9 ♐ Voice/Action ♐ The leaves of memory

[aim_exorable]

[In the background, the faint sound of leaves rustling and the soothing waves of the ocean can be heard before Darkleer speaks.]

Tell me, if any are so willing, but what do your people do to honor the deceased long after they have passed, whether out of respect or simply to calm any vengeful spirits?

[Action]

[Anyone wandering about by the beach this evening may notice a certain tall troll sitting cross-legged on the sands. Before him are two very small fires, and two small rocky platforms set in the sand. It takes a bit to go and see what is on them- both items are very small, a pen and a hairclip.]

[In the meantime, Darkleer himself seems to be in the process of making a pair of arrows. He's a lot more absorbed in the task than one might think. High up in the air, a large white bird circles about.]

[He won't be much bothered by any company, should someone care to come closer to him.]

Comments

[bestestfurrend]

[Nepeta is quiet for a long time too - she can't really imagine that kind of hurt, losing someone so close to you.]

Did you...did you know her for a very long time?

[aim_exorable]

Fifty sweeps, give or take.

[And sadly enough, in comparison to some highblood lives, that's not very long at all.]

[bestestfurrend]

Fifty sweeps?!

[She twists around in his arms to face him again, looking anxious and upset all of a sudden.]

Oh my paws, Darkleer, that's... [Forever, a lifetime, she can't imagine losing Tavros after a few mere perigees and Darkleer'd had a matesprit for fifty sweeps and lost her and she feels so awful for him now.]

[aim_exorable]

[He tries to smile, and he's not quite sure how well it comes out. Not very, really.]

It was a good run, while it lasted. These things happen.

[The kind of truth he's learned to accept, however reluctantly.]

[bestestfurrend]

[She pats gently at his cheeks - no, she's not shooshing him! Just offering comfort to a friend! - and presses her forehead to his chin.]

I'm glad you had her for such a long time, then. And I'm so sorry you lost her.

[aim_exorable]

It was a very long time ago. There's no reason to offer condolences.

[bestestfurrend]

You're still remembering her...so I think that I should, it's only right when you're still missing someone.

[She bites her lip, wanting to ask about her, not sure if this is the right time. Not sure if any other time would be more appropriate than this either.]

[aim_exorable]

Ha. [It's not much of a laugh.] Equius said something similar.

[bestestfurrend]

Did he?

[She smiles at little at that, but it's still sad. Her moirail was better at protecting than pacifying and she'd always known it, so she was always extra proud of him when he said the right thing to comfort someone.

She's not surprised that someone was Darkleer. She knows how Equius feels about him.]

Well, I think he's right.

[aim_exorable]

I am not particularly surprised at that, Miss Nepeta. You would agree with your moirail.

[bestestfurrend]

[She gives him a wide, beseeching kitty-eyed look.]

And you don't agree with your descendant??

[aim_exorable]

...Miss Nepeta.

Stop that.

[bestestfurrend]

[Nepeta giggles, rubbing her face affectionately against his shoulder.]

Nuh uh! Purrhaps if you ever remember you don't need to call me miss!

[aim_exorable]

[Kitty troll, stop that, he has enough birds that cuddle up to him at home, gosh!]

What do you have against basic politeness?

[bestestfurrend]

Nothing! Equius always tells me to be polite! And I listen to him, I do! It's not about that...you just don't need to call a friend miss, and we are friends, right??

[But she likes hiiim and also likes cuddles, how is she supposed to stop??]

[aim_exorable]

I suppose so, yes....

[It's just so hard. Darn conditioning.]

[bestestfurrend]

[Snuggling hard and looking up at him with even wider eyes than before. Can you resist this face, Darkleer?]

So if we're friends we don't have to be so furmal!

[aim_exorable]

Sometimes you have to be formal.

[Turns out, yep, he can.]

[bestestfurrend]

Sometimes. But not now! And not us two, nuh uh, nope. You don't call Equius or Gamzee mister, do you?

[Wow okay then she'll kick it up a notch and start draping over him kitty-style.]

[aim_exorable]

No.

[Gosh, just what is he going to do with this kitty in his lap?]

I called Gamzee 'sir'.

[bestestfurrend]

[Petting is an acceptable course of action.]

...pfft. You are just like Equius! It's so silly to think of Gamzee being called sir! But you don't anymore, right?? If you can stop with Gamzee then you can certainly fur sure stop with me!

[aim_exorable]

I suppose I do not...

[Fine, just one ear scritch.]

[bestestfurrend]

[She beams and purrs, the former because of his reply and the latter because hell yes ear scritches.]

Yay! So it's alll settled.

[aim_exorable]

You find strange things to be delighted in, M... Nepeta.

[Okay fine, another ear scritch.]

[bestestfurrend]

There's lots of things that make me happy, uh huh. Isn't it better that way? I like being happy! And seeing everyone else happy too!

[Purr purr purrrr.]