New Cat on the Block

[blueeyeswhitedoppelganger]

WHO: Noa Kaiba and the rest of Kaisou
WHERE: Your Literal Nightmares, the City, Kami State Park, and LIBRA
WHEN: Libra Post is Oct 5. Action/Nightmare Prompts are Early-Mid October; Before Horrors and After Horrors allowed!
WHAT: Nightmare Punching Jobs stop for no-one, and socializing is hard. Also, HIS CAVE!
WARNINGS: Will be Added Accordingly for any Nightmare Threads

[DREAMING- NIGHTMARE- PROMPTS]

Familiar Dreamers will know- whether for a brief time while they lived in a particular place, or even for the last number of months, even years, nightmares can and have ended with a sudden interruption.

That persists even now, even if there has likely been something of a break for the last few weeks.

"Well now. I didn't expect to see you here."

For more physical nightmares, terrors and creatures, the words enter the air after a massive streak of white lightning pierces the source of the dream. As whatever entity that stood there begins to burn, now ablaze with ozone and smoke.

For more emotionally charged visions however, for visions of loved ones, the sphinx takes a more cautious, perhaps more caring approach. His words may even be softer, empathetic, rather than casual, before he trots around behind the dreamer themselves.

In all cases however, be it as a distraction from psychological perils or in the confidence of knowing a physical one crumbles, he lays down in a comfortable spot- propping his head upon his paw like it's a human hand. "I see things haven't changed."

New Dreamers however...that is to say, those who haven't had the joy of being haunted by a weird 'Egyptian' creature occurring in their repeated nightmares...will find said nightmares interrupted as well.

It might be abrupt- the partial mountain lion scrambling in through some brief ripple before straightening himself out with the energy of a cat trying to convey that he absolutely meant to do whatever just happened. Or, they could find their nightmare stricken down with that same blast of white lightning employed for regular threats, if only to more quickly clear the air.

Or maybe it's more subtle. Someone watching from far back, as events of some kind unfold. Calculating. Waiting for the right moment to intervene, before finally doing so-

"Does this usually happen?" a voice from that presence drawls- and for some, that might just be the first indication anyone was there at all.

[IN-PERSON PROMPTS]

The Human Option

Having received his tips...Somehow, it's time to do some looking around. Obviously, he could have been spotted in the Order's 'work place' so to speak, once or twice, but the main goal of things today is...re-adjusting, he supposes. In his human state, he's about as tense as possible. Eyeing passing cars as he investigates recommended food stops, sniffing curiously and openly at the dishes in question. The human appearance keeps his long hair, albeit held back in a loose braid- he also, for now, 'dresses' in white rather than black. This isn't work related, after all.

Of course being that odd attracts attention, so once he realizes he's being stared at, Noa turns his attention to the source. "...Can I help you?"

The Kitty Option

In the more discrete form of a house cat however, he's a bit more happy to roam. The sight of a cat zipping across roof tops is entirely easy to ignore after all! Less easy to ignore potentially is the same cat staring at you for more than a few seconds after you leave a building. And what definitely can't be ignored is-

"That place there." Oh good, it talks. "...Tell me about it."

The Kami State Park

And with all of that out of the way...Noa, in his 'proper' body, head of man and body of (mountain) lion, head back 'home'. There's one last thing on his checklist to do though, which is why the first stop on the way there is to a flowing creek.

A sprig of wood is set aflame with a short huff of lightning. A plastic wrapped loaf of fancy looking bread removed from the packaging.

"Mother Neith, I offer to you a prize of better tastes and a promise of more to come," the sphinx starts, carefully setting the bread into the creek with his paws. "I offer to you 'artisanal bread', crafted by professionals for their flavor and shape. I ask that it sees you well."

And the bread is released. Down, down, down the creek it goes... ...And Noa's ear flicks.

He isn't alone. "...Do you mind?

[LIBRA | UN: TITHOES - VIDEO]

[The feed starts abruptly.]

-d that would be the username then, good, good...

[It seems to be the view of a trail- no, not even a trail, this brush is too thick for that. It's just the woods of Kami State Park, the dying sun leaving everything bathed in gold as someone mutters.] So from here, to get a recording set up...tch, things have changed too much in the las-

NYEEEEEEHEHEHEHEHE!

NYRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH-!!!

[The phone tumbles- garish haunting lights fill the view, just briefly. That first sound at least might be recognized as one of those 'jump-scare' witches normally sold for Halloween but what's one of those doing out here?

...No wait, what's with the fog machine fog? The mood lighting? Are those pumpkins??]

...MY CAVE-!

[Hey by the way Noa, you're still live.]

Comments

Nightmare

[prunedworlds]

This particular dream took place in a world that doesn't seem to be earth, instead appearing to be inside some sort of massive cylindrical world, like one might see as a space station interior in scifi. Just, well, even bigger, with entire rings of mountain ranges.

