ORIGIN - Desensitized

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Tranparency with slight distortion & limestone...

The surrounding area of Pisces were mostly consisting of clear waters that reflected of the light from the surrounding lanterns & the rest being of dull sandy looking limestone of the rocks. A two colour scheme... if Rina wishes to get technical.

It's odd, Rina still loves the beauty of clear beautiful water, loves how the first thing she saw & first with her own paws was this area's water. Yet nowadays it seems somewhat lackluster... it doesn't possess the same spark it once gave her, she has realized over her few cycles how much of a tight reign she has on her emotions, being calm in a lot of scenarios. She wonders if that's what it is perhaps?

No... she had excitement to things previously even while being collected, she keeps on forgetting that there is a difference between being composed & being outright emotionless.

Slowly lying down in a slight ungraceful manner beside the shore of the lagoon, slowly sighing in boredom, mulling over it for a bit. She does vaguely wonder if perhaps she has gotten too used to it so much it no longer provokes such a reaction anymore? Could be a possibility... there's a lot of situations & matters that one could get used to, perhaps just like a certain other wolf she knows, originally jumpy to a lot of things nowadays due to her trying, not that many things provoked that much of a reaction in a similar way to that certain someone now.

Hmm... Rina's eyes slightly droop while in deep thought.

Kin-Kin It is resolve that determines the value of your life.

Kin-Kin had wandered far since leaving her birthplace behind. well, at least, that's how it felt. in reality, the golden wolf had probably only ventured a tunnel's walk from Orion. She was limping, claw marks scattered over her formerly pristine body. It wasn't much, but it was enough to scar her pride. Kin-Kin had known since she left that she needed to train more. The little wounds that covered her were a new incentive.

Her light, whilst pretty, was useless in a fight. Useless! Kin-Kin hated to admit it, but she needed new magic. Or at least something. As good as she'd gotten at glowing in her last cycle, it didn't amount to much. What was the point in glowing when your pelt already shone gold? and likewise, what was the point in hiding in shadow when you were too bright to fade? Kin-Kin's frustrations ran through her mind one after the other.

Sighing, she plodded on, recognizing the area around as she did so. Kin-Kin hadn't often ventured from Orion, and so she didn't know her way around that well.

As she gazed around, the she-wolf made her way towards the lagoon in the centre of the pool, her throat dry and in need of a drink. Dropping her head down, she lapped up a few fervent gulps of fresh, clean water, before finally looking around. It was then she finally noticed a familiar figure seated nearby. Kin-Kin tipped her head to one side, her jaw falling open slightly. Forcing the limp from her step, she moved forward lithely, waving her tail and swinging her hips.

"Hey... It's been a while, hasn't it?" she drawled, a smile pulling at the corners of her lips. Kin-Kin had changed since then. Now, she was calm. She was never scared, or unsure. From cycles spent training, her sides rippled with muscle. Her ears perking up, Kin-Kin focused on the power held in her gem.

Within moments, her fur had lit up in a blaze of gold, just like it had way back then.

"Listen to me."

table by lisa

@Rinaotei

Continuing in her constant mulling to herself, Rina finds her eyes slipping shut, she allows for her body to relax slowly, in spite of her mind being somewhat restless in the confusion.

In the admidst of things she hears the quiet sounds of the rippling water, which allows her to relax a little more even if the scenery of the water doesn't provoke such a strong reaction to her now, the sounds it makes when flowing is still as wonderful as ever. With this revelation in her head along with the restlessness that has now minimized somewhat, she is on the verge of nodding off to sleep.

All of that cuts off when she hears someone speaking to her, she's half-asleep so she almost doesn't recognize the voice. Her ears perk straight up, her fur standing on end somewhat & quickly comes back up from her relaxed position to standing on defence somewhat, although she quickly stops & drops the defensive stance when her vision gets out of it's drowsy blur & focuses. Ah... speak of the devil it's Kin-Kin, she was right it has been a while, although she is looking rather roughed up, Rina vaguely wonders what happened, although her expression doesn't show it as she does find worry if that's perhaps a little invasive.

Shaking her head a little bit to properly get out of her drowsiness, she smiles back at her "Yeah, long time. You doing OK?" she asks out of courtesy & out of subtle concern of her cuts. Yes that's right like Rina thought in her earlier mulling Kin-Kin has improved on handling things, growing out of the milquetoast that she originally was when they first met, even then she was making attempts to grow out of it.

While in her deep thought once again she notices that Kin-Kin has used her spell to glow and just like the last time the bright gold light reflects a little of the water that's next to them, displaying quite a small pretty scenario of the reflection of light dancing on the surface of the water, yes... while the water on its own is something she has been used to seeing this scenario of these type of lights reflecting in this type of manner, it really is glamourous. Although paying attention to the water so openly is a little rude, so although it would be nice to see she keeps her eyes & attention on Kin-Kin, although the spark in her eyes is still shown a little.

