Simple Introductions

Walking arm in arm, Willow led Connor deep into the lands of the Mora. They turned quick corners and wound through what seemed like a maze. All the while, the Queen was following Bruce. He often was the one to lead her through the Mora territory, and now he was doing the same for both of them. She could never thank the albino creature enough, but the fish would have to do. They moved down a cobblestoned path, thick with lush greenery and trees. A small, forgotten path led off of the road and was the one Willow took every day. Small plants often tugged at her ankles, but she didn’t mind. There was a smile on her face from what was to come and not what was left behind. Taking one final corner, she watched as Bruce shuffled his way into the yard in front of what was her cottage. It was a small, cozy thing that often reminded her like something out of a fairytale. The yard consisted of very little grass and was instead made up of a flower meadow. It was obvious in both the sparks of her eyes and the relaxation of her body that she both adored and admired her home. Bruce went immediately to the lake that the meadow faded into and slipped into the water’s dark depths. Willow sighed and shook her head at him, not understanding why her pet was so moody at times. The wind had picked up during their walk and it had turned quite chilly outside to her. Smiling to him, she went to her cottage door and unlocked it before ushering him inside. “Make yourself comfortable. I hope you like hot cocoa. It is my coffee on days such as this.” Closing the door softly behind them, Willow took a look around her home. As always, it was spotlessly clean. The cottage was all one floor, consisting of a bathroom, kitchen, living room, and her bedroom. The Mora Queen moved to the kitchen and began the mix for hot chocolate as she softly hummed to herself. She brought two mugs down from her cabinets and poured the contents of what she had made within them. Taking both hot mugs, she placed them on the coffee table and lit the fire in the fireplace.

The Queen calmly took a seat in her recliner and picked up her mug. Sipping the warm drink, she turned to speak to Connor after swallowing. “Are there any questions you have for me? I’m sure you were quite confused when you heard that I had taken the Mora under my rule. Many were.”

Paths and beauty were all of the eye could register besides her stunning features, the environment along with the Queen's natural whimsical glow fit along rather well together, perfect even. It was strange for him to think that it was real, that there were still magical places and forests still alive left in the world today. But nothing, not even the soul of a graceful other could replace what he saw in her, she was the one and only he could see by his side towards the end of time. Wether it be an actual developed relationship, or commoners working under the kingdom rule. And so the shining resides of the woman stood before him, allowing her to lead him softly inside to come across the same niceness as was before. He had to hand it to her, the place, or the Mora territory and land was miraculous, something he wished he would have seen before but was too caught up in his own surprise to see. Connor put on his best of smiles, a charming and noble aura flowing from his very body to the end of his tail, in which was curled up to lay on his lap as he sat down. "I actually would love a cup of cocoa, madam. It's a treat to savor at these times of years, wouldn't you agree? Besides, coffee is only its best during the early mornings when the dew is still wet and fresh in the air. Your home is very lovely, my Queen, if its a problem, may I ask how long you've been walled away in these lonesome territories? Surely you've missed the likes of your race sometime or another, and may it be said that you are no longer alone." He said, taking a small sip before watching the fire bring up in soothingly warm flames before them. The crackles and slightest ashes being seen swish around the dead logs that had must of been chopped only for her.

Internally he could not help but purr under his breath as it was too comforting of a first impression towards the Queen to be in her home as well as enjoying the feel of a warm, welcoming fire and cup of hot cocoa. It had then occurred to him that the reptile was no where to be found, the possibility for the creature to run off in the search of a nice place of his own to rest. He looked to the Queen with his olive orbs, the sunburst of light hazel burning in the corners of both of them, ears pinned back as he smiles, "It actually did not surprise me as one would think, but that is only my opinion. I've been working the town nearest of here as a grocer and employee of a common guitar shop as well as tutor lessons to the youngsters, both uncomfortably human and Mora's in hiding. You did save the lives of many that day and to what I see is that you've made out to be an exceptional leader indeed. I am only but a Neko wanting the same as any Mora these days and that is a home, a haven for myself and the sake of others to be protected of our own kind. Truthfully, the whole idea sounds fitting and I would love to help recruit some into the kingdom so we are not completely the only ones, hm? I do however have one question that's been aching me for a while now from the time of my capture, and that is, how did you do it? What i mean is, how did you escape them? I am a master of escape alone, but I seem to always be caught in the end... I had not seen you do anything for I was merely asleep, sad to say, but I guess we all can't have what we want anymore..." Connor peered to the rim of his mug, the brightness in his eyes a bit hazey and smile a faint of nothing as he missed his 'brothers' and the small hope that he was to be adopted. He looked back up out of respect and shrugged, replacing himself with a half-smile to coup with his emotions, "Excuse me, your Majesty for my slump attitude, but with all that has happened, its hard to forget..." He sighed, hoping she would understand his pain in things instead of take it as a more serious and disappointing situation as he had just met her for the actual first time. Not what he would want to bring up anymore than he had too.

