#█║❯ VERSE — ( chesh & jackie )

[lachalaine]

starter call ✨

“Leaving already, Chesh? Can I come with?” She’s in an apparent rush to follow even without his answer, slipping on shoes and grabbing her wallet, evidently geared up for a nothing but a quick trip outside. “I need to get some groceries; I’m running out of my supply of rice balls for the week. You pass near the supermarket heading downtown, right?”

// @secrecykept . chesh

[secrecykept]

VERSE: Chesh & Jackie.01

aka. the main verse for this ship. aka she thinks hes just a cat

The concept (as of 15.07.19): 

she meets him when he’s a leopard, she has no idea what he really is. she basically adopts him into her life, they bond, he gets feelings for her since he gets to know her so well. its so different for him, since he never usually spends so much time with someone, especially women. 

he wants to meet her in person, he plans it out and really hopes to make a good impression on her. he wants to get closer to her, become friends at least, without her knowing who and what he really is. when they finally meet, it’s strange for her, she feels like she knows him from somewhere. he struggles with the fact he knows her so well already, and that he has such feelings (that he’s in denial about) that he can’t act on because she doesn’t know who he is.

he doesn’t quite realise what his real plan is, but its to win her over

key points:

she named his leopard form Kit

Kit is his own personality within Chesh basically and they’re both doki doki for her really

Chesh anonymously sent her a birthday present, an astrological light projector he spent a long time making, its what eventually led her to his shop

his brother is keeping an eye on the situation bc its dangerous for humans and shifters to get involved. he knows Chesh in love

[bestiatexere]

what even is this idk @lachalaine

From the familiar scent that had lingered on the path and that still floated around his front door, Kavik knew his brother was already inside the house (and had been there for a while).

Huh. Chesh was early? That was a rare occurrence for sure unless…he was up to something.

Of course.

Kavik rubbed his face and mentally prepared himself for what might come. Was it going to be a confetti explosion again? A hundred strings of twinkling lights wrapped around every surface? Or maybe, irritating Christmas songs playing each time he moved?

It had been a while since Chesh last did something crazy or went overboard. He loves this time of year, Kavik reminded himself in the effort to increase his tolerance, it helps him, just go with it.

Pushing down the dread, he opened the door and headed inside the house. His eyes immediately swept around for traces of trouble or Chesh, but aside from the shoes, travel bag, and clothes strewn around the entryway, there were no traces of the younger shifter’s antics.

No confetti. No lights. No songs or even decorations.

Kavik stepped further inside with slow, soundless steps while continuing his visual search. Nothing was out of place...How unnerving...He made his way through to the lounge, vigilant the entire journey, eyes restless.

Like the rest of the house, this room was designed with nature in mind, in natural tones and materials so that the shifter blood and soul would feel at ease. It was an open plan space, with support beams mimicking trees, and the impression that fauna and wildlife were blending into the building, welcoming each other.

The animal hearts were relaxed and free here, unlike within the stifling concrete and metal of the cities.

And there was Chesh. Unsurprisingly shirtless (shifters took every opportunity to be free from clothes) and flopped face down on the couch. Kavik approached with a frown and then jabbed a finger against his brother’s shoulder as if to wake him.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Kavik asked, his words heavy and blunt like a hammer, cracking the silence, his focus absolute.

Chesh flinched and groaned at the sudden touch, turning his head to eye him with a petulant pout, “What was that for?”

Kavik was immediately reminded of when 5 year old Chesh would give him that same look after being told it was time to get up or that he wouldn’t get his way. The image was clear in his mind, the little boy with messy curls, bright eyes, and expressions that would change in an instant. Chesh had been, and would always be, an emotional sort, the type who swung from mood to mood and wore his heart on his sleeve. To a degree, anyway. He hid things from most people, charmed his way out of reach, never let anyone see him down unless it was for some other purpose of his...

After growing up together, Kavik could tell (with 90% accuracy) when Chesh was being genuine or not, and it helped that he was one of the few that his brother did lower his guard and pretenses around.

The way Chesh currently slumped on the couch, like a fallen puppet whose strings of motivation and life had been cut, told him that something was not right. It was…uncharacteristic of Chesh to be so still and unenergized.

Kavik’s hard tone came again. “Just tell me. What’s wrong with you?”

“What do you mean? There’s nothing wrong with me.”

“Yeah, there is. There’s no Christmas shit all over the place. Where’s all the tinsel and lights?”

“Huh?” Chesh glanced around with a touch of confusion, a frown forming again. “You hate all that stuff.”

Hasn’t stopped you before, Kavik wanted to say with a snort, but instead he gave a little shrug and countered, “But you love it, always make a mess of my place with it. And besides, I don’t really hate it, I just don’t wanna do it or have it all through my house.”

Chesh blinked and seemed to take a minute to process that, then he shrugged too but otherwise made no move. “Oh, well, I just don’t feel like it this year.”

“That’s my point,” Kavik said with a roll of his eyes, “What’s wrong with you?”

“It’s not very nice asking it like that. And it’s the first thing you’ve said to me. Don’t I even get a hello anymore?”

He could sense the faux hurt Chesh was gathering, the attempt at guilt-tripping and distraction. Oh, here we go. He pinned him with a serious look to cut it off, “You’re avoiding the question.”

Perhaps Chesh realised that there was no fooling him, because he then sighed and seemed to somehow slump down more with a defeated grumble, “There’s nothing wrong with me, I’m just tired...”

With a slow breath to try shove down his frustration, Kavik rubbed his forehead and then studied his brother once more. Chesh was right, there was nothing wrong with him…physically at least. He was still fit and healthy, no scent of sickness on him. The emotional indicators were a little strange (seeming to signal a deep sadness) which would explain the current mood…but what he found most unusual was the strong presence of a human’s scent on him, and the fact that it seemed to have partially merged with Chesh’s own scent signature.

It was the sort of thing that happened when a shifter started to bond with someone else, most often when a pair became long-term mates at least. Had Chesh really connected with someone so much? With a human?

“There’s nothing wrong with me,” repeated Chesh, likely feeling the stare burning into him.

Bullshit.

But Kavik didn’t push further, choosing instead to ask, “Where have you been hanging around lately? You haven’t been to your place much and you haven’t gone around bothering me and everyone else in a while.”

“Aww, have you missed me?” The teasing, playful tone Chesh was most known for finally made an appearance, along with a smile. And it made Kavik roll his eyes yet again.

“No. Just answer the damn question.”

Chesh’s face, though half pressed against the couch, lit up with a momentary grin at the irritated response. It then faded, and he turned his face against the couch more, his voice a mumble, “I made a friend, that’s all...Is that okay?”

The question, despite being quiet, held the trace of a challenge. Rarely did Chesh ever push like that, even during his ‘rebellious’ phase as a teen. Strange.

Kavik’s expression tightened, but he took another breath and then relaxed and sat himself on one of the armchairs. “Depends if it’s gonna be a problem or not…-”

And it could easily become a big problem.

“-Why you getting so close to a human anyway? It’s affecting you.”

They both heard it. Chesh’s heartbeat speeding up.

Kavik watched him closely; watched the way his eyes darted away, and how he chewed his lip in an almost guilty way. He saw the faint flush on his cheeks and the moment the casual, nonchalant appearance took over his features to cover up the worry.

Chesh spoke the lies easily, “It’s not. It’s just that I’m around her a lot, yknow? It’s just scent transfer and all.”

Easily spoken, yes, but Kavik was not the easily convinced type. He raised an eyebrow and adjusted himself in the chair, affecting a more relaxed and nonthreatening position.

“Uh huh, right…” he said slowly, “So who is ‘she’?”

The heartbeat, which had just started to settle down, kicked into higher gear once again. Funny, how the sign of life was such a dead giveaway...

Hesitation permeated every inch of Chesh, brought in and held there by reluctance. He looked like someone who would make a run for it out the nearest exit at any moment, shouting something like ‘you’ll never take me alive!’

What was the big deal? Was he in some sort of trouble? Was the woman dangerous?

He’s not gonna answer…

Should he push him? Or just drop it? Curiosity and a certain protectiveness and worry prodded at him to push and push, but his logical side warned him that it might go very wrong. Chesh might close up completely and leave, the usually buried stubbornness coming out to the forefront and digging in.

Hmm. Maybe it was time to give Chesh a taste of his own medicine. A dose of guilt-tripping shouldn’t be too hard to come up with, right? Kavik was the direct sort (Chesh only liked to be so when it suited him) and disliked mucking around with games and manipulation, but it couldn’t be beyond his capabilities to mimic his brother’s methods. Just because he didn’t usually bother with it, didn’t mean he would be bad at it, did it? All he had to do was what he would do and get him talking-

“Jackie...”

The name came out in a sigh from Chesh and drew Kavik’s complete attention back to him, in time for him to see a soft smile brighten.

And suddenly Chesh twisted around and sat up, his words spilling out in a rush of energy, “She’s Jackie, and she’s the best. She’s really funny, and cute and so pretty and she’s a DJ and she has a cute kittycat called Lemon. She has amazing purple hair, Jackie I mean, not Lemon, Lemon is a white fluff ball. Jackie is not a fluff ball, except sometimes in the morning if her hair is crazy…but she is sooo cute and short! And really good at petting and cuddles and she has such a nice voice and she loves swimming and diving and she has treasures! And she has really pretty eyes and the best smile and laugh…”

The energy evaporated and Chesh trailed off, his eyes unfocused, his mind clearly elsewhere. If Kavik was the fanciful type, he might have imagined seeing love hearts floating around his brother’s head, like in some sort of cartoon. As it was, he could pick up on the emotional signals from him, the subtle scents that were now as obvious as flashing neon lights, and were perhaps the equivalent to the floating hearts, telling him that Chesh was filled with affection for this human, and their bond was growing stronger with each minute spent together.

Holy shit.

Silence flooded the room with its heavy presence, creating heightened awareness of what had just been said.

Chesh, who was never usually the type to be affected by embarrassment, held a faint blush once again and turned his face away to hide it.

Jackie. Funny. Cute. Pretty. Purple. Short. Petting.

It took a moment for Kavik to process the key words, and the fact he had never heard Chesh ramble about a woman like that before. Cute animals, games, movies, food, places…yes, he’d heard many excited rambles from his brother about those things, but…another person? No, it just didn’t happen. Unless famous people counted perhaps. Was this woman famous? It sounded as if Chesh almost idolised her…

There were feelings there in any case. Maybe Chesh would give everything away now.

Kavik let the silence sit for a moment longer before going against his usual behaviour and breaking it, “So…you’re ‘friends’ with this ‘Jackie’?”

“Yeah…” It was another of those lovey-dovey sighs, but was followed by a hesitant hum and addition, “Kinda.”

“Kinda.” Kavik repeated it flatly. Leopards were generally patient, able to wait until the right moment to strike during a hunt, but this had gone on too long. He wanted answers already, it wasn’t normally so difficult to get them! 

“What the hell does that mean?” he asked, forcing a growl out of his voice, “You’re either friends or something else. How’d you meet her? At a club? Or what, is she one of your hook-ups but you got attached?”

“No!” The scandalised look accompanying that emphatic answer might have been funny in a different situation. It was hard to believe that Chesh would linger long enough with someone to get attached…oh but maybe the reaction was more to do with not wanting to relegate the woman to the side of meaningless sexual encounters?

An ache began to push into Kavik’s head and eyes, as if he’d spent too long staring at a complex puzzle. Something was going on. Chesh was changing, had already changed, and he’d missed it, clueless about what his little brother was going through. His heart and stomach sunk with the failure but were lifted by a sense of determination to improve.

He rubbed at his temples and huffed out a breath. Frustration at himself and at being in the dark was starting to turn into confusion and curiosity, “So you’re not fucking her?”

