Disclaimer: I do not own "Danjon ni Deai o Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka"/"Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?"/"DanMachi"/"Familia Myth." The series belongs to Oumori Fujino, Yasuda Suzuhito, SB Creative, GA Bunko, and J. .
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DanMachi
Children of Hades
By Cyberweasel89
Co-Written by Wandering Letters
Prologue: Birth By Sleep
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"I smile because I have no idea what's going on."
-Unknown
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She sat atop the ledge of the massive Tower of Babel, like always, overlooking the even more massive city of Orario below her. Though... next to her was a Man. Elderly, Human. Dressed in a dark gray suit with a lighter gray waistcoat beneath it, white dress shirt beneath that, and a brown tie, brown dress shoes adorning his feet. A dark gray fedora sat atop his head with a lighter gray band around it to match his suit. His eyes were brown and gentle, hair gray and cut short, though aside from the hair on the back of his head, the rest was hidden beneath his hat except for some matching gray eyebrows. With his white glove-clad hands grasping a brown cane that he positioned standing upright in front of where his legs met in a very gentlemanly and dandy pose, he stood next to her, overlooking the city alongside her. Despite the disinterested look on her face as she gazed at the city of Orario below, the Man beside her had a small smile on his face from beneath his gray mustache, his brown eyes gazing out at the city with a gentle, distinguished look.
"It's been a long time. Compared to the old days, maybe we just have more chances to meet," he said, chuckling in a dignified manner at the end.
She merely nodded in response, her elbow resting on her knee, that arm supporting her chin.
"Anyway, I'm quite glad to run into you again like this, young lady," the Man continued.
"Um, I don't know what you're-" she began to say without looking at him, but he interrupted her.
"Judging from your reaction, I take it you don't remember me? That's quite a pity. I know I may be Elusive, but last time, you swore that you would never forget me," he explained, not turning to face her, but unlike her, he was casting her a glance as he reached a gloved hand up to lift the brim of his hat a bit.
"Um..." She... wasn't sure how to respond to that.
Another dignified chuckle escaped the Elusive Man's mustached lips. "That's quite alright, my dear. I really don't mind. You're not the only one. Everybody remembers me little by little. Besides, it's impossible for anybody to completely know me right off the bat. Being Elusive has its ups and downs, you see."
Five people were there with her. Sort of. She didn't know them, but they were there, down in the sunset city below her. She could feel them.
A tall man with long black hair and yellow eyes, intimidating if it weren't for the apron and bandana, as he beat a rug over a balcony.
An old, bald man in worn leather armor, sitting at a bar. He downed a shot of mead, sighing contentedly to himself.
A tall, muscled young man with silver hair, floating in a body of water on his back, a sullen look in his yellow eyes, dressed in a white tunic and wolf ears atop his head.
A short, slender young lady, curly blonde hair with tiger ears atop her head, blue eyes gazing at a bookshelf in a library, dressed in a white sun dress with a tiger tail emerging from the skirt.
A young man sitting in an empty cafe, reading a book. His features were shadowed by the corner he sat in, but he was dressed in a all-black and seemed to have long, pointed ears.
"I..." She began, but couldn't finish her thought.
"Is it starting to come back to you a bit? Well, I have more time than I know what to do with. Let's chat again, my dear. I'll tell you the story of how you and I met... From the very beginning."
The Elusive Man chuckled.
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-There was another way...
That's all I remember.-
In the woods just outside of the city of Orario, a clearing lay nestled in a ring of trees. Springtime flowers bloomed all throughout the clearing, the sun not quite risen yet. A lone figure lay sleeping on her back within the clearing, a small, cat-like smile gracing her face as her chest rose and fell, the flowers tickling the sides of her body.
Standing at 175cm tall, her body was supermodel like, with long, statuesque legs, a perky peach-shaped rear, shapely childbearing hips, a trim waist, and bust that was likely a G-cup, rising and falling with her sleeping breathing. Not muscular, but nicely toned. Despite her large breasts she had a proportionately curvy hourglass figure.
Her skin was pale and mostly covered in freckles. Coupled with her deep red hair, thick and slightly curly, it was possible she was a ginger. Two tan-furred cat ears rested atop her head, a different color from her red hair. The girl remained sleeping, and it was not until the sunrise just began to breach the horizon and a ray of early morning light shone through a gap in the trees that her eyes fluttered upon when the light played about her face.
