[PP-F4] The Mean Kitty <<Training Your Friend>>

[Them 0]

Humans domesticated cats just shy of 10,000 years ago. At first, man sought protection of goods from their fluffy companions, but grew fond of the comfort their little four-legged friends provided. Felines, in return, were given food, shelter, and attention from their owners, a perfectly symbiotic relationship from which both could benefit. And so, they learned to co-exist with one another for thousands of years. Growing, evolving, and living together in harmony.

Éli, a beige Himalayan with a tail as fiery as his attitude, must have not gotten the memo.

“No, bad kitty! Stop it! Don’t even… don’t you dare think about it.”

Perched upon a wooden round table, paw pressed against the side of a stein filled to the brim with a frothy butterbeer, Éli’s gazed was fixed on its owner—Cleo. Empty, unbothered, devoid of remorse and unknowing of the concept of regret, his tail aflame with the dullest ember swished contemplatively in the air.

The tavern, a haven of warmth among the frozen landscape, was especially busy at this time of day, patrons piling in for their lunchtime fill of rabbit and ale. Eyes were floating all around the room and Cleo began to feel some of them land on herself and her furry little deviant of a familiar.

In a delicate situation that she was entirely unequipped to handle, Cleo could all but plead using her wits to defuse it. “Please. Just, leave the glass alone…” She shifted slowly toward Eli, to the glass his paw was so firmly pressed against. “Leave. It. Alone.”

With a slight tilt of the head, and what she could have sworn to be a mischievous pinch of his eyebrows, Éli batted the stein. Cleo watched helplessly as the glass fell, choked on thin air when it flew from the edge of the table, and pinched her eyes shut as it shattered into a thousand shards on the hard, cold wooden floor.

---

Having been chased out of the tavern which erupted with thunderous laughter at her misfortune, Cleo secured herself in a café not far away, a cup of coffee fastened in one hand as she navigated the menu with the other.

She checked her list of friends, and then again, figuring who would be best to contact for advice. Admitting that she had a misbehaved familiar was embarrassing enough, but to feel doomed enough about it as to seek counsel from another player truly grated her. The familiar system was designed to strengthen the bond between Player and beast as they grew alongside one another, so to have somehow regressed in her relationship with Eli meant that either she hadn’t a nurturing bone in her body, or that she was doing something else horribly, horribly wrong. Cleo knew that, alone, she was hopeless.

One name stuck out. Nari. She was one the who helped find Éli in the first place, even gave inspiration for his eventual name, and was full of good advice all-around the last time they met. Filled with hope that Nari could save her once more, she started typing.

Spoiler

 

To: Nari
Subject: Help!!!

Éli is out of control! Really need your help. Are you free to meet on floor four, the lodge by Frostbite Lake? TTYL.

 

She huffed in despair, casting a side-eye to the miscreant perched on the cushion beside her. So desperately wanting to love the creature, she felt all but jaded by his complete lack of reciprocation. At the rate they were going, the cat would be the death of her.

 

Spoiler

Them
Level 15 | HP 300 | EN 48 | DMG: 16 | MIT: 5 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 0 | LD: 3

Equipment:

Heart's Bane (T2 - Perfect - Dagger) (Bleed 2 / Paralyze 1)
Arrowhead Brooch (Tierless - Perfect - Trinket) (Accuracy 3)
Music Box (T1 - Perfect - Trinket) (Loot Die 3)

Skills:

Dagger R5
> Stamina
> Precision
> Ferocity

Cloth Armor R1

Combat Mastery: Damage R3

Extra Skills:

Meditation
Concentration

 

Edited March 24, 2022 by Them

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

She had just packed away the last of the materials when the ding of a message came in. Her eyes roamed over it once, then again as she felt herself beginning to giggle. From across the shop, a soft yawn echoed in the air, drawing Nari’s eyes away from the request for help, and to her own familiar.

“What do you say, Yuki? Should we go help someone round up a misbehaving cat? Could be fun, if nothing else?” The little fox responded only with a blink of its eyes, something that Nari assumed was an agreement – of sorts. Or about as close as she was likely to get from her companion. Either way, it was enough for her, and as she placed away the last of her workshop pieces, she brought up her messaging menu to respond.

To: Them
From: Nari
Message: Sounds like you may be having a bit of a time. I’ll be there shortly, just closing up shop! Should I bring anything? Some cat toys? A few treats? Stress ball? Cage?

She couldn’t help but giggle to herself as she sent the message off, feeling bad about Cleo’s misfortune, but entertainment in the fact that the familiar was providing so much trouble. The fox jumped from the nearby bench onto Nari’s shoulders, settling into place with another half-hearted yawn.