He wasn’t sure what he expected from the crude question, another emphatic ‘No��� maybe…but Chesh gave a short, low growling huff instead and looked away.

“Of course I’m not…”

‘Of course I’m not’…Kavik’s mind stumbled over the words. He even leaned back further in his chair, as if distance from his brother would somehow help him see the bigger picture of what he meant.

Of course? As in…obviously? As in…’don’t be ridiculous, there’s no way I would’.

His brother. Chesh. The playboy. The flirt. The guy whose sex-drive was through the roof and who had the charm and looks to never have to spend the night alone…was not having sex with the woman he clearly had feelings for? ‘Of course.’

The headache grew stronger. Maybe everything was being thought about a bit too much.

“Alright then...” said Kavik, starting to have an uncharacteristically creative worry that he might have walked into some sort of alternate universe when he’d entered the house. It was simply too strange to see Chesh this way. ‘Jackie’ must be one special woman. “Does she know what you are?”

Chesh sighed and flopped back on the couch. “No…She doesn’t even know I exist.”

Relief eased Kavik’s shoulders, but confusion scrunched his face as he processed the second statement, which was not even delivered in an overly dramatic fashion for once. “…What?”

“She doesn’t know me.” Chesh’s hands came up and covered his face, muffling the next words, “We…haven’t actually met properly.”

If the human scent wasn’t all over him, Kavik might have thought Chesh had well and truly gone nuts, and he might have doubted whether or not the human really was human. A witch seemed more likely. Some sort of love spell being involved would make sense.

“What do you mean you haven’t met? Who the hell is she?”

Chesh seemed to realise he’d said too much, he lowered his hands but avoided eye contact and appeared to find the couch cushions very interesting. But then there was a casual shrug. “I’m kinda…her…roommate? Uh…Pet? As a leopard…She, uh…calls him Kit.”

The recollection gave Chesh a smile, but apparently woke up ‘Kit.’ Kavik caught sight of the leopard in his brother’s eyes, and there was a light imprint of rosettes along his skin, a proper shift threatening to happen. Chesh shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. There was a faint, feline whine, but Chesh cut it off with a soothing ‘shh’ to his other side under his breath. He must have regained full control then, as the signs of the shift disappeared like they’d never been.

Likely to pretend that small incident hadn’t happened, Chesh spoke up again, this time with an explanation. “It was night and I was at the park, in a tree because I needed some nature time, y’know? And then she came along, and I accidentally scared her and made her hit her head a few times, and I couldn’t just shift back, but I wanted to make sure she was okay and all and then just…I dunno…I ended up staying at her place for a bit…and then more. And I really like it there…with her. We watch movies and stuff together and she pets me lots and she smells really nice and she’s so cuddly and soft. She decorated her place all pretty and Christmassy, but she’s gone to be with her family for the holidays…which is good, because I can be here without her wondering where I am…so it just works out well really…”

Silence settled in once again as the words faded and Kavik tried to wrap his head around them.

Oh, if only there was a rewind button, so that the rushed-out story could be recounted again (and maybe ‘paused’ so there could be a Q&A session). Maybe it would make more sense the second time. The only thing that was clear to him was that Chesh was trying not to miss the woman. And he was failing completely.

It was coming together now. He understood why the leopard had to be talked down moments ago, and why Chesh was struggling and moping. Shifters were not wholly human and were not wholly animal. They were both, two sides, two souls. Both needed acknowledgement and attention, especially from loved ones. It was never a good idea to suppress one side over the other…but of course there wasn’t much choice in this situation, Jackie was a clueless human, and that was another reason for caution.

“You need to be careful, Chesh, I don’t want SIAP on my ass. You know what could happen. Hell, it’s a miracle they haven’t already taken you in about this.”

Supernatural Incidents and Awareness Prevention. They weren’t afraid to interfere for ‘the greater good’ and wipe memories of humans that got too close to things they shouldn’t, the ones that freaked out and risked the balance of things.

Chesh winced, looking very much like he had just been punched in every vulnerable spot he had. No doubt he was imagining being banned from ever seeing Jackie again, at the very least. “Yeah…I’ll be careful. It’ll all be fine though, I’m sure she’ll…be okay with it.”

He didn’t sound all that sure. Kavik knew his brother well enough to know he would be second guessing ever telling Jackie about being a shifter, for fear of bringing the organisation down on her. 

But Chesh wouldn’t have to worry. Nothing was going to happen to him or to his human. It was a big brother’s job to take care of the younger and to stop bad things from happening after all, and Kavik might not have been perfect, but he was a damn good big brother when it came to protecting and things like this. He would do whatever he had to in order to protect the pair.

His mind was already running through the various possibilities and what he might have to do. It would be best if he gathered some more info on Jackie, gauged what sort of person she was, and it was probably a good idea to check in with his SIAP contact soon too, she might be able to see if there was anything going on there. 

With all of that in the back of his mind, he nodded at Chesh.

“Yeah, she sounds crazy enough to handle it,” he said, “She is living with a leopard already. Hasn’t she even questioned that?”

Chesh hummed and shrugged, “Sometimes she gets kinda suspicious of me…but I think she doesn’t wanna know or think about it, but…” He sighed and went on, “I wanna meet her properly. Talk to her…”

After he trailed off yet again, Kavik thought that was it, and he almost asked him what was stopping him from meeting her, but then Chesh grinned and added, “I did bump into her once, in person, nearly knocked her over. She was so cute, all dazed. And man, her hair has the most amazing colours in it! And it looks so soft and pretty, I just wanna touch it…But I can’t…”

Although he could understand and sympathise with the struggle Chesh had, of the position of being unable to do the simplest things with a loved one, of having to deny instincts and parts of himself…he didn’t really want to hear any more. Chesh gushing so much and being so lovesick was just too damn weird.

“Alright, alright, enough about all that.” Kavik stood and moved around the couch, lightly shoving his brother’s head on the way past. “Getcha ass up.”

Chesh huffed and tried to bat the hand away, rolling off the couch and following with a pout as he did so, “Why?”

“Because we’re gonna decorate this damn place.”

“But you-“

“Yeah, well you need a distraction and I know you like this shit.  S’better than having you mope around or be mushy, so hurry up and grab the box of stuff from wherever you hide it.”

His inner ‘Chesh sense’ started to ring in alarm. Oh no.

He tensed in preparation and half turned, in time for Chesh to dramatically fling himself on him like dying man onto his only hope. Kavik’s face screwed up and he huffed at the contact, having to adjust his stance so their combined weight wouldn’t topple them to the ground.

“The fuck are you doing? Get off me.”

Of course Chesh did the opposite and climbed up to cling even more with a whine, “But Kaaaaviiiiiiii…I miss her so much! I need lots of hugs!”

The statement was followed by the grip increasing and Chesh pressing his cheek against his in great affection. Kavik tried to turn his face away from him and pry him off, “That’s not my problem. Just don’t think about her.”

The crushing hug relented slightly, and Chesh seemed to be considering things.

“Just don’t think about her? Hmm…well I guess you’re right, decorating probably would be a great distraction…”

The Chesh sense started to ring again, and Kavik’s dread kicked in.

“But I dunno if it’s distracting enough, yknow?” Chesh went on, “It might not take up enough of my thoughts, because I do miss her sooo much. And she is the most amazing, most beautiful, bestest woman ever. And she doesn’t know who I am and its really sad and everything.”

They might be cat shifters, but Chesh had mastered the ‘puppy-eyes’ technique and was now aiming it fully at Kavik (who’s expression had not changed from distaste since the uncomfortable hug began).

“I could talk about it forever and ever…” added Chesh.

And Kavik sighed. “Unless...?”

There was a thoughtful (but unconvincing) hum, “Well…it would probably take up more thought if I had to tell you where to put all the decorations and stuff…don’t you think? Directing you instead of us both just doing whatever we want on our own.”

You little shit.

“...Fine. You can boss me around this one time, but no more hugging and no more going on about your woman.”

Chesh grinned and climbed down, clearly satisfied now that he had gotten what he wanted from the situation. He patted the top of Kavik’s head (earning a growl from him) and then went off to find the boxes of lights, tinsel, and baubles.

Regret was already knocking, but surely an annoyingly bossy and high-spirited Chesh, back to his manipulative trickster self, was better than a lovesick and mopey one…wasn’t it? It was okay as long as he was happy…right?

A tinsel tangled Kavik, only ten minutes in the future, would struggle to keep that in mind.

[lachalaine]

&& Jackie’s 25th Birthday! 🎈🎉🎊

November 29, 2019 

// @secrecykept submitted: 

Her last birthday had seen him pulling long hours in the lead up. Hours and hours (days and days) of meticulous work on not only the present itself, but the wrapping too. And after all that work, he’d sent it to her anonymously, only for his nervousness about her reception to it to pushing him to almost ruin the gift before she could even open it.

But this year was different. (Aside from his nerves, that is, as they remained fluttering about, though much more subtly).

She knew him now. He could give her a gift in person.

So that’s what he was going to do now.

As to not give himself away, the gift wasn’t elaborately wrapped like last time. It was simply in a rather flat, square box with a little purple bow stuck on the top of it. Inside the box was another carefully, ridiculously detailed panel for the light projector she had received last year. This new piece featured a gorgeous, sleeping feline of a certain variety.

He held the box behind his back as he approached her with an attempt at an innocent grin.

“Sooo….” he said, stopping at her side and rocking on his heels, “I really love birthdays and giving people presents. I know I’m early, but I know yours is coming up and I wanted to get in first because I’m the best and also, I just hate waiting. So…here~!”

His hand came around from his back and presented the box to her with a little flourish.

He rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand and looked away, his confident aura flicking but being held by his grin, “I hope you like it; it makes a leopard and you like them, don’t you? So…Happy early Birthday!”

Gift delivered, now all he had to do was resist running away.

————————————————————————————————————————

Innocent? Innocent wasn’t necessarily the type of word one would use to normally describe Chesh, Jackie was altogether sure. After the past few days that she’d spent with him, from that very first meeting, all the way up to now? Honestly, his personality didn’t quite make for even half the claim for innocence that he’d intended it to, of that she was sure.

Or, well – at least you could say she was almost, almost sure.

It’s a certainty that on most days seems utterly resolute, having been the usual target of his concentrated playfulness whenever he could get the chance; and yet, that same certainty falters the very moment he comes meandering up to her like this - somehow oozing a combination of cheeky confidence, fanfare, sheer delight along with a thin as fuck layer of anxiety.

That was the part that made her stop. 

And for a brief moment there, she doesn’t understand.

“An early birthday — for me?” A brief blink of mahogany hues in confusion, before swiftly do her eyes turn to shift; zip, zip, zipping away over to the nearby laptop, and – whoops, there you have it. Flashing brightly on her screen like some kind of overly cheerful alarm. 

November 28. The eve of her supposed to be ‘Big Day’.

The dawning of the first quarter of her life, the big Twenty Five.

She was turning twenty five.

Oh. 

Oh wow! That was a milestone of sorts now, wasn’t it? A huge one. One she’d never even thought she’d ever get to, once upon a time. And yet here she was, alive and well and –

Forgetful as ever. 

If there was ever a sign that she’d needed to take a breather one of these days, this was it. She didn’t even know what date it was anymore. 

“Oh god, it really is my birthday, isn’t it?” 

Well, you know - almost her birthday. Almost, almost; again with the almost.

She was getting tired of hearing that word, wasn’t she?

And it’s a quiver of pleasantness that bubbles up in her chest as realization gradually dawns, gaze turning back to face him, hands slipping up in acceptance; although for a moment there does she seem hesitant to take the package away completely, cocking her head at him as a sliver of perplexity made her gently frown.