Bringing her knees to her chest, the Queen sat and took measured sips of her cocoa. The heat of it slightly scalded her tongue, but it didn’t bother her. Her attention was on Connor, her ears perked forward in interest. From the way he spoke, Willow was impressed. This man surely knew how to use both his works and his manners to a wonderful quality. She could see how genuinely interest he was when he asked the questions, and she wondered if he was an actor. Willow wanted to take a great observation of him, but she was too excited. The Queen couldn’t express how relieved she was at just the sight of another Mora. Not to mention that he was nice to look at, but she quickly shook that thought away. This was Connor, someone she freed and had only just now seen again. Attraction to him would be from the excitement of meeting another like her for so long. Willow couldn’t deny that she wanted to hug him, but she knew she didn’t and couldn’t feel that way about him. Willow ignored that little thing nagging at her in the back of her mind and brought her cup to hover by her mouth. She listened until he finished his first set of words and replied with her own. “Yes, these types of years are ones worth savoring. In my view, the Mora have a better sense of the world because of their experiences. Thank you, Connor. I love my home and personally find it one of my coziest places. I have been ‘walled away’ in these lands for about four years. I have had enough time to establish my own business and work at least three jobs on the side. I payed off every inch of land and house you will see soon in full amounts. Of course, I had some help in paying for all this but it was working to a better cause. I have missed the likes of my race and have made friends among the humans. There is this one old woman that I visit at the nursing home. Her name is El, and she has grown to be like a mother to me. I don’t expect anyone to be too fond of the humans, but we must at least act like we like their race in order to fit in. I cannot thank you enough for not leaving me alone, Connor. If there is anything you need, don’t be afraid to ask.” Her calico colored tail slid out from behind her to curl around her wrist like a bracelet. Willow’s eyes looked to the fire, watching the flames dance and flicker as the burned the logs. She had chopped them herself, done all the house work by herself. There was a heater in the cottage, like all the others but she preferred to use natural heat. There was also an air conditioner, and it was a great convenience. Willow had made sure her Mora would be as comfortable as possible and would want to take the lands as a safe haven.

Willow quietly brushed her fingers against the fabric of her chair as Connor spoke once again. His words made her smile, but it soon faded with his questions. She settles back into her chair and looked at him with both quiet and sad eyes. “Thank you for your compliments. It is lovely to hear your opinions and I would appreciate you recruiting more of the Mora to save. This place is a place of peace and safety for those who are hiding because it goes highly unnoticed. It has been well hidden from my friends in high places. There are more Mora in the universe than anyone could think, in fact it is incredible of how many there are. I wasn’t the one who had come up with all the plans for escaping, that person would be my brother. I was simply the one to perform what he wanted to happen. For weeks upon weeks, I watched the humans unlock each cage. They found us too weak to even use padlocks, which was a very stupid decision. The time came when I was going to be fed and they opened my cage. Instead of cowering or laying there nearly dead, I instead attacked the human in my human form. I beat him until he was unconscious with what strength I had left and then unlocked my brother’s cage. I remember you being one of the very first that I let free. Your eyes are what I remember most in fact. Grey, my brother, knew the way to the doors that would let us free. Somewhere and somehow the humans found us out. We knew from the start that this escape would be fatal for many, but we also knew that it was bette than all of us dying. We opened those big doors and set our race free. That was, of course, when the gun shots rang out and our kind began to fall. The Mora are sneaky for mainly that reason. We were all scared into hiding and I hid until the gunshots stopped. I know you didn’t ask for me to tell you this part, but I know this question will come soon. You were in the cage across from mine so I know that you knew Grey. I am going to tell you now that he is dead, and I buried him in a place within my lands. He was the one that was supposed to lead and I was supposed to help him. Our true leader is dead, so I will just have to do.” Willow let out a troubled sigh and looked back to Connor. She didn’t know what expression he would have, but she hoped he didn’t leave on the spot. The Queen couldn’t help but also hope that he didn’t see the hidden tears in her eyes.

