[17:33] Nebulous Star Isa (jetsette123): / was inside La Croix. Typically it was open late, but strangely this evening it was dark inside. There was someone moving within. There were the sounds of moving furniture and hurried opening and closing. Every once in a while a shadow would move past the darkened window. [17:35] Kyuu (daisylurve): Kyuu really should have returned to Vharc. But he hadn’t. And .. something has happened between then and now. The fox is a little less put tighter, a little wilder. His hair a tangled mess, hastily braided and tied back. Still padding around barefoot, he slips into the apothecary and slants a glance first out the window and then inward to take in who is moving about in the dark. [17:43] Nebulous Star Isa (jetsette123): / the shadow within the place froze up the moment someone entered the space. There was a hushed whisper and a faint chuckle before the figure turned from the darkness within, to move out into faint candlelight. The place was nearly cleared out. It looked like someone was packing up and leaving the isle. What were once shelves filled with bits and bobs, only the fake cobwebs remained. Stripped down it looked so much...less. However, there was one thing upon the counter in the front. It appeared as if someone had started a reading with cards and trinkets. There were a few cards already pulled. A headless red-headed youth, a shadowy king upon a throne, an old man that was skin and bones but had great black wings. When Nebby stepped out into the light, he reached out and drew another card from the top of the deck. What he sat down next was a card of a fox, big eyed and beautiful...with its muzzle brushed in blood. "Good evening, Kyuu..." [17:51] Kyuu (daisylurve): Loitering by the door a moment, the fox takes in the shadowed interior – the lack of things that were just everywhere before. Quietly, he pads across the wooden floor which creaks under his slight weight. Drawing up to the counter, he tilts his head as he looks at Nebby, eyes glittering with a golden iridescence in the low light that is not a reflection of any light in the room. His gaze gleams, two eyes brighter than the shadows that shroud him. “You are leaving.” Its not a question. He can tell. It’s an in-process sort of thing. A golden mote curls off of him, looking all the world like an ember from a fire – only there is no fire. Head inclining toward the man, the fox looks over the cards curiously. Finding the tarot, he rumbles softly, and his mind strays back to the last tarot reader he has seen. The one who had died and lived again. He eyes the image of the fox then looks up again. “You have a message for me?” [18:00] Nebulous Star Isa (jetsette123): / 's eyes turned to look down a moment, silvery and filled with so many different emotions. He looked back up and nodded to the question that was actually a statement. "Yes...I..." Deep breath. "I can't handle what is happening here. I thought I could, but I can't." His voice was low and he was clearly disappointed in himself, but his mind was made up at the same time. To the question about messages he offers a shrug. "Someone has something for someone in this moment at this counter. I did not know the who until you walked in just now. You were already on your way here, so do you have a question?" [18:10] Kyuu (daisylurve): A soft humm of sound is given from the fox. He slowly lifts his hands then slides the palms across the counter, fingers trailing along the surface until the fingers frame both sides of the tarot spread. His eyes stray over the images for a moment before he drags his attention up. “There is a creature roaming about the city, plotting, planning. He has many names, but most common are the devil, Lucifer, the morning star..” the fox rolls a shoulder. These are labels. “I was hoping to see if you could do your thing..” he lifts a hand to touch his own head briefly, “And see if you can get an idea as to what he is seeking. What does he want?” [18:22] Nebulous Star Isa (jetsette123): / had no idea what Kyuu was going to say in that moment, but what he did end up saying was quite a shock. There were the sounds of stomping hooves for a moment, then it faded. Nebulous crossed his arms over his chest and stood there for a moment, staring back at the glowing fox. His forehead started to ache and the room felt far too small. "Lucifer?" He could barely comprehend it. His face went pale and he leaned back away from the counter. "When I drew the image of the Devil and gave it to Father Malcolm, I never imagined the premonition to be literal." That seemed ridiculous to even consider as a Seer. "Looking beyond the hooded eyes of the Fallen Serpent Star Itself?" He referred to 'the Devil' as Kyuu had called him in more of a neutral term and related more to astrology and the literal stars than Myths and Legends. [18:34] Kyuu (daisylurve): “The very man.” Kyuu is faintly amused. “He is just another creature, Neb. Just another being moving through this world and others.” Luke is 2, maybe 3 times older than he fox and this kitsune has known many, many more powerful and ancient beings than himself. He isn’t moved by the mystery about him. He wants to know what the man himself is up to. “Just a very manipulative one. Can you gain any insight? He has hurt a friend of mine and I want to know what will make him stop. What will get him to leave. Maybe how to fuck up his plans if they hurt those I care about.” He shrugs, one shoulder. “I thought maybe you could give me some insight of some kind.” [18:45] Nebulous Star Isa (jetsette123): / closed his eyes and drew another card. The next image was of a lion walking up out of ocean. "Not only manipulative, but powerful as well." He huffed faintly and tapped the image of the lion. After a few seconds he looked back to Kyuu and furled his brows tightly together. "...I've seen two of his...'displays' in so many days and I can't say I enjoyed either of the artistries." He sighed heavily and reached to draw another card. This one was a very small rabbit hiding among the shadows of some trees, one of the trees had a baby basket swinging in the boughs. "I only see one way that things may or may not be unfolding...I can try to give you...something, but...Please, do not expect much. If I look too deep, the very attempt might just kill me." He swallowed mumbling 'or worse.' [18:51] Kyuu (daisylurve): The cards that come are watched with those golden glowing eyes. As the fox shifts, sparks swirl away from his form, briefly illuminating the area before dying in the dark. “Powerful, yes.” He agrees. “That goes without saying.” A breath is taken and then released in a soft sigh of sound. The bunny is eyed oddly. It reminds him of something. Or someone. With many more eyes. “I am not asking you to kill yourself Nebby. There are far more fun ways to go about that – and getting some guidance isn’t it.” A sly smile curls his lips as he teases the man, “Give me what you can.” [18:59] Nebulous Star Isa (jetsette123): / 's hands pull to his chest and he lowers his head in a demure fashion. He breaths out heavily and the scent of grapes, ripe and sweet fill the space. A trickle of wind from no where blows his silken floor-length hair about. His body gave a shiver like he were remembering something so vile it made him want to wretch. Then he opened his eyes and nodded sharply. "All right...I will t..." He stopped himself and tilted his head. Those silvery orbs narrowed and he leaned across the counter toward Kyuu curiously. "Kyuu...do you feel all right? You have this...this cloud over your face..." Nebulous picked up the stack of cards to draw another. A slight breeze swirled again and took the top card off, flipping it around in the air and to land on the counter face-up. The image that appeared was a shadowy fox standing over a dead deer. Nebulous took a step back, clinging the cards to his chest as if he wasn't sure if he should pull another, or turn around and run. [19:08] Kyuu (daisylurve): The mini retreat narrows the fox’s glowing eyes but he does not move from his lean on the counter. “Not really.” He admits to the man. “But I doubt it is something that you can address. You should stop doing..” he gestures with his fingers at Neb, “That. Things that run are fun to catch. And bite. And eat. So lets not run, yeah?” again comes the sly smile. He is playing. Right? Probably. Maybe. One finger taps the card that was pulled and the fox gently strokes its edge, observing the image. “Lucifer?” clearly he wants to focus on that topic. [19:19] Nebulous Star Isa (jetsette123): / every part of Nebulous was on alert and he wasn't even completely sure why. What he saw wasn't a step-by-step guide book, it was just flashes, suggestions, picture from which he could draw a million different conclusions. When you put them together with a situation it gave a certain indication. Like having two fox cards show up in the same reading in front of a fox spirit. Nebulous froze as he continued to speak, urging him not to run or even think of running. He reached into the deck and pulled out a card that was clearly one he himself had painted. He sat out what could only be a nun's nightmare representation of the Devil Himself. Nebulous gave a shiver and tapped a finger to the card. "After the murder where they found bits and pieces of someone but no head...I drew this. It came out of the deck when Father Malcolm and I went to investigate the area where the murder took place. I tried to give it to him...tried to warn him...but he kept saying he had The Good Lord on his side and my hoodoo [19:19] Nebulous Star Isa (jetsette123): predictions would not sway a man of the Lord." He sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "The Devil, right there, plain as day and I could do nothing to stop the flow of Time. Not matter what I did with him or said to him...he still got hurt." He shrugged letting out a heavy sigh and starting to concentrate, holding the cards tightly between both hands, an array of stars appearing over his head, twinkling as he rolled the proverbial cosmic dice. [19:29] Kyuu (daisylurve): Kyuu’s golden claws slowly curl over the top of the counter, and he draws in a breath – scenting Nebby. Tasting that bit of grape on the air. Unbidden, he purrs softly, lashes lowering. While Nebby concentrates and focuses his power, Kyuu thinks of the vague shadow he is trying to learn about. The Devil. Lucifer. His mind also reaches out, seeking to assist the seer in any way that he can to draw the little bits and pieces of impressions to him. The fox breathes in and then out and briefly, the radiance of his inner self burns brightly against the webbing of that corruption which has messed him up so badly. He wills the world to assist the stag in his endeavor. If he has the ability to lend him luck, the man would be inundated with it. But the fox says nothing. He just breathes in and then out – slowly. Controlled. He does not want to distract from the task at hand. [19:37] Nebulous Star Isa (jetsette123): / a deer this close to a predator knows very well when it is being sniffed like prey. Sad that such playful encounters made Nebulous slightly aroused. The idea of being chased and pounced had always been one of his most secret hidden desires. And yet at twenty five years of age he had still managed to remain a virgin. His knees trembled and he drew another card from the deck. This was of a red haired individual, androgynous with gorgeous big blue eyes. They stared up at Kyuu as a shadow seemed to drip into them, coming from Kyuu's very nails that rested against the counter top, digging in and giving the indication that it was Kyuu who was tainting the purity in the image before him. Nebulous bit his bottom lip and he hesitated to move, rocking slightly on his feet as he sucked in a sharp breath. Closing his eyes he reached out harder, grasping onto something in the aether and pulling another card. This one landed on top of the last, smothering the boy in a dark open gateway. [19:45] Kyuu (daisylurve): Red heads. Kyuu has a thing for them though few would know that. He continues to pointedly watch the cards as they appear, observing the images. The last one though? It has him scowling. “Gates and portals.” He mutters, “You know, he and I have some similarities. We have been cast away from our family. Kept from returning home. Gates stand in the way.” That gaze lifts back up to stare more intently at Nemmy. The pupil in his eye has blown, the molten gold swallowed by that void. He holds the stare for a heartbeat then pushes away from the counter. “You smell nice.” [19:52] Nebulous Star Isa (jetsette123): / sucked in a shuddering breath and took a half step back. The cards were clutched tightly to his chest and his heartbeat started to pound faster. He kept trying to talk himself down, but flashes, visions of fire and brimstone and people on pikes filled his mind. He saw humans hunting the forests to wastelands in greed and his nose had started to bleed. From the deck abruptly tumbled out five cards. The candle blew out, covering these few portents in darkness but there was just enough light to see what the cards showed. A church burning to the ground. A graveyard where the dead were rising, two were of wooded areas where sick and rotting animals were fleeing, and one was of a glowing cloud like an explosion and demons clawing their way up out of the ravine. [20:00] Kyuu (daisylurve): Kyuu can hear the pounding of Nebby’s heart. He can small his reaction – taste it on his tongue. And for a creature ruled by his appetites, the stag is presenting the most delicious of presentations. The fox takes a steading breath and closes his eyes so he does not quite realized that he has taken steps around the counter so that he is next to the purple haired man, breathing him in – until it strikes him suddenly that everything is sharper and exuding a clarity that he is not familiar with. More sparks flare and fly from him – likely the illumination that they can see the cards by. The fox purposely turns his head – forcing himself to focus on what he came for. The images, the information. But then the last of his trailing embers dies. His voice is a murmur, a soft growl in the dark. “Your bleeding.” And then he is reaching for where he thinks the man is, or was. [20:08] Nebulous Star Isa (jetsette123): / knew that Kyuu was coming closer. He didn't have to be able to see in the darkened room. He could feel it, experience it like it had already happened and hadn't happened yet at the same time. Literal twinkles