“I guess I should say I’m lucky you never had a rebellious streak. Thank you for that, Yuki.” She reached up and gave the fox’s head a few scratches, before turning back to finishing her closure. Within ten minutes she had everything packed away, the door locked, and her outfit chosen – this time a set of thicker dark leggings, and a thicker violet turtleneck, this one complemented by a dark turquoise vest that she had found while out shopping. Lastly, she pulled a purple tuque down over her ears, before making her way down the street towards the teleporter pad.

---

The café was easy enough to find – and Cleo was almost as easy to find, the small, devilish cat standing out against the otherwise bland surroundings. Nari walked up to the girl – noticing the tension in her entire frame, the tiredness in her eyes, and the frustration in her face.

“You look like you’ve seen better days. Why don’t you start by telling me what’s been going on?” Puling up a chair beside Cleo, she’ll glance towards the cat, giving the little devil a stern look.

Spoiler

Nari-Lanreth | Lv. 32 | P. 10 | HP: 740/740 | EN: 86/86 | DMG: 8 | MIT: 147 | ACC: 1 | REC: 8 | EVA: 0 | LD: 0 | STH: -5 | THORNS [72 DMG] | FROSTBITE [30 DMG]

Tier 4

 

Laurel Wreath (Earn Col equivalent to 15% of player’s EXP earned in thread).

+1 LD (This bonus only applies to looting, searching for and opening chests).

 

Equiped Items

Síonnách Geímhrídh | [T3 Polearm [One-Handed Assault Spear]; Perfect] Standing at nearly 120 cm in length from tip to tip, this short spear contains a metallic-appearing shaft of shifting dark and light violet, twirling in a mesmerising pattern. The blade - connected by a metal collar of a blackness similar to a void - glints with an ice blue colouring, a shift of light violet visible in the surface at the right angle. Twin wrapped lengths of cord - a combination of ice blue and dark violet - hang from the metal collar, intertwining in a mesmerising pattern when in movement.
Enhancement: Freeze [1 Slot] | Effect: Natural critical attack rolls of 9-10 (1 slot) or natural successful attack rolls of 8-10 (2 slots) remove the enemy’s action on their next turn as a Frost effect. Frozen opponents have their Evasion set to -1. Striking a frozen enemy before the effect ends deal an extra (16 * Tier) unmitigatable damage. [Must hit to activate the status condition.]
Enhancement: Paralyse [1 Slot] | Effect: Natural critical attack rolls of 9-10 (1 slot) or natural successful attack rolls of 8-10 (2 slots) remove the enemy’s action on their next turn. Paralyzed opponents lose any evasion properties.
Enhancement: Frostbite [1 Slot] | Effect: Natural critical attack rolls of 9-10 (1 slot) or natural successful attack rolls of 8-10 (2 slots) deal (10 * Tier) unmitigated Frost damage each enemy turn for 2 turns. In addition, anyone with Frostbite receives a -1 Accuracy debuff until the effect wears off.  Frostbite damage does not stack, but can be refreshed. The highest tier of Frost damage overrides lower tier versions; cannot be overridden by lower-tier versions. [Must hit to activate the status condition.]

Dark Fox's Reckoning [Tier 4; Heavy/Plate Armour] Forged to be shapely, this piece appears thinner than most pieces of heavy armour - leaving what appear to be openings towards the neckline, and the sides of the torso. Smaller shoulders leave limited protection towards the neck, but allow for greater movement. Coloured a dark violet, the edges of the piece outlined in a shifting soft silver, orange and red colour. Upon the chest's centre stands a white fox, slightly cured with fangs barred, black eyes staring out as if at the individual in front of the piece.
Enhancement: Recovery [1 Slot] | Effect: Before your post action, make a separate CD roll. On a natural CD7+, regain (1 per slot * Tier) additional energy. This CD roll may also apply to activating the effects of Vamp-Def.
Enhancement: Heavy Momentum [1 Slot] | Effect: After an unsuccessful attack, gain +(1 per slot * Tier) base damage until your next successful attack, at which point this bonus is removed. Another unsuccessful attack will reactivate this enhancement. Must be using the Heavy Armor Skill for this enhancement to take effect. [For Area of Effect attacks: This effect only activates if you miss all enemies targeted by the attack.]
Enhancement: Taunt [1 Slot] | Effect: +1 Hate generated from Howl, Focused Howl, and successful attacks.

Dark Fox's Retribution [Tier 4; Celtic Shield] Similar to a wall shield, this piece stands nearly 137cm tall, and nearly 76 cm wide - easily covering the form of a shorter individual. Tapered on the sides, the shield seems to bend inwards slightly on its edges, a perfect opening for an outwardly weapon to be levelled through. The top and bottom edges slightly bend inwards, giving the impression of a less than straight appearance. Coloured in a dark violet, with edges of dark forest green, a white fox, slightly cured with fangs barred is emblazoned on its centre, appearing as if ready to strike.
Enhancement: Recovery [1 Slot] | Effect: Before your post action, make a separate CD roll. On a natural CD7+, regain (1 per slot * Tier) additional energy. This CD roll may also apply to activating the effects of Vamp-Def.
Enhancement: Thorns [2 Slots] | Effect: Successful non-critical attacks against you deal (9 * Tier) unmitigated damage to the attacking enemy. Only activates on damage dealing, melee attacks.

