Kaze. Kaaaaze. Hm. It was a name that was just kind of fun to say, wasn't it?
Krepta mulled over this absently as she waited for her new trainee to show up. She had decided on the Dining Hall again. It seemed to have improved her meeting with Zeke, Krepta figured, so why fix what wasn't broken? Besides... Krepta liked food.
She had sent the message to Kaze's own Key Gauntlet and tablet earlier---
Hi, I'm your assigned mentor, Krepta. I'm here to show you around and answer questions. If you're free today, please meet me in the Dining Hall at 2pm, otherwise let's reschedule as soon as possible!
Now Krepta was just waiting on a reply. It was getting towards the end of the lunch rush, so things were quieting down. The kitchens would close for about two hours or so around 3:30pm while they cleaned and prepared for the next meal period, but they still had plenty of time to snag food if Kaze was hungry. It was a nice middle ground.
Krepta herself had opted for the Chicken & Tzatziki Wrap. It was good protein and veggies without being overly complicated or messy. She still had to get in an insane amount of calories each day, so it was good to have a snack, but Krepta liked to keep her hands relatively free for these meetings, especially since they didn't always stay in the dining hall.
She eyeballed the portrait beside Kaze's name on her Key Gauntlet as she nibbled at a stray bit of carrot poking out of the wrap. Non-human--- from one of those 'anthro earth' worlds from what she could tell. Krepta tilted her head, eyes tracing the colorful shock of mane-like hair that surrounded the gray furred face of the saber woman.
Had she ever met a saber before? Krepta had run into plenty of animal-people in her travels. She didn't think so...
There was Kargo's friend...
Krepta shook her head, feeling her stomach twist abruptly.
Don't think about Kargo, she whispered to herself in her head. Don't think about that right now.
Instead, Krepta focused on the meeting at hand, tearing her eyes away from the Gauntlet's screen to watch the doorway. If Kaze showed, she'd have to be ready to field questions (and potentially more newbie squawking... Krepta hated newbie squawking). If Kaze didn't show, well, Krepta would arrange another day and enjoy having the rest of this one to herself.
She huffed as she poked at her tablet while she walked. She got the message that she was assigned a mentor - Krepta, and was to meet her at the dining hall at 2pm. Her tail flicked in irritation as she poked at the tablet, having to angle her fingers just right for it to register the pads of her fingers. Sure, they had given her an adapted tablet for those with more animal traits like her but this level of technology was still relatively new and she struggled with it. She managed to type out:
Y.esa
to Krepta, huffing and closing her eyes to reset from the frustration. She opened them and tried again, calmer.
Krepta…she clicked on the name, or attempted several times before it registered, then pulled up the information as she stopped near a map kiosk. Krepta was a human, or appeared to be. Crimson-fire hair and scars that spoke of victories and hard losses. She rolled her left shoulder, feeling the pull on her skin and the ache of muscles beneath. She knew of unspeakable losses too. That’s why she was here, joining forces with the agency. An ache so deep it rattled the soul, ricochets of pain echoing their way across her heart and body for all she had lost…she would fight to save others…and maybe even get some satisfying acts of revenge in the process.
Her tail waved behind her as she looked up at the map, locating where she was and trailing her way to the dining room. With a nod, her hair faded pink hair shifting with the movement. She turned and made her way to the dining room, it becoming quite easy as she followed the smell of multiple food types getting stronger. She stepped into the dining hall, her crystal blue gaze sweeping the area until it landed on crimson red, the female’s gaze intense and penetrating reflecting her own. Kaze sniffed, her tail giving a wave as she lightly rolled her shoulder and put on a winning smile. She padded over, offering her right hand to shake, her arm muscled and thick beneath the fur. “You must be Agent Walker. I’m Kamikaze, but please just call me Kaze.”
The Sabertooth Tiger was dressed in loose shorts that were wide legged for her heavily muscled thighs. She wore a fitted t-shirt that cling to planes of muscle and curves alike. Her normally vibrant hair faded and dull, dark roots peeking through. She gave her a firm and professional handshake, nodding lightly.
Y.esa
to Krepta, huffing and closing her eyes to reset from the frustration. She opened them and tried again, calmer.
Krepta…she clicked on the name, or attempted several times before it registered, then pulled up the information as she stopped near a map kiosk. Krepta was a human, or appeared to be. Crimson-fire hair and scars that spoke of victories and hard losses. She rolled her left shoulder, feeling the pull on her skin and the ache of muscles beneath. She knew of unspeakable losses too. That’s why she was here, joining forces with the agency. An ache so deep it rattled the soul, ricochets of pain echoing their way across her heart and body for all she had lost…she would fight to save others…and maybe even get some satisfying acts of revenge in the process.
