[PCA] UNIVERSAL CONSTANTS

[skinstealer]

MAES: ...It's...just dreams, I promise.

 

Maes massages her temple, looking distinctly uncomfortable over being in the medbay over this.

This wasn't-
it isn't-
It's not worth all this fuss-

MAES: I just take naps at my desk sometimes.

 

[id: broth snuggling up to a depressed, exhausted looking maes- eyes closed, ears drooping, and posture slumped. the castle atmosphere is moody, almost dusty- like an old photograph.]

 

Broth presses its snout against her head. It had insisted the two of them go in to see Lash after one too many panicked wake-ups, some of even getting drastic enough to leave bite and claw wounds in her partners.


But
that's
it shouldn't be-


Her whole body tenses, hearing the sound of Lash's wedge heels on tile.

LASH: You're both here?
LASH: Which one of you needs attention right now?

 

Maes shamefully raises her hand, posture slack.

MAES: ...Broth insisted I come.

 

 

She returns Broth's nuzzle, breathing against the skeleton's hair.

In
and out...




Just
focus on the smell of its shampoo.

MAES: It's- it's nothing.
MAES: Just. Dreams.

 

Lash hesitates.

LASH: ...What kind of dreams...?
MAES: ...just.
MAES: It's- it's been naps at work.
MAES: I keep dozing off on breaks.
LASH: ...Anything related to the castle?
LASH: Or... dreams that feel like real memories but aren't?
LASH: Or maybe a voice that keeps showing up?
MAES: ...

 

An uncomfortable, avoidant silence that grows worse with each question.



It's. No.
She can tell when something is a leading goddamn question-




Broth nudges further at Maes, making it more difficult for her to hide amidst its dark curls.

LASH: It's right to at least get you looked at then, being in a space like this can impact your thoughts over long periods..
MAES: ...impact how?
LASH: Jetlag, strange thought loops or dreams, visions...

 

More uncomfortable silence, Maes' tail tip visibly twitching.

MAES: Jetlag, certainly.
MAES: You've seen as much out of me.
LASH: Mmhmm.. longer stays lately, more frequent...
LASH: Everyone is happy to have you, but tolerance takes time to build..

 

Broth encourages her to speak, placing fingers against her palm.

BROTH: [It's safe.]
MAES: [...I don't want to.]
MAES: [I don't want to talk about it.]

 

Maes huffs, hand movements irritated and- nervous.

MAES: [It isn't a problem.]
BROTH: [I don't want you to get sick.]

 

From the sound of it, Lash is stuck watching the exchange- having been reading up on enough of the signing herself.

LASH: Could we... go over some symptoms?
LASH: Rule out any side effects?
 

...Fine.

MAES: ...I have headaches when I wake up.
MAES: There.
MAES: There's one.
LASH: Feeling like you're not in your body?
LASH: Hazy?
LASH: Insomnia episodes where you're not tired at all?
MAES: I- that's not out of the ordinary.
LASH: In ways that differ from before entering the castle?
MAES: That's always been there.
LASH: ....Have they worsened at all?
LASH: Maybe, um.. auditory hallucinations to go with them?

 

Broth moves its fingers more insistently this time.

BROTH: [You won't be hurt.]
MAES: [I'm.]
MAES: [Fine.]
MAES: It-
MAES: Everyone hears things on and off, that's- there's a whole saying for it.
MAES: You're just hearing things, etcetera.
LASH: It might be a actual ghost, there's a few that roam here..

 

Maes pales entirely, fur bristling.

MAES: You didn't mention ghosts.
LASH: There's two in the room right now you know...
MAES: Not- that's not what I meant. Just-

 

She desperately tries to settle her fur.

MAES: I don't-
MAES: I don't like the idea of something being off, with me.
MAES: It's just dreams.
MAES: Of me at the doctor's.
MAES: Happy?

 

Broth relents, attempting to calm her down with a palm squeeze.




