(no subject)

[poetwarrior]

While lots of human-style furniture is understandably meant for bipeds and little else, there is a K'da poet-warrior who is appreciating the chance to test out one of the chaise lounges in the Plaza, its cushion long enough to allow the entire length of the tiger-sized creature to stretch out comfortably, hanging his forepaws over the side.

Perhaps it's frivolous to spend his time this way when there are other things he could be doing, but he's been in the Nexus many times and never had reason to ask a question. That is no longer the case.

"Have you ever had cause to uproot yourself from your home and travel to places unknown, with no intention of returning? Did you encounter any difficulties that you had not expected?"

Comments

[mudblood_andproud]

"Yes." Hermione answers the question. She is accompanied by Crookshanks again today. The large orange cat is very curious about the K'da. He looks up at those forepaws, that are hanging over the chaise lounge, with slight wonderment.

"Yes. I had to uproot myself from my home. Yes I had to travel to places unknown. At the time, I didn't know if I would ever be able to return to the home I knew."

"And yes... I experienced many difficulties."

[poetwarrior]

Faris' tongue flicks out to catch their scents, having never met a cat before. He doesn't move from his position on the cushion, his claws left sheathed and nonthreatening. He tilts his head slightly at her answer, and opens his lower jaw slightly in a K'da smile.

"Perhaps a more in-depth answer would be helpful," he says with good humor.

[mudblood_andproud]

Crookshanks places his paws on the lounge, close to where the K'da is relaxing, and arches his large feline body up so he can sniff out the strange creature himself.

"I recently fought in a war. My friends and I had to live in shelters, out in the woods, for over a year. We were always on the run. Always looking for a new place to rest. I had to leave the home I grew up in, and my school, which was my second home."

[poetwarrior]

The K'da eyes the orange cat with mild interest, allowing the investigation, though he doesn't lower his head to meet the animal halfway. There's something peculiar about the creature's body language, something that speaks of sentience beyond that of a mere dumb animal, but it doesn't appear as though the cat is quite on the same level as speaking beings.

The news that she had to leave her home due to war is a sobering, if familiar, story. "My sympathies. I am unfortunately familiar with such things myself."

[mudblood_andproud]

Crookshanks arches again, then fluidly (and a little quicker than one might think a heavy-set cat could achieve) he jumps up onto the lounge, to sit near the K'da. While he can not speak, his eyes are wide and alert. As if he is listening.

"You had to fight in a war?"

[poetwarrior]

The presence of the cat doesn't bother him, nor does the intensity of its stares. There is enough room for both of them, though it'll be uncomfortable if Hermione decides to join them too. Fortunately, there's no shortage of other seats available.

"Yes. My home was invaded by the Valahgua, and they have devoted their efforts towards the complete eradication of my peoples. Because of this, we are now refugees, seeking a new home where future generations will be safe."

[chiron_survivor]

It's the question that catches Adia's attention first as she's passing through the Plaza, a cup of coffee in her hand, messenger bag slung over her shoulder. But it's a moment or two before she answers, taking in the dragon-like creature with wide eyes. He's like nothing she's seen before in the Nexus, which is really saying something.

"Yes," she finally says, approaching the K'da and finding somewhere to sit nearby. "But while there have been many difficulties, I'm not sure how unexpected any of them were. Once the war started, we all kind of knew what we were getting into."

[poetwarrior]

Glowing green eyes meet hers as she approaches, and Faris does his best to look nonthreatening, aware through his associations with humans that some people find his appearance unnerving at first. Her decision to sit nearby is encouraging, however, and he lifts his head attentively as she answers his question.

"It is an unfortunate thing to be driven from your home by war," he says, with sympathy and understanding. "Are you a soldier, then?"

[chiron_survivor]

One thing that Adia has learned is that it's the ones who look human in the Nexus that she has to worry most about. Regardless, she appreciates his calm demeanor, and smiles at him politely when he lifts his head.

