(open)

[happyends]

Who: Madoka, her new kitty (Maru/Sleepy Ash) and you!
When: Day 2 of Fiddlesticks
Where: Everywhere on the train
What: Madoka is very excited about her new cat. And also likely making very bad life decisions for herself here by making a contract with a vampire.
Warnings: Likely mentions of vampirism.

(note: threads will mostly be between madoka and your character, maru might randomly jump in to pipe up on some threads, you'll know if/when it happens!)

( a: dining carriage )

If you've seen Madoka going anywhere on the train since yesterday, you may have noticed something new about her. Namely the fact that she's dragging a tiny black cat with her everywhere she goes.

Right now she can be found with it in the dining carriage, where she's seated at the table not to eat, but to instead draw in her notebook. She keeps sneaking glances over at the cat as it's sleeping on the table next to her notebook though, and after a while Madoka can't take it and giggles as she gently boops his face with the not-sharp end of her pencil.

"So cute.. Who's the most adorable kitty around? It really is you..!" She's staring at the cat with so much endearment in her eyes, but that's the exact moment where she looks up and only then seems to notice you being there too. Madoka's face immediately grows pink with a blush.

"A--Ah, I'm sorry!" Because apparently she feels the need to apologize for gushing over her cat publically..

( b: near the on board shop )

Or you may spot Madoka near the on board train shop. Apparently she's been using it, since the girl's arms are loaded with way too many chips for one tiny teenage girl to eat. There's six different bags in her arms, and the tiny black cat is precariously balanced on top of her head. It seems to be going well.. until one of the bags of chips slips out of her hands, falling onto the ground.

"Ah..!"

The girl is trying to pick it up, but it's a difficult process with her arms this full and her not wanting to disturb the sleeping cat on top of her head.. Someone please help the poor girl instead of watching her attempt to bend down and pick it up only to fail.

( c: anywhere in the train! open to madoka's close cr! )
(if you're wondering if you're close cr, then the answer is probably yes.. but feel free to check with me on plurk or discord!)

After a while she figures though that she should probably at least tell some people about the true nature of her kitty. It's going to be really awkward if someone sees him transform and freaks out about it in the middle of battle.. So while carrying the cat in her arms, Madoka makes her way through the train to try and look for people she's close to.

When she finds one of them, she'll offer a small smile and say: "Um.. Sorry, but do you maybe have a moment for me..?"

Comments

b!

[unfavorableinstigation]

Nita happens to be passing by, and she deftly kneels down to pick up the fallen bag.

"Madoka? What are all these chips for?" she asks, glancing up - and catching notice of the cat.

"... I don't think cats eat potato chips, Madoka. But, ah, /Dai Stiho?/" she adds in greeting to him, catching a glimpse of yet another SCA on the animal.

Maybe he can eat chips?

[happyends]

"Oh..! Thank you so much!"

Nita may be doing something as simple as just picking up a bag, but Madoka gives her a wide-eyed puppy eye look that makes it seem more as if Nita just literally saved her life. She could've broken her back trying to pick that up!

"Um, I'm.. not sure if he can hear you though." She's assuming maybe that was some kind of animal speak? Madoka hasn't heard anything like it before. "He sleeps a lot of the time.. um, actually, he's slept most of the time so far when he isn't eating snacks." So yes, Nita is totally right in assuming that's what all these bags are for.

"But he does eat these! He's a very special cat!"

[unfavorableinstigation]

Nita just ends up nodding knowingly.

"That does sound like a cat."

If... special, as Madoka says.

"Want me to help you carry any of the other bags, then? Or just get the doors to wherever you're going..."

c

[pleple]

"I always have time for you, Madoka," she reassures her - even in the middle of eating, or exercising, or doing her job. Mostly, she's too efficient for a little interruption to matter anyways.

This actually sounds like it might be a little important, too.

[happyends]

That answer in particular actually makes her smile. It's not a huge surprise to hear that anymore from Ple Two at this point, but it's touching all the same.

Although she figures she probably shouldn't bask in that feeling of fond friendship for too long. She has a pretty important matter to discuss, after all - especially since Ple Two had seemed so worried about her and her protection before.

"Thank you. I just wanted to tell you about my new friend here." She holds out the cat a little. Its eyes are closed, and it's really hard to tell if it's asleep or not.. "This is Maru. I found him the other day on the platform, and, um.. well, it's kind of a long story.. but he's going to help protect me and help me fight better during missions."

