a playful kitsune

"What, you don't worship me already? Tsk, tsk. What a sorry state of the world. Further verified by the fact that you're not already attacking me with cuddles and kisses."

#nekasu #『verse ii』hiding in plain sight ( modern verse ).

"You're snuggled in my tails, you silly fox. Besides, you'll need to wash your hands once you're done with what's in the box. Such a sticky, sweet confectionary."

"Isn't an offering something a god could surely expect to receive? Or perhaps you mean that it's odd for a god to give an offering instead? Whatever is inside this box, I can hardly imagine it being a sweeter treat than you, my dear~"

#nekasu #『verse ii』hiding in plain sight ( modern verse ).

"The second and while it's quite normal for a god to get an offering from their worshippers, it's odd for a god to get one from another god. Thus why I said it's a sweet treat." She blushed. "Neka, careful with the praise. I'll end up attacking you with cuddles and kisses."

@nekasu continued from here

"I mean you COULD view it as an offering. Though it would be weird given that we're Gods. I'd like to think of it as a very sweet treat."

#『verse ii』hiding in plain sight ( modern verse ).#nekasu

The redheaded Foxian looked at Caelus as she opened up the door and smiled. She was covered in borisin blood and whatnot. But her teal eyes shined insanely bright. "Sorry about this, I just got back from de-Borisin-ing the Shackling Prison. What can I do you for Mr. Galactic Baseballer?"

"..."

You know. Part of him wonders if they should have a long talk on matters like this. Seeing his Xianzhou hotel room be marked with blood feels like the precursor to a murder scene, the mere fact she looked so energized on the other hand while being drenched in the primal fluids of life was a call for concern. Then again, he can only imagine how many passerbys she avoided might've screamed from catching a mere glance at her!

"Get you bathed up immediately that's what! You're gonna become known as the Scarlet Heiress from how many people you'd wind up freaking out here!" He exclaims, his phone tossed one way and some manga towards another direction as he stomped up onto his feet. Moseying over towards her, a few suspicious glances were drawn behind her before he lashed over towards the entrance like a blight, locking it up to ensure no Cloud Knights would immediately be upon the premises.

Then again. Maybe they're used to him having wayward visitors?

"Listen. Much as I'd love to catch up on you being a professional butcher to the riff raff out there, a natural calling as a companion says to ensure you're in top form. Do you-- Y'know just always be that natural with blood?" He says, immediately opening up the bathroom door, some towels magically forming in the support of his arm.

@playfulkitsune

#astrxlfinale #『verse vii』following the path of the trailblaze ( hsr verse ).#no no all the questions of: why how and what are all acceptable here.

Kiyomi let out a bell-like laugh, before walking over to the Trailblazer. He was very jumpy right now, it was adorable seeing as how this was in direct contrast to the first time they'd met. "Scarlet Heiress? My my what a title. What am I the heiress of Caelus?" she asked, her tone light and teasing. It was clear she was trying her hardest to NOT freak Caelus out. However, it seemed that he was doing just that on his own and just fine with doing so. She shook her head and grinned.

"If you had waited five more minutes, Caelus, my clothes would have been on the floor, the bathroom door shut, and the sounds of water running would have been heard." she told him, softly tutting as if she were gently reprimanding a child. "I just didn't have towels for AFTERWARDS. Unless you wanted to have a heart attack at a full naked Foxian woman coming out of the bathroom."

Her grinned turned mischievous then, "You could join me, Caelus. Help me get all this —" she waved her hand over the blood coating her body and her clothes, though would need to be specially washed. "— off me. But you asked a question and you have every right to hear the answer. I don't think I ever told you exactly why I consider myself a monster. So you can join me in the shower, help me get all this off, and get your answer, or you can just sit on the countertop and listen to me talk. Which one sounds more fun to you?"

NEW ICONS!!

#『ooc』speaks the tired human.#made by yours truly!

"If you're constantly being watched, won't they know you're sending a copy in your place?" Neka asked, wondering if she was being entirely truthful...or perhaps a little bit reckless in 'shirking' her duties.

"You should learn to make shikigami. I can make hundreds and it doesn't tire me out at all. It just takes a little bit of time to prepare them beforehand."

Truth be told, he didn't have a permanent home. Part of his hedonistic lifestyle would be inhibited by having a place to constantly return to. "Maybe we should go clothes shopping instead. You could use a more varied wardrobe. Then we can make our own home...together~"

#nekasu #『verse ii』hiding in plain sight ( modern verse ).

"They might, unless I'm in their blind spot right now. I honestly don't know if they have a blind spot or not, I've never tried to sneak out since I'm pretty comfortable." She nuzzled him again, happy to know that she'd get a break.

"Shikigami? I just use the usual kitsune bag of tricks. Seems I have more learning to do then." she mused. "You'll teach me right?" she asked, nuzzling him some more. Almost as if she was buttering him up.

"Wardrobe change? Don't you like my outfit though? What else do you want me to own?" she asked, confused as to why they needed to go clothes shopping.

"Of course you always have eyes on you. I'm here after all~" When she placed her head on his shoulder, Neka wrapped an arm around her and held her close.

