Seven capital shapes: Ryu vs Jezebel

Location: Gaia, the great woodlands.

Ryu checked his backpack one last time before heading to the great woodlands. The elders in the latest village he visited had confirmed the rumors. That part of the forest was the home of a very rare creature, a shapeshifting genie.

During his recent wrestling matches and accidental encounters with differnet kinds of the so-called "monstergirls" such as succubi, lamias, bear girls and many others, the Japanese boy had learned that most of them were not evil by nature, often becoming aggressive only when attacked. Others where just willing to play with humans, but their strenght or powers made them dangerous for humans nonetheless.

Thus, Ryu's interest towards these strange female creatures had gradually shifted from his early intention to become a monstergirl hunter, to a more nobile intent at finding the possible ways of a coexistence with humans.
Hence the reason for this adventure. A shapeshifter could grant him the chance to learn a lot of things about different species of monstergirls by just dealing with one specimen. The problem was: could he find the legendary genie down in the thick forest? And once found her... would he accept to cooperate with his researches?

With such thoughts in mind, Ryu kept walking through the ancient forest. From grassy fields to small and quiet lakes, the woodlands of Gaia were a very luxurious habitat... but also a vast territory, which made Ryu's quest very difficult.
After 2 days of fruitless research, Ryu would wake up in the early morning of another day in the forest. Yawning and stretching a little, the boy would head to a small lake surrounded by fruit trees, willing to at least get something for breakfast before getting back on the road.
"Uhmf... this forest sure is huge...", he would mumble biting an apple under the swadow of the trees.

Unbeknownst to the intrepid adventurer, the quarry he searched so diligently was a stone's throw away. Reclining on a conspicuously modern lawnchair was the tanned, violet haired genie who happened to the prize Ryu sought! The shapely genie looked asleep, hands resting behind her head and sunglasses perched on her petite nose, but her shifting at the sound of Ryu's approach hinted that she was much more alert than she appeared to be!

Tilting her head, she watched the athletic looking young man--was he young? You could never tell out here in the realms. Jezebel herself was older than she cared to say, and she looked a pristine twenty, maybe even nineteen if you stretched it. To her blue eyes, his body was at least eighteen, muscled impressively, but rather slim. A traveler, maybe--he didn't smell like demon, at least.

Lifting the sunglasses up a tad, the relaxing woman decided the least she can do while relaxing in this plane--she couldn't have been here for more than a year yet, and she hadn't even seen the ocean, which she heard was marvelous--and called out to the young man snatching an apple. "You lost? I'd be careful eating random fruit around here, if I were you. Some of the elves like to trap them with sleeping spells. Take a bite and sleep for a week."

Ryu's senses had sharpened a bit since when he had first taken his path to become a demon hunter, and now a monstergirl researcher... so to speak.
Nonetheless he had failed to feel the strange woman presence, until she had decided to reveal her presence.

Slightly startled by the unexpected words, the Japanese redhead turned around, the half-eaten fruit still in his hand as he blushed a bit, realizing his lack of attention about both the fruit and the not-detected company.
"Uh...really?", he would blink, then widening the corners of his mouth into a cheerful grin. "Well, then I guess I was just lucky this time", he would add, before taking a more careful look to the very gracious but somewhat strange appearance of the young woman.... assuming that "she" was a woman, that is.

With such doubts in mind, Ryu decided to have her talk a little more, thus trying to figure out: "Oh, thanks for your advice in any case, but the depths of the forest are not the safest place for a young and gracious girl too, right? My name is Ryu, adventurer and...erm, scout (he obviously could not say 'rare creatures researcher'). At your service mylady", he would add in a courtesan way, though making an exaggerated bow to let her know that it is a bit of a friendly joke: not a real old-timey courtesan attitude, but not even a way of mocking her.

Jezebel sat up, realizing she was in polite company. She looked Ryu over again, a little more closely. He seemed cheerful and lackadaisical--a seasoned traveler, maybe? A god of mischief taking mortal form to play tricks on beings dwelling below? Was he just having a good morning, and didn't care he nearly spent a week in the grass?

"My name is Jezebel. Currently without an occupation, thank you kindly..." Scout, eh? Scouting for who? She'd find out soon enough. Ryu seemed harmless enough... "It's nice to a gentleman, but despite my appearance, I'm not young. You shouldn't assume such here, of all places, with all the elves about! There are many long lived species that remain frozen at the peak of physical beauty... speaking of which, what's your race, young-looking Ryu?"

She slid off her chair, bowing herself. She was intrigued, in spite of herself!

"Oh well, you still look amazing, my-not-young-lady.. hehehe", he smiled gladly. Ryu was actually just happy to have find such nice company. Quite the welcome change after 2 whole days spent amidst dangerous beasts, plants and.. things in the mysterious forest.

So pleasant that he had temporarily neglected the aim of his quest, that was to find the legendary shape-shifting genie and somehow convince her to cooperate with his researches.

"Heh... I'm afraid that my race is just merely human, Jezebel-san", he answered with a smile, then blinking not without surprise. "Wait... did she just ask about what is MY RACE?"

"Eeeerm speaking of which.... are you by any chance belonging to.... which race?", Ryu would finally ask with slightly flushed face.
It was not like he would be scared of course, he was there to find a rare creature after all. He just felt embarassed for not having figured it out so far: a cute, young human female leisurely sitting by a small beach lost in the middle of the ancient woodlands? The small beach nearby might be a neat one, but it was not exactely the safest place for a sunbath... not for human girls at least.

Also, now that he noticed it, the girl in question was actually wearing a cute, arabian-looking attire.... wasn't that the kind of dress you would expect to find on a genie...?

