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[admiralchiss]

If you want to play off any of my muses, feel free to write a starter

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[catarmy]

"A version of it, yes. I'm not sure it's completely compatible with much, but my energy can be drawn upon by Fade-fueled spells, like any other magic. And I can share it, too. If we touch any way, I can give some to you. Intent can change how it reacts with you.

"It's the same magic that lets me make traps and wards. Or, say, do this."

Pawing at their shadow, Raine pulls not one, but three cats out of it. Each is pitch black from head to toe, eyes white as moonlight and round and wide.

"Semi-corporeal 'scouts'. I see through all of their eyes at the same time. Share their senses. I use them to figure out safe places, find new locations, avoid active dangers, and spy for information. But they have enough intelligence to make their own decisions."

They make biscuits, briefly.

"And you can pet them. Gently, though, or your hand will go right through!"

Up close, two of them openly approach Anders, their fur looks insanely glossy, dotted with small speckles of gray. It's possible to look right through them and into the surroundings beneath.

But they're soft to the touch, should he pet them.

The third wanders off, trotting into the shadows where it seems to completely disappear from view.

[rebelhealer]

Anders's eyes widen, having never seen any magic like this before, then he breaks out in a wide grin. He gently pets one of the shadow cats. "Well aren't you a sweet little shadow cat? Yes you are, yes you are!" He would pick it up and kiss it, if he could.

He looks back at Raine. "You're just full of surprises, aren't you?"

[catarmy]

"Oh, I have more. But, one at a time. I don't want to erase all of the mystery about me. I'd feel horribly exposed, darling~"

Sensing his intent, one of the shadow cats starts to climb onto Anders. It doesn't have any tangible weight to speak of, but there is a subtle pulling sensation where the tiny claws hook into his clothes. It peers up at him, a hint of wide pupils visible when looked at indirectly.

The other rubs against his legs, purring.

The third trots back with a few more sprigs of elfroot and chirps at his feet for recognition.

[rebelhealer]

Anders's grin widens, and he kneels down to take the elfroot and pet the shadow cat. He even gives a feather-light kiss to the one climbing up his body. "Well aren't you an adorable little group." He alternates between petting and kissing the three shadow cats, cooing at all of them. He gets a little carried away and his hand goes through one of them.

"How long can you make these things last?"

[catarmy]

As it is, Raine feels every touch and kiss to their own body - and even the odd, shivery feeling of a hand passing through. The shadows happily lap it up; Raine's just glad that they have no way to blush, let alone have it visible.

When they speak, their meowing is very slightly strained for a moment.

"With my reserves, unless I'm suddenly drained? My longest streak is a few weeks without cessation. I haven't pushed for longer, so I probably could."

A thought crosses their mind - what would happen if they poured enough in? Made at least one of them, well.. completely autonomous? An experiment to take care in later, including looking over if it's ethical to do that or not, and so on and so forth, including thoughts of the future, and things that could go wrong.

Downright, if it would constantly rely on their magic, it certainly wouldn't be ethical to have their lives tied together, only for a freak accident to disrupt the magic....

Deeper thoughts for another time.

"If you'd like their company for when I can't be there, that can be easily arranged. And they have some access to my own magic."

[rebelhealer]

"Just don't strain yourself on my behalf. I mean, if doing this drains you at all, or makes you distracted, then don't worry about it." He pecks the nearest shadow cat on the nose, making sure he doesn't go through its face.

"But, if it's not too much trouble, I wouldn't mind having a clinic cat." Especially one that the starving refugees couldn't eat. Sometimes he was glad that Ser Pounce was now a spoiled housecat in Amaranthine rather than living with him down in Darktown.