Things were quiet on the Deathly Soulflame. Currently, Retvik, Litvir and Arkay were just flying through empty voidspace, on their way to a meetup spot with another Hidden Trio. Apparently, the plan was to help this other Hidden Trio with some Corruption purging, but they admittedly didn’t really know who they were meeting with, apart from the fact that their ship was called the Banishing Purepurger. Admittedly, Arkay was looking forward to killing a bunch of Corruption, it was a simple job that made Arkay happy.
In the mean time though, nothing was going on. And it was a long trip. Sure, the ship was on autopilot, but Arkay liked keeping an eye on things. However, Arkay was a little unaware that he was being watched. Retvik had been standing in the entrance, clearly wanting something but not saying anything. It wasn’t until Arkay almost randomly glanced behind him that he noticed Retvik’s presence.
“You alright, Retvik?”
Retvik grunted. “I do not know. I feel slightly off.”
“Nervous?”
“A little. Mostly because we are meeting three strangers, we do not know what they even look like.”
“You’re fine with the Corruption purging?”
“Well, it is a simple task. And I do have fire powers…” Retvik tutted to himself. “I think it is part uneasiness, part boredom, part uncertainty.”
Arkay shrugged. “I get that. Especially the uncertainty. This is all strange and new and confusing.”
“Yes, it is all confusing. My issue though right now is that I do not know how to settle down… Actually… well, I do, but I do not know how to phrase my request.”
“Your… request?”
Retvik nodded. “I want to ask something of you, but do not know if it is rude or not.”
“What do you mean?”
Retvik peered over his shoulder, then sat down. The three seats in the cockpit were normally set so Arkay’s seat was further forward (so he could pilot the ship) but the seats could be adjusted so they were next to each other. Arkay did just that, so Retvik was sitting next to him. Retvik lowered his voice before speaking.
“Before we left Savepoint, I noticed that our two little Phovoses would constantly spend time together, brushing each others’ manes. I also noticed that little Tanos would regularly turn himself into a cat, and allow his friends to pet him. And then I noticed that, occasionally, Galyn and Itaviir brushed Vikalos’s fur. And part of me thinks that this gentle brushing stuff looks very appealing. Despite the fact that we are all big and pointy and sharp and rubbery.”
All of a sudden, Litvir appeared out of seemingly nowhere and sat down next to Arkay.
“What Retvik is trying to say is that he wants you to turn into a fluffy kitty so he can pet you, and also experience the weird emotions that everyone else gets when petting a fluffy kitty!” Litvir beamed. “And I too would like to experience petting you, Arkay. I would pet myself but I cannot shapeshift into something fluffy or furry or whatever, and the reason why petting is so nice is because you cannot predict where the next pet will be.”
Retvik and Arkay both stared at Litvir.
“What? You both know I am right! Arkay, can you turn into a fluffy kitty, please? Retvik wants to pet you. And so do I.”
“Litvir, dear, you do realise that the name of the animal that you want Arkay to turn into is a cat, not a fluffy kitty, right?”
“Cat, fluffy kitty, same thing!” Litvir grinned. “Still cute and furry! Although I do wonder if a fluffy puppy has the same effect.”
“Litvir, it is not “fluffy puppy”, it is a “dog”.”
Arkay shrugged. “Litvir can call them fluffy things, if he wants. I find it cute and endearing. Doubly so since he never saw a fluffy kitty when he was mortal. Although, speaking of dogs, I still don’t know why new-universe Ksithans called me the Death Wolf, because I was only ever briefly Death-Wolf-y in your universe.”
“They did?” Retvik exclaimed.
“Yeah. It’s weird. Especially since I’ve always been a cat person.”
“How comes?”
Arkay shrugged. “I much more adore the independence of a cat over the enthusiastic dependence of a dog. But also, Epani and Kairos were both dog people and it annoyed them that I both once was briefly dog-y and am a cat person.”
“Fair, I guess?” Litvir wasn’t sure how to respond, and clearly Retvik didn’t know either. “Anyway, Arkay, may you turn into a fluffy kitty so Retvik and I can pet you? Also, can I choose the colour of your fluffy kitty form?”
“Uh, sure. Why though?”
Litvir pulled his communicator from a pocket in his stomach wrap then quickly searched something up. After a moment, he found a picture of a white, orange and black cat that was also rather fluffy.
“Can you look like this, please?”
Arkay scanned the picture, then shrugged. “Sure, but why?”
“I think you could pull it off and be even cuter.”
Arkay inspected the picture some more. He then picked at the skin on the back of his hand. In one go, Arkay’s skin appeared to come off and then turn into black flakes, all of which disappeared before hitting the ground. In Arkay’s place was now the multi-coloured fluffy kitty, except larger and even fluffier.
Immediately, Litvir started petting Arkay, stroking his head gently. Retvik however seemed uneasy and didn’t know where to start and where was safe to touch.
“This is actually really, really nice…” Arkay muttered as Litvir tickled around his ears and underneath his chin. “Can totally see why our furry friends like this… Also, Retvik, do you not want to stroke me?”
“I… do not know where is safe to touch…” Retvik frowned.
“Retvik, dear, you have had sex with both Arkay and myself. As long as you do not do anything obviously dumb, I am sure Arkay will not mind, yes?”
Arkay nodded. Retvik hesitated a little more, then started stroking the fur on Arkay’s back. This made Arkay start purring.
“Feeling better, Retvik?” Arkay asked.
“Yes, actually…” Retvik smiled. “This is wonderful…”