[PCA] UNIVERSAL CONSTANTS

[skinstealer]

One of the large-class maybecat dorms had been assigned to Stitches, a handmade sign put up and everything. The ghost had taken well to its new life here, given as many treats as the program could afford to share (and as many as Jester could bake...), secondhand blankets rustled up and formed into a pleasant nest, and people available at its beck and call for attention.

....which was very much needed, considering how many nightmares it had. It was hard to tell when it was even fully asleep, usually at least one set of eyes on watch- but at least one person had to be around it in case it woke up in a panic.

The last time it had done so without someone to be there for it, it had threatened to slam right through its door, only stopped by Smith- thankfully living in the dorm next door.



...

Even in death-




it remembers that these dorm rooms used to be cells.






Charon slows down as he approaches the doors to Stitches' dorm, looking more sized for a warehouse than any sort of living space.

One door to the side for people in his size range, and a massive garage-style door for Stitches itself.

Smith and Rosetta have similar setups in the same hall, helping show it around when they can-



Charon's rumination comes to a halt, voices coming through the door.

RUBY: Okay, so this is- can you say hello?
????: Mrreewow.
RUBY: Good!
RUBY: Close!
RUBY: Now- this button says the same thing-

 

Broth knocks, the two not wanting to barge right in.

RUBY: Ah-
MAES: I'll get it.



 

The smaller door opens, Maes standing in the entrance with an exhausted expression.

MAES: Hello?
CHARON: We're here, Synna filled us in on today's plans.

 

Her ears perk up, instantly attention.

MAES: Charo- Judgment.
MAES: It's.

 

She takes a deep inhale as her ears flop back down, her voice incredibly strained.

MAES: Good to see you.




 

A muffled snicker comes from inside- Ruby very clearly visible and holding a tablet out for the massive pile of karacel body parts.

Unaware of the stress between its teachers today, Stitches itself looks down at the tablet with its large, wet eyes- relatively miniscule cat paws creeping out from its underbelly to poke at the buttons.

STITCHES: [Happy.]
STITCHES: [Happy.]
STITCHES: [Sad.]
STITCHES: [Hungry.]
RUBY: ...it's still learning how it works.
CHARON: It's fine, brought my own-
CHARON: Actually, can everyone see Broth right now?

 

The proxy gives the room a friendly wave, Maes subtly brushing against it in a brief attempt to calm down her own nerves.


Stitches' eyes open wide-


-looming over to sniff and smile at Broth.

STITCHES: Mrewwow.

 

Pondering for a moment, it brings over the tablet and very excitedly starts pressing a button.

STITCHES: [Hello.]
STITCHES: [Hello.]
STITCHES: [Hello.]
RUBY: ...think it recognizes you.
CHARON: Every proxy is technically Broth in a costume...
CHARON: Should we get the appropriate one out today?
RUBY: Go right on ahead.

 

Ruby gives a big thumbs up.

RUBY: We're doing good on progress.
RUBY: Turns out it's completely sentient!
RUBY: Sapient, even!

 

Maes' ears flop back, heading back to sit in her chair with a sigh.




Ah.



Charon gets it now.



It's one of those Ruby days.

CHARON: Broth?
CHARON: Need you to get dressed for-

 

With a little cartoon spring noise and a puff of smoke, the proxy transforms into Mar- her petal-like dress settling into armor plating.


The dog lowers her onto the ground, a bit too big for him to even try and hold.

MAR: Good to see you again too...
MAR: Not hurt too bad from last time, are you?

 

It makes vague, indiscernible gestures, unsure what to do with all of its arms- seemingly trying to convey different things at once, and having difficulty deciding.



...a composite, maybe?

Or just scrambled...

RUBY: It cleaned up well and looks...less..corpse-like!

 

Ruby looks delighted.

Maes does not.

RUBY: You can hardly tell it's a ghost with a big enough dust bath!
MAES: ...I bandaged up some small scrapes earlier.

 

Maes pipes up, her voice deadpan as she taps the implant on her back- modified to work with the horror-proof suit, its arms tucked up and folded like a backpack.

MAES: Ruby missed a couple.

 

Charon swears he sees it move for a moment-




-but then nothing.

CHARON: Always on point boss, if you'd like I can come in after shift just to double check to make sure things are kept clean.

 

Mar chimes in, smiling her best for Stitches.

MAR: Mmhmm!
MAR: You did us quite a big favor last time... we'd be honored to give you a hand.
RUBY: ...Thank you, Judgment.
RUBY: Always could use another helper!

 

Ruby's voice is...even more overly cheery, the tension between them and Maes too thick to cut with a knife.

