[PCA] UNIVERSAL CONSTANTS

[skinstealer]

Mar steps into the bedroom with a gentle hum, Maes' ears perking as she makes her way over.

MAR: Prep's done.
MAR: Are you ready to go?
MAES: ...Mhm.

 

The karacel stretches, the length of her fur having gotten...significantly past scruffy, at this point. The extreme hourglass shape of her body had softened, more of a soft curve than anything now.



The first day someone noticed had been embarrassing.


The second day, even moreso.


The third, it had to be addressed- if Maes was going to spend all this time in the castle, she was going to turn into a puffball.


...and in this case, being a puffball requires some assistance.

MAES: Are you sure you're really up for the task? It's...intensive.
MAR: Mmhmm.
MAR: We've never done this specifically, but maintenance is in our nature... do you want me to carry you over?
MAES: ...yes, please.
MAES: I may as well get the full treatment...

 

She lifts her arms for Mar to get a good grip, fluff even more obvious. She can feel her face flushing, the anxiety she had about being naked having found new ways to rear back up.


This is normal for longhairs.


Normal.


This is nothing to be-


Mar scoops her up, making a little noise as she embraces the cat.

MAES: I-
MAES: ...is there something wrong?
MAR: Still never used to seeing you with your fur grown out... any reason you don't keep it longer?
MAES: ...It's...unseemly.
MAR: So is a floating metal dress and yet..
MAES: No, that's- you're beautiful, Mar.
MAES: I'm, just...scruffy.
MAES: You can't- you can't even make out anything like this.
MAR: I'm mostly squares.

 

Maes grumps, brow furrowed at the proxy.

MAES: But- that's not the same, Mar.
MAR: Because you're cuter.

 

The karacel unconsciously tries to melt into Mar's arms, whether to hide or out of affection unknown to them both.

MAES: No, it- come on. Be serious.
MAES: ...it's, more...like...
MAES: ....

 

Maes hesitates.

MAES: I don't have the ability to switch between forms like you.
MAR: ...Ah, you mean like...during the expedition?

 

She shakes her head.

MAES: No, it's...
MAES: ....you can be made of armor, or petals...
MAES: Having-
MAES: This is-
 

She groans, rubbing her temple.

MAES: Not looking like this- it's my armor, or something.
MAES: Sounds stupid.

 

Mar gives her a tiny squeeze, her body malleable and soft between the slime internals and the fluff.

MAR: You wish you could be soft, but you need some kind of protection...
MAES: It isn't an optional need, either.

 

Her voice goes strained, caught between trying to explain and clearly being uncomfortable with the idea of elaboration.

MAES: I-
MAES: It's, a whole-
MAES: I can't just change easily-
MAES: ....
MAES: sorry.
MAES: I have...appearances to keep up.
MAES: Regardless of whether it's comfortable for me.
MAES: If I let any of it slip-
MAR: In here there's no way for anybody to know.
MAES: It'll all have to get cut off again...

 

The bird proxy starts moving, mindful not to jostle her partner too much in the process.

MAR: Still, even a little bit of time in your own fur..
MAES: I haven't had it in-

 

Her face grows troubled as she counts- how long had it even been?

Definitely years, but-

MAES: ....nevermind.
MAES: I'll...give it a try.
MAR: Less cuts while you're here, and we can handle the grooming.
MAES: Mm...
MAES: But...why?
MAES: Is seeing me like this really so-
MAES: Am I more attractive like this?
MAES: You can't-

 

She gestures up and down her body, genitalia completely covered, and only tinted fur accents on her breasts.

MAES: It doesn't even show anything!

 

Mar makes another amused hum.

MAR: To say so as you're swoon by the magic dress...
MAES: Please.
MAES: As if we haven't made it work.
MAES: You know as well as I do that I can explore you more than just fine.
MAR: Mmhmm, and you make it known when there's something you like~

 

The karacel sighs, more charmed than irritated.

She never could stay stressed around Mar, this proxy having a particular way of easing her stress away.

MAES: I suppooooose I'll just have to let you experiment...
MAR: And here I thought I'd end up being in the opposite position...

 

Mar steps through the bathroom door, a light scent of vanilla filling the room. Maes had requested something gentle, mood-setting- if they were going to try and do this, it may as well be done right.


Maes was very familiar with the smell of dust baths at this point, a regular hygenic measure- but quick "rinses" were all that were needed to maintain her fur when trimmed.


With the state of her chronic pain, a proper extensive roll would take far too much energy, and leave her worse off than how she started.




