What a pleasure, my shadow

[tigs]

Wide eyes scanned the surroundings with impressive precise movements, calculating exactly the inhabitants of the area, and choosing a spot most secluded. He'd had his hunt for the night, and had protected it from any others who would wish to take it from him. He was unsure about his abilities, his mental state, his place in society. Were they all really out to get the weak ones? He would not be seen weak. In fact, his slight nervous paranoia made him strong. Strong in the way that a cornered prey is strong. Strong with hysteria and the need to defend oneself. He didn't like feeling trapped, that was for sure.

Long, fair of build, canine form stretched languidly, his ears the only indicators that he was constantly alert. His tail twitched on occasion, but for the most part, he seemed at peace. Curled in the shadows, only the bright neon green of his shoulders, and electric yellow markings were visible beyond the cloak of ebony he wore. He was proper, despite having nervous tendencies moreso than most, he still kept his fur at it's prime lovelyness, and made sure he had his share of meal to keep the muscle in his form.

Paranoid did not necessarily mean unstable of mind, not for him. Well... not completely unstable anyway. It wasn't anytime soon he figured he'd be going mad. He was just as logical as any other, simple more... careful. It was better to be safe than sorry, was it not? He locked himself in his mind for a while, convincing himself that he was just fine with the way he was, and that there were plenty benefits. But, this little soothing world was shaken by the sound of approach. Not in his particular direction, but they could spot him any moment. Better to have the upper hand.

He stepped out boldly and surveyed the area... "Hello?" He questioned to the night.

[Rhayeqasr]

She was unsure of whether the creature was talking to her or not. She had been nibbling on her catch of the day when he came near. She had hiden herself in a garden, which was slowly dying as winter approached. She had to think of whether or not to revel herself to the stranger. She know not whether he was friendly, horrifying, and for all she knew, he was a maniac. Best not to anger him, best to show herself, maybe he'll go easy on her.

"Hello?" Her voice trembling with fear. No, she must be brave. "Please, kind sir, don't kill me." Her eyes were closed, as if preparing herself for when the creature attacks.

Under her layers of fur, she was trembling. This creature was bigger than she, and she was not the boldest of creatures, being a paraniod herself.

[tigs]

The femme who was cautiously submitting before him looked very familiar... oh yes! They seemed to have the same general look, was she a paranoid as well? How comforting that would be. But, best not to jump to conclusions, could she be mocking him, with her coat so alike? Well, he didn't know how dye would work that way, so he was betting that it was genuine. But why bother with such silly hypothesis?

Her question mimicked his own and he stood casually, mucles relaxed, looking in no way frightening. But she was afraid, wasn't he the one who was supposed to be afraid of strangers? This was certainly interesting.

"Kill you? Now why would I want to do that?" As crude on genders as it sounded- he wasn't afraid of her killing him, then again he was also larger. However, he couldn't fathom why he'd want to kill her. He didn't even like to fight, he only fought out of self-defense. A small lazy smile spread across his face, and he looked social, despite his ears still testing the surrounding, quicker now, in case it was a trap and she had backup somewhere...

"So, I promise not to kill you, and hopefully you don't have any nasty surprises in mind for me, hm?" He questioned, with a slight bit of amusement, though his tail tensed at the faded scent of another somewhere in the distance. He was still not sure how to handle the femme, and so innerly he was very on edge. Perhaps it would be good to get on more pleasant conversation?

"I'm Arukaen, puppeteer with no others currently." He admitted, then kicked himself for letting her know he was completely alone. Damn.

[Rhayeqasr]

"I'm..." Was giving him her name wise? What would he do with, what if he was a stalker, what if he were a liar, he's not alone! He's a gang of friends hiding somewhere, giggling at her, mocking her. Her mouth moved without control "Rykeabi." Was he posessing her? Was he some sort of demon, forcing her to speak?

"I... I have no...no 'surprises.' I thought you were the one with surprises," She was not sure what he meant by surprises, and hoped he did not find her to sound unintelligent for using the word 'surprise' one too many times. Her tail twiched and she sat uncomfortably on the ground. "So where is your friend, the one hiding in that shadow?" She gestured to the shadow, it was the shade of a small tree. It may be hard for a rat to hid in the shadow, much less anything else. "Hmm?"

She tried hard not to ask more questions. Crazy accusations ran through her mind, and she constantly hushed them, in fear he had some power to read her mind. She went hot when she realized... he was laughing at her. He thought she was funny, both him and his friends hiding in shadows.