MAES: I agree, Judgment will be extremely welcome to help out.
MAES: In fact, I bet the two of us could come by and spend time with Stitches just fine.
MAES: Give you some time off.
RUBY: Oh, that'd give me such a nice break!
RUBY: But please- I love the work.

 

Stitches doesn't even notice, poking at the sharp edges of Mar's head and making excited chirps from its main mouth. The rest of its eyes track her, some of the mouths devouring each other curving into pleased smiles.

Mar's head twitches like a bird's, allowing it to see all the different angles.

MAR: ...I do try to polish every morning, like it?

 

The ghost nods excitedly, its enthusiasm the only thing keeping Charon from snapping right there and then.

CHARON: If you want to keep yourself busy, I got a few books for you.
RUBY: No, no-
RUBY: I have too much to figure out here.

 

Maes grits her teeth as Ruby keeps going.

RUBY: It's not too often you get to meet a ghost.

 

Stitches gently headbutts the proxy's forehead, Mar exchanging a brief look of strain with her operator as she pats its hair.



Charon feels his chest clench.



Easy now.



Breathe.

CHARON: Met plenty, they appreciate a little more courtesy than this.
RUBY: Courtesy?
RUBY: What part of me isn't courteous-

 

Stitches pulls back with another large, grateful smile, leaning down to its tablet and squinting before hitting the button with an identical smiley face.

STITCHES: [Happy.]
STITCHES: [Friend.]
RUBY: Oh, look!
RUBY: Another word!
RUBY: It's learning!


 

Oh thank god an opportunity.



The proxy surprises the cat by pulling out her own tablet.

MAR: [Friend.]
MAR: [Happy.]
STITCHES: Oh!
STITCHES: M- oh!!!

 
 

[id: stitches, a massive being made up of karacel body parts, stares at mar with big, wide, interested eyes- another head looking equally as interested- as she gestures to her AAC tablet. silhouettes of maes and ruby bicker in the background.]

 

It makes happy little sounds, gesturing between the tablets with a curious laugh.

CHARON: Some of us need one of those as well... you'll get to know the others.
CHARON: We're.. more than one person too.
MAR: I still need to put stickers on ours, noticed a few others do that...

 

That just makes Stitches more excited, shuffling around on its many tentacle-like limbs.

RUBY: Ah, your plurality!
RUBY: A perfect teaching opportunity!
RUBY: Why don't you share some lessons directly?
CHARON: Don't really got experience there but...

 

The dog lingers for a moment.

CHARON: If you could give me a full copy of the material in advance next time, I could make it work.
RUBY: But of course!
RUBY: I have so many notes-
MAES: Ruby.

 

Maes' voice is seething.

MAES: Can.
MAES: You.
MAES: Not.
CHARON: Mm...you...can tone it down for now.
RUBY: ...

 

Ruby's pleasant tone breaks, narrowing their eyes just a bit.

RUBY: ...right.
RUBY: Yes. 
RUBY: Forgive me.

 

Maes' tail thumps.





At this point, Stitches' attention is completely fixated on the proxy, leaving the rest to bicker. Mar was actually engaging with it, after all, and now she's showing off magic tricks.

MAR: Watch this!

 

She spins carefully, all those sharp edges ruffling like soft down feathers until they they're all fluffed up, more like a pinata than a suit of jagged metal.

Stitches peers around the proxy, poking at the fluffy layers with its tiny underbelly hands.

 

MAR: Enjoy it while it lasts, don't do it all too often because bees and june bugs get trapped...

STITCHES: B.
STITCHES: Bee.

 

It manages to get the word out, beaming as it recognized its new, incredible power.

STITCHES: Bee!
STITCHES: Bees.
RUBY: ....



 

Ruby's face is incredulous, scrawling down notes.

RUBY: It...learns so quickly.
RUBY: As if it's recovering something already there.


 

That's it.

CHARON: Because there probably is.

 

He's unable to keep himself from snapping, patience spent.

CHARON: Any kind of remnant being has thoughts, emotions, memories serving as building blocks not too different from how DNA composites someone like you.
CHARON: It's just people made under a different system.
MAR: Mm, poor things already have enough on their plate as is...

 

The proxy poses playfully as Stitches continues to inspect the petal-like pleats.

RUBY: Amazing...simply amazing!
RUBY: To think that such a being could exist-
RUBY: We could learn so much from this kind of research-!

 

Maes had gotten up during the two talking, yanking on Ruby's tail.

MAES: Hallway. 
MAES: Now.
CHARON: ...Mar?

 

Stitches looks over the proxy's shoulder with confused, wet eyes- the proxy gently patting it between its folded ears.

MAR: Go ahead, we'll be fine...

 

The dog makes haste toward the door, holding it open.

CHARON: Let's take this outside...