[[ Tried extending it as much as I could. Sorry so late on my reply. Works been fucking rough, and school.. :\ ]]

In a well-mannered and assertive nod, his finally pulled free of her hypnotic harvest orbs to look to his hot drink of coco before him as he listened. Connor could not help the feelings the relieved him so easily in the presence of his kind, just something about it being around his race gave him a sanctuary of hope, safety. He could agree that they were the weakest of the many historic races, but most definitely not the least intelligent. When the experiments had succeeded enough to create them, not only were their bodies given the ability to shift into a small house animal, but the heightened and different senses they had were provided as well with the equation. He questioned himself everyday and wondered how it was possible whenever he would see the rigid scar crossing down over his back. It was a memory, a horrible reminder of the day in the cages, never before could he remember a more horrid time than that, though he could never see another happen in his future along with it now that he was under the safety and trust of royalty. He smiled to Willow once her words began to finish, eyes shining a bright olive in sympathy for what she felt and gave her his best to understand, connecting like any other as they have all experienced it, "I will keep that locked away in my mind, Willow, and may it be said that I hope to never disturb you or disrespect you at anytime given. My life is in your hands, and I promise to thee that you can trust me to care for yours as long as we have these tails and ears." He gave a short laugh, flicking the end of his white ringed tipped tail and piercing his black ears to barely hide away in his cowlick hair. Before he continued, he took over her statements a bit more into consideration and sipped lightly of his cup for he favored little for the taste in such a hot season, "Forgive me if I am wrong, your Majesty. But, as it is said, as well as rumors, and what you've claimed. It is believed you own one of the neutral lands, um... L-lavender Lounge I would think it is. Care to tell me more? I have not interacted much around the areas, and would be very pleased to know as well as the territories you own for the Mora that will eventually be residing here. Sooner or later, I will be headed to my own location of choice to unpack my goods and clothes, then sleep the night away before heading back to town for recruiting. I find this information not only valuable, but essential when wanting to interview someone to ask if they wished to know as well. Better safe than sorry, wouldn't you agree?" Connor had already known of what she'd been up too these last few years, observing carefully to her actions the more she came to the neutrals for food and what-not for supply. He enjoyed helping her, unnoticed as he had been forced into a simply uniform and hat to hide his eyes. In secret, the whole time he sat with her, the longer they stayed there, in that position, the more he wished to sit closer, to embrace not only her, but the hope that his kind was there for him when needed and not off doing to Hell knows what.

His thoughts broke once she began to speak again, nodding along to her words and taking mental notes of certain key points to remember. What impressed him the most was when he thought back to the days in the cages, seeing the image of her frail body lay limp behind steel bars like a prisoner left to die alone. He had begun to think she would end up like that forever, because whenever her eyes closed and he would watch her fall asleep to keep guard, he feared the worst that one night she would eventually close her eyes and never wake up again for him to see the next morning. All the tazing and shots injected just to contain them long enough for them to do their tests and leave for results was too much to handle, but not enough to keep them from escaping. He found her tactic fascinating, and when Grey was mentioned, it thrilled his feelings to know more, that is, until the best phased to worse. His smile faded, turning his gaze to no longer shine but dim to a dark green, the wash of slight trembles in his hands cause his cup to shake and eventually find the force to put it down on the side table next to him. Like a sponge, Connor inhaled deeply to soak up all the information and waited for the silence between them to separate their conversation to almost nothing until he found the nerve and right of steady words to speak up, "I-...I'm so sorry, my Queen.. I don't mean to be so unprofessional with my feelings around you, for I am mostly a serious man of little tears, but-." A tear welled in his eyes, fighting himself to not let it fall, but giving in as they started to ease down the sides of his cheeks slowly, sniffing it up as he looked to the floor between his knees and hands upon them. Locking his fingers in concentration, he wept quietly for the sake of his friend's death and dug deeper for the surface to stay strong and face up to his Queen with a small, proud smile. Not for Grey, but for her that she had remained so content with her 'brother's' death, especially knowing of how close they were both to freedom, until he was sent to another place known as home. He wanted the hug, and felt it was needed, though he said nothing and nodded slightly before whipping away the tears with the back of his hand and chuckled softly under his stammered breath. "He was a great friend to all it seems, my Queen, and I am proud to say you are my leader, no matter the case that he is dead, you're still here and carrying on his goals to be fulfilled in his honor. For him, I shall do the same as he lives within the clouds of our nature and watches us as our guardian from above. Grey is in a better place now, and I wish the greatest sympathy from myself for you, and those he befriended along the way. I know what it is like to be alone, and he gave me hope to stay sane, as well as you. I do not regret my actions of moving you along towards the exit, for you prove yourself to be a hard-working Mora and strive to achieve the goals you have set for your life. I wish you the best of luck with them, and to Grey, he sleeps under the great man's rule now, safe and sound with the duty to keep us out of harm's way. You're not along now, my Queen, never, and nor shall I as long as we have each other. I promise..."