Her eyes were a bright green color with cat-like pupils. Unclasping her hands from her stomach, she pulled herself up into a sitting position. Her back revealed, her hair was quite long, going down to the small of her back. Her eyes, filled with childlike curiosity, gazed at the butterflies fluttering around the clearing, pollinating the flowers. So many. Could one of them tell her where she was? Or... who she was?
Feeling movement, she looked down at the large lumps of flesh upon her chest. Quirking an eyebrow, she reached a long, thin finger out to poke it, giggling at the gelatin-like movement it caused. Wanting to explore this odd place, she pulled herself to her feet, only to stumble, never having walked before. It took a few tries, but with the help of her long, bushy, ringed, tan-furred feline tail, she managed to right herself upon her bare feet. The sun was just beginning to rise, the crisp early morning springtime air nipping at her naked body. Biting her lip, unsure at first, she began a casual stroll out of the clearing, looking at everything she saw with a wide-eyed wonder. For her, this was an entirely new world. She would need to explore it to get her bearings, and she was quite sure it would be a wonderful adventure.
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"What would it be like, to not be... afraid?"
The air in the small apartment in Daedalus Street was heavy with perfume and heat and coffee. Tessa crept barefoot across the floor. Dark circles hung heavily below her eyes. She had to work late last night. She always had to work late. On another note she always had to be early, before the sun was awake. More importantly before other people were awake crowding the streets of Orario. At least today was her day off.
Her glass of coffee barely touched her lips, no, she barely smelled it and she was already pouring it in the waste basin, washing the cup in the wash basin, inspecting the cup, washing it a second time. If she was late getting out the door... there would be... people. Oh, but there was still dirt on the cup!
Her clothes were laid out, the bed already neatly made, tucked in at every corner, but there was still dirt on the cup, she was sure. She used a clean tea towel to dry the single cup then folded the towel into a laundry basket. There wasn't enough to wash. If water wasn't so carefully measured she would have washed it anyways. Damn budget.
Carefully she put on a pair of pure white cotton panties and a matching white (training) bra. Over that she slipped into a light white sun dress, making sure her orange and black striped tiger tail could freely flow from beneath the medium-length skirt. The smooth silky material felt cool against her porcelain-like skin, only lightly marked with tannish tiger stripes, including two on each cheek. She tied it gracefully at her waist with a fragile white ribbon. The ribbon matched the ribbon on her sandals which she criss-crossed around her legs up to her knees and tied into pretty bows. Grabbing a hairband as white as her dress and sandals, she placed it atop her head to hold back her head of thick, incredibly curly, golden blonde locks, the tiger ears atop her head twitching when the hairband tapped the appendages. After a quick glance at herself in the mirror, she looked over her apartment one last time for anything out of its place and slipped out the door.
She always took the east stairway. It was farther but fewer people used it. This early morning she could hear footsteps coming from the bottom of the stairs and she froze, her hand on the guard rail. She had only made it halfway and she was trapped with only the option to turn around and go back up toward her apartment floor. Her full lips pressed together into a thin line and her legs trembled. Long hair topped with rabbit ears, a skirt, the person that emerged from around the corner was a female. Tessa breathed for the first time since she had heard the footsteps and began to descend down the stairs again passing her neighbor.
"Good morning," she said. Stars seemed to be floating around her head with how cheerfully she smiled at the passing stranger. The girl nodded and continued on her way.
The streets were thankfully empty for now, even in such a poor district like Daedalus Street. It was that early. Tessa took the passages she knew from experience would be quiet. She was nearly to her favorite little spot, where she would start her morning as she started every morning off: With a cup of black coffee and the menu. The narrow little street she had turned on was empty, or so she thought. A stranger emerged from around the corner at the end of the street. Short hair topped with fox ears, tall, wide shoulders, a man. Tessa turned on her heel to go back the way she came.
Unfortunately, a Boaz had emerged onto the road and was strolling towards her from the other side. She backed against the stone wall, heart throbbing, mouth dry, and head down. Her knees trembled, her hands wrung together. They both passed her. She didn't meet their gazes, she kept it locked on the ground where their feet passed, and she knew they had looked at her. Filthy, she felt filthy.
