sevenhorrors | [early morning cat posting]

Entry tags:

[early morning cat posting]

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!]

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[. . . 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?

[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.]

[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!!]

[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.

[. . . 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?

[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?

[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]

[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?

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.

[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.

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.

[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.

[haha. . .]

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

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.

[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.

[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....]

[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?]

[Did he?

Mr Adair does not quite take the cat just yet, though if only to ask-]

..."Blue?"

Yeah?

[bobs the kitten up and down a bit, as if to say-- please take!]

Do you see the blue of its eyes? What else would I name it?

[they all have blue eyes]

[He... takes the cat, who then begins purring quite loudly.]

You might as well name them all "Blue" if that's your reasoning.

No no, look! It's eyes are bluer than the others. Can't you tell?

[pats another cat in his lap]

This one is named "Scruffy" because it's. . . fur? [DO THESE CREATURES HAVE FUR] Is a little ragged.

[whether it is fur or not, the Nekomata's outline does seem a bit wispier!]

[Squints slightly. It does look... faintly scruffier.]

Your eye for detail is... surprising.

[Surprisingly impressive? Like you really gotta look to see that it is a little wispier.]

That, or you have a very deep fondness for animals.

[he is a sharp guy!!]

I like cats. [he admits easily] I never had one of my own; just a fondness for the neighborhood strays.

[noted!]

But never the inclination to adopt one of those many strays?

[hah. with amusement]

I was just a kid at the time. I didn't have a say in the matter.

. . . and I can't exactly have a pet while I'm traveling the world, can I?

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