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As arranged, Rīpeka's at home to greet her fellow Scion. Outside it, technically, throwing a basketball at a hoop mounted above her garage door. Each of them going in, of course, but that's not much of a surprise when dealing with an Obrimos. She's dressed fairly casually, too, in just a sports bra and leggings.
Kay arrives on foot, also no surprise there. They're dressed in pretty much the same way as they were in the picture. Deep blue, button up shirt with yellow motifs representing stellar arrangements. A pair of hip hugging white short shorts and a pair of matching white sandals. "Hey"
"Hey yourself," Rīpeka says back, catching the ball when it lands once again, before turning to face Kay. "Looking good, Sibling. How've you been?" She takes one hand off the ball to gesture at her door, then. "Want to go inside, since you implied there was something serious you wanted to talk about?"
"Yes, please." A smile follows, looking at the building in itself. They follow Rīpeka to the door when she decides to go there. "Thanks for having me over." Kay speaks softly, looking over her shoulders, as if cautious.
The building's fairly standard middle-class suburbia. Two storeys, driveway, a lawn. The usual. "No problem. Any of the Children are welcome to visit me," Rīpeka responds, leading Kay inside. "Shoes off at the door, please," she adds, moving to a side door and putting the basketball away.
Kay removes the shoes easily, without even touching the sandals with their hands and leaves them where appropriate. "No problem." A look inside and Kay takes in the general decor and look of the place. "It's a very nice place! Any preferences on our special brands of abilties?"
"Would you like anything to drink?" Rīpeka asks. "There's coke in the fridge, or I could make some tea if you'd rather." Kay's question gets a quizzical look out of the Obrimos. "...I'm not sure I understand the question, honestly. Preferences regarding what?"
"Is it okay to perform or have magic active here." They don't speak too loudly there, just in case. "Do you have practices you'd prefer not performed?" Kay explains with a smile. "And I Like some tea, please."
"Ohhhh," Rīpeka nods. "Knowing or Unveiling are fine. Anything else, please ask first." There's a pause, then, as she moves to the kitchen, going through the process of making two cups of tea. "Do you take milk? Sugar?"
"Sugar or honey if you have it, no milk." a short beat "And I just want to ask if it's okay if I adjust my form. I didn't do it because I walked here and I didn't want to stumble upon someone who knows what I look like normally." They explains and ask, clearly a little nervous.
"I have honey, yeah. Do you prefer clover or manuka?" Beat. "Oh, that's fine. This house is shape-changing friendly." Not least because its owner is a regular shapeshifter herself.
"I don't know what either of those are, so pick one!" They sit down at the nearest available seat, fishing their diamond necklace from their pocket and setting it on the table.
"Different types of honey. Clover is sweeter, but it can be overly so for a lot of people." Rīpeka shrugs one shoulder, carrying two mugs through from the kitchen, placing one on a coaster in front of Kay before taking her own seat opposite the Moros.
Kay takes a deep breath, taking in the scent of the tea as they do so, their right index finger idly tracing over the point of the necklace. They slowly begin to chant in high speech. The spell takes but a few seconds to cast and suddenly the body change to complete the look in the picture from the previous night: Slightly squarer shoulders and a much flatter chest. A breath of relief comes over Kay. "Thanks." their finger grasp the mug.
"You're welcome, Sibling," Rīpeka says softly. "Would you like me to change what pronouns I use for you, when you're in this form?"
"They and them feels the best." Kay explains with a bright smile, taking a sip from their mugs. "At least at the moment." they seems rather enthused by the tea too. Another, deep, relieved breath. "I was so nervous walking over here."
"Because you were worried about how I'd react to seeing this in person, or?" Rīpeka asks, obviously seeking clarification.
"Not particularly, just, I thought I might just crack and start crying and make myself look like a mess. I just... feel relieved instead." They scratch the back of their head. "you've mostly been pushing me toward exploring it I would've been shocked if you weren't okay with the results." Kay smiles. "I was more worried about what you'd think if I broke down crying. The picture i sent last night, I had that shape for like... 5 seconds."
Rīpeka shrugs one shoulder. "Doing this for the first time can be a lot, honestly, let alone in front of someone else. There's no need to feel bad over being scared about it." Beat. "Would you like a hug?"
Kay nods "I'd like it, you know, gives the thing a little trial run." a roll of their shoulder and they turn and stand up to receive said hug.
Rīpeka moves to do so, then, letting the hug last as long as Kay's comfortable with.
Kay holds the hug for quite a bit, really hugging their fellow Sibling firmly against their body. "Ok, giving hugs feels a bit different." they grin and chuckle, running their hand up and down Rīpeka's back. "Thank you." Kay says as they finally step away after a bit.
Rīpeka chuckles at that. "I mean, I'm not surprised, the presence of boobs or lack thereof does make rather a difference." Beat. "Any time."
"Also, I don't particularly feel like sharing that I have reached this level in the Life arcana, for now, so, could you not share that too?" A shrug. "I don't have any specific reason, I just feel like keeping this one for me for a while."
"That's entirely fine," Rīpeka nods. "Let me know when you're ready for it to be public?"