Why - he wasn’t looking at her, was he?

“I – yeah, I do really like them – thank you Chesh, you didn’t have to! Although…” A faint pause, as mahogany hues tried ( and somewhat failed ) to catch his own wandering gaze. “You know, as much as you know that you’re already The Best and I know I’ll like it no questions asked,” 

( and she would, she seriously really, really would! her excitement would be all together too palpable, and he’d be able to watch first hand by her side how she’d stare transfixed at the ceiling lights until sleep would eventually fall upon her ) though that really wasn’t the most important part right now, was it?

She continues, “I think – I might just love it just that much more if you could maybe – look at me, for a minute?” A wishful tone that’d laced her voice, the hope that it might be enough to coax him into some form of ease.

Without thinking does a hand shift steadily upwards only to press ever so gently against his jaw, a mild touch maneuvering his face towards her, just enough so she could softly smile – and he could actually see it.

She’s not quite prepared for the look on his face when she does. 

And it’s there - there for only a moment, even as he makes quick attempt to hide it, and yet a short glimpse is all she needs to understand. The coalition of uncertainty upon his visage, the whisper of doubt, the minute quivering of unrest. Yet the earnestness to it, the sincerity and hope – 

She feels herself go so soft. 

Because really, what could possibly be more innocent then that? 

“Hey, Chesh,” She utters gently, the look in her eyes so bright and warm and sweet — 

You silly man – smile for me, please? 

A quick shift, the sudden clutch of the gift ever so tightly against her chest, and you could see it in her eyes too. A sliver of unguarded innocence, as shy and as pure and as genuine as his own, and already — god.

She was so darn happy. 

“Thanks — for remembering me.”

More then anything, was that on its own enough ❤

[lachalaine]

24th Birthday // Nov 29, 2018

not accepting

The couch was their resting place. He’d nudged her onto it some time ago and gotten himself quite comfortable lying on her, getting as close as he could, relishing the warmth and ease of the moment. A soft purr emanated from him (as it always did when he was with her like this) and blended in with the low noises of the TV playing in the background.

He didn’t bother watching the screen, choosing instead to close his eyes and nuzzle his face against Jackie. Her familiar scent, and the reassuring sounds of her heartbeat and breathing, gave him absolute peace. That peace started to invite sleep in to share its place and weigh down his mind and body.

Despite the fact it hadn’t been spent the way he would have preferred (with himself in human form, fast-forwarding to a time where he was able to spoil Jackie in every way possible), it had been a good day so far. Jackie seemed to have had a very nice birthday at least, and he had done his best to give her all the affection he could with his limited, leopard capabilities.

— Several quick knocks on the front door broke the relaxed ambience.

His ears twitched in dislike. Who or what was disrupting his time with Jackie? Was it a friend of hers? An enemy? A tiger? A guy stopping by to declare his love for her?? How dare.

He lifted his head, turning it in the direction of the door as a spark of aggressive energy flashed through him like lightning, scaring away the need for sleep that had peeked in.

Within a moment, Chesh had hopped down from the couch and begun his approach to the door. Silent, swift steps took him closer and closer. Whether Jackie was scrambling to beat him to it, or was too lethargic on the couch to process the fact her leopard was appearing to go ambush a visitor, he had no idea, his focus only on this new ‘rival’.

He stopped several feet from the entrance and sunk low to the floor, eyes trained on the door handle, waiting for his time to strike.

This was rather standard practice for him now whenever someone came over. The leopard was always prepared to face whoever dared to enter ‘his’ territory, ready to scare them off to protect it and Jackie. He’d surprised a fair few people before Jackie managed to distract them or hide him (and he’d chased out one or two of her ‘dates’ before too). So, who was this new victim? A birthday date, perhaps?

Oh! But given the timing, it was probably Karson, wasn’t it? The guy he had hired to make the delivery! (the man owed him after all, considering Chesh’s sales pitch that time had actually worked.)

We can’t scare this one off, he told his other side, we need him. For Jackie.

The leopard gave an internal huff but allowed him to move away from the door and out of sight, while the birthday girl finally opened the door. Ah, yes, it was indeed good ol’ Karson!

Relief eased the shifter’s tensed muscles, but then had to contend with the icy splash of nervousness spreading throughout him. It sped up his heart and heightened his senses further, sharpening the scene.

Jackie leaned against the half-open door, blocking the view of the other human (perhaps to prevent the guy from accidentally spotting a large, predatory cat in the background). Her hair was in a rather glorious mess after all the times he’d rubbed his face against it during the day, but she still looked gorgeous. Such pretty hair she had, and he had recently learnt it was purple! (and he was still so delighted by that fact)

In honour of that colour, the somewhat large giftbox she was being handed now was covered in pretty, purple paper and topped with beautiful ribbon of a complementary tone.

It had arrived safely, without so much as a crinkle, crease, or droopy bow. Karson had done a good job of delivering it, Chesh was glad he’d picked him for the task, but…what if Jackie didn’t like the gift inside?

Anxiety pricked at him and made it impossible to stay still. He adjusted his position in the attempt to become more comfortable. The action didn’t help him or give him a line of sight to the visitor (something which made the leopard more antsy, but was good, considering he would have seen how the man instinctively checked Jackie out, and he would have been compelled to scare the crap out of him).

Chesh waited for her to close the door after Karson left, then he emerged and moved closer, seemingly curious. The box she held was exactly as he remembered it, not that it was hard for him to accurately recall its image, after having spent far too much time making sure it was flawlessly wrapped, with the elegant bow on top precisely posed to be picture-perfect.

Yes, this box was permanently in his memories now. He could have easily just brought a pretty box to put the present in, but this was for Jackie! (and none of the boxes he had looked at had been pretty enough or in the right shades or size)

He was quite often a lazy cat in all senses, unwilling to work or move until he damn well felt like it, unmotivated (well, more like, reluctant to try for fear of failure), and somewhat selfish too, but there were certain times when his perfectionism raised itself from the depths of his being and stubbornly took control.

Not only had he spent an exceptional amount of time (during which he should have been focusing on work and customers) on what was inside the box, but he had spent a good deal of time making sure the box was perfect too. The packaging had to be as nice as the gift itself after all!

Although…now he wondered if he should have gone with a plain box, so that she would have low expectations of what was inside, and therefore she would, hopefully, be pleasantly surprised when she finally did open it, even if it didn’t wow her.

Damn it…

His tail flicked, and his paws shifted around, but his eyes stayed on Jackie and the present, hoping she wouldn’t be let down by it. All she had to do was tug on the ribbon to collapse the bow, lift off the lid and peer inside. She would see a square board of polished, warm toned wood (mahogany, to be precise. He’d tried to find a piece that matched the glimpse he’d gotten of her eyes that time).

Half an inch in from the edge, a straight, deep line ran right around the board, creating a frame. At each corner, the line dipped into a fingertip groove, which allowed for an easy way for the panel that rested inside the large frame to be lifted out and changed.

The lightweight panel itself had a multitude of tiny holes painstakingly put into it, they were hard to notice at first even with some of them being larger than others. Along the top edge of the panel, the word ‘Sagittarius’ was carefully inlayed in a flowy font of gold.

Should she remove the panel to see the workings below or notice the small switch on the side of the board, she might realise that what she had been given was a light projector, designed to give her ceiling the stars whenever she wished.

And that wasn’t all she was given.

Upright between one side of the thick board and the side of the giftbox, a matching and specially made stand held a dozen more panels within its slots. Like the one that was already settled in the frame, these had constellation names at their top edges.

Slipped in with the first panel in the stand, he had left a notecard. It simply read ‘Happy Birthday’ (because he had redone it so many times before with different messages and had talked himself out of each one). He didn’t bother to sign the card (though ‘C.A’ was discretely carved on the underside of the projector board, he did that with all his works), as she didn’t know who he was.

Yet.

She didn’t know who he was…yet.

But perhaps the small ‘Delaney Furnishing’ sticker next to his initials, along with the brochure Karson was going to put in her mailbox on his way past, would be enough hints to get her to visit him at work some day soon. That is…if she liked what he’d made for her, and if she found the need to see more.

Chesh let out a shaky breath now, instincts torn between wanting to see her open the gift and wanting to go hide beneath her blankets. Nervous? Excited? He couldn’t tell what he was anymore, and even started to doubt his ability to survive meeting her in human form. Maybe it wasn’t too late to stop Karson planting the pamphlet and get him to take the gift back…

What had he been thinking! This whole thing was a totally bad idea. But perhaps he could just distract her with affection and stop her from opening anything. Maybe even make her drop the box and break the thing. It was stupid anyway, and she probably wouldn’t like it, so he would be doing her a favour really!

Embarrassment flowed through him in a hot rush that would have made his face flush had he been human. His mind went off in a dozen directions, imagining all the horrific reactions and rejections. They solidified his idea of interfering.

He was going to break the box and projector and save Jackie from the terrible gift.

She almost didn’t hear the doorbell ring.

Exhausted from the birthday ventures that’d started from the evening prior until a late lunch with friends earlier this afternoon, the late midday sunlight finally found Jackie laying spread out into the cushioned fabric of her gloriously comfy sofa, just absolutely fucking drained beyond belief.

Goddess help her, but it had been – an absolute Day. And to think it wasn’t even over yet. She might have taken the night off work tonight, but her friends didn’t exactly take no for an answer. They’d be coming to collect her for another volley of drinks at twilight.

Jackie almost seems to whimper at the very thought. 

Her liver was ready to strangle her if it could.

In the meantime however, she’d brushed it from her mind, and perhaps it works only all too well; for as warm and as comfortable as she was cushioned beneath a particular leopards rather solid frame, the female is only truly roused from her heady daze by the sensation of the feline slowly slipping away; the shift in languid movement beckoning her fully awake, away from the comforts of sleep and back into reality.

She might have been dead on her feet, but she was still fairly aware of all the most important things, at the very least. Like how it couldn’t possibly have been six pm yet, considering the sun was still shining brightly through the windows. Like how it couldn’t have been her friends at the door, for they were perpetually late as a rule in the first place.

Like how the current reality was telling her that her friendly neighborhood leopard was preparing to attack her visitors again.

Oh shit. Not again. 

Nope.

Mahogany hues snap open before she so much as allows the thought to even dimly settle, petite frame rushing upwards from the couch and awkwardly scrambling for the front door before the feline could dare to make it there before her; the panic of seeing him already crouched before the entrance as though ready to maul a gazelle nearly enough to set her suddenly frazzled nerves on edge.

‘Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope - not again, please!’

This cat was going to give her a heart attack!

Rampant panic aside, it seems almost a miracle when she finally skids into the foyer just in time to see him seemingly huff and turn to saunter away, as though already very aware of what her reaction would be to his attempts, shuffling quietly back along to finally settle against the far wall to hide seemingly out of sight.

It was – surprising behavior of him to say the least, but she wasn’t going to turn and look a gift horse in the mouth.

Thank god, because she didn’t know how much longer she could keep convincing people they were delusional.

‘Of course I’m not keeping a leopard in the house, that’s crazy, honestly. You’ve been watching too much Animal Planet, that’s all.’

As though people didn’t already think her insane enough, she really didn’t need animal control hounding on her too.

A thankful sigh resonates from between full lips at her sudden luck, grateful for whatever deity had blessedly chosen to grant her a smidgen of peace that day as she’d finally turned her attention to the doorway; keeping the position of her rather overly protective housemate in mind even as she’d slowly moved to gradually open it with a peek.

When the door finally cracks open, she’s not entirely sure what to expect.

“Oh hello.”

But he certainly didn’t look like her regular FEDEX guy, that was for damn sure. 