Sipping her drink quietly, the Queen’s attention turned to the back of her home where a soft rustling could be heard. Smiling slightly, she leaned back into her chair and listened to the soft padding thuds as Bruce made his way into the living room. Her eyes followed her alligator until he came to a rest beside her chair. Willow was quick to place her mug down and swing her arm down to brush Bruce’s head comfortingly. The albino alligator had been her only company for all those four years and he had been there for every revelation, one which had hurt most. Now, she thought that she just might tell this one thing to her companion, but his words kept her from speaking. She listened to Connor as he began to speak, giving him a both relieved and thankful look for his words. Willow held one hand within the other and kept her calico ears flicked forwards in interest. “Thanks, Connor. You’re both very respectful, and I highly doubt that you could disturb me. My door is open to all of my subjects at any time, literally. You can wake me up even if it is a small thing like, for instance, needing me to walk with you to the bathroom. Though, I’m sure you wouldn’t need any help with that. Just don’t be afraid to come and find me whenever and wherever. But yes, you are to be my Noble and that means I will trust you with my life and trust you to follow my order, not matter how bizarre what I ask you to do is,” she said and smiled slightly, nearly laughing at the thought of one of her own kind coming to her just to ask her to do what she had said. Though, she wouldn’t laugh at them or be irritated with them at all. She decided that she wouldn’t be a queen like she had read in Alice In Wonderland. That queen had ben just disastrous, and Willow wouldn’t ever want to be anything like her. She could only hope that none of her members were going to take advantage of her kindness. Willow frowned at having such negative thoughts and instead listened to Connor speak of her work and business while nodding along. She laid her tail across her stomach, stroking it absentmindedly while speaking to him. “I work three jobs to provide myself the necessities, all other money goes to either animal charities or wildlife preservation. For the most part, I am paying a great deal to keep this forest hidden and making sure it is off of the grid for anyone to even bother coming here. The minute you stepped into this place, you sort of entered Neverland.” She laughed, thinking it was a nearly perfect analogy for the circumstances. She quickly remembered he hand asked about her business and she nodded. “Yeah, I do own the place called the Lavender Lounge within the neutral territories. It brings in more money that I can really count, but no one knows that I own that place. As far as anyone should or could know, a man named J.E. Clemmings owns it and he is an extremely rich man. To the world, he does exist. He has ‘birth records’ as well as anything a human could possibly need in order to have proof of existence. I, on the other hand, don’t exist at all. Of course people could say that they have seen me and that I do, but government wont but their words a bit because they have no records of me. My name isn’t even a correct name on all job applications.” The Queen was actually proud of how well she hid herself, though every day she went over possible areas she had left unhidden or unguarded.