Tessa collected herself and when they had both traveled far enough from her vicinity of personal space, approximately one hundred and thirteen steps, she continued on her way. Not relaxing again, maybe not even breathing, until she got to her little nook in the wall cafe. The sign above the door read 'Salt and Pepper.' The inside was surprisingly different from the brick walls and deceivingly large. The decor was all styled in an ornately fancy manner. Even the booths had been replaced by fancy white arm chairs and chic sofas. The Pallum girl at the front greeted her knowingly and followed her to her usual spot by the window, setting the menu down on the right side and nodding as she disappeared. A hot cup of black coffee had already been placed on the table. Tessa sunk into her chair, sighing contentedly as soothing music played lightly in the background on a phonograph. Finally for the first time that day, she could be at peace. She brought the menu up in front of her face, deep blue eyes above the two tan tiger stripes on each cheek perusing her options for today.
"Good morning, miss. I will be looking after you today."
An unfamiliar voice greeted her. Tessa felt her stomach drop. She lowered her menu and looked up with unease at the Chienthrope young man who smiled down at her. Her favorite cafe, her only cafe, had hired a new employee... and it was... it was... a man.
He blinked for a moment, looking her over. "You look familiar..." He mused unprofessionally, squinting at her.
Were Chienthropes color blind like dogs? Ugh, it didn't matter. Of course she looked familiar, she looked familiar to all men in this terrible 'city of adventure.' She could feel the color draining from her skin, the tears threatening to well up in her big, blue, doe-like eyes. Dropping the menu, she pushed past him without a word and scrambled, no, ran out of the building in utmost distress.
Out the door, into the road, down the street, around the corner, and slam, onto the ground. Tessa thought about how her white dress must have been stained with dirt, or worse, torn. She thought about her delicate hands and how they must be riddled with scrapes. But mostly she thought of how her favorite place had hired a man. Tessa looked up at what, or whom to be exact, she had ran into. The biggest pair of tits she had ever seen in her life caught her eye. She never expected to be so relieved by a pair of large, supple breasts! The girl had red hair, too red hair. Green eyes like a cat's, though they didn't make her look smart like most cats. She was cute, though. Was she wearing a... nothing at all?
"Thank goodness," Tessa sighed, shoving aside the buxom Cat Person's nudity, and instead embracing the fact that the person she ran into had a vagina.
Looking up at the girl, she noticed the tan-furred cat ears atop her head of red hair and the long, bushy, tan, and ringed cat tail swaying behind her. Yup. Totally naked. Yup. Totally busty. Yup. Totally still standing even though Tessa herself had been floored. Maybe her tits acted as natural air bags?
The ginger Cat Person bent forward, seemingly unaware of the way her massive breasts hung down and swayed from side to side (though Tessa was very aware), as she offered the War Tiger a hand. The buxom girl seemed bright and innocent, almost childishly so, and it made Tessa feel at ease even as the streets were starting to fill with an uncomfortable maze of walking, breathing obstacles.
"Hello."
She wasn't sure if it was normal to greet someone after running into them and still lying on one's back. Or to seem so relieved about the incident. But she took the stranger's hand and attempted to elegantly clamber to her feet. Standing, she couldn't help noting that, compared to her own 145cm height, this Cat Person was a giant at 175cm, and she wasn't even going to mentally acknowledge the girl's giant rack when Tessa's own breasts would curve inward if they were any flatter. The War Tiger was quick to grab the hem of her dress and examine the fabric for rips and frays. A little dusty. Maybe it wasn't doomed for the trash just yet.
She looked up, seeing the ginger Cat Person gazing at her with a childish curiosity.
"No, no. It was my fault. I was running from the- from the... ahh," Tessa stammered.
The redhead reached to scratch at her own chest and Tessa felt her eyes trailing downward. It wasn't that she wanted to stare, it's just the other girls breasts were so- her face went red. She looked quickly around in various directions that were anything but the voluptuous pair of... Gods damn, how did she even grow those?
Realizing that the Cat Person had yet to speak, Tessa offered her tiny hand to shake.
