[ANNI-24] Meeting

The centaur waited behind the stadium, looking around eagerly. Raven Blackwood was his name, some musician that had a lot of reach. Astrallia had guessed that it was a mig (images of it undisguised were still circled around, no matter how careful it was) and eagerly reached out. 

He panicked, at first, about her knowing. But when realizing she just wanted to talk to him about the Mignyan cause, he…lightened up. Slightly. Raven’s words were still surprisingly harsh, but it didn’t phase her.

Finally, the light of a door opening graced the space. Astrallia’s eyes squinted, before she finally saw—Raven. Still disguised, furry green cat ears flattening in—surprise? Fear? When it saw her. 

She simply let out an eager wave in response. “HI!! I’m Astrallia,” he said cheerfully. “SO excited to finally meet another Mignyan!!!” 

Raven was still frozen, seemingly trying to—process, Astrallia. She sort of understood the whole thing behind it (there was a reason why she was a part of the circus) but. STILL. 

Hoping to release some tension, she undisguised herself. Meat crept up her tail, along with insectoid limbs shooting out of it. Glittery sections of meat appeared on his legs, more ears sprouted from his head, and segmented appendages shot out of his back.  

She smiled when it was done, which made Raven relax a  bit.

“…Hello,” he finally said. “It’s—nice to meet you.” Its words were unenthused, but he also undisguised—much tamer than Astrallia, but the loss of fur on his ears and tail was still jarring. 

“So!! What do you do for the cause?” she asked. Raven had kept it vague in their messages, and she was dying to know. 

A small smirk appeared on his face. “Well,” he started, pride and vitriol and excitement now clear in his voice, “I hide crabs in my merchandise. I release as much as I can, and pack lots of boxes with a new crab. When it’s opened by whoever opens it—a new Mignyan is made.” 

“WOAHH!!” Her mouth fell open in surprise, before he said “Wish I could do something like that…” 

“Most of my staff are also Mignyans. That helps.” He hesitated, staring at her, before asking “What do you do for a living?” 

“I’m a circus performer!” 

He nodded, before a wide smile started to show on his face. Its fangs were fully on display and a malicious gleam was in his eyes before he said “I have some ideas for you.”