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 Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 2:52 pm
 This warmth, how nice it would be to actually feel it. Even the small river before her was soaking in the sun's gift, making the temperature quite enjoyable for dipping in tired paws. Setsu had covered some distance within the day, too much to bother counting, and now her paws demanded rest. Thankfully, the soft chime of splashing water had drawn her to this empty resting spot hidden within the dense woods. A fallen log bordered the pebbled ground and the water's edge, and it was here she paused to remove her short katana to lean against the wood. Removing her arm guards as well, she then padded forward to the edge of the crystal clear river. Pearl scaled tails twitched on the ends as her pale paws broke the surface, before her body sank behind her to lay upon the smooth pebbles.
Serene silence, something she enjoyed in her many times out of the company of others. Company of others, something even the smallest of creatures wouldn't provide her. They were wise, following their senses and avoiding her air of tainted illness. Her indigo and garnet eyes scanned the twisted river and the woods on the opposite side, before they closed in a sleepless rest.
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Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 3:59 pm
 For some, the heat was a pleasant sensation, rippling lazily to embrace whatever weary soul happened to wander into its path, soothing aching muscles, chasing away racing minds and blanketing them with the drowsy lull of sleep. For others, it was a stifling, blasphemous thing, sinking straight into already-warm clothing and threatening to roast the tender flesh and fur within. Flicking his ears faintly, hoping to dislodge some of the dark, if silky hair that cast itself across his eyes, acting like little more than a beacon for the dusty streams of sunlight which were all too willing to sear his scalp. His tails too, of the same ebony shade, suffered, and the Spaniard was very tired of feeling so hot. The serenade of the water had caught his attention too, and gratefully, silently, he wound his way towards the river.
His only problem? Someone else was already in it. At least partially, anyway.
The fetid, if sickly sweet smell of rot had caught his attention much faster than anything else could have, and his carefree posture immediately adjusted itself to the situation. Stealthy now, barely even taking breath, Luis kept his body low, slinking through the foilage until he had a suitable vantage point. Another Kitsusagi, then...Hurt perhaps? Or perhaps housing something inside that sought to taint the rest of the inhabitants...Female, he noted, or at least assumed by the garbs and accessories she wore...and was that a horn? Wasn't unlike Las Plagas to corrupt their hosts, mark them as something different...Especially if this was one of the higher-ranking parasites. Not good, not good...It was the smell that had him worried. Only one way to find out.
Padding silently, keeping his distance, Luis craned his neck to drink, the cool, sweet water gone sour no sooner than it touched his tongue. Dark eyes remained fixed on this mysterious stranger he'd stumbled across, looking almost sunken as they studied her. He'd never heard of the Plagas rotting their hosts...but what had that cop said to him, eh? Something about...the virus. Zombies. The smell of decay. Before he could get too ahead of himself, the Spaniard clamped firmly down on his thoughts, snorting a little. Whoa there amigo. There was nothing to say the smell was coming from her, was there? No, he would be cautious, but not to the point of paranoia. "Doesn't look very comfortable." His accented tone would undoubtedly drift to her ears.
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Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 4:34 pm
Eyelids gave the faintest twitch, but nothing more was betrayed by the lounging kitsusagi. The ground was indeed sending vibrations, and by their faint pace, the being was nearby with cautious intent. Tails paused their movements, the sunlight glinting off the cleaned scales, before slowly uncurling to rest against the ground to further her senses. Now who was this stranger approaching? By the wieght of the sound, she could assume it was something similiar in size to kitsusagis. Her breathless body froze in caution, awaiting for whatever situation may come.
Her ear flitted to the side, feather swinging silently as the presence finally appeared in the opening of pebbled landscape. Muscles tensed as the vibrations came closer, before they ended at the river's edge some distance away from herself. Only then did she open her vacant eyes to peer over at the other, face remaining forward in impatient consideration. So, it was another kitsusagi. A male, obviously by that fringe of beard adorning his chin. And this one wore human clothes as well, something she considered a sign of intelligent being. At least in the sense of communicating. Her pale face remained placid with stony features of fatigue as she inspected the other. He wore the obvious signs of one crossing a predator, with tension and alert. And she awarded him with the same observance.