Her tail waved behind her as she looked up at the map, locating where she was and trailing her way to the dining room. With a nod, her hair faded pink hair shifting with the movement. She turned and made her way to the dining room, it becoming quite easy as she followed the smell of multiple food types getting stronger. She stepped into the dining hall, her crystal blue gaze sweeping the area until it landed on crimson red, the female’s gaze intense and penetrating reflecting her own. Kaze sniffed, her tail giving a wave as she lightly rolled her shoulder and put on a winning smile. She padded over, offering her right hand to shake, her arm muscled and thick beneath the fur. “You must be Agent Walker. I’m Kamikaze, but please just call me Kaze.”
The Sabertooth Tiger was dressed in loose shorts that were wide legged for her heavily muscled thighs. She wore a fitted t-shirt that cling to planes of muscle and curves alike. Her normally vibrant hair faded and dull, dark roots peeking through. She gave her a firm and professional handshake, nodding lightly.
Y.esa
Krepta huffed a small laugh at the reply, a furrow of sympathy appearing between her brows. Kaze was far from the first to struggle with the Omphalos's higher level of technology. Hell, she herself had experienced that learning curve not that long ago, when even simple cellphones had seemed intimidating. They still hadn't gotten her behind the wheel of a car.
But the woman who entered into the dining hall and shook her hand surprised Krepta. Honestly? It was a breath of fresh air. No shrill demands, no surprise screaming, no dramatics. Just a simple handshake and an introduction. Though-- Krepta reminded herself -- the hour was still young. She had made the mistake of letting her guard down before, and she wouldn't repeat it twice.
But Krepta's own greeting was cordial enough, and she shook Kaze's hand-- paw? in return. The texture of animal-folk hands were always interesting. Krepta's own hands were warm and weathered, tough around the palms and the insides of the fingers from years of hard-scrabble life and continuous work. Her grip was firm, but not aggressive. She shook twice, then let her go.
"Nice to meet you, Kaze," Krepta said. "You can just call me Krepta if you'd like. I'll answer to Agent Walker, but it always makes me feel like I'm being called to the principal's office." She flashed the tiger a grin. "Pull up a chair. You hungry? I figured we could eat while we talk."
Krepta huffed a small laugh at the reply, a furrow of sympathy appearing between her brows. Kaze was far from the first to struggle with the Omphalos's higher level of technology. Hell, she herself had experienced that learning curve not that long ago, when even simple cellphones had seemed intimidating. They still hadn't gotten her behind the wheel of a car.
But the woman who entered into the dining hall and shook her hand surprised Krepta. Honestly? It was a breath of fresh air. No shrill demands, no surprise screaming, no dramatics. Just a simple handshake and an introduction. Though-- Krepta reminded herself -- the hour was still young. She had made the mistake of letting her guard down before, and she wouldn't repeat it twice.
But Krepta's own greeting was cordial enough, and she shook Kaze's hand-- paw? in return. The texture of animal-folk hands were always interesting. Krepta's own hands were warm and weathered, tough around the palms and the insides of the fingers from years of hard-scrabble life and continuous work. Her grip was firm, but not aggressive. She shook twice, then let her go.
"Nice to meet you, Kaze," Krepta said. "You can just call me Krepta if you'd like. I'll answer to Agent Walker, but it always makes me feel like I'm being called to the principal's office." She flashed the tiger a grin. "Pull up a chair. You hungry? I figured we could eat while we talk."
As she neared the woman it became apparent that her hair wasn’t quite the firey red she saw from the distance and on the tablet. Kaze looked up at the lighting with a squint, did they not use fluorescents here? She mentally shrugged, Good thing she didn’t make a red head joke out the gate.
Krepta’s hand was warm and calloused. Someone who worked all her life and Kaze could respect that. Her own hand was worn and callused across the pads. Her fur thick and downy beneath a wiry exterior meant to protect from harsh weather conditions. Her knuckles worn and fur thinner there from the numerous fights she had been in.
She snickered, pulling out the chair across from her. “Krepta it is. Heh, that’s a mood. It’s like when people try to call me Kami, like, Nuh uh. That’s the ‘oh shit I’m in trouble name’ hah!” She tucked her tail around her legs as she sat. She sat upright but had a relaxed posture, “sure. Not gonna lie, those bison burgers got me addicted. So good.” She ordered and then turned her full attention to the woman across her.
“So, you’re gonna show me the ropes? Lowkey glad for it. I’ve been fighting my whole life but like…” she leaned forward to whisper, “there’s a sentient slime eating pancakes over there…if they were bad I wouldn’t even know where to begin tryin to fight that! Reh hah hah!” Her voice bit husky and rumbly that intensified as she whispered. She sat back with a grin, her fangs very prominent with each movement of her mouth.
