[When you're looking for someone, the polite thing to do is to, like, knock on their front door, or send them a message, or check in with the people they spend the most time with; Mogget, however, has absolutely no patience for such nonsense, which is why he sniffs out Jion's room—and jumps right through the window. Was it open? Was it latched? It doesn't matter! He has his ways.
So whenever Jion comes home for the day, he'll spy a little white cat curled up on his bed, seemingly deep asleep... until, of course, the cat cracks open an eye and mutters:]
[ His thoughts are far off elsewhere as he wanders back to his room, and Jion gives a start when he opens the door and realizes something is very different. As in, he has a guest?! How did Mogget even get in here? ]
Uh ... [ Still frozen in the doorway, he's just droned out that hesitant noise when Mogget wakes up. Oh phew, he really didn't want to have to tiptoe around to avoid waking him up. ] Oh, um. Hey. Sorry, I took a bit of a walk.
[ Pause. Why does he have to apologize for coming late to his own room. Anyway. ]
So uh, what's up? Did you just want a place to stay warm or something?
[This is certainly an awkward situation to be in, but Mogget looks nothing short of comfortable as he lifts his head and sloooooowly stretches his front paws straight out in front of him.]
It's hardly cold enough to warrant that, but if the temperature drops even further... perhaps I will keep your room in mind.
[AKA he's taking that as an invitation, my dude. But as he finally sits up, he airily waves a paw toward the chair that is surely in the room. It's not his house, yet here he is, imperiously gesturing for the actual inhabitant of this space to take a seat.]
I came to ask for your assistance with a quest, actually. I take it you've read the postings?
[ He scuffs a hand through his hair when Mogget just invites himself over during the winter. Well, that's fine, he guesses? Good thing he doesn't have any allergies. ]
Oh, the quests? Yeah, I saw them. They're, um ... [ He walks over to sit down on the bed a good armslength away; Mogget seems like the type to like his personal space. And he counts off on his fingers as he tries to remember the forum postings. ] Showing gratitude, and sharing a blanket, and losing color, and the sphinx, right?
[ Pause. ]
Uh, which one am I helping with? [ Probably not the blanket one, he's guessing. ]
[Inviting himself over is a compliment in the Mogget-verse, and I'm sorry, Jion. This cat, however, is anything but apologetic as he waits for Jion to situate himself.]
The only applicable one. [A pause, a flick of the tail, and then:] Which is the color-stealing one, of course, but do not think I came here to take your color without your express permission. This is a... partnership, of sorts. An opportunity for us both to learn new things, if you are willing to assist me.
[Look at this wide-eyed innocence! He only has the BEST of intentions.]
[ Oh. So they're going on the premise that Mogget is the one taking the color? Jion opens his mouth, starting to ask if that's a given, then just closes his mouth. It's not like he really wants to take any color either, so arguing that point seems like a waste of time. ]
Um. [ A thoughtful hum as he fidgets with his hands in his lap. ] Well, I guess I'm kinda curious what that was about. So ... maybe. But do you know how you'd do that? Taking my color.
[As if anyone is allowed to take his color. PLEASE. But Mogget sits back at that question, ears sliding back the slightest bit, because the truth... is that he assumes it's quite like draining someone's essence? Like feeding off a living being's energy, little by little, until there's nothing left but a soulless husk, but instead of actually saying that—]
I have an idea. Several, actually, but I assure you that they are all quite painless... and there is also the matter of your healing ability. What are its limits? The threshold of no return, if you will.
[ It's not a good thing when cats lean their ears back like that, right? Does that mean Mogget's ideas are dangerous ones? Then maybe that's more reason for him to say yes, so Mogget won't ask anyone else. Jion purses his lips in thought for a moment before answering steadily. ]
Um, my limits. Well, pain isn't a problem actually, I have pretty high pain tolerance. But otherwise, I'll die if my brain's destroyed. Same for my hearts -- I have three, and I can survive losing one, but more than that gets tricky. I can't regrow full limbs, but as long as the bone and some flesh is there, I can recover from it. I think that mostly covers it?
[ A curious cant of the head. ]
Is there anything specific I need to be careful of?
[Purely physical stuff? It's not a surprise, honestly, but... bah. He waves a paw through the air yet again.]
As I've no intention of, say, beheading you, you are certain to survive in one piece. But if it is truly as I've heard—
[He sets his paw back down, taking a second to think this whole thing through. Too much and he risks scaring his test subject away; too little and it wouldn't be fair, which is actually a concern for him. He's not evil.]
There is... risk of weakness. Exhaustion. Only as much as you can bear, of course. [He's still going with his own experience here, still thinking about that draining feeling of being close to, but not inside, Death, which is why he looks so very serious.] It will not be pleasant, but I assure you that I will not go so far as to endanger your life. I will stop the very moment you wish me to.