A thumbs up comes from Kay. "Sure, I do have the ability to heal too, though. I studied the Knitting thing as a rote."
"Good choice," Rīpeka grins. "Being able to heal is always useful, even if it's something I'd prefer not to have to do, you know?" There's a pause then, as she considers for a moment. "Would you like to be animals for a bit? My backyard is fenced off, so nobody should spot us there."
"I'm pretty sure I'd cry if I could fly, so maybe something with like four legs would be better." A little nod follows, they grab the mug and drink the rest of the tea.
"Something terrestrial it is," Rīpeka nods. "Any preferences for what? Smaller is easier, of course, but as long as you don't go for an elephant or the like it should be fine."
"I would much prefer something smaller, like a cat." A nod. "yeah a cat sounds pretty cool for starter."
"A cat it is," Rīpeka nods again, one hand going to her necklace as she looks Kay in the eye, chanting in High Speech.
"Mrow." They say before the magic can take effect.
And then the magic takes effect, Kay's body flowing down into that of a cat. A serval, to be precise.
Kay seems partially tangled with their clothes for a moment and struggles for a moment when their hind paws catches in the sleeves. They hisses at the clothes once and shakes themselves before exploring the area with a curious, cautious approach.
"Yeah, sorry, I don't have the understanding of Matter to shift your clothes with you yet," Rīpeka shrugs, before chanting once more, turning herself into another serval, emerging from her clothes with a bit more ease than Kay. But then, she's got more practice doing so. Hey. Wanna go play?
Sure, where? A ping hits as Kay themselves activate the ability to speak with animals. They stretches and yawns and brushes the side of their body against various furniture on their path.
Backyard, maybe? I've not been a cat here before, so, Rīpeka's forelegs move in what's probably the equivalent of a shrug, as she pads her way closer to Kay, pouncing on the other mage when close enough. Or trying to, anyway.
Kay does not posess a whole lot of skills to fight but seem to spend their effort dodging... into the nearby wall. ow a shake of their head. backyard
Oh no! Are you okay? I'm sorry.
my ego hurt Kay explains as they lick their paw and pretend to be cleaning themselves as the cat. I'm fine, really
Okay, Rīpeka replies, sounding relieved. Follow me? She gestures towards the back of the house with one paw.
The answer that follows in a meowing sound that is really, really weird to anyone with any practice at this. yes!
And Rīpeka leads the way, then, jumping first onto a couch, then through an open window and down into the yard.
Kay takes several more minutes to make the same jumps, not being used to this body. But they manages to go outside with the same route as Kotahi eventually. i need more practice
It can take time to adjust, yeah, Rīpeka agrees, nodding her head at Kay. You're doing good, though.
Kay spends the next few minutes sniffing and making biscuit with the grass beneath their paws, digging dirt with the claws.
this feels weird. a good weird
Yeah? Wanna expound on that?
meow meow meow meow meow Kay adds helpfully before sitting down, weirdly and then falling to their side and rolling around in the grass. *i didn't expect fur to feel like that. or hearing to be this acute. the smells i expected."
Fair enough, Rīpeka replies, amusement leaking through in her voice.
Kay struggles for a while with how to move, but eventually, they apparently get a case of the zoomies and run all over the place. *claws are useful!"
They really are, Rīpeka bleps slightly, before digging her own claws into the ground as she stretches. Then pursues Kay.
They keep running, but chances are, Kotahi easily catch up with the Moros who's completely out of their depth and ends up being caught in a corner, out of breath, defending themselve by putting paws right in Kotahi's face, but from the ground. i dont work out this much usually.
You might want to work on that, then, Sibling, Rīpeka observes, sitting down and batting the paws out of her face.
i will, eventually A yawn and a stretch of their paws, they get back up, sitting and looks about. it smells weird, i dont know that smell.
Yeah? Where's it coming from? Show me?
Kay moves around a little and sniff the air, pressing their nose against Kotahi for a moment, maybe as a joke, its hard to tell, but keeps moving afterward. Until they eventually reach a spot where a bird seems to be perched nearby.
Ha ha. Very funny, Rīpeka comments when Kay's nose is pressed against her, raising one paw and turning it over, inspecting the newly-extended claws. Not that she'd ever go through with the implied threat. Don't kill the bird, please? I've been trying to get more native ones to come back to the area.
why would I kill the bird? They lick their lips and seems to look down at the ground for a moment. Oh, stomach instinct. I'm hungry now. Won't kill the bird
Thank you for that. Beat. I can make you something to eat, if you want to go back inside and go back to being humans for a bit.
snacks sounds good Kay moves about looking toward the house. i do want to avoid doing the naked bit if possible. do you have a room i could change in?
Yep! If you let me go first I can bring your clothes out here and then give you some privacy before I release the spell?
I'd rather change like, inside a bathroom or like, another room. please. not as comfy with naked stuff as other people. Kay is making biscuit with the grass again.
That's fine, Rīpeka says, shrugging with her forelegs. Follow me to the guestroom? I'll bring your clothes there once I'm dressed myself. And then she's moving over to the open window, leaping up onto the sill.