A brief glaze of curiousity flitted behind her eyes, before they died away and she gave the Spaniard a blank stare of uninterest. Uncomfortable? A common attribute of her state, one she adjusted to and ignored from the male. Instead, her eyes drifted lazily to her weapon in calculation. Would it be needed?
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Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 5:03 pm
Oh, because that looked normal. Those glazed, mis-matched eyes had him arching his neck slightly, offering her a look that might been best represented as 'ehhhh...'. "Oookay...not a big talker then, sweetheart?" His tone was light, almost purring as he followed her gaze, noting the weapon's size. Nothing life-threatening then, not unless he got too close. Unfortunately for her, the Spaniard was excellent and keeping his distance. Her face was so pale...and once she'd shifted, Luis realized with a start that she wasn't breathing. Ah-hah, not a good sign, especially not with that crimson gleam illuminating from one eye...Zombie then? No parasite he knew could surive in a deceased body.
"Where's the loooove, baby? You not even gonna say hello?" Luis pressed, sauntering closer, his sleeky tails billowing out behind him, casually twitching from time to time. Was she capable of intelligent thought? She was watching him just as keenly as he'd been watching her, so he took that to be a good sign. Strutting deliberately out of reach, if only to grin at her more slyly that way, the dark-haired Spaniard continued to muse aloud. "So, a pretty thing like you shows up all alone, looking...well..." He paused, as though looking for a more tasteful way to phrase it, "Half-dead, then can't even muster up the energy for some polite conversation? You're acting so coooold..."
Had it occurred to him that playing with fire would inevitably end up with him getting burned? But of course. Had she been out to kill him, however, she wouldn't have hesitated when he'd originally slipped from the forest. And if she was a rotting sack of walking, cannibalistic flesh, surely he'd be too tempting a meal to pass up. "You need my assistance?" Luis crooned, grinning broadly. If that didn't get her to talk, nothing would.
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Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 5:23 pm
A sweet talker, eh? As amusing as that was, no signs of emotion were expressed from the female. His own gaze to her weapon did have her flinch, only to be somewhat relieved when he made no approach towards it. That in the very least was a promising sign. Nothing to make conclusions from, however, as Setsu firmly held her ground. The male seemed to size up the situation, and she kept close record of each expression he revealed. A skeptical realization, it seemed, as he pieced together certain traits of the horned kitsusagi.
His steps forward forced her to sit up fully, pale fur bristling slightly in warning. No need to get too close as to be threatening. She would make no movement of force, so long as the other kept his own in a nonthreatening manner. A delicate brow raised, head tilting an inch at his vain words. What a flirt. "You'd be wise to hold your tongue before you trip over yourself." That's as much of a hello as he'd get from the cold-blooded female. At least he was decent enough to phrase her condition as such, unlike others she had crossed roads with.
Tails were awoken at the shift of position, and they obediantly curled around her paws. Without her arm guards to protect her pale paws, the limbs would drop to an unbearable chill. Much like the rest of her unclothed form, that watched the other calmly and alertly. "Assistance?" What was this spaniard up to?
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Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 5:55 pm
Success! His grin, if anything, widened, and the crafty kitsusagi tilted his head slightly to peer at her better, keeping his features still despite the urge to wrinkle his nose from the unmistakable smell of sickness. However, she had spoken...Cleverly, he plotted, still playing the fool as he chuckled throatily at her words. "Aiye, chica! You think me so clumsy?" He did have a particular way of sauntering, his movements so light and casual. As those scaly tails slithered across smooth pebbles to join her paws, the fur on his back bristled slightly, the reaction thankfully hidden by his vest. What an unpleasant sound...
"Ahh, yes. Generally, it involves one person helping another...Strange, no?" Now he was just being obnoxious. Flicking his tails with amusement, deliberately straying a pace closer as he moved to circle the fallen log, Luis continued. "You look awfully sick, chica...Not that the, ah, smell helps anything." Whaaat, he didn't appreciate the smell of decay? Apparently not. "Surely there's something I can do...Assuming your intentions are less than friendly, of course."