Willow watched Connor’s expression break and turn into one of deep sadness, and she suddenly remembered that Grey was a close friend to all of the Mora. He was, in fact, the true leader and very first among them all. Thinking back, she realized that Connor had talked to Grey in a friendly way. In the rare moments that she was conscious, she didn’t speak unless Grey wanted her to. She really couldn’t remember the times where she was conscious, all she could remember was the pain. It came upon her and colored bursts. Splashes of orange, red, purple, blue, and sometimes black. How one could see black in the dark recesses of her mind, she had no clue. That was what she saw, the most inky and deadly black she had ever seen. It came upon her in huge clouds whenever they set her up to the electricity machine. In those moments where she lost all consciousness, she truly believed that she had died only to be revived each time. For what, she had no clue. All she knew was that she had been brought back and stuck on this earth, not matter how many times she had tried to escape. With Connor’s tears came her own as she stood to go to a drawer of the built in cabinets of the wall. Looking through the files, she pulled out a specific one and brought it over to Connor before her silent tears could fall onto the manilla cover. Willow placed the file in Connor’s lap gently before moving back to her chair and sitting in it. Her throat had become thick with unshed tears, but she quietly cleared it in order to speak. “That cabinet if full of files. Birth records and certificates of every Mora that was in the labs and escaped. I stole the files after a year, but I don’t think the humans cared since we were an experiment gone wrong. The file that I handed you is both mine and Grey’s, and I will tell you why I have us grouped together. You see, Grey and I come from the same parents. We are siblings in all sense of the word. Not even half siblings, but full blooded. Grey was two when I was born, and I think he knew that I was his sister. I found our parents but never approached them because they had a family all their own. But, I knew Grey was going to tell me if he had escaped alive. He had said as much before we went to escape. I had... no clue at all. Which somehow, for me, makes all of this much worse. I am not going to sob my eyes out or mourn in front of you, that is done behind closed doors.” It had been, too. Every week she visited his grave, and every week she had a meltdown like none other. The cottage that was so pristine in this moment would be in ruins within the next few days, evidence of her pain even after four years. Of course, it struck her as possibly a very bad problem and would need serious psychological help. Though, she was able to wear her mask and would hold her secret within her until the day her life ended, if it ever did. “Yes, my brother was a great friend to everyone. I knew that much even when I was unconscious, which was all the time if I do recall. I don’t believe in this ‘better place’ you say, but you may believe what you like and I will not judge one bit. Thank you for not leaving me alone, Connor. You may stay here as long as you’d like unless you wish to find your own home right away. I can escort you, but I will have to go into the neutral lands to buy a few things today. I wish you all happiness here, Connor. You promise will be held into by me, for I see us becoming quite good friends in the future if we aren’t now.” Folding her shaky hands in her lap, she gave Connor a tight-lipped smile to hide the mourning she had been doing inside.

He looked to the files upon his lap, dreading and baring the idea of taking a look to what all he could soon see, all the things gone from bad to worse and then more tragic to the ending of another. It felt heavy on his lap, but he didn't think it was because of what all lay inside, but what was on the outside that made him even more distant to read. Over the top, in large stamped and ridden letters lie his name, his heart sank further and he began to choke back the urge to tear up in front of the Queen herself. This was not how he had expected his first day to of gone, but in the life of a Mora, surprises both good and bad always sneak around the corned when least expected. He closed his eyes, taking the amulet around his neck he had received long before the experiments and tails or ears, breathing long and deep as she spoke to him from her chair. Connor had experienced many losses of which could not be returned, though this he could say was the roughest next to his closest 'brother' Michael. As he met Willow's saddened stare, the harvest of her hues instantly sent a rush of relief over him, enough to allow him to rest back in his chair and slowly open the file to scan quickly through the information, sneaking small glances left in right tot he cabinets she spoke of. He would've not of known the duo were actually related unless she had told him then, for they payed no resemblance, not even the same hair color. He nodded slowly as he was barely unaware of how she spoke towards the end, everything around him seemed like a blur as he read further into the information given upon his lap and between his hands. He then stopped himself after finishing with Grey's information, allowing the Queen her privacy no matter how curious he was to know about her and where she came from. If he were lucky, maybe she had the files to his brother, or possibly even him of what they had written down, his birth records too and who his mother really was. He had never met her, only once when he was barely able to speak, before the boy's home. She was gone now, dead like any other human that walks the lands of which they all live on. He sighed, knowing it was no use, but the want still there to know where he came from in the end. "I would not be here if it weren't for you, my Queen or him. It is because of you two that I stand here, happy and healthy with what I've become and know to soon discover. Soon in life I see myself as becoming something worthy to the world and unknown of what all I could achieve knowing I'll have my race and you at my side. Your Majesty, I promise that no harm will come to this place and nor shall it come to you. Grey is gone, yes, we both know that, but there comes a time of which someone takes the thrown and you have done it with flying colors from what I've seen. Never doubt yourself, because I know..." Looking back, he stared directly into her eyes as he spoke, trailing as he soon pursed his lips into a serious expression rather than a petty fit of tears and sadness. Connor had always had a soft spot for her eyes, but this was not it, he meant it, and his words with complete truth and honor to his rank and greater respect for hers.