"Nice to meet you! I'm Tessa Thompson. I can't help noticing you're na... I mean, I couldn't stop myself from noting that you're not wearing any..." Tessa trailed off.
She was trying to show that she was actually looking at the redhead and not... staring. She hadn't thought of it before she half-asked, but maybe the girl had just escaped a rape or mugging? Wait, what if she was some kind of sexual deviant? Maybe she was dangerous! Tessa began to feel uneasy, but at least the Cat Person was clearly a girl.
When she didn't accept the War Tiger's offer for a handshake, Tessa withdrew her hand "Uh... Nevermind. What's your name, anyway?"
Tessa followed the nude Cat Person's gaze and noticed an Elven man pass by her at an uncomfortable perimeter. She could feel the peach fuzz on the back of her neck stand up one by one.
"Ahhh." She scooted closer to the redhead for safety. Crazy or not, she would make an efficient barrier.
"Say, do you live close?" Tessa asked anxiously. "We really should get you home to get, um... dressed."
She eyed every passing stranger with unease, who were likewise staring uneasily at the tiny War Tiger hiding behind the statuesque, curvy, completely naked Cat Person. Tessa side stepped to the left, out of the way of a Dwarven man.
"Dressed?"
The word was questioning. Did she... not know what being dressed was? Had she never worn clothes before? Was she a nudist?!
"Pervert..." Tessa muttered under her breath, just about involuntarily.
"Pervert?"
Wait... Now that she'd heard the redheaded nudist say a grand total of two words instead of one, she was beginning to get something. She sounded like she had trouble speaking. Had she... never spoken the common tongue before? Or... never spoken at all?
In retrospect, the strange redheaded feline with huge boobs and no clothes did seem to be a little too curious and innocent to have been... Oh, no, she was just so innocent. She probably didn't even realize that being naked was... not appropriate in public. How could anyone have taken advantage of such a sweet, maybe not too bright, pretty young... Tessa's eyes trailed downward to the Cat Person's breasts.. Oh, yeah. That was how. The world just wasn't fair. A great injustice had been done, but regardless, this blind, deaf, dumb, buxom redhead needed her help, and she'd have to tap into any latent nurturing instincts she could possibly have and just think of this incredibly curvaceous feline as some kind of injured bird.
Realizing she needed some kind of spark to set off those latent motherly tendencies, she grabbed hold of the ginger's hands and cradled them in her own. "I promise to overcome my fear and maintain your innocence even though we've only just met!" Maybe that was a little dramatic. She stared intensely up into the girl's bright green, cat-like eyes for exactly 2.3 seconds before her face started to burn as bright as her new acquaintance's voluptuous locks. Shaking off the odd feelings making eye contact with those cat-like eyes stirred in her, the War Tiger decided they would go straight to this bimbo cat's house, demand whoever she lived with to let her in, stare them down, and say-another Dwarven man nearly bumped into her. Tessa inched to one of the injured bird's sides and locked arms with her. Maybe it was better they tackle the issue of clothes first?
Not wanting to deal with finding this tall, curvaceous housecat's house considering the fact the streets were rapidly filling up and the ginger's nudity was becoming the focus of a lot of stares, Tessa gave the girl a tug pulling her down the street. She was had barely noticed she was still, in a way, clinging.
"Okay, come with me, Naked Girl. I'm taking you to my apartment and finding you something to wear." A quick glance at that bobbing rack and their drastic difference in height. "I doubt I have anything that'll fit you, but maybe something of my brother's will."
Her apartment was farther than she would have liked to walk at that time, but it might have been bearable with the company, even if that company was as naked as the day she was born.
Being met with surprisingly little resistance, Tessa began dragging the redhead along in an awkward zigzag through the streets to her apartment that she shared with her brother. Sighing, she glanced over her shoulder, momentarily captivated by the rhythmic bouncing of those G-cups, but tearing her deep blue eyes off them long enough to meet the Cat Person's bright green ones. She was being rude.
"You still haven't told me. What's your name?"
"Name?"
"Yeah. You know. Your name. A name is what you're called. Name. Ring a bell?"
"Ring a... bell."
The telltale sign of a new day dawning sounded just over a nearby rooftop, causing the statuesque feline to jump, her tail poofing in fright. Tessa stopped, turning all the way around to look at her. Wow, no shame at all to be naked in public like this, huh?