.. yes, she is talking about that tiny cat.

[pleple]

Ple Two is happy to pass that feeling along to Madoka, but she turns to focus more fully on Madoka. And the cat. Just a normal... looking... little cat, right?

"I wouldn't mind the long story, actually," she decides a bit forcefully. What use is a cat in a dangerous situation and why?

c

[magicurls]

"I always do, Madoka," Mami answers, smoothing her cargo pants as she finishes her latest project: tending the grass. She looks up, a perplexed expression crossing her face.

"You have...a new friend?"

[happyends]

"Yes!"

Madoka still sounds slightly excited, since she's been unable to get rid of said excitement all day.. but it's a little more toned down when it comes to this talk with Mami. After all, of all people she has to explain this to, she figures it's going to sound the most sketchy to Mami. It hits a little too close to some things from back home in a way only the other girl would understand.

So she squats down next to the other, still holding the cat in her arms. Its eyes are closed, and it's kind of hard to tell whether it's asleep or not.

"But.. I have to tell you something about him." She looks at the grass as she says it before slowly turning her gaze back to Mami. "This is going to sound strange, but Mami-san.. Please don't get too shocked if I tell you, okay? I'm not about to say a bad thing!"

[magicurls]

That's exactly the wrong thing to say. Her eyes narrow in suspicion, and she curls the hand that holds her soul gem ring.

"...what is it, Madoka?"

She's trying to stay calm, she really is. But it worries her.

[really_sketchy]

"Madoka!"

Naminé had ventured out from her room in search of her friend almost immediately after finding the small bundle of fur left for her. She hadn't spoken to Madoka about it ahead of time but they've spoken about getting a pet for the train and after seeing pets as an option at the shop, Naminé couldn't help herself.

The kitten was smaller than most kittens and it fit in the pocket of her bright orange hoodie, popping its head out whenever Naminé rose her voice above her usual monotone.

"Oh!" She smiled when she spotted the black cat. "He's so cute. I have someone to introduce you too also."

[happyends]

"Oh.. Naminé?"

Madoka curiously looks over at the other girl the moment she hears that familiar voice. She can already kind of guess what this introduction is about, but the girl's face still lights up when she spots that cute tiny kitten head sticking out of Naminé's hoodie.

"Uwah, you got that cat after all..!" She does remember their talk about it. "Did you buy it from the shop? It's so cute!" Apparently Maru will have to share Madoka's attention here for a moment with another kitty..

[really_sketchy]

"I did. I asked for something cute and this is who they sent to me. I haven't given him a name yet." She had thought to name him Terra, after learning that her friend had walked from the train and vanished but the thought made her a little too sad.

"You got a new friend too?" She asked, her thoughts redirecting at the little black cat in Madoka's arms.

"He's very cute."

A

[runs_on_batteries]

Tony chuckled as Mady abruptly noticed him sitting there near her in the dining room. He'd been watching as his little girl came in and made such an obvious fuss over her new kitty with amusement. This was the first time she hadn't excitedly greeted him whenever their paths crossed and, of course, he forgave her for it immediately. So he'd waited and continued to sip on his coffee and munch on the muffin he'd made earlier.

He laughed when she finally spotted him and shook his head. He scooted down the bench closer to her. "It's fine, sweetheart. Who is this?" He reached across the table and held his hand near the black cat's face, letting it decide if he was permitted to pet it or not.

[sobothersome]

It was the boop that had woken him. But the hand that was thrust under his nose that made him lift his head.

One day he would bite the fingers that did that. Why would people just put their hands near strange animals faces? Human's would always confuse him.

He looked at Madoka to make sure this person was actually alright or some random stranger on the train.

[happyends]

At least her embarrassment quickly fades - maybe not entirely, but mostly! - at Tony's reaction. It's sweet enough to not make her fuss over it much, and to make up for the lack of greeting earlier, she moves to lean against him for a moment.

It's then that she notices Maru's reaction, and that makes her laugh in turn. The way he looks over at her is just so adorable.

"It's fine! This is my dad." Please let her dad pet you, okay... She uprights herself again to be able to give Tony a smile. "Dad, this is Maru. I found him on the platform yesterday.. he was all weak, so I took care of him. He can talk though."

Look, she knows it's not really a casual enough fact to slip in like that, but she figures it's important enough information to provide right off the bat.

