[PCA] REMEDY HOUR

[skinstealer]

[id: maes, an anthro cat furry, standing next to synna, an ambiguously marsupial furry with a white crop top exposing a pouch on her belly, and pink shorts. maes is wearing a brown turtleneck, and looks apprehensive. synna looks guarded but receptive.]

Maes’ office is quiet as they put work away for the day, Charon shuffling papers into folders beside them. Going back to work after the session, even if just for a day, felt alien and strange, but not nearly as bad as they were anticipating.

They break the silence, a bit of confidence in their voice.

MAES: ...I feel better than I thought I would.
CHARON: Really?
CHARON: You seemed so reluctant to even try.
MAES: ...better enough to be doing this, anyway.
 

The nerves set in as they say it, that confidence shaken already.

They take a long sigh.

Synna…she’s been my friend for a long time. It’s going to be okay…
She’s designed and made robotic prosthetics and gear for all kinds of people, including those who want this kind of thing. She’ll get it.

MAES: I know Synna's going to be fine with it, just-
CHARON: You can be honest, lay it out.
MAES: But!
MAES: Where do I even start?
MAES: I know I want to get this done with, but I still don't...know how to put things, not without it sounding silly.
CHARON: Don't think she'll laugh if that's what you're worried about.
MAES: I know, but...we've grown apart, you know that.
MAES: I'm worried that I'll come off as overdramatic, or something...
CHARON: You won't know until you tell her.
 

It would be nice to have her included in this…

MAES: You're right.
 

They lean their head onto his chest, giving him a tired bonk.

MAES: ...thank you for being there earlier, too.
MAES: Was it awkward for you at all?
CHARON: No, fancy technology aside, it's not too different from a normal therapy session.
MAES: I've never even had one of those before, so...it's all new to me.
MAES: ...I didn't know you've been to therapy before, either.
CHARON: Small town doctor, but a psych regardless.
MAES: ...maybe I could ask you for advice if it gets....harder.
 

Maes nearly jumps out of their seat as there’s a knock on the office door. Synna’s voice is unmistakable, nasally and upbeat.

SYNNA: Hey, open up!
SYNNA: Can I come in, or are you two kissing or something in there?
CHARON: One moment!
CHARON: You ready Boss?
 

...as I’ll ever be.

All they give is a nod.

Charon walks on over and opens the door.

She’s probably dressed the way she usually is after-hours- way too little clothing for an engineer, but I guess she’s allowed whatever she likes off the clock…
…I suppose it suits her.

SYNNA: You guys never call me out this late- not after a work day, either.
SYNNA: What gives?
CHARON: The boss and I started the first part of our evaluation of the new potential therapist for the lab, you might've seen them around.
SYNNA: You mean the super cute construct?
SYNNA: Lots of eyes?
SYNNA: Yeah, I saw them around earlier.
SYNNA: Figured you two would be grilling them on the clock or something, not doing paperwork-
MAES: I-
 

Maes goes to say something, immediately closing their mouth and swallowing before they can get the words out.

I can do this, I can do this, I can do this-

CHARON: Boss, it's fine to talk about your session.
SYNNA: Wait- her session?
 

The pronoun almost seems to visibly bounce off of them, Maes having to hold back a grimace.

MAES: Yes, my session.
SYNNA: ...you mean you're like, testing this? Yourself?
CHARON: That's part of it.
CHARON: Something came up that’s pretty big, something that felt important to talk to you about before anyone else.
SYNNA: ...Huh.
 

Synna takes that in for a moment before taking one of the empty chairs.

SYNNA: Kinda surprised by that, but...hit me.
 

Okay. She’s receptive.
The shock doesn’t feel great, but that’s okay. She’s listening.

MAES: I-I mean...I know we've, grown apart, in recent years-
SYNNA: I get it, you're busy, it's cool.
MAES: N...no, it's-
 

Maes takes another deep breath.

MAES: This is important, Synna.
MAES: I want you to know about this.
 

Charon places a hand on their shoulder quietly. They whisper a quick "...thank you" before turning back to Synna.

Synna doesn’t say anything, waiting for whatever bomb this was to drop.

MAES: I don't think I'm a woman anymore, Synna.
MAES: Or...if I ever was one.
 

There’s silence for a moment, the room feeling even more tense for Maes than the wait to get to this point.

SYNNA: Huh.
MAES: ...that's all?
SYNNA: I mean, I kinda figured-
MAES: You what?
SYNNA: I mean, after those, like, surgeries, when we were kids-
 

Maes immediately cuts her off, gesturing for her to stop talking and trying to downplay the feeling of a pit opening up in their chest.

SYNNA: ...oh, shit, does he not know about those?
 

H-he’s seen the scars, but I’ve never explained-!

SYNNA: My bad.
SYNNA: ...figured you two were attached at the hip by now.
CHARON: I won't pester about it, continue.
 

I sh-should really tell him, but…
…it’s….
How would I even start-

Maes shoots him a grateful expression, visibly tensed up after that.

SYNNA: ...well, point is, after some stuff that happened when we were teens, I noticed how upset that kind of thing made you.
SYNNA: You hated the way people addressed you, but...
SYNNA: ...as you got into the job and started doing more above ground, you...stopped getting visibly upset about it.
SYNNA: You just started…taking it.
 

A frown sneaks into her voice, her discomfort easily noticed.