Battle-Ready Inventory

Teleport Crystal {3}
Pure Unadulterated Rage (Meals) | Tier 1; Mitigation 3
Starter Healing Potions {5} | Heals 50 HP
Blank Dungeon Map {4} | Tier 4
Immolation Potion {1} | Tier 4; When used, successful non-critical attacks against you deal (10 * Tier) unmitigated damage to the attacking enemy. Must be of the appropriate tier to use. Effect lasts for one thread.
Caribou Stew | Tier 4; Rare Meal | Protein II

Inventory

Monkey Agility {2} | Tier 1; Evasion 1
Super-Duper Anti Snake Sauce (Salve) | Tier 1; Antidote 2
Spyglass {3} | Use to reduce the number of posts required to search for a dungeon, familiar or field bosses by 5 posts. Effect lasts for one thread.
Uncommon Health Potions {5} | Tier 1; Heals 5% of Maximum HP
Uncommon Overhealth Potion {1} | Tier 1; Adds 5% of Maximum HP to users Maximum HP for a thread
Rare Health Potions {1} | Tier 1; Heals 10% of Maximum HP

Combat Skills

Battle Healing
Rank 3
Passive
Effect: While in combat, recover 1% per rank of your maximum HP (rounded down) at the beginning of your turn.

Weapon Skills

Polearm
Rank 5
Passive
Effect: +7 DMG

[Rank 5 Weapon Addon] Stamina
Passive
Effect: Reduces EN of all attacks by 2.

[Rank 5 Weapon Addon] Precision
Passive
Effect: Gain +1 ACC.

[Rank 5 Weapon Addon] <<Weapon Type>> Focus
Passive
Effect: Decreases minor critical threshold by 1. Also reduces DoT thresholds by 1. Players cannot use Focus and Ferocity at the same time for the same Weapon Type.

[Rank 5 Shift] TECH Specialist
Passive
Effect: For TECH Sword Arts, +4 to multipliers, +3 to EN cost. No other Shifts may be taken.

Sword Arts

[x12] ST-I (12 EN) | A single-target sword art.
[x15] ST-II (15 EN) | A powerful single-target sword art. Only available for use when ST-I was used and successfully struck an enemy the previous turn or if ST-II had been used and had missed the previous turn.
[x20] ST-B (20 EN) | A devastating single-target sword art. Can only be used if the sword art used the previous turn is not ST-B and had rolled a natural CD9+. When performing an AoE attack, use only the first roll.
[x11] AOE-I (11 + 2 * targets EN) | AOE | A sword art that strikes multiple targets at once.
[x14] AOE-II (14 + 2 * targets EN) | AOE | A powerful sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. Only available for use when AOE-I was used and successfully struck an enemy the previous turn or if AOE-II had been used and had missed the previous turn.
[x16] TECH-A (16 EN) | STUN | A single-target sword art that stuns an enemy.
[x16] TECH-B (15 EN) | DELAY | A single-target sword art that, on a successful strike, applies [Delay] on the enemy. [Delay] is a status condition that reduces the enemy’s ACC by 1 for one turn.
[x16] TECH-C (15 EN) | COUNTER | A single-target sword art that, on a successful strike, places [Counter] around the player. [Counter] reduces the final damage taken by its user by 25% (rounded down) for one turn.
[x16] TECH-D (15 EN) | SHATTER | A single-target sword art that applies [Shatter] to an enemy for 3 turns. [Shatter] is a debuff that can stack up to a cap of 3. Each stack of [Shatter] removes -20 MIT from an enemy, down to 0, if it has MIT.
[x12] TECH-F (11 + 2 * targets EN) | AOE STUN | A sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. All struck targets are stunned for one turn.
[x3] RAW-A (10 EN) | THORNS | A single-target sword art that utilizes the [Thorns] of the individual against the enemy. Other types of enhancements that apply damage upon contact with the individual are also considered in improving the damage of this sword art (eg. Immolation Potion, Flame/Frost Aura, etc). Outgoing damage is considered mitigatable.  Must have a weapon equipped to activate this sword art.

Armour Skills

Heavy Armor
Rank 5
Passive
Effect: MIT + 35. You can only benefit from one armour skill at a time (the respective armour type must be equipped). Your evasion is capped at 1 enhancement slot and you take -1 to Stealth Rating per rank.

