closed ♔ tu es belle

[priforprince]

Who: Hibiki & Celestia
When: January 5
Where: The Near Shore
What: Answering a prayer for Celebrities (?) in need.

Are there truly cats here?

[ Hibiki is accompanying Princess Celestia on a prayer the latter'd received. This has everything to do with a desire to ensure all misfortune has abandoned the Princess and nothing to do with still not knowing how to take the sudden pile of Maria's things that appeared in Hibiki's temple yesterday - or the vacant lot where Maria's temple used to be. Yes, she is here for Celestia. Absolutely.

She is carrying a bag of nothing but the finest cat foods, all Rosalie's favorite flavors (there is plenty left over for Rosalie at her temple). Hibiki has learned a lot about cats lately, and "dingy locations in the Near Shore" haven't figured into any of the lessons. ]

Shouldn't they be more...discerning....?

[ They're small, fuzzy Celebrities. Yes? ]

Comments

[letteropener]

The marvel of cats is that any place they appear is the better for their appearance.

[They aren't alone today; company in the form of Philomena flies above them, the phoenix feeling her attendance to be necessary. After all, Celestia is Celestia and might attempt to adopt all the cats, and though Philomena can handle any number of felines who might find her tasty or a plaything, she'd like to avoid needing to try.]

[And speaking of Celestia's care for cats, she hadn't brought food; Hibiki has that well in-hand. Celestia has a few cat brushes, a nail trimmer, and some boxes made into small shelters to keep the poor kitties out of the elements.]

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki will not debate that cats are amazing. Small Celebrities, again. ] But, for the sake of their ease....

[ Was that a meow from over there? ]

[letteropener]

Oh, let's set out the food! I promise that will have them coming in a hurry.

[The surest way to a cat's heart, after all. Celestia deposits her burdens gently on the ground, just as Philomena drops down to land on one extended wing.]

[priforprince]

I can't comprehend.

[ A shake of her head. But, if Princess Celestia believes this will work, Hibiki is willing to give it a shot.

These cats have probably never eaten off of gold and silver plates, but those certainly are being provided for them as Hibiki draws things out of the bag. Really, the food corner is sparkling, it is so high-class and elegant.

This candelabra is probably pushing it, but ambiance is crucial. ]

[letteropener]

[Perhaps to Hibiki's dismay, the cats do not find the candelabra a huge draw. More to their liking are the gentle clicking noises Celestia makes, soothing little sounds that mix with the earth pony virtue she holds. Soon enough, the first bold tomcat slinks out, a big old orange fellow who looks like he's been around quite a while.]

adrien explained cat psychology to hibiki and she heard...hibiki things

[priforprince]

[ Here they come. Hibiki finishes laying out her feast - it's arranged in courses, because why wouldn't it be, this is how Rosalie eats - and stands back.

But. That's their first guest? ]

How low they've fallen.

[ Are these inferior cats, the reverse of how Rosalie is a superior one? Or is some system unfairly keeping them from ruling over humanity as they believe to be their right?

What was the person who'd been looking after these cats doing? ]

[letteropener]

[With the food out and the pony, at least, radiating helpfulness and safety, more strays creep out of the corners and nooks they'd hidden themselves in. None of them quite have that housecat look -- these have either been stray from kittenhood or out here long enough to have lost all domestic softness.]

[Celestia takes a few steps back, then motions for Hibiki to do the same.] Give them some space, and let them eat. They'll be more willing to accept attention with full bellies.

[priforprince]

Why are their coats in that condition?

[ This is disturbing Hibiki. She finally learned of an entire species of animal that meets her standards and then someone has allowed this lot to get mange!

She does step back, though, and closer to the Princess, to watch the cats eat. ] This is the species that looks down on humanity. Their enduring such a fate is absurd!!

[letteropener]

Because they have nopony to properly take care of them, I'm afraid.

[That's the simple, sad answer. There are more cats than homes in human households, and thus this sad state of affairs.]

[priforprince]

Ridiculous.

[ Hibiki whips out her phone. ] I'm calling a cat contractor. Quality housing shall be constructed immediately.

[ CAT CONTRACTORS MUST EXIST. ]

[letteropener]

It is an unfortunate consequence of humans not being in tune with their world. [As she has since coming here, Celestia still believes the pony way to be best. Certainly, they have fewer strays.]

[As for Hibiki's actions, Celestia chooses to let them go. Instead, as one of the cats begins to slow its eating, she lowers herself to her knees, and makes that gentle chuffing noise again to lure it over.]

