Event Catch-all Post

[widows_kiss]

Who: Natasha Romanoff Liddell and [OPEN] to whoever wants her in human form or leopard.
Where: Around the mansion and the grounds
When: the duration of the event
Rating: Anywhere from PG to ??? (depending on if she reverts to human on any of you)
Summary: Natasha's cursed with the Spirit of Leopard.
The Story:

[Option 1: Natasha]
Natasha falls somewhere in the middle generation of Liddell cousins and siblings that inhabit the mansion. She's not one of the most social of them either, preferring to be more solitary like the animal spirit she was cursed with. That doesn't mean she doesn't still keep tabs on family members and keep an eye on the happenings around the mansion, just that she's usually fairly subtle about it. For a few years when she was younger, she traveled the world to see what she could see, but in recent years, she's been more than content to stay home, around her family, for whatever she might be needed for. Family's important to her, despite the fact that there's so many of them and she might not be the best at showing it sometimes.

Most days (or nights, as she's known to have a nocturnal streak) she can usually be found wandering, or possibly curled up somewhere comfortable with a book or a companion. If you spot her alone, feel free to come join her or lure her out into into some fun. Despite her occasional aloof manner or cool stare, she does have a mischievous playful side that shows up at unexpected moments.

[Option 2: Leopard]
In a house with so many people inside its walls, its inevitable that sooner or later collisions occur. Natasha's not usually overly worried about this - she understands the need to keep their curse a secret and faithfully endeavors to do so but accidents happen and unlike some of her relatives, she's just as comfortable in her cursed form as she is in her human one.

It's why she doesn't sweat it too much if she does accidentally bump into someone nearby - she's good at vanishing out of sight quickly if need be, and there are plenty of shadowy heights to perch in out of sight. Sometimes this plays out to her advantage, especially if she's feeling particularly bored or playful. Not everyone in the mansion is very good at staying aware of their surroundings when there are predators looking to pounce.

((OOC: This is Natasha's catch-all post for the event. Feel free to pick either option, if you want to interact with her as human or in her leopard form, or even both, if your character's inclined to trigger her transformation in some way. I'm up for anything!))

Comments

[widows_kiss]

"Good," is Natasha's answer to the girl's response, and there's still amusement in her voice but also a hint of approval. Then again, her outlook on things is always a little strange, whether she's being a cat or not.

The girl's revelation a moment later, however, gets a slow blink as Natasha absorbs that information, tail twitching thoughtfully near her feet.

"You're Hannibal's?" Perhaps the possessive use of the words isn't entirely correct, but many of her cousins have connections outside the family and she's been finding out firsthand just how many are learning of their secret. She hoped it wasn't going to become a problem. "My my, that is surprising. Don't worry, I have no intention of hurting you. Despite my appearance, I'm not an actual leopard. And you don't look all that tasty."

[thehobbsgirl]

Abigail isn't sure she'd like being referred to as Hannibal's, as if she were his property. For the moment, she isn't going to argue, but she doesn't confirm it, either.

Natasha's reassurance that she doesn't want to hurt Abigail doesn't entirely diminish her wariness. After all, people lie. She hasn't survived this long by being trusting. The comment about her not looking tasty makes her stomach twist with momentary but intense nausea. Would it still make this woman a cannibal, if she took a bite out of someone while in the form of a leopard? Abigail shoves the association aside. It was a joke, meant to put her at her ease.

"Are you hanging around in the hallway hoping to scare people, or is it an unintended side effect?" There's the tiniest hint of reproach in the question. If this woman doesn't mean to terrorize random passers-by, surely there are better places for her to wait it out until she transforms back into a human. And if she is just lurking in the shadows waiting to startle people, well, that doesn't strike Abigail as particularly wise or mature. People can react badly when they are surprised.

[widows_kiss]

"Actually I was planning on staying out of sight until you passed and then continue on to my room until I stopped being furry," Natasha drawled, one ear twitching when the girl scolded her. Scolded her! Yes, she suspected she could see why Hannibal liked this one. Mainly she was amused. And intrigued.

"Most people aren't very observant when it comes to checking all the shadows when they're off to somewhere. I've used that spot before with no one the wiser. There's one on each floor, actually. Useful, when the halls have been so busy lately. Although yes, scaring people would probably be a faster way of clearing my route. Not so good for being subtle, though."

I'm really really sorry this is so belated

[thehobbsgirl]

Natasha is right, of course; it would be a good spot to hide from anyone who wasn't always looking in the dark corners for a sign of threat. There's an uncomfortable insight, there, about her occasional tendency towards hyper-vigilance. Abigail might mind in different circumstances - there's something to be gained from seeming less observant and less intelligent than she is - but it's far too late for that with Natasha. It's a bit of a relief, to temporarily drop one piece of her perpetual act and acknowledge her paranoia.

"You've got a good point."

Abigail knows the polite thing would probably be to leave, to let Natasha go back to her room before she transforms back. Abigail's seen that happen enough times to know it comes with a rather embarrassing side-effect. But she doesn't want to let her go before she knows what her name is. Between the leopard appearance and the distortion to her voice, Abigail isn't sure she'd recognize this woman if she met her again.

"What's your name?"

it's okay! XD

[widows_kiss]

The leopard's head cocks in an inquisitive manner as she studies the girl for a moment and considers. She knows enough about her, should she need to call up information. Or, at the very least, knows where to go and look for it. And considering the girl already knows their secret - from Hannibal, of all people, which is just interesting in itself - she sees little harm in it.

"I'm Natasha. And you are?"

[thehobbsgirl]

"Abigail. I'd offer to shake your hand, but..." she trails off, with a small smile at the corner of her mouth.

"Can I ask you something?" It's a disingenuous opener; Abigail has every intention of asking whether or not Natasha wants her to, but this way she sounds polite, at least. "Does it hurt? Changing, I mean?"

The few people who she has seen change have been incredibly annoyed, afterwards. Abigail isn't sure if all of that is down to their obsession with the so-called curse being a secret, or if there might be something else at play. She can't imagine there would be no discomfort at all, having your body change so radically, so quickly.

"Hannibal wouldn't tell me." There's concern in her voice which, if not entirely honest, isn't entirely disingenuous, either.