[Rank 5 Heavy Armor Addon] Iron Skin
Effect: Gain +15 Mitigation and +15 * Tier HP

Active Extra Skills

Survival
Cost: Complete <<The Traveler>> with Unlock Conditions
Action: Passive
Effect: Increases Healing effects received from all sources by 10%. Grants immunity to all damage dealing environmental attacks/effects.

Parry
Active: Post action
Energy cost: 9 EN
Cooldown: 3 Turns
Effect: Apply the energy cost upon proc, not activation. Reduces the final damage of the next successful attack against you by 50% (rounded down) and negates stun/paralysis effects of that attack. If hit by multiple attacks, only apply parry to the first attack against you. Parry lasts for three turns. Cooldown starts when the player activates the Skill. If the player is hit when using Parry, the cooldown is reset to 3 turns.

[Parry Mod] Vengeful Riposte
Passive
Cooldown: 4 Turns
Effect: A successful Parry also returns 50% (rounded down) of the raw damage that would be dealt to you back to your opponent. The reflected damage can be mitigated by the opponent.

Block [Requires two Extra Skill slots]
Passive
Effect: Requires an equipped shield. User’s evasion cannot be greater than 0 (can still be negative). Grants additional mitigation:
Rank 5: 25 MIT

Inactive Extra Skills 

Combat Mastery

Mitigation
[Expert] -> Rank 3
Passive
Effect: Gain +6*Tier Mitigation per rank. Ranks of this Skill apply to Mitigation enhancement caps.

Estate Buffs

Bedroom

Effect: -1 energy cost for the first two expenditures of each combat

Storage Closet
Effect: +1 Battle Ready Inventory Slot

Spoiler

Word Count: 410

 

[Them 0]

To: Nari
From: Them
Message: Maybe a knife if you're offerin-

"No, God, too much." Cleo stopped typing and deleted the rest of the message, sending off a much more suitable response instead.

To: Nari
From: Them
Message: Just your sage advice, please. See you soon.

---

And see her soon, she did, as she spotted Nari entering the café. Try as she might to muster a smile, the best she could do was offer a strained lip pinch, her free hand rising into a wave. Éli, shifting on his paws to make eye contact with the new yet familiar human, ignored her stern looks entirely and instead fixated on the little white fox decorating Nari's neck, tail sparking ever-so-slightly brighter. Perhaps he thought them to be a play-friend; more likely, he'd already begun to plot his torment. At least, that's what Cleo's mind immediately leapt to as she curled the feline into her lap to restrain him. A purely preventative measure and—she hoped—an unnecessary one.

"Mayhem lies behind every corner, Nari. I can't leave anything near the edge of a table anymore, lest this little-" Interrupting her trail of thought, Éli had already escaped from her grasp and inched closer to the coffee table, his attention divided between the unattended cup of coffee and the violet-haired woman nearby. "-deviant-" she exaggerated, gently retrieving her furry friend before he could inflict any damage. "-gets it in his head that he can knock it off. He has a mean streak with other little critters, too. Especially other cats. He hasn't actually lashed out at anybody yet but it's anti-social, you know? Who knows what he'll do."

She closed her eyes, letting the anguish fade away. "I thought that having a familiar would be a cure-all for stress and loneliness. I'm not lonely anymore, but my anxiety? Through the roof. I'm terrified to look away from him in case he does something untoward. I want to love him, he's just... just making it so hard."

 

 

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Nari listened as the other explained their troubles. She could see the eyes of the creature – first laying upon Yuki, likely mistaking her for a play mate, before moving to the coffee cup on the table – looking for something to do. Nari recognised the look, a look that a dog she had once had would often carry. She wasn’t sure that the behaviours should carry over to this game, but…well, weirder things had occurred hadn’t they?

“I’m guessing you haven’t completed the quest to train them yet, have you?” She turned her attention towards the small cat, smiling. She could almost see the look in its eyes, the knowledge as Nari turned her entire attention towards it. “Éli’s bored. He has no purpose, and so, he’s trying to make one for himself. It won’t solve all of your problems – trust me, there will be many more down the road – but getting him set in a profession, and pushing him through it, working daily – should likely limit the amount of trouble he cause. And also hopefully bring that anxiety and stress down a level, or two.”

She turned to look back at Cleo, eyeing up the other player before speaking her next thoughts. “Had you…decided on what sort of skill set you wanted to focus on? I’ve recently transitioned Yuki over to a protector based skill set, simply because it matches what I need right now on the field. But what considerations have you taken into account for Éli?”

Spoiler

Word Count: 248

 

[Them 0]

Nari's words pierced Cleo's ego like darts to a board, and try as she did to look unoffended by the accusation, she couldn't help but shift an eyebrow. Though most of what the violet-haired woman told made a great deal of sense, and as much as she wanted to take the advice as gospel, she'd be hard-pressed to submit to it so quickly.