Not that there was much time to sit and take in the sights, however, as some sort of massive, alien-looking monster was on the attack. Facing off against it was some sort of flying ship, a young women with red hair and white outfit standing on the ship's outer deck. At her command, various spirits materialized at her side, forms ranging from warriors to scholars, ancient heroes to near-modern figures. One after the another they appeared, launched themselves at the monster, and fought desperately to do as much damage as possible.

Desperately, and briefly, as with each of the monster's powerful attacks, those spirits fighting it vanished into golden mist. And were then replaced by the next, again fighting as hard as they could before inevitably being wiped out, as well. Over and over, a battle of sheer attrition to attempt to whittle down the monster's impossible strength. And all the while the young woman commanding them looked more and more strained as the battle continued...

[blueeyeswhitedoppelganger]

"Hmmmmmm."

Perhaps not much of a physical nightmare as a psychological one, this one? Noa doesn't take especially long to observe, just enough to get a decent lay of the land in a nightmare he hasn't really seen before. It's quite the sight after all.

Still, this won't do. This won't do at all.

Looking to the massive sci-fi beast, he slowly closes his eyes with a nod. Yes, yes, well he has a good idea for how to twist this then.

"Alright, alright...Play time is over now," comes a deep, even purring voice, the cat making himself the larger in the scene. Ground matters not in a dream- anything can well fly, float, hover, what-have you. One moment any number of heroic combatants are giving their all, and the next a great fuzzy paw is between them and the machine.

"For you anyway."

The best way to turn any nightmare into a dream, he finds, is to embrace the absurd. In that case, this thing looks just like something someone might dangle on a fishing line for his kitty form.

[prunedworlds]

One moment, you were reliving the most intense and terrifying battle you'd ever faced, the next moment there's a... Giant cat paw looking like it was about to swat an Ultimate One.

"J-Jaguar?!?" No, wait, this paw was too furry for her-- "Cat??"

And that was about when Ritsuka finally managed to look up far enough to see what the giant paw was attached too and, well. That sure didn't look like one of Ozymandias's sphinxes....

[blueeyeswhitedoppelganger]

"HM!"

At this scale, he's even louder and more 'rumbling' than before. But that's fine. He's busy- well, 'busy'- playing around with this machine like it's just a strangely constructed jingle-ball.

"Close, but not quite; try something a little in the middle, while I give this a dishonorable discharge, shall we?"

A few tosses into the air- one, two, three- and it's clear that the 'Ultimate One' isn't quite the real deal here.

[prunedworlds]

That was... definitely not possible. Both the giant sphinx, and ORT getting tossed around like a cat toy.

Not to mention that voice definitely did not belong to either Cat or Jaguar.

"... Oh. I'm dreaming again."

[blueeyeswhitedoppelganger]

"HHAAHAHAHAHHAAAA!!"

With roaring laughter, the 'toy' soars. Up, down, up, and then finally between toothy jaws with a crunch.

Still enormous, the sphinx reclines- laying down in the space ORT floated and then some, looking toward Ritsuka with a smile.

"Mmmmm. You are- but without that in the way, it should be a pleasant one at least."

[prunedworlds]

"Maybe..."

Ritsuka wasn't entirely convinced of the 'pleasant' part, given that there were plenty of other less than happy memories of this lostbelt, but neither was it bad enough for her to choose to wake up. Which perhaps said something.

"Who are you?"

[blueeyeswhitedoppelganger]

Perhaps, indeed.

He is never one to turn down an introduction though, certainly not while 'on the job'. There is something to be said about dramatized exchanges of names after all, and with the flick of a tail, that is what Ritsuka receives.

"I am Who Comes To The One Calling Him, the Son of Neith, The Lion, Great of Strength," he echoes through the dream.

"I am Tutu," Noa finishes with a grin, "And no nightmare is permited to stand before me."

[prunedworlds]

Well. That certainly was an introduction. Not that Ritsuka really even blinked at that, given some of the people she's known.

"I see..."

Was it possible to feel tired in a dream? She kind of felt tired, the whole ORT ordeal was just emotionally exhausting, even to remember. "I'm Ritsuka."

nightmare

[scourgingstars]

[Ardyn's memories of his past life were, in many places, so blurry as to be indistinguishable from nightmares. Some, he chose to believe were only nightmares, because the alternative was too horrifying to even consider. Like, for example, this fairly recurring one.]

[The darkness was endless, or perhaps just very close. Pitch-dark shadows seemed to writhe and move as if alive in some measure, stagnant air thick with malice and directionless rage. Any and all sound fell flat as if the surroundings barely extended beyond a few inches in every direction; a dark and stagnant coffin to seal some terrible monster.]

[The lightning struck like divine retribution, Ardyn flinching back more from the light alone than the strength or impact. As the darkness cleared into wisps of fading miasma, the surroundings emerged into a lone island of jagged rock, beneath a dark yet starlit sky.]

