[carpe] Closed to friends/family- It's that time again

[misborncat]

This time Asato was ready for it. The feelings of restlessness, of warmth, and of a desire to be around people was enough of a warning to send him out into the woods again. He was armed with his sword, blankets, a tent and enough supplies to last him a week just in case.

When he'd made camp, far away from everyone, it was already much too hot and he curled up on his blankets, shutting his eyes and curling up on himself.


It's spring and that means it's time for Asato and his heat. He'll be away from the Mansion for a little over a week and will not be friendly to strangers or people he doesn't totally trust.

Comments

[misborncat.livejournal.com]

It's embarrassing to admit it out loud to a Ribika and to mention it to a non-cat? Asato's only going to blush a bit and fold his ears back. It may be a fact of life, but that doesn't mean it's something he wants to share.

"I'm not contagious," he says. "I'm okay." If by okay one means 'running a fever and being more physically affectionate than is really called for when touched', then he's totally okay.

[silvereyedphage.livejournal.com]

"Is there anything that I might be able to do to help you feel more comfortable?" he asks, open, gentle. "I am a physician, a healer, in my world and I have tended several people in need, in this place."

[misborncat.livejournal.com]

"It ... It isn't a human illness," Asato hedges. "I will always be sick here in the spring because I'm Ribika."

[silvereyedphage.livejournal.com]

He raises one pale eyebrow, but doesn't otherwise react. "Ahh... so...you are in season, in a manner of speaking?" he asks, delicately. "There's no shame in that: humans, particularly the young adults, go through something very like it, in the springtime."

[misborncat.livejournal.com]

His ears, which were slightly lowered, vanish into his hair. "I haven't noticed any of the humans going through the same thing," he says, uncertain.

They didn't get fevers or feel this kind of pain that he's noticed.

[silvereyedphage.livejournal.com]

"It doesn't have the same symptoms, but young folk can get very restless and excitable in the spring, when their thoughts and feelings turn to love and all that goes with it," he says. "For some, it is so powerful, it can be like an illness."

[misborncat.livejournal.com]

Asato is still dubious. "It doesn't have anything to do with love," he says slowly. If that were the case, after all, he wouldn't be going through this. The one he loved wasn't here and Konoe wasn't his mate anyway so it was a moot point.

"It's ... just what happens to those without mates." Or understanding friends which Asato also lacked.

[silvereyedphage.livejournal.com]

"I see," he says. "I suppose animals have it easier than humans in that respect: their need to mate is not so wrapped up with their emotions. That isn't how it is with humans, sad to say."

[misborncat.livejournal.com]

That was not the best thing to say when Asato is already so wound up.

"I'm not an animal like you humans seem to think," he says sharply. "Because I look different and because I'm not human, that does not mean I'm a mindless beast." He normally wouldn't say anything like this, but his emotions are a raw nerve at the moment and he's hurting.

"If I had a mate, someone I loved, here with me then I wouldn't be sick because we would take care of each other," he goes on. "I do not though because I'm a cat and the one I love is mated to another and he isn't here. I'm alone. I do not have the ability to go and seek out another because I'm alone and because you humans think I'm some kind of creature. I'm not and I would like you to not say such things to my face again. I do not throw human weakness in your face, do I?"

His outburst proves to be a bit much at that though and, face pale, he wavers a bit on his feet before leaning heavily against a tree, putting a hand to his head.

[silvereyedphage.livejournal.com]

Muraki suppresses a glare, but looks away instead. "I was wrong to phrase this as I did, but I meant no malice in it," he says. "But you are not the only one who is without another of his kind here, and you were off the mark when you thought me a human."

The phage purrs in his mind, begging the chance to be manifested, but he shuts his ears to this suggestion. He might not have much for humans except as sources of energy, but for animals and animal-like beings, he has nothing but care, and this bothers him deeply.

[misborncat.livejournal.com]

Asato's ears flick and he leans a bit more against the tree behind him. "You have enough human in you to be welcomed and accepted," he says. "I can smell you and how you're different. That still doesn't give you permission to assume anything about me and my kind."

He's still hurting and upset. We're afraid you've rubbed a nerve there

[silvereyedphage.livejournal.com]

"It was wrong of me to assume that, and I ...beg your forgiveness," he says, with something close to a humble, even chastened tone.

[misborncat.livejournal.com]

His ears lower and Asato shakes his head. "No. I should... apologize. I shouldn't snap at you."

[silvereyedphage.livejournal.com]

"Mmm, it was rather abrupt, but I deserved a certain amount of chastisement for making such an unkind error," he admits. "You did me no harm."