"I know, you will be the greatest of all royalty in being our leader, Willow. Just look at how far you've become, what all you've done to get here, and what my words are telling you. As for the 'other home', I don't believe in it either, but I do think that there is somewhere we all go when its our time. I don't know where, or how the hell we get there, but when there's a will there is always.... always a way, my Queen." Connor lifted himself to his feet, leaning over to set down his mug of little hot coco left inside to return his emotions to the norm, giving her a meaningful olive gaze and grin of white teeth. He had come up with a lot of what he could say, but kept it short and as blunt as possible, hoping she'd understand and go along with what he was pleading to ask her in return of his favor. Kneeling down, he watched carefully to the hissing albino alligator at her side and dipped his head with a broad silence to follow. "Queen Willow..." He began, closing his eyes as he let it all release from his body and mind once shutting his eyes to relax. Curling his tail to press against his back, he brushed his bangs back from his orbs even though they were closed and averted downwards to his hand upon his knee, "I only wish for one thing, and one thing only for the moment since you have given me this valuable information of which I cannot explain, but.." His hands trembled along the amulet's locket, clicking it nervously in and open as he looked up to her eyes and smiled, "I have not been completely true with you, and that is something that will haunt me until I tell you. You see, for the last many years of our time after the great escape, I've been watching you and even following, copying your actions to blend with the crowd. Now, I could understand if you feel uncomfortable with the thought, but it is true. No, it was not to be a creep, stalker or potential threat, none of that, it was only because I care for you, my Queen. Like I have promised, I owe you my life and gratitude of your method of unlocking those cages, along with mine, for my life has been saved. This, right here, is why I am here. It is for you, and only you." The Noble stayed quiet after he finished, knowing not all of what could be going on in that beautiful mind of hers or how she'd react to it. It was a peek of his feelings for her, but not the grand total. If there was something more to this, this here, then he'd take it slow, and try to learn if she felt the same for him. He doubted himself, but shook it off as he knew there was still hope left in his gleaming olive eyes.

She could sympathize with the look on Connor’s face because it had been the same look she had had the first time she looked over the file. Willow stared at the pages as Connor looked through them, hoping he didn’t notice their wrinkled appearance. This was from the first time she read that her ‘brother’ had indeed been her brother. The Queen had throw the file across the room of her cottage and stamped on it in her fury. Not only was it about Grey, but that their mother had carelessly left them behind. No, not left them. She had sold her first two children like the they meant nothing. The only reason their mother had done so was to create a family with the new man she had decided to marry. Willow’s anger had only been fueled when she learned that she had given Grey up for adoption and the labs had snatched her baby up on accident. The Queen, however, was sold on purpose for money. That fact alone had made he think over many things until finally deciding. At least a year after finding the file, she had decided to visit her mother. They never met and would never meet though that didn’t mean she couldn’t watch. By that time, the young woman Willow had been expecting was now wrinkled with age of a happy life. She was married to a man who had seemed to be the same age but Willow instantly knew he was her father. They had the same hair and his daughter resembled the feminine version of him. Everything else was all her mother, especially the facial features. These things she noticed weren’t even compared to what she say running down the staircase. There were two teenagers that seemed to be seniors in highschool. It took Willow a moment for it to connect, the fact that those two humans were in fact her siblings. It felt like a stab to the gut when she realized that they were probably the same age she had been. The hope that she had been a mistake never left her, no matter what the papers had said. That hope had been blasted to tiny, minuscule pieces once she had viewed what could’ve been her family. There was a chance of normalcy that had died the minute her mother had signed the contract to give her to the labs upon her birth. It was that very day that very day she had gone to visit her grave and bury the human Willow that might’ve existed in the world. ‘But I don’t regret it either. Never have and never will’, she thought, snapping from her trance like a rubber band to focus back on Connor as he began to speak his gratitude once more. The corners of her mouth turned up into a slight smile and she almost wanted to laugh. He was too kind and was quickly becoming a sweet-hearted man in her opinion. Willow kept her eyes connected with his as she listened to him speak his encouraging and honorable words. She smiled then and gave him a thankful look, pushing a stray wave of hair behind her ear. “Thank you, Connor. I...... Just thank you,” she said. Then, like he had instantly bounced back, Willow saw the grin that had been on his face when they met. It was contagious and she couldn’t help but to give a little grin of her own.