Krepta’s hand was warm and calloused. Someone who worked all her life and Kaze could respect that. Her own hand was worn and callused across the pads. Her fur thick and downy beneath a wiry exterior meant to protect from harsh weather conditions. Her knuckles worn and fur thinner there from the numerous fights she had been in.
She snickered, pulling out the chair across from her. “Krepta it is. Heh, that’s a mood. It’s like when people try to call me Kami, like, Nuh uh. That’s the ‘oh shit I’m in trouble name’ hah!” She tucked her tail around her legs as she sat. She sat upright but had a relaxed posture, “sure. Not gonna lie, those bison burgers got me addicted. So good.” She ordered and then turned her full attention to the woman across her.
“So, you’re gonna show me the ropes? Lowkey glad for it. I’ve been fighting my whole life but like…” she leaned forward to whisper, “there’s a sentient slime eating pancakes over there…if they were bad I wouldn’t even know where to begin tryin to fight that! Reh hah hah!” Her voice bit husky and rumbly that intensified as she whispered. She sat back with a grin, her fangs very prominent with each movement of her mouth.
Krepta followed Kaze's gaze to the greenish-blue lump two tables down. It quivered like a cat sized blob of molten glass on top of its stool, and no one could really be sure which way it was currently pointed, so Krepta choked back a laugh, careful not to let the slime in question hear it, and quickly averted her eyes. No need to offend. Poor guy.
"That's Steeyv," Krepta told Kaze, "and he's a pacifist. He mostly works in our gardens. He's a nice guy if you can get past not really knowing where to look when you talk to him."
Kaze wanted her to teach her how to fight, huh? It seemed likely to Krepta that the big cat had that department well covered already. A fighter always knew another fighter. It wasn't just the callused hands or the fur-bare knuckles-- it was the way that Kaze held herself and took up space, and in some deeper, less identifiable aspect of her that resonated in the bones. This chick could handle herself just fine.
Good,Krepta thought grimly, She's gunna need it.
But---
"I'm not here to teach you combat," Krepta said, chuckling a little. "Though I can show you where to learn that on your own time, if you'd like. My job as a mentor is mostly just getting you settled with multiverse stuff and the Omphalos. I show you around, answer your questions, teach you how to use the tools they gave you. And-- first order of business--"
Krepta nodded at the janitor that Kaze had just attempted to order from, who had glanced over his shoulder at them with a long suffering look before hurrying away.
"There are no waitstaff here. You have to get up and get your own food." Krepta gestured to the wrap sitting on the table in front of her. "You've clearly had the bison burgers, so I'm assuming someone brought them to you the first time. I'll show you how to get some yourself."
Krepta pushed to her feet with a groan, reluctantly leaving her own meal behind for now. There would be time to finish it later. "C'mon." She nodded towards the tray line, which, thankfully had thinned out significantly by this point. They wouldn't have to wait too long for Kaze's food. "We can talk while we wait. Start by scanning your Key Gauntlet at the kiosk over there, then tell me what questions you have."
"That's Steeyv," Krepta told Kaze, "and he's a pacifist. He mostly works in our gardens. He's a nice guy if you can get past not really knowing where to look when you talk to him."
Kaze wanted her to teach her how to fight, huh? It seemed likely to Krepta that the big cat had that department well covered already. A fighter always knew another fighter. It wasn't just the callused hands or the fur-bare knuckles-- it was the way that Kaze held herself and took up space, and in some deeper, less identifiable aspect of her that resonated in the bones. This chick could handle herself just fine.
Good,Krepta thought grimly, She's gunna need it.
But---
"I'm not here to teach you combat," Krepta said, chuckling a little. "Though I can show you where to learn that on your own time, if you'd like. My job as a mentor is mostly just getting you settled with multiverse stuff and the Omphalos. I show you around, answer your questions, teach you how to use the tools they gave you. And-- first order of business--"
Krepta nodded at the janitor that Kaze had just attempted to order from, who had glanced over his shoulder at them with a long suffering look before hurrying away.
"There are no waitstaff here. You have to get up and get your own food." Krepta gestured to the wrap sitting on the table in front of her. "You've clearly had the bison burgers, so I'm assuming someone brought them to you the first time. I'll show you how to get some yourself."
Krepta pushed to her feet with a groan, reluctantly leaving her own meal behind for now. There would be time to finish it later. "C'mon." She nodded towards the tray line, which, thankfully had thinned out significantly by this point. They wouldn't have to wait too long for Kaze's food. "We can talk while we wait. Start by scanning your Key Gauntlet at the kiosk over there, then tell me what questions you have."
