[PCA] UNIVERSAL CONSTANTS

[skinstealer]

MAES: Go on.
ROSCA: So... I'm more than just a cloak. 
ROSCA: Usually I'm a throne for my catty half..
MAES: A throne.
MAES: As in, a...literal throne?
ROSCA: Of sorts, yes.
MAES: And this is an option.
ROSCA: One of many.
MAES: ...you know, I've teased Judgment about using him like furniture, but-
ROSCA: He'll have to wait his turn there.
MAES: That does keep happening, yes.
ROSCA: Be glad there's only one of you. 
ROSCA: For now.
MAES: ...for now?
ROSCA: You never know... 
FLOR: Yeah, there's a lot of ways that can happen down here- and not always in the ways you'd immediately think of either. 
ROSCA: More of you for everyone, imagine...

 

The cloth coils around her torso, cradling Maes' joints as if prepping to pick her up.

Gentle. 
Careful.

Unlike anything she'd had.

MAES: I-it does sound somewhat nice...
ROSCA: Spoiling two of you at once...
MAES: It'd be two messes to deal with....though...
MAES: Two aching bodies to soothe..

 

She leans into the cloth's grasp, trusting Rosca entirely. It's easy to, for reasons she can't fully parse-

-something about the proxy's touch, scent, everything, feeling familiar and welcome.

ROSCA: Threatening us with a good time?
MAES: I figure you have enough trouble with one of me.
ROSCA: Charon might pass out, but I think we'd manage otherwise.
MAES: No, it's more...

 

She shakes her head.

MAES: It doesn't matter. 
MAES: Just show me what you've got.

 

The proxy scoops both Maes and the husk up, not too fast, nice and gradual.

ROSCA: I'll ease you in properly...
MAES: O-oh, I-

 

She puffs up, startled at first-

-only to ease into the proxy's touch.

MAES: Hhgh...it's...
MAES: Good to trust someone to do that...
ROSCA: You're extending that confidence and familiarity to someone you just met? 
ROSCA: For all you know, I could be the bad Rook...
MAES: I've been grabbed a lot in my life...
MAES: You're the first person to hold me this tight and make me excited.

 

Rosca maneuvers onto a throne draped in more of her fabric- the husk puppeted to lean back into Maes' embrace.



[id: a low shot of maes and rosca on a fabric-draped chair, laying next to each other- maes at rosca's back. their tails loosely brush against each other, a blanket draped over their torsos and fancy sandals on the husk's feet. ]


Maes lays against the husk, tails brushing against each other as she purrs.

ROSCA: ...Have the others not been as bold yet?
MAES: They're...more subtle.
MAES: And less grabby.
ROSCA: It's all I can really do without help, so...
MAES: Well...from you, I do really enjoy it.

 

Her breath feels heavy as she grinds gently against the fabric's grip, still dripping slime from earlier.

MAES: Why don't you help me out on my new throne?

 

The husk flops around, Rosca trying her best to angle it onto her lap, drool leaking against the karacel's thigh bandages.

ROSCA: You'd really steal it from this face?
MAES: Why, that's mine as well.
ROSCA: ...Claim it then, show her how much she'll enjoy having a boss.

 

Maes manages to move one of her hands enough to line up the husk's head even with the fabric's grip- clearly having a hard time keeping it cool over having an inanimate toy to play with.

It feels indulgent- beyond indulgent. Something she wouldn't even allow in her wildest dreams-

Rosca rubs the husk's face gently against her, getting slime on its nose.

ROSCA: It may not be the real thing but... I want to pretend a bit.
MAES: Why wouldn't it be real?
ROSCA: Because as much as I like to picture myself in these positions, she's really more of a prop I can use to cuddle you with.
MAES: Would you say me using any kind of toys in play would be any less real?
ROSCA: No, perhaps not.
MAES: Would you say me using any kind of toys to make me feel more grounded and present be cheating, for false?
ROSCA: No, just... 
ROSCA: I wish I could just have-

 

The husk's tail coils around Maes' own.

ROSCA: Well, this really.
MAES: ...

 

Maes returns the coil-

-before pressing her tail tip against the orb on Rosca's, raising her brows.

ROSCA: I-is something wrong?
MAES: Not at all.

 

Pressing it further, until the internal pocket could be felt-

-smooth, secret flesh rubbing against her.

MAES: Can you feel that?

 

The throne vibrates in turn, its excitement bizarrely clear for a piece of furniture.

ROSCA: O-of course I c-can. 
ROSCA: First time we've really had a chance at this part...
MAES: That's my challenge, then...

 

She drops her voice down to a whisper.

MAES: Suck me off, and I'll give you all the tail sex you've been craving.