Sipping on her coffee, she cleared her throat before answering. "I had. Given Eli's penchant to swipe at anything that moves, stands still, or simply has the gall to exist before him, I thought the Rending skill might suit him. Sometimes, he can be a ball of energy, so it might also help tire him out, if only a little." She shrugged. "If he can tire, that is. That's as of yet unconfirmed." Looking away from Nari, Eli turned to stare at his owner and put out a quiet meow. Uncertain as to whether that was confirmation, denial, or simply an innocent meow, she rolled her eyes and began to scratch the scruff of his neck.

"I remember you saying that you wanted to switch skills, cool that you went through with it. How have things been with you since then, anyway? Yuki's looking well and adorable, as always." She shot a warm smile to the little fox, hints of jealousy in her eyes at how content and aloof he seemed compared to Eli.

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

“I think you’re right, rending does sound perfect! Seeing as he already likes to hit things, it matches his personality.” She gave the kitten a smile and wink as soon as it looked towards her, getting a soft meow in response from it as it seemed unsure. “And although he’s causing you a lot of stress, it’s nice to see that you’re still bonded to him – I can see it in how you look at him, behind all the frustration.”

She shifted in her seat, leaning against the table and towards Cleo as she glanced between the cat and Cleo. “So, have you considered a training plan yet? I haven’t taught offensive skills, but on my last training experience, I practiced throwing things at Yuki for her to block, like she would block an incoming attack. It seemed to work rather well, although it was entertaining to watch, presumably.”

She placed a hand against her chin, as if pretending to think for a few moments. A slightly smile slowly spreading across her face as ideas came to mind. “I guess…we could set up targets for him to attack? Like cups or something, and teach him to attack on command? Or! Maybe you can set up a training dojo, and have him attacking training dummies with you?”

Spoiler

Word Count: 216

 

[Them 0]

Quote

"It’s nice to see that you’re still bonded to him – I can see it in how you look at him, behind all the frustration.”

That brought Cleo some comfort. She worried that her attitude toward him seemed too blunt, harsh even. Cleo's nature was to express her feelings and thoughts toward others, so to know that her fondness for Eli still shined through despite the negativity came as a relief. "I still love my little man, despite everything. Don't get me wrong, it was a supreme pain in the ass to find him, but I would do it all over again if I had to." Her words held nothing but the truth. The search was painful, but she cherished what she gained from it.

"Training plan?" Cleo shook her head. "No, not at all." Like with many things, she hadn't considered a training regime. She could see Nari hatching some ideas in her head and took the opportunity to finish up the rest of her coffee, the cup shattering after her last sip.

She crossed her arms contemplatively, considering Nari's suggestions. Presumably, the violet-haired woman had trained Yuki in two skills, both times successfully, and that fact alone prompted Cleo to trust her opinion. "If you think either of those things will do the trick, I trust you. Instead of cups, I have a bunch of extra armor that we could dress up planks with for targets? All we need is a space to set them up." She stood, stretching her arms up into the air to release some tension. Eli, springing from the chair as Cleo did as if they were getting ready to go, stretched his front paws out, elongating his body as cats do. Failing to hide a silly smile seeing the cat activate long-mode, she looked to Nari. "What sort of environment did you train Yuki in? Know any spots around here you think would work for Eli?"

 

Edited March 26, 2022 by Them

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

“Around here…? No, unfortunately nothing comes to mind around here. I just trained Yuki…well, in my forge the first time, and then at Oji’s – a friend’s house.” She paused to consider her options. The estate had more than enough room in it, seeing as a number of the rooms were still empty. “If you wanted, we could use my place? I’ve got some unfurnished areas that would make a decent training hall, if nothing else. Large enough to encompass what we need.”

Without waiting for an answer, she turned and made her way out of the little café. She paused outside the doorway, waiting for Cleo to catch up, her breath on the air visible against the previously warm café’s interior.

“It’s up on floor twenty seven, but I think it would provide you and Éli with a wonderful place to practice – plus, I might have some random pieces laying around in the forge that we could use to better help with the regime.” She began to consider what she had available, waiting for the go ahead from Cleo before making her way towards the teleporter. She was only truly half listening, ideas springing to mind and quickly being tossed aside, only to be replaced by brand new ideas that she hadn’t previously considered. “I think…I think this is going to be fun!”

Spoiler

Word Count: 223

 

[Them 0]

"Are you sure? I don't want to be a... pain." Her words fell on deaf ears as Nari was already halfway out of the café. "Well, shit. She doesn't hang around. Wait up!" Cleo and Eli chased after Nari, stopping just shy of the street outside.