"What's wrong? That was just a rooster. It was crowing because the sun's just about done rising. You know, a rooster?"
"Rooster?"
"Yeah, a rooster. Now, what's your name?"
"Rooster... name..."
"Yeah, name. So it does ring a bell?"
"Rooster... ring a bell."
"Uh... I-Is that your name?"
"Rooster ring a bell!" she answered, smiling as if proud of herself.
"Wait, your name is actually Rooster... Ring-a-wha?"
"Rooster Ring-a-bell!" She asserted, nodding in a determined manner.
"Rooster... Ringabelle? Uhh... Not what I'd have picked for you, but if that's your name, that's your name, I guess..."
Tessa felt 'Rooster's' hand leave her. Turning, the War Tiger gasped and covered her eyes slightly. She was pretty sure by this point her face was permanently red. Rooster was stalking after a bright blue butterfly like a cat on the hunt, crouched down with her tail in the air, and everyone, including Tessa, got an eyeful. Not unlike the young man waiting patiently at the door for his date, her mouth dropped on appearance of... well, in this case, Rooster's backside. It explained the gawking from passing strangers and maybe a few giggles. Rooster probably just thought all the smiles were because people were friendly and happy and everything in the world was good and right.
To be honest, Rooster kind of reminded her of a child that wandered into strangers' wagons and carriages at the promise of candy. Speaking of which...
"Rooster! Don't wander off like that!" Tessa snapped.
She was so concerned with getting inside she hadn't considered the fact that she had invited a stranger into her home. Rooster hardly seemed to be a threat, but people were deceiving. The honest truth was, if this girl was wandering around town with no clothes and not being able to speak the common tongue (or at all?), where did she come from? Where was she before? Orario didn't exactly have a long history. It didn't even exist until the Dungeon appeared, drawing in people of all races and all different countries and cultures, coming here to become Adventurers and Supporters. No one came here unless they were hoping to make it big. So... would someone around town even recognize Rooster?
Tessa's scolding to the Cat Person fell on deaf ears. The War Tiger's deep blue eyes softened. No... this girl was helpless. She needed her. Tessa smiled. Uneasily, but a smile none the less.
Tessa walked up and grabbed Rooster's hand before she could pounce on the butterfly, pulling her back along. She slowed her pace down from nearly a jog to a brisk walk. The comfort of having someone so close to her put her at ease. It was fate! Fate that the stupid cafe hired a stupid man so she would go running out of the building and slam into this girl, because this girl needed to be slammed into!
Or something like that. It was clear Rooster would end up right where she started off otherwise. Naked in the streets. She had to protect this girl. It really wasn't much farther to the apartment she shared with her brother. She had avoided the long way through an alleyway she had taken earlier. Rooster might be more likely to recognize something out in the open anyway .
"Anyway, I'm Tessa, like I said."
"Like I said?"
"No, Tessa."
"Tessa?"
The War Tiger sighed. "Yeah. That's my name."
"Tessa! Tessa! Tessa!"
Swapping their position around with surprising ease, Rooster clung onto Tessa's tiny arm as they walked in a hug, pressing the girl's limb against her bare, ample chest. In fact, had Tessa not been avoiding people on the street, and had Rooster not been stark naked, it would've honestly looked like two people on a date walking while the girl hugged her boyfriend's arm. Tessa understandably felt her head explode in a burst of steam.
Mental Checklist
First, find Rooster some clothes
Second, try to find someone who recognizes her
The Guild would have been her first thought, maybe even an information-type Familia. But the next best thing was somewhere where information circulated. Maybe the Hostess of Fertility? That meant people... Tessa stared blankly at Rooster as she thought, glancing down at the ginger's breasts only to have the extra soft padding against her bare arm register in her head all over again, her face going as red as a tomato. She sighed and looked as far into the other direction as possible. She wouldn't have a bra to fit those monsters, not when she was a 28AAAA and those melons had to be in the F range...
A passing stranger bumped into her. She didn't notice him, only muttering a "Sorry," as she continued onward, her A-cup angst and the softness of the two huge pillows against her arm distracted her from even her debilitating androphobia, agoraphobia, and verminophobia.
