dualislogs | kitty at my foot and i wanna touch it.

kitty at my foot and i wanna touch it.

WHO: Open to all residents
WHAT: Your regularly scheduled NAPs event for the month
WHERE: The RoCocoa Cat Cafe
WHEN: Aug. 10-14
WARNINGS: Please use these if applicable!

Look at all of these bright, shining new faces! There’s even a few less bright, less shining faces, but hey, this city welcomes all types. Chances are, if you’ve just arrived, you're seeing some pretty crazy things, unless you're used to an eye-blinding amount of neon, robots, weird-ass technology, magic, and an omnipresent police force...and hey, if you are, congrats, you're gonna settle in juuuuust fine. But for the rest of you, the Head knows this has gotta be pretty overwhelming, right?

Well, since your quaint individual processing units are probably having a hard time, why not link up with another one? By which the Head means...

Hello, new citizens of Dualis,
and welcome to your monthly Network Adjacency Protocol~!

NAPs are a monthly community networking event similar to the Earth concept of speed dating! Two citizens (new arrivals and old hands alike) are placed at a table together with a handy cue card of queries to help break the proverbial ice. Ask queries and receive results, or ignore the card and yeet yourself straight into a brand new friendship! But don't be too shy, you've only got ten minutes together, and if you just sit in silence for the whole ten, the Network Admins are likely to come supervise and try to repair the uplink through a mild shock to the ol' central nervous system. You might find yourself saying all sorts of unintended facts about yourself if that happens...probably better to just make friends, right? Who doesn’t like friends?!

This month’s event is held at the brand new RoCocoa Cat Cafe, a sparkly new establishment that caters to children and the young at heart with iced and hot cocoa drinks of all kinds, delicious pastries, age-appropriate live music, and of course many friendly kitties who love to lounge in laps. The cats are of all shapes, sizes, and colors, including some who may look a little different from what you expect, or may look like an ordinary cat but are actually anything but ordinary underneath that adorable fur coat. All cats in the cafe are adoptable, too, if you meet a new furry friend and just can’t bear to go home without them!

So pull up a chair, get to know your new neighbors, and enjoy a sugary treat or two with the resident furbabies. You might just meet your new two- or four-legged best friend!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Oh, come on."

Rinoa manages to come to a stop without swaying too much. It's clear with how she's been eying the ground that she probably hasn't been paying a lot of attention to where she's going. But she can't help it, okay.

"That's unfair. At the inauguration, there weren't cats all over the place. I don't wanna step on them!" But when she looks up to Nida, she's all smiles. "Hi."

“I don’t know. You sure picked up the lion cub fast enough,” he immediately teases. And she’s been graceful through it too, in spite of the two of them bumping into Nida and his own dance partner.

But she doesn’t need to know, nor does Squall for that matter, that he had front row tickets to that. He’ll save her childish tongue sticking out for another day.

“Flow with the cats. Move when they move. It is it’s own kind of dance.”

Rinoa takes a moment or two to simply stare at Nida and then she starts laughing. She wants to say he's kidding and maybe he is, but... What if he's not?

"I have nothing against alien cats, but I'm not dancing with them," she chortles.

Taking a moment to look around, she turns her gaze back onto Nida. "Do you want some cocoa? I can get you some, or you can have mine. I'm not so attached to it that I wouldn't give it to a friend."

"I'll pass on cocoa. I made my caffeine addiction worse after eight months in Deling City, and having the chance at it again has only made it worse," Nida smiles, but he is grateful of the offer. And he smiles warmly at Rinoa as he gently nudges a cat away form her feet with a foot. Means that the thing is now playing with the laces of his combat boots, but he doesn't care.

"So... About your new roommate."

Rinoa can think of several reasons to have a caffeine addiction in Deling City. Well, no. She can think of one really good reason, though. As such, she wears something of a tight-lipped smile before she indulges in a long drink from her cocoa. Because that will obviously solve every daddy issue in the world.

Her gaze drops when she notes his foot and her expression looks a little more appreciative. She brightens when he begins on what could potentially be an ominous note. "You mean Billy, right? He's really nice. Although he acted a little strange when we first met. Like maybe he was expecting something different other than me?"

She hasn't quite crossed that bridge with her new roommate yet.

Nor is Nida about to cross that bridge for her. That's Billy's to choose to tell or not. Which is sad, because Nida is pretty sure Billy looked to Rinoa as much for advice on things like magic as Nida looked to her for advice on relationships. And with his magic somewhat back, he might want someone to talk to.

