[Mushverse: Greeed-party!]

[catcameback]

[Main thread probable post order: Kazari-Ankh-Gamel-Mezool-Uva repeat? For the main thread, anyway, but if any two or three Greeed want to have separate conversations, feel free to make side threads.]

I've got to get Gamel and Mezool back together, mostly because I'm not about to share my parents with Gamel, and also because Gamel really just wants Mezool back. And maybe this time around she can actually give a shit about him instead of just pretending to.

Also I told Ankh that I'd keep him informed and that maybe we should all get together sometime and make sure all the backstabbing and hating each other is in the past. Or at least something we're better able to control.

Something I'm better able to control.

Also that was before Gamel came back, and so now we should probably all get together and talk about what the hell we're going to do if Maki comes back, too.

It takes some figuring out but in the end I send them all text messages telling them to come to the school, which is not in session today, so we can hang out in the courtyard and probably not be bothered.

I asked Megumi to help me make some food, because I think everyone would be in an awful mood if there wasn't any food. I guess it's like a picnic or something.

Ice cream for Ankh, he likes that, right? And no sushi, much to my unending disappointment. Don't want to put Mezool off. No chicken either, so it's mostly rice, vegetables, and sweets, that kind of stuff. I'll survive. I guess.

I bring Yummy too. He is the best cat in the entire world.

Now it's just a matter of waiting to see if they all show up. And whether my first instinct is to betray every single one of them. Again.

Comments

[keepitreal]

This is--augh. Weird?

But I don't exactly mind it.

My first instinct is to jerk my hand away but... not doing that right now is okay.

So I let my hand run through his hair.

"Good. I guess."

[catcameback]

I keep butting my head up against his hand, because come on now. How can I ignore attention like that? I'm only human (with basic cat-type instincts).

"So what do you think?" I ask finally, squinting at the other Greeed. "About everything?"

[keepitreal]

So I guess that means I'm petting him. I don't know whether to laugh or be mildly horrified.

I'll settle for continuing, since he seems to like it and it's... no great trouble for me.

I shrug best I can, "Feeling it out." What a bad play on words that was.

"Better than oblivion, for sure." Or being alone. My last memories are painful and tortured--and for what purpose was it all?

[catcameback]

I shift a bit closer, and before I know it I'm leaning against him.

Oh well. He still feels good, like he smells good.

I am so screwed. But I guess it's a human thing, so whatever.

"Yeah?" I bite my lip thoughtfully. "Definitely better than oblivion. And, you know, fulfillment is pretty cool."

[keepitreal]

I guess it's no big deal if I lean into him as well. After all, the fool cat might fall if he's not supported correctly. (that is super-not true, considering his natural grace, but I still kind of looked out for all of us then, so I'll look out for us now. Warily, anyhow.)

"Isn't it?" I look a little bemused. "Harder like this, though. We get all kinds of new stuff to deal with, so it's not like it's all sunshine and kittens."

It might be a little kittens, though. Er.

But what I'm meaning is--back then we only had to worry about fighting and completion and back-stabbing and front-stabbing and conflict. Now it's... feelings and weirdness and coping with actual lives. We don't live on the fringes any more.

[catcameback]

He's leaning against me too!

When I get home, I am going to tell everyone about this.

"Much harder." Ironic that we should be having this conversation when I'm struggling with all these feelings about how badly I want to be around him, and not in a sibling way, but probably in an Ankh and Eiji way. Weird. Totally weird. "There is sunshine. And kittens." I point out. "But there's also... Like, rain. And. Bugs."

I sound like an idiot. I was a lot smarter before everyone else came back. Now I get around Uva and I'm just an idiot.

[keepitreal]

"Oi." I flick his ear lightly, but indignantly. "Don't act like rain and bugs are bad things."

I can't get over how odd this is. I can't shake the other thoughts, old thoughts but new feelings are mixing and weaving in with them. New, good, positive feelings with my old tendencies of wariness towards Kazari. Like, contradictions, or gentle reminders. Something. It's a complicated mess, and I'm going to do my best to ignore it wholesale.

Why wasn't I warned that these feelings were complicated? Damn!

"There's lots of stuff."

[catcameback]

My nose wrinkles up when he flicks at my ear, but I really don't care that much. It's not like it hurts. And it's Uva. He couldn't take me in a fight even if I didn't have my Switch.

"I didn't mean it like that. I just meant. Kind of, the opposites."

Not that bugs are really opposite kittens. I think that would be puppies. But I was thinking about him and bug metaphors keep creeping into my head whenever I'm thinking about him.

"Yeah, there is. But, it's cool. Like, a third chance, since we fucked up the first two."

[keepitreal]

"This time we're nobody's toys, and nobody's science experiment either. " Defensive much? I probably am. Wasn't like I had many other ways to be, anyhow.

Still, Kazari's basically allowed me to let my guard down. I really don't mind his proximity too much.

