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raythecomputerart · 4 months

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It's TCR Secret Santa time!!! I got the lovely YarningChick this year and for whatever reason upon seeing the words Family Secret and Breaking a Curse my mind said Holes AU but in the sense of only the family curse part of it!

So enjoy one of the few things I've written all year plus a bonus screen edit and dress up doll I did to figure out the design! And I'll @catsafarithewriter as well as the runner of this event this year <3

It’s a spring evening, the whispers of winter’s cold still clawing to keep it’s hold on the world around. But that didn’t mean much to the young woman who was in the library searching through the various books she had grabbed off the shelf. Anything ranging from books on the occult to myths and legends. It was a common occurrence to see her in the library, searching for something though never giving exact details on what it was she was searching for. The most anyone could get out of her was that she was on the lookout for bringers of luck or curse breaking.

One could almost think it must’ve been an obsession of hers trying to find items to bring good luck given the array of items scattering her person. A crown of clovers, rabbit feet earring, keys, and coins. It seemed anything that would supposedly bring good luck she found a way to incorporate into her outfit. Though if you’d observe her it was clear she needed all the help she could get. It seemed anything that could go wrong would around her and she was always in the wrong place at the wrong time. If you asked her how one could be so unlucky she would laugh it off and make some dismissive comment usually about how clumsy she is.

Someone cleared their throat near her, trying to get the woman’s attention. She jumped slightly and looked up at the interruption. Before her stood a stunning beauty in all white, apart from a glittering pink gem around her neck. A wide hat blocking the view of her face.

“Uh-hello?”

“If you are seeking help in things strange and mysterious. I know where you can go.” Her voice was soft and wispy.

The young woman closed her book, she’d been to many places of mystics and those claiming to be able to break spells and curses with no luck so far, though the research she’d been doing hadn’t helped much either. Dead ends all around it seemed. So what did she have to lose?

“And where is this place Ms…?”

“My name is Yuki, and the place is a little difficult to find so you’ll need a guide. Look for the large white cat at the crossroads. He’ll be your guide.”

“The crossroads…” The young woman glances down at her pile of books, ready to start tidying up, “Who is it that I’m looking for when I get to this pla-hello?”

She looks around to no avail, Yuki having already vanished. She groans slightly. More non-answers. She starts putting the books on the return cart near her, carefully and one at a time, but as she puts the last one on the wheel snaps off and the cart topples over. She closes her eyes and takes a moment before picking the books up and setting them on the table. Stopping by the librarian’s desk to let them know what happened.

Hopefully this place could help her out. The large white cat at the crossroads. On her way she was careful to avoid cracks. The library wasn’t that far from her destination so she was able to get there without injury. Though finding the “large white cat” she needed to find was a different story. Looking at all the store signs around she saw nothing even close to a large white cat. Just as she was about to take a break and sit down she felt something groan underneath her, she jumped up with a squeal. Turning around to see what she sat on she saw a cat.

A large white cat. Huh.

“Are you supposed to be my guide?” She whispers quietly to the cat. She feels ridiculous, “A lady in white told me I’d find my guide to someone who can help me with my problem here.”

The cat stares blankly at her for an awkward few moments and her shoulders drop, “Guess I have the wrong pers-cat. The wrong cat. Guide. Sorry I sat on you”

She turns to learn when a gravelling voice interrupts her, “Stop, I’ll show you.”

The cat was talking to her. The cat just spoke to her. She thought she had imagined that kind of thing when she was younger but as she got older cats only meowed as everyone else said they did. Right. Okay.

“It is you.”

He doesn’t respond again, instead jumping off the chair and heading in a direction.

She’s quick to stumble after him, “Hey w-wait a minute!”

She chases after him ducking out of the way as random crashes from bikes happen around her. Groans as he starts climbing on balconies and rooftops, but still follows, grateful for when the roof tile falls after she moves past it rather than while she was still on it. She understands now why Yuki said she would need a guide, completely lost in where exactly she was. Eventually they come to an archway and the cat she’s been following stands up. He wanders over to grab a newspaper and sit on a chair as she looks around the little area around her. Emphasis on little as she looks around nearly as tall as the buildings themselves.

