right about now]

[. . .]

I've been clean for a few months, so.

[. . . . . . . . just one is fine, right?]

. . . got one you can spare?

[ratiocinations]

[He is NOT a good man to avoid enabling other people, especially given some of his of his own habits — both past and current. And were this a lucky situation, ironically, his curse would kick in and make him feel as though he should not lend anyone anything, much less a precious, limited supply of cigarettes.

But alas. It does not kick in. And he feels the need to offer Mr Puck some manner of thanks for... taking all the cat aggro off of him.]

Hm. If you're all right with breaking your streak, then... here.

[Digs around in a shirt pocket beneath his sweater vest, then unearths a single cigarette. He holds it out.]

I've been lighting mine over stoves.

[Like, in his dorm. Like a gremlin.]

[ordimame]

[YES. . . YES!!! SWEET, SEEET NICOTINE!!! Puck plucks the cigarette from Mister Adair's fingers with a wry grin]

I'll at least save it for a rainy day. Thanks

[hah. . . into his pocket it goes. for later!!]

If anything justifies breaking my streak, it's. . . [gestures to. everything] All of this.

[nothing justifies breaking his quitting streak when he had quit for a reason, but. sometimes Pavlovian response just does not give a shit!!]

[ratiocinations]

[SUCCESSFULLY ENABLED, Holmes once more becomes a dubious influence.]

I think you deserve at least one for when you need to think and relax. Smoking helps me with both — though I prefer my pipe.

[ordimame]

[. . . well, he sure doesn't want to talk about the reasons why he picked up the habit. so he doesn't!!]

Maybe you'll get that one back. . . next time?

[ratiocinations]

[Considering that smoking is not really considered a bad habit in his time—at least not to the same extent as it would be in a more modern era—this is one of the few times where Holmes does not think to immediately question it. You're safe for now, Mr Bean.]

Ha! We will see. I would certainly not be against it, though I would grow in suspicion as to why I'm being treated so kindly.

Did you receive anything of your own, Mr Puck?

[ordimame]

[SAFE FOR NOW. . .]

[he gives pause at the question, before digging into his pocket and producing a simple slip of paper. an ofuda, with the word "barrier" written on the front]

This isn't an item from home, but it was waiting for me when I got back. Mocha seems to think it's some kind of barrier spell.

[he, however, has no idea if this is true]

[ratiocinations]

[Wait? What? What?? This is news to him. Holmes leans forward to get a better look, patting at his pocket as though he were trying to fish something out (magnifying glass), before realizing he has no such thing on him. Frowning, he makes do with just raking his gaze across the paper.

Seems... rather mundane to him, but looks are particularly deceiving in this place.]

A spell? How are you to cast a spell from a slip of paper?

[ordimame]

Dude, you're asking the wrong person.

[he responds, tone flat, otherwise allowing the curious fellow in pink to examine the paper to his heart's content]

I've seen these kinds of talismans before, but back home, they're just pretty slips of paper.

[ratiocinations]

[Ultimately, there is not much to see other than what is presented, and eventually Mr Adair straightens and huffs somewhat.]

And back home, what are they used for? If not to cast spells.

[ordimame]

They're not dissimilar to the omamori we've been given.

[back into his pocket the ofuda goes]

Ofuda are said to be imbued with the power of the gods themselves. They have many purposes, such as protecting one from misfortune or just keeping them safe.

[ratiocinations]

[Hm HMMMM interesting. He notes that for later.]

If that is the case, then keep that safe and close, Mr Puck. A team such as yours may need these boons more than the rest.

[ordimame]

[haha. . .]

Provided it works the way Mocha thinks it will. . . relying on the unknown in a dangerous situation feels pretty risky.

[ratiocinations]

I would suggest that we test it beforehand, then, except...

[He doesn't know. If it's single use or not??]

I would hate to waste any useful energies, so to speak.

[ordimame]

[useful energies. . .]

I kind of want to save it, too. Just in case.

. . . but! If I ever find out what it does, I'll report back. Promise.

[ratiocinations]

[HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO CALL IT 😭 MAGIC??]

Be sure to, Mr Puck. It seems like the sort of useful information that others need to know, too, in case they find an ofuda in their possession, as well.

In the meantime, do you need any help with your feline... situation?

[Tho it might be a lost cause, what with him being an Anzen....]

[ordimame]

[no no, "useful energies" is much funnier]

[immediately scoops a Nekomata from his lap and holds it out in front of him, its legs dangling as its tails swish]

Here. You can keep Blue company for a while.

[. . . did. . .]





[he name them?]