Sooraya and Sharon: Cat Complex
Oct. 14th, 2023 09:45 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsAfter inflicting psychic damage on as many people as possible, Sharon is finally corralled by Sooraya for an explanation of her spontaneous humanity.
"Is my third wardrobe change today. Seems excessive." Sharon tried to rearrange the folds of the hastily-gathered prayer robes. They undoubtedly covered more than either the sheet or Clint's shirt had done, although the fact Sharon now stood a good eight inches taller than the woman they'd been bought for did result in a slightly bizarre fit. She gave Sooraya an aggrieved look. "Was fully covered by sheet. I made sure."
Sooraya threw her a droll look: "They were what I had on hand when Match came running in, panicking about a naked girl in his bed. And since the robes nearly fit anyone... they'll do well enough for now." She looked at Sharon again, this time more carefully. "First things first. You feeling okay? Any chance we need to visit the Medlab?"
"Am perfectly well. Just needed snack." Sharon gave up fussing with the robes and collapsed bonelessly onto the couch of the guest-room she'd ostensibly been occupying for the past few months. Her tail twitched beneath the robe as she rolled onto her back to get a better look at Sooraya. The girl rubbed her cheek against the cushion, purple hair splaying around her face. "Match is all right?" she asked. "Seemed very shaken. Meant to fetch someone for him, but became distracted."
"He'll be fine once he gets over the shock a little. He's a teenage boy though, so he might not look you in the eyes for a while." Sooraya explained with a smirk playing around her lips. "So let me find you a snack and we can talk a little more about this." She rose and quickly left the room.
Sharon didn't change position when Sooraya disappeared, but her teeth did briefly work against her lower lip. The sudden quiet meant she was alone with her thoughts. Right now they weren't particularly relaxing.
Moments later Sooraya came back, holding a protein drink and a package of jerky. "There you go." She handed both items to Sharon, before pulling a bottle of water from her pocket, cracking it open and taking a sip. "So... is this new to you?" She gestured at Sharon's body.
"No," Sharon said with studied nonchalance as she ripped open the bag of jerky, "have been able to change always. But this is first time since day we met." Tearing into dried meat was an excellent excuse to avoid direct eye contact.
Sooraya nodded slowly, a little lost in thought. "So you could do this before you came here?"
"Always is always. Is like I told Kyle: I did not have manifestation. Just did not say congenital mutation included shifting also." Sharon took a drink of the protein shake and swiped the back of her hand across her mouth. "Seemed to have suspected regardless. It is common for heteromorphs, maybe?"
"It is, but not the same for everyone." Sooraya nodded, thinking of Rahne. "I had a friend for whom it was pretty different though. So one big question I still have... this part of your powers clearly isn't new to you. Why are you so nervous, Sharon?" The girl has steadily been avoiding looking at her all.
The automatic "I am not nervous" began to form, but passed just as quickly. Sharon licked her lips.
"It is like how we met. Did not disclose whole truth. Thought people would be angry, maybe. But I did not lie," she insisted hurriedly. "When I came I could not change. For days before I approached I gorged so I could return to normal shape. I could shift once, then no more. Until now."
Narrowing her eyes, Sooraya had to take a moment to gather her thoughts. She started off slowly though. "Sharon, not immediately telling everything isn't lying. Nor is it bad. You came to total strangers. It's not weird to see if you feel you can trust them, if you feel safe enough to reveal the full truth of things like your abilities."
"Was . . . not only that." The words were reluctant. Sharon stared at the piece of jerky clutched in her hands. "Kyle said because I am cat people expect different things. Counted on this a little, maybe. But I also . . ." She bit her lip again, as if searching for the right words.
"If people see this form," the girl ventured, "they will assume I have been human all along, maybe."
"Why would it be a bad thing if people thought that?" Sooraya tilted her head a little. "Because I can still see your eyes, your tail and your claws."
"Because this shape is . . ." Sharon groped for the words. "Kyle told me of your friend, the girl who becomes wolf. But I am the opposite. Was born in the form you met me. Have been able to change always, but that is my preference. Human shape is for utility only."