"No." It's a small, sad look that follows. "All of us -- all of humanity was driven from the Colonies when the Cylons attacked us. I'm a scientist, actually. A microbiologist." She pauses, realizing belatedly that it's likely won't know what that means. "I study diseases and try to figure out ways to help people get less sick."

[poetwarrior]

Faris appreciates the elaboration. He's familiar with such things, but much of his study of English focused around more conversational and piloting terms. "An important role to fill. My sympathies with you and your people for the necessity of fleeing. I regret that I share a similar past; my peoples are also refugees."

[chiron_survivor]

"You, too?" She sits up in concern, putting his initial question into this new, more personal context. "How did it happen to you? What difficulties are you facing?"

[poetwarrior]

"Our enemy is called the Valahgua. Their goal is the complete eradication of the Shontine and K'da, for reasons still unknown to us." Faris' tail twitches, catlike, as he speaks. This is not a pleasant topic for either of them. "We are outmatched, and have begun searching for a new planet to call home, far away from their reach. It is... considerably difficult to locate a suitable world. One with a tolerable climate, that is not already occupied, or far enough away from the Valahgua."

[grantuseyes]

The question is profoundly relevant to what Micolash has done and where he has been, but he's presently flummoxed by the appearances of the person asking the question. It IS a person, surely? It's sentient, it speaks words of man. But it looks as though it's a beast, one entirely foreign to the creatures Yharnam has long been locked with in deadly clashes and dire contagions.

The man in shabby clothing, academic regalia and a towering iron cage is shuffling around where Faris lounges. A safe distance to not be snatched by claws were it to have the mind to, and moving back and forth, craning his neck, trying to view this creature from all possible angles.

"Y....es. And yes," Micolash finally, distractedly, replies, still openly oggling the draconic being from behind the bars of his cage. He looks faintly distrusting, wary as though he may have to make a sudden dash should the beast be in such a mood to strike.

[poetwarrior]

How... very odd. Faris is alert, but not hostile, leaving his claws sheathed. He does, however, fix his glowing green gaze upon this strange person who walks within a cage, no matter what new angle the stranger is using to observe the K'da. He may have gotten used to the (mostly) guaranteed peace that comes with the AV Field, but he is still a warrior, and it would not do to be complacent, even here.

His tail twitches, like an impatient cat's might, and he tastes the air to learn this person's scent. "Do you not wish to speak of the details?" he questions.

[grantuseyes]

"I am...admittedly. Intrigued?" He's stopped shuffling back and forth at least, but standing still doesn't negate that nervous energy. Instead, Micolash's fingers curl and uncurl into fists, the fingers sometimes twitching spasmodically into a claw-like gesture before relaxing again. This second act seems entirely involuntary, like some kind of tick.

"A beast who speaks is rare indeed. Rarer still one who reasons."

This is a conversational hurdle that might have to be cleared before anything meaningful is said. Micolash still doesn't hide his open staring, not even bothering to blink.

[poetwarrior]

Faris' crest flares along his neck in indignation. "I am no beast," he growls, drawing himself up to his full height, tail lashing in agitation. "I am a warrior of the K'da."

If there's one thing that'll wound his pride, it's being mistaken for a dumb animal, whether intended or not.

[grantuseyes]

The movement gets Micolash to dart back several steps in a shocking display of speed for someone who looks so awkward and sleepy AND has untied shoes besides.

"And who is K'da?" He manages the inquiry only when he feels he's a safe distance once more. Despite how odd and potentially dangerous (at least as much as Micolash assumes) this encounter is, the scholar cannot bypass such a curious discovery, such a strange anomaly. "A Great One? A covenant?"

[tielle_mortevus]

Tielle took a seat next to the creature, curiously looking him over. She closes her eyes for a moment, the question hitting a bit closer to home than one might initially expect. Procuring a flask from her side, she takes a sip before addressing the question, staring blankly off into the horizon.

