sticksandbones | netbook | mistakes were made

What a perplexing query! Would you be a dear and specify just a bit more? Is the rest of your body in the shape of a dog, or a person?

Ah.

Both?

Haha! Both? Are you trying to walk on four legs, or two?

Just two. My hands are perfectly fine.

Interesting! The body of a dog doesn't lend itself as well as a person's to standing upright for very long... Perhaps it might be best that you stoop so low as to get your paws dirty? Oop! Hands, sorry! [they are not sorry.]

[ kiera ]

They're sort of a combination as well, actually.

I'd rather not, if I had my choice. This is so much easier during the day...

[they've never done anything wrong, in their entire life.]

During the day? Do you change forms between the hours? At any rate, think of it as walking on the tips of your toes!

I changed once night settled in. I can only assume I might change again come the dawn. I've not encountered anything like this before, but I hadn't encountered my previous form, either.

The tips of my toes... That might help. I will give it a try.

At the very least, being a bit off-balance seems merciful in comparison to what some are presently enduring...!

That is true. It is inconsequential compared to the hunger of my previous form, and why I sought to change away from it.

Your previous form? What did you do to change it?

[ya girl has been a recluse since this shit started and maaay not realize Things --]

Well, it was only a theory at first, but exposing myself to the spores again seems to have changed what I am.

I see.

[there's a bit of a delay.]

And this form is more pleasant than the one before?

[ There's a bit of a delay here, too. ]

Only in that it has kept me from inconveniencing anyone else here.

Hm. I suppose that is better than the alternative, but I sympathize nonetheless.

Thank you.

[ There's a pause here again, just a little bit longer this time. ]

Dion had been helping me manage it.

[had. oh, this poor sod. first, his brother, then his... lover, or at the very least, potential lover, if kiera had to guess.]

You're having quite a rough go of it. I'm afraid I'm not terribly good at offering comfort, but if company alone would help you, the school library has plenty of space for two.

I'll be fine.

[ He isn't, not truly, but it's the Rosfield mantra. He'll be fine. Maybe. ]

But company would be nice. And it would give me an excuse to practice walking on these new legs.

That does not always mean that the situation is favorable.

[they won't push him, though. that only makes things worse.]

I can gather a few tomes for you, if you'd like to tell me what is of interest. And I promise not to laugh too hard at your paw-plight.

Thank you. I appreciate it.

History, perhaps? Or culture. I'm not terribly picky.

I'm sure I can find something of that sort!

[and whenever joshua arrives, kiera does have one of each at the ready! an account of the founding of a city and a deep dive on the traditional garments of another -- both presumably of lands far away and of no relevance to aldric's grove. they even took the time to gather some fresh fruit, jerky, and a pitcher of water for him. just in case he's forgotten to look after himself.

kiera herself is seated in a lounge chair, pouring over a reference book on horse genetics. she isn't aware of what joshua will look like when he enters, except vaguely doglike! guess she'll wave at the first dog man she sees. :) ]

[ It doesn't take Joshua all that long to get there, for all that he's unsteady on his feet. He takes the advice to heart, and once he thinks of it as walking on his toes, it's a lot easier. And significantly less uncomfortable, to boot.

What he really isn't used to is the way his hearing and his sense of smell seem to be twice as sharp as normal. As he travels, his ears swivel this way and that, and his nose twitches with each intriguing scent that he has to force himself to keep from following. Focus, Joshua.

At least he doesn't shut his tail in any doors. Having to work around wings has taught him awareness of what's behind him.

When he does finally enter the library, Kiera will see that he is far more fox than dog. Not that Joshua made the distinction, of course. He looks at himself, and he sees a fuzzy, redheaded version of Torgal's face, albeit with a more delicate and narrow snout. He spots Kiera easily, though, and gives them a warm smile, even if it doesn't quite reach his eyes like it normally would. ]

I hope I haven't kept you waiting long.

[if joshua is able to discern the similarity between his previous form and kiera's present one, it should be obvious enough to him that they are currently a vampire. any scent of blood on them is days old, however. like him, they are loathe to harm others to slake such a thirst.

their smile is easygoing enough, even with the fangs, and their eyes dance as they take him in.]

Not long at all, my friend. I must say, though, when you said "dog," I was expecting a mongrel, not a sleek fox. I daresay it suits you.

[ It is indeed obvious, and Joshua pauses for a moment, nose twitching only the slightest bit if you squint a little. He can recognize the scent. So Kiera, too, then... ]

Ah, a mongrel? Truly?