 

The husk seems to almost spring to life at that, throne aligning and slamming the cats together. It's overwhelming instantly, the body's movements feeling like more than just strings being pulled-

MAES: O-oh shit, a-ah-!
MAES: R-rosca, that's-!












 

Maes crosses her arms, thoroughly tucked in to keep her from leaving the bed, fresh bandages on her legs.

MAES: ...you need to give her more enrichment, Judgment.
CHARON: In my defense, we have a complicated history...
MAES: I'm not saying it has to be you, but-
MAES: She's even more pent up than I am. 
MAES: It's impressive.
CHARON: That difficult?

 

A little laugh escapes him, amused at her plight. Her suffering

The bastard.

CHARON: Given, she's a heavily modified fiend. 
CHARON: Stamina of a god.

 

Still, she smiles.

MAES: I'll have to train.
CHARON: That excited?
MAES: For all of you, really.

 

Maes rests her head on his shoulder, purring.

MAES: ...do you think we can get away with a cuddled up nap while we're both grounded?
CHARON: I think so, are you worried about the others?
MAES: If we try to get away with anything, they'll either suplex us both or we'll end up even more in trouble.
MAES: I told you to take care of yourself-
MAES: ...I have to take my own advice.
MAES: But...surely just holding each other...
CHARON: I will accept all consequences from here.
MAES: ...

 

She curls up close to him, wrapping her arms around his chest. 

His heartbeat is steady, just a little sped up-
-growing to be her favorite sound.

MAES: This okay?
CHARON: Mmmm...

 

The dog gives her neck a nuzzle, careful around the tender spots.

CHARON: Happy to have you...
MAES: Mmmm...
MAES: ...thank you, Charon.
CHARON: For?
MAES: For letting me love you.

























 

Matthias' ears twitch.

MATTHIAS: Look-
MATTHIAS: Hey.
MATTHIAS: HEY.

 

This fucking guy.
Of course he gets stuck having to talk to this
peon
of a lower tier Salivist.

MATTHIAS: You got a lot of nerve talking to me like that-
MATTHIAS: I've got rank now, you hear me?
MATTHIAS: .....

 

He idly tugs at the payphone cord, slumping against the motel wall.

MATTHIAS: ..........



 

Wasting his fucking time.

MATTHIAS: Are you done.
MATTHIAS: I'm standing in the middle of a truck stop and I need you
MATTHIAS: to stop being so retarded
MATTHIAS: and let me Do my job.
MATTHIAS: Got it?
MATTHIAS: .......
MATTHIAS: Okay! Great.
MATTHIAS: I've gotta go talk to the guy
MATTHIAS: WHO ACTUALLY KNOWS HOW TO FUNCTION.

 

Matthias slams the phone back onto the receiver, smoke trickling out of the corners of his mouth.

Someone stares at him across the parking lot, their grimace clear. Once you started crossing the border into Precipice, you got all these people and their sensitivities. Not as bad as Solitude, but-





Irritating. 
Pisses him off.

MATTHIAS: ....idiot.

 

He reaches for the pouch on his belt, fishing out his cigarette carton and lighter.



Last one.



Shit. 



Shouldn't be too hard to bum one off a teen at the next stop. He doesn't even need the things anymore, Spit's smoke running through his body like a beautiful, holy blessing.





But old habits and nicotine die hard. 


Usually a smoke helps him chill. Takes the edge off.
....but the place is too hot, on top of it all. Too dry. 








No point to even trying.  May as well get to calling the doc. 


The contact picks up on the first ring, immediately relieving the tension in Matthias' shoulders.

MATTHIAS: Heyyyy, we still on for-
MATTHIAS: Yeah, I'm on the way.
MATTHIAS: Should have heard the shit I just-
MATTHIAS: Uh huh.
MATTHIAS: Yeah. Yeah!

 

[id: matthias smiling wickedly, talking on a payphone with a cigarette held between his teeth.]


His usual grin returns, finally dealing with someone with brain cells rattling around in there.

MATTHIAS: That's what I told him!
MATTHIAS: Spit's happy you're in on this, man. 
MATTHIAS: Besides, bet you're gunning for another shot at this guy-
MATTHIAS: Yup. 
MATTHIAS: Just don't kill him if it comes down to it, alright?
MATTHIAS: ....
MATTHIAS: .......
MATTHIAS: Nah.

 

He snickers.

MATTHIAS: I just wanna make some tapes before I hand his ass over.
MATTHIAS: Call it settling some old beef. 
MATTHIAS: Hey- call me after the party with how it went.
MATTHIAS: I'll be waiting at the next leg of the-
MATTHIAS: Yeah, number should work.
MATTHIAS: Cool. You're the best.
MATTHIAS: Oh, and-



 

He flicks ash off his cigarette, his enthusiasm fully restored.

MATTHIAS: Happy retirement.