And so...

MAR: Just lower you in?
MAES: Mhm...gentle rolling to start.

 

[id: maes laid down in a tub of sparkling, pink sand, looking serene and calm as Mar rolls her around in it. she looks particularly floppy, and her entire shape has softened + bulked up due to the extra fur. cuddling could happen at any moment.]

 

Mar places the cat down carefully, pausing to examine everything. Maes' anxiety builds, fearful that she may have in fact gone too far in asking, that this was strange and alien- only for Mar to start rolling her from side to side.



The warm sand feels good, and Mar's hands feel even better.



She can't help but start to melt again-

MAR: Is cat hair harder to keep clean?

 

Snapped out of it, just a bit.

MAES: M-mhm...

 

She's impossibly soft to the touch right now, and yet her fur is so dense- Mar's hands barely making a dent.



...something that Mar clearly enjoys, her tiles ruffling like feathers.

MAR: So fluffy..
MAES: I-it's-
MAES: This is normal-

 

A soft rumbling purr escapes her before she can stop it, Mar making a delighted chirp.



Her rolling continues, finding the best angles to coat Maes properly.

MAR: ..It gets longer, right?
MAES: ...y...yes?
MAES: This is- this is just a week's-
MAR: ...Does that mean you like, get hotter?

 

Her face heats up, spluttering.

MAES: H- M-MAR!
MAES: Come on!
MAR: I'm kidding... maybe.
MAES: ...w-well...this is, like I said...just a bit scruffy...

 

She coughs.

MAES: Technically still- a quarter of my- volume-
MAR: Not even half your power..

 

The proxy sounds awed.

MAR: Well...it has to grow back so fast too, right?
MAR: When you cut it down so much...
MAES: It's-
MAES: Synna does the majority of the trimming.
MAR: Really?
MAES: ...yes?
MAES: She's quite good at it, considering her experience.
MAR: Don't mean it like that, more like..
MAR: I didn't know you two were that close.




 

Her shell feels tight.

MAES: ....O. Oh.
MAES: Yes.
MAES: I didn't realize- yes.
MAES: Very close.
MAR: I can see it... why don't you both talk more?
MAES: ....Time, distance...
 

Her voice tinges with guilt.

MAES: I can't believe it's never come up.
MAR: Well....
MAR: I mean she clearly has a lot of respect for you, but...
MAR: We didn't know.




 

...being avoidant isn't going to make this easier.

MAES: ....we grew up together.
MAES: She's been- or at least was- my best friend since.
MAES: We've had to work on our own projects, and-
MAES: ....
MAES: I don't know.

 

Mar lingers around the cat's shoulders, getting some extra rubs in.

MAR: ...do you want to talk to her more?
MAES: There's never a good time.
MAR: ..Do you give yourself time?
MAES: Outside of us?
MAES: I- I have so much to focus on, and so does she-
MAR: But if you could?





 

Hesitation.

MAES: ....I miss her terribly.
MAES: And...I...guess I'll need more haircuts...
MAR: Mmhmm..

 

The proxy picks up pace a little with the dust bath, settling into an even rhythm now that she's familiar.

MAR: It's.. good to know.
MAR: That there's other people who take care of you.

 

Maes' body squirms, purring and wiggling seemingly without realizing it.

MAES: I...I guess I don't think about it like that.
MAES: ...somewhat shitty of me.
MAR: Doesn't have to stay that way.
MAES: Maybe it could be nice...
MAR: Think on it?
MAES: I will...
MAES: Mmmmm...

 

She's lost in the massage now, purring getting louder as she starts to stretch and paw at the air.

MAR: The rumble...
MAES: I-it's completely norrrrrmal-
MAR: So I'll get to see it more?
MAES: It- It's a little harder for me to when I'm shorrrrn down, touch is a bit too sensitive like that sometimes-
MAR: What happens then, if I-

 

Her hands press down, right where the neck connects to the shoulder.

Full body vibration now, the cat nuzzling into every touch and kneading into the sand.

MAES: Veeeerrrrry nice.
MAR: That's a pressure point if I remember right.. can feel bad if touched wrong but with the extra layer..
MAES: Don't you tempt me...
MAES: If you put it like that, now I just want to make it a challenge.

 

She rolls over, exposing her soft, fluffy belly.

MAES: What'll win out, your desire for this, or...what comes after?
MAES: Think you can hold out?

 

The proxy's feathers bristle.

MAR: You'll be surprised...