[tigs]

He nodded his head, once, to show that he aknowledged her giving her name to him. She'd seemed reluctant, but then had somehow opened up. Odd, but who was he to pick apart the quirks of others? When he had so many of his own. "Nice name." He commented quietly, as if there were things sleeping nearby hidden in his shadows that he dare not wake. Perhaps there was, it was so dark you could hardly tell.

"Me? If I had surprises, I'd be a lot more confident. But no... what you see is what there is. So now that we've established that we're both not looking for trouble, I'll stop being so paranoid." He almost laughed aloud at his own pun, but setlled for a small grin. His tail caught the breeze and twitched violently, his ears going flat. Okay, so maybe he was still a little paranoid, after all, what would she be doing alone? Wandering about so submissively, she was just prey waiting to happen. Then again, he'd been alone, too.

"My friend? I know of no others. Only my own shadow." He said, curling into his own projected darkness and then moving further from his hiding corner. He realized that not much could have hidden in that shadow and wondered if this femme was of normal mental state? "You seem a little on edge... are you alright?" His question came out without meaning to and he ducked, suddenly feeling quite rude. "I'm sorry, that was rude of me to ask."

The blush caught him off guard and he dipped his head, hiding a blush of his own. He'd made her uncomfortable, hadn't he? He never knew how to act around others, but at least he tried. He didn't know what to say, his mouth opened and closed without sound, and he shook his head. "It seems I've offended you, again I'm sorry." He seemed to be doing a lot of apologising, but he didn't want the femme to leave on a bad note.

[Rhayeqasr]

She covered her nose with a paw, as if hiding from her company. She sat for a moment, thinking the situation over. He had seen through her, as many do. They ask her the same questions 'Are you insane?' But he was much more... polite, and she was grateful for that, for she has expected a similar question. She searched for words, so many questions to answer, she didn't want to make herself sound even more unintelligent than she already did.

"Are you a paranoid as well?" Wrong question. Now he knows for certian that she's crazy, and if he wasn't, well she'd be plainly embarassed. Her paw went back to hiding her face. However, he did say that he'd stop being so paranoid, perhaps he was like her? So maybe, maybe she was overreacting?

She wanted to say the perfect something that will tell him that she was not offended, only embarassed and shy. And would also apologize for accusing him of hiding friends to make fun of her. "It was not rude, most everyone asks me the same question, you just said it in a more friendly manner." Her paw was back on the ground and she watched her claw scribble in the dirt.

She felt she had more to explain to him, but could not think of anything else to say. She wasn't much of a talker. Perhaps she should make friendly conversation, but what do two strangers talk about... other than the weather? "Nice weather we're having, eh?" Now he'll really think she's strange, after accusing him of outrageous crimes, she now wants to talk about weather? Wrong move.

[tigs]

The question hit him with somewhat of surprise. As well? So, she really was like him? He'd hoped he'd been right, and now everything made sense. He smiled despite himself and nodded his head a little quickly. "Yes, yes I am, in fact! I'd had my suspicions... I'm glad I was right about you being the same." He was still nodding his head rapidly and it took him a moment to calm down. When he finally did, however, he took to analyzing her carefully. He wasn't as bad as she... but being male, he had somewhat of less worries. Rape, for instance, was not likely to befall him. But she had an alluring innocence which could call upon more... predatory types who would use her for their will.

He frowned gently and shifted his hind legs, rocking back on them once and deciding on something. "Would you mind if I stayed with you? To look after you, we can walk about together." He said, as if convincing himself that it was perfect, and that she would agree. He didn't like being on his own and feeling so vulnerable, with her, he'd have a reason to be braver, someone to protect. It would help with his mind. And she would benefit as well, more confidence to them both. But... they lived in seperate realms so there was still dangers of being apart...

"I'm glad I at least asked nicely, though, really, I shouldn't have asked at all. It's not mine, or anyone else's business. I'm glad you're not offended, as well." He stated, another slight frown creasing his features. He didn't believe in being rude, but he'd never stood up to another before and told them to lay off. Perhaps someday he'd try.

He looked up to the sky and tested the breeze with his tongue, actually considering her question honestly. "Yes, it's a nice night ou-" He stopped and wondered if it had been a joke, he'd just realized that the question hadn't really fit with the line of conversation. Well, that was embarassing. "Was that... an honest question... or?" He sounded so unsure, so pathetic. He kicked himself mentally, and decided to be more blunt and forward, if he had it in him.