Sooraya narrowed her eyes a little, trying to puzzle out Sharon's exact statement: "You feel like it's a lie if people believe you're born human? Or because you don't really feel human at all?"
The girl considered this, then nodded. "Yes. Both of these, yes. If it is seen that I can take this form people will . . . expect things, maybe, that I do not know or cannot do." She plucked at the jerky with her claws, tips shredding the dried meat. "Is like Kyle said. A talking cat, this is fun. I am fun. But if I am human it is different. Am not the cute kind of cat-person, like Liam. To me this shape is ugly and weak." She lifted her eyes briefly to meet Sooraya's, then dropped them again. "Self-conscious, maybe."
"Sharon, the form you are in now is as much a part of you as any of your cat forms. Maybe you haven't found them yet, but it has its own strengths." Sooraya carefully ventured, though a soft smile played around her lips. "And its own beauty. Your mind, your heart, your spirit, your soul... that remains the same and shines through in whatever form you are."
"Maybe. Maybe." Sharon still looked doubtful, but a moment later she seemed to push it away again. She tore off another piece of jerky in a way that made it seem as if she held it personally responsible for any unwanted feelings that may have arisen during the course of the conversation. Her weak, human jaw muscles worked as she chewed furiously.
"But is no matter," Sharon continued. She swallowed. "Because even though I am cat some things can be done only as human. If people do not accept, they do not deserve my association."
"Hmmm..." Sooraya tilted her head a little. "You know, I'd say you are simply Sharon. Mostly cat, but also a bit of human." She paused for a moment before adding. "That part of you is a gift from your mother... a way you carry her with you."
Sharon's chewing slowed. She licked her lips. "Yes. Was for her, this shape."
The statement hung between them for a long moment. Then, with a quick shake of the head, Sharon dismissed the thought and began to suck at her greasy fingers.
"Is done now," said the girl. "My secrets are known. Will make reintroductions, maybe."
"That's one option. Another one might be to let everyone know in one big blast... at least at the mansion."
"Ah." Sharon gave Sooraya a knowing nod. "Is one other thing I will stop pretending I do not do . . ."
"Is my third wardrobe change today. Seems excessive." Sharon tried to rearrange the folds of the hastily-gathered prayer robes. They undoubtedly covered more than either the sheet or Clint's shirt had done, although the fact Sharon now stood a good eight inches taller than the woman they'd been bought for did result in a slightly bizarre fit. She gave Sooraya an aggrieved look. "Was fully covered by sheet. I made sure."
Sooraya threw her a droll look: "They were what I had on hand when Match came running in, panicking about a naked girl in his bed. And since the robes nearly fit anyone... they'll do well enough for now." She looked at Sharon again, this time more carefully. "First things first. You feeling okay? Any chance we need to visit the Medlab?"
"Am perfectly well. Just needed snack." Sharon gave up fussing with the robes and collapsed bonelessly onto the couch of the guest-room she'd ostensibly been occupying for the past few months. Her tail twitched beneath the robe as she rolled onto her back to get a better look at Sooraya. The girl rubbed her cheek against the cushion, purple hair splaying around her face. "Match is all right?" she asked. "Seemed very shaken. Meant to fetch someone for him, but became distracted."
"He'll be fine once he gets over the shock a little. He's a teenage boy though, so he might not look you in the eyes for a while." Sooraya explained with a smirk playing around her lips. "So let me find you a snack and we can talk a little more about this." She rose and quickly left the room.
Sharon didn't change position when Sooraya disappeared, but her teeth did briefly work against her lower lip. The sudden quiet meant she was alone with her thoughts. Right now they weren't particularly relaxing.
Moments later Sooraya came back, holding a protein drink and a package of jerky. "There you go." She handed both items to Sharon, before pulling a bottle of water from her pocket, cracking it open and taking a sip. "So... is this new to you?" She gestured at Sharon's body.
"No," Sharon said with studied nonchalance as she ripped open the bag of jerky, "have been able to change always. But this is first time since day we met." Tearing into dried meat was an excellent excuse to avoid direct eye contact.