...You again.

[blueeyeswhitedoppelganger]

It's meeee~

[So the sphinx confirms, looking all too pleased as he stretches out on that island. For him, he can never allow himself to take things too seriously for too long. Emotionally at least he needs to reserve some sobreity toward the truly dire, but when it comes to the writhing dark that he's come in upon time and time again, he can more easily box that in a place of 'control'.

He exists now to control such things, after all, so breaking through the mire comes easy by necessity.]

I always did enjoy how the stars look here, [he remarks, a small hum in his tone.] I think I might have even missed it.

[Ah, well. Small talk aside, he raises a brow toward Ardyn.] ...And I suppose I also don't have to ask how you've been.

[The nightmare perhaps spoke for itself, at least.]

[scourgingstars]

They've always made me feel remarkably ill. [Ardyn shrugged, trying to brush the matter off as he sat down on a somewhat less jagged rock.] As though they shouldn't exist--for all I know, perhaps this whole location is just delusion.

[blueeyeswhitedoppelganger]

Hmm. Perhaps- this is a dream after all.

[But, if the setting is no comfort, that probably falls under the definition of 'nightmare'- so he needs to at least take it a bit seriously.]

Change of location in order then? [He remarks, thinking on the stars of the West Coast for a moment.]

[scourgingstars]

My, you'd go to all that trouble for little old me? I'm so terribly flattered.

[blueeyeswhitedoppelganger]

Well, it's the least I can do isn't it?

[A rumbling laugh blends with a purr, and there they are- normal stars, and a 'normal' view.]

Hmm. I'll miss this view as well, I suppose. That damn streak in the air is more irritating than I expected... [But ah, no need to worry about that.]

So- what have I missed, that we're back to this again?

[scourgingstars]

Oh, I've been busy as ever. A little murder, a little revolution, bit of a career-based paradigm shift. Things have been quite eventful in recent days, to be perfectly honest.

im so glad he failed this roll

[blueeyeswhitedoppelganger]

Ooooh, revolution~ Making things interesting this time, my my. Recent enough that it hasn't calmed down though? Now I definitely want to hear details.

In Person - Human Option

[oneracetrackmind]

[Yugo is openly staring at Noa, certain that he's seen this guy before but not sure where.

Then Noa turns around and asks what Yugo wants, and it clicks where he's seen him before-]

Ah! You're the cat guy who keeps interrupting my nightmares!

[Great job, Yugo.]

[blueeyeswhitedoppelganger]

[Well, let no one say his voice has never been easily identified apparently, but then again it's not as if his face is any different either.

Noa chokes and outright steps back in alarm, blinking as he takes in what the other said.]

Y-

[Oh god.] YUGO!?

[Oh god he's never actually met someone he knows OUTSIDE of a dream what does he DO-]

i am so sorry noa has to deal with this-

[oneracetrackmind]

Fuck, is this a dream?! What are you doing here?!

[Listen, Yugo has never encountered Noa in real life. He was convinced Noa was some kind of dream figment or something!

Yugo pinches his arm to see if this is a dream/surprise nightmare, then winces when it actually hurts.]

Fuck, okay, real. I think...

[A pause while he thinks.]

Why are you here? And human?

cackling

[blueeyeswhitedoppelganger]

[Noa just pinches his nose.]

I assure you, it is very real, [he grinds out, watching the other pinch himself.]

I moved, obviously. And given we're in the city, I decided not making the papers as a run-away zoo animal might be wise.

Done panicking? I didn't exactly expect to see you awake either.

[oneracetrackmind]

Right...

[That makes sense! Yugo is still getting used to the whole 'magic being real' thing.]

So uh...what now? What're you up to? [Crap, is he going to try to convince him he's possessed again?]

[blueeyeswhitedoppelganger]

Believe it or not I have better things to do than argue with you over the state of your soul and life, [He says, clearly intending to argue over the state of Yugo's soul and life (5)]

As for what I was doing, I need to stay familiar with the city if I intend to work here- also, my new employers insist on roping me into the system of commerce, so I should probably invest back.

[It's fancy talk for 'I've never paid for things amd now I don't know what to do with this cash'.]

[oneracetrackmind]

Good, because I'm still not possessed. [Says the possessed guy.

(Somewhere in the Spirit Realm, a certain entity rolls his eyes.)]

Wait, system of... [Give him a moment.] ...Are you saying you've never bought things? I mean, if you're usually a cat then I guess not, but-

[He's gonna shut up now.]

[blueeyeswhitedoppelganger]

Oh, of course you're not, you only died and encountered an entity offering your life in exchange for a bargain, [Noa counters, rolling his eyes.

And then he just tenses, looking very deliberately away.]

Obviously not, [he mutters,] And it was simpler that way. But apparently, working for someone entails being 'paid'. As if I have anything like a mortgage to put this toward...