Her eyes followed him as he stood but flicked to Bruce upon the alligator’s hiss. Mumbling beneath her breath, she silenced her pet and looked back to the neko that was now kneeling in front of her. Connecting her eyes with his once again, she realized that his were a wonderful olive color. How she hadn’t realized it sooner was a wonder to her. She was taking advantage of the opportunity to look him over from head to toe, starting with his dart hair. It looked soft, as if it would feel exactly like a feather were she touch touch it. Then her gaze went back down to his eyes again. Willow found herself admiring their almond shape and green hues. She looked further over his skin but cut her eyes off at his chin. Any more looking and she knew she would be checking him out. That, of course, was the last thing she wanted him or anyone else to think. It would be very unprofessional of her to be attracted to her first member when she didn’t even know him. Though, in a way, she did know him. She hd watched him in the moments when they all thought she was unconscious. When the others were gone, he had stayed with her. Willow had thought it was because they were both nekos and that maybe all the others nekos were there as well but she just couldn’t hear them. Grey hadn’t been the only one to help bring her back, and she took a moment to realize that Connor was actually a main contributor of getting her all of her sanity back. The Queen gazed at her Noble for a few more moments until he decided to speak again. His face gave her the feeling that he was nervous and scared to speak the words, but he bravely did so anyway. the sudden change in his facial expression as he smiled at her caused Willow to give a soft smile back. That smile only began to fade into complete seriousness as he began to speak. His held the most honest and sincere tone she had heard in a long while, which only made her listen all the more intently. With his revelation to her, her face didn’t once break its expression. Inside she was humming for some reason, though she couldn’t describe it at that time. He had been following her, watching her? Instead of feeling creeped out, Willow felt strangely comforted that he had been with her but not with her that whole time. As he finished, the Queen smiled softly and placed a hand on his shoulder. She was afraid to touch him, having not touched a male in most of her lifetime. It wasn’t that she was scared at the aspect of touching a male, but more that she didn’t know where to touch him. The queen internally sighed in frustration and gave up on trying to figure out how to comfort him with her hands. Instead, she lifted his chin as softly as she could so he would look into her eyes.

“I have not been completely truthful to you either, Connor. I had watched you as well, though it was a little earlier than when you chose to watch me. When I was dropped in the cage there was a period of time that I was aware even when I didn’t seem like it. In those moments, I watched you. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to do such things but I felt so interested in how you acted and how you had kept your sanity. Now that you tell me that you have been watching me and following me, I can’t help but feel comforted. Knowing this makes me realize that I was never alone, that you were there and I just didn’t know it. I can understand why you would watch me, but now I feel that you are going to be more than just a Noble for me. You are and always will be a friend, but I now give you full permission to take your place at my side like you speak of. Connor, I am putting my greatest trust in you and hoping, even believing that you will not break that. Like you said about your future, I see it for you too.” Her eyes hadn’t left his once, instead showing him what her words couldn’t speak. Willow wasn’t much for words, but she let her eyes confirm the hope he had in his olive hues. Everything his eyes told her, she reciprocated until she believed that her eyes had said enough and she looked away with a tinge of red to her cheeks.

He had nothing of what to expect to happen that evening, not the interview, not the rank, and most certainly not her. This he had meant to happen, these things, but not how he had planned, but it never really did work out as he expected or presumed anyway in his case. Just, the feel of her power running off her skin to meet his surroundings made him interact with the spinning emotions that went on inside him. Safe to say and happily said that is was not the male hormones, but the want to see what and who she really was behind this rank, how she acts when she's alone, and what all she enjoys to do in her time of depression or worry. These things, as little as they may be, were valuable, and Connor had the urge to fight for her as long as he walk this planet, not just for her intake of his opinions and fuzzy feelings, no - this was not what he meant at all. Who was he kidding, it would never work, for he was just a Noble, and she, she was strong, born for the thrown of which she sits on behind these boundaries, the most beautiful thing his eyes shall ever lay upon in this life. "Thank you, Queen Willow... for everything..." His smile averted to the ground, that is, until her hand placed upon his shoulder, the striking electricity chilling him from the surface to his insides. Her touch was like a power of which he could not describe, the surging and everlasting notice that he felt not only sympathy for her, but the utter desire to have her to hold for all eternity. He hadn't understood this feeling for so long, for he had never really shared a real relationship with a female, never broken their hearts because he was too afraid they'd cry, so he let them break up with him. He was never left broken hearted, because he knew he didn't feel love for them, just her.