"I've spent quite some time away from those I hold dear... though it is a bit of a long and sordid tale. I wouldn't mind regaling you for a while if you have the time."

She gives him a sly grin as she tucked the flask away again.

"The short version, I had to fake my own death."

[poetwarrior]

Faris flicks out his tongue to taste the air and catch the scent of this newcomer, a reflex born of warrior's training to observe every detail. "I have perhaps one of your hours to spare before I must go." He has to leave himself a sufficient safety margin to get back to his host, after all. It'd be an embarrassing and pointless death if he simply lost track of time.

[tielle_mortevus]

"Very well then. It all started with the release of a half demon with a rather nasty grudge against my family. My adoptive father had sealed her away for quite some time before her release. After the tragic death of my lover, she used the political unrest to turn my enemies eyes towards my empire. I knew there were too many of them to fend off, especially in my current state of mind, and keeping my daughter safe came first. I faked my death, left my daughter in the capable hands of my second in command and simply vanished for about a decade. I tried to ensure my daughter was never discovered, but I should have known it was inevitable."

She paused for a moment, shaking her head.

"Since the day she took him from me, I have been hunting her ever since. I did manage to track her down, but she sent me here. I suppose her plan was to kill me, but apparently it didn't quite work out as she expected. I suppose I can enjoy the rest while I figure out my next move."

She turns her head towards him, looking him over.

"Though I've seen quite a few things since my arrival here, a dragon was certainly not something I expected to encounter. It's quite refreshing to come across something at least somewhat familiar. It's nice to come across another non-human I at least can relate to."

She gives him a purposefully wide smile, revealing a pair of sharp fangs.

[poetwarrior]

He's not sure what a demon is, but the word she uses to describe him prompts a slightly confused twitch of the tail. "I am a K'da. You are not human?" Her fangs seem prominent, but he's in the dark about the significance of that. Until she'd said so, he'd assumed she was just some variation of the species he hadn't met yet.

[tielle_mortevus]

She shakes her head, rubbing her brow.

"My apologies. I suppose it was a bit presumptuous of me to assume our worlds would share any similarities, despite your striking resemblance to the dragons of my world. I suppose I have a few things to clarify then. Where to begin..."

She paused for a moment, deciding to start with the most relevant.

"Dragons are creatures from my plane of existence that share a striking resemblance to your K'da, as you call it. They are extremely powerful, their colored scales normally denoting their lineage, as well as their affinities, abilities, and even belie their personalities. Most are widely feared by those who don't understand the nuances of their kind, though some can be quite benevolent... others though I would advise to avoid at all costs."

She could go on for hours about the different kinds of dragons, but as the K'da seemed to only be free for so long, she decided not to prattle on about the subject for too long, instead deciding to answer his question.

"As for myself, I was human.... once... a very, very long time ago. I suppose one could say my kind has been cursed, though I've never really seen it as such. I am a vampire, immortal, I feed on the blood of the living."

Taking out her flask again, she gives it a light shake before putting it back at her hip.

"...Though you've nothing to worry about there. I've brought my own supply, and I only feed from willing donors. The last thing I need is to make enemies in such an unfamiliar place."

[farmboyjedi]

Yes.

More difficulties than I ever expected.

I can only consider myself lucky that what's come out of it has been more wonderful than I could have ever dreamed.

[poetwarrior]

Faris turns his head to regard this new human who has answered. "I would not mind more details, if you wish to speak of it."

[farmboyjedi]

The Empire that was in my world. After they came, everything that meant anything to me was gone. Only then was I told of what I was really capable of...and I had to leave to fight back. To help bring freedom back to the Galaxy.

It's been a long journey. I've faced more than I ever imagined was possible. But it's made me stronger and led me to what I never knew existed...to the sister and the family I've gained since then. To the love I've found now. And more importantly, so many other beings are better off now because of it.