“What a weird place…” Perhaps this is where she’d find her answers. But there was no one here. Other than her and the cat, “Um…hello? Where do I find who can help me? Is it you? I really need some help.”

He continues to ignore her, focusing on the newspaper in his hands. Suddenly sunlight hits the windows of the small buildings around her reflecting onto the building in front of her. Right where the cat is sitting.

“Enough Baron, turn it off, no one is impressed by your cheesy light show okay.” The cat yells back.

The light fades and instead the lamp and lights in the house turn on, as the door opens revealing a…nother cat. Though this one looks like the statue that had just been in the window.

“Good evening, welcome to the Bureau.” His clothes are so nice and even his voice sounds so fancy.

The woman tries to step closer only to trip on a stone and fall over with a oof, she groans and continues on regardless, “You’re cool.”

“Thank you,” He offers a hand to help her sit straight rather than being on the ground, “In case you hadn’t noticed, you’re in a world quite different from your own. This is a refuge for creations. Whenever someone creates something with all of their heart then that creation is given a soul you see, like me. And Toto there.”

Behind her the stone bird statue in the center of the square comes to life as well, Toto she supposes.

“That’s-That’s” Cool? Weird? Too much information?

“That is Toto. A stone statue with a soul.” The statue cat continues.

“I see you have a visitor today Baron, how unusual.” Toto says.

“Indeed, she’s quite a fetching one too.” The statue cat-Baron?-says.

Fetching? “Did he say Baron?”

“I am Baron Humbert von Gikkingen. The artisan who created me gave me that title.”

“I’ll…just call you Baron.”

“So, let’s get down to business. You say you need help?”

“Yes. My family is…this is going to sound crazy, but we’re cursed.” She explains.

The guide cat laughs, “Of course you are. That explains all the destruction on our way over.”

“Oh hush Muta.” Toto scolds, flying over to wack him, “Being catty isn’t welcoming.”

“Hey cut that out I don’t intend to be welcoming, we don’t need to be involved in curse business you chicken!”

“Chicken? At least I can tell the difference between a chicken and crow you marshmallow!”

“If it’s going to cause trouble I can just leave-”

Baron steps in front of her before she can get closer to the squabbling bird and cat, “I’m afraid I didn’t catch your name.”

“Oh, it’s Haru Yoshioka.”

“Well Miss. Haru, please step inside the Bureau.”

She follows Baron inside the small house, shrinking herself down to fit inside. As she settles in he offers her tea.

“It’s my own personal blend so I can’t guarantee the taste.” Baron warns.

As she takes a taste though she sees the warning was unneeded, “Wow, that’s the best tea I’ve ever tasted!”

“Then you’re lucky!”

She laughs, “I’m quite certain that’s not the case.”

Muta and Toto make their way in, also settling in.

“Well, tell us what you know then.” Baron sips on his tea.

“The story seems to be inconsistent depending on who I ask, but the women in my family are all extremely unlucky. Like we always seem to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The most consistent answer I can seem to get is that a couple generations ago my great-great grandmother upset some witch. How exactly she did it changes so often that I have no clue what could be right. But whatever she did, the witch cursed the family line. But there’s got to be some way to break it right? Curses are made to be broken, I think.”

Baron hums, “I would imagine you’re right, though I’m afraid curses and what’s in witches' minds are not within my realm of knowledge.”

Haru’s shoulder’s sag, “Right. Well thank you for your time and tea then.”

“Ah, but we can still provide some assistance. My sister and her wife are more familiar with things of an arcane nature. I suggest we go to see them and see what ideas they have.”

Well. What did she have to lose right?

“To your sister then.”

Pose base is not mine I merely used it as a dress up doll, I originally intended to draw something fresh from the ground up but my finals murdered me a little whoops

#tcr secret santa #the cat returns #rart #tcr secret santa 2023

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