Kay does manage to cover the distance in one try this time, but it leave their hindlegs dangling a bit for a while before they use the claw to climb fully back in. they go to explore the house a little, in the meantime.
Rīpeka heads back to where she'd shifted the pair of them into servals before returning to human form, dressing quickly before picking up Kay's things. "Okay. Anything else you want to do quickly before you shift back?"
Nah, been trying to purr for a while and its not working, I,ll manage that next time. Kay says following Rīpeka around, doing what cats do and weaving between her legs, possibly threatening to trip the human-formed mage.
"You know I grew up around cats and spend plenty of time with Fox, right? If you're trying to trip me it won't work," Rīpeka says, a note of amusement in her voice as she glances down at Kay. "Also I'm not sure if servals can purr, sorry. I can turn you into a domestic cat next time, if you want?" And then they're at the guest room, where Rīpeka places the clothes on the bed. "I'll release the spell after I shut the door, okay?"
yep! I had to try! Kay jumps on the bed and manages to do so rather easily too. thank you! a deep, large yawn and she waits for the spell to end.
"No problem," Rīpeka grins, turning and leaving, shutting the door after herself as promised. And then leaning on the wall next to it as she releases the spell on Kay, reverting the Moros to their human form.
Kay rapidly changes into their clothes and comes out of the bedroom a few moments later. "Last time Mary turned me into something, I stayed inside and it was a lot dimmer and less loud and overwhelming. Also, wow the hunger response to the bird."
"Oh? What were you then?" Rīpeka asks, leading the way back downstairs. "I can make you something to eat, if you want?"
"Something like a light snack would be good." Kay nods. "A housecat, but I kind of was more taken by what I managed to do right away. It's how I learned my initiate level of life."
"A light snack it is," Rīpeka agrees. "Do you have any dietary restrictions?"
"Dairy can make me feel weird sometimes." Kay responds, returning to their previous seat and resting their chin on the table.
"No dairy, got it," Rīpeka nods. "Anything else?"
"None that comes to mind right this moment." They shrug. "do you have any ?" they ask, curious.
"What, dairy? Or dietary restrictions?" Rīpeka's clearly seeking clarification, as she gets first an apple from the pantry then a knife out of her cutlery drawer, setting them both down on her kitchen counter while she fetches a chopping board. And then neatly cuts the apple into eighths, removing the core from each piece before setting them on a small plate, bringing it over to Kay.
"Yes to both." Kay rolls their shoulders and accept the plate of apples and eats half of their pieces in rapid succession. "I'm curious like that!"
"I'm fine with anything, honestly," Rīpeka shrugs one shoulder. "I try to avoid stuff that's not produced sustainably, but that can be really difficult without getting into making everything yourself."
"Yeah, I try to avoid a few things too, but they don't make this easy generally." Kay shrugs "Thanks for the apple, very much appreciated" another piece disappear swiftly.
"No problem," Rīpeka smiles. "I've been getting into growing my own, since I moved here. Took a while for the tree to grow to the point of getting much fruit off it, but it's been worth it."
"Life can help with that, right?" Kay asks, curious, their eyes narrowing as they consider possible shenanigans for the future.
"I mean, yeah, but I think the neighbours would be suspicious if I grew an apple tree from seed in the month since I've gotten a deep enough understanding for Accelerate Growth," Rīpeka says drily.
"I know that Rīpeka!" Kay exclaim with a smile. "But, you could grow something in your basement maybe?" they chuckles. (brb, ppl requiring my attention)
"True enough," Rīpeka admits. "I should maybe see if Fox'd be willing to give me seeds from their special plants," she adds.
"Special, as in, weed or as in, Life Special" Kay asks, knowing both are a very real possibility. (back)
"Yes," Rīpeka grins.
Kay laughs. "Alright, I get it. And I can,t really pass for judgement, since I would probably think of something like that too."
"Fair enough," Rīpeka says, still grinning. "Have you been thinking of getting into growing your own stuff, then?"
"That depends on how my current experimentation goes with the thing I brought back, to be honest. I feel like I'm slowly getting somewhere." They shrug, finishing the apple slices.
"Oh? Tell me more, do," Rīpeka invites, smiling at Kay.
"Hmm, I think I might be able to shape my soul into something new. A Legacy. I've had the project since I've learned about what a legacy was, but... I never found the proper inspiration." They look about. "I think I found inspiration in the Mother's ashes."
"That's great," Rīpeka says, genuinely happy for them. "Founding your own legacy is a pretty major accomplishment."
"I almost went with the Stone scribe, but, I don't know, it felt a little too... difficult." a shrug. "Weird and not what I wanted."
"Fair enough," Rīpeka nods. "I'm honestly not sure what legacy I'd join, if I even did. Maybe I should look into founding one of my own, too." Beat. "Is there anything else you needed to talk about, while you're here?"
"Maybe you could join mine when I manage it!" they chuckle. "I'm good on topic, I can leave or we can do a fun thing." She shrugs, all ready to follow up.
"We can do a fun thing, yeah. Any preferences? I've got a variety of consoles, if videogames appeal."
"oh, that would be great. I haven't played a game in a long time!" Kay smiles and seems very excited at the idea.
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