[Rhayeqasr]

She let a sigh, relieved he ws no threat or danger, infact she was pleased he was like her, but he seemed so much more brave. "I... I was trying to make conversation." She smiled sheepishly. "The weather was just the first thing that came to mind." She felt much more comfortable with him now, and her posture now showed it. She was somewhat hunched as she sat on the ground, and she made eye contact, instead of staring at the ground. Her claws no longer nervously played with the dirt. She was relaxed.

"I would love to stay with you." She had never had company, even those of her realm would get annoyed by her constant questioning and crazy accusations. But, she feared that others, seeing two Paranoids, would jump at the chance to terrorize or take advantage of them. But she kept this fear to herself, exactly where it should be. She would probably make him think she were genuinly crazy if she shared all her petty fears.

[tigs]

He tilted his head, he'd never really indulged in conversation. If it came up with Arnica, they'd talk. But for the most part she kept her secrets far from him, afraid of corrupting his mind and making him worse, she'd said once. So... he was now afraid of making a terrible conversationalist. It showed in the nervous lip-biting he did, as much as his canine anatomy would allow. "I'm afraid I don't pick up on things like that very well... I'm not used to conversation..." He admitted, thinking now she might get her chance to laugh at him.

The second comment lifted his head from where he'd lowered it, and he felt an exhilarating excitement form. He could now protect her! And therein would lie his purpose, one he'd been looking for for a while now. He couldn't be a predator, one that played games of the mind or made others uncomfortable. He couldn't be a ruthless killer, or one of sunshine and happiness. He was stuck being a shadow, and it was not a glorious life by any standards. What did anyone truly need with a shadow? It was just... there. But now he could at least live in the illusion that he was stronger, most wouldn't be able to tell that they were paranoids, because with the company of each other, they'd be a lot more confident.

He realized he'd been thinking for a considerable amount of time now, and chuckled nervously. "Sorry, just thinking. I'm glad to have you as company, it's a nice feeling." He was commenting more on his secret thoughts than anything. Perhaps he'd share them some time...

[Rhayeqasr]

A shadow provides shade, and he was her shade, protecting her from the blinding sun. She smiled, "I'm not good at conversing either. If I were, weather wouldn't have been my choose of topics." She smiled at him. They have a lot in common, and this is why she had agreed to stay with him. She related to him, and he understood her. She no longer felt so alone, he was the first paranoid Paranoid she had met, aside from herself of course. She had met one other, and he lives in the same realm as her, but he is not as nearly afraid of everything. And he often tells her to shut up when she rambles about things.

Her stomach growled, and she blushed. She had just eaten, why is she hungry? She looked down, embarassed. Now he's going to think she's high maintanence, and spoiled. This was not her, she rarely, if at all, pampered herself. She smiled sheepishly and looked at him. His bright markings were very much like her own. She hated them, they made her stand out when all she wanted to do was blend in, and hid behind others. She silently cursed her coat, and wondered if he felt the same way, if he wished to blend in as she did. No, he wanted to be something, some one. He wanted not to blend, he wanted to forget his fears and have his name mean something, or so it seemed to her. This made her think, what if, for just a second, she ignored her petty fears and stood out. If she gave some one lip or... what if she got in a fight? Just the thought gave a chills, no fighting was not for her.

It had been silent for a moment, and the need for conversation arose itself yet again. But it would be plain foolish to bring the weather up again, no she'll be more obvious this time. "So, where do you live?" It was a reasonable question, not risky and not dull, it made for potential conversation. Unless, of coarse, his answer was 'no where,' in which case she may feel sorry for ever having brought up the question.

[tigs]

Well, it made sense that neither were very good conversationalists, but that was fine with him. You could say a lot of things without ever speaking a word... "Well, it seems we have a lot in common, then." He offered, not noticing that she'd been thinking the same thing and he'd only added a voice to it. Her expressions were a map laid out for him to read, leading him through her emotions and leaving him to piece together what she was thinking. He worried, honestly, that he wasn't giving off a good impression. But she'd agreed to stay with him, hadn't she?

The slight growl of her stomach brought his eyes to finally really take in her form. Muscled as he was, she was not fading away like some may expect. Paranoid meant nothing about the need to kill and eat, they were not afraid of their prey. Well, as long as they hunted smaller things of course. He didn't even stop to think that she might have been hungry, he could tell she'd just eaten like he had, and he thought it merely her stomach muscles demanding activity. "We can go for a walk if you're cramped." He offered, his own limbs complained at him, he never slept after a meal, too much energy, mostly generated by his mind.

She had been thinking again, and he tilted his head, taking a step forward. "Is there any way I can help." It was as if he could pull the answers from her eyes, he stared and attempted to understand, then made a slight frustrated and helpless noise in his throat when he couldn't determine anything behind those endless depths. Blushing at his own behaviour, he straightened back a bit and tried not to shove his face into hers, invading personal space was rude after all.