A swift, if not confusing conversation later ( of which the man had answered practically none of her questions but had proceeded to make every attempt possible to look down her shirt ), and after having deemed the man almost relatively harmless, Jackie found herself ultimately just accepting the delivered package and finally closing the front door; large purple hued box now grasped securely within her arms, as lone female stared down at the still impeccably sealed and beautifully wrapped carton with a soft hum.

‘Well,’ she’d eventually mused, as eyes roamed across the crease-less finish of the packaging, observant of the absolute care that’d evidently been made to keep the box looking as absolutely perfect as possible. ‘I don’t think the mafia would care too much about the wrapping paper if all they wanted to do was blow me up.’

A dim though ( almost faint, really, considering how long it’d been ), and perhaps rather naïve, especially for someone who’d had as much experience with the old syndicate the way she did, although there was a heavy sliver of truth to it.

It might have been a while since she’d been in contact with them, but some things just didn’t change. Most thugs just didn’t have the grace nor patience to manage something as delicate as this, not to mention that she’d received no indication to think her background had been unearthed just yet. All the better for her, of course. The shortsightedness of others would always be her ally.

Now if only she’d had just as many clues to figure this little mystery out.

The female gives the box a slight shake as she stands there by the door – just a bit ( “I was told it’s fragile so be careful with it.” “Okay, but who gave it?” Shruggity shrug. “Ugh.” “Trust me, you’d like him.” ) 

Him. Him, him, H I M.

Interesting. 

– if only enough to at least ascertain the general composition of its contents, only to just as quickly perk as the she’d felt something shift from within its sealed borders.

Oh.

Well. That answered absolutely nothing for her.

The gentle brush of fur slipping against her legs snapped her out of that rather cryptic puzzle, Jackie quickly shifting her attention downwards as a small smile blossomed across her lips at feline’s silent presence. “Hello, Kit. Look what I got, another birthday present!” A slight tap against the box as she’d grinned at him, a curious light just as prominent in her own gaze versus his own. “Pretty big thing, huh? Though it was from someone who didn’t want to leave a name apparently, but maybe he left it somewhere inside the box, hmm?”

It would have seemed almost counterproductive of his efforts if he didn’t, after all. Though perhaps that was the intention.

“Bit of a shame though if they didn’t, don’t you think?” She’d softly intoned, lithe digits already brushing across crisp violet wrapping with a frown, so perfectly bound she’d feared even opening it. “Seems they put a lot of effort into it. Be nice to know who to thank.”

It seems so silly, honestly, but somehow, something about the box felt almost — significant in a way, and she’s not entirely quite sure why. Perhaps it was just the inordinate amount of care that’d so obviously been utilized, all the way from the attention to wrapping paper and ribbon to its eventual delivery at her doorstep, so precisely and personally executed that one couldn’t help but wonder what the gesture might’ve meant to them.

Something special, maybe. Important. Enough to make them feel almost anxious, nervous, excited at her response -—

What?

A swift shake of her head brought her out of that line of thought, mahogany hues wide and blinking as she’d attempted to ignore the most curious sense of sudden unease building steadily through her frame, the feeling as though a sudden haze was clouding her mind –

Damn.

“Ugh, maybe all that stress is finally catching up to me.” She’d groaned softly to herself as fingers carefully brushed against her temples, already turning on her heels in order to stalk back to the living room, genuinely just attempting to thoroughly brush the feeling completely away –

Only to find that she actually — couldn’t.

For not even two steps later and she’d suddenly found herself abruptly pounced on, leopard suddenly raising himself on his heels and quickly clambering upon her svelte frame without any warning, paws pressed against her chest – seemingly to purposely stop her from taking even just another step forward.

In sharp contrast to anyone else should they have ever found themselves getting pounced on by a wild cat, domesticated or otherwise – she in turn just laughs.

Because at first, it seems altogether to be amusing – one of his most usual attempts at affection, at seizing her attention in efforts to grant him at least the quick and tender motion of her touch. It’s the norm, it’s what she expects, it’s —- Kit.

Until it isn’t.

For leopards frame doesn’t make it a point to actually pull away or even relax when female’s hand finally slips away from the package to scratch beneath his chin, as instead the male seems to shift his attention towards the box still held securely in her grasp, heavy paws landing insistently against the top of the package in a manner that one might almost take as — insistent. Clutching and pawing at it, like there was something wrong about it; you could say there was a frazzled energy about him, and one that for all intents and purposes, seemed entirely out of place.  

It is then, with a slight start, that she abruptly realizes –

He isn’t purring. In fact –

“Kit?”

He doesn’t sound very happy at all.

Oh shit.

Why was she saying that so much today?

“Kit, wait, don’t do that – ” Confusion laced upon her lips even as Jackie took the slightest step back, only for the cat to seemingly ignore her, determined focus stuck on the gift box as he’d followed; balance never slipping, forepaws never leaving, a keening whine breaking through the terse silence as appendages legitimately attempted to try to shove the cargo from her steady hold – holy shit!

‘What the hell did the box ever do to him?!’  

“Kitty, no, stop – !!“

Two steps backwards, another three – holding it ever tighter against her chest, doing all she could to try to stave him off without hurting him; efforts made that’d otherwise forced the male down to his feet, only for him to just as swiftly follow, attention so intensely fixated that it’d appeared no amount of admonishment on her part would ever seem to negate him.  

He was like a bloodhound who’d gotten the scent for wild deer, and she for one – was not quite ready to see what would happen to that proverbial deer when he was through with it. So, in total consideration of that potential bloodbath ( or box bath in this case ), she truly did the only think that she could have ever deemed necessary.

She ran.

Quick as a fox and zooming right past him, she’d bolted into a sprint that would have left even an Olympic runner impressed. Up and over the couch, zipping around the coffee table, already sensing his impending presence as surprised leopard quickly made to catch up –

Why did none of these rooms have fucking doors, damn it!

“Kit, don’t - !!”

Through the living room and into the kitchen, exclamation breaking on a short yelp, the female so narrowly avoided tripping over the second feline who’d decided to make her oftentimes absent presence known ( fucking cats, she swore to god ), navigating footwork up and over the pure white feline as the smaller animal stared up at her owner in clear judgement; the cat seemingly certain she wouldn’t hit her, but also rather content not to move until she’d watched the human smack heavily backwards into the kitchen counter behind her.

If the cat could’ve snickered, she would have made sure Jackie could hear it.

Mhm, oooh, she did so like causing some pain, yes.

In comparison, she grants the larger leopard that’d followed after her owner a short glance, cerulean hues narrowing on him dramatically, practically daring him to jump over her; before ever so haughtily sauntering away with a swish.

Jackie, for her part, was still clearing the stars from her eyes.

“Wait, no – behave!” She’d uttered out with a slight wince, back still smarting just a bit from her short tumble to the floor, of when she’d thought it prudent to turn halfway so she’d at least managed to cushion the box carefully against her chest. Granted she was probably gonna bruise just a little bit, but it was fine so long as the box was okay.

Though perhaps it might have clattered just a little inside the box during her quick sprint but – it couldn’t have been too bad, right?

She’d certainly hoped.

“Behave – please.” A heavy gasp for air as she’d curled further against the wall, raising a foot up in attempt to at least keep him at a distance, trying to calm her racing heart in the process. Her head was still hazy a bit, but it was relatively starting to clear up, she’d just had to make sure —

Goddess help her if the only fucking thing in here was fucking catnip – !

She slips off the ribbon before she can even contemplate it otherwise.

His keening whine goes ignored. “Stop, Kit, honestly. Now what were you so —- oh.”

Oh indeed.

And what exactly was she looking at here?

Lithe digits paused where she’d now held the lid aloft, mahogany hues seeming to be more or less just – confused, really; utterly uncertain of what now lay before her as she’d shifted to place both the ribbon and the cover down to examine the package in its entirety. What in the world? 

Honestly. All this running for a plank of wood?

Or – no. Not – not exactly wood, maybe. 

A frame?

Brows arching high upon her forehead, the female slowly lowered her foot back down as attention focused downwards, curious gaze roving tentatively across the panel staring back at her – warm toned wood ( the colour so familiar, the same of which she’d seen when she’d stared back into the mirror ) etched with a multitude of holes drilled into them, some sort of pattern from what she could guess, considering quite a few appeared to be much larger than the others; and then right above the intricate woodwork, in glorious gold script –

Sagittarius.

A zodiac sign. Though to be more precise, her zodiac sign.

—- was this supposed to be some sort of sculpture of sorts?

Behind her, the sun had slowly started to set beyond the horizon, gradually casting the kitchen in the dusky hues of the coming nightfall – the perfect setting it’d appeared, as she’d finally moved to take the entire wooden mechanism out of the box, setting it upon the kitchen floor and carefully messing around with it ( peeking beneath the frame, staring at the small light bulb cast inside, was it a lamp? ) only for deft fingers to finally chance upon the side – a switch so quickly clicked as panel clicked back into place, and then in response –

Flash

Light.

Pinpricks of bright light shining straight through the holes, but still light.

—- mayhaps she shouldn’t have been staring into that thing as intensely as she had, huh?

“Ow.” Softly spoken word as Jackie looked away, back against the dull lit shades that’d still cloaked half her kitchen in shadow, blinking away the spots of colour that’d flashed before her eyes ( not blind, that’s the important part ) – it was only once she’d deemed her vision once again coherent that she’d finally chanced a look back –

( the box was shining, bright, bright, bright, and beyond that – she was looking up, up, up – )  

“Oh.”

Oh. 

Oh.

Stars.

She was staring at the stars.

“What the heck –” The soft string of words, breathed out in awe strung amazement, as heart a rising tide suddenly shuddered a multitude of emotions that’d shot straight through her veins like a rush of adrenaline, leveling her on a high that’d felt almost entirely surreal as acquired gift seamlessly painted the walls of her home with the pin pricked beauty of the cosmos – glistening, glimmering, right within the four corners of her most humble abode, wow, wow, wow, just WOW – 

Goddamn.

She could scarcely breathe.

“Incredible.”

Jesus, what else could she even think to say beyond that?

Gaze roving intensely across the scene, it admittedly took some effort to pull her eyes away from the view playing high above her, wanting to get every inch of light show etched into her skull ( silly, silly, silly – it wasn’t going to stray, she could sleep to the sight of it every night if she’d wanted to ) – before finally shifting her attention back down towards the box, vaguely recognizing the stillness of the wild leopard by her side as he’d stared at her, as though intensely focused on examining her every single reaction as it passed. There was a sense of intelligence to the look, she’d garnered from a quick glance at him – something more profound than that of his casual surveillance; something that made him seem just a little more discerning, a little more aware. Almost a little more –

Human.

She wasn’t quite sure what to make of that.

Brushing the curious thought away seemed easy for the moment, at the very least, as deft digits returned to the remaining panels that’d been slipped against the edge of the box; the relative brightness of the projector providing her with just enough light to see by – a collection. Aries, Taurus, Gemini –

Wait.

Her fingers slip back between the first two panels of the arrangement with relative ease, fishing out a small card with a simple greeting etched against white parchment, only to so swiftly turn it back and forth as eyes raked attentively over the lettering; only to experience the heavy drop that’d quickly settled within her chest that’d echoed the deep disappointment of seeing no potential name specified.

Happy Birthday. 

Happy Birthday. 

That was it.

Goddess.

She didn’t know what to think.

Female remains all too silent as she’d stared down at the acquired card far too intensely, face seemingly almost impassive as the reactions seemed to gradually build up inside her, before all too quickly and all at once –

She presses the card right up against her eyes with an altogether heavy sigh.

Oh gods. 

“Why didn’t you tell me your name?”

The softest complant, ushered beneath her breath, even as heart gradually pumped a building rhythm within her chest – ah, what was this sensation she was feeling? It’d curled right against her heart, made her cheeks so slightly flush, made her feel almost wildly out of her depth, that she’d felt almost –

Shy.