"I wish I had some way to communicate with you, Rooster. Don't you have any family, friends? Where were you going? How old are you, even?" She wondered calmly, more to herself than to the girl who clearly could barely talk.
Like a kid in a candy store, the Cat Person's bright green eyes gazed around at the stone buildings, all of different sizes, clearly finding the place absolutely beautiful. And, as if having an epiphany, Tessa realized... Huh... The architecture of Daedalus Street WAS kinda beautiful, in an odd way...
Come to think of it... Rooster was treating everything she saw like a first snow. Tessa had gotten so used to the variety in the population she hadn't really paid attention to the various races, either. The War Tiger took a moment to observe the passing people. The occasional Spirit stuck out. Dwarves, Elves, Pallums, Chienthropes, Runarls, Hume Bunnies, there was a large variety of races that looked pretty similar to each other save for differences like animal parts and body structure... She couldn't bring herself to meet eyes with the male gender of any of them. Even some of the more gender neutral-looking Spirits and androgynously feminine Elves made her flutter in another direction. It only occurred to her that Rooster must have also grabbed attention for the fact of what she was. Other races probably found Cat People extremely attractive in a... fetish-y sense? No, more like... cuddly sense? Or maybe extremely ugly since some people just didn't like cats? Then again, this cat had quite the dynamite figure, and was completely nude.
Tessa frowned. All the more reason to look after Rooster for the time being. Didn't want her becoming a victim. She found herself feeling possessive of the ginger even though they had only just met, and at the same time, she was jealous of her figure. Wanting to take her mind off the huge pair of tits that her arm was currently wedged between, Tessa tilted her head back to see the sun was finally reaching its mid-morning position, glaring angrily at her, threatening to burn the both of them as it rapidly warmed the brisk spring morning.
They rounded the corner, a dozen similar looking buildings all several stories high crowding the streets. A living district, that's what Daedalus Street was. Tessa rounded the corner and took the east way stairs up that led up into the building. She pulled her key chain from the side pocket of her dress, the ring of keys jingling pleasantly as she sorted through them.
"We're here," she said as they entered a hallway and stopped at an apartment door.
Tessa undid one lock after another, rattling down the side of the door with several keys, passing the third lock and finally stopping at the fifth one. She pulled what appeared to be a hair pin from her mass of curls and popped it into the hole on the final lock. The door clicked happily and she pushed it open.
"Please take off your-" Wait, Rooster wasn't even wearing shoes. Never mind, it didn't matter. She could clean the floors later. Yeah, later. She let Rooster in and promptly locked only the third lock down.
Her house still smelled faintly of coffee and floral perfume. Compared to the brisk springtime morning air outside, it was quite a bit warmer in her apartment due to the Magic Stone-powered heater. Magic Stone lanterns illuminated the apartment, despite the window on the far wall. Her floors were a dark grey wood, everything else from the floor up, her counters, her cupboards, her furniture, was all white. It was small, though. The kitchen and living room were combined into a single room but still surprisingly fancy for Daedalus Street. Simple and elegant.
She didn't keep a lot of knick knacks. They were just clutter, anyways. A sofa, a bookshelf, a table, chairs... A small bathroom and two separate bedrooms. Most importantly, everything was meticulously clean. Her skin crawled at the idea of the mess another person might bring into her home. Well, aside from her brother. He tried his best to live up to her verminophobia standards, but she still found herself obsessively scrubbing things when he was done.
"My bedroom is just off to the side" She nodded to the little doorway. Her bedroom would be similar in appearance, white bedding, dresser, mirror. "Just don't enter the room next door, that's my brother's bedroom." Even SHE didn't dare enter it.
"There's a closet to the right, try to find something that fits decently for now. Though, I'm afraid because of your proportions we might have to get you something specially made later... Oh, and the really weird looking clothes are costumes for work... I wouldn't suggest those for wandering around town in any of them."
Despite her fear of men, Tessa was known around town for looking like a little porcelain doll in terms of being hauntingly beautiful, not to mention her deep blue eyes and curly, golden blonde hair. She made money working in a maid cafe, but due to her intense androphobia, she only did things like clean and prepare drinks and food, leaving interacting with customers to the other maid waitresses, but customers still enjoyed looking at her from a distance. So she housed very basic clothing, loose, light, flowy, to deal with the weather conditions by day, and then some not so appropriate work outfits. That maid waitress uniform was pretty revealing. If not for her complete lack of any curves to speak of, it would've been a wardrobe malfunction magnet.
