[#004 (video)]

[brothertragedy]

[The recording begins with an unfamiliar face; that of a pale-skinned woman, framed by very long purple-tinted hair, smiling brightly at the network. Her eyes are golden and she looks pompously over-dressed and covered in frills, topped off with a little black crown on her head: only said crown appears to be issuing long blue-purple flames without burning her hair... some trick!

She looks more suited to some sort of masquerade ball rather than the library she's standing in the middle of.]

My~! It really has been quite some time!

[She lifts her purple balloon dress and turns around. That ridiculous size is definitely supported by a cage.] I've gotten used to flying, I must admit.

[The smile then promptly turns into a frown as she narrows her eyes, looking annoyed, and reaches out to pick the cell phone off of whatever supported it to aim the camera at a silvery-grey cat that looks terrified as it clumsily falls over its own paws. The cat miserably makes another attempt at standing on all fours and yowls.]

However, I'm not sure my Master appreciates his form change. I'd appreciate it if he's turned back!

[She ends the feed.]

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[maoser]

[Mao is dozing in the corner of the library when he hears the woman speak. He cracks an eye open and idly watches the shapeshifted feline. If he was capable of feelings, he would feel both amusement and sympathy. He knows very well how awkward it is to adjust to an unfamiliar form.]

[1/2; action]

[brothertragedy]

[The lady scoops up the terrified cat, who digs claws into her arm, clinging for dear life and unintentionally cutting her.

She gingerly plucks the paws off and tries to calm him down by awkwardly petting him.] Oh, dear, oh, dear... poor Master.

{Forgive me! I don't know why they did that!} [All his apologies come out as meowing.]

[2/2; action]

[brothertragedy]

[While she's walking, she spots the spying cat in the library.]

Oh, look! Another cat! Are you real or someone else who's been turned? [She walks over and leans curiously, the caged crinoline under her large dress making the action a bit cumbersome; it's why she doesn't kneel.] You look much more comfortable~!

[The wary grey not-cat looks at him with less enthusiasm.]

[action]

[maoser]

[Mao yawns widely and licks his paw, putting on a show for the human. But his attention is on the other cat. He flexes the muscles in his paws, retracting his claws in and out. It just takes practice.]

[action]

[brothertragedy]

[She looks impressed.] You could give Master lessons on how to act more like a cat, right? I'm counting on you. Please and thank you~!

[The grey cat stiffens and immediately looks cowed, as if mistaking the unsheathing of claws for an aggressive display.

When Mao hides them again, he relaxes somewhat.]

[action]

[maoser]

[Kid, you need to chill out. Mao stretches and kneads the carpet. Pay attention, young man -- he's not nice enough to demonstrate this more than once. ]

[action]

[brothertragedy]

[He blinks, then tries, very hesitantly, to stretch out— only to tumble on his face with back legs in the air, like a clumsy kitten. Almost there!

He stands up and tries it again with slightly better results (no face-planting with kitty-fanny up in the air, at the very least), but he's still wobbly.

Oh, look, the claws slid out!] ...!

[action]

[maoser]

[Mao sticks around, mostly out of amusement. It's not often he gets to see another shapeshifter fail so miserably.

But you're improving, kiddo.]

[action]

[brothertragedy]

[He is so pleased that his plight is entertaining! ... well, at least Mao's continued presence is helpful.

After the stretch, his hind legs catch up rather comically to his forelegs, making him look rather like a rebounding Slinky dog in how uncoordinated his movements are.

At least the more complicated stretch helped make standing seem much simpler by comparison. Looks, he's standing! This is an improvement!]

[action]

[maoser]

[Fffft. Mao is so impressed.]

[action]

[brothertragedy]

[Well, maybe this isn't so bad!

He tentatively steps towards Mao, before flopping onto his bottom in an upright sitting position, tail up in the air. Successful! This isn't so bad, not bad at all, actually!

... oh, but it feels like his fur's been ruffled by the previous stumbling. Without putting much thought into it, he stretches out the leg with the offensively ruffled fur and begins smoothing it out with his tongue—] Ghk! [Why did he feel compelled to lick his own leg?!]

[action]

[maoser]

[Because you're a cat, dimwit.]