"You should come visit me more often. It gets...a little bit lonely." More than he probably should have admitted, given his typical unflappable demeanor, but he felt that she deserved the truth.

Either way, she needn't have asked him to stay with her, as the one who always needed to go was her. Always her who had something else to do. Meanwhile, he had the freedom to do essentially whatever he wanted...yet for some reason the one thing he wanted to do above all others was repeatedly denied to him.

#nekasu #『verse ii』hiding in plain sight ( modern verse ).

"Show I leave a puppet me behind and do all the work for me?" she asked chuckling. Even gods needed time off and time to themselves. She nuzzled him, before doing just that. Making a replicate of herself down to the smallest detail. She waved a hand and it waved back. She smiled softly.

"She's a part of me. She'd do everything I do." she explained. "The spell is rather easy but still tiring a bit." With that said she changed her outfit in a flash of light while she was still next to him and grinned. "Shall we go to your home? Make it less lonely?"

"Hmph, close enough, it's all minor differences anyway and you knew what I was talking about? And you don't have to be so modest when you're around me. Unless you suspect someone is spying on you, of course."

It was a bit disappointing to hear that she had so many layers. It took a lot of fun out of watching her get soaked. Still, he held his opinions in check. "That said, it's been a while since I've seen you. Is everything alright?"

#nekasu #『verse ii』hiding in plain sight ( modern verse ).

"I am never truly alone. So I always have eyes on me." she reminded him gently. The priests, the shrine maidens... She was never truly alone. She got up and walked over to Neka, sitting down next to him and laying her dry head on his shoulder.

"Everything is fine. Just doing god stuff. I would prefer to go out on dates with you." she said gently. "God duties are so tiring. Especially since it'll get colder out." Kiyomi scrunched up her nose a bit. "Stay with me?"

"You're acting like I wouldn't willingly use my powers to help you, hmph. You should know that I do what I want, and doing things for you often falls under that particular umbrella."

"Why don't you have a swimsuit? I can't imagine getting a whole kimono wet is a particularly good time." It's a little disappointing that he can't see a little bit more of her.

#『verse ii』hiding in plain sight ( modern verse ).#nekasu

"Kimono?" She looked down at her white kosode and laughed a little bit. "It's the predecessor to the kimono. And am I live in a shrine. I have to be modest when relaxing or when I have cleanse myself before rituals, my Neka."

She walked over to him and nuzzled him. "This one is meant to get wet since I still have a slightly thicker garment underneath to keep me from exposing myself just in case."

"If it's an issue of cooling off, I feel as though I would be able to assist you. I do have ice powers, you know." He's well aware that it's much more likely for her to stick with a tried and true method of cooling off, but he's trying to make conversation.

#nekasu #『verse ii』hiding in plain sight ( modern verse ).

She transformed back, sopping wet but still in the water. "You do. But I do not want you to feel like you have to or that I'm using you for your powers. That's not fair or right to you." she explained. Her hair and fur were wet but she didn't care either way right now.

"Are you enjoying yourself there?" Neka's standing off to the side out of the water. It's a lot of effort drying off nine tails, so he's mildly reluctant to get in.

#『verse ii』hiding in plain sight ( modern verse ).#nekasu

"Yes. It's the last warm day and it's way too hot. Water feels good." She looks up at him and gives him a grin as much as a fox can.

@nekasu

She's having fun in the water.

#『verse ii』hiding in plain sight ( modern verse ).

Caelus's performance held an intangible weight. Before the riveting case of Abundance, of the overflowing pride of life itself, their own relentless desperation were met with a frightful visage. Nothing their countless exercises of subjugating their foes could compare towards. Within the burn of those golden eyes lies oblivion, and it was within his very intention to reverse the state of Lupitoxin through presence alone.

Through each fire driven fist, to each decisive lash of a bat that holds hellish strength, it leads to his body being rendered as some phantasmal, agility rich blur. Weaving against the death sentence of those claws, only for counter, counter counter to follow as the blazing eminence of his bat repeatedly found it's mark.

It led Borisin escapees to either be crushed where they stood, or to become some bastardized tombstones as their bodies were crunched directly into the flooring blessed with Cloudhymn, toes and tails lifelessly flopped over compared to their heads..

Inevitably, it opens to the ferocity tucked within his very partner, their eyes exchanging a firm glance despite the quip of a solid nickname. A soft scoff follows as he flicks some of the excess blood of his enemies off of his hair.

In a more abnormal sight, it looks as if some hazy, golden glow seared away what his fingers couldn't reach.

"..Made of pretty sturdy stuff yourself." And by all means, that was a compliment. That focus just retained the front row seat.

"Making leeway towards that 'Frozen hell' looks like our wind up play. C'mon." Caelus expresses with agreement before they're off. Synergy with Kiyomi, even in lieu of her frightful displays felt like a relief more than a concern. There was a promise in her skills that the goal would be to support each other's backs, not to turn this into a mission of protection. Their rapid pace would lead to an audible clack, serving as both an alert and a warning to their foes as the depressive atmosphere grew more weighted.

"By chance. Those senses of yours wouldn't happen to pick up on those illusion skills of theirs, yeah? I feel a presence I can't lock my focus upon."