"Live?... I suppose.. I don't live anywhere, so much as everywhere. I have a realm which I can return to, but I like wandering these areas, sleeping wild. It makes me feel bold when I know I am meant for cowardice." He admitted, feeling strange for laying out his thoughts to her so openly. Not really ready to share more in-depth feelings, he looked curiously at her. "And yourself? Please, you're a mystery to me still. Tell me about yourself." It was a tacky line, and he smiled in spite of it.

[Rhayeqasr]

She managed a smile, "Let's walk," she stood, grateful for the movement, her joints were stiff, and her backlegs were beginning to go numb. She thought what he had said over, she was thinking the exact same thing when he mentioned it, they did have a lot in common, and she was thankful he said, and not her.

She wondered how she could be a mystery to him, she had shared with him more than she had shared with any stranger. He knew her name, what else was there to say, her name was all she posessed. "I don't know what else there's to say, I'm not an awfully interesting person," She could have left the last part of that out, what would he say now, knowing that she had the esteem of an ugly duckling.

All there was to her was her fears, dreams, and utter uselessness, or so she thought. "I understand. I do the same, unwilling, at types, to surrender myself to my fears." She sighed, "But they always get the best of me." And this was true, no matter how hard she tried, she could not be as brave as others.

[tigs]

He wondered if sometimes he said too much, but he was happy that she accepted his offer. It seemed she was equally as cramped up. He moved forward to help her stand, and feeling too bold, moved back. He didn't know how to act around her, he liked being himself, but sometimes his 'gentlemanly' actions seemed like they could be taken the wrong way. Or... the right way? He didn't really know.

"Everyone's interesting. You must have many secrets, I only know your name. Your past, your fears, your experiences. They're all important, and I'm sure looking back you've done more than you thought you had." He said, hearing a noise from behind him and moving a little quickly into the light, ushering her to head the other way as well. Okay, so he still had to work on that backbone.

He was worried though, she thought so little of herself, and she was simply lovely. Surely she must have a personality to match. Had nobody ever told her she was beautiful? Had nobody ever taken the time to talk to her, and tell her she was interesting? That couldn't be true, but he dared not ask aloud.

"Don't worry, I'm mostly all talk... I wish it were otherwise. I try, really, but it still needs some work..." He sighed disheartedly and then offered a weak smile, a promise to himself and her that things would get better now. They would both be braver and stronger for each other, it was a nice bond, one he'd never experienced before, didn't understand, and couldn't title.

[Rhayeqasr]

A soft smile lightened her face. Though she had little experience, aside from hiding in shadows and isolating herself from other, there was little else to her life. However, this just dawned on her, what a way to spend one's life, living in the shadows. She had had so little contact that she forgot how wonderful it is, his presence made her hate loneliness all the more. Though, her biggest fear sat nagging in the back of her mind: Rejection.

"I keep little from those I trust. I do my best to hid nothing," She tried to think of secrets, lies, gossip, anything that may make herself sound more interesting. Truth was, she was kind, fearful, compassionate, and thoughful. Other than that, she had little to speak of.

What he said next hit her as quite strange. '...but it still needs some work.' She couldn't understand why someone would work at changing themselves. "Why try so hard to be someone you're not?" She could, however, relate. If it were up to her, she'd leave her fears behind and become someone new. "I mean, I like you how you are, why must you change?"

[tigs]

She was quiet for a while and he stole a few looks over at her, just to make sure she was alright. When it seemed she was merely thinking, she left it alone and concentrated on his own thoughts. He wanted to impress her, that's why he felt he had to be more courageous. Why would she want to depend on someone who jumped at the sound of a cricket chirping?

"You trust me then? I'm glad you're being open and honest, I'm pretty much spilling out everything..." He admitted, shocked at first that he honestly trusted him like that. It was a different kind of trust than just allowing someone to talk to you and be near you. It was special to him, but then again, he'd never been trusted before or trusted anyone else.

"Why?..." He wondered for a second and knew he couldn't give her any reasons without feeling dumb. Her second comment hit him hard, and left him confused and lost. "You do? I just want to protect you, I... I don't know..." He tripped on thoughts and words until he could only hang his head and blush to himself, hoping she wouldn't stare. He felt so vulnerable, and though it was not an unfamiliar feeling, just once he wanted to be sure of himself. But then again, what she said... it made him feel secure, if he'd only stay the same. Maybe it wasn't so bad?