@Kin-Kin

Kin-Kin It is resolve that determines the value of your life.

Coming to a halt mere feet away from one of the first friends she'd had as a pup, Kin-Kin slowly sat herself down, dropping her head to smooth the ruffled fur around her chest with her tongue. With a shrug of her shoulders, she let her cloak fall around her. It wasn't too big for her any more, not like it had been when they'd first met as pups. She didn't trip over it any more as she'd used to all that time ago, or over her enormous paws.

She dipped her head in an elegant nod, once again her calm smile bared pure white fangs. "I'm swell! As I'll ever be, anyhow. Have the caves treated you well?" she replied, truthfully. As she spoke, she carefully considered how she spoke and what she said. She'd grown, of course she had. But on the inside she was still that little golden pup. It felt so strange, seeing herself as being this different.

It felt... odd, to take on her usual antics with this wolf.But what made them any different? It was only the same friend she'd known all those cycles ago. Maybe that was the problem. Kin-Kin tended to come and go as she pleased, friends drifting in and out of her life as she saw fit. This was the first time Kin-Kin had encountered someone she'd met during her puppyhood.

As the light faded from her golden pelt, Kin-Kin wagged her tail and twitched her ears, meeting the other wolf's eyes and following her gaze towards the waterfall lagoon. Soon though, she returned her gaze to Rina. "Heh, heh... pretty nice here, ain't it?" Kin-Kin had only been her once, and that hadn't been such a serene day. From being attacked by a big black beast to almost getting into a fight with a cat... it had been a fun one, that was for sure. "Makes a nice change from Orion, that's for sure."

"Listen to me."

table by lisa

@Rinaotei

While watching Kin-Kin seat herself and make an attempt to smooth her fur, Rina finally seeing it's OK to relax once again slowly went to lie back down again. First shuffling a bit away from the lagoon shore somewhat as her momental leap up from not recognising Kin-Kin's voice right away has gotten her a little too close to it. Now that is done she's slowly sitting down herself, ducking her own head down, shifting her front paws forwards to stretch them out and to get herself into a lying down position finally moving her front paws to be cross pawed... there we go. Moving her head back up to pay attention to Kin-Kin again she too noticed as well how when she shrugged her shoulders that the cape around her wasn't as er... baggy if that's the way to say it, anymore for her which in Rina's eyes displays Kin-Kin with a little more grace than before. As at that time they met she does admit it did look pretty awkward for her to drag it around while having some problems with it.

Rinaotei proceeds to make her own response to Kin-Kin answer and her own question with a smile "Good to hear that things are 'swell'. Well... quite peaceful although a bit bland." expression changing to a more stoicness when speaking honestly about her issue with it. Rina herself has been somewhat wary to what she says for a long while, although could be considered occasionally polite to some she has gained some slight tendency to throw a couple of snarky quips. Although Rina is glad for her how much she has developed, still she wouldn't mind that Kin-Kin is the same on the inside as while she dislikes immature attitudes, even when they first met Rina didn't get struck of Kin-Kin being 'immature'.

Rina could understand on some level about that on the concept of bonds, being a fairly adventurous freedom lover and a introvert so she can understand on that level. Perhaps that's Rina's issue here right now her unending desire for adventure & new challenges makes old things cause her mood to be drained, unless it's nostalgic but she really needs a break from the constant adventures and rest. Still in a way seeing Kin-Kin again after seeing all those cycles is rather nostalgic in its own way.

As Kin-Kin's pulse of power that generated her light fades away Rina turns her head in the direction Kin-Kin is looking at. Even though it has gotten bland for it's still pretty nonetheless "Yeah it certainly is.". While listening to Kin-Kin's mention from it being a nice change to her birthplace "Hm, the atmospheres are fairly different I see what you mean." she quietly murmurs while continuing to look at the waterfall.

(Sorry for the late reply XD.)

@Kin-Kin

Kin-Kin It is resolve that determines the value of your life.

Sitting back on her haunches with her tail waving slowly, Kin-Kin watched her old friend's movements as they slowly lay down on the ground. Hm. Kin-Kin decided that she'd do the same. In a similar way she stretched out her paws, rocked her body forward... and then, plop. A little less than gracefully, Kin-Kin was sprawled on her belly with her tail waving in the air. She looked around, seemingly surprised by her own lack of grace in this situation.

She nodded, trying her best to seem graceful once more, although the fur along her spine had begun to rise in slight embarrassment. "Seems you've been the same, then," Kin-Kin said with a shrug. "...Odd." Kin-Kin thought, shrugging as she wondered why the caves had been so... quiet. She recalled that to her, the caves had simply seemed to... go quiet. And she'd heard others say the same. It was as though they'd simply been swallowed up, somehow.