Sooraya nodded slowly, a little lost in thought. "So you could do this before you came here?"
"Always is always. Is like I told Kyle: I did not have manifestation. Just did not say congenital mutation included shifting also." Sharon took a drink of the protein shake and swiped the back of her hand across her mouth. "Seemed to have suspected regardless. It is common for heteromorphs, maybe?"
"It is, but not the same for everyone." Sooraya nodded, thinking of Rahne. "I had a friend for whom it was pretty different though. So one big question I still have... this part of your powers clearly isn't new to you. Why are you so nervous, Sharon?" The girl has steadily been avoiding looking at her all.
The automatic "I am not nervous" began to form, but passed just as quickly. Sharon licked her lips.
"It is like how we met. Did not disclose whole truth. Thought people would be angry, maybe. But I did not lie," she insisted hurriedly. "When I came I could not change. For days before I approached I gorged so I could return to normal shape. I could shift once, then no more. Until now."
Narrowing her eyes, Sooraya had to take a moment to gather her thoughts. She started off slowly though. "Sharon, not immediately telling everything isn't lying. Nor is it bad. You came to total strangers. It's not weird to see if you feel you can trust them, if you feel safe enough to reveal the full truth of things like your abilities."
"Was . . . not only that." The words were reluctant. Sharon stared at the piece of jerky clutched in her hands. "Kyle said because I am cat people expect different things. Counted on this a little, maybe. But I also . . ." She bit her lip again, as if searching for the right words.
"If people see this form," the girl ventured, "they will assume I have been human all along, maybe."
"Why would it be a bad thing if people thought that?" Sooraya tilted her head a little. "Because I can still see your eyes, your tail and your claws."
"Because this shape is . . ." Sharon groped for the words. "Kyle told me of your friend, the girl who becomes wolf. But I am the opposite. Was born in the form you met me. Have been able to change always, but that is my preference. Human shape is for utility only."
Sooraya narrowed her eyes a little, trying to puzzle out Sharon's exact statement: "You feel like it's a lie if people believe you're born human? Or because you don't really feel human at all?"
The girl considered this, then nodded. "Yes. Both of these, yes. If it is seen that I can take this form people will . . . expect things, maybe, that I do not know or cannot do." She plucked at the jerky with her claws, tips shredding the dried meat. "Is like Kyle said. A talking cat, this is fun. I am fun. But if I am human it is different. Am not the cute kind of cat-person, like Liam. To me this shape is ugly and weak." She lifted her eyes briefly to meet Sooraya's, then dropped them again. "Self-conscious, maybe."
"Sharon, the form you are in now is as much a part of you as any of your cat forms. Maybe you haven't found them yet, but it has its own strengths." Sooraya carefully ventured, though a soft smile played around her lips. "And its own beauty. Your mind, your heart, your spirit, your soul... that remains the same and shines through in whatever form you are."
"Maybe. Maybe." Sharon still looked doubtful, but a moment later she seemed to push it away again. She tore off another piece of jerky in a way that made it seem as if she held it personally responsible for any unwanted feelings that may have arisen during the course of the conversation. Her weak, human jaw muscles worked as she chewed furiously.
"But is no matter," Sharon continued. She swallowed. "Because even though I am cat some things can be done only as human. If people do not accept, they do not deserve my association."
"Hmmm..." Sooraya tilted her head a little. "You know, I'd say you are simply Sharon. Mostly cat, but also a bit of human." She paused for a moment before adding. "That part of you is a gift from your mother... a way you carry her with you."
Sharon's chewing slowed. She licked her lips. "Yes. Was for her, this shape."
The statement hung between them for a long moment. Then, with a quick shake of the head, Sharon dismissed the thought and began to suck at her greasy fingers.
"Is done now," said the girl. "My secrets are known. Will make reintroductions, maybe."
"That's one option. Another one might be to let everyone know in one big blast... at least at the mansion."
"Ah." Sharon gave Sooraya a knowing nod. "Is one other thing I will stop pretending I do not do . . ."
no subject
Date: 2023-10-14 05:57 pm (UTC)