Tessa slipped out of her sandals very carefully and placed them against the wall, meticulously straightening them. She noted the dirt on her dress. She would need to change, too...The floor felt nice under her bare feet as she crossed to the Magic Stone fridge. From the fridge she pulled a glass jug, pink liquid sloshing about in the container with bits of fruit and mint. She pulled two cups from a cupboard and poured the flavored water, but a drop escaped to the counter. Tessa felt her hair stand up on end at the sight of the offending pink drop. Filthy, filthy, filthy!
"And try not to make a m-m-mess!" She snapped at her Cat Person guest.
Turning to look at Rooster, the ginger stood there unabashed, completely comfortable, and totally exposed, like it was the most natural and socially acceptable thing in the world. It really baffled the War Tiger. And even worse, she made no move to go upstairs to Tessa's bedroom and get dressed. Instead, she wandered around examining the apartment like it was something completely new to her. Turning to Tessa, and making no move whatsoever to cover her shame, she smiled.
"Tessa! Rooster Ringabelle!" She chirped.
This girl... gave entirely new meaning to 'empty-headed.' What was that phrase? I smile because I have no idea what's going on?
Tessa smiled, though, herself. This girl was amusing in a way. She turned to face Rooster with a cup in each hand. The cups hit the floor with a clink and rolled across the ground, pink water splashing against the floor and splattering up at her dress, spreading out over the floor and between her toes. Her mouth fell open. The Cat Person had climbed onto her clean white sofa with her dirty feet and hands, kneading it as happy as a housecat and as naked as one, too!
She must have been red from the tip of her toes to the tops of her tiger ears, watching the curvaceous ginger's massive mammaries swing back and forth with her kneading motions, occasionally causing an anatomical reaction of a new level when she spun around in place. What was worse, aside from the fact she'd have to spend hours cleaning that sofa, was that the drapes were open and the window was right there!
"R-R-Rooster!"
She practically skated across the floor leaving a trail of wet footprints behind her, snatching a decorative throw blanket from the back of a sitting chair. With a single sloppy sliding step, her foot slipped across the floor and swept out from under her. Rooster, as if seeing what was happening and a look of concern flashing across her freckled face, dived like a jumping cat to try and catch her. Woosh, she was colliding with Rooster... again, for the second time that day.
Flump, they were both on the floor this time. The blanket flipped up into the air and parachuted down onto them. Her heart was thumping in her chest and her entire body trembled. It wasn't Rooster's fault, she just didn't know any better. Still, she wasn't unpleasant to look at... Tessa swallowed hard as her eyes trailed the delicate line of Rooster's collarbone, and up the line of her neck. With a grimace, she clenched her right hand, finding her fingers sunken into breast flesh so deep it must have been inches from fresh air to her fingers. Geeze, so soft, like a marshmallow! She hung her head in defeat, her thick, curly hair draping over the two of them like a golden wall.
"Rooster... people generally don't walk about in front of other people dirty and naked... unless they are..."
She felt like her face was on fire. She tried to remember ever having been this near to another unclothed human being. The blanket draped across her back, one hand pressed against the floor beside Rooster, the other on that massive hunk of meat she called a breast. For a single fleeting second, she wondering if they looked like...
"...lovers..."
Tessa met Rooster's bright green eyes with a heavy, wide-eyed stare, the ginger Cat Person looking back with a vacant, airheaded smile.
Pap. Tessa and Rooster both turned to the window. In front of it stood a young man. At 190.5cm tall, his muscled body showed well through the cream-colored sleeveless tunic he wore, fastened with a black belt. His hands and feet were both clad in brown leather gloves and boots, a bag slung over his shoulder by a black cord. His hair was a medium silver color, long and flowing down to his mid-back in a low-set, twine-tied ponytail, the hair atop his head rather spiky. The silver-furred ears among the spikes and the bushy tail protruding from a hole in his tunic showed he was a Werewolf, along with his wolf-like golden eyes. That was her brother, likely having just popped by to drop off some things during one of his courier runs, always one to use the window to avoid the locks on the doors.