Though his tone was light, almost pleasant, a chill had definitely entered the Spaniard's movements as he paused again to study her, a cool, calculating stare that was far from the flirtatious fool he'd been only seconds before. "Never seen anything like you before. Never smelled it, either. Friend of mine told me a funny story the other day, chica--" Immediately, the chill had vanished and Luis had picked up his sauntering gait once more, talking as flippantly as though he was discussing the weather. "Something about zombies and the like. Straaange coincidence, no? Finding a pale girl like you all the way out here, not looking quite right...not breathing." With that, the Spaniard paused again to fix a single, black eye on her, lips curling up in a grin. "...Well, it's awfully suspicious, no? And you know, much as I love a pretty face, I'm an awfully suspicious guy..."
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Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 6:40 pm
He seemed quite pleased to create conversations out of blue, no? A clumsy fool, well played in this encounter. But Setsu had many encounters, and knew what to carefully consider when a stranger made approach. His pauses and grins, attention payed to where he stepped and what he spoke. He was no fool, only a wearer of a fool's mask. And she'd let him believe what he did of himself.
"Strange indeed. And certainly a rarity." Her head turned slowly as eyes trailed after the male, keeping him clearly within sight. A stiff posture was thus resulted, her chin leaning forward to give him a stern gaze. Who knew what that smiling stranger may pull with his distracting accent. She almost snorted as he continued to state the obvious, but held back any snickering for her own mind. "I have a name, senor. And unless you can bring a kiss of life, you're no use to me." She had hoped the smell had lightened, as if time would have the same effect of dry-icing her state.
Eyes did narrow slightly as the other mentioned a friend who spoke of zombies. Was this fellow the very same Mr. Kennedy? Or were all kitsusagi so intrigued by the chance of bumping into the undead? No matter. Pebbles shifted as she stood, and with a slow turn she placed herself beside her katana and guards. Two toned eyes never left the male as her paws reached out to reattach her fuzzy arm guards. Too cold now. Her lips twitched, almost smirking as he mentioned that she wasn't breathing. How observant. "There are no coincidences, that is a fact in life." Even to those who no longer treaded within the living. Eyes were downcast as she tightened and strapped on one arm guard. "And your suspicions hold true, I won't hide that from you."
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Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 7:16 pm
If she observed carefully, then yes, she would understand his intentions. Luis hadn't survived in his own, personal Hell for months on end for being clumsy, after all. No, this was only to deliberately goad the female, to gather what information she could from her reactions. For example, she had seen the difference between what he was, and what he portrayed himself to be, no? Then she was clever, quick-witted, and perhaps even only more dangerous than she made herself out to be.
"Tough love, sweetheart, I know." The Spaniard said sympathetically, his tails swishing softly with suppressed amusement. "A kiss? Well well! Seems you aren't one to skip past the foreplay after all..." So, she knew she was dead? That was interesting. Very interesting. The narrowing of her eyes had him pausing once more, his eyes half-lidded as he fixed an almost dismissive sort of stare on her. "Did I...strike a nerve?" She'd risen to her feet, and Luis looked rather bemused, his casual stance contradicting with his mind's readiness to flee should she lunge out. Then again, he could handle himself in a brief scuffle, so long as she didn't manage to get hold of that weapon.
Dark eyes trailed her paws faintly, watching as she moved to attach what looked like guards for her forearms. Was she planning on coming after him, then? He didn't know. "So you say, chica, so you say~" So, she'd fully admited to her less-then-healthy state? Then they were making progress. "Well, you haven't tried to take a bite out of me yet...M'I not on the menu, babe?" Yes, most the undead things he'd encountered had wanted to devour certain bits of him. "Doesn't seem like you're falling apart at the seams, either."
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Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:24 pm
He may not be a fool, but he was sure single-minded. Glazed eyes rolled tiredly as he continued on in delight about a kiss. It had been nothing more than a figure of speech, and yet she berated herself for not finding something more...appropriate. "You know? So long as you're still breathing, you know nothing." To try and convince of some similiarities within such a short span of meeting would be a fruitless game.
She continued onto the second arm brace, adjusting it and slipping a chilly paw securely inside. Her eyes remained fixed on the task, while her ears lowered to show she was indeed still listening through his playful rants. His question made her pause her movements, eyes turning to fix him with a glare that clearly warned him to mind his own business. Should he strike a cord, she'd react venomously. Controlling her temper was still a task she had yet to complete. The katana was reclaimed and placed with the belt at her hip.