Mhm. Oh no. 

‘Help.’

“Kitty – “ When she turns to finally face the feline, her cheeks are tinted a light rose of blushing pink, the look upon her visage so awkwardly flustered — oh gods. “I think I’m gonna faint.”

What he makes of that particular expression, she fears she’ll never know.

In the end, she ultimately doesn’t faint – though perhaps that had more to do with her fanning herself with the card and otherwise forcing herself to calm down, feeling like a jittery schoolgirl in the process – oh Jesus. 

Seriously, what was wrong with her?

She’d wished someone could tell her. 

As ultimately in the end, she finds herself spending more time then she should’ve running her hands over the box when she’d finally relocated into her bed; ignoring her phone buzzing repeatedly beside her as she’d switched carefully between panels – whispering her words of admiration to the wild cat sitting next to her, silent and watching as he did, his sudden burst of aggravation from earlier seeming to have finally settled –

Cancer, Leo, Virgo –

Ultimately, it’s when her hands finally pause upon the Leo panel as she’s putting it back, that she finally feels the small outline embedded into the underside of the projector – fingers shuffling it into better view as mahogany hues zoomed in on the initials ( she didn’t know anyone with a C.A, she didn’t think, did she? ), and then right beside it the more prominent sticker –

‘Delaney Furnishing.’

That she finally gains the semblance of a clue.

A clue she didn’t know quite what to make of, until the next day when she’s getting her mail ( after having slept the whole night through with eyes blinded by the radiance of stars, stars, stars – so close and so entirely dazzling ) when she finally finds hidden between her bills – ( insurance, electricity, water, catalog, credit card bill, bill, bill — oooh! ) One. Lone. Brochure.

For Delaney Furnishing.

Huh.

Coincidence? She’d think not. But she was pretty lucky though, wasn’t she? 

Looks like her empty schedule was suddenly completely booked today.

// @bestiatexere

[lachalaine]

He pressed closer, lifting a large paw and grating it against the thick glass of the enclosure. People milled about on the smooth path and steps he could see on the other side, some were pointing in his direction and taking photos of his trapped form, while others simply chatted and watched the other exhibits.

Again, he scratched the glass, a frustrated whine echoing with the movement, his breath flaring against the cool surface holding him.

This wasn’t right. He wasn’t meant to be there.

Didn’t they know he wasn’t some wild leopard, but a real shifter? A man too?

If only he could just-

Screams snapped tension into place. His ears twitched and wanted to flatten against his head to ward off the sounds of panic. He didn’t need to hear more, as his wide eyes were caught on the many figures fleeing in sudden desperation, and he understood there was danger.

They tripped over themselves, dropped belongings and scrambled away.

He was alone with his racing heart within seconds.

No.

Not alone.

Hair made from the galaxy itself dragged his attention skidding back to the space his eyes had just passed over in a rush.

About 30 feet away from him, on the other side of the impenetrable glass, Jackie dashed down a set of gentle stairs and stopped halfway, halting on the flat landing.

Dread gripped him.

No, no, no, no, no!

There was clearly a threat around, did she not know that!? It wasn’t safe!

His heart stopped as a figure appeared at the top of the steps behind Jackie.

No!

The unknown man descended the steps with weapon in hand.

Jackie didn’t run.

She should have.

She should have done anything but face the stranger with her shoulders straight and her eyes showing her resolve to be strong.

Something in her expression said that she was confident the male wasn’t going to hurt her.

She trusted that he wouldn’t hurt her. That he wouldn’t go so far at least.

She shouldn’t have.

The impact to her chest knocked her back against the handrail. Surprise flashed across her face, and then she crumpled like a beautiful flower beneath a giant’s boot.

No! No, no, no, no!

The leopard threw both heavy paws, and all of his weight, against the window to claw recklessly at the barrier. Strong nails slid and scraped, their efforts only pushing themselves back towards their sheaths with far too much force.

Violent red smeared the glass from it.

Pain arched through him at the points but could not compare to the consuming feeling of having his heart torn from him.

As the window finally cracked and buckled against his assault, he jolted awake.

Air rushed harshly into his lungs and he was already up on his paws, the claws of which were so very deeply entrenched within the familiar sheets and bed.

Wild, frantic eyes searched and swiftly found Jackie just out of reach beside him. Feline muscles shuddered and heaved his body, begging and begging to press nearer to the woman, to let him shift and run his hands over her and see for certain that she was okay.

That she was alive.

His own thundering heart blocked out all other sounds, but at least he could see her breathing and how her eyes were now open with concern.

He could see it all, yes, but processing it was a whole other story.

He needed to shift!

But he couldn’t. He couldn’t.

He was stuck, trapped! And she was fading away from him, he was sure of it. He had to get closer to her!

Desperate, panicked sounds tore up through his aching throat, interspersing with the rapid punches of his uneven, shallow breaths in the air. The ripping of fabric came as he tried to yank his curved nails free of the bedding, but he only became more tangled.

His tail and lower half twisted and thrashed with the urgency of trying to escape.

But all flailing of his limbs then ceased in an instant.

That is, the instant he hauled himself close enough to Jackie and pressed his head against the softness of her chest. His nose prodded and hunted, tongue even rasped hurriedly against the thin top she wore, grazing her skin too. No blood. No injury at all, those senses told him. And now another belatedly reassured him of her life by letting him register the quick beat of her heart.

She was alive.

She was okay.

But his own heart didn’t stop it’s racing, nor did his breathing slow down.

It had been too real.

Jackie. Gone.

He could still see it all too clearly, and it made him close his eyes tighter as he hid against her. The terror of it all clung to him with a chill that raked icy fingers down his body. He shivered and turned his head, pressing his ear against the comforting heartbeat while tilting up to nuzzle what he could reach of her jaw.

Jackie was there. With him.

She was real.

And he didn’t ever want to be without her.

Please stay with me. Don’t leave.

Kit. 

Something’s wrong.

His name on her lips, the first thought that startles her awake from ( dreamless, dreamless, dreamless — no. not quite dreamless at all ) sleep, eyes flashing open in the darkness, her heartbeat pounding something fierce inside her chest, like the frightened hooves of a wild horse galloping across the plains of her suddenly aching heart.

It renders her absolutely incapacitated – so much so, that she can’t find it in herself to breathe.

‘Help me.’

A stray thought, and yet not one that generally crosses her mind – as her vision flashes with memories ( images, visions, not entirely her own ) stained in the copper stench of blood. The familiar glimmer of eyes crafted out of steel blue, the fear of facing up to a man she’d consider her personal nightmare, yet still with the fragile certainty of hope ( he wouldn’t, he wouldn’t, he fucking wouldn’t — ) —

He would.

And how could she be so stupid as to think otherwise?

A keening whimper as the sound cuts through the silence forged by the sharpest taint of fear, forcing Jackie back into the present as senses set her on high alert, eyes wide as reality crashes back into her with the force of a freight train, wrenching her from the dull haze of terror that’d cloaked her and right back into the comforts of her bed.

Her bed. Her own – with, with, with her – Kit.

Shit.

—- what’s happening to him?

“Kit?” A terrified whisper breathed between velvet lips as she’d stared – stared at the petrified leopard thrashing about wildly across her bed sheets, a medley of broken cries resonating as sharp claws dug frantically into thick fabric, the sounds of his whimpers – the look in those broken and absolutely horrified eyes – tugging at a heart string that’d felt all too fragile as it was.

‘Help him, oh god, please help him, please, please, please, please, please— !’

Fucking fix this!

“Kit – wait – wait, stop – “ Alarm bells suddenly ringing shrill through her head as the female quickly raises herself towards him, palms held out warily as she’d inched her way forwards, vaguely conscious of the path of wayward claws as they ran deep gouges into the comforter; knowing full well that any slip of fabric that she’d currently adorned would absolutely hold no defense against the sting of the feline’s nails should they accidentally graze her, even knowing full well it’d mattered not to her if she’d got maimed in the process.

She knew her kitten well enough, she knew when something – when everything – was just plain wrong. And regardless of what it was, regardless of the fear still clutched like a heavy shadow around her neck, of the phantom pain settling like the streak of metal within her chest, every attempt made to draw her back, back, back to a past of which she could only ever hope to fully forget –

None of it mattered. Not now. Not ever. What mattered was this. What mattered was that she’d fixed this – this — whatever this was.

Help him. Please. 

‘Please just let him be okay.’

“Come here, kitty, please, please – you need to calm down, it’s oka – “ The shudder of a sharp breath rushing clear past her lips as she suddenly finds herself thrown backwards, bombarded by the full force of leopards heavy frame shoving her into the pillows, rendering the female struck silent as he’d soon forced himself into her arms with all the panic of a frightened rabbit.

Oh. Oh gods, help her. 

Yet she doesn’t even hesitate.

“Kitty.” Soft utterance whispered into the evening air as the male nuzzles his head against her chest, the cold lap of his scratchy tongue against her skin sending shivers racing down her spine, the slightest tremble of her frame apparent even as arms ran taut to hold him close. She could feel his large paws pressing against her waist, could feel the rush of his own thundering heartbeat pounding hard against her flesh. It was so, so much. Almost too much.

But she couldn’t bear to let him go.

“Calm down, Kit. It’s okay – I’m here with you and you’re okay. I promise.” Gentle affirmation muttered as she’d laid a careful hand against the top of his spine, the tender brush of digits as they’d traced along checkered fur, all efforts made in order to hopefully calm the racing heartbeat of the leopard that still sat so clearly agitated before her. 

His terror appeared permanent however, no matter her gestures; as judging by the way he’d nudged his way closer into her arms even despite her hold, it was either he was still trying to hide, or just trying to get as close to her as humanly possible.

The way his head fit so neatly against the swell of her chest, even the way he’d nuzzled himself against the line of her jaw made her heart quake something awful, and she’d held him closer all the more for it, if only for reasons she wouldn’t even dare herself to say.

soft kitty, warm kitty, little ball of fur

“It’s okay Kit, it’s okay. I’ve got you.” Soft whispers as the minute trembling began again, the shudder of her hand where it’d laid upon his fur, forcing her mind further and further from the cold draw of dread that’d creeped patiently upon her footsteps –

Goddess help her, but this wasn’t about her. It would never be about her. It would never, ever, evER —

p l e a s e . 

Don’t let this be about her.

happy kitty, sleepy kitty, 

“Nothing will ever hurt you.”

purr

If only she knew –

purr

It wasn’t him that he was worried about.

Purr.

// @bestiatexere​

[bestiatexere]

@lachalaine

Warm. Soft. So very, very tired, & yet so very reluctant to sleep. It’d been a while since she’d been home, since she’d had a chance to languish in the simple comforts of which being in her own humble abode could bring. Peace. Silence. Comfort in the form of a bed & a cat. & though Lemon had appeared mildly pleased enough to have her back ( very, very mildly) , she was not the feline Jackie was curled next to at the moment.

She didn’t mind in the least.

“Pretty kitty.” Female seemed to purr herself, as lithe digits scratched lightly along the bottom of Kit’s chin whilst she spoke. “You’re so very pretty - have I ever told you that? You’re gorgeous.” Awe laced within her tone as half lidded eyes gazed upon him in wonder, a sleepy smile curling along velvet lips in satisfied glee. The low mewls that’d appeared to resonate from his svelte frame only served to make her giddier. 

God, she’d missed this. This moment alone with him was self care in and of itself. “So handsome. Beautiful. A natural born prince. How did I ever manage to find you?” A tired giggle, as she’d leaned forward to nuzzle against him just for a moment, laying a soft kiss upon his nose before she’d slipped back with a sigh - eyes drifting closed for but a moment, at ease - at pure peace. “I’ve always wanted a tiger before, y'know - always, always. But you’re so much better. The best. The prettiest. The cutest. My favorite kitty." 