SYNNA: ...I noticed, but I didn't...step in.
SYNNA: I figured it was how you were dealing with it.
CHARON: Papaya, the therapist, recommended coming out first to personal circles, building that sort of support network for it while not prepared to fully come out publicly.
CHARON: As soon as their session was over, Boss wanted you to know.
CHARON: There's a few others that've come up as well but you were the priority.
SYNNA: Huh...I appreciate that.
 

She pauses, as if contemplating her next action carefully.

SYNNA: Mind if I pat your hand, Maes?
 

...she hasn’t done that in…I don’t know how long.
Asking, too…

MAES: Go ahead...
 

Synna rests her hand on her friend's, Maes slowly moving it to hold hers.

It’s warm.

SYNNA: I got you, okay?
SYNNA: I know we don't talk much outside of work these days, but-
MAES: I want to change that.
MAES: Really, I do.
SYNNA: Yeah, me too.
 

She gives their hand a squeeze, a slight smile coming to the karacel's face.

The silence is so much more bearable, Maes focusing on her hand, the tension easing up out of their body.

SYNNA: So...what big changes are we thinking here?
SYNNA: What's the goals?
 

God, of course she’s goal-oriented on this…
Probably wondering if she can get some metal grafted on me, hah….

MAES: ...I don't know, yet. Judgment's been using they pronouns for me for a little bit now in private, and it's been nice…
SYNNA: Gonna try to commit that to memory then, whack me if I screw up.
CHARON: It'd be nice if the folks working the big project could all get in on this too at some point.
CHARON: Feel they're a good crowd to let in on things.
SYNNA: Yeah, and they'll all be good about it, I think.
SYNNA: We screened the hell out of them.
 

Synna takes a moment to think, leaning back in her chair.

SYNNA: Grumpy's as far as we allow on the team.
CHARON: Honestly, I think it might be impactful for some people to see you taking those steps, Boss.
MAES: Impactful...
 

Maes squeezes Synna's hand a bit tighter, not even seeming to realize it.

MAES: I...get what you mean, and I appreciate it.
MAES: I just wish it didn't have to be that way.
CHARON: Think of the other cats, someone might resonate.
MAES: I know, I know-
MAES: ...I just don't want to be a role model.
MAES: I just want to be me.
CHARON: Then we can do that.
MAES: That's the thing, though- no matter what I do, I'm going to get put on some kind of pedestal, or under a spotlight...
MAES: I'm a public figure to the outside world, and my own siblings in the rehabilitation program don't...view me as that.
MAES: To them, I'm just the one that gets to be in charge.
CHARON: What do you want to be to your siblings?
MAES: ...it's embarrassing.
CHARON: It's okay.
MAES: ...
SYNNA:  Is it like...how it was when we were kids?
MAES: ...yes.
SYNNA: Do you want me to say it, then?
SYNNA: Would that, uh, help?
 

Maes nods, keeping their head lowered.

SYNNA: Alright, so....Maes really wanted to befriend the other maybecats.
SYNNA: Like, a lot,  especially after Mason and Mel were out of the picture.
SYNNA: But people pretty much saw them as siding with the enemy.
CHARON: So you want them to see you as one of them?
MAES: Mm...exactly that.
CHARON: Don't see why that can't be true- though I think you might have to just connect with people more directly at that point.
MAES: I want to, and maybe this will help, but I think as long as I'm in this position, it's going to be a problem.
MAES: I get to go to the surface, and they don't yet. The ones who stayed, they signed up for this, but it’s taken longer than anyone wants…
CHARON: Then promise them the surface.
MAES: I have. And...I think it does have an effect.
MAES: Maybe me being down there will too.
CHARON: I think so.
CHARON: From experience, leading at the same level as everyone else breaks a lot of the tension.
CHARON: Make it clear you're not much different.
MAES: There are...some significant differences, is one of the hard parts.
MAES: In some ways, I was spared a lot.
MAES: ...in exchange, I was more directly experimented on.
MAES: Some view this as favoritism, mainly because they weren't exposed to the actual events that happened- it wasn't knowledge spread around, not to the guards, not to the other scientists.
 

They shake their head, letting out another long sigh.

MAES: I suppose this is something for me to talk about in therapy, though.
MAES: Imagine that.
MAES: Me in therapy.
SYNNA: Never thought I'd see the day.
CHARON: You can consider me your therapy dog.
CHARON: I'll be with you the whole way.
SYNNA: Ughhhhh.
SYNNA: Don't flirt in front of me, please.
 

Her tone is light, Maes practically able to picture the grin on her face.

SYNNA: ...you being there for them is appreciated, though.
SYNNA: Guess I'll try to be as well.
MAES: ...about that...
 

Maes turns to Charon, tilting their head.

MAES: Would...it be okay if Synna joined us for dinner tonight?
MAES: I want to keep talking, but I'd rather do so in the comfort of our own apartment.
SYNNA: W-whoa, you don't gotta go out of your way for me-
CHARON: For a guest, I'll bring out the old knight's cookbook.
CHARON: Something refined but wild for such an occasion.
SYNNA: Cmon, don't treat me like a guest- I literally just eat microwave meals, I'm easy.
CHARON: Mm, I think a good roast with sauce might change your mind quickly.
CHARON: Maybe dessert if you stay a little longer.
MAES: He's not going to give up, Synna.
MAES: I've never seen him put the minimum effort into cooking.
SYNNA: ...alright, alright, pull my leg...of course I'll come over.
 

The grin on her face must get wider as she speaks, her voice carrying legitimate excitement.

SYNNA: But you better be serious about that dessert!