[PCA] UNIVERSAL CONSTANTS

[skinstealer]

[image description: Rosetta, a very large maybecat without a face towers over Charon. The panel is framed in a very stylized and abstracted way, with limited colors and a strongly geometric look. Stars and Squares are littered across. Charon's cape flows toward the audience beyond the bordered frame of the art.]

Ruby stands with a clipboard in front of the three of them, JB looking more than a little irritated at the excited look in Ruby's eyes.

JB: ....can you, like-
JB: Pretend this isn't "cool" to you.
RUBY: No, no, it's- I'm just ready for the day.
CHARON: Should I be worried?
RUBY: Well! 
RUBY: That depends.
RUBY: There's been reports of strange noises and figures-
MAES: Ruby. 

 

Maes groans, not even hiding her own frustration.

RUBY: All kinds, all over the rehab center-
MAES: There are not ANY-
RUBY: A surplus of ghost sightings! 
RUBY: A surplus! 
RUBY: We have to investigate!

 

Charon steps forward.

CHARON: Where exactly? 
CHARON:  I'm a bit of a follower of this subject for academic and occupational reasons.
RUBY: Everywhere! 
RUBY: All around! 
RUBY: You'll have to talk to witnesses.
MAES: ...you couldn't just hand us the reports?
RUBY: The residents didn't capture all the detail by writing, you know how it is-
MAES: ...right.
CHARON: Get us started then.

 

The dog coils his cape around himself like a stereotypical vampire.

CHARON: If there's a trace I'll pick it up. If it's all just rumor it'll be debunked by the end of the day.
RUBY: Right! 
RUBY: Follow me-






 

Smith leans against the wall of the gym, a small group of maybecats closer to the door speaking in hushed tones- one other that Charon recognizes, and two he doesn't- and in drastically different heights.

The hairless cat gives the group a tired wave, his face mirroring JB and Maes' exhaustion. Ginger doesn't seem to notice, too busy with keeping up with the other two residents towering over her.

CHARON: ...This is the entire assembly of witnesses?
RUBY: Oh, no, plenty others. 
RUBY: ...these were the ones who felt it was imperative enough to  give firsthand accounts.

 

Smith pipes up.

SMITH: The others were too busy.
SMITH: And I'm just having my stretching interrupted.
CHARON: Let's get going then, if this is only a fraction then we should take it seriously.

 

Ginger's ears perk, the others turning to look with her. She rushes over, scrolling for a button-

GINGER: Hello Judgment!

 

The latter word clearly a newly recorded sample. 

She grins.

He gives a small smile and a subdued wave in return.

CHARON: Happy to see a couple of familiar faces today. 
CHARON: Hopefully won't need to keep you from your routines too long.
????: It's Judgment, then.

 

The tallest- an incredibly tall, curvy karacel with a stitched face and a long dress, places a hand on her hip, facing in the direction of Ginger's noise. She holds a makeshift collapsible white cane at her hip, not unlike Maes'- but clearly made of materials more suited towards a ten foot tall individual. 

She lacks any sort of facial features, the patches meeting at the center where her nose would be. Her voice sounds almost muffled, as if coming from inside some indiscernible source.

And yet...irritated.

The other karacel shrinks somewhat, coming in at 8 feet and wearing a crop top and shorts- and very fluffy hips poking out of the top. He sports black and white fur with striking teal accents, multiple sets of jingle bell bracelets on his massive wrists. He says nothing.

CHARON: Mm, bit of a specialize in this field. 
CHARON: Hope to make a good impression for those unfamiliar with me.

 

Maes shuffles a little closer to Charon, keeping her voice very, very quiet.

MAES: Rosetta is...touchy. 
MAES: Be careful.

 

Rosetta's tail tip lashes, making a loud "thump" against the ground- the attention called to it revealing a gnarled, lipless maw on its tip- permanently grimacing teeth as big as Charon's head.

ROSETTA: You've been here for what? 
ROSETTA: A month?
CHARON: Relatively new, yes.
ROSETTA: A month-
ROSETTA: Isn't new in my book.
ROSETTA: To me, that's a very, very long time.

 

She takes a few steps closer, using her tail to navigate around the fearful maybecat.

Her height feels way more intimidating than Smith's, despite being a few heads shorter.

ROSETTA: So, Judgment-
ROSETTA: Why have people been seeing things go down, and it getting *worse* in the past month-
ROSETTA: -and no one told you.

 

Maes pales.

CHARON: I don't think I understand what you're accusing me of here so why don't we start with that?
ROSETTA: I'm not accusing you.
MAES: R-rose-

 

Maes' voice is strained.

ROSETTA: Why's my sister keeping you from doing your job.