Stray Cat Strut Chapter Six – Velvet Paws

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Stray Cat Strut (A cyberpunk system apocalypse!) - Ongoing

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Drear's Ten-Tea-Cle Café (An insane Crossover about cute people and tentacles) - Hiatus

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The Agartha Loop (A Magical-Girl drama!) - Volu Two Complete!

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Heart of Dorkness (A wholeso progression fantasy) - Completed!

Dead Tired (A cody about a Lich in a Wuxia world doing Science!) - Ongoing

Sporemageddon (A fantasy story about a mushroom lover exploding the industrial revolution!) - Ongoing

Past the Redline (A girl goes too fast, then she does it again) - Completed!

Magical Girl Crystal Genocide (Magical Girls accidentally the planet, and then try to fix it) - Completed!

Magical Girl Rending Nightmare (A sequel to Crystal Genocide! Cute girls in a soviet dystopia having a picnic on the roadside) - Volu Two Completed!

Noblebright (A shipcore AI works to avenge humanity) - Completed!

The Complicated Love Life of Ivil Antagonist (The Empress of Mars finds love) - Completed!

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Queen Violence (An Assassin Reborn as a Kitten) - Completed!

No Strings Attached (An Elden Ring/Bloodborne inspired progression fantasy) - Ongoing

Save Scumming (A ti-looping system apocalypse) - Ongoing

Chapter Six - Velvet Paws

"Political situation deteriorating as one of the undersea internet cables connecting the United Kingdom to the rest of Europe was severed last week. It was discovered that the break was man-made, and not caused by an undersea Antithesis incursion as initially reported. Tensions are currently at an all-ti high as European governnts point fingers."

--Knighly News Now headline, 2031

***

When Lucy arrived, we did the usual things. A welco-back hug, so more hugging, a bit of grasping, so more hugging, and a kiss that would have made the most libertine person blush a little.

One thing led to another, and eventually we rode up to our ho, only we had brats to watch over and couldn't just have a bit of fun. Besides, Lucy was brimming with gossip. I could tell. It was one of her top five favourite things, and she always got a little excited when she had so good tea to spill.

"So, how was your day?" I asked as I hopped up onto the counter.

Lucy shrugged a shoulder before tugging the fridge open. "Not bad, all things considered," she said. "Actually, no, it's better than 'not bad.'"

"Oh?" I asked.

She nodded along while pulling a few things out. She looked at a closed plastic container and frowned before clawing it open and sniffing. "Ew," she muttered. "This is from two weeks ago. Urgh, anyway. News about the conference got around, as you'd expect, and now everyone that was a kitten who participated is looking real good."

"Popularity boost?" I asked.

"More than that. Did you know that Tankette gave everyone free snacks? Princess gave everyone a little tiara as well."

I blinked. "Really? Why?"

"Because her sister told her to, and Knight has at least so political training," Lucy said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "We did the sa."

"We did?"

"Well, I did on your behalf, because I'm perfect," Lucy said. "And I stole the idea because it was a good one. I had Rac print out a bunch of little badges with your logo on them. They have serial numbers and everything."

"Okay?" I said.

Lucy looked at , then shook her head. Obviously I was missing out on sothing. "People care about stupid stuff, Cat," she said. "Little badges, tiaras, snacks, anything branded. It's a cool sign that they're appreciated, but it's also exclusive. It's not sothing people can just buy. It proves that they were there. Beyond like, the images and selfies and whatnot that people took. Those could be faked."

"So could badges," I pointed out.

"Sure, but that would be harder. Besides, that kind of stuff cos with a story. And today was a good day for that. People were telling stories, and because they were the tellers, that made them popular. It won't last, but for this week, at least, the Kittens that helped will be the top of CIAL's... social thing. They can feel proud of themselves and rub it in."

Well, I supposed that I kind of understood it. It felt kind of vain, but then again, I was a vain kind of woman, so yeah, I got it. "Good for you, mostly. I bet a lot more people will want to join."

"Oh, a ton more," Lucy said. She was appropriately smug about it. God, she was so hot. "Anyway, I had to handle that today. It was interesting, but mostly pretty chill? What about you? Going back to classes this week?"

"Eh... yeah, I suppose. I might be missing a few. I told you about Quebec and Deus' bullshit, yeah?"

"Mhm."

"Well, I was looking into it so more and it might be more fucked up than I thought. At least a little. It looks like soone's been hiding stuff. Covering up the news and whatnot. Kinda shady, you know?"

"Oh?" Lucy asked. "There are so valid reasons to do that."

