The Temple of Inari 50: Foxside

[Fenric]

[Kitchen]

Caroline sighs

Date, sure. Pick-up like that... honestly: he's a big boy and he's not my problem. The most I would do is tell my step-sister, and frankly, I doubt she would care.

She shakes her head with a chuckle

Part of my desire for tonight was dropping some of the reputation I have... I am not stern and demanding, and I don't turn people into fish. I am not only nice when you come to me on matters of religion - I try to be nice always! Sometimes I don't understand... I did grow up very sheltered and I did have perhaps unrealistic ideas of how interactions with other people should be, but I have never been harsh on purpose, and I really am trying to be better.

[Deathkeeper]

Kitchen

"Hey, I was trying to put it nicely. Was the last person keen on making people fish? This place seems to have a history with critters." he says, finishing his seventh peanut. "Well I think you're doing quite alright, even if I don't have much to compare it to." Make that eighth.

[Fenric]

[Kitchen]

Caroline shakes her head

It is more legend than common occurrence, really. And no, not silly Fenric: it is Frederick's grandmother Myobi, Holy Messenger of Inari... and that is a very long story indeed.

She giggles

And it has been years! It is a completely silly thing for anyone to worry about. But I know they do, and Katrina is the definition of a silly thing, and I don't feel bad in the slightest for exploiting it tonight!

She looks at the assembled snacks and arches an eyebrow

But regardless of that: shall we follow her lead, now? Or risk someone else coming in?

[Deathkeeper]

Kitchen

Steven pops one last peanut into his mouth and seals up the container, hefting it under his arm.
"Sounds like a plan to me. I think I can get back on my own." he says with a smile, bouncing a bit on his feet to demonstrate.

[Recaiden]

[Staff Disposal]

Leah nods. "I'm okay, really. It bothers people some times, and I usually wouldn't do this much. It won't poison me or my mind, or anything."
She smiles slightly.
"Thanks, Frederick." She goes to take the Gem and look it over.

"You all just keep evil artifacts lying in the archives?"

[Helping?]

Unfortunately, I don't think there's anyone to oversee the cat.

[Fenric]

[An Earnest Desire to Help]

Unfortunately, our head healer has been MIA since March... so no, the hospital is in quite a state. Acolytes and priests are muddling along as best they can with magic power, devices they don't completely understand, medicines they completely don't understand, and patients who, for the most part, can endure it because it isn't the crème de la crème who come to the Temple's free clinic (usually): these are fishermen, fish packers, farmers, mill workers, cab drivers, carters, porters, mechanics... you get the idea.


[Heading Back to Caroline's Apartment]

(( Might as well call it like it is :) ))

Back to the room, where the light is still glowing (and will continue to do so for rather a long time if Caroline doesn't cancel it). Treats get placed on the table, and yes, Caroline snagged two single-pint bottles of Asahi in her stash.

I'm Starving! I last really ate at lunch!

and she starts building a sliced-chicken sandwich. As promised, there are no mouse-related products among the food goods.


[Disposed Staff]

The gem has quite a few Light-domain powers, including the abilities to grant and deny light - therefore her wish to shield her constructs will come true.

The acolyte shakes her head

Very few indeed, ma'am. People bring them from time to time because they don't know what to do with them. Trouble is, we don't always know ourselves and sometimes we end up stuck with 'em. Not because we want them, mind.

[Lost_Deep]

An Earnest Desire to Help

The cat, named Chesepeak, while not knowing much about technology or modern medicine, seems to have a generous gift toward healing magic. It's of a divine flavor, and she uses it however she can. Perhaps more concerning is that if allowed to, Chesepeak will being managing.

What's scarier? She's good at it. She actually has experience in it, it seems.

[Deathkeeper]

Caroline's Apartment

Steven flops back down into the seat across from her, seeming quite content to lounge and nibble at things, including the peanuts from before as well as bits of chicken and crackers and such. He smells something strong in those bottles but can't quite place it.
"What's in the bottles, Caroline? Smells like somethin' I haven't had before." he stops for a moment to think.
"Hey, I don't mean to impose but...can I stay the night here? I didn't mind going home late before but...obviously things have changed." he says a little self-consciously.

[Recaiden]

[Staff Disposal 2: Firebrand of the Rice Temple]

"I...hehehe...I guess that all works out then. I know what you mean; there's a few things back at the base that we're not able to safely get rid of yet too."
Leah holds the gem in her hands to admire it, head filling with ideas. She needn't be limited to the one side of the city where the sun's been put out anymore, if this really works.