[shutupnail]

Piccolo spent a majority of time in the Greenhouse Carriage now since it was quieter than the rock garden. That is, when he wasn't in the gym. He was there most evenings after a spar or two in the gym to continue his training in his usual fashion: by meditating.

He sat cross legged with his hands in his lap, positioned carefully. His eyes were closed but he felt Madoka enter the carriage on her way through anyway. Normally he didn't seek out others but today he was the one to call out to her first.

"Madoka," he said from the side of the carriage where he rested. "Over here."

[happyends]

"Huh?"

She seems surprised when she suddenly hears a voice calling out to her, although after a moment she realises whose voice it is. The girl's head turns to look in the direction of the source, the surprise lingering in her eyes when she sees his eyes are closed. Was he able to tell she was here despite not seeing her? Piccolo really is as amazing as she thought..

Carrying the small cat in her arms, she makes her way over to Piccolo.

"Mister Piccolo, thank you for greeting me..!" It's such a simple thing to go as far as thank someone for, but the smile on Madoka's face is very much genuine. "I'm glad to see you.. now you can meet my new friend!"

[shutupnail]

That got Piccolo to open his eyes. They immediately rested on the cat. He stared unblinkingly at it for a long, silent moment.

"...your new friend?" Piccolo asked Madoka. He sounded a little distracted though as he stared at the cat. He had an odd feeling about this.

D! AH HA HA HA HA

[badassfreakingoverlord]

"Dood!"

That was the exclamation of a Prinny who'd found loot! In this case, a bag. With it tucked under its flipper, the Prinny cheerfully sauntered through the hallway, intent on at last returning its new property to the garden car base.

you can't be stopped!!

[happyends]

At first Madoka doesn't think much of it. She's just making her way through the hallway, her kitty happily scooped up in her arms while she's walking. Sure, she does spot the Prinny, but she's seen the little penguin-y things around the train before! They're cute! And look, this one is even holding a bag! An orange.. bag...

...

Hold on a second!

"Ah--! Um..!" Oh god, how does she even politely address a Prinny. She quickly turns around, calling out to it. "S-Sir? M-M-Madam?! Mister Dood? Where did you find that bag?"

[badassfreakingoverlord]

The Prinny paused, wondering if it was being addressed.

"Mister Dood? What kind of a name is that, dood?"

Zetta's lack of self-awareness could extend to his minions as well...

Dining Carriage

[laurefindil]

Glorfindel is used to not being noticed when he walks into a room. And then suddenly noticed in that way only a six foot plus tall elf with long blond hair who glows can.

He smiled at her and indicated his tea cup. "Looking for more company?" he asked. "I see you already have a Most Adorable new friend," who was also wearing a wrist amulet, though much smaller than his own.

[happyends]

"A.. Ah, of course!"

Even if it might have been surprising to spot Glorfindel so suddenly - especially while she was doing something so embarrassing! - it's not as if Madoka minds company. And he seemed nice enough when they spoke before. So despite the blush colouring her cheeks, she nods at the elf with a smile.

"Please come sit with us! You can pet Maru too, if you want." Yes, she's still offering that to people despite knowing he's not exactly a regular cat. But he doesn't seem to mind it from her, so surely he'll be okay with other people getting a piece of the cute cat action!

A

[faithfulsupport]

Ignis is getting hungry and he knows that he has to start prepping for dinner soon. So he's headed to the kitchen when he sees a familiar head of pink hair. "Madoka darling." the advisor called softly, as to not startle her.

He saw the black fluffball on the table and smiled. He wanted to buy a black cat himself so he thinks maybe his daughter bought one since she does have so many points already. "Did you.." His voice cut off as Madoka started apologizing and he shook his head.

"It's quite alright. I wasn't aware you'd purchased yourself a cat." Really, it was fine with him because she looked happy and that's what he wanted his daughter to be.

[happyends]

Of course Ignis says it's alright - she didn't expect any different! Even though she looks a little embarrassed all the same to have been caught in the middle of cooing maybe a tad too much about her now kitty.. Still, Ignis isn't anywhere close to the worst possible person to see that, so there's only a faint blush on her cheeks when she turns to him. There's mostly just a smile.

"Oh.. no, papa, I didn't get him from the shop." Though she can easily see why he'd think that. Other people had been using their points to get pets, after all, and Madoka may have done the same if this situation hadn't come across her path..

"This is Maru. I found him on the platform yesterday.. He was all weak. He looked like he couldn't even move, so I ended up taking him on the train to get some food and rest."