"Just human, traveling through Gaia alone? Well... at least this isn't a very dangerous realm, at least." She sits back down, looking him over. Easily flustered, kinda cute, kinda naive... Jezebel concludes that Ryu is basically walking, talking monstergirl food, no doubt about it. If he was an adventurer, he'd probably already been seduced and drained dozens of times. Then again, she could be underestimating him... oh, well, didn't matter too much, as long as he didn't try anything funny.

"That was really awkward wording, Mr." She teases, giggling. "I'm afraid I'm not a Which-Race. Haven't even heard of them. I'm a genie! Don't bother trying to capture and ask me for wishes, I don't do that sort of thing." She quietly straightens her clothes, noticing Ryu staring at them--she really hoped this young adventurer wasn't going to try anything funny. She'd have to put the hurt on him, if that was the case...

Jezebel, or anyone else in the range of 200 yards would not miss to notice Ryu startling with widening eyes at the word "Genie".

"Woww... you are a genie..! That's amazing Jezebel-san. And no worries, I'm not that kind of adventurer, trying to capture genies for wishes", he winked replying to her joking words.

"Though, I am actually trying to capture a rare species of your kind... well no, capturing is not correct, I'd rather need her to come with me and cooperate with umm.... some important project", he would say.

Ryu was often reluctant to say that he was working to build up a world where humans and monster-girls could live together peacefully, since many had been mocking him for such "sugar and candy" dream of coexistence.
Nonetheless, such reluctant attitude could sound suspicious at times like this. and maybe you might help me to find it.

"It is the legendary... SGAPE-SHIFTING GENIE!", he would finally speak out enthusiastically. "Do you by any chance know where may I find her?", he asked her with naive expectation. She is a genie after all, so she can be help me find one of her kind, he thought.

Ryu had no idea how much right... and wrong he could be about that.

"...Legendary?" Jezebel says quietly, raising an eyebrow slightly. She wouldn't admit it, but she was actually quite flattered--she hadn't realized she had advertised her presence enough to be legendary, however. It was actually sort of fun to be sought after in such a matter. Maybe being famous had something going for it? Jezebel decided to muse on this later, however, as there were more pressing matters to deal with it...

"Uh-huh, uh-huh. Capture her so she can help you with some important project? Oh, sure I'll help you find and nab one of my own race without knowing who you are, what you want, or what you plan on doing with her!" Jezebel says sarcastically, before leaning forward, looking unimpressed. "Look, kid, you seem nice, but you're not going to convince me to tell you anything like that. Make with some more information, and I'll tell you if I've heard anything about the shape-shifting genie you're looking for, got it?"

"W-What... capture??? Nonono please Jezebel forgive my confusional talking!", Ryu would say in a hurry to emend from his terribly wrong choice of words. Especially considering that genies had gone through hard times because of greedy and merciless merchants in a still recent past.

"I would never do such a thing like taking a genie back to the city against her will, and even less ask for your help for a villainous intent. My days as a monstergirl hunter are behind my back now. "Ugh... here you go again with the stupidest thing to say at the wrongest time, Ryu-baka! ...now she will believe that you indeed have come to chase one of her race", Ryu would think in a freezing moment, scolding himself for unnecessarily naming his past as a disgraced applicant hunter.

"B-But that's not important.. what counts is the reason as you said. Well the reason is a dream I have... the dream that one day genies, monstergirls, furry people, scalies, humans and elves can find the way of a peaceful coexistence, leaving behind the reasons for hatred, grudge or prejudice. And the shape-shifting genie is the person that better than any other can help me. Since she can assume the shape and personality of many creatures, it would give me the chance to test the compatibility of several species with humans. So I came here to ask for assistence and borrow her special abilities for my researches".

With that said Ryu would finally take a breathe and stay silent, blinking a couple of times as he looked at Jezebel. He was quite sure that she would not trust him, though he had just said the truth. His only doubt was: was she going to get even more angry, or was she going to burst out into a laughter at his absurd ideas?

Jezebel was honestly taken aback by the Ryu's flustered explanation. She hardly had time to process "Monster Girl Hunter" before being bombarded with terms such as 'peaceful coexistence' and 'assistance with research'. She stared at him, one eyebrow hitched up quizzically, her mouth confused on whether to frown unhappily or smile uneasily. "You... want..." she said slowly, mentally replaying the statement over in her head.

The first flare of anger at his apparent former title was quashed by confusion and curiosity as she processed his statement in its entirety. "You want to help monsterfolk and humans live together? That's pretty much a pipe dream, Mr. Ryu! Especially from someone who said they formerly hunted monster girls... I can't believe you could actually take one on in a fight, you're too good looking and naive! They'd have to have eaten you alive in seconds, huh?"

Jezebel hopped up and began to pace back and forth on the beach. "Assistance, huh? Probably some cold lab with a lot of poking and prodding. You've got noble intentions, though... you can't fake that kind of happy, hippy-skippy naivety or that brand of doofus." She stops, spinning on her pointy shoes to point right at the former monstergirl hunter! "Alright then, let me tell you something! I, Jezebel, am the shapeshifting genie you seek." She pauses a moment for effect, letting that sink in. "I consider your quest to be, if doomed, at least one worth trying... so, I'll make you a deal. I have five forms plus my own shape. If you can beat over half of them in combat, and prove your strength to me, I'll come with you, no questions asked! If you can't beat more than half, then you go home empty handed... and if you can't beat one, you need to be my manservant for a week, same as the time you would've spent sleeping from enchanted apple!"