unfriendliest | fractura

[ tsukasa has unlocked his one weakness: adorable animals. very unfortunate. he hesitates, but pokes his head back in to tell the staff he's stepping out for a bit, and closes the door behind him as he waves vaguely downstream. ]

My place is that way.

[ he'll lead the way! it's not too far off, maybe a ten minute walk, maximum. ]

What is this about?

[ haha he loves being kara's weakness. he'll limp after, doing his best to keep up. ]

How did Beau-san put it...? There's something we might share. [ a very deliberate pause. ] Something big.

[ ............. ]

But I just wished to ask if you were— [ he flicks his ears, glancing around - okay, maybe he shouldn't just ask it outright- ] Mmm, if something has happened to you since the meteor shower a few weeks ago. If there's anything different.

...I can carry you, if you need help.

[ if it were a normal cat, kara wouldn't ask, but. tsukasa is not a normal cat. that doesn't mean kara wouldn't still feel a little charmed to carry him, though. ]

What do you mean, "something big" we might share?

[ NO NO, THAT IS AN INDIGNITY HE WON'T SUFFER... is what he wants to say, but he'll press against kara's leg. ]

I would appurreciate the help. [ it'll give him the chance to be up closer anyway, and he waits to speak until he's up closer to kara's ear. ] I heard a voice like Okuni-san's telling me you were one of the Maou. Is that true?

[ what an honor, to be able to hold a cat!

...or so kara thinks, until tsukasa speaks again. his steps pause, only continuing after allowing himself a heavy sigh. ]

I am. And I have no intention of announcing it to anyone.

[ it's still an honor. he peers up at his face though, tilting his head. ]

...Why not? Well - [ he backtracks a little, looking off. ] Not that I've said anything either, really... I've confirmed it to a few people who've approached me about it, but I haven't told anyone yet on my own.

[ this may remain the case, but... ]

I don't know how I can help. Beau-san and I - ah, Beau-san is the other Maou. She's from the winery? We were talking about it last week - how neither of us are sure that there is anything we can do. Helping people individually is one thing, but helping to save the world is... [ tsukasa quiets, mulling it over,

then curls up a little in kara's arms, licking his foot with a sigh. ] I'd like to. I don't want to see the things I love - the home I've chosen - to be swallowed up like in those nightmares, but I don't know what we're supposed to do to combat that. That's one of the reasons why I haven't said anything.

[ inevitably, people will ask questions like that, and tsukasa has no answers for them. ]

If you came here thinking I'd have an answer for you, you're wrong. I don't know any more than you do.

[ he goes quiet as they reach his home, a small place built into the side of the mountain, and kara brings them both inside and closes the door behind them. he'll set tsukasa on a free chair, and take another for himself. ]

There's no way of knowing if those nightmares are even real.

Ah, no, nothing like that. I just wanted to confirm that you were one of us. [ it gives him peace of mind to know things!! he kneads the chair idly, ears set back.

...it would've been nice for one of them to have any ideas though, wouldn't it have. it's fine. ] ...Do you really think they're not?

I don't trust the gods to be that straightforward with us.

[ he leans back, crossing his arms over his chest. ]

If it was real, and they really wanted us to prevent it, they wouldn't leave us here with no direction on how to do it.

[ beau's words flicker in his mind - most people don't want that future to come true.

it isn't that he doesn't not want it to, tsukasa corrects himself briefly. he doesn't believe that it's exactly true. there's a difference between the two - if it was real, then certainly his fellow maou would want to stop it. certainly, certainly... ]

Maybe. [ it isn't a possibility they can completely discard, but tsukasa still turns his gaze on kara, unblinking. ] But I don't want to take the chance that they're only playing a very cruel joke on us. Especially with the nightmares, and the strange happenings recently...

[ the even worse nightmares. the rotten fruits and the calling river. that one time there was some strange enlargement thing going on and his tail got caught in a door (noodle incident). the castle on fire... while he's still not sure on the how, he's very sure on his thoughts otherwise. ]

No. I'm taking this as seriously as if it were something very real. I can't help but do so. You don't have to, [ his voice demurs a little, not wanting to chance spoiling kara's nicencess towards him, ] but I am.

