Unable to find the two Cheshire brothers from where she stood, Meguri looked back to Nesea, those deep violet pools of eternity meeting the shining blue orbs with their slitted pupils. As an afterthought, while the Lamia shook her head and made that hair of hers fly about Meguri mused how the snake’s eyes had the beauty of a Mediterranean sea at noon. Perhaps this wasn’t surprising considering the Greek origin of Lamia and the Gorgons, but still enough to stop Meguri’s thoughts in their tracks and make her admire those brilliant orbs for a while.<br/><br/>“The shelter is a safe place.”<br/><br/>There was so much conviction in Nesea’s voice that it shook Meguri’s resolve, making it all the harder to deny the woman’s help when it was so obvious the Lamia cared deeply about the shelter and it’s residents. Blushing, the kitsune nodded to Nesea words and whispered a quiet thanks. She made note of the venom-bearing fangs, but didn’t comment as the Lamia relaxed once more. Meguri watched the woman look around pensively, and took the opportunity to eye Nesea more carefully. She had assumed the snake-woman had approached her with ulterior motives, but Meguri had sensed neither lies nor cruel intentions, leaving the kitsune wondering if Nesea really was as nice as she presented herself, if a little carefree.<br/><br/>Meguri raised her brows inquisitively when Nesea let out that deep sigh.<i>“The sleeping halls, but it’s only nine PM?”</i>the Kitsune asked inquisitively, having no idea that while the dining hall was a place to eat, it wasn’t really a place to relax and be by yourself if you wanted that. She cautiously followed Nesea through the hallways of the shelter, Whisper taking the time to speak up.<span style="color: DarkOrchid"> “You’re being rather rude, Meguri, trying to turn away offered help.”</span>The vulpine woman bit on her lower lip, and whispered back at the caged cat she was carrying around, unaware that Nesea had no issue overhearing the pair talking behind her.<i> “What if she’s a thief, just one of-"</i>Meguri already had the feeling the Lamia wasn’t, despite her words, but Whisper put the final nail in that possibility’s coffin.<span style="color: DarkOrchid">“A thief’s worst enemy is bad luck and a Cheshire cat has plenty of that to toss around if he’s taken against his will. Stop worrying, Meguri and relax. She’s a good person at heart, I can promise you that, you know.”</span><br/><i><br/>
“You’re just saying that because she offered you food.”</i>Meguri grumbled, but couldn’t dismiss the truth of Whisper’s words, though he seemed awfully intent on making her get along with their snake-tailed guide. Right at that point the trio spotted the young and slender Cheshire cat sitting at the entrance to the sleeping hall. The feline cheekily walked inside as Meguri called out Shade’s name, and quickened her step to catch him, running past Nesea only to stop dead in her tracks when she saw what lay beyond those double doors.<br/><br/>To the transhumans that stayed at Arthur’s Rest, the shelter was their home away from their real home beyond the barrier. It was not just a place to stay or rest, it was something to be cherished and held dear, and so they brought with them little pieces of their old home, and used them to decorate the place where they slept, talked and laughed. To someone used to the clinically clean environments that modern humanity so liked it must be like gazing into a sun. Glowing petals floated the air, filling the grand room with a warm, yellow haze. Brightly coloured banners and ribbons were tied to strings, chairs and beds. Potted plants glimmered with red little lights from beneath their leaves. All of it came together for a scene right out a fairytale.<br/><br/>The room itself was quite simple, a central area where most people were gathered; talking and laughing over a drink. Arrayed around that central circle was a maze of little rooms with beds separated by paper walls, foliage or whatever they could find to add some privacy. Stacked containers, painted in earthen and sky colours added both space and privacy for families to reside in as well as verticality to the room. Compared to the neat and orderly uptown sort of life Meguri knew, it was both chaos and absolutely breathtaking, stopping her dead in her tracks and leaving her gaping with her mouth open.<br/><br/>“N’seah!”<br/><br/>Padded feet hurried over to the trio at the door. A child no older than ten rushed over to greet the snake woman, her skin a soft grey, with black striped decorating her flanks and back, contrasting with long, pure white hair. Hands and feet furred paws like a cat’s, much like the triangular ears parting the girl’s hair. Tail raised high in her childish joy. A cat-woman hailing from western or Native American beast tribe myths, Meguri reasoned, the girl not looking like any eastern cat youkai she’d recognize like the common bakaneko. It wasn’t the young girl that drew Meguri’s attention however, but what she was clutching to her chest.<br/><br/>“Look N’seah! Kitty!”<br/><br/>Thin arms were wrapped tightly around the waist of a rather rotund Cheshire cat, bigger and heavier than his brothers by far. Not the brightest of the three, Mort smirked without a care at the two before him, not at all uncomfortable with the way he was being carried.<br/><br/><span style="color: Purple">“G’evening!”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: DarkOrchid">“You’re a cad, Mort…”</span>Whisper, well, whispered from his cage.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>