[ He gets the sense this is starting to get into territory that's unfamiliar to him, but not to Mogget. So he takes that warning completely at face value. ]
... I think if it's exhaustion, I can take it. [ Jion talks a little slowly, clearly still mulling over this in his head, but he does also give a small nod. ] I have pretty good stamina, and I'm trained pretty well. And I'm pretty good at gauging my condition, so I think if you stop when I ask, I should be okay.
[ Congrats on procuring a test subject, Mogget! ]
I'm gonna guess it's gonna be more useful as a test if I, uh, if you take more color? Rather than just the minimum or something.
[Oh, hell yeah. Mogget sits up a bit taller, obviously pleased (both with himself and Jion's agreement), but he still looks as serious as a cat can possibly look. Tail curled tightly around him, ears up, eyes narrowed—yeah, this isn't just a fun diversion for him.]
What is the minimum requirement? I will simply take as much as you can stand to lose. The very moment you tell me to stop, or that I sense your condition requires me to stop, I will stop—you have my word. [He studies Jion for a moment, green eyes unblinking.] And I will be in your debt when this is over, although I highly doubt you realize the importance of such a thing.
[Only Mogget would tell the person who is willingly giving up their color that he's the one really making the sacrifice here, but... well, in his own mind, it's true? He's a powerful being who has spent thousands of years running errands for humans; now that he's free, willingly offering to do something for another is... a big thing. Hyuge.]
[ It does make him a little nervous that Mogget's planning on taking as much as possible. Jion rubs at the portion of the scar on the bridge of his nose, thinking quietly. And while he does give a very curious blink at the mention of a debt, he doesn't answer immediately.
Jion ruminates for a moment longer before dropping his hand in his lap. ]
Okay, um. I'll see how far I can go. I'll give you a heads-up once I start feeling a kinda bad, so can you be ready then? So you can stop as soon as I hit the limit? And, uh. I appreciate the debt? I won't, like, hold it over your head or anything though.
[ Pause. ]
Oh, but I do wanna know what you are. [ He hasn't forgotten Mogget never answered that!!! ]
[ She's very drained. Too many days of shivering, huddled under a blanket or close to a source of warmth, too many emotional experiences where she'd seen important people slowly freezing over right in front of her. But Kisa had held onto hope, what Damian had said-- that surely they'd be able to return to the town, surely one day she'd--
Go from sliding carefully towards the staircase to plummeting out of thin air straight into the harbor before she can draw enough breath to shriek in surprise.
It doesn't get any easier once her head breaks the surface of the water, because Kisa has no idea where she is, what's happening, or.... much of anything except she was just dropped into freezing water and there's nothing immediately for her to latch onto.
[ Jion, on the other hand, was just heading to the garden to get some rest in his little trench, and he's just pushed the door to the gardens open -- and finds himself faceplanting in a bush. It takes a moment of startled flailing to extricate himself from the foliage, leaves in his hair and scratches on his face.
And before he can even process what's happened, he hears the frantic splashing. Ah, shit. ]
-- hold on! [ He doesn't even think before vaulting out of the bush, ripping off his jacket and first-aid bag before throwing himself right into the harbor. Even with the weight of his clothes and boots, he manages to swim up to Kisa pretty easily, and hurriedly lifts her up enough that she can breathe. ] It's okay, I got you!
[ Although, admittedly, staying afloat with another person while fully dressed is hard. Kisa better not struggle too hard or this is going to be an ordeal. ]
[ It may not be as difficult, because if he's holding her enough for it to constitute as a hug or a carry of some sort, Kisa will transform and he'll just have to make sure her clothes don't all float away.
And if not, she at least won't struggle. Either way. ]
[ This tiger transformation thing is really hard to get used to. The shape in his arm suddenly shrinks, and for one horrifying moment, Jion thinks he's somehow managed to drop her??? And it's only the sight of her clothes floating around that makes him realize what's going on. ]
Oh man, okay. [ A breathless gasp before he gingerly places Kisa on his head. She'll mostly be out of the water that way. ] Hold on, okay? I'll get us out.
[ It only takes a few swipes of his arm to gather up her floating clothes, and then he swims back to shore, Kisa carefully balanced on his head. It's hardly a long swim, but he's still shivering by the time he stumbles onto land, sinking to his knees so he can catch his breath and safely put Kisa down. ]
... holy shit, it's s-so cold. [ Oh, whoops. Probably shouldn't swear in front of her. ] Wait, sorry. I mean -- are you okay, Kisa?
[ She's waterlogged and still incredibly shocked from literally everything that happened in the past four minutes, but she's got enough presence of mind to shake herself off like a very small dog and hunker down with flat ears and a rather unhappy expression.