One of two favorites, at the very least. Lemon however, would likely have a legitimate hissy fit if she’d ever called her a kitten again. But Kit - Kit was still her kitty, despite that she’d had no idea how old he was. Despite that she’d had no clue who his owner was, or if he’d even had one. But he was hers, in these moments when he was with her. 

Nothing else mattered. 

"I missed you the most, Kit." 

Finally. Finally. Finally. Finally…

It was a chant in his head, celebrating Jackie’s much awaited return. Finally. She was back with him. She was home. And she was petting him again! Her touches had been sorely missed. The instant her hands were on him, he had started to purr and feel the knots and tension that had settled in him ease.

Her touches weren’t the only things he’d missed. Her warmth, both literal and figurative, had been almost painful to do without, as had been her smiles, voice, laugh, and overall presence.

It’d been hell without her. Boring. Lonely. Cold. Like all the colour and energy from the world had been switched off. She’d better not leave him again, not for so long at least! Did it even make a difference to her? Probably not so much. He was just a big cat to her after all. 

Was it easy for her to leave him behind then? His pride (and heart) flinched a little at the idea, only to be soothed by the compliments that started to come from the woman.

Pretty kitty!

Oh yes, this was a great start to making her absence up to him, along with the delightful scratches. Soon enough, he would forget any slight hurt.

The questions of when she had become so integral to his life, and why her thoughts and feelings mattered so much to him, were being quite forcefully ignored. (In fact, he was still rather firmly in Denial about his need for her in his life anyway, and he didn’t dare dwell.)

Gorgeous!

Warmth filled his chest like air in a balloon, pride puffing his posture into perfection. Damn right he was gorgeous! Totally worthy of praise and admiration! He was clearly the best cat out there, one that deserved to be in her company at all times! So, she really, really needed to stay with him forever and continue praising him. No more trips away.

He turned his head down to nuzzle her hand and give it a nudge.

Tell me more~

For a brief moment, he wondered if his other form would get so many sweet words from her. Maybe one day. 

His train of thought was then diverted by her continued compliments. He would have smiled if he could, and rolled his eyes too. What he did do, was gently nip at her hand. As much as she was causing such joy to sparkle within him, (almost enough to threaten him with a rare blush, if that was even possible now) it was starting to get ridiculous. A natural-born prince? Him? Maybe she was teasing him this whole time.

Before he could begin to question that too much, her giggle and affectionate actions distracted him.

He rubbed his face back against hers and was struck by the strongest urge to shift to human form. The cat was getting so many touches and such admiring looks from her, the man wanted that too! And to be able to touch and praise her in return, to tell her how much he’d misse-

Tiger.

She’d always wanted a tiger.

A tiger!?

Cool surprise and disbelief clashed the heat of his (usually deep buried) competitiveness and natural possessiveness. A small part of him almost wanted to laugh and shake his head at the fact Jackie had always wanted a tiger. She was such a strange woman (and he adored her for it)!

The rest of him, however, was fixated on the idea of her preferring a tiger over him, having not yet processed past the comment that mentioned the other big cat.

What’s so great about tigers? They’re so big and bulky and stripes are so lame. It’d take up the whole damn bed too. Leopards are way better!

His thoughts deteriorated into a jumble of huffy complaints while his body locked itself in place. It was then that he caught up with the rest of Jackie’s words.

Better. Best. Prettiest. Cutest. Favourite.

Irritation had clenched his jaw and unsettled his fur, but it now relaxed him, and he let out a loud breath. His body slumped for a moment but then resumed the earlier, proud positioning.

Her favourite kitty. The best and prettiest and cutest! Take that, Lemon and random tigers! I’m the best!

He straightened up and lifted his head. Just look at this majestic profile.

After a stretch to show off his powerful feline body, he moved himself closer to Jackie and rubbed his face and head against her to smooth out his fur. Beautiful. Much better than some stupid tiger, right? It was good Jackie had seen the error of her ways and found the truth.

His preening then paused while his heart stuttered into a race. Considering all she had been saying, perhaps he shouldn’t have been surprised to hear that she missed him the most, and perhaps he should have just continued to take too much pride it in all…

But he didn’t strut around and bask, like he had been on the verge of doing moments ago. No. He softened and melted against her, his body as close to hers as he could get along her side. He rested his head on her and purred softly while a heavy ache thumped in his chest.

I missed you too.

It was okay to admit that much, right?

I missed you. I missed you. I missed you. I missed you…

The words came like an unending river, and he closed his eyes as if to create a dam against them. They burned against it and along his throat.

I missed you so much.

He pressed even closer to her, nosing against her and hiding.

Don’t leave me again.

But there was a scarier possibility. What was worse than being left behind?

Don’t forget about me.

[bestiatexere]

Moonlight streams through open window that evening, illuminating intwined frames that lay curled together among the covers of her bed. Sheets tossed to the side to expose bare skin to cooling winds; the warmth of which emanated from her feline friend more than enough to leave the female easily content. Lithe fingertips ran against lean frame languidly, tracing idly along checkered skin as she’d remained dazed, defenses lax in the midst of familiar presence. 1/2

Up, down & up again, down along his spine. She thinks nothing of it as hand comes to rest just along the base of his tail, resting her arm for the time being as digits dragged softly along soft fur, petite frame inching ever closer, lured by the deep rumbling of purrs that’d resonated from his throat. With the gentle brush of velvet lips against his shoulder, she relaxes once again, thinking nothing more of it as she remains content; all the while - fingertips never stopping their motions. 2/2

Sleep was making only the barest of efforts to claim him,perhaps sensing the fact he didn’t wantto sleep, that he wanted more time in Jackie’s company. It was just so nice.This moment of quiet contentedness.

His body, and hers, lay so relaxed beside each other, almostas if they might just melt into the bed itself. Worries and stressful thoughtsdidn’t dare enter the space, in fact, his mind for the moment had no solidthoughts at all, just half-formed and quickly forgotten ones which swirledlazily around amongst a thick fuzz.

The purring which came from him was almost continuous, andit wasn’t something he was able to stop even if he wanted to. Such nice touchesshe was giving him, gentle caresses. Safe. He was safe with her, he knew.

And ah, she spoiled him so! The stroke of her fingers downhis back increased the sound of his purr, as if his spine was a slider on oneof her music mixers. He arched up a little towards her hand, enjoying thecontact and wishing for more. Sleep pushed further into his mind, welcomed inby the peace brought by the woman’s ministrations.

This was good. So good…

His eyes snapped open once her fingertips settled around thejoin of his tail, a spike of something different piercing through the hazein his mind. A cool breath was yanked in as scratches on his lower backcontinued, the purr faltering for a moment before going on in greater volume.Sparks seemed to dance along his nerves, originating from the point of contactwith Jackie’s fingers. The sparks tingled up through him and sent his heartinto the beginnings of a frenzy, causing his claws to emerge and press slightlyinto the bed as they did so.

What on earth was this?

He turned his head just enough to stare at her, and thenfurther to get a look at her hand on him. With her every movement, heat seemedto drip onto him, beginning to pool low. Instinct had him lift himself just alittle to increase the pressure of her fingers, knowing just a fraction morewould-

Oh god.

Bliss forced his eyes closed and dug his sharp nails furtherinto the bed. His head fell against the mattress with a gentle thump, but hekept the rest of himself that little bit elevated. A short, breathy whinepuffed out of him in equivalent to a moan.

This was good. So good…

No!

This was bad! So bad!

The rusty voice of his conscience spoke up. The delight and satisfactionof this sort of petting was different compared to that which he got from hertouches in other places. This wasn’t bringing him comfort or relaxation, no,this was stirring him up in an all too familiar way. Bad Chesh!

It wasn’t right. He needed to cool down. To move away fromher and get her to stop this glorious torture. Things would only get…harder for him should he allow himselfto stay under her touch, and that would be damn uncomfortable. It would feelrather wrong too, given the fact she had no idea what she was doing to him, andstill thought of him as just a leopard!

Oh, if only she knew who he was. If only he could be humanaround her and in this situation! How might that go? If she knew him and they…Maybe-

No! Don’t think about it! Don’t make it worse!

It was with great effort that he lifted his lower half and shiftedit away, just enough to be out from beneath her hand…

But that hand of hers followed just a moment later! The contactcontinued, each scratch of her fingers against his fur and skin causing smalljolts of pleasure along the sensitive nerves. Ah, it was so good. Perhaps he couldjust…let her continue…

His weight shifted on the bed as he moved closer to her,drawn in by the temptation of these new touches she gave him. The sensitivityof this spot among cat shifters was quite known, but he had never let anyoneget close to him in this way. It was a shame he had missed out on thesesensations all this time, he could have had someone else-

A different sort of heat swept over him. His claws curvedinto the bed once more as his stomach seemed to lurch and his jaw clenched. No.No. Definitely no, his body seemedto be saying, and his mind swiftly agreed. No one else was welcome to touch himin such a way. Only Jackie.

But he shouldn’t be letting her even now. Not while therewas so much she didn’t know at least.

Ignoring the large part of himself that was protesting andpleading to stay as he was, he huffed and forced himself to roll onto his sideto place his back away from her (andhopefully away from her provocative hands).

He opened his eyes and found her form with a sigh. She hadno idea what she did to him, damn woman…Beautiful, tempting woman.

With the way she seemed equally to glow with the light, and to have parts of herself hidden away indarkness from it, he thought perhaps she was the spirit of the moon herself.

Goddess, more like.

The thought had been amended at the sight of her short, silkpajamas, as they did little to conceal the enticing curves and soft skin shepossessed, riding up in places like they were. The shiny material called to hissenses as much as the shape of her body did. In his mind, he shifted to his human form and reached out to her.

It was a nice idea, the thought of his hand gliding alongthe camisole and then sliding beneath the silk of it to stroke the warm skin ofher side and hip. He would tug her closer, press her body against his, pet herthe way she had been him. He would bring his face close to hers and allowhimself to stare at her lips for a lingering moment before kissing her. It would be soft at first. Shedeserved a nice, slow, soft kiss. And he very much wanted to get to know thefeel of her lips against his before adding more intensity. Then, he would-

No! What was he thinking!

He couldn’t shift now.She would be terrified (and she would probablykick his ass) if she suddenly had a strange, naked man in bed with her.

But…his body was already trying to follow the path histhoughts had started down. The need to shift was rippling along his body,making the feline’s muscles and bones ache. He let out a small wheeze, feelingas if he was surrounded by an ever-tightening coil.

Out. Out. Out. He wanted out of this body.

But he had to stay!

A groan mixed with a whine as he buried his face against thebed and locked his joints in place. Don’tshift. Don’t shift. Don’t shift. He called to the leopard side of himself,willing it to stop the change from happening.

The discomfort running along his skin started to subside andsettle after a few moments. He took a slow breath and tilted his head, openinghis eyes in a slow movement.

And there was Jackie, propping herself up on her arm now inapparent concern for him.

At the sight of her, the urge to shift rushed over him onceagain like a tidal wave. He growled at himself and turned his face down, pressinghis nose against bed. And then he felt her fingertips whisper against the topof his head in an almost clumsy way, indicating her drowsiness and starting awarmth in his chest. Even while she was so tired, she was worried for him,trying to soothe him with touch. He supposed he must have seemed quite strangewith the small tremors in his body and odd behaviour, the sounds that rumbledthrough him.

She wouldn’t want him to leave. Perhaps she wouldn’t even beable to sleep without him there, having grown so accustomed to his presence (he had the same struggles on their rarenights apart). He couldn’t leave her, couldn’t worry her, and so he couldn’tlet her resume petting that spot on his lower back, no matter how tempting itwas to try get her hand back there. If she just scratched around his ears orshoulders, that would be okay…that would be safe, they would both be comfortedby that.