The pounding in his chest increased as she spoke, tipping his chin with the softest hand of nimble tiny fingers, he closed his eyes and took in the moment as something that he could never forget, and shall not ever. Like bittersweet forgiveness, her sympathy was all of that he needed in order to feel reassured with his decisions. However, it left him on edge, careful not to leave it of his grasp so she'd notice, but keeping it locked away in order for others not to see it as well. His time of day was rushing to an end, and his muscles were beginning to give in. As she finished, his olive eyes next opened to register the amber glow of hers, the slightest purr and flick of the end of his tail to give away that she was killing him inside to give her a massive and warm embrace for his thanks. The pale glow of her hues shining brightly as the horizon skies outside the window, the perfect match to shade upon the grounds and all of the shadows that encase it with tones of purple, blue and pinks. And like the fire of the fireplace, its burning reflection bounced to dance with the flicks of ambers running around her irises as his remained a bright olive shade. They were nothing special compared to hers, but the more he searched the warm color of hers, the more he realized how beautiful she was and always had been. There had always been that shining light in hers, throughout it all, and that, was hope. He rose his attention to smile charmingly, lightly taking her hand softly between his own as he sighed in relief, "Then I suppose we owe each other our thanks. My concern is only of your safety, my Queen, and that I shall always keep you out of harms way. In war between human, I risk my life to save those who are loyal to your lead, but I am to always be there to keep you especially from being hurt. We watched and observed each other for personal reasons, and how we are here like I had said. Together, we are unbeatable and beautiful creatures striving to live more and discover what all could be found in this world of ours. Soon then we will realize this was the hope we knew would bring forth from out pasts. Without each other, we'd be helpless, and more or less alone. As long as I have you, my Queen, I know I am not alone, and nor shall you or anyone else." Placing a respectful kiss to the back of her hand, he lifted to his natural stance, black ears erect and tail hanging low at his side as he smiled. He anticipated the next time he would see her, surely to have many more in the future, "I must be heading on my way to move my things into my new resides, if you will. And I would believe it is time for both of us to get some shut-eye for the evening, tomorrow maybe... um.. Maybe we can... uh.." A slight blush rose to his cheeks as he stammered, keeping a steady mind in order to ask her out on a normal occasion for a date between friends. "W-would you consider the idea...uh... of possibly walking and spending an...um... evening with me somewhere out of the lands? ..I care not of where you would like to go, but I was hoping that you and I could learn to know a bit more about each other towards the wild areas of the neutralized lands. If you see it is too busy for you to handle, it is quite alright, I'll just head on my way alone, or do some tidying around the house a bit... I guess..." As he finished, his hand rubbed nervously at the back of his neck, smiling wide but sheepishly down at her as he took a step back for her space. Please say yes, please say yes, please say yes, he prayed.

Her hands fidgeted in her lap along with her ears, which twitched on top of her head like their own nervous beings. Willow placed her tail in her lap and stroked the calico fur to calm herself. Connor had taken her by surprise today but she was glad she had met him. Him coming along made her eager to hope that more would stumble into her lands and join her in her little kingdom. She needed to thank Connor for bringing such a hope back to her. In her opinion, he was deserving in the rank of Noble. The title certainly fit him, for he was everything she had hoped a male noble to be. A gentleman and a warrior in his own right. She didn’t want to tell him these things, so instead she thought them. Letting him out of his cage was her just giving him a chance to start anew. He had been the one who had stayed alive and decided to make what he could of it. In her opinion, he owed her simply nothing at all. In fact, she owed him and not the other way around. It was him who came to her lands today when he most likely knew it was basically vacant of anyone but her. For some time, Willow had felt like a crazy cat lady in the literal sense. In fact, the idea of renting an apartment in the city had been looking more and more enjoyable to her. She wouldn’t of had to walk for an hour to get to work or remain alone in the dead town. Connor made all thoughts of that flood from her mind and replaced them with the thoughts of the future of her species. She knew that she would remember him differently now, not just someone she had let out in those dreadful labs. He was slowly becoming a person of importance to her, though she wasn’t aware of it at the moment. Instead of dwelling on certain thoughts, she stood and took both of their glasses to the sink to wash them off. Bruce followed her and she tossed him one of the smaller fish from the freezer. Willow laughed at the thankful little hisses he gave while eating as she washed the two dishes and put them away quickly before coming back to him and replying to his thanks. “It is my greatest pleasure, Noble Connor. Thank you for coming to my borders.” The queen took her hair and placed it over one shoulder, looking at Connor before quickly looking away.

Willow placed her hand on his shoulder, trying to keep from hugging him. Though she didn’t know much of males, she knew hugging him could go one of two ways. First option being that they could both be comfortable with it. Second option was it could turn things extremely awkward between them. Not willing to risk it, Willow just settled for patting his shoulder and giving him a warm smile. It seemed like he was looking into her eyes with a new intensity, so she looked away while the slight redness in her cheeks spread. It made her slightly sad to hear he was going to go but she knew it was best. The queen was growing tired herself and she knew that she needed to get a good long sleep. Her thoughts were paused at Connor’s question, and her heart beat slightly faster in her chest. Her smile’s warmth touched her eyes and she nodded. “Of course, Connor. I’d be glad to do some exploring with you.” To her, he seemed victorious about something as he left.

(I had permission to power play a lil bit at the end)