Krepta trying to hold back laughter had her hiding her mouth behind a hand to hide her own. She wasn’t trying to be a dick but c’mon, it was like a half of a moon fish sitting on a stool jiggling and able to hear what they said. She didn’t think she’d ever really truly get used to the weirdness of it all.
She pushed down the laughter, glancing at Steeyv and back. Awww, he’s just a lil guy who likes plants…that’s actually kinda cute. “heh, good to know. Still so surreal.”
She tilted her head when Krepta said she wasn’t there to teach her to fight, but rather show her how the multiverse and the Omphalos worked which was fair. Especially when Krepta nodded at the person Kaze had tried to order food from who gave a near thousand yard stare that echoed the long suffering of a man constantly mistaken for something he wasn’t. As he walked away Kaze saw the small towel and cleaning supplies on his person and Krepta saying they ordered their own food.
Kaze’s ears rose high, brows raising and eyes going wide as she realized what she had done. oh shit, now I really look like a dick! she thought as heat grew on the tips of her ears and across her cheeks. Her ears fell and she gave an embarrassed smiled scratching at the back of her neck. “Ah, shit…heh, whoops…” she tried to look at the guy again to apologize but he was long gone. “Yeah, when I was put up in the med bay the first day they brought it to me, my bad.”
She got up to follow Krepta to the line, glancing back at the wrap on the table before catching up to her. She sighed, ears and face going a bit flat as she looked at the gauntlet on her left arm. “I still can’t get over that this…glove thing has everything and can open worlds like…bwockksshh” she mimed her mind being blown. “I’m also hella bad with it. We had, like TV and phones and thought we were hot shit but this,” she gestured to it in awe, “is crazy advanced. Makes us look ancient heh.”
She stepped up to the kiosk and held her hand under it, thankfully it registered her gauntlet easily. The menu popped up and she selected the bison burger and fries. “Uh, so I picked it, now what? And does it automatically charge my…glove?” The end of her fluffy tail twitching lightly down by her feet as she tried to figure it out.
She pushed down the laughter, glancing at Steeyv and back. Awww, he’s just a lil guy who likes plants…that’s actually kinda cute. “heh, good to know. Still so surreal.”
She tilted her head when Krepta said she wasn’t there to teach her to fight, but rather show her how the multiverse and the Omphalos worked which was fair. Especially when Krepta nodded at the person Kaze had tried to order food from who gave a near thousand yard stare that echoed the long suffering of a man constantly mistaken for something he wasn’t. As he walked away Kaze saw the small towel and cleaning supplies on his person and Krepta saying they ordered their own food.
Kaze’s ears rose high, brows raising and eyes going wide as she realized what she had done. oh shit, now I really look like a dick! she thought as heat grew on the tips of her ears and across her cheeks. Her ears fell and she gave an embarrassed smiled scratching at the back of her neck. “Ah, shit…heh, whoops…” she tried to look at the guy again to apologize but he was long gone. “Yeah, when I was put up in the med bay the first day they brought it to me, my bad.”
She got up to follow Krepta to the line, glancing back at the wrap on the table before catching up to her. She sighed, ears and face going a bit flat as she looked at the gauntlet on her left arm. “I still can’t get over that this…glove thing has everything and can open worlds like…bwockksshh” she mimed her mind being blown. “I’m also hella bad with it. We had, like TV and phones and thought we were hot shit but this,” she gestured to it in awe, “is crazy advanced. Makes us look ancient heh.”
She stepped up to the kiosk and held her hand under it, thankfully it registered her gauntlet easily. The menu popped up and she selected the bison burger and fries. “Uh, so I picked it, now what? And does it automatically charge my…glove?” The end of her fluffy tail twitching lightly down by her feet as she tried to figure it out.
"...heh, yeah," Krepta laughed, trying to hide the strain in her voice. "It's pretty nifty, huh?"
She tried not to think too much about what was inside the Gauntlet. Kaze may have thought it was amazing, but Krepta had been hopping worlds since she was a teenager. She would have given anything to trade it up for a normal life... high school, driving lessons, prom-- hell, family. All the things she had missed out on because she had been handed down some secret burden she hadn't asked for.
"Agents don't get charged," Krepta said, stepping up to scan her own Gauntlet. She was glad to have another line of conversation to glom onto. The kiosk gave a cheery little ping and she stepped forward into the line. "Room and board here is free. It's thanks for... y'know, risking life and limb every day. That's why we gotta scan them though. It tells the system you're an agent."