She almost wish she had breath to sigh, as she tilted her head at him lazily, indigo hair falling across her eyes. Less-than-healthy would've been a compliment at her rate. Even in death, she was wary of disease and frailty, to the point of not sleeping when need be. It was too risky, what if she couldn't awaken herself? As to eating....
"Cannabalism, disgusting." Were all other undead that violent to make it such a wide-known stereotype? And how many of these undead were in this kitsusagi world? A curious glance was given to the spaniard. "You sound as if you're seeking death with how you go about speaking." Perhaps he was a fool after all.
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Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 3:17 pm
"Have it your way, chica...but remember, looks can be deceiving." Though the Spaniard tossed his head lightly, a bitter ripple of resentment flickered throughout his mind, at least hidden from the outside world. She had no idea. The glare was met with a single raised eyebrow and a flicker of a grin, but nothing more. "Bet you break hearts all the time with a look like that, lovely..." Well, all right, nothing much more.
Ohh, did she think she'd frighten him off? Not likely. "Most of you don't seem to mind." He said mildly, becoming bemused with this situation. A zombie girl that didn't chow down on her own kind, eh? Not bad. Still didn't mean he was fully ready to relax in her presence, however. "Ah well. You hardly look the type for anything interesting, as it is..." No dead bodies, no tell-tale stains of blood...and, more importantly, no sign of Las Plagas yet.
"Seeking death?" Luis laughed, a velvety sound, like he'd never heard a more obscene question in his life. "Haven't I just found it, love?" A broad wink and a cheeky grin was offered in her direction before the Spaniard shook his head, silky locks of ebony tumbling into his face. "Nahhh...Seeking for those who spread it, maybe, but I'm not in any hurry to meet up with Death himself just yet..." The Grim Reaper, maybe, but she didn't need to know that. "You haven't seen anything strange, mm? What, with being...well, you know." Dead? But, in any case, perhaps she'd noticed anything odd in the area?
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Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 6:56 pm
Ha, was that the biggest truth in the world. Never, ever fall victim to first appearances. A glint of amusement flicked to life in her vacant eyes, as she tilted her head to the side with chin raised. When did she ever take the time to observe the hearts of others? "That's just too bad. Besides, I'm sure it's nothing compared to your charming speeches."
Eyes once more narrowed, and her pale ears pinned back slightly. Interesting, as in the stereotypical zombie? Hardly. And it was getting quite old to be related to such creatures. "Why must you all expect me to murder you and eat your innards? Is this world that plagued with undead?" Sadly, she didn't know of anyway to explain the difference between her own state, nor did she believe she had the patience to discribe it. As to the blood, thank goodness she had cleaned that filth off earlier. At this same river, if she stood correctly.
A muffled hum escaped her frown, as the spaniard seemed to enjoy petnames a little too much. Best she could do now was continue calling him spaniard and fool, without knowledge of names. And here he was, ranting such things as giving Death a gender and postponing a meeting with such being. Her purple and garnet eye blinked as if he just spoke an extremely basic and ridiculous question himself. "I'm more surprised by this form than my state of condition." What was this form again....kitsusagi? Her paw rolled in a bored and shrugging gesture. "This realm is not my own, you see."
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Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 8:06 pm
One ear swiveled slightly, as though surprised by her sudden wit, but it didn't take long for Luis to grin at her. "Aiye-yi-yi, you implying that I'm a heart breaker? You're killin' me, chica..." Now, was there any particular reason she only had one horn? Looked painful--perhaps he'd prod at that subject in a moment. Those mismatched eyes were already narrowing at him, see, and while the Spaniard had no restraint about teasing her, he didn't particularly feel like provoking her to the point where she felt it necessary to use that blade of hers...
"All?" He questioned innoculously, tilting his head while dark eyes rolled up to the sky in a parody of thoughtful express. "Normally chica, the dead don't walk, see? And yes, you'd be the third dead or otherwise abnormal one I've run into. The only difference being you haven't either attempted to consume my soul, my brain, or any other minor body part." This was said rather mildly, and, after a moment, Luis seated himself, dark tails flicking quietly as he watched her.
