Interlude
We got a WHOLE load of more questions for Q&A than expected, so decided to make a 'break' and answer some :)
"We got so many questions - and it's not even a half of your guide, Sen, so I thought we can take a break and answer at least some of them...?"
"Oh, that sounds like fun... Any naughty one for me...?"
"...there won't be 'naughty' ones coming."
"...why, the fuck, no? You already cheated, babe, writing the naughty part when I was out - I do deserve some compensation!"
"Do you REALLY want to answer questions about our sex life? What's wrong with you?"
"I mean... why not? I don't mind, and you... you can use help with that bashfullness of yours, Raha."
"Just... NO. I'm going to write you more smut later, but I'm SO not going to provide you even more material to tease me this way. And it's not like anyone really want to know... this stuff, either. So... you want to take a look at what we did get?"
"Yeah, yeah... spoilsport. But shoot."
"M'kay, I'll go according to the order we got them into and we'll see how far we'll get... then leave the rest for later. First one..."
Question for Senri from a fellow Miqo'te: What was Raha's reaction to you shapeshifting into a female form?
"See, they do want to know!"
"Just... get on with it, but keep it far from explicit, okay?"
"Ugh... okay. But you are making up for it later. And only because by itself it's a funny one. My fellow Miqo'te, he kinda freaked out the first time, since we were out on one of those... dates. He warned me to I quote: 'keep my hands to myself,' since apparently humans don't appreciate much the same-sex matings in public and all that... For whatever reason, he didn't 'think' that shifting gender is a thing for us. Why, don't ask me... But, yeah, since I couldn't paw at him as male... You get the idea, right?"
"And FYI, he's as gorgeous as female, if it did... almost gave me a heart attack. As he said, I wouldn't have thought that he's as comfortable as female as he is as male... I guess, as he says, because I do tend to think too much like human. Logically, if you think about it, in truth he's a giant, silly cat, after all. Okay, next one..."
For Raha - Have you noticed any other physical changes other than the eyes? Do the others know if more changes are coming?
"Other than the eyes? No, I don't believe so... Hades, however, believes that once I do Shift, I'll end up with the same traits as them: ears and tail. But, since this is all... very unprecedented, none of us is sure. It can be, as he warned us, that my - and Damon's - Allagan blood is far too diluted to allow us to Shift in the first place, so until it either happens or not, nothing is sure."
"I hope for the best! Can you imagine how cute you're going to be, babe?"
"...next one."
For Senri: How long into dating did it take for you to find out that Raha wasn't human, or full human?
"Two months... I think?"
"Sounds about right, yeah.
Rhaq'a: Have you gotten to meet/spend time with the Keeper side of your family?
"We, I mean me and my brothers, meet them only after Ares did away with our uncle on our father's side. So I've heard, anyway, since I was still on the tad... young side. I grew up knowing them, if according to Hades, there was a lot of wariness on both sides and even more smoothing things over... and no wonder. In general, Seekers and Keepers are not at best terms after what happened with our parents, but me and my brothers are allowed to visit the lair our mother came from and they generally treat us as part of the family. Which is nice... but, yeah, tensions are always there, too."
Raha: This actually should go with the previous chapter but have you been noticing your senses sharpening closer to what Senri's are? From what I'm reading you're turning into a shifter? Ooooo does that mean you get cute ears and a cute tail like Senri? I mean, there are toys for that. I'm sure Senri'd be interested in those. :D
"...as stated above, if I'll add... don't give him ideas, please. As about the senses, I would say that they did get a tad sharper, but I don't believe anywhere near Senri's."
"Nope, his nose still sucks... otherwise he would already threw out half of the contents of his fridge. If, since his eyes changed, he can see in the dark - if I don't think that counts."
"I don't believe so, no. Okay, next..."
Senri: as reference for us humans, what are some things that we should avoid if we do want to attempt a date with a shifter mate? Places to avoid, should we carry something in case someone gets too handsy with our mate, what are things that might be pleasant or unpleasant for a shifter mate.
"Mostly...? If Miqo'te invited you for a date, most likely that means that he's or she's already hooked, so nothing much you need to worry about. As about places... from experience, avoid anything crowded or noisy. And perfume, for the love of Bast, avoid by all means. Like I said, if you're invited - I would guess they are intrigued by your scent, or think you're cute, but offending their senses are a big no, and considered rude, I suppose."
"I would recommend a forest, if available, or a park when it's empty or close to that."
"Mhmm, if... they might be tempted to Shift for a ran, so you might want to prepare yourself mentally - as freaking out at the sight of one's true form can be also a big turn-off."
Rhaq'a: Soooo humans like gifts right? And like I want to give my human a gift but the last time I brought home a dead birb as a gift and I got locked out for a week... Is there something else we should be giving them...?