[ It earns a little bit of a smile, at least. Even his tail seems to be vaguely waving, as though it might be contemplating wagging a bit. ]

Thank you, though. It is an adjustment, but I suppose it could be far worse.

[they laugh gently and wave a hand.]

Oh, it is nothing against you as an individual. Admittedly, as a cat person, I tend not to expect much of dogs.

You do seem to have found your footing, as it were! That is good.

Then, I suppose that I am a dog person by virtue of never having experienced what I'm sure you consider a cat.

[ For all that his last few days have been a living nightmare, there's still a little bit of levity to his words. He moves closer, both for better conversation and to take a peek at the books. ]

I'm a bit unsteady on occasion, but with time I'm certain that will remedy itself. Hopefully, it won't be needed for long.

Really? Your homeworld doesn't have housecats?

[sure, planets are different enough, they've learned by now, but it's hard to imagine a whole world without kitties. nonetheless, they push the books (and the food, thank you very much) over to him as he moves closer.]

I would certainly hate for this to be the one horrid game of the Forest's to last forever -- but at least you've shown me there is the opportunity to change our precise gamepiece.

No, it doesn't. Likely a result of the Blight, if they even existed at all. We do have coeurls, which I've been told are quite similar? Just... very much larger. And highly likely to shock you, in my experience.

[ It's probably for the best that this place doesn't have coeurls, honestly. He takes a seat, leaving the books - and the food, Founder, he didn't realize how hungry he truly was until presented with it - between them as a polite boundary-slash-centerpiece of sorts. Thankfully, he is accustomed to eating during conversation. ]

We may not be able to control what the spores do to us, but we can at least control whether we remain that way. I hope for all of our sakes that this does not last much longer, but there is at least a way of turning the tide at least a little more in our favor.

Is that a disease? [it may be a sensitive subject, if whatever it is is strong enough to potentially wipe out entire species, but maybe such a distraction is what joshua needs in this moment.]

It is somewhat of a reassurance. I'm tempted to try, myself.

[ It is working, thankfully. Focusing on the facts of something is at least keeping Joshua's mind off of everything else. ]

Similar, but not exactly. It is the name we have given to the phenomenon of an entire area being drained of its aether. Entire swaths of land have been turned into deadlands because of it. Nothing will grow there, nothing can live there. You cannot even cast magicks while standing in Blighted areas.

We know the reason for it now. Until shortly before I arrived here, we thought it was simply the Mothercrystals draining the land. And it was, though there was far more to it. Our lands were being used as a battery to fuel a spell that a god intended to cast.

[kiera doesn't bother to hide their disdainful sneer.]

I'm well and sick of gods, myself. Why bother creating mortals in the first place if your only intent is to make them suffer.

[they... know the answer to this, logically. for some, harming others is the only joy to be found in life.]

As am I. And that was the reason that my brother was so distrusting of the ones here.

[ But they've proven to not be like Ultima. Well, at least Beiwe and Ourania have. Suri, on the other hand... ]

Ours created us as tools, and then abandoned humanity to slumber. There was never any intention to either care for us or to make us suffer, just to use us and discard us after our purpose had been served.

[that rings a bit too true to kiera, as well. perhaps not by a god, but...]

Well! At the very least, our Ladies appear to be benevolent. [they don't sound fully convinced, but that's a them thing.] I'm glad you're far away from your rotten deities.

[ Though Kiera doesn't sound convinced, Joshua is. He nods, turning to the food in his hands. ]

Far more than some gods out there, certainly.

[ slow turns to look at a certain someone whose name rhymes with furry ]

And I am glad that you are, too. From what I have learned, your Beasts are not much better.

[yeah, there is of course the bitch in the woods. but hey, at least he's outnumbered, if not outpowered just yet.

kiera gives a sharp scoff, the hand holding their book snapping it shut.]

Luca's told you about the bloody Phoenix, has he?

[ Ah. A sore spot, perhaps? ]

In a sense, yes... I also saw a memory, during the month where our memories were shared if we became trapped within the web. I am aware of the basics, at least.

[oh, boy, that. kiera had some fun memories shared against their will that month, too.]

I see. It isn't the only wretched thing, either. [they glance away, eyes narrowed, contemplating.] The Beast of my birthplace makes people like... this. [gesturing vaguely to themself. the teeth, the ears, the eyes.] I was raised underneath their heels.

netbook | mistakes were made

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