Video

[valentineluke]

[There's a air of familiarity to the girl, especially in voice.]

Hello, again.

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[brothertragedy]

Valentine-sama!

[She's carrying the cat in one arm when she responds and smiles even wider. The cat shifts carefully to look over his shoulder at the screen.]

Hello! Have you been well?

We're still so grateful to you for your help, both Nobori-sama and I.

Re: Video

[valentineluke]

You're welcome.

Am quite fine and currently unaffected.

Video

[brothertragedy]

Is that true? How lucky~!

Or are they mediated, these strange afflictions? [She looks curiously at him.] If I had my powers, I could still help Nobori-sama... however, it seems like mine have been suppressed in exchange for this body.

[She looks at one of her hands, flexing her fingers, before looking back at the screen.]

You still have yours, I take it?

[She was too distracted by her trainer's well-being then to give it much thought, but now, she's curious about Luke's nature.]

Re: Video

[valentineluke]

Curses rarely reach the Underground. I've made it a habit to duck down here before midnight.

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[brothertragedy]

[Ah, he didn't answer her other question! Might not've picked up on it or maybe she asked too many things at once... she'll try again later, then. She's too persistent to drop the subject! Oh, but he did say something interesting.

She frowns a bit, looking as if the very idea of the Underground repulsed her.] It's such a sordid place!

Midnight? [Oh, this is also curious!] Don't tell me it works like fairy tale magic and it wears off when the clock strikes twelve! [She sounds very amused by this.]

Re: Video

[valentineluke]

[Shrugs. He likes the place.]

Starts and ends at midnight. They primarily run for twenty-four hours. A few go longer.

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[brothertragedy]

[She didn't! But midnight-to-midnight magic is still incredibly amusing to her.]

That's very funny! Well, the curses themselves aren't always, but I can't deny that whoever's casting them has a sense of humour.

It's a relief to hear that they don't last very long, though.

Are they always this relatively harmless?

Re: Video

[valentineluke]

No. Some can be quite horrible and even result in death.

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[brothertragedy]

[Aaaaand all annoyance at having Nobori turn into a cat has evaporated, because there are more severe possibilities! Perhaps they should also take to going into the Underground before midnight...]

Do you have any idea who inflicts these curses, Valentine-sama? Is it the City itself?

Forgive me for asking so many questions, but.

I sensed no one approaching Nobori-sama or I the night before...

Re: Video

[valentineluke]

City's doing.

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[brothertragedy]

I see...

If it's the will of this world, it can't be resisted. [She frowns.] I haven't tried cutting out of it, but Nobori-sama cannot follow even if I did.

It's very troublesome...

[huichen]

Your master? What is your service to him?

[brothertragedy]

I follow him everywhere.

When needed, I lend him my strength.

[huichen]

A familiar, then.

[brothertragedy]

Yes, I think that word fits quite nicely!

[huichen]

This is fascinating.

[...So, can he steal you now?]

From what realm did he summon you?

[brothertragedy]

[No! She likes being Nobori's partner too much.]

The spirit world, although I wandered between it and his world very frequently later in life, I was largely confined to the world of the living in my youth.
I couldn't fly then and my power alone wasn't enough to open a portal into the spirit world, so travelling was inconvenient.

[huichen]

[...But now he knows she's a spirit and really wants her...]

I see, you've grown from your youth. What has he offered you for your allegiance?

[brothertragedy]

[Maybe they could be friends? I'm sure Nobori wouldn't mind if she wandered off for a bit... (I wonder if he'd even recognize her in her real form if he saw her again?)]

He rewards me with companionship and mutual respect. He does not look at me with fear or scorn... he's different from the others.

He saved me from loneliness and a life of endless wandering. That is plenty.

[huichen]

You don't crave anything more?

[Because he'd totally offer you power and flattery.]

[brothertragedy]

[She's very content with her life actually! But, this interests her:]

... more?

[huichen]

{He's all smiles.]

You do not wish to be more powerful?

[brothertragedy]

Well, yes, I'd always like to become more powerful!

But, Nobori-sama does train me, so I have gotten much stronger by his side. More skilled too!

[huichen]

I'm certain I could teach you much more.