"Sure, but it's suspicious as hell. The army--I called them up--aren't sure what's going on either. Then there's this. Soone sent an email."

"Really?" Lucy asked.

I stepped up and helped her balance so of the stuff she was taking out of the fridge. I didn't know what she was planning, but there was cheese involved, so it was going to be good. "Yeah, I know," I said. "Chick called Crisis Mode. Here, I'll send you a copy."

I watched her eyes glow for a bit after I forwarded her the email. Her lips moved a little as she read, which was very cute. "Huh. Sounds desperate."

"I know, right?" I said. "Sounds like she's in a heap of shit. Still don't know why she's contacting , specifically."

"Because you do good work?"

I shook my head. "No way. It could just be that she asked everyone in New Montreal, maybe anyone close enough to Quebec that had their info available to look up, but... yeah."

"So, you're going to head over then?" Lucy asked.

"That was always the plan. I chatted with Delilah about it. We're heading out in two days. Tomorrow will be prep."

Lucy paused in the act of cutting open a container. "How long will you be out for?"

"Uh... I don't know? A few days?"

"Hmpf," she said.

Truth was, I don't think we'd ever gone more than like, two days without seeing each other in... well, since we'd t. It'd be weird.

"If you and Delilah stay out of contact for more than a day I'm going to seduce Franny and send both of you racy pics."

I laughed. "Hah! You say that as if it's a punishnt!"

"Maybe it is! I might develop a taste for desperate redheads."

"I can dye my hair," I replied.

Lucy paused. "Huh... we might have to explore that a little."

"Noted," I said. "Anyway... uh. You do know that it's not so far that I can't fly back, right? Like, worse case, I'll sleep over there, but I can also autopilot the Bastion back. I'd much rather sleep in my own bed."

"Much warr."

"Exactly," I said.

"Hmm, fine! As long as you let know. I don't want to co ho and find you missing without knowing about it beforehand."

"Clingy."

She sniffed. "Shut up. Now, cut these onions."

I groaned, then took a knife from a rack and started to butcher so poor... were onions vegetables? Whatever. I chopped it up real good while Lucy went on to prep so other things. It was starting to sll kind of good, especially when she got the garlic out and the oil and things started to sizzle on a pan.

"Once things are secured, maybe you can co over as well?" I asked. "Might be fun."

"Sure," Lucy said. "Never really left New Montreal before. It'd be nice to see other places. I heard that Quebec is romantic."

"Sure! Would be nice to go on a date."

"Oh, that would be nice. Maybe see if the city is still standing first? Did you reply to that Crisis Mode woman yet?"

"No. I probably should. Uh..." I wiped under my eye, then cursed under my breath. I should have bought goggles or sothing, I was tearing out of my left eye. "Myalis, can you... uh, dictate?"

I certainly can. But the word you're looking for is transcribe.

"Right, that," I said. "Okay.. dear... wait, is 'dear' too formal?"

"It's a little informal, if anything," Lucy said. "But mostly it depends on if you want to co off as a grandma or not."

"Point," I said. "Just start it with 'Hi' I guess. Uh. Shit, I'll guess I'll skip the pleasant bits. My friends and I are heading over to Quebec in two days and we're bringing a brigade of soldiers with us. We should be between two and four samurai. Don't expect too much from us, we're all relatively new, but we can hopefully solve so of your problems with enough fresh firepower. We'll be airing around noon in two days. See you then. Signed... Stray Cat."

"Very professional," Lucy said.

"Thanks," I replied. "Hopefully Myalis will make it sound all good and proper."

I'll see what I can do.

I received a ssage from Myalis.

Hi,

My friends and I are heading to Quebec in two days, and we'll be bringing a brigade of soldiers with us. There will be between two and four samurai in our group. We're all relatively new, so don't expect too much, but we should be able to help deal with so of your problems with so fresh firepower.

We're arriving around noon in two days.

Loves and kisses,

Stray Cat

"What's with you and the 'loves and kisses' thing? You're setting up a false expectation here," I said.

Just making sure you're paying attention.

"Sure. Snip that out and you can send it, please. Hopefully that'll keep Crisis Mode happy."

"Mhm. Set the plates? This is almost done. And after supper... desert? To remind you that you have sothing to co back to."

I liked the sound of that.

***

A note from RavensDagger

1 - Happy New Year! Hehe! Hopefully many SCS stuff will happen!

2 - New fanfic! This one by Looneydroid55! Check it out! Link: sroyalroad/fiction/144871/hound-of-ireland-a-scs-fanfiction