And frankly? It was pissing him off.

#astrxlfinale #『verse vii』following the path of the trailblaze ( hsr verse ).

Kiyomi hadn't even pushed herself to use her full abilities. Which was good. She didn't want to transform and lose control of herself. She needed that control to keep on being a Nameless. Because she knew that as soon as she lost it, it didn't matter who was friend or foe, death would come for everyone in her path.

"I'm nimble," she corrected, pretending her abilities were natural. It was better this way for him to see her as a Foxian warrior with natural self healing abilities as opposed to an Abomination.

She followed Caelus easily enough skirting around all the death as if it disgusted her. Her 8 other tails were once again hidden behind an illusion. There was no use of going in at 30% of her power right off the bat. Conserving her strength and energy would be the best bet. It was way Caelus was walking and not running. He wanted conserve his energy and strength too.

It wasn't hard to detect those using cloudhymn or cloudhymn-like based illusions. "You can. It's not hard to do. Here let me show you." she told him. She knew they were being watched from the shadows or close by. She had felt the presence as well, but hadn't wanted to say anything lest her companion went on a grand slam.

She scanned the area until she spotted one of the Sanctus Medicus Desciples in their illusionary state. Then she pointed it out to him, literally.

"Okay, see how the air around that Sanctus Medicus bastard isn't still? It looks like it's kind of wavy or distorted? That's how you can tell. When you're close you can even pinpoint their breathing."

For an instant it brings him pause with the way she describes it. Alongside that knowledge was another layer, an etched history where a vengeful flame as vibrant as the teal energies that conflagrate around her. Ensuring he was well equipped himself, that step forth would be taken, the starting mark of seeing those ethereal tails swept around her figure being the sign required.

Caelus wouldn't be far behind as he springs into action, that Trailblazing speed throwing him into a rhythm of agility that could rival Kiyomi's.

The encampment that served as their trial would hardly see it coming. Being strewn in the thick of enemy territory, taking to abandoned territories where Abominations roamed for cover, it leads to the pivotal sign being fallen Marastruck. A more visceral, biting aura of vitality would be a core sign that the Borisin flocked to such a location. Scouts and assassin units keeping what should've been a vigil eye.

What good were those eyes if it was in a scale of being outclassed?

A skull cracking blow would be the starting call. The swiftness that bat arched through the sky, repressing the scream of air such velocity would enact made dispose of one of those invisible scouts. After studying enough Cloudhymn craft, it made him privy to the signs of the invisible as a tool of his battle tactics. After kicking from the earth once more, it'd lead to Caelus's form being a rhymical blur as another two of their soldiers would suffer unconsciousness and shattered fangs.

This created the perfect opening for Kiyomi to work her magic in depth of their territory, multiple Borisin taking their 'spoils' in dead bodies to feed and regard their strength. It was the bodies of the unfortunate.

Thankfully, that very hunger, an opportunity for quality only added to the lull of alertness that the Shackling Prison could never offer.

#astrxlfinale #『verse vii』following the path of the trailblaze ( hsr verse ).

Kiyomi's destructive fireballs hit the Borisin pretty easily, exploding on contact and catching their bodies on fire. Teal flames erupted from all at once and it was like watching some sort of horror story unfold right before her eyes.

Though she knew that if she withdrew and hid that this opportunity would never come again. So she kept fighting, getting into physical brawls with the Borisin only to have them erupt moments later.

She was bloodied, but all of her wounds, which would have killed any normal Foxian, healed almost instantly. It signified that she was different. That SHE wasn't normal by any means. But she was helping the Astral Express crew. They needed it. And as a member of the Nameless, it was her job.

Once the Shackling Prison quieted down to nothing once again, Kiyomi put up her illusions again. her red hair looking like flowing lava in the dim lighting. Teal eyes swept over the ashes that had been Borisin what felt like forever ago. Her eyes eventually fell to Caelus.

"You alright there, Slugger?" she asked him, nodding to the baseball bat in his hands. "This area is clear. Let's see the other areas."

Somehow, the nature of that profession being a requirement struck him as interesting. He'd coin it to a bunch of haphazard circumstances that often aligned him with the fight ready, that or those who had a tinge of moxie above the norm. It stirred an instance of laughter from Caelus. "Normally when it's a life on the line, qualifications are steadied to a smidgen of bravery, and a readiness to get on the move. I've never been the sort to be too picky!"

Now days, more of his abilities given by Aeonic gazes allowed him to perceive more. An unseen energy that blends together almost like a feeling, making him privy to the state of other paths. Somehow those concepts could simply be perceived and he was entirely fine with it.

Destruction always had the means to break borders.

"Glad to see this title is good for something now days. But here's the gist, we'll need get an opening torn against the Borisin to disorganize 'em. Main issue are those bastards that can cloak themselves with their power. So, here!" A concentrated spray can would be tossed to her, its scent being reasonable even against those blessed with divine levels of olfactory.

"It's to neutralize what the lupitoxins can go. We clean this up and this neck of the Commission can brought back to workin' order. And we get our way back, two birds with one stone. Any good thoughts or questions?"