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It didn’t take long to get dried off, gills having faded to smooth skin once more, and redressed in the New Horizon issued suits for Tower-use. After the time spent in the pool, as well as her field doses from the Zookeeper encounter having settled to a manageable level, Valora was feeling much better about the day. Even descending to the cafeteria level where others mingled about as well didn’t seem as awful as usual, though the scent of one man’s cologne got caught up in her noes as she passed him. Egh.

It was while rubbing her nose to try and rid herself of the smell that Valora caught sight of the two men exiting the cafeteria in front of her, and like a deer in the headlights the shapeshifter felt herself freezing to the spot. A single grey eye darted between Joseiah and Ricardo, only relaxing minutely when the latter disappeared back into the cafeteria. The puzzled look that crossed the Frenchwoman's face was obvious before she finally focused back on Joseiah, offering him the slightest of smiles.

[color=SkyBlue]”Good afternoon, Joseiah,”[/color] She finally greeted. [color=Skyblue]”It is... ice to see you?”[/color] Yes, that was correct. Of course before Valora could even so much as get a response Ricardo was back before her. Strangely, despite his usual demeanour of being a storm of energy trapped in a man’s body he was oddly contained. When his head dropped Valora could only stare at him quizzically, one foot planted back as though to run and fingers nervously intertwined.

Was that... a cupcake?

[color=orange]”It is the cupcake of apology.”[/color]

It took a few seconds for Ricardo’s words to penetrate, but when they did Valora couldn’t help but melt. It was true that her insides still twisted and some part of her wanted to nervously fidget in front of the beast of a man, but as he continued to speak that soft smile came to her lips once more. Taking a careful step forward one hand reached out to take the cupcake, her other landing on his arm.

[color=Skyblue]”Thank you, Ricardo. That is very sweet of you,”[/color] The shapeshifter murmured, before leaning in to kiss his cheek in thanks. It was a bit more uncommon to be so touchy in this country, but Valora could only hope he didn’t mind the expression of gratitude. A warmth had settled in her chest seeing his restraint in order to ‘right his wrongs’, so despite the fact she wasn’t actually looking forward to it...

[color=Skyblue]”I ... will join you for training in a few minutes, if that is alright? I must eat first.”[/color] Stepping back from him, now cupping the cupcake in her own hands, Valora offered Ricardo and then Joseiah a slight nod of her head. [color=SkyBlue]”I will see you both soon.”[/color]

It was only as she was entering the cafeteria that Valora tensed once more seeing the mass of people, and a slight sigh escaped her lips. What had she just agreed to?

[hr]

As much as she wanted to draw her lunch out to delay the inevitable, it would’ve been extremely rude to do so after agreeing to join in on Ricardo’s training. It helped that the crowd of people seeking lunch in the cafeteria made Valora uneasy, not just because they were all evidently New Horizon employees. As such it was a short affair before the shapeshifter was taking the elevator back upstairs, rubbing her thumb against its opposite palm in a nervous gesture.

[color=SkyBlue][i]”Someone must’ve brought their pet in to the office today,”[/i][/color] The thought absently passed through the blonde’s mind feeling the prick of her own unusually sharp nail against pale skin. It did nothing to comfort her, but at least she was safe in the knowledge that she had no business in the offices of the lower levels.

Valora hadn’t even reached the gym before Ricardo’s booming voice could already be heard. He was back to booming, of course, his words rattling clear through the hallway as he called for Draig. It didn’t help that the distorted echo of his words burst out of her comms, making her flinch and rub at her golden-furred ear.

It was simple enough to slip into the gymnasium with Phoenix Dawn’s presence encompassing so much, though Valora wasn’t proud to admit she nearly backed right back out seeing the small crowd that had gathered inside. Slowly she edged inside, her single uncovered eye darting about nervously. She didn’t think Ricardo’s training sessions were [i]this[/i] popular, but even Alice had shown up! Were people this interested in that debilitating exercise routine he was describing?

Taking a shuddering breath and squaring her shoulders Valora gave a smile and tiny wave to Ricardo in greeting, and a nod to Joseiah.

[color=Skyblue]”Good afternoon,”[/color] The Frenchwoman nearly whispered to her Team Leader, offering a weak smile as she slipped passed her. Valora was nearly sure her words were swallowed by the noise in the room. However the woman’s comment drew Valora’s newly slitted pupils up, settling on Elliot and Silas. Immediately her eyebrows furrowed seeing the way Elliot was ... well, it wasn’t flattering, but the way she [i]hung[/i] off Silas. The blonde tilted her head, casting a questioning gaze to her friend, a silent question if he needed help.

That was when Valora first spotted [i]him[/i].

Black fur, a hint of white. Long ears – her own strangely elongated ones flattening into her hair.  A flicking tail – thankfully she lacked that. Most pressing of all, however, were the [i]claws[/i] and [i]teeth[/i]. Valora’s nails dug into her palms, feeling her hands shaking as her tongue touched her teeth, sharp and capable of tearing through flesh easily.

Her pupils dilated to slits.

[color=Skyblue]”C...Ca...”[/color] The word stuttered and whimpered against her tongue which felt clumsy and heavy. Valora’s back hit the wall with a small thump as she attempted to back track to the door without actually [i]turning[/i] her back to the five foot feline [i]creature[/i]. What was it?! Why was it here?!

When Valora half-tripped over her own feet, catching herself on the wall a panicked hiss escaped her lips before dissolving into a pathetic, choking half-whimper. Her flight or response was in full swing, screaming in her mind. [i]Escape, leave, [b]danger![/b][/i]

[i]Why was no one else weirded out by this?![/i]