Kisa at least remembers to nod. While dripping. It's probably fine. She'll thank you in a minute, Jion!! ]
Okay, great. [ He breathes a sigh of relief when she nods, straightening up and wringing out his sweater. ] Standing around wet outside is pretty dangerous, though. Let's get you home quick.
[ Jion doesn't really wait for a response before grabbing his jacket, hurriedly bundling Kisa up in it. And after slinging his bag over his shoulder, he promptly heads for Kisa's place at a quick trot, boots squelching wetly with each step. Gross. ]
[ This is a great time for the both of them, clearly. Kisa's too cold to protest so she'll just let Jion tote her around and not try to twist, scratch, or bite.
It's slowly starting to occur to her that they're back, but does that mean... everyone is? Everyone's okay?? ]
[ Jion, meanwhile, is solely focused on the task at hand, which is getting Kisa somewhere dry and warm. At least running keeps him a little warmer, and it doesn't take terribly long before he finds his way to Kisa's place. ]
Gotta get dry first ... [ It's a distracted mumble under his breath as he gingerly unwraps Kisa from his jacket and sets her down. ] Um, where do you guys keep your towels?
[ Hope you're ready for some ruffling Kisa, because he promptly grabs a towel to vigorously dry her off. Being careful not to be too rough, though. ]
There. Too bad we don't have an easy way to give you a hot bath, that'd really be best ... [ A pause to sneeze twice. ] ... but I think you should be okay now? You have extra clothes, right? Dry ones?
[In the dark of the night someone had swooped in (with Kaoru in tow of course) to deliver chocolate in secret. Upon waking up [you] will find three small chocolates filled with strawberry jam on top of a note:]
Dear Jion-san, Thank you for using our chocolate delivery service, that'll be 3400 yen payable in cash, credit or cheque.
[Jion, today when you are going about your innocent business, there is a young girl, staring up at a sparkly purple scale that's sitting at the very edge of a roof.
She...seems to really want it, but she is faaaar too short to get to it, though she stands on her tiptoes and reaaaaches.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
11/4? it's color stealing time
So whenever Jion comes home for the day, he'll spy a little white cat curled up on his bed, seemingly deep asleep... until, of course, the cat cracks open an eye and mutters:]
Well, it certainly took you long enough.
[Hi.]
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Uh ... [ Still frozen in the doorway, he's just droned out that hesitant noise when Mogget wakes up. Oh phew, he really didn't want to have to tiptoe around to avoid waking him up. ] Oh, um. Hey. Sorry, I took a bit of a walk.
[ Pause. Why does he have to apologize for coming late to his own room. Anyway. ]
So uh, what's up? Did you just want a place to stay warm or something?
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It's hardly cold enough to warrant that, but if the temperature drops even further... perhaps I will keep your room in mind.
[AKA he's taking that as an invitation, my dude. But as he finally sits up, he airily waves a paw toward the chair that is surely in the room. It's not his house, yet here he is, imperiously gesturing for the actual inhabitant of this space to take a seat.]
I came to ask for your assistance with a quest, actually. I take it you've read the postings?
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Oh, the quests? Yeah, I saw them. They're, um ... [ He walks over to sit down on the bed a good armslength away; Mogget seems like the type to like his personal space. And he counts off on his fingers as he tries to remember the forum postings. ] Showing gratitude, and sharing a blanket, and losing color, and the sphinx, right?
[ Pause. ]
Uh, which one am I helping with? [ Probably not the blanket one, he's guessing. ]
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The only applicable one. [A pause, a flick of the tail, and then:] Which is the color-stealing one, of course, but do not think I came here to take your color without your express permission. This is a... partnership, of sorts. An opportunity for us both to learn new things, if you are willing to assist me.
[Look at this wide-eyed innocence! He only has the BEST of intentions.]
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Um. [ A thoughtful hum as he fidgets with his hands in his lap. ] Well, I guess I'm kinda curious what that was about. So ... maybe. But do you know how you'd do that? Taking my color.
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I have an idea. Several, actually, but I assure you that they are all quite painless... and there is also the matter of your healing ability. What are its limits? The threshold of no return, if you will.
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Um, my limits. Well, pain isn't a problem actually, I have pretty high pain tolerance. But otherwise, I'll die if my brain's destroyed. Same for my hearts -- I have three, and I can survive losing one, but more than that gets tricky. I can't regrow full limbs, but as long as the bone and some flesh is there, I can recover from it. I think that mostly covers it?
[ A curious cant of the head. ]
Is there anything specific I need to be careful of?
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As I've no intention of, say, beheading you, you are certain to survive in one piece. But if it is truly as I've heard—
[He sets his paw back down, taking a second to think this whole thing through. Too much and he risks scaring his test subject away; too little and it wouldn't be fair, which is actually a concern for him. He's not evil.]
