[PCA] UNIVERSAL CONSTANTS

[skinstealer]

[image description: Charon facing away from the camera and toward Jester, a maybecat with a fluffy, clown-like appearance with tufts that look like ear jingles, big cartoonish claws, and a worried expression on his face. The two are in the middle of a conversation over the hauntings spotted within the lab.]

????: Y-yes! Yes.

 

The belled cat perks up, still wringing his hands- bells jingling- as he slinks over.

????: ...I-
????: Hello. Hi.
????: I'm Jester.
JESTER: I wanted to ask, b-because-

 

He swallows.

JESTER: I- I hear a lot of the things.
JESTER: The voices and sounds.
JESTER: And, mm-
JESTER: Maybe if I know yours are- your friends-
JESTER: Maybe it won't freak me out-
CHARON: Mm, if you're willing to give them a chance I'd be more than glad to open up.

 

Maes sighs, crossing her arms.

MAES: I-
MAES: You should.
MAES: ...Mar won *me* over, of all people.
MAES: I would hope my less-
MAES: Skeptical siblings, would do the same.
CHARON: It'd be good for them too frankly, my allies have always had limited opportunities to experience the world without a fuss.
CHARON: They likely roamed around without telling me because they're more restricted than usual in a place like this.
ROSETTA: Then do it.

 

Rosetta's posture is still tense.

ROSETTA: Let's meet Mar, or whoever.
CHARON: Stand back then.

 

The dog gestures toward the crowd to make space.

Jester and Ginger step back, the latter pulling on Rosetta's dress to get her to make room.

CHARON: Alright, I'd like to introduce you properly to-

 

His introduction is cut off, a cartoonish squeak followed by a cackle.

Rosetta puffs up with more fur than one would assume she even had, colors still separated by the seam lines. Maes looks somewhat less startled, but only somewhat.

MAES: T-
MAES: That's not Mar, who-?
CHARON: One of my other allies being a tad too eager to meet people..

 

A bedsheet ghostly figure latches onto Maes' arm affectionately, smaller than Mar, but the sensation oddly similar.

The room goes silent, Maes' face heating up and blushing black all over.
Smith's the first one to let out an amused, stifled snort.

Another little squeak, the phantom now swinging a little.

CHARON: Was worried this would happen... this is Kettle, she's a bit of a mischievous one.
CHARON: She's non-verbal for the most part.

 

Rosetta leaning down to Jester.

ROSETTA: ....what is she-?
JESTER: She's, um-
GINGER: Cuddling Maes.

 

Ginger helpfully adds, an evil grin on her face.

MAES: THIS IS NOT-
MAES: SHE'S NOT-

 

Ruby is furiously taking notes.

CHARON: It's good for the proxy, term we used for folks like Kettle.
CHARON: She's a people person.
SMITH: She definitely looks it.

 

Smith's voice is teasing, but gentle.

SMITH: Though I can't say I expected Maes to let anyone do that-
MAES: I-it's-
SMITH: You're not exactly removing her and you look like you're going to pass out.
ROSETTA: ...Maes.

 

Rosetta's voice is firm.

Maes continues to sweat.

ROSETTA: Is there something going on here.
CHARON: The proxy are all extensions of each other, if one of them has found trust and safety in someone, then Kettle will express it with a manic leaning.

 

Ginger gives Charon a smug look, Jester covering his mouth.

JESTER: ...Maes, did you find-
MAES: I, ah-
JESTER: Are you two an item-??
GINGER: Yes.

 

Ginger doesn't hesitate to hit the button, grin widening.

GINGER: I think so.

 

Rosetta huffs-
-and then laughs, softly and rumbling.

Kettle doesn't exactly help their case, headbutting the cat's shoulder.

Just as Maes looked like she was about to implode-

-she let her head brush against the top of Kettle's, hoping the gesture looked composed, at least.
The proxy goes for the kill, a hug in return.

CHARON: Mm...

 

The dog attempts to carefully pull Kettle away only to get slapped in return. The jig is up.

Maes stiffens for a moment before allowing it, her voice down to a whisper.

MAES: It- it's good to meet you, Kettle...

 

She responds with a strange imitation of a purr.

CHARON: She says likewise.
ROSETTA: So-
ROSETTA: You two are together, but...

 

Rosetta's posture shifts from aggression to one of contemplation.

ROSETTA: You haven't met, these...proxies.
ROSETTA: Yet.
ROSETTA: Just some of them?
ROSETTA: How does that even-
JESTER: I thought you hated magic!

 

Jester can't help but interrupt, eyes still wide.

JESTER: Does that mean we can do it down here?
GINGER: Nope.

 

Ginger snorts.

GINGER: Not a chance.
CHARON: I have a license, a body count, and pile of regrets.
CHARON: I'm a bit of a exception, I think.

 

Jester's face fell, rubbing the back of his head.

JESTER: Y-yeah, guess that makes sense..
CHARON: I don't know if I could really show people mundane witchcraft, but...
SMITH: I...wouldn't.

 

Smith shakes his head.

SMITH: Jester here's like me.
SMITH: Can see things others can't, but-
SMITH: ...he's reckless.
JESTER: I am not!
SMITH: You're thirty two and you still copy stuff on TV.
CHARON: I've done worse.
ROSETTA: That doesn't exactly raise confidence.

 

Rosetta cuts through with a sharp remark.

ROSETTA: So, you and Maes are a couple.
ROSETTA: Interesting.
ROSETTA: It explains her protectiveness of you.
ROSETTA: You have some kind of "proxy" tagging along- multiple of them, from what you're saying.
ROSETTA: But you're supposedly here to help *us.*
ROSETTA: Not just our sister.

 

She places her hand on her hip.

ROSETTA: So how do you plan to do that?
CHARON: That depends, what exactly do you want out of me in the first place?
ROSETTA: I don't know.
ROSETTA: No one has just- come down here before.
ROSETTA: What's happening with you is not a thing, and, frankly, as seen by the ghost thing- people are scared of change.
ROSETTA: You are change, and-
GINGER: Judgment helps me with learning about animals.

 

Ginger gives Rosetta a glare.

GINGER: And cooks food for me.
GINGER: He is my friend.
CHARON: Mm... ultimately my occupation here is as a flexible unit among the staff, filling gaps needed.
CHARON: Working with you is going to be a core factor, but when I'm not I'll be generally handling tight situations or providing much needed security during the refurbishing project.
CHARON: The proxy act as a extra set of hands here, they make the load much more manageable.
ROSETTA: ...then I'd like to meet them and see that for myself.