"I could try the same thing with the fire sword, but this time we don't have information from a god on how to stay safe from it."
Read differently, she's fine waiting for Vigil if she has nothing to gain from it.

[Fenric]

[Caroline's Apartment]

Caroline finishes a mouthful

It's a kind of beer... I've heard the others talk about it in fairly glowing terms, but I've never had it before. I've got some water, too, in case it's really awful.

Then the question.

I was rather hoping you would. I have a spare blanket and pillow... but... Is there any hope you would consider somewhere a little nicer than the sofa?


[Hospital]

Yay! Management! The leaderless bunch is quite happy to follow someone who is willing to take charge.


[Disposal: VIGIL is coming someday, right?]

The acolyte shrugs and waves the receipt

That's all I've got, ma'am.

Frederick shakes his head

No idea, sorry... never heard Grandpa say anything about it that I can remember.

[Deathkeeper]

Caroline's Apartment

Steven smiles at her.
"Well, considering the body trouble a nice soft bed sounds much more pleasant than something makeshift. What did you have in mind?"

[Recaiden]

[Disposal: But not today]

"Since you've already got it safe in that box and everything, I should probably get back to work."

Leah stands up, glances around to listen for any response or interruption, and if there aren't any unexpected ones, starts to fade out of sight.

"Farewell."

[Fenric]

[Caroline's Apartment]

Caroline looks at the snacks. Then she looks at her hands. Then she looks at the pictures. She plays "What Would Katrina Do?" in her head, and doesn't like the answer.

just be myself...

She takes a deep breath, and looks back at Steven, ears half-down and trembling.

I know we only met tonight, and ... but ... I'd like you to come to my room.

She sighs quietly, feeling compelled to give all pertinent information

Or... we do have guest facilities.



[Item Disposal: The Neverending Story]

Frederick waves

Bye, Leah! Nice meeting you!

The acolyte marches back toward the Priest's Quarters to change into a clean robe.

[Deathkeeper]

Caroline's Apartment

Steven looks up at her, seeming a bit puzzled.
"Room sounds fine to me. It's not like I take up that much space anyway." he says jokingly. But really, she already gave him a speech about being okay with him being a non-Vulpan and several other things that sure sounded couple-ish to him, and that's not including the kiss. Sharing a room doesn't sound like a big jump from that to him.

Item Disposal

Mist shakes some thoughts out of his head and steps forward before Leah is gone completely.
"Thanks, Leah. We couldn't have done it without you. Visit the Inn sometime, okay?" he says to her quietly but sincerely.

[Fenric]

[Caroline's Apartment]

Caroline's self-confidence list:

1. Priestly Magic
2. Scolding Divine Messengers
3. Theology
...
1197. Interpersonal relationships

Oh.

She takes a moment to get the point

Oh!

But she does get there eventually. Ears perk back up, and she manages to not do a happy dance.

I am so glad to hear that!

She also manages to be her usual self

Um, so... the bathroom is at the end of the hall, by the stairs... I think I've got a spare toothbrush you can have.

[Deathkeeper]

Caroline's Apartment

Steven smiles at her, trying hard not to laugh.
"That sounds fine to me. And for the record, now it really is getting late, so I don't mind turning in whenever you feel like it." he says. Mice are nocturnal but he thinks he'll be able to force himself to sleep.

[Fenric]

[Caroline's Apartment]

Caroline nods seriously, but still grinning

Yeah... I have a feeling I am going to be a trifle late in the morning... Just a moment.

She scurries to the other room, and comes back promptly with a wrapped toothbrush and tube of paste which claims to be "unsweetened blackberry" flavor.

If you would like to go first, I will get this stuff cleaned up.

[Deathkeeper]

Caroline's Apartment

The boy nods and takes the items, and scurries off himself to take care of that. With any luck he won't have any problems with the different teeth and such and be back momentarily.
He also doesn't have any other clothes to sleep in, but he'll get to that when it comes to it, he thinks.

[Fenric]

(( Oh, no - you don't get off so easily: time for a [not at all] random encounter! ))

[The Third Floor Hallway]

Steven will undoubtedly be startled by a gasp as he scurries toward the bathroom! There, in the hall, is a tiny little kit - maybe 3 years old. She's staring up at Steven with big round eyes and is clutching...

a grey felt anthro-mouse doll.

Mr Squeaky! You weawy hewe? You going to bafwoom?