"I've told him a bit about you," Nida decides is the best way to approach this. "He's my... well, he's... We're together. That's what I wanted to say. So, uh, don't be surprised if sometimes you show up to your room and I'm there talking with him. Or training him in combat. Or just flirting."

...Why is he being so awkward about it? He manages to get it all out in his odd Nida-like way and for many moments, Rinoa spends more time trying to figure out why he had so much trouble saying it to being with than she spends actually mulling over the what.

"Are you embarrassed?" she asks him with a sudden grin as she reaches over and noogies Nida in the arm. "That's cute! He's cute. Super cute. You have good taste." She nods in a rather matter-of-fact fashion. "But then, he does too. I'll try not to intrude on Cuddle Time too much then."

Yes. Yes he is embarrassed. And the whole throwing around of the 'c' word has Nida blushing, which is not an easy thing to manage. Congratulations Rinoa.

Of course he can't tell her that her very presence in Billy's room sort of killed cuddle time. It's one thing to share a bed with your boyfriend to avoid nightmares when he's rooming alone. It's another when the woman you see as like a sister is sharing his room.

"Uh, thanks. We'll keep it tame."

Oh. He's precious. But it's not like she doesn't get equally embarrassed when anyone talks about her and Squall. Maybe if it's the harmless teasing kind of thing. Maybe. But when it becomes a serious conversation...? No. She can relate.

She blinks and then she laughs as she colours. "Oh, untame it all you want," she manages to say through some giggling, because really, what does Rinoa know about the details of intimacy minus incredibly intense makeout sessions? "Just, you know, give me a sign? I don't wanna interrupt that." And she's sure he doesn't want her to either.

Don't worry, Rinoa, this is a special power only you have. He blushes harder at 'untame'. And doesn't even know how to respond to that. Just stares at her. Why is this his life? Again?

"Oh Hyne above, please don't say that?"

By which he means 'untame' and 'give me a sign'. Because frankly, he doesn't think he wants anyone to know what he and Billy are up to. Why is this now a thing? Again? His fingers reach up to card through his hair and he looks away from her.

"Seriously, that's like hearing a sister say that, and wow is that uncomfortable."

"I'm not asking for details!"

Rinoa practically flushes to the roots of her hair. Look, she's trying to be super inconspicuous about this and Nida is not helping. Doesn't he know discretion? Lifting a hand, she takes a moment to hide behind its palm in order to put herself back together.

"I'm just saying. You guys are A Thing. It's pretty obvious you'll want to spend time together. Common sense tells me you're not always going to want to go outside for dates or have him come to your place. Maybe you'll want to make a nice cosy dinner for two in ours, right? So you know, speak up. Otherwise, you're getting a third tag-along and that might be weird for all of us."

"Squall might be a bit upset if I brought my boyfriend back to our room to... be untame," Nida groans. Geez, this is just an awkward conversation. Made worse by the fact that Rinoa doesn't even know how uncomfortable Nida is around Squall.

But she isn't wrong about the cozy dinner. Just, well, Nida couldn't cook very well so that should be safe.

"Thanks. I just though I should warn you. And probably stop using your window to get in."

"Let him be upset? It's not like he has to pick up after you guys. Gives him an excuse to go on a date with me. See, everyone's happy." Except probably Squall because when is he ever happy? (The right answer to this is 'none of your business.')

Rinoa indulges in a long drink from her cocoa and she about chokes on it when Nida continues. As she puts herself back together, she cocks an eyebrow at him. "...Is there a reason you're not using a door like a normal person? This isn't a SeeD mission, you know. Wait—" Her tone suddenly lowers as she casts a look around, "—are you guys hiding your relationship?" As in, did she make a big oopsie by talking about it so openly?

Oh dear Hyne, Nida can't help but chuckle. Yeah, he could see the idea of getting to have a night in with Billy if it got Squall out on a date.

"Are you using me like a pseudo-wingman, Rin? I admit, I approve."

But then she has to run the wrong assumption, and Nida quickly dismisses the concern with a shake of his head.

"No, we're not hiding anything. It's the doors. The biolocks. The windows don't have that. I'm trained in getting into places I'm not supposed to be, so it's been a way for me to head up to his room without stairs or having to wake him out of his bed if I get in late. Especially given our room is right below yours. Trust me, we're obvious and terribly sappy."

"Kind... of?" Rinoa laughs a little sheepishly. She even turns pink. "I figure if we can both get something out of it, why not take advantage of the situation." After a moment's consideration, she continues, as if the idea has only suddenly occurred to her. "We can even go on group dates. That sounds like fun, if we could find something we'd all like to do." The difficult thing, however, is going to find something that Squall likes, because... Well. He's not an easy guy to please.