"Regime? Starting to wonder what I just got myself into." She said with a playful smile. The location sounded perfect from Nari's description, though she didn't honestly know what to expect. Cleo had only seen Nari's smithery twice, a quaint little shop, with not nearly enough space to contain the havoc they were sure to cause. She surmised that the Player's home was in a different area entirely, one massive enough to adapt an unused room into an impromptu training dojo. She grew eager, looking back to her familiar with a smile and inviting him onto her shoulder. "Ready to train, little man?" Without hesitation, he leaped and took point on her head, back legs on either shoulder, and his paws proudly poised atop her dark-blue hat. She laughed, keeping her head still as they walked.

"I think so too! And I take full responsibility if Eli sets anything on fire. He's been good about that so far. No accidents yet. Oh, besides this one poor little bunny rabbit—"

The teleporter appeared as they turned a corner, and she lost her train of thought when Eli jumped down to sprint ahead. "Hey, quit running off!" She ran ahead of Nari to chase down the little devil as he dashed off toward the stone platform, seeming to want to get to wherever they were going as fast as possible.

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

She watched as Cleo went running after the small feline, chasing it down in what would likely be a comical scene, if it weren’t for the fact that the cat was very clearly in control of the situation. Sighing, she made her way after the pair, thankful again that Yuki had never displayed a rebellious side. “And if you even think about it, you’re sleeping in the kitchen for a week…”

Gaining pace beside Cleo again, she’ll lead the other up to the teleporter platform, before activating it and transporting the two of them – and their familiars – to floor twenty seven. The perpetual darkness was a shift from the blinding snow, but not unwelcoming to Nari.

Tracing her path back to the estate, she led Cleo past the entrance to the shop, heading to the adjoined estate that glimmered against the otherwise dark air. Moving through the large steel gate that was normally closed off to the street, she beckoned Cleo into the main courtyard, the assorted violet and darker purple tulips seeming to glow in the nightly air.

“Well, welcome to the Fox’s Retreat…or as I call it, home.” A slight twirl, as if showing off the area with a spin, and then she led Cleo in through the front doors, into a front foyer than contained little more than a winding staircase on the right, a small hall that led to a kitchenette, and a door on the left that led into the living room area. Behind the winding staircase, just out of sight, was another hallway that led down to an open area – Nari had considered making it a dining room, but for the time it would make the perfect target area.

“Hey, so, make yourself at home. I’m going to go find some stuff for the targets…I’ll be back in a few moments, alright?” Ensuring that Cleo was within the room, and well contained, she made her way back down towards the forge, determined to find what she could to make the targets.

Spoiler

Word Count: 337

 

[Them 0]

"Home?" She blinked, struggling to grasp the scale of the estate before them. "As in, like... this entire building is yours?!"

The Town of Beginnings had its fair share of homes, many belonging to NPCs or high-level players with money to throw around, and some to the lucky few low-levels who'd somehow secured funds. None were as immense as the house that stood before them, though, and a dumbfounded look remained glued to her face as they headed onward and into the estate. 

She secured Éli in her arms and nodded—quite profusely—when asked to wait for Nari's return. "Take all the time you need. We'll try not to destroy anything!" Realizing she had been the opposite of encouraging, Cleo laughed nervously hoping to inject humor into her words, but quite knowing it had the opposite effect. She stood still, looking around the room and into the ones adjoining, and then - checking to make sure that Nari hadn't been watching - wandered closer to the winding staircase.

She poked her head into the adjoining hallway to stare at what lay beyond - a room that was almost too big to be called as such, more akin to a hall, empty of furniture. She recalled Nari's description of a space such as that when she first offered up her home for a training ground. Is this the room she was talking about?

Capitalizing on his owner's absentmindedness, Éli wriggled free from containment and sped across the hall, his toebeans thumping the floor with every stride. "Éli!" A repeating theme of late, she chased after him, abandoning her vow to stay present in the foyer. As if to play a game of cat and mouse, with the feline assuming the latter role, he darted to the closest window and then up into the curtains. His claws dug deep into the dark violet fabric as he peered down, taunting his helpless owner below.

Shouting as loudly as one could do in a whisper, Cleo pleaded with him. "Get. Down. Now!" Miraculously, that did not work. Seeing fit to climb higher, he swiped upward at the curtain, managing instead to make an incision. Which then grew into a small tear.

Zzrr.

Then, a slightly larger tear.

"Oh, no."

Zzrr....zzzzZZZZZ.

A rip echoed throughout the house as the curtain tore clean from one side to the other, bringing down an entire section of the vibrant fabric and Éli with it. The curtain softened his fall as Éli landed on all fours, which brought only minimum relief to his now crestfallen owner.

 

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Wandering back into the dining room with what she had needed, Nari came to as a stop as she noticed the cat, currently surrounded by curtain, being stood over by Cleo. Cocking her head, she beamed a smile before calling out.