Kin-Kin smirked slightly, nodding. "I've only been here once," she admitted. "And that was on... less than a good day." She gave a lopsided grin, as though it may or may not have been her fault.

"Heh, heh... I like it a lot better today."

"Listen to me."

table by lisa

@Rinaotei

Rina turns her head back to direct her vision to Kin-Kin, and with that she continues to silently watch Kin-Kin as she proceeds to lie down herself. Wow... quite a sloppy way to lie down she muses to herself. Then again Kin-Kin is covered in cuts and did just run over here so is probably tired. She should really cut her some slack mentioning something as minor as this outloud is just so... unnecessary and toxic! And with that Rina decided to leave that snarky thought in the back of her mind completely unsaid, nonetheless she always feels a slight self-hate whenever thoughts like these come along with some other bad habits. Although she tries to not show this frustration outwardly, must be composed at all times, who knows who's around to take advantage. Not to add at least Kin-Kin is trying.

Listening to Kin-Kin's words with her mention of Rina hasn't changed, that's good in a way she thinks as it seems like Kin-Kin hasn't noticed these said bad habits... yet it's also good for another reason "I suppose that's a good thing then, it means that I'm not carelessly molding myself to what someone else thinks I should be like." Change isn't bad still being easily influenced is also a little toxic it's not exactly bad to change but there is no rush even though Rina herself really hates to wait, unless the person in question is very toxic then change might be warranted then. "Huh? she murmurs in question as she sees that Kin-Kin is wondering something. Rina herself has slightly noticed the caves are getting quieter, Pisces is usually rather crowded now things seem rather empty. Rina has mixed thoughts about it, one she is concerned if there's some mysterious danger going on, on the other hand she likes having more space.

Listening to Kin-Kin she's been here before? Rina wonders if that was perhaps when she possibly was adventuring the other parts of the caves. Then she hears about how that event wasn't exactly the best "Something happen? it's alright if she doesn't want to answer although if Kin-Kin tries to beat around the bush to avoid answering instead of saying 'no' Rina will stop her to say she gets it, as she prefers for time to not be wasted.

"This place usually is crowded, but things have quieted down surprisingly. Well at least we won't have to worry about anyone sneaking up... Except for this yours-truly fool who got momentarily taken by surprise when you greeted me." Rina quips at herself, maybe she's losing her edge a little bit.

@Kin-Kin

Kin-Kin It is resolve that determines the value of your life.

Looking at the wolf opposite, Kin-Kin dropped her head to lap at some patches of ruffled fur on either side of her gem so that she could try and make herself feel a little less... worse for wear. Or at the very least, she could make herself seem as though nothing was wrong. In a way she'd gotten off rather lightly, as her recent fight had only left her with a few scratches and slightly wounded pride, but either way the wolf was wary of her own appearance. She didn't want to display weakness. Until the(admittedly rather shallow) wounds faded to scars and thus became trophies to her, she didn't want anyone noticing them.

Noticing the other wolf looking at her, Kin-Kin raised her head and spat out a couple of strands of golden fur. She nodded in agreement, her ears twitching to the sound of their voice. "Best stance to take," Kin-Kin replied, taking the focus away from her wounds. "I ain't listening to anyone either. Not even if they tried to make me into someone. Oh-no. I only listen to myself now!" Kin-Kin puffed out her chest in pride as she once again recited the logic that had gotten her here in the first place. To being confident, strong, and flirtatious. She loved herself!

"Because this is who I wanna be. I'll only be that... never afraid or sad. Those things pull me down. They're not what I wanna be."

A broad smile raised the golden wolf's lips. She'd never really gotten the chance to boast about this before, of all the things. But Kin-Kin felt that this was, indeed, something to bost about. In her eyes, the one she'd made herself into was something she'd truly accomplished.

She was roused from her thoughts by Rina's question, and hastily brought herself back to their earlier conversation. "There was... Some kind of creature here. It was flying and screeching, and... looking for someone. Wasn't very fun." Kin-Kin remembered those awful noises with a shiver running down her spine, with a look on her face like they were simply an unwelcome houseguest rather than the monster she remembered. "I wonder where it's gotten to now...

Kin-Kin chuckled again. "Well, I am rather dashing... That'd surprise anyone, right?"

There it was. Her new and usual self, finally poking through.