There is... risk of weakness. Exhaustion. Only as much as you can bear, of course. [He's still going with his own experience here, still thinking about that draining feeling of being close to, but not inside, Death, which is why he looks so very serious.] It will not be pleasant, but I assure you that I will not go so far as to endanger your life. I will stop the very moment you wish me to.
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[ He gets the sense this is starting to get into territory that's unfamiliar to him, but not to Mogget. So he takes that warning completely at face value. ]
... I think if it's exhaustion, I can take it. [ Jion talks a little slowly, clearly still mulling over this in his head, but he does also give a small nod. ] I have pretty good stamina, and I'm trained pretty well. And I'm pretty good at gauging my condition, so I think if you stop when I ask, I should be okay.
[ Congrats on procuring a test subject, Mogget! ]
I'm gonna guess it's gonna be more useful as a test if I, uh, if you take more color? Rather than just the minimum or something.
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What is the minimum requirement? I will simply take as much as you can stand to lose. The very moment you tell me to stop, or that I sense your condition requires me to stop, I will stop—you have my word. [He studies Jion for a moment, green eyes unblinking.] And I will be in your debt when this is over, although I highly doubt you realize the importance of such a thing.
[Only Mogget would tell the person who is willingly giving up their color that he's the one really making the sacrifice here, but... well, in his own mind, it's true? He's a powerful being who has spent thousands of years running errands for humans; now that he's free, willingly offering to do something for another is... a big thing. Hyuge.]
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Jion ruminates for a moment longer before dropping his hand in his lap. ]
Okay, um. I'll see how far I can go. I'll give you a heads-up once I start feeling a kinda bad, so can you be ready then? So you can stop as soon as I hit the limit? And, uh. I appreciate the debt? I won't, like, hold it over your head or anything though.
[ Pause. ]
Oh, but I do wanna know what you are. [ He hasn't forgotten Mogget never answered that!!! ]
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action; immediately post-event
Go from sliding carefully towards the staircase to plummeting out of thin air straight into the harbor before she can draw enough breath to shriek in surprise.
It doesn't get any easier once her head breaks the surface of the water, because Kisa has no idea where she is, what's happening, or.... much of anything except she was just dropped into freezing water and there's nothing immediately for her to latch onto.
Minorly problematic. ]
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And before he can even process what's happened, he hears the frantic splashing. Ah, shit. ]
-- hold on! [ He doesn't even think before vaulting out of the bush, ripping off his jacket and first-aid bag before throwing himself right into the harbor. Even with the weight of his clothes and boots, he manages to swim up to Kisa pretty easily, and hurriedly lifts her up enough that she can breathe. ] It's okay, I got you!
[ Although, admittedly, staying afloat with another person while fully dressed is hard. Kisa better not struggle too hard or this is going to be an ordeal. ]
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And if not, she at least won't struggle. Either way. ]
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Oh man, okay. [ A breathless gasp before he gingerly places Kisa on his head. She'll mostly be out of the water that way. ] Hold on, okay? I'll get us out.
[ It only takes a few swipes of his arm to gather up her floating clothes, and then he swims back to shore, Kisa carefully balanced on his head. It's hardly a long swim, but he's still shivering by the time he stumbles onto land, sinking to his knees so he can catch his breath and safely put Kisa down. ]
... holy shit, it's s-so cold. [ Oh, whoops. Probably shouldn't swear in front of her. ] Wait, sorry. I mean -- are you okay, Kisa?
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Kisa at least remembers to nod. While dripping. It's probably fine. She'll thank you in a minute, Jion!! ]
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[ Jion doesn't really wait for a response before grabbing his jacket, hurriedly bundling Kisa up in it. And after slinging his bag over his shoulder, he promptly heads for Kisa's place at a quick trot, boots squelching wetly with each step. Gross. ]
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It's slowly starting to occur to her that they're back, but does that mean... everyone is? Everyone's okay?? ]
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Gotta get dry first ... [ It's a distracted mumble under his breath as he gingerly unwraps Kisa from his jacket and sets her down. ] Um, where do you guys keep your towels?
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There. Too bad we don't have an easy way to give you a hot bath, that'd really be best ... [ A pause to sneeze twice. ] ... but I think you should be okay now? You have extra clothes, right? Dry ones?
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When she emerges, it's as a human again, dressed in dry clothes and bringing over a blanket for Jion. ]
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special delivery - backdated to Feb 13th
Dear Jion-san,
Thank you for using our chocolate delivery service, that'll be 3400 yen payable in cash, credit or cheque.
Just kidding, happy Valentine's Day,
Shiho Sannomiya
action;
She...seems to really want it, but she is faaaar too short to get to it, though she stands on her tiptoes and reaaaaches.]