She paused a moment as the line shuffled forward to stop beneath one of the ceiling vents. The air conditioning was going full blast today, and she took a moment to bask in it. Krepta hadn't realized just how toasty things had been getting by the window. Summer was in full swing outside, it seemed-- not that the weather in the Omphalos ever changed all that much.
"They'll make whatever you selected on the screen to order," she continued, once the line began moving again. "And you can pick it up over there." Krepta nodded to the fresh order station at the end of the tray line. "But you can snag any of the ready made stuff along the way too, like... I dunno... apples, or dessert, or-- oh-- Moxie soda!"
Krepta leaned over, snatching up two bottles, one red, the other a vivid, electric blue. She hadn't realized just how parched she had been until she had seen them. She had been a little nervous about her meeting with Kaze, so she had only remembered to get her wrap the first time through the line, and had forgotten a drink.
"These are actually from my home dimension," Krepta said, passing her the red one. "This one's Rocket Fizz. Mine's Whizz Bang Pop. It's kinda somewhere between blueberry and blue raspberry."
She didn't wait for checkout to open her own. Instead Krepta half turned and popped the top off on the side of the counter with one practiced motion. The bottle cap glinted as it bent back, letting out a soft hiss of effervescence, and Krepta caught the cap right before it could clatter to the floor. She took a long, languid swig, enjoying the mellow sweetness of the soda before lowering the glass bottle again, her thirst quenched for the moment.
She flashed Kaze a cheeky little grin. "Gotta hydrate," Krepta said with a shrug.
She tried not to think too much about what was inside the Gauntlet. Kaze may have thought it was amazing, but Krepta had been hopping worlds since she was a teenager. She would have given anything to trade it up for a normal life... high school, driving lessons, prom-- hell, family. All the things she had missed out on because she had been handed down some secret burden she hadn't asked for.
"Agents don't get charged," Krepta said, stepping up to scan her own Gauntlet. She was glad to have another line of conversation to glom onto. The kiosk gave a cheery little ping and she stepped forward into the line. "Room and board here is free. It's thanks for... y'know, risking life and limb every day. That's why we gotta scan them though. It tells the system you're an agent."
She paused a moment as the line shuffled forward to stop beneath one of the ceiling vents. The air conditioning was going full blast today, and she took a moment to bask in it. Krepta hadn't realized just how toasty things had been getting by the window. Summer was in full swing outside, it seemed-- not that the weather in the Omphalos ever changed all that much.
"They'll make whatever you selected on the screen to order," she continued, once the line began moving again. "And you can pick it up over there." Krepta nodded to the fresh order station at the end of the tray line. "But you can snag any of the ready made stuff along the way too, like... I dunno... apples, or dessert, or-- oh-- Moxie soda!"
Krepta leaned over, snatching up two bottles, one red, the other a vivid, electric blue. She hadn't realized just how parched she had been until she had seen them. She had been a little nervous about her meeting with Kaze, so she had only remembered to get her wrap the first time through the line, and had forgotten a drink.
"These are actually from my home dimension," Krepta said, passing her the red one. "This one's Rocket Fizz. Mine's Whizz Bang Pop. It's kinda somewhere between blueberry and blue raspberry."
She didn't wait for checkout to open her own. Instead Krepta half turned and popped the top off on the side of the counter with one practiced motion. The bottle cap glinted as it bent back, letting out a soft hiss of effervescence, and Krepta caught the cap right before it could clatter to the floor. She took a long, languid swig, enjoying the mellow sweetness of the soda before lowering the glass bottle again, her thirst quenched for the moment.
She flashed Kaze a cheeky little grin. "Gotta hydrate," Krepta said with a shrug.
She grinned, pretending not to notice Krepta's discomfort when talking about the glove. It was strange, navigating this new multiverse of worlds and so many things she didn't understand. Even now, with technology that was beyond her wildest dreams on her arm, she still felt the undercurrent of something not good about it. She tried to roll it away. This was her life now. She knew what was out there. What destroyed her world and everything she loved and knew. Nothing was going to be...just good again.
She kept the smile on her face, moving along as Krepta scanned her glove as well. Kaze nodded, following her down the line. "Yeah, I got my room a little ago. It's..nice." It was also nothing like the lavish home she used to know. She tried to roll away the pang of sadness that took away her breath. No, it's gone now. Just..keep moving forward, she told herself grimly. "Good to know. Scan the...glove? I know it starts with a 'G'..." she pulled out the Data book that was its own crazy form of technology. "Ah, yup. The Key Gauntlet...hairballs from Heildara, this is so much to remember..." she muttered to herself as she put the data book away. She stood next to Krepta under the air conditioner, basking under it as her bleached hair and thick fur ruffled and parted to get closer to her muggy skin. It felt good. The brisk cool air helped ground her a little more as she listened to Krepta.