[priforprince]

Hello....?

[ Put on hold immediately? Hibiki frowns. Let's try another number. What about this one....?

What, again?

The quick eater cautiously pads its way to Celestia and raises a paw. What is...what is....

There is a careful, exploratory beans-meet-nose boop about to happen. ]

[letteropener]

[This is totally okay, and Celestia allows the cat to get used to her gentle presence before reaching out a hoof to gently pet the kitty.]

[Philomena, bored, takes off from Celestia's wings in a magnificent display of feathers the color of flame, for no reason other than the joy of flight.
She seems a little curious about what Hibiki is doing, though, pulling into a narrow circle above her to watch and listen.]

[priforprince]

....no, your specialist who handles dwellings for cats!

[ And then suddenly...ringtone? Hibiki removes the phone from her ear to scowl at it in disbelief before stabbing the "end" button. Philomena is welcome to observe this gripping, one-Prince performance. ]

What's the meaning of this?

[letteropener]

[No sooner does she lift her finger-stabbing hand from the phone than Celestia quickly slips a brush into it with her magic.]

[Meanwhile, 'her' cat is purring, a rough and raspy noise that sounds all the more authentic for how unused it seems. The other cats also begin to come over, tails swishing and curiosity overwhelming caution thanks to full bellies.]

and then rosalie threw a fit because hibiki SMELLED LIKE OTHER CATS

[priforprince]

....Eh?

[ Suddenly Hibiki is holding a brush.

Suddenly Hibiki is surrounded by curious and expected cats. ]

What?!

[ This is adding up to a surprising picture! Somehow! ]

[letteropener]

A good brushing will do them a world of good, Hibiki. Along with petting and attention, of course.

[Celestia has an advantage -- with her magic, she can brush a couple of cats at once! Even when they're twining around her flanks to scent-mark her, stropping vigorously with expressions of smug feline happiness.]

[priforprince]

Lavish attention...on these.....?

[ But. It's not their fault the world refuses to acknowledge their rightful place within it. Hibiki bends at the knees, robotically, and lowers a hand.

There is a general commotion to see who gets the pettins. ]

[letteropener]

[For a minute or two, they have nothing more to do than pet and care for cats, brush them and coo at them, and come to terms with the existence of strays (Hibiki only).]

[But Philomena shatters their peace, dropping down from her flight in a flicker of flames to land on Celestia's back and swat the pony with one wing. Surprised, but not angry, she whips her head around to look at the phoenix.]

[Philomena points to an alley that opens up into this lot.]

[priforprince]

Something's amiss?

[ Hibiki looks up and over. She has somehow ended up with a cat on one epaulette.

Not inquiring would be best. ]

[letteropener]

Something is over there. Something more like us than should be on the Near Shore.

[Celestia glances down at Hibiki. Hibiki is human, and thus less likely to cause confusion and alarm, if it isn't something hostile. But Hibiki is also Hibiki. So which of them should go to check it out? Or both?]

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki nods. The cat on her shoulder oozes off, liquid, to plonk onto the ground. The sea of cats adjusts around her as she stands. ] Stay behind me.

[ Hibiki does not consider who goes first with the same criteria Celestia does. Hibiki is the Prince, Celestia is the Princess.

Hibiki shall protect. ]

[letteropener]

[Celestia is accustomed to royal guards, who truly can do very little to protect her personally compared to her own capabilities. If she has an objection, it is that Hibiki has lowered herself to this level. But then again, even a royal guard can marry a Princess, so perhaps she's being narrow-minded about this.]

[Celestia falls in behind her, while Philomena takes to the air again, a better place for her to be should she be needed.]

shift to the next prayer? should we apply for it?

[priforprince]

[ Celestia has a different sort of royal guard going on here, too: a bunch of cats, though they're not very good at this. As Hibiki gets closer to the source of the disturbance, a bunch of them fluff up, hiss, and freeze. They don't want to get any closer to the....whatever.

Hibiki, however, is a brave and valiant Perfect Beauty Knight! She shall persist!

Closer....closer....

Sideways glance! ]

i am a fool!

[letteropener]

[What treacherous fiend lurks beyond!?]

[A girl. A young girl, staring up at the pair of gods with wide eyes and hunger mixed with fear. She looks like she wants to flee, and yet at the same time, can't.]

[All tension melts out of Celestia's posture in an instant, and she offers a warm and reassuring smile over Hibiki's shoulders.]