[PCA] UNIVERSAL CONSTANTS

[skinstealer]

Flor's voice is audible, albeit hard to make out- sounding like they're in the middle of a conversation. There's a quiet hymn in Maes' head, not too different from being around Broth or Lash- absolutely a proxy.

MAES: ...hello? Flor?
MAES: Is someone with you?

 

There's a pause before the follow up.

FLOR: Oh uh.. yeah, actually. 
FLOR: You need me over there?
MAES: I had Lash make tea. 
MAES: ...though, I don't know if it'd do much for you.
FLOR: Yeah, I don't really get sleepy, I guess.
MAES: That's-
MAES: It's medicinal. 
MAES: Treating any wear and soreness from yesterday.
FLOR: I'll come over in a sec!

 

The hall is silence, Maes' tail tip twitching as she waits.
What could even be taking Flor that long?
Was someone hurt, or-


Maes tries to avoid her curiosity-



-only to give in and approach.

MAES: ...Flor? 
MAES: Broth?
MAES: Judgment said you were tending to something-
FLOR: Yeah, uh-

 

Flor's voice is cut off by someone new, reminiscent of Kettle but with a feline tinge.

????: A-ah! 
????: She's here?
MAES: ...who's that?
FLOR: Our Fifth Beatle, so to speak. 
FLOR: Introduce- 
????: I got this. 
????: Rosca Reyes, Rook of another time and place...in a way. 
FLOR: Complicated origin, but for all intents and purposes, she's one of us. 
FLOR: Just... another version. 
FLOR: Many worlds interpretation? 
FLOR: Familiar with that at all? 
ROSCA: Not as many as you'd think...

 

Maes fully enters the room, her head a mess of confused, unstable feelings. It's already been so many new things, and all at once, even if pleasant-

MAES: ...why didn't you introduce me before? 
MAES: Or...mention her?
FLOR:  Uh... trying to put it delicately. 
ROSCA: You don't have to, it's going to be a lot either way.. 
FLOR: Think we should...
MAES: She's a Rook. 
MAES: I-
MAES: I'd like to know all of you.
FLOR: She is but she's not your Charon's rook. 
ROSCA: Mm, can't simply waggle a finger to bring me out.
MAES: ...

 

Her ear twitches.

MAES: You-
MAES: Said another version.
ROSCA: Flor? 
FLOR: Yeah I'll handle it. 
FLOR: You wanna sit down for this one? 
FLOR: We're about to crack a few lids open about the scary side of witchcraft.
MAES: ...where should I sit?
FLOR: Right over-

 

There's a thump on the bed, like a pillow slapping the mattress.

ROSCA: Right here!

 

Maes makes her way over, brushing her tail to navigate. 


[id: a feline, doll-like figure laying still in a bed, her face covered by hair.]


Sitting feels..awkward, nervewracking. 
A new discussion about the unknown.

Rosca chimes at her, something fluffy brushing against Maes' thigh.

ROSCA: I'm right in front of you... 
MAES: ...hello.

 

Maes eases up as she reaches to pet it, only to stiffen again when her claws meet a solid, polished orb- one bigger than her entire head.

MAES: Wh-
MAES: What is that?
ROSCA: My tail... 
ROSCA: Karacel, different kind than you.

 

Rosca reaches out, her hand tapping Maes' arm. It's distinctly not the hand of a proxy...and her scent oddly similar to Charon's.

MAES: ...you're organic.

 

She reaches up to brush their fingers together, breath catching.

MAES: A different morph? 
MAES: I've never seen-
ROSCA: Still attached to my original operator.... nothing more than a puppet to interface with but... I like thinking of her still as another face of mine. 
FLOR: Also from another reality.

 

Flor interrupts.

ROSCA: Suppose that makes me a invasive species. 
FLOR: Lots of pockets of magic exist locally, but when you got no starting point the best stuff requires a pact.
FLOR: Lots of weirdos between time and space willing to give you those. 
ROSCA: It's why all of us exist, why we have this castle...
MAES: I-
MAES: Uh.
MAES: Hm.

 

She's completely overwhelmed.

MAES: Is- there an abridged version. 
MAES: Something introductory.
ROSCA: From the start?
MAES: Like, a single sentence for someone who has never heard of this in her life.
FLOR: Your Knight made a contract as a kid with a scary guy from another world, got the power to summon a proxy, killed a cult leader, and ended up with all of us- including a rook from that other world as a bonus. 
ROSCA: I'm the bonus~
MAES: Ah.
MAES: That-
MAES: Helps, yes.
FLOR: Does it?
MAES: It's...simpler put.
MAES: ...and this is where your experience with handling cults come from. 
MAES: Judgment had mentioned it...and...having to kill young. 
MAES: It lines up.
FLOR: Yeah. 
FLOR: Rosca's a bit of a product of that. 
FLOR: You wanna take over from here?

 

Rosca tries to hold Maes' hand. 

ROSCA: Mm.. the cat before you is what's left of my Judgment. 
ROSCA: A empty husk that can never die.
MAES: ...and you're stuck here.

 

She pulls Rosca in closer, nuzzling her cheek.

MAES: You don't seem empty to me.

 

Rosca returns it, her face soft and easy to ruffle. There's an energy to her matching a certain ghost proxy's, but....less fine muscle movements. A marionette on strings.

ROSCA: Don't blame the others, there'd be no good opportunities out there.
MAES: Why not?
ROSCA: It's uh... well- 
FLOR: One proxy rule for starters. 
FLOR: Operator's body and mind fall apart fast if you try to break it.
MAES: ...and you're not technically his.
ROSCA: No... 
FLOR: Me, Mar, and Kettle are all built off of Broth, costumes on a single proxy body. 
ROSCA: I'm both a operator's body and a proxy body, but my operator...

 

The husk flops into Maes' arms, quiet breathing the only proof she was alive.

MAES: ...I'm sorry for coming in so...half-cocked, then.

 

She moves to pet the husk's hair.

MAES: I'm guessing from your affection that you'd like to be one of my rooks as well, correct?
ROSCA: Is it too much? 
ROSCA: I know I'm.. not the same as them but.. I've been waiting for this awhile.

 

The cape matches Maes' touch, feeling just like Kettle's sleeve.

MAES: ...no.

 

She finally picks the husk up, holding her close to her body.

MAES: You shouldn't be left waiting any longer.