"Uh... Ian! W-Welcome ho-"
In a flash, Ian's bag was dropped on the floor, throwing Tess and the blanket off the Cat Person below them. Tessa landed with a slump against the nearby kitchen counter, looking as Ian lifted Rooster by the throat and slammed her into the nearest wall. The ginger feline had the wind knocked out of her, struggling to cry out despite the air cut off to her windpipe via the masculine hand grabbing her by the throat. The Werewolf bared his fangs, snarling as his golden eyes glared at what his territorial instincts likely perceived as an intruder and threat to his young sister, his pack, and his den.
"Ian! Stop! That's just Rooster! Rooster Ringabelle! She's a friend! I invited her here! She's a guest!" Tessa cried to her older brother.
Ian didn't let up, flat-out growling at the Cat Person as he suspended her against the wall by her neck.
"N-N-No... Ssstop! Pl-ease!"
Tessa's eyes widened. Did Rooster... just speak? To the War Tiger's surprise, Ian released her, letting the Cat Person fall to the floor, coughing and wheezing. Tessa ran to Ian, wrapping her hands around his waist to try and calm him down. He may have released the intruder but he was still really worked up.
Peeking out from behind her brother, Tessa gazed at the stark naked Cat Person with worry.
"Are you okay, Rooster? And did you just... speak?"
"Tessa! Tessa..." The ginger rasped.
The War Tiger only sighed, tightening her 'cooldown hug' around her older brother.
-Trapped without memories in a world I didn't understand...
Standing at the edge, staring down into the abyss...
I didn't want to go forward, but I couldn't go back...-
XXXXXXXXXX
Omake
Tessa sighed, watching Rooster sit at their kitchen table. With her older brother far too territorial to let their guest wear his clothes, the Cat Person had to make due with a towel, since any of Tessa's outfits, even a skirt and top separate, simply were too small for her in terms of... circumference.
But that wasn't the problem. Ian was gone right now. Where? He was... picking up some take-out.
"More, please."
It seemed that Rooster's cry for help when Ian was strangling her wasn't just a fluke. The ginger was starting to pick up little words here and there. She couldn't make full conversation, but she was starting to be able to request things. So far? Food. And lots of it.
"More, please."
With a sigh, Tessa went to get her another bowl of white rice. The War Tiger had NEVER seen anyone eat this much, not even a Boaz. It seemed, though, that Ian attacking Rooster had wizened the Cat Person up in a big way. She wasn't all smiles, curiosity, and first snow anymore. Her older brother's act of violent aggression seemed to have triggered a more realist, down-to-earth shift in her disposition. Honestly, Tessa found this more calm, considerate version of Rooster less endearing, but easier to be around.
"More, please."
Tessa had taken Rooster to the bathroom and given her a thorough, complete, and platonic scrubbing. Yes, totally platonic. There was no jealousy, admiration, curiosity, or touching resulting from the above going on in that bath. Tessa had just gotten Rooster in there, washed her hair, and gone to extreme measures to make sure every inch of her voluptuous, modelesque body was free of any possible specks of dirt. Purely cleanliness, no curious inspecting or prodding going on in that bathroom, no sir.
"More, please."
She... really hoped Ian would get back soon. She was almost out of rice. Since it was clear now that Rooster had learned enough words to make some vague communication, the Cat Person had perfect and true amnesia. While Rooster Ringabelle wasn't, in fact, her name, it would have to do for now. She could only pray Rooster simply hadn't eaten in a long time before she woke up. Otherwise she'd have to divert some of her and Ian's budget from cleaning supplies to food. And the War Tiger wouldn't have that.
"More, please."
Tessa's eyes drifted downward. Wow... that cleavage must have been a foot long and a foot deep.
"Adjust your towel, first, please."
"Okay."
Wiping the blood from her nose, Tessa refilled her guest's bowl. This... would be a long night. Question was... Should she be polite and offer Rooster her bed, or minimize any possible future cleaning by having the half-naked and voluptuous Cat Person sleep on the sofa?
...Do you think she'd object to sharing the bed? Shoot! Tessa! Wipe that drool off your mouth!