would spark in each direction as Kyuu got close, making a strobe-light effect as Nebulous took a step backwards, holding his breath. He was in one space one moment and in another the next. One of the cards hit the floor and it was visible at his foot in a flash. It was the gate. It went dark, and then light again immediately after a ripping sound. Nebulous' frightened movements as he edged away had caused the card of the Gate to rip in half as if to indicate gates opening wide. But it didn't stop there. A shadow emerged from the gate, jumping from one wall, to the next wall and then out under the jam of the door. A thick fog of darkness would shadow the entire room as the shadow ran across, darkening not just the room but the people in it. The influence of whatever emerged from that gate [20:08] Nebulous Star Isa (jetsette123): settling a haze over the entire space as if to indicate he was over the entire island. The pressure would weigh down upon them and it was visible in how Nebulous' back step turned into a confused stumble. [20:23] Kyuu (daisylurve): When the card rips, Kyuu has his glowing eyes on Neb. The darkness swallows them again and it is the literal shadow that moves out and escapes that gate which distracts the deity from actually pouncing. That’s what that last expression was. Hunger. But the literal pressure that weighs down upon them pulls a growl from the fox. A purring rumbly sound paired with the baring of his teeth. Instead of chasing Neb, he reaches for the ripped card, kneeling and fingers swiping over the surface of the wooden planks as he seeks to collect the pieces and pair them back together again. There is a soft mutter from the floor boards, just a foot or so above. “You should leave.” [20:33] Nebulous Star Isa (jetsette123): / falls to the side, but doesn't go all the way down. His 'hands' hit the floor with sharp hoof clopping sounds. Nebulous lets out a great caribou moaning cow whistling scream into the air. It is an universal sound of alarm for the entire animal kingdom There were at least one kind of deer-like creature every where on the entire planet. The sound of a male deer crying out in alarm could spook any nearby prey animal. Whether he did it out of true alarm or some sort of otherworldly vibration to reach out to creatures like himself to tell them to flee this shadowy island remained to be seen. His body started to twist, great antlers growing up from his head. He continued that long howling whistle as he began shifting into a literal deer. His front legs dragged at the ground as is the rest of him fought to find purchase on the old wooden floor. Kyuu had told him not to run but he'd reached his limit. He was merely a naive young buck who'd never even been kissed after all. All the death, assault and [20:33] Nebulous Star Isa (jetsette123): agony that he had seen since arriving had pushed his mental faculties to the breaking point, and now he was scrambling just to get away from it all. [20:42] Kyuu (daisylurve): But of course the fox would have to give Nebby something to remember him by. As he is scrabbling to his feet, that baying alarm ringing out and vibrating back in on them, the fox allows his glamor to drop. Golden horns spiral up from his forehead, his flesh turns metallic, and ripples of fur climb over his .. naked body. Gold bands circle his arms, his wrists, his neck – golden fangs extend past a dainty muzzle, and expressive ears twitch and swivel as the golden fox curls in on himself to complete a pounce that never comes. Instead, he gives the stag his parting gift. A swipe of razor sharp claws stinging across a flank. [20:51] Nebulous Star Isa (jetsette123): / got his feet under him and started away as fast as he could go. There was a fake wall in the back that he could go through to escape, but he had to GET there first. Behind him a small young man was growing into an enormous golden fox with paws nearly as big as he. He panted and cried out, slamming his antlered head into the fake wall so hard it stunned him slightly. He shook his head and rared back, kicking his front feet into the wall again, this time knocking it free. Only Nebby didn't make it out quite in time to avoid bloodshed. The next howling deer scream that lit up the isle would be one of absolute agony. Making out the back he'd stumble over himself several times and destroy the garbage cans in the alley beyond. By the time he righted himself and started to run/limp away people were being alerted to strange sounds. The constables would be out soon. They'd find La Croix a shambles. There's purple hair and blood, even some bits of shredded purple clothing that must have belonged to the [20:51] Nebulous Star Isa (jetsette123): previous shop owner. The back wall is smashed out, lots of trash cans kicked over and there are claw marks along the walls. Nebulous? Gone.