[Action]

[flickerflash]

[Today, Katie visits the Item Shop.  It's a short visit, and she's there to pick up anything remotely string-like that she can find. Why?  Kittens like string, and she's all out of the stash she had.

...okay, she may have other less frivolous reasons.  By this time she's mindful that certain grown ups may be looking for her, and thus her visit is hopefully timed for as few people around as possible.  In, out, a polite nod to the person behind the counter with the pretty hair, and back to the woods she goes.  Anyone that does see her in person might note she's thinner, but clean and tidy, unlike her last accidental appearance. 

She goes far deep into the forest with her string, sitting on a large, flat rock in the sun next to Rei's charm, and unwinds every different strand around her in the grass, threading it all carefully and lovingly between her fingertips as if blessing each one.  In a sense, she is.   The glamour she's stolen recently is going to a good cause, even if the cause is not readily apparent.]



((ooc:  you can run into her in the item shop by all means.  She's all the way down at the southernmost edge of the forest for anyone who might be out that way-- or might be using other means to search for someone.

Chances of hostility are pretty high.))

Comments

[flickerflash]

Cats don't like dirt very much. I'm sure the cat is much happier now.

[wise_maiden]

It seems like it would take a lot more than that to make this particular cat happy again.

[flickerflash]

Do you think so? Cats are rather simple creatures. Scratch them behind the ears and they forget you shut them outside and forgot to feed them.

[wise_maiden]

This cat is no ordinary cat.

[flickerflash]

All cats are ordinary cats.

[wise_maiden]

To be fair, my cat experience is fairly limited.

[flickerflash]

It's usually better that way. You can continue thinking of cats as cute and adorable.

[wise_maiden]

I prefer to think of them as unique as any other species. Having one of my own to raise here has been a bit of a learning experience.

[flickerflash]

Mm.

Have you ever met my cat?

[wise_maiden]

No, I don't believe so.

[flickerflash]

Her name's Katie. I call her Licorice for short.

[...] I suppose she wouldn't like you much.

[wise_maiden]

[This is one of those times when Raine isn't certain if Katie is referring to an actual cat or her other form. The lies had been sounding too close to truths, and the truths too close to lies.] It would be nice to meet her sometime. And when things are no longer ... difficult ... for you, perhaps you could spend some time with Lia.

[flickerflash]

[Chances are good she already has. Katie's on a first name basis with most cats in Luceti. >_>]

When things are no longer difficult, certainly.

{Serene agreement.]

[wise_maiden]

[Recall them meeting on at least one occasion, Lia's a rare indoor cat in Luceti. Or so much as Raine thinks, anyway.]

And do we have any ideas for when that will be? It's getting colder at night.

[flickerflash]

There are a lot of empty rooms in Luceti.

[wise_maiden]

That's not an answer.

[flickerflash]

Isn't it? It didn't sound much like a question.

[wise_maiden]

I meant as far as finding a resolution for this difficulty. Are you going to spend the rest of your time here running?

[flickerflash]

[Oh, for--

Katie finally turns fully to face Raine.] Would you prefer it that I didn't? What makes you think I actually need any kind of help or shelter? I'm just a child, Mistress Sage. I don't know how to look after myself at all. Can I make it any more clear for you or shall I pretend to be helpless just a little more?

[wise_maiden]

I know you aren't just a child, even if that's a part of who you are. I've found in my experience that even stubborn people who are older than children can find themselves in need of support sometime, even if they're convinced that they don't need it; if they're convinced that just because it never presented itself before, it's not truly genuine.

[flickerflash]

If you're convinced that I'm convinced I don't need it, why on earth do you expect me to suddenly be convinced by your convincing me that I do?

[Hee.]

[wise_maiden]

Who said anything about suddenly convincing anyone? I was only making a point.

[flickerflash]

And I was making mine.

[She starts to leave.]

[wise_maiden]

If you need anything, you know how to find me.

[flickerflash]

Always.

[And she vanishes into the trees.]