[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

[suplexer]

[ DIMITRI????????? ]

I'm not sure how else to put it, I just kind of feel like... I want to be near to people?

[ Yet despite the fact that they're now sitting near each other, she hasn't reached out. Self control of a saint over here... ]

[brokenlance]

[HE'S TRYING TO BE CONSIDERATE OK but he's also as oblivious as a brick wall]

It's true that one often feels the need to seek out the comfort of others when they're unwell. It's far better than simply isolating yourself in your illness.

[suplexer]

I don't know if it's because of feeling ill, though? This just hit out of nowhere today.

[ Wait.

She blinks. ]

... Could it be because of the cats?

[brokenlance]

They were especially affectionate. Are you suggesting that it was... infectious?

[it seems implausible, but.

i mean they're ghosts...

could it be real?]

[suplexer]

[ Especially affectionate? It's true that there would normally have been at least a few skittish ones, but all of these seemed eager for pets and attention. ]

I don't really know for sure. But I guess... as far as negative effects go, it could be worse.

[ Gives him a once-over. ]

Did you play with them at all?

[brokenlance]

A little. I brought them some milk, so I'm sure most of their attention was diverted.

Though...

[...

man the idea of holding hands feels really nice right now. that's... SURELY FAR TOO FORWARD TO EVER SUGGEST.]

[suplexer]

[ Bringing them milk is still interacting with them to some degree, so maybe...?

Tifa notices that way that Azure trails off, though, and decides it might be best to try and alleviate what both of them seem to be going through. ]

... Here.

[ She holds her hand out, offering it for him to take. ]

[brokenlance]

[He looks at the offered hand with clear surprise on his face. Without thinking, his body starts to move on its own, driven by car induced longing - he starts to reach out his hand.

Then, he stops himself. Is it right and proper to give into his own urges like that? Uncertainty paints itself on his face]

Tiger Lily?

[suplexer]

I think we should at least test if this helps.

[ Tifa leaves her hand out, although the more he hesitates, the more she wonders if she should pull back. ]

... Unless you're not comfortable with that.

[ Is it some kind of faux pas to offer this to a prince??? ]

[brokenlance]

[Is he uncomfortable? Flustered, certainly. So much of Azure's deepest desires are so heavily under lock and key that it feels hard to simply let himself have what he wants.

Come on. It's no different from ballroom dancing. (Which he also finds extremely difficult!)

He steels himself, and takes her hand. Relief floods him instantly - like he had been holding this breath this while time and finally let go.]

Ah...! Is it--?

[IS IT WORKING??]

[suplexer]

[ There's a strange pressure that had been on her chest, and it suddenly dissipates. Tifa also expels a breath and shuts her eyes for a moment, like she's finally been given a moment of reprieve. ]

I think so.

[ For now, she continues to just grip his hand. ]

If this is the side effect of the nekomata, it's a weird one... but at least one that's not too hard to deal with.

[ It beats hallucinations, right.. ]

[brokenlance]

[yeah living with hallucinations, that. that would be terrible. yes.

Seeing her visibly recover from that longing is, to be honest, a bigger relief for him than indulging in touch himself. To know that he was able to help her...!]

Thank the Goddess... I suppose there are always consequences to dealing with spirits, no matter how friendly they are.

[suplexer]

[ dimitri?????


Tifa tilts her head at the mention of a Goddess, but if she recalls correctly, Azure had mentioned a church before. Her own upbringing has been pretty secular, so that sort of remark still surprises her. ]

I guess so, but... you know, I think it's still worth it to be able to play with and pet those kitties.

[ No regrets.

Although she does look down at their clapsed hands. ]

I wonder how long we'll have to do this. I guess we can just try and figure out the parameters now, so we know for the future. If that's okay...?

[ She's really trying not to fluster him! ]

[brokenlance]

[there's nothing wrong with him ✌️

His smile is deeply bashful, an almost timid thing. Still worth petting all that cats? Perhaps.]

Parameters... yes. All the better to understand this phenomenon.

[It feels a bit less emotionally fraught to put a scientific spin on this. He can deal! with that!]

So... if I were to let go now, would the urge be satisfied?

[Testing it out by slowly removing his hand...]

[suplexer]

[ Tifa had guessed that he might be less nervous if they were going to try and use this as a data-gathering exercise. There's no telling if the nekomata will stick around or if they'll continue to have this effect on them, but if they do, it'll be good to have this info to share around.

She lets him pull his hand back, but almost instantly feels the lack of his touch. Her hand feels oddly cold, and while she could draw it back, that's not going to dispel the feeling of wanting that contact. ]

... Not really, no. At least not for me?

[ But her self-control shows, as he doesn't reach out for him again. ]

[brokenlance]

[He smiles kindly and, now that he's had a moment to grapple with the intimacy of hand holding, hooks his fingers with hers in a light clasp. This time, his movements are less shy (though his heart is still hammering in his chest).]

Then let me continue to ease your discomfort a little while longer.

[It helps that he knows it's having some real positive effect on her affliction. (His own is less important in the grand scheme here)]

[suplexer]

[ Tifa appreciates it, she really does, but she also hopes that it's helping him too. Then again, it seems like he feels better just knowing that it's doing her some good, so she won't make a thing out of it.

Prince or not, he really is a sweet kid.

The light clasp seems to do just fine to ease that uncomfortable feeling, and so she tries to forget about it for now. ]

Other than... all this, has everything been going okay with you?

[brokenlance]

[The good thing with a grip like this is that he won't accidentally crush her hand either]

As well as can be expected...

[There are no, uh, new problems. Most of his problems have been with him a while. Like the nightmares and insomnia.

Ah. Though there is something he's had a hard time with.]

...It feels like there's quite a gulf of understanding between me and many others at this school when it comes to technology. I admit, it's a little frustrating, and I'm often quite embarrassed by my lack of sophistication.

[suplexer]

[ She could handle it. Probably.

Tifa appreciates that he doesn't brush off her question immediately, but actually opens up about something. She gives his hand a little squeeze of quiet approval. ]

So there's some stuff here you're not used to? You can always ask me, you know. I won't judge. I was a country girl myself and had to learn a lot when I moved to the big city, so I kind of know how you feel.

[ And with that, she sends him a reassuring smile and gives his hand a pat with her free one. ]

[brokenlance]

[Azure clears his throat and glances away. (His cheeks might flush a little more at the implied approval.)]

White Rose mentioned something about a... video game? She seemed very enthused about it.

[suplexer]

[ That blush...? Tifa's going to assume he's just a little embarrassed. ]

Oh! Was it that one... what was it called again... [ She snaps the fingers of her hand a few times, trying to remember. ] 3D Brawler?

[brokenlance]

Ah, they are combat sports?

[What are the three D's. Defense, Dodging, Deflecting...]

[suplexer]

Uhh... how much did White Rose explain to you?

[brokenlance]

That there is a screen, upon which performances can be replayed. And that this game is played with such a screen.

[But he's kind of imagining the equivalent of those old VHS board games with no screen interactivity. But apparently the game involves fighting? How does that work]

[suplexer]

[ He still sounds very confused, which is probably fair if he's never seen such a thing. At least this conversation has distracted both of them from the casual handholding. ]

Yeah, although the performances being replayed are different from the game. With the game you're controlling a, uhh, fake character? And using it to simulate a brawl or fight.