She was following along, ensuring to remember where everything was that she pointed out. Kaze's ears rose in surprise when the woman actually showed a touch of excitement as she snatched up two bottles of 'moxie soda', something from her home world. So hers must have survived she thought with another pang ripping through her. Don't think about it. Keep moving forward, though each step felt heavier than the last. She took the other soda, watching Krepta basically flick the bottle open and catch the lid before it hit the ground. "Yo, sick reflexes, heh," she extended her claw on her index finger, deadly sharp and curved for ripping, popping her own top off. She held it up but semi-away from her nose to sniff at the drink without inhaling the effervescence coming off the bottle. She snickered at Krepta's cheeky smile, "Heh, my trainer woulda kicked my tail across the ring if I said I was hydrating with a soda, ha!" She leaned down a bit with a cheeky grin of her own, "But what he doesn't know won't kill him! Reh hah!" She said it with the practice and familiarity of something said time and time again...only to lose her smile abruptly, ears falling flat, as she stood back up straight with cerulean glazed eyes looking down, unseeing at the bottle in front of her. Well, it certainly wouldn't now... her grip tightening lightly on the bottle as she tilted it back and took a long few gulps of the liquid, not even really tasting it, just letting the burn of the bubbles scorch away the ache in her chest. She gasped a bit when she finished, a good half the bottle emptied in seconds. She smiled at Krepta, "s'good."
She followed the line, snagging a slightly overripe orange as they headed toward the pickup area, her claws unknowingly kneading against the rind as they waited. Kaze's nose already picking up the scent of cooking meat, her stomach rumbling lightly. "So your dimension survived the Corruption, huh?" she asked quietly, mentally facepalming. So much for just moving forward... but what was said was said and she couldn't take it back now. She picked up her tray of bison burger and fries, nodding in thanks to whoever placed it there. She walked, unhurried, with Krepta back toward their table. "Sorry, don't mean to pry...just...still trying to come to terms with it all..." her entire persona was muted and mellow, a stark difference from the cat who had walked in earlier.
She kept the smile on her face, moving along as Krepta scanned her glove as well. Kaze nodded, following her down the line. "Yeah, I got my room a little ago. It's..nice." It was also nothing like the lavish home she used to know. She tried to roll away the pang of sadness that took away her breath. No, it's gone now. Just..keep moving forward, she told herself grimly. "Good to know. Scan the...glove? I know it starts with a 'G'..." she pulled out the Data book that was its own crazy form of technology. "Ah, yup. The Key Gauntlet...hairballs from Heildara, this is so much to remember..." she muttered to herself as she put the data book away. She stood next to Krepta under the air conditioner, basking under it as her bleached hair and thick fur ruffled and parted to get closer to her muggy skin. It felt good. The brisk cool air helped ground her a little more as she listened to Krepta.
She was following along, ensuring to remember where everything was that she pointed out. Kaze's ears rose in surprise when the woman actually showed a touch of excitement as she snatched up two bottles of 'moxie soda', something from her home world. So hers must have survived she thought with another pang ripping through her. Don't think about it. Keep moving forward, though each step felt heavier than the last. She took the other soda, watching Krepta basically flick the bottle open and catch the lid before it hit the ground. "Yo, sick reflexes, heh," she extended her claw on her index finger, deadly sharp and curved for ripping, popping her own top off. She held it up but semi-away from her nose to sniff at the drink without inhaling the effervescence coming off the bottle. She snickered at Krepta's cheeky smile, "Heh, my trainer woulda kicked my tail across the ring if I said I was hydrating with a soda, ha!" She leaned down a bit with a cheeky grin of her own, "But what he doesn't know won't kill him! Reh hah!" She said it with the practice and familiarity of something said time and time again...only to lose her smile abruptly, ears falling flat, as she stood back up straight with cerulean glazed eyes looking down, unseeing at the bottle in front of her. Well, it certainly wouldn't now... her grip tightening lightly on the bottle as she tilted it back and took a long few gulps of the liquid, not even really tasting it, just letting the burn of the bubbles scorch away the ache in her chest. She gasped a bit when she finished, a good half the bottle emptied in seconds. She smiled at Krepta, "s'good."
She followed the line, snagging a slightly overripe orange as they headed toward the pickup area, her claws unknowingly kneading against the rind as they waited. Kaze's nose already picking up the scent of cooking meat, her stomach rumbling lightly. "So your dimension survived the Corruption, huh?" she asked quietly, mentally facepalming. So much for just moving forward... but what was said was said and she couldn't take it back now. She picked up her tray of bison burger and fries, nodding in thanks to whoever placed it there. She walked, unhurried, with Krepta back toward their table. "Sorry, don't mean to pry...just...still trying to come to terms with it all..." her entire persona was muted and mellow, a stark difference from the cat who had walked in earlier.