He figured she wouldn't try anything now, not when they were having such a pleasant conversation..."This form?" The Spaniard repeated, blinking as she spoke of herself as though unused to her own body. "You come from elsewhere?" All riiiight...She was either crazy, or had a very logical explanation for why she was so different. "Care to explain?" The fool was fading away, offering a glimpse of the cool curiosity of the intellectual who lurked within, intrigued by this now.
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 8:08 pm
No no, why would she dare imply that? She smirked to herself, not looking at the other kitsu as she finished up the straps of her arm guard. There, secure and all together. These were all she had left from her own realm, and she had no plans to lose them. Especially her precious katana and ring feather. Pale paw moved to flick at the blood speck still stained to her sleeve, a frown passing her maw.
"Yes all. You 'keepers of peace' always on alert of 'zombies'." Her head turned to peer blankly at the spaniard, as he recited the basics of the undead. With added violence and intent to actually harm others. How grotesque, yet oddly cliche. "Hm, I don't eat anyways." And the though of eating someone who constantly grinned and spoke nicknames seemed more odd than anything else. Her tails flicked near her boots, always in a state of tension; never wanting to sit still. It was the only part of her that seemed to live off her remaining sliver of emotions.
Ears went down in annoyance at the idea of repeating herself of not normally being in this form. She had been told that others from past lives came to this realm. Was she the only one to retain her memories? Besides, she had no intention of staying in an afterlife. So, a simple nod was given. "Yes. And all there is to know is that I have unfinished business. Becoming a resident here is not a goal of mine." Eyes turned away as the faces of her allies and more flitted across her mind. How were they?
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Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 2:46 pm
The slight swaying of the feather that dangled precariously from one of her ears caught his attention for a heartbeat, drawn quickly to the blood that marred the material of her coat of sorts. "No? Interesting..." How strange she was, eh? So, she admitted she was undead, a zombie of sorts, yet she portrayed none of the traits one would generally be accustomed to, nor did she seem to have lost any of her intellect in the change. Most interesting.
He noted how her ears went down, a grin curling across his muzzle at her irritation. "Ahhh, chica, surely I could convince you otherwise! Not all residents are so unfriendly once you get a little closer..." If that wasn't a blatant come-on, nothing was. And why shouldn't he flirt? This one was obviously not one for socializing, and while Luis had no intentions of doing anything to a zombie, intelligent or not, that didn't mean he couldn't resist teasing her.
"Sounds a little crazy, if you ask me." The Spaniard noted smoothly, not at all satisfied with her meager response. "Unfinished business doesn't exactly fit in with switching bodies..." His dark tails swished quietly with thought, a small hum crooning in the back of his throat while he watched her. "You looked like you got scraped up earlier." He noted, eyes flicking to the blood, then to her missing horn. "...Unless that's not recent?"
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Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 7:45 pm
Interesting? Perhaps to others; this state had become boring to her a long time ago. Her mind was more intrigued by this furry form that she had awaken in. It had its uses, once she had enough time in the past days to train it. In all truth, she had adjusted in this body well enough to blend in with the movements of the other kitsusagi's. If they only pay no attention to the fact she wasn't breathing.
Setsu rolled her eyes at her own thoughts, before turning a sideglance to the other. How flirty this comedian was; surely he was aware of his own tactics. Empty eyes continued to peer at him, as if seeing his true colors, before the edges of her lips twitched up in a half smirk. Pale front paws touched the ground, and with a quiet air, she sauntered towards the spaniard. "Is that so?" A glint of reflected light, and in a moment's dash, she had placed herself before the male, katana held near the breathing throat. "But how close is too close, before the stench of truth makes you collapse?" Where he was forward with words, she preferred a actions to demonstrate her mind.
Or course, no point in shedding blood now. Not with this kitsusagi. Despite her reserve, she let out a short chuckle. "Your humor is interesting, Mr. Spaniard." By now, the weapon was quivering, her arm straining at the strange pose. She drew back and sheathed the blade, and seated herself on the opposite end of the log. All traces of enjoyment fell from her face as she considered his questions. "No, it doesn't fit in." Two toned eyes blinked tiredly, trying to recall how much time had passed from that mentioned bloody event. "The blood's new; horn is old."
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