“You know, I think he’s right. This place was a little too enclosed. Opening the curtains is definitely an idea.” She wandered over to the far wall, before bringing up her menu. From it she called forth the pieces she had collected from the forge – a few armour stands, some helmets and a couple of pieces of plate armour that she had meant to find a way to dispose of. This has seemed the best use for it, oddly enough.

“Now, Éli, if you’re looking for things to destroy, why not try these on for size? I bet a little kitty like you couldn’t even make a visible scratch on these.” She threw a wink towards Cleo, still smiling at the entire situation, before stepping back and out of the way. Yuki, who had left Nari’s shoulders for the time being, had quietly stepped into the room, her small black eyes wandering over the scene as if taking everything in.

Spoiler

Word Count: 201

 

[Them 0]

The training dummies gathered the interest of Éli, who, stepping out of the pile of curtain he found himself in, stared at the hunks of metal armour that were hap-hazardly thrown together. Little emotion conveyed in his eyes, he looked to Cleo, uncertain as to what he should be doing with them.

It took Cleo a moment to notice, her mind held up on the property damage she was culpable for. When she finally looked to Éli and to the targets Nari set up, she realized that he didn't immediately go in for the kill. For the first time, he awaited her command.

Weary of how he would interpret what she had to say, the Player chose her next words carefullly. "Éli, attack the middle one!" she commanded, a finger pointed to the training dummy in the middle wearing the lightest armour of the three.

Swift as the wind itself, the fire-tailed feline set his predatory eyes on the target and, with claws extended, lurched at his prey. Bone scraped against metal, claw marks littering the chest piece as the armour stand recoiled from the assault. Éli pounced at the training dummy's head and, with a swipe timed to almost perfection, thumped the dummy, bashing the helmet away and toward Nari. Landing behind his target with grace, Éli turned quickly, his eyes excited and tail erratic.

| ID: 207455 | CD: 8 | Training Success!

| Progress: 1/3

Edited March 29, 2022 by Them

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Nari smiled as the cat seemed to hesitate, looking towards Cleo for guidance. At the same time, the girl seemed taken aback by the familiar’s actions, as if she wasn’t entirely sure what to do – or that she was surprised by the familiar wanting direction. A few breaths past, and Nari began to worry that Cleo would entirely freeze up and miss the opportunity.

A sudden command, and the cat raced across the open area, leaping and slamming its paws into the centre target as directed, causing the entire piece to shake. Nari let loose an applause, her hands coming together in soft clapping sounds as she giggled aloud.

“Excellent! Absolutely perfect! A little bit longer and I think he may actually have it down entirely!” She gave a smile at the kitten, before winking at him. In a voice that could only be  “Well done, Éli. That was purrfect.”

Spoiler

Word Count: 150

 

[Them 0]

Positively shocked that Éli had listened, Cleo guffawed after the feat of violence played out. "It worked? It... it actually worked!" Éli enjoyed the spot of praise from the violet-haired woman and posed proudly beside her, though he couldn't maintain such a demeanor when Cleo slid across the floor to reach his side. As soon as Éli realized celebratory head scritches were in order, he maintained some sense of regality, yet couldn't hide appreciation for his owner's affection as she brushed her fingers between his ears and down to his neck.

"I'll admit, I had my doubts that any of this would be worth it. I should know better than to doubt your ideas by now," she revealed, looking up to Nari gratefully. "Do you really think that he'll take to this? That it will help his behaviour in the long run if he and I keep at it?" Her eyes fell as she looked down at Éli. Though proud of his achievement, she faltered, holding only doubts about the future and in her ability to manage what would likely be a significant task. "If you couldn't tell, I'm not the most responsible person in the world. When things got hard in the real world, I used to... run away from them, or whatever. I just want to know how hard it'll be, I guess. To see things through to the end."

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Nari knelt down beside Cleo, folding her legs beneath and behind her in a somewhat comfortable seated position. Giving a soft, half smile at Cleo, she shook her head and shrugged her left shoulder slightly. “I’ll be entirely honest, I have no idea if it’s going to help permanently. I guess…I guess it depends on how much you focus on it and keep it up. I know it will help some, but at the same time, there will be new troubles ahead.”

She paused as Yuki slithered into her lap, laying her head against Nari’s arm before closing her eyes. Raising her left and stroking the fox’s head, Nari tried to pick up where she had left off. “It won’t always be peaceful times. There will be times when you want to scream, to cry. But times like this will make it all worthwhile, if only for that single moment. And it will be tough, life is tough. But sometimes you just have to pick the tough you’re willing to put up with.”

She let her eyes shift to Cleo, the half-smile still on her face, but a somewhat distant look in her eyes. “We all run from something in life. But eventually…eventually you have to stop running, to realise that you need to stand your ground, to fight if you need to, or to hold to your point. Whatever the case may be…at some point we all stop running, because we find something worth not running from.”