So your dimension survived the Corruption, huh?
The question evoked many feelings at once in Krepta. Guilt was big one, shame, longing, and the quiet resignation of having come mostly to terms with it all.
"The Corruption never really got a foothold in my world," Krepta admitted, not meeting Kaze's eyes. She thought about lying, but she was terrible at lying, and Kaze didn't seem stupid, as much as she had been politely ignoring Krepta's squirming so far.
"It killed my parents," she said. "Or... at least I think it did. Nothing's really clear. But I can't go home again anyway, so it doesn't really matter either way."
Evasive much? Yeah, she knew it, and if Kaze prodded for more details, she'd give them up, but a large part of Krepta hoped the big cat wouldn't.
"It's... hard adapting," she said instead, delicately trying to pivot away from the topic. "I'm... sorry for your loss. I know most people here have experienced similar, but that never makes it any easier." She made a bit of a face, lips pulling back in a wry grimace. "I know those tiny ass apartments don't help either. We're working with what we've got, but it's still a big adjustment for a lot of people. Any interest in places like Sanctuary?" she asked. "Or are you pretty content for now?"
She eased back into her own chair, tucking her legs up underneath it. "And-- I mean, in general," Krepta added. "You navigating okay?"
The question evoked many feelings at once in Krepta. Guilt was big one, shame, longing, and the quiet resignation of having come mostly to terms with it all.
"The Corruption never really got a foothold in my world," Krepta admitted, not meeting Kaze's eyes. She thought about lying, but she was terrible at lying, and Kaze didn't seem stupid, as much as she had been politely ignoring Krepta's squirming so far.
"It killed my parents," she said. "Or... at least I think it did. Nothing's really clear. But I can't go home again anyway, so it doesn't really matter either way."
Evasive much? Yeah, she knew it, and if Kaze prodded for more details, she'd give them up, but a large part of Krepta hoped the big cat wouldn't.
"It's... hard adapting," she said instead, delicately trying to pivot away from the topic. "I'm... sorry for your loss. I know most people here have experienced similar, but that never makes it any easier." She made a bit of a face, lips pulling back in a wry grimace. "I know those tiny ass apartments don't help either. We're working with what we've got, but it's still a big adjustment for a lot of people. Any interest in places like Sanctuary?" she asked. "Or are you pretty content for now?"
She eased back into her own chair, tucking her legs up underneath it. "And-- I mean, in general," Krepta added. "You navigating okay?"
Her ears flicked as Krepta spoke quietly about the corruption. She watched her, lightly noting the lack of eye contact. Yeah, there was something deeper there... yup there it is. Kaze frowned, looking at her in sympathy. "Sounds like a lotta unknowns...sorry about your parents but...why can't you go back? The not knowing sounds...hard."
She sat in her chair, tucking her tail around her feet to avoid being stepped on. She sighed, looking sightlessly at her bison burger. "I know..I'm not the only one to lose everything...I see all these people and know that somewhere along the way, they've also had losses. Still...fuckin hurts though." She grabbed the knife and fork she had snagged before walking away and began to cut her burger into quarters with a little more force than necessary. She snerked, "Well, the apartments are tiny, but at least it's free. It's hard enough with everything else to learn to try to find a place to stay. I think this place is a good thing, the whole...trying to save the multiverse is worth fighting for. That's why I signed up to be an agent. I want to keep this from happening to others..." and maybe get some of her own anger out, but she didn't need to say that. She took a quarter of the burger and took a bite of it, neatly fitting it between her large canines. She chewed as she thought, "I've been reading about Sanctuary. I think I want to go check it out for sure, get out of this heat for a bit. If I like it, then might consider moving. We'll see."
She shrugged a shoulder, "For the most part. It's the little nuances and small things I'm still getting the hang of. The more I do it, the more it'll make sense. Like practicing a right hook until it's second nature. I'll be rocking, moving around this place before you know it." She grinned, taking another bite of her burger.