To reassure her everything was okay, he shuffled closer toher once again, his head turning to bump his nose against her outstretched arm.Her hand came to rest on his head, fingers combing lightly through the fur. Hepurred and leaned into the touch, his body relaxing. The heat from earlier was becominga distant memory.

Ah, this was nice.

The scratches started to slow down, her hand beginning to strokeand move downwards again…

Bad Jackie!

He lifted his head and nudged her hand. Keep it up here!

Perhaps he needed to make it more obvious…

Leaning forward brought his head against her chest (as surelythat would make it her only focus, yes?). So soft…and the silk of her topwas cool and delightful against his fur. With a louder purr, he nuzzled againsther more, his attempt at keeping her focus was both succeeding and backfiring…Herhands stayed atop his head, attention given around his ears and shoulders…but his mind was becoming hazy as he rubbed his face against her with alittle more enthusiasm.

The combination of the silk, her body, her scent, and the veryfact that it was her hands on himwas, quite frankly, spoiling him and his senses. Once more, heat began to brewlow within him, a slow-burning simmer as opposed to the sparks that had ignitedhim earlier.

Hello heaven…

Oh, the things he could get away with as a leopard…This was sog- bad! Bad!

The warning bells rang in his head, jolting the fog andcausing tension to pull at his muscles. What was he doing?! He couldn’t getstirred up again, and he certainly shouldn’tbe acting the way he was. It would be fine if she was a shifter, they had nosuch care for these things, but Jackie was human, and this was akin to takingadvantage, wasn’t it?

His tail flicked in a display of irritation as he withdrewhimself from her embrace.

Damn her! Damn her magical body and touch!

He shook his head, feline nose scrunching.

No, no, it wasn’t her fault. This was his problem. If he could just behave and control himself, if hecould ignore the thoughts that attempted to invade his mind…Like the thoughtof nudging her onto her back, changing to his human form and gently creatingspace between her legs for himself, of pressing close and kissing along herneck while his hands-

God damn it, Chesh!

Frustration growled in his throat and sent his tail twitchingbefore he hauled himself off the bed (witha little difficultly, given how his claws kept catching on the covers). Hethumped onto the floor lightly and headed to the door. There was no way hecould stay around her.

With any luck, she would be too tired to follow after him,and she would have a sound sleep (if not, he would find a way to make it up to her tomorrow).

His own sleep was unlikely to come now, completely put offby the thoughts which swirled around. There was no rest for the wicked, afterall.

[bestiatexere]

"It's just one date, right? One -- blind date. When I haven't had a date in a few -" A pause, lips pursed from where she'd been putting on a layer of lipstick, brows furrowing in uncertainty. Wow. "Six months, give or take. I'm practically an old cat lady." A jest, somewhat, though she's not certain the leopard understands. Yet still, she flashes him a smile & a wink, tossing her hair back & leaning forward, lithe digits scratching beneath his chin as she laughed. "Think I can get the man, Kit?"

A date.

His tail flicked in irritation. So that’s what all the fuss was about. He’d been trying to figure outwhat she was up to for the past hour or so, thinking he’d forgotten or missedsomething in her schedule or plans.

A date.

If she went out on a date, she wouldn’t be with him. Histime with her was limited already, but her going out just made that hourglassshrink down further. If she went out on a date…she wouldn’t be around to givehim attention, and he wouldn’t get to enjoy her company or try figure out moreabout her.

His tail flicked again as his eyes focused on herexpression. She hadn’t been out on a date in six months? It was a long time. Well,it sounded like a long time anyway,he didn’t think he’d ever been on anactual date before, so he had no real idea.

Why the sudden change for her now? It was a blind date, so it wasn’t as if she hadmet the guy before and was really taken with him. Had she been pushed into thisby a friend? That was how blind dates often worked right? But why would she gofor it? Was she lonely?

All thoughts were then momentarily derailed by the smile andwink aimed at him. He blinked, and then his instincts had him leaning towardsher hand even before it made contact with him. The scratches almost drew a purrfrom him, but her question pushed that (and his ears) down. His nose scrunchedbefore he nuzzled it against her arm and hand.

Could she get the man? Hell yeah. It wouldn’t have surprisedhim at all if there was a long list of men that wanted her to get them. Hmmph. He didn’t have theright, but the idea of her having an interest in someone else made his clawsdig in a little more.

He turned his head and snuck his tongue out, rasping it lightlyover her wrist. If she was meeting up with a human, his little action therewould be pointless, but he couldn’t resist it anyway, he wanted his presence onher noticeable. It would certainly give other shifters a big pause, should theyget too close to her.

It would be better to just prevent her from leaving somehow.Maybe he could just go lie on her, or be more drastic and block the door, or…

Was he really so selfish as to try such things?

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, ye-

No.

If Jackie wanted to go out on this date, it was her choiceand such things needed to be respected. If she really wanted to go out withsome random guy that was possibly a lecherous psycho killer who probably had aload of disgusting habits (like not showering, oh, and killing people), andprobably had bad hair and a weak body with absolutely no definition, then that was her choice. Hmmph.

He wouldn’t interfere with her going out…but…

There was no reason for him to stay waiting around herapartment for her return. In fact, it was probably for the best that he follow her and makesure things went alright on this mythical date. It was also another opportunityto learn more about her, his curiosity would not let him pass it up.

And really, at the very least…Jackie was his friend, right?Sure, she didn’t know him as a human…but it still counted, he was certain. Friendslooked out for each other, so that made it his duty to go along (secretly) and see if thisguy she was meeting up with was safe and worthy of her.

Jackie needed someone strong. Someone that wouldn’t scareeasily. Oh, if only there was a way to try spook the guy with something…

Oh yeah.

Chesh blinked, remembering the fact that he was a leopard,and that most people would be afraid of spotting one staring at them from thedarkness. He chuffed in amusement, the sound combining with a low purr as histail swished in a movement so different from earlier.

This was going to be fun.

[bestiatexere]

█║❯ @lachalaine — ( jackie )

Her bed felt empty. Empty & cold, & after two years of sleeping alone, it was honestly disconcerting how a few nights of sleeping with a leopard of all things had suddenly made her unable to get a good nights rest, even more so than she usually did. The strong frame curled against her own had been too easy to get used to, & no amount of pillows tugged into her arms was able to replicate it.

It’s only by the sound of soft shuffling at the door that eyes slip open, hair mussed as she’d peeked up from the duvet in clear confusion, before mahogany hues easily warm at the familiar shadow that lingers just a few mere paces away. Jackie scoots back quickly along the bed as she lifts the covers up in welcome for him, already knowing he’s more likely to flop on her rather than next to her, but willing to provide the option regardless.

She should have known he’d come. “Hey Kit, get over here! I was waiting — was cold without you.”

It was strange how this had become his routine. Visiting this woman in his leopard form and spending the evening and night with her (sometimes part of the morning too!). But he liked it. She was an interesting one for sure, and every moment he spent with her, the more puzzle pieces of her he found and put together, only to discover there were even more scattered around.

He didn’t want to give this up until he had her all figured out…

(And, he wouldn’t admit it, but it was nice to be around someone that didn’t know who he was…who didn’t only want him for his looks or position, who wouldn’t use him.)

Her reactions, her ramblings, her habits and interests…they all fascinated him. It was starting to annoy him a little actually, that she crossed his mind so often even when they weren’t spending time together. Several times during the day, he had found himself wondering what she would think of certain things, or what she would do or say.

Time to back away, he’d thought. But he’d found himself heading to her place after work anyway. His delay in arrival had turned from one form of deliberate to another. He’d begun by intending to not go to her at all, but his instincts and subconscious had started the work for him. Upon realising that, he’d decided he might as well wait a while longer and see how she might react to him being later than usual.

And now, as he headed through the rather familiar house, he wondered what it would look like through his human eyes. What would it be like to stand among her things? Or next to her, in his other form? It would be a different view, most definitely, a literal whole other perspective. Could he learn more from her in this form, or the other? Maybe time would tell.

His steps carried him with bare whisper of sound into her bedroom, and his eyes immediately jumped towards the bed as the movements caught his attention. His tail flicked at the sight of recognition in her eyes, the welcoming look. She wasn’t sick of him yet, it seemed! She was glad to see him.

Relief, and the distant thought that she might (for some reason) change her mind, had him moving a little quicker over to the bed. He stopped at her words however, stillness overcoming him.

Waiting? Cold..?

If he had been in human form, he would have grinned, chuckled at her and given a few teasing words…but all he could do now was chuff in amusement before moving onto the bed. The heavy feline body shifted the weight on the mattress, causing a few dips. 

Oh, there was plenty of space alright. He could easily lie beside her and not touch her, or he could press against her side…Or, yes…he could do as he had the most fondness for (and what she correctly guessed he would do)…

He flopped on her.

Of course, he was careful not to crush or overwhelm her with his weight, but regardless…she now had a leopard blanket on her. And he purred. And since the woman clearly missed him so much, he started to bestow a great number of affectionate nuzzles to her face. And if she had truly been cold, she would definitely be warm now due to his excessive proximity. He was just so thoughtful and generous, wasn’t he?

The leopard chuffed several times, a reflection of laughter at his own thoughts and the reaction of the woman.

Ah, he really deserved something more for such kindness, and for the rather awful day he’d had. 

With a few movements, he managed to nudge his face under her hand in the hopes she would pet him there and perhaps even scratch around his ears. If she did so, then he would be a very pleased leopard indeed, and the moment would be perfect.

The relief he’d felt due to her happiness at seeing him was still surging strongly through him, and it was definitely the real cause of his affection. Being with her in the warm bed, close and petted, safe in the knowledge that she simply wanted him with her…well, that was something he didn’t want to give up either. 

With the matter decided, he relaxed further against her, his purr rumbling loudly through his chest and throat. Really. There was a beautiful woman petting him, one that he didn’t have to worry about. There was no way he wouldn’t have come.

So…perhaps his earlier thought of pulling back from her was a stupid one. And, selfish though it may be, he was going to continue with their routine.

[lachalaine]

GET TO KNOW THE BLOGGER.

Can be used for RP and non-RP blogs to get to know a bit about the person behind the screen!

1. FIRST NAME: J / Lady  2. STRANGE FACT ABOUT YOURSELF: I’m honestly such a severe worry wart that as soon as I get even the mildest thought of my loved ones potentially being in danger, I can’t get it out of my head. So I end up knocking on all the wood in the area, and step away a bit to focus on seeing them in my minds eyes, to imagine that they’re safe and healthy and have a little shield around them to keep them out of harms way, while also praying a lot for them in the back of my mind. I’ll be doing one thing but the reality is that my brain is still focused on the prayer.  In fact, I’ve been doing it consecutively for 3 days now because my dad was in the hospital the other day and now my brain is on overdrive from it and it’s actually such a strain on my focus that my head hurts. 