I don't have to believe in a dream to be taking the situation seriously.

[ kara meets his gaze, eyes stormy. ]

But it doesn't change anything. Unless you have some idea of what we're supposed to be doing, then I'm going to keep doing the same I always have - and that means not wasting my time talking about something I can't change.

[ this is fair, but not doing anything at all doesn't settle with him. he keeps his gaze, tail flicking. thinking. ]

...So if I can figure out something for us to do, then you'll help out, right?

...Probably.

[ it depends on what it is, really, but who is he to say no at the moment? he's always been more fond of action than words, and having some direction might be a nice change. ]

But I still don't want it to be common knowledge that I'm one of the Maou. So whatever you do, don't go chatting about it to anyone.

[ .................... ]

Lan Wangji-san asked, so I told him that I heard Okuni-san's voice say your name, but that's all. I didn't say for sure if you were one or not. [ he wanted to make sure for himself first. ] Aside from that, no one else knows. I promise it'll stay that way though, at least on my end.

[ tsukasa sits up, placing a paw on his chest. ]

I'll swear on my own life. After all, it's no fair of me to out you when I haven't even come out about it in the first place. [ and he is a fair catte. ] And I also swear that I'll find a direction for us. You can leave it to me ♪

[ if that weren't so fucking cute kara would throw him out by the scruff of his neck. god. he hates this. ]

...It better.

[ siiiiigh. ]

Is that all you wanted to talk about?

[ THIS IS IT, THIS IS WHAT BEING BORN A CAT IN THIS LIFETIME WAS MEANT FOR. ]

Yes, it is. [ it was important to him. he'll carefully slide off the chair, pausing at the foot of it. ] ...Shinobu-san and I investigated a teahouse Beau-san was injured at recently - that's where I got hurt, too. I did far worse to my attackers, however. ♪

[ ................they were spiders, kara. they were spiders. ]

There was a letter from someone named Kumo talking about a necklace and a crystal for it, and, mrrr... What was the other...? [ he tilts his head, thinking on it. shinobu had to read them to him, please hold- ] In the back, I found one from someone scoffing at the idea of anything but power and profit binding demons and humans together. They believed the gods were giving us a test as well, but didn't seem to think this country would pass...

[ tsukasa turns to leave, tail raised; it's curled at the end, curious. ]

They mentioned peace, but I think I agree with them, there. I think individually, demons and humans can get along, but— [ mm. more solemnly: ] As a whole, I don't think we'll ever get along. Especially in Yameowte.

[ ...but he's biased. he is terribly biased, even with the number of people he likes and trusts growing with each year. his voice brightens slightly after, though: ]

If you need me, I'll be at the Kumeow Shrine. [ ♪ ] I live there now. Wei Wuxnyan-san was kind enough to offer me a home there.

[ wow. the nyas and meows... cute. ]

They can't expect peace to happen so easily.

[ kara himself doesn't care for peace with humans, but that's beside the point. ]

Just tell me if you find anything more concrete than some dream.

I will. And, one more thing -

[ Because he was asked it, so maybe it's important, too? ]

...What can you do? I haven't... had the chance to test it myself, exactly, but I was given the ability to help stabilize the powers of others. Beau-san's is related to plants... Well, there's probably more to it than that, but hers is very naturey. I'm very jealous of it.

[ the question is met with silence, like kara isn't planning on answering at all, but then - ]

...I can give someone calm when they're feeling out of sorts. Like when everyone was having nightmares.

[ !! ]

Thank you for that. [ he turns to do a little cat bow, head low to the ground. ] ...You calmed mine for a short while. I truly appreciated it.

I didn't do it for thanks. [ he did it because catte. ] And I don't want it.

[ still. maybe it's just proof that kara won't stand by if there really is something he can do? who knows. ]

[ kara you're so precious he's definitely not going to use his cat wiles on you ever again, ]

I'm happy to give it anyway. [ he's stubborn. ] When people are kind and do things for you, regardless of the reasoning - you thank them.

[ but he'll leave now!! :3c ]

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