As Nida clarifies the nuances of his relationship with Billy, Rinoa goes back to being all ears. Raising her eyebrows, she nods slowly. "I see... Before I arrived, then, it sounds like you were visiting him often. He sounded happy to have a roommate, but I wonder if that's just causing more trouble." For a beat, and one only, she frowns, but it's quickly replaced by a smile. "All the same, I'll try not to change things up too much for you two."

"Bowling," Nida grins. He doesn't care if Squall likes it or not. Trying to talk him into the bowling shoes would be a beautiful thing.

But her concern? No, that isn't needed. Nida smiles.

"Rin, it's okay. I... have trouble sleeping. I sleep better when I'm not alone. I trade between his room, mine, and... well, another person's."

It isn't his place to out Seifer's presence.

"Bowling?" Just like that? It's almost like Nida's been trying to make this happen, or at least that he's given it a lot of thought. Rinoa suspects that there aren't many people with the same sway she has over Squall. "Well, if that's what you want. I'm sure I can convince him to make a double date out of it." All she has to do is give him her best pout, right?

Nida continues and her turning thoughts of how to persuade a very standoffish Squall are momentarily put on pause. Her expression softens a bit at his admission. She's not sure she's terribly different. It's nice to sleep with another body, furry or not. Makes her miss Angelo a bit, actually. And she suspects she likes sleeping with Squall when she gets the chance more than he might like sleeping with her. Not... that she's inclined to ask.

"Well... We'll find a way to make it all work out, alrighty? You can come have a sleepover with us anytime."

Honestly? Nida hasn't attempted to connect with Squall at all. The man reminds him of some of his relatively recent history, and it hurts. But for Rinoa? Oh, for her, he's willing to try. Especially since he knows that Billy likes Rinoa. But a double date? Yeah, maybe he wants one of those, mostly because he could stand to have some examples from Rinoa's lead. Six months and he feels like he's missing things, things a boyfriend should do.

"Rin..." Nida says, unable to keep the soft fondness from his voice. She's willing to let him still come over for something like that? Hyne. "I really would like to give you a hug right now. Can I please?"

At first she doesn't respond. Mostly because she doesn't... really know how to. It's not every day that someone asks if they can hug her. And Rinoa being Rinoa doesn't even normally ask. Maybe it's because Nida's respecting that she's not necessarily the Rinoa he knew before.

She finds herself wondering if he would have asked That Rinoa, too. Or... if she's a special case.

Her smile grows and she opens her arms wide for him. "Make sure it's a nice and big one!"

When they first started to connect? Yeah, Nida would have asked. They got to the point where it was better and easier. But this is starting from the beginning all over again. The wide open arms, though, that makes him smile. And he moves forward to give her a nice big one. Not a spinning her around one, but still a hug.

"This good enough?"

It's nice.

Rinoa doesn't remember having a lot of hugs in her history. Maybe like most of them back home, she would have been better off having more of them. For some moments, Rinoa indulges. Hugging Nida, she feels safe. Like maybe things here won't be so terrible. It's something of a childish thought and it's a little embarrassing, but true nonetheless.

Issuing a sigh, she presses her face into his shoulder and her words come out muffled against him. "Mmphmm," she confirms with a subtle nod. "You're a good hugger. You can hug me anytime."

Well, Nida did learn all about giving good hugs from a woman who had given them to him. Only fair he returns the favor.

"I might take you up on that," Nida admits, still holding her tight. Tight is better. It's safe. She deserves safe. And after a bit he lets go and moves away. "I think you boyfriend should have first dibs on that service, though."

She is, in fact, crowned best hugger, thank you.

Begrudgingly, she releases him when he seeks some kind of freedom. Rinoa grins as she pieces herself back together. "Oh, he can have hugs anytime, too. Squall's not super huggy, though. I'm determined to change that!"

Or she's going to make Squall so tired of hugs that he's going to try to find places to hide.

"I wish you all the luck," Nida says, and he genuinely means it. Squall deserves that happiness and warmth. "Give him hugs all the time."

"W-well," Rinoa begins with something of a shy little grin. "I can't hug him all the time. We have jobs and stuff, after all. But I'll hug him a lot. Whenever he's cool with it anyway."

Come to think of it, he's been surprisingly forward with her since she's arrived. Something must have really got to him while they were apart... She'd ask, but she imagines Squall's as much a mystery to Nida as he is to her still.

Besides, they don't seem to be on particularly positive terms. At least, not as positive as she'd like them to be.

kitty at my foot and i wanna touch it.

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Thanks for the thread <3