It's ridiculous how quickly that works, Charon and the rooks having found it to be an easy shortcut to keep her from panicking.





Just...


....nice pressure...




Even with the tension easing up, Lash seems pretty lost on how to continue from here- audibly fidgeting.




Maes finally squeezes Broth's hand in turn when she's ready, trying to steadier.


It's.

It's okay.

She's with Broth.



Lash takes care of her too.

MAES: ...Sorry.
MAES: Just-
MAES: I don't know what it is.
MAES: I don't like talking about it, at all.
MAES: ...it's like I'm not supposed to.
LASH: We can put a pin in it but...
LASH: ...promise that if you feel worse...
MAES: ...is-

 

She swallows, thinking it over before nodding.

MAES: I...I can ask one thing.
MAES: I-
MAES: I always-
MAES: I feel like-
MAES: -whatever's there-
MAES: -and there's not anything there, but if there was
MAES: It wants to hurt me.
MAES: It's- nothing like that can happen- but if it could-
LASH: ...No, I would've choked own my own plenty of times if it were possible.

 

A little snicker from the skeleton.

LASH: Maybe not, but... he used to have a lot of moments.

 

Broth makes a throat sound close to a laugh.

MAES: ...he?
LASH: Castle's previous owner.
MAES: ....p. Previous owner?
MAES: I thought this was Charon's.
LASH: Hence previous owner... did I give the impression I was one of the rooks or...?
 

....she had never really stopped to question it.
Certainly, Lash didn't share the title, but-

MAES: Is he still around?
LASH: He keeps to himself but.. yes.
MAES: And- he's aware I'm here.
LASH: Mmhmm!
LASH: He's noticed at the very least you use the library lounge, it's precious to him so he keeps tabs..
MAES: Does he- know my relations-?
LASH: At the very least, he assumes you're Charon's partner, but I don't think he'd care unless you were planning on stabbing people in their sleep here...

 

Maes gives her a tired expression, brows raised.

MAES: Maiming them while they're awake is fine, though.
LASH: Nobody's died yet, so....
MAES: ...fair enough limit, but-

 

She shakes her head.

MAES: I'll take your word for it, so long as he doesn't cause trouble for Charon...

 

Broth has no poker face, its shift in posture the silent equivalent of an "oof."

LASH: Those days are long past I think.
MAES: ...Long past.
LASH: I didn't participate...
 

Maes' ears go back.

MAES: Lash.
 

The proxy panics, stammering as she addresses the rook.

LASH: Broth?
BROTH: [He helped me.]
MAES: [Helped you how.]
LASH: It's... really a long story.
BROTH: [Saved our cat from being sold.]
LASH: It means Rosca-
BROTH: [Helped find our family-]
LASH: Yes, Anura-
BROTH: [Sometimes he's a snake. ]
BROTH: [Sometimes he's a rabbit-]
LASH: ...Why are you saying it like that...
BROTH: [Helped us kill a hero-]
LASH: Please....

 

Maes' head feels like it's spinning.

MAES: [I-]
MAES: [Rosca-]
MAES: [Hero-?]

 

Maes lets out a long sigh.

MAES: Clearly I have some questions to ask him.
LASH: ..Mm.. you'll recognize him immediately.
LASH: He's... not a bad person but he's hard to love sometimes.
MAES: ....if he's willing to do a sit-down, I'll allow it.
MAES: Knowing it is- was- his residence before I moved in leaves me uneasy.
MAES: I prefer to know these things.
MAES: .....but...for now...
MAES: ....While I feel.
MAES: Stable.
MAES: Do you mean it when I can come back in for advice?
MAES: ...checkups.
LASH: Mmhmm.. the reason this castle has so many floors, rooms, and accommodations is to serve people like yourself...
LASH: You will always be welcome to the best care we can give you..
MAES: ...thank you.
MAES: I...promise I won't forget that.