Spoiler

Word Count: 248

 

[Them 0]

"But times like this will make it all worthwhile, if only for that single moment."

She looked forward to such times. For so long, her sense of self-worth had been tied to the quantity of her relationships moreso than the quality of them. If one became sour, the solution was simple in the past; cut the branch and let two more grow in its place, as new friends were easier to make than great friends were to keep. Now that friendships couldn't be recycled on a whim, Cleo had to start putting the effort in, especially with Éli.

"At some point we all stop running, because we find something worth not running from."

Touched by such hopeful words, Cleo found her eyes shifting to Nari, seeing the detachment in the woman's features as if she were only half in the room herself. All had their own demons to contend with, the voices inside that tried so desperately to throw them off life's trail, and the violette appeared to be no exception. The Player knew that what lied ahead with Éli wouldn't be easy, but, now more than ever, she felt strong enough to do whatever needed to be done to make things good with him, and to make those crucial first steps to taking her responsibilities seriously.

"I hope Éli can be that something. He's a chance to prove that I can take responsibility, do something entirely be myself, even if it's a little difficult. It's a good place to start, at least." Hope ingrained in her smile, she ran her fingers through the cat's fur one last time. "I hope I can be like you one day. Responsible, reliable, not a complete disaster of a human being. Hm. I think I'd still be walking around the desert if you hadn't found me there—that or... well, the Scorpions or the Skeletons would have finished the job, most likely." Though a strong statement, it was true. It was a bad decision in the first place, a lapse in judgement salvaged only by Nari swooping in at just the right time.

 

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Responsible, reliable. Not a complete disaster of a human being. Words that Nari never expected to hear titled upon herself. The thought of it made her grin in response, before erupting into a fit of uncontrolled giggles. Doubling over, she tried to control herself enough to get the words out from between her teeth, fighting against the sudden burst.

“Res…responsible…reliable…not a complete – disaster of a human…” The laughter took over her entirely for a few moments, before she was able to reign herself in. She forced herself to kneel, holding her sides in an attempt to stop the pain that had come with so much giggling. “It’s kind of you to say as much, but…I can assure you, none of that is true. I was…well, a disaster for quite some time.”

A slight smile towards Yuki, as memories flowed back into her mind – many of which the fox had been in attendance for. “That being said, I’m glad that I come off that way, at least I can portray being a decent person. And some day, you too might. I’m sure you and Éli can both work towards that goal, together.”

Spoiler

Word Count: 191

 

[Them 0]

Beet red in the face after Nari began to laugh, Cleo feared that something she said came across as wildly different from what she intended. Learning that it was just the compliment—a misinformed one, in Nari's words—which had set the woman off, she relaxed, even briefly joining in with the hysterics. "Alright, maybe we're both a bit disastrous behind the curtain. BUT, don't you dare sell yourself short, Nari. You wouldn't have traipsed through a desert for an hour with this idiot if you weren't at least a decent person." Laughing through her bout of self-deprecation, she set about getting up onto her feet and extended an arm to Nari, offering to help her up. "You're a great friend, either way. I'm sure Onóra would say the same thing." Knowing only one of Nari's friends, she assumed the Blonde would hold the same opinion of the Violette. 

Hearing the humans struggle to their feet, Éli began to whip his tail around in excitement, an unsettling reaction given the nature of his training; to absolutely demolish whatever stood before him. If she were to control his emotions, they would have to tire him out, Cleo concluded. 

"Somebody's eager to get back into the action," she deduced with a giggle. "You may want to keep Yuki out of the way; I still don't know how well he has the whole 'only attack this target' thing down. Better safe than sorry, right?" 

| ID: 207774 | CD: 3 | Training Fail! Lower CD requirement by 2

| Progress: 1/3
| CD Requirement: 5+

Edited April 2, 2022 by Them

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Nari took the proffered hand, lightly leaning on it in order to pull herself to her feet. The second compliment took her off guard, almost as much as the first – but rather than laughing, she simply blushed in response. She’d never stopped to consider being a good, or bad person. She just saw someone in need, and…did what she did.

“Well, I certainly appreciate the compliment, but I just…reacted. You looked like you needed help, and I’m not one to just stand by and watch while someone else…” Her words fell short, but she quickly shook the oncoming despair away, refocusing on their task at hand.

“Oh, don’t worry too much about Yuki. She may not look it, but she’s more than capable in a fight – if anything, I’d be slightly afeared for Éli’s safety, if she decides the kitten needs to be treed.” She gave a wink towards the cat at the finality of the sentence, as if trying to warn him slightly. She watched as Cleo attempted to reign him in, without much in the way of success, but she could see the effort behind it. “He’s not always going to listen right now, but you’re starting to get him along the path – keep at it, and I think soon enough he’ll realise what he’s meant to do…as they always say, repetition.”

Spoiler

Word Count: 224