09-22-2025, 09:09 PM
![[Image: 2_22_09_25_9_07_08.png]](https://homebrewdeviants.com/forum/gallery/2_22_09_25_9_07_08.png)
[image description: Illustration of Broth, a canine-like skeleton proxy in a black outfit with curly hair back to back with Mar. Both have tiny little smiles with mirroring energy between them. The borders of the illustration and background are framed with star shaped ornaments.
SMITH: Hey, Mar.
Smith waves, Jester and Ginger looking up in awe.
Rosetta's ears flatten at the sound of rattling.
Rosetta's ears flatten at the sound of rattling.
ROSETTA: You and Smith are acquainted.
Maes looks at ease.
Mar gives Smith a little wave back.
Mar gives Smith a little wave back.
MAR: We are as a matter of fact, I'm... the muscle of the group I'd suppose?
CHARON: You don't need to be modest about it, this one's a cult killer.
MAR: Sometimes..
Now it's Rosetta's time to look less tense.
ROSETTA: Well, that's genuinely useful around here.
SMITH: Like I said.
SMITH: I like Mar.
Smith shrugs.
SMITH: She's a good sparring buddy.
MAR: I keep up alright...
ROSETTA: If you can keep Smith worn out, that's more than alright.
ROSETTA: He gives *me* a run for my money.
MAR: Charon and I still have to take turns...
CHARON: You have the stamina to do this all day, I have to take breaks.
ROSETTA: You're sparing me the effort.
ROSETTA: I'm the only one big enough for the rest of the family to plead with when it comes to handling him.
SMITH: And she hates it.
ROSETTA: You hit too hard.
CHARON: He does have a strong hook..
MAR: I can take it fine.
Maes can't help but smile at that, Ginger approaching now.
GINGER: You are very tall and pretty.
The proxy does a little twirl around, plates now light and fluttering like decorative paper.
MAR: I'm the oldest one here in a way so it feels important to look the part..
Ginger's eye widens, clearly entranced.
GINGER: How did you change?
MAR: Form can be adjusted so long as it feels.. me?
MAR: I could go further if provided with sustenance but-
CHARON: I don't practice feeding as a fiend.
RUBY: Ooh!
RUBY: You're a *fiend!*
Ruby immediately starts scribbling notes again.
RUBY: That explains so much...
GINGER: ...What is that?
Ginger raises her brow.
GINGER: Why don't you eat?
CHARON: Fiends are vampiric.
CHARON: For a fiend to sustain their best health drinking the fluids of other living beings regularly is required.
CHARON: Once you feed regularly it becomes rather difficult to wean it off, and maintaining a supply in my line of work longtime requires access to a regular donor or extensive resources.
CHARON: A omnivorous diet with a leaning toward meat is perfectly suitable for day to day but....
The dog poses dramatically with his cape.
CHARON: I'm a bit on the small end for my kind, missed the developmental window.
CHARON: I'll be fine.
Maes can't help but blush a little, coughing into her hand.
MAES: I...can look into your nutrition.
MAES: We have some patients who require a blood donor.
CHARON: Is that so?
CHARON: Certainly something I'd like to look into on a extension of contract..
MAES: Perhaps we can discuss it after hours.
Maes' voice is completely even, but...
CHARON: Perhaps so. Mar?
MAR: Mm...
JESTER: ...
Jester's off lost in thought.
JESTER: ...so...that explains the rattling Ginger got on her tablet...
JESTER: And the large shadows I've been seeing.
JESTER: ...are there any others?
CHARON: Mar?
MAR: Mm... one moment.
The proxy does a final twirl, collapsing into a sea of petals and confetti before being replaced with one last. Humanoid, mechanical similar to Flor with a distinctly skeletal aesthetic and a silhouette close to Charon's own.
CHARON: Broth, the core connecting all the others.
CHARON: Non-verbal, even moreso than Kettle..
Ginger hands the tablet back over after a moment of hesitation, squinting at Broth and giving an approving nod.
Broth gives her a little bow in return.
Broth gives her a little bow in return.
BROTH: Hello.
Ginger smiles, giving it a back pat and some room.
Maes observes quietly, giving the proxy a tap.
Maes observes quietly, giving the proxy a tap.
MAES: Hello, Broth...
Broth in return reaches out for her hand, a light synthetic noise coming from it.
MAES: O-oh.
MAES: That's, you, right?
MAES: The sound?
BROTH: Yes.
MAES: ...it's nice to meet you.
Muzzle presses to her shoulder, feeling closer to Kettle than the others, closest to Charon himself in presence.
MAES: Oh..
Maes can't help but smile a little, rubbing the skeleton's back a little.
MAES: You're very gentle.
Another hymn, almost sounding like a relaxed sigh
Maes sighed, whispering just for Broth.
Maes sighed, whispering just for Broth.
MAES: Making me wish this wasn't a work day...
The little halo hovering over the proxy gives off a little warm glow in response that can be felt.
SMITH: Alright, lovebirds.
SMITH: We have introductions to do for real.
Smith doesn't sound mad at all, more amused.
SMITH: Jester, you recognize Broth?
JESTER: Y-yes!
JESTER: Yes.
JESTER: Definitely.
CHARON: Broth?
The proxy turns around toward the other cats with a little wave.
JESTER: It's- admittedly a relief...
Jester gives the skeleton a huge smile.
JESTER: I'm kind of scared of stuff like guts and gore, but knowing that you're a friend helps me feel a lot safer!
A little head tilt in response, followed by a prompt from the tablet.
BROTH: Friend.
JESTER: Oh- if you would prefer not to be called that-
BROTH: Friend.
CHARON: On the contrast, think it likes the sound of that.
Another warm smile.
Rosetta clears her throat.
Rosetta clears her throat.
ROSETTA: And what part of the team is Broth, work-wise?
CHARON: The base, every other proxy is built off its skeleton.
CHARON: In a sense it's the true body they all manifest through.
RUBY: And yet its personality is so distinct!
Ruby taps their pen against their clipboard.
CHARON: Hard to play so many roles and not be your own person underneath, no?
RUBY: Poetic...
Ruby sets their pen down, having run out of room on their paper.
RUBY: Well, Jester?
RUBY: Does that satisfy you?
Jester's face falls, a bit.
JESTER: W-well...
CHARON: Well...?
JESTER: ...it's, just...
He wrings his claws, clearly....guilty.
JESTER: I mean, after all that trouble-
CHARON: If something is wrong it should be said.
JESTER: ...you're missing one...
He winces.
CHARON: Continue.
JESTER: There's-
He looks nervously back at the other maybecats, and then back to Charon.
JESTER: ...there's something by the old lab.