[Deathkeeper]

Third Floor Hallway

Steven sighs. Kids. Why does he have to be so bad with kids?
He bends down to talk to the little girl.
"I think you've got the wrong mouse. See?" he says, pointing to his arm, which is clearly brown, not grey!
"Were you going to the bathroom too? Because if you weren't you should go back to your room. Kids shouldn't be out by themselves in the middle of the night." he says to her in a whisper. One must be careful talking when it's this late. And it's not like he has to worry about her not hearing him with those little fox-ears of hers.

[Fenric]

[Third Floor Hallway]

She tilts her little head

Bwoun?

Then shakes it

No! You got mud! You needa baff!

This causes much giggling

OK, Mr Squeaky wif mud, I gotta go bed now. Don let Miss Meow catch you!

and she toddles inside a nearby door.

[Deathkeeper]

Third Floor Hallway

Steven shakes his head. Kids are weird.
With a shrug he gets back on course to the bathroom, idly making note that he'll probably need to go get himself a big stash of shampoo for his new coat. He decides he'll probably need a big day of shopping to deal with all those little nuances he has now. Ah, well.

[Fenric]

[Priest's Quarters]

And flea powder! Might want to follow up on with Caroline on what the complaint with MagCorp brand was. But that little interaction was the point, so Steven can escape with handwaving further ministrations.

Caroline packs up the food and dishes as best she can - some of it really won't be good by morning, which is unfortunate. Realizing that Steven has her toothpaste, she snags a disposable travel toothbrush and scurries off to the women's facilities.

[Deathkeeper]

Priest's Quarters

Oh dear, he hasn't a chance of realizing that fleas are going to be an issue now. Hopefully someone can make a list for him sometime.
Still, assuming nothing else happens he'll meet Caroline back at the room.
"Everything go fine? Hey uhm, hope you don't mind but so unless you have some extra-small pajamas lying around I might just sleep in my shorts." he says, a little embarrassed.

[Fenric]

[Caroline's Apartment]

I'm sure that's what he meant to say, and I suppose he might make it all the way through that sentence... But Caroline seems to have lost her skirt and her belt, and while the blouse is upper-thigh length, there's not much holding it in place anymore so he knows that she is wearing dark green lacy panties.

This way.

she beckons him through the only other door in the room.

[Deathkeeper]

Caroline's Apartment

Steven gives a surprised little squeak at Caroline's abrupt change in dress, but manages to avoid letting his jaw drop. With only a small nod, he dutifully follows her into the room.
Well, then.

[Fenric]

[Caroline's Apartment]

The bedroom proper is also small. The bed is up against the interior wall, and would not quite qualify as "full size" by modern standards. As it is the corner room, there are two windows: one at the head of the bed, and one opposite the door to the sitting room. There is a nightstand under the window at the head of the bed, and a dresser under the other. Finally, there is a walk in closet that doubles as her dressing room to the left.

Caroline lights a small lamp on the nightstand before sitting near the top of the bed and cancelling the light spell in the sitting room. Her blouse is tantalizingly open, but draped well and doesn't reveal anything the sheer panel of the green dress hadn't already displayed. Her ears are starting to tremble a bit, again - she's just about used up all of her boldness. She tips her muzzle down and looks at Steven expectantly.

[Deathkeeper]

Caroline's Apartment

Steven shrugs and takes his shirt off, depositing it nice and folded onto the nearest convenient surface. And his pants too, although the tail makes those a bit more difficult. Still, as long as Caroline doesn't object to seeing him in his boxers, there won't be much notable besides the pleasantries of wishing each other good night as they climb into the bed. There does appear to be something eating at him, but he doesn't bring it up for a bit without pressing. A minute or so after the lights go out though, he does feel compelled to speak up.
"Caroline? Can you- can you tell me, honest-to-gods? Do you...do you like me better this way?" he says, barely above a whisper.

[Fenric]

[Caroline's Apartment]

Caroline watched quietly (and appreciatively) as Steven mostly undressed, and turned off the lamp as the light contributed mightily to self-conscious embarrassment. She didn't actually lie down right away, which certainly might have helped prompt his question.

Immediately following the question, Caroline shifts somewhat and there is the sound of fabric falling to the floor before she lies down beside him.

I can answer without any doubt that yes, I do.

And she seeks to snuggle up to him and guide his hand to hold her.

[Deathkeeper]

Caroline's Apartment

Steven lets out a sigh.
"Thank you. Really. For everything."
And after that he's more than willing to curl up in as close proximity to Caroline as she wants