"Why would you even...? Sen, is that a thing to bring dead animals as gifts...?"
"I mean... sometimes, for a Keeper? If a bird sounds sort of... Well, one reason that I can think of is to present one's hunting skills, and that you're well able to provide for a potential mate, but... a bird? Hardly even a snack..."
"...you ever bring me a dead bird, you're getting locked out, too."
"I said: for a Keeper, didn't I? With Seeker's magic creating a proper gift is none issue, and as for what it could be... Well, depends on the person. Find out what they like and go from there."
"As in any relationship, I suppose."
Senri: What's it feel like to shift? How do kits look, before their first shift? And will it hurt for Raha to shift?
"Umm... what does it feel like to breathe? I mean, it's same set of skills for us. You think what you want to be, and... you are. And, no, it doesn't hurt... I hope. As he said earlier, with him and his brother it's all in the air at this point. For us, Shift doesn't hurt and it's... hard to explain without experiencing it. Perhaps when he does Shift, Raha will be able to answer that better."
"As for kits, I can answer that! I was graciously allowed to see the... sort of nursery when we were in Senri's lair and I can tell you their young are absolutely the cuteness incarnate. They look kind of like a mix of snow panter/lion cub, in various colors, if mostly one solid, like Senri's fur in his true form is utterly ink-black..."
"Yeah, pretty much, and that's how we do look like until the first Shift. If humans do find our jaws unnerving, in case of kits its barely visible, as it takes a while for all the fangs to come in. Usually, the last rows form about... well, recounting to human age, you could say about ten-years-old would be able to Shift and by that time have all the sets of fangs set in."
"Thing you're missing the most valid thing, Sen."
"Which is...?"
"There's FIVE of them. Five rows of fangs, both up and down. And I feel calling it unnerving is a tad of... understatement."
"You're thinking too-human again, babe."
"Guess so... but it does look intimidating, is all I'm saying."
Oh my god I just realized... Senri you're a carnivore... how in the hells did you stomach *cat food* other than for your love of Raha? And what the hell does it taste of...
"I do love Raha very, very much... but there was just NO WAY I would eat that. Just the smell alone...ugh."
"Wait... so what happened with all that food I bought for you?"
"Part Keeper, remember? I held my breath, pretended to eat, while using the destruction magic to do away with it."
"So... what did you eat all that time, then?"
"Whatever I created when you weren't watching, love. Most of the time, just copied whatever you had for dinner that day - made it almost like we're eating together."
"Damn... you're such a sap, Senri."
"For you: yeah."
To Senri: What exactly does it feel like when Raha strokes that- mind connection (?) Can you see Raha's memories as well, tell how he's feeling?
"I do, yeah... Saw his memories, I mean. And most of the time - unless he's not locking me out - I can tell what he's feeling, but we'll be getting into that more in the next chapter, since... it has a lot to do with the boundaries and all. As for how it feels... Umm, veeery pleasant. Like a stroke of hand across my very soul, and the sensation is... extremely arousing... But by his glare right now, that's as far as I'm going to go on that."
To Raha: Have you seen more visions from Senri's life?You don't have to go into detail. Also was wondering if you can tell how Senri's feeling or does your mind connection (?) not cover that?
"Pretty much as above: I did see a looot more of those... 'visions,' considering how old he is, obviously. If, like he said, more on that in the next chapter."
To the shifter brothers: Can miqo'te see each other as adorable because Senri's personality is adorable.
"Aww, thanks! But, I guess...? I mean, I would say it's the same as with humans. And the kits ARE adorable, so I don't think I ever met anyone who wouldn't agree on that... not that many humans are allowed anywhere near them, though."
"Okay, that's it, I believe."
"Good, because all that talk about food got me hungry. But, honestly, that was fun!"
"Well... it was. You'll make dinner today, by the way...?"
"Sure, sure... no problem!"
"Dear Readers, I recommend if you can, get yourself a Seeker boyfriend... or girlfriend, I suppose. Their magic is impossibly useful... and saves one A LOT of money, because believe me, Senri eats a ton... pretty much literally."
"What can I say... I'm a big boy, and use a ton of energy... daily and eagerly!"
"Just... don't go there..."
"...because Raha's a handful in bed and everywhere else, of course!"
"..."
"Heh, as red as he got... worth spending the night on the couch."
"You're impossible... But, that would be it, guys, and if you have any follow-up questions, please don't hesitate to ask. We still have quite a bit of Senri's list left, so we will look toward doing this again at some point."
*whisper*"And if you manage to sneak something naughty past Raha..."
"Just... Senri, grow up and get to that dinner, please?"
"Yes, my prince!"
"...I swear, some days... Eh, I hope you'll have fun reading those, and I'll look forward to hearing from you, Dear Readers, again. Thank you and have a good night."