nativized | IC Contact (Folkmore)

It's just how bastards like that work.

[ Cale could say something about how kidnapping children makes the most sense because they're more vulnerable and easier to manipulate, and that taking them from other worlds adds an even greater level of power imbalance, forcing them to be entirely dependent on their kidnapper.

But he won't, because Lex has lived through whatever happened to him. Survived. It was fucked up and traumatizing and Cale feels a flash of anger at the thought of his friend being abused like that. Wishes he could visit that world and bash the person responsible's head in with a rock.

But instead Cale transforms into an elegant red cat, with fur like silk and a too-sharp gaze. He slinks across the table and sits down in front of Lex.

Then, on reflex, his feline body decides to try purring—

—and does an awful, awkward job of it since Cale hasn't vocalized much as a cat, but. Hey. An attempt was made. ]

I meant what I said before. You've done a good job surviving what you went through.

[ The image surprises him. Not so much because he didn't think Cale could do it. By physical traits, the man was most probably a Familiar just due to a lack of anything else even before he got it confirmed on Pandora's Fox. No, it's more that the guy does take up the form, does come over the table at him.

He's got a load of questions, and several defenses ready besides. How familiar is the guy with situations like that. It's not common, but it must be common enough if his mom (Cale's mom?) can so research. He's not even explained what all he went through, so this guy shouldn't mouth off about it. They all really die in his throat, mostly because- ]

... Objectively, sheesh.

[ He works out some other thing to mutter out as he looks down at the cat before him, one hand still holding his left side and the other now reaching out to bop the top of the other's head. ]

[ Cale — 'Rok Soo', in this form — blinks at Lex, tilting his head to the side curiously. Was that pain psychosomatic or had the man been injured? He flicks his tail, irritated by the thought.

Being touched as a cat is... new. And for a moment Rok Soo can only flinch in instinctive fear before his mind quickly kicks back in, reminding him he's safe and it's just Lex.

He doesn't lean into the touch, but neither does he make any move to pull away after his initial flinch.

His clumsy purring also gets a bit louder. ]

[ Another little bop. It's not really a pet, not ... at all, actually. More just a little touch because if someone or something is going to play at being a purring cat and get the fur on the food like that, he might as well show it the affectionate touch that implies. And to be fair, it is warm.

... He's not explained anything of it. His survival, all that hard work to get to the points he did... he doesn't dismiss it, no but nor is it really all his own power or anything. What's more- ]

Just so you're not assuming through things, [ Even if he was correct, ] the basic version is that I was pulled into their war a little over ten years ago, was in it for five, left after the capital fell [ there's a lot, lot more to that, but he did say cliffnotes and he's driving to another point, ], and I've been journeying since.

So what's your story?

[ Unwilling to speak of his circumstances too loudly, lest someone overhear it, he jumps onto Lex's shoulder, sprawls across his neck like a shawl and makes himself comfortable. Finally he speaks quietly beside Lex's ear. ]

A reincarnator cursed by the God of Death pushed my soul out of my body before I was born on Nameless 1. Then I was born on Earth 1 as Kim Rok Soo, and because I was touched by that curse everyone I held affection for would leave and everyone I loved would die.

When I was twenty monsters from the Demon World suddenly appeared and brought the apocalypse.

[ He swishes his tail back and forth, releasing nervous energy. ]

One day I fell asleep reading a fantasy novel and then woke up in the body of the minor villain, Cale Henituse.

I wanted to avoid the upcoming war against that reincarnator bastard, but somehow ended up as the commander and eventually killing him myself.

The original Cale Henituse is not a bad guy. He exchanged identities with me to save his family, who are now my family.

...And although I am now Cale Henituse, in this form I'm "Rok Soo", got it?

[ Nameless 1? Earth 1? what the hell does any of that mean. Also apparently gods are real and directly worked through this guy's life - or at least cursed his enemy. Again, reincarnation as a key term. And this guy's been through an apocalypse from demons, and then on top of that swapped into some fantasy novel which is, apparently, real.

Lex supposes all stories end up sounding a little incoherent when you just get facts and not the relevant connective parts. As is, despite clearly detecting this is a key confession for the other man, it's hard to actually understand much of any of it as one story.

Other than a few key beats, the obvious ones. The guy suffered his own blows as bad or worse. The whole curse thing is whack. And then he managed to defeat that guy already? And the commander of what? The war? The guy reincarnated sure but that means that guy reincarnated also into the same fictional but not world... maybe? Maybe that was Nameless 1?

His halo begins to fade, mostly because while he still feels tense, he's using more of his brain for the simple act of comprehension now. ]

Rak Soo, yeah?

[ ... Why? Just honoring himself, maybe?

Also wow he better not feel any claws up on his shoulder. ]

[ There's only so much coherency he can manage when there's just so much to what he's been through as both Kim Rok Soo and Cale Henituse. But it's something that can always be brought up again at a later date, with more privacy and comfort than a canteen. ]

Rok Soo.

[ No claws! Just some absentminded purrs, because laying over someone's shoulders is surprisingly comfortable as a cat. And warm. ]

And if anyone else sees me I'm just a regular cat who is kind of cowardly but loves free food.

... A regular talking cat with a set name.

[ Rok. Rok Soo.

He would nod to himself, but he's got the guy on his shoulders now, so. Lex opts to keep the one hand over his left side and just exhale with the other one goes to brush his brow. Yeah, he's got some sweat there, ugh. ]

I don't speak in this form.

[ Meaning Lex is the first to bear witness to this elegant, fluffy, talking cat. ]

Do you need medical attention?

[ He'll press his cheek more firmly against Lex's skin and increase the intensity of his purring. It's what his kids always did to soothe him if they noticed he was troubled, so he figures it can't hurt in this situation. ]

Or your spoon dimension?

[ He hopes this doesn't make him sneeze...

He does get that the guy is helping though. What would help? ... The spoon dimension would help, but he feels like he would hate it helping like that. This should hurt, just a little.

Medical attention, though? ]

Nah, it's an old wound.

[ He sighs and stands up, balancing carefully on Lex's shoulders. ]

Try holding me against it. The frequency of cat purrs is supposed to help with this type of thing.

That is definitely not true.

It is. It's some therapeutic shit.

No, it absolutely is not! That's silly!

[ He purrs even more loudly and goes back to rubbing his cheeks against Lex, putting on his 'look at me I am such a cute cat' act in retaliation. ]

... What're you even doing.

[ It does look cute, it does feel... not bad? But it's not on the spot and it's also just! Weird! ]

[ Sensing his plan is working, Cale begins making little biscuits in addition to the purring. ]

This is hot on a man's neck, you know! You aren't exactly the tiniest cat ever.

[ Though he was small. ]

[ Is that a laugh or a scoff? Either way, it's an odd noise to come from a cat. ]

Well, I'm not going to do this on your lap.

That's where we draw the line?

[ Lex was still seated - he'd hesitated to stand with the other on him like this and... also hesitated to go for more food or beer or anything. For better or worse, "Rok Soo" had all his attention. ]

I guess so? I'll purr on your lap if you want me to, but I won't make biscuits on it.

... Biscuits?

[ Where are the biscuits... ]

...

[ He pointedly kneads Lex's shoulder again. ]

[ . . . ]

Why is that called biscuits?

[ It feels like a pawing motion so... some sort of cuddle-coaxing.

... His wasn't a cat house growing up ]

...

[ Huh. That's actually a good question. ]

...I think because the motion is like kneading bread? The children often do it when they're feeling sleepy, and they always called it that.

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