"Listen to me."

table by lisa

@Rinaotei

Continuing to watch over Kin-Kin as she begun to present herself a little better with the groom of her fur, sadly for Kin-Kin even though Rina never mentioned anything about her cuts as Kin-Kin didn't seem to want to talk about them thus wasn't going to push the matter, Rina very much so noticed them. It is understandable to be wary about displaying weakness as long as they don't attempt to rather strongly display that they are OK to the point of exerting themselves as that can be a weakness itself, thankfully Kin-Kin isn't doing that. Still the humidity may not be helping those wounds, as she looked back at the water of the lagoon and lifting one of her paws up and sets it below her chin, resting the chin on that particular paw while Rina is in her thoughts about something... Would it work? This place is filled with water so it may not make a difference on the humidity, although it will be subtle enough that Kin-Kin may not notice. Well.. let's make an attempt she supposes... placing her paw back down tensing a little bit & closing her eyes, clearing her mind of all thoughts besides her focus on the gem indented on her forehead, in doing so she senses and feels the mysterious Magicka that flows throughout her veins with her gem being the source of all of it. With her full focus on the gem the energy begins to flow over and now is for her to attempt to cast her spell at last.

...

Well... she can't feel the usual of the water around her sticking to her coat, opening her eyes back up and seeing her attempt looks like it was a dud... she wonders if her reaction was too hasty as it usually is with her. She sighs softly, may make an another attempt perhaps and with that she relaxes again.

Deciding to go back to the topic at hand she has with Kin-Kin now turning her head back to her while after giving the trendrils of fur that have been shedded a quick glance. Listening on to Kin-Kin's speech on only listening to herself now, she is glad although hopes she isn't getting ahead of herself, closing her eyes she responds "Is that how it is huh? Well... let's just hope that some of the things you say to yourself aren't misguided or unprincipled, that aside fire away with that." she murmurs in response with a tinge of sarcasm in her tone that changes back to something serene and sincere with her eyes back open and fanning one of her paws in gesture when she tells her she can 'fire away'. Kin-Kin certainly did seem quite confident on how far she has gotten by using this method of thinking, well she can't argue she is sorta similar in a way, anyone who has the gall to deprive her of her freedom does not have a rather nice time with Rina.

Continuing to listen to Kin-Kin with Rina now perking her ears up to hear more clearly with how Kin-Kin wants to be who she wants to be with the mention of trying her best to avert feeling sadness & fear, sounds like she likes to be someone who is optimistic constrasting her stoicism. Rina's brows then begun to etch with thought well... Kin-Kin likes the idea of who she wants to be as long as she doesn't get tempermental Rina is cool with it, not to add she agrees on how sadness will just drag one down.

Something was here in hunt of something once? Well... that's new. Rina wonders why this area is a little empty and is just seriously out of date with information here. Hmmmm... with this something a little sadistic comes to Rina's mind. Still... perhaps Kin-Kin needs a test.

"Who knows where it could be, I mean this lagoon here is rather large in size, anything no matter how big it is can easily hide in it, a good place for lurking and then giving an unexpected strike..." She says in a neutral tone but slowly dragging her words out like it was nothing, as always Rina is wary to potential attacks, but she also says this because really... She's very curious to Kin-Kin's reaction to this statement Rina just made, if she remains her cool then kudos she is living up to her new nature, if not well the reaction will be rather amusing to see befitting her somewhat dark sense of humour. With that statement out of the way she continues on "Well that's one of way of looking at it yeah." it was quite a dashing thing to take a observent wolf by surprise when their coat colour rather constrasts brightly like neon pink would to this bland colour scheme of a surrounding, still let's see if Rina's statement plagues Kin-Kin's mind...

@Kin-Kin

Kin-Kin tipped her head to one side, focusing on Rina's voice for a moment. Was that sarcasm? the wolf seemed quick to correct however, and Kin-Kin didn't mention the thoughts that crossed her mind, even though her twitching ears might have betrayed that something was off. "It's better to overestimate yourself than never know what you can do," she pointed out with a shrug, swishing her tail from side to side. "I'd rather die than live a life in hiding! And from myself, that'd be just... shameful. But I'm me. I know myself better than anyone else." Mid-speech, Kin-Kin shot to her paws, her eyes ablaze and filled with determination.

Not exactly modest, perhaps even immodest. But Kin-Kin knew what she was talking about. As a scared and cowardly pup, she'd never felt truly happy. But she'd gone out of her way to be who she wanted to be, and become ever stronger.

She made her own happiness, and it came from within herself.

Her ear twitched softly to Rina's voice. She was still at first, then her face slowly curved into a grin.
"Hm-hm. I'd like to see them try," Kin-Kin chuckled. She'd won one fight before, and although she'd resolved to keep training, as it had left a couple of... less savoury... marks on her pride, she was left with the glowing feeling of victory. "I have a few new tricks up my sleeve."

The golden wolf's chest puffed out, and she eyed the other wolf with a gaze that just begged questions.

"Uh-huh. And one way of looking at me."

Smooth as ever. Kin-Kin laughed softly at her own wit.

words: 273
tagged: @Rinaotei
ooc: Sorry it took so long!
muse: Pretty good!

"Talking looks like this!"
Thinking looks like this...

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