She sat in her chair, tucking her tail around her feet to avoid being stepped on. She sighed, looking sightlessly at her bison burger. "I know..I'm not the only one to lose everything...I see all these people and know that somewhere along the way, they've also had losses. Still...fuckin hurts though." She grabbed the knife and fork she had snagged before walking away and began to cut her burger into quarters with a little more force than necessary. She snerked, "Well, the apartments are tiny, but at least it's free. It's hard enough with everything else to learn to try to find a place to stay. I think this place is a good thing, the whole...trying to save the multiverse is worth fighting for. That's why I signed up to be an agent. I want to keep this from happening to others..." and maybe get some of her own anger out, but she didn't need to say that. She took a quarter of the burger and took a bite of it, neatly fitting it between her large canines. She chewed as she thought, "I've been reading about Sanctuary. I think I want to go check it out for sure, get out of this heat for a bit. If I like it, then might consider moving. We'll see."
She shrugged a shoulder, "For the most part. It's the little nuances and small things I'm still getting the hang of. The more I do it, the more it'll make sense. Like practicing a right hook until it's second nature. I'll be rocking, moving around this place before you know it." She grinned, taking another bite of her burger.
"Yeah," Krepta said with an encouraging little smile. "You've got this!"
But Kaze's question lingered, and Krepta simply wasn't the type not to answer when someone asked her directly. She fidgeted in her chair a bit, glancing away, watching people move outside the windows in the sunshine. She hadn't touched her own food since they had gotten back.
At last, Krepta spoke.
"My powers came in the same day my parents died. I was just a kid," she told Kaze. "And at first, I had... friends of my parents to look after me, to show me the ropes. I used what I could do to help people. But then I uh--" Krepta voice grew tight for a moment, and she took a long swig of her drink. "I got in over my head. I exposed someone dangerous, and they hurt me real bad. I got better, mostly. But while I was trying to prove what they were, they set me up to make it look like I had murdered someone."
Krepta glanced down at the table, and her eyes were suspiciously bright. Even after all this time, it was still hard to talk about. "They used a shapeshifter, so, y'know, pretty convincing. Footage got out. It was everywhere. The community that I thought had my back turned on me. If I had stayed, I probably could have eventually cleared my name, but-- I was just a dumb kid. I panicked, and I ran away. I found a book that belonged to one of my mentors, and there was a spell inside that I used to escape."
She looked up and sighed, then shrugged. "It worked, but... it worked in the same way a monkey's paw works. Tangled up with my own natural mojo. I spent years just... randomly hopping between worlds any time I got too stressed out. The thing that finally put a stop to it was--" Krepta jaw tightened. "Well, some real bad people. They slapped a cuff on me that disrupts magic. It broke up the tangle too, I guess. But I spent another five years under their tender loving care."
She gave another little shrug. "By the time I could have gone back, I was grown, and my family... they've probably put me in the ground already. Done all their mourning. I can't---" Krepta broke off, swallowing hard. "I don't wanna show back up lookin' like dog meat. And I don't wanna get them mixed up in all this..." She gestured all around them, "--insanity. I don't wanna put them in danger like that. It's just... kinder this way, you know? To stay dead."
But Kaze's question lingered, and Krepta simply wasn't the type not to answer when someone asked her directly. She fidgeted in her chair a bit, glancing away, watching people move outside the windows in the sunshine. She hadn't touched her own food since they had gotten back.
At last, Krepta spoke.
"My powers came in the same day my parents died. I was just a kid," she told Kaze. "And at first, I had... friends of my parents to look after me, to show me the ropes. I used what I could do to help people. But then I uh--" Krepta voice grew tight for a moment, and she took a long swig of her drink. "I got in over my head. I exposed someone dangerous, and they hurt me real bad. I got better, mostly. But while I was trying to prove what they were, they set me up to make it look like I had murdered someone."
Krepta glanced down at the table, and her eyes were suspiciously bright. Even after all this time, it was still hard to talk about. "They used a shapeshifter, so, y'know, pretty convincing. Footage got out. It was everywhere. The community that I thought had my back turned on me. If I had stayed, I probably could have eventually cleared my name, but-- I was just a dumb kid. I panicked, and I ran away. I found a book that belonged to one of my mentors, and there was a spell inside that I used to escape."
She looked up and sighed, then shrugged. "It worked, but... it worked in the same way a monkey's paw works. Tangled up with my own natural mojo. I spent years just... randomly hopping between worlds any time I got too stressed out. The thing that finally put a stop to it was--" Krepta jaw tightened. "Well, some real bad people. They slapped a cuff on me that disrupts magic. It broke up the tangle too, I guess. But I spent another five years under their tender loving care."
She gave another little shrug. "By the time I could have gone back, I was grown, and my family... they've probably put me in the ground already. Done all their mourning. I can't---" Krepta broke off, swallowing hard. "I don't wanna show back up lookin' like dog meat. And I don't wanna get them mixed up in all this..." She gestured all around them, "--insanity. I don't wanna put them in danger like that. It's just... kinder this way, you know? To stay dead."
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