3. TOP THREE PHYSICAL THINGS YOU FIND ATTRACTIVE ON A PERSON: Eyes, hair, and smile tbh. I have a really bad weakness for curly haired guys tho, they’re always so cute 💕💕 4. A FOOD YOU COULD EAT FOREVER AND NOT GET BORED OF: CRAB. SHRIMP. LOBSTER. SCALLOP. SQUID.  5. A FOOD YOU HATE: Ampalaya aka Bitter Melon. 6. GUILTY PLEASURE: Having art made of Jackie???? In all the outfits ??? In all the designs??? In all the poses and styles ?? I love her so much, I will never let her go????? Because honestly speaking, idek how much I’ve spent having art made of her at this point in my life, but I’m 5 years in on this venture and I refuse to stop now!  It’s like $700 and counting. 7. WHAT DO YOU SLEEP IN: Shorts and  t-shirts. 8. SERIOUS RELATIONSHIPS OR FLINGS: Serious relationships. 9. IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN THE PAST AND CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WOULD YOU AND WHAT WOULD IT BE: I would go back to a very particular day just last week, where I accidentally moved my chair and tugged my brand new laptop down with it, where thankfully the laptop was safe, but now the charger is bent out of shape 🙃 The good news is: It still works! The bad news is: my OCD irritates me because I keep trying to fix it back straight and now I’m torn between the possibility of breaking it even further or just leaving it be. 🙃 10. ARE YOU AN AFFECTIONATE PERSON: Yes, yes and yes! I hug my friends and family and kiss them on the cheek sometimes and I hold their hands a lot and lean on them and I say I love you too much all the time but they love me too so its okie 💕💕 11. A MOVIE YOU COULD WATCH OVER AND OVER AGAIN: Rise of the Guardians. God, I love JACK FROST SO MUCH!!!  12. FAVORITE BOOK: Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman 13. YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP ANY ANIMAL AS A PET, WHAT DO YOU CHOOSE: Otters and Rabbits!!! They’re so cute! 14. TOP FIVE FICTIONAL SHIPS: Jackie x Chesh, Jackie x Razvan, Jackie x Kavik, Jackie x Kyrin, Jackie x Loke, basically Jackie x all of her ships with Momo’s muses! But also !! Tifa Lockheart x Cloud Strike and also Tifa Lockheart x Zack Fair :)  15. PIE OR CAKE: Cake 16. FAVORITE SCENT:  Lanvin Éclat d'Arpège and Victoria’s Secret Amber Romance  17. CELEBRITY CRUSH: HARRY STYLES !!!  18. IF YOU COULD TRAVEL ANYWHERE, WHERE WOULD YOU GO: London, again. But also Maldives and Paris.  19. INTROVERT OR EXTROVERT: Introvert  20. DO YOU SCARE EASILY: Yes, which is why I hate anything to do with ghosts or anything too genuinely horrifying. I tend to linger on the dread of such thoughts and can’t manage to sleep because I’m so scared, so I’d rather not ever have it cross my mind at all.  21. IPHONE OR ANDROID: iPhone. 22. DO YOU PLAY ANY VIDEO GAMES: Yeeees, I play Pokemon, Persona, Harvest Moon, Final Fantasy 14 and Ragnarok Online, and also 30 more games that are too long to list.  23. WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH A MILLION DOLLARS: Move to the states, get a house in LA, make sure my dad and mom are taken care of and then save the rest for a rainy day. But also treat myself with Seafood and Japanese food and also some more Jackie art 💕 24. FICTIONAL CHARACTER YOU HATE: It’s not so much the character that I hate, but I do despise the fanfiction narrative that the Female Warrior of Light in Final Fantasy 14 has to be a Mi’qote all the time. There are literally so many other races in that game, why the heck is the fandom always using the Miqo’te as their basis for the character, it’s so frustrating !! 25. FANDOM THAT YOU WERE ONCE A PART OF BUT AREN’T ANY LONGER: I started out in the K Project fandom, where I had Jackie set up as a OC in that verse. She was a part of HOMRA for a long while there, and then some crap went down in the fandom and I turned her fandomless. And the rest, as they say, is history ✨

Tagged: stolen ! Tagging: @aquoreus​ again hi ily 💕

[secrecykept]

@lachalaine 

Just a random, self-indulgent kinda thing of Kav and Mags in the Chesh/Jackie verse!

-----

The moment he sat down on his office chair and relaxed into it, but before he could even take a breath to center his mind and plan for the day ahead…his phone rang.

How typical.

He huffed as he snapped up the device, answering it with his usual disregard for manners.

“What.”

A laugh came through the line and drew forth a sigh from him.

“Mags,” he said, already raising his free hand to rub his temple in anticipation of the headache the woman was likely to bring him.

‘Mags’ as she was known, was many things. A fox. A witch. A great talent. A massive flirt. A morally questionable person. And she was key to a goldmine of information, she was his inside woman.

But mostly she was a giant pain in his ass.

“That’s me, Mr Alpha, Sir~!” She mocked the part of serious soldier, and he could just imagine her lazy salute. “Lieutenant Mags, reporting for duty.”

There was a pause and thoughtful hum from her before she added, “Or more like, doing my duty and reporting I guess.”

Kav rolled his eyes and inwardly asked the universe for patience. “…Uh huh. Well, go on then. Report.”

“How come you never give me a report, huh? I wanna know what’s going on with you.”

“Because you already know everything and I’m the Alpha, I don’t report to anyone.”

“That’s so boring though! Can’t you gimme any good details? I worry about you sometimes, y’big lug.”

He was almost, deep down, touched by her concern, but that fleeting feeling evaporated as she continued.

“I know you haven’t had sex in like, foreverrrrrr. I bet I could find someone real good for you-“

The predicted headache settled in the front of his skull and began to pound on it. His voice held a rough edge as he spoke. “That’s enough, Mags. Report.”

He heard her sigh before her voice came again, “Well…at five I went for a run, then I watered my plants, then I sharpened my knives, or maybe that was before but anyway, then I –“

He clenched his jaw and forced himself to release it, his breath huffing against the receiver. “Stop messing around already.”

“Alright, alright, grumpypants…” she said rather petulantly, sounding as if she might be pouting at the growl she’d been given, but he knew she’d be restraining herself from laughing. She went on, “Target One, also known as codename ‘He Can Hammer Me Like A Nail Anytime’ has been spending every chance he can get at the human’s house. He sneaks away for work and all, but it seems like it’s super rare that he’d ever miss spending the night with her. From what I can tell, she still has absolutely no clue that he’s a shifter.”

“Good…make sure it stays that way.” He frowned and adjusted his hold on the phone as he leaned back in his chair. “How the hell hasn’t she been suspicious yet…Does she really think he’s just a normal leopard?”

Mags hummed noncommittedly, the vocal equivalent of a shrug. “Maybe she just really loves big cats, and this is just a dream come true for her lonely, cat-loving soul, so she doesn’t think about it. But don’t worry too much, she’s pretty cool and they’re sweet together.”

He tapped his fingers on his desk and ignored the way his nails wanted to sharpen into claws. There were too many things that could go wrong. There were too many things that he didn’t know.

His hand shifted over to the closed laptop sitting on the desk and he tugged it a little closer, cracking it open and jabbing the power button. Might as well get some of the day’s work started.

“Yeah, well it won’t be sweet when SIAP kick down her door and fuck with her memories. And it won’t be sweet when he gets punished for being a security risk.”

“Hey now, chill out there, big kitty,” Mags soothed, “That’s what you’ve got me for. We’re not gonna let that happen.”

He scoffed and took a moment to punch in his password. “So who is she? What’s she like, huh? Must be something pretty special if he’s barely leaving her side.”

“Well, let’s see…She’s definitely not one of us, as far as I can tell there’s nothing like us in her family line. Her name is Jacqueline Dulcet, but she goes by Jackie. She’s half French. Lived in LA as a little kid, but they moved to the Philippines when she was six. Moved again when she was twelve. Went to an all-girls academy where she was a bit of a loner and struggled with the work for a while, according to records. Looks like she was some kinda sick for a while and then things picked up and she made a friend. Became a cheerleader during college…I wonder if she’s still all flexible. Do you reckon she’ll do a cheer for me sometime?”

He rolled his eyes and opened up a news site, skimming the headlines. “Stay focused.”

“Well, whatever. Anyway. She got a boring ol’ business degree when she was twenty but did the smart thing and made a much more fun career for herself with music! Though I gotta say there seems to be a weird dark patch in her life that I’ll have to try digging through later…but anyway, she’s a popular DJ! Even has a good little set up in her house for making her music, I’m itching to break in and have a look at all that pretty stuff.”

“Dark patch, huh?” He frowned, eyes drifting from the screen for a moment.

“She’s a pretty thing herself, did I mention that? A bit shorter than me but just as sexy.”

“What dark patch?”

“ – wonder if she’s straight. I wonder if she’d think I’m hot too. Maybe -”

That’s it, he thought. He’d lost her. Once Mags started on that train of thought, she was impossible to change track, there was nothing to do but accept he wouldn’t get an answer yet. It had happened so many times before, and often he suspected that she acted this way to avoid revealing what she knew, that perhaps she was waiting until she had a deeper knowledge before telling him, because she knew how impulsive he could be.

Honestly, just hearing that this ‘Jackie’ had a murky past at any point was enough to make him want to keep his brother as far away from her as possible, to go there right now and drag Chesh from the place. And maybe Mags regretted the mention of it, but it was better that he had even a little warning that there might be trouble ahead later.

He gave a simple annoyed grunt in response to her continued ramblings, and that seemed to be all she needed to keep going on her own tangent.

“- She’s got the most magic hair. It’s all purple and bits of pink and blue, and man, it must be a bitch to maintain, I admire her dedication to it, that’s for sure. Oh, and she’s a Sagittarius, and you know what that means.”

“No idea.”

“It means she’s a hot little adventurer! A fun time to be sure. Highly compatible with a wonderful Aries like myself, just so y’know. Good for our little Leo Chesh too. Damn, they’d be one hot couple, she is fiiiiiiiine.”

“You’d better stop drooling over her,” he warned dryly, “Sounds like you’re gonna fall for her too.”

“Good one, Kavi-cakes, but just you wait until you see her. I’m sending a detailed file to you now. Check it out.”

Beneath his annoyance and skepticism, curiosity began to bud and poke through. He opened his emails, and as soon as the new message (subject line: Look at this pretty lady!!) appeared in his inbox, he clicked into it and opened the attached document.

A series of images loaded in a banner at the top of the page, a gallery featuring a young woman (and occasionally a leopard accompanying her).

“Damn...” It slipped out before he could stop it.

She really was a pretty thing. She really did have magic looking hair. She really –

He hung up on the laugh in his ear and rubbed his face. 

Damn women.

After a steadying breath, he pulled his eyes back to the images on display and studied them. She seemed relaxed and happy in most of the pictures, especially those featuring her leopard companion too.

For some reason, Chesh had gotten attached to this woman, likely without even thinking about what might happen if things went wrong, while the woman herself may prove to be just as dangerous to him.

And all Kav could do was monitor the situation…

Or maybe not.

Once again, he snapped up his phone. Within a moment, he dialled.

“Mags. Get Chesh to come meet me.”

It was time to try talking some sense into him…

[secrecykept]

@lachalaine replied to your post “Layers of life: Every life touches another, everyone is connected to...”

Also Jackie feels for Clark, honestly sdfghjjj she wouldn’t be able to handle a clueless video call Chesh either sdghjk

djknfkd I feel for Clark too. Chesh is unintentionally the Worst. I’m sure there could be some times where Jackie has to deal with him like that :)

there could be some verses or things where Clark’s role is a little different. where he’s not an online friend, but a childhood friend, or a roommate or something, with the same bond and maybe the same crush trouble.

[secrecykept]

VERSE: Chesh & Jackie.02

aka. oops we got drunk and married

The concept (as of 15.07.19):

he wakes up in a hotel room, its a total mess and some woman (surprise, its Jackie) is asleep next to him. he kinda freaks out since he never sleeps with women, he tries to sneak out with his stuff. 

after checking his phone in the outer room, he can’t remember what happened the night before. but.....messages from his brother make one fact known.

he apparently got married.

he will have to try convince his new wife to hang around while they figure everything out.

key points:

he cant really remember what happened that night but it was fairly innocent really

he doesn’t remember her name or what she looks like at first

they’re gonna be stuck married for at least six months