[catcameback]

"Good point," I'm sort of purring when I talk, but I'm telling myself it's no big deal. It's just Uva. What's Uva going to do?

"We get to make decisions for ourselves. Real decisions, knowing all the factors and stuff."

I bite my lip and look up at him. "Ne, Uva..." How do I say this without sounding pathetic? "Do you think... Well, I mean, we all came back. Do you think he might be able to come back too?"

[keepitreal]

The way he's acting couldn't mean he's flirting with me, right? Riiight.

"Hey, I was good with decisions. Still. I'm good at decisions! " so I might be a little sensitive.

My lips purse, and I glance at Kazari directly. "Which him you talking about?"

[catcameback]

Maybe I'm being too forward with my... like, developing possible feelings type thing for Uva.

But, like, I'm not being nearly as gross as Ankh and Eiji, so I shrug it off.

I chew on my lip a bit and meet his eyes, my voice dropping a bit. I'm telling myself I'm being discreet instead of showing fear. "The doctor. Maki."

[keepitreal]

I sigh out slowly, thinking it over. "He wasn't like us. Think about er. Ankh's thing. The rider. He was the same as Maki. Watch him, then we'll know if anything funny is going on."

Seems about right. My skin crawls when we're talking about him, anger becomes hard to contain. I wish there was something breakable around!

[catcameback]

"That's what I thought." I run a hand through my hair thoughtfully. "He was human first. And then became a Greeed." He has a point. Eiji was like that for a while too. But...

"But Eiji didn't die." Or fall apart. Whatever. "Maki did. Eiji just went back to being human. But Maki died like we did, with his Medals broken."

Uva's all tense. "Sorry." I wonder if something happened, after I... was gone. Eiji's never told me the specifics. Just that Maki went out of control and Eiji used OOO to stop him.

[keepitreal]

'Something' is a massive understatement. Medals being forced on me--uncomfortable and enraging and something I'm far from over. The pain and wrenching of my body--I can remember clearly, like it's imprinted on me.

But I'm not showing any of that hurt, instead it's coming out as anger.

"If he returns and gets in my sight? I'll destroy him. So either keep him out of my way or get back while I wail on him with a golf club." I'm gritting my teeth and I'm shaking with reawakened anger. I was never good at containing frustration. "I don't want to talk about that bastard more than that."

I need to walk away or something.

[catcameback]

Uva's shaking all over. This is my fault. I have my arms around his shoulders before I even realize what I'm doing.

"I'm sorry. I was just wondering what you thought." I nuzzle my nose in his hair. "You're right. If he shows up, we'll just tear him apart."

Like we should have done from the start.

[keepitreal]

This condition isn't anything but Maki's fault. Still, Kazari's embrace calms me, strangely, his warmth is distracting.

Since when were we so huggy and touchy-feely? I get cynical with myself and push the pessimistic voice down. "Don't be sorry, just let me be the one to end him." That's final enough, and it sates me for the moment.

I've not forgotten how Kazari helped him, but judging by his reaction? That's not a concern now.

[catcameback]

Yeah, something definitely happened. I'm not about to ask Uva about it, since it distressed him so much. I'll have to ask Ankh or Eiji, I guess. I want to know.

I sniff and pull away suddenly, thinking maybe I was being a little too forward with him. My family has definitely had an influence on me, that's for sure.

"Alright. I can be okay with that."

[keepitreal]

I'm a little alarmed when Kazari pulls back quickly, but my brows just raise up a little. I decide to let a hand rest on his shoulder though, at the very least.

I'm not a complete asshole, and I'm not going to get lost in my anger, either. Just that bit of me's still raw.

"Nothing to be afraid of." I nod, firmly. The silence after Kazari's words felt awkward and that was the best I had to offer.

[catcameback]

He keeps touching me even after I pull back. That's a good sign. I grin at him and nudge him with my elbow.

"Who said I was afraid?"

I was, though. Still kind of am. I don't know if I'd want Uva to have to be the one to kill a total psychotic jerk. But what if he comes back and he's not a jerk? If he comes back, it'll be as a human like we did. Can Uva kill a human? He probably shouldn't.

I could, though. I'm a Horoscopes.

That doesn't mean I'm not afraid.

"I'm not scared of anything."

[keepitreal]

"Yeah, well. You should be scared of me; I'm pretty strong." I grin then. Being playful is incredibly new to me.

I tug at his hair curiously, and smirk again. Maybe I'm trying to put on a show that I'm all right, but I still roll with the punches quickly anyway.

Maki, even the memory of him, isn't going to get me down more than he has to.

[catcameback]

"Yeah right." I smirk, my nose wrinkles up and I stick my tongue out at him when he pulls my hair.

He's not trembling with barely suppressed... whatever, anymore. That's all I care about.

It's weird, but I really am angling for Contentment For Everyone right now. I think as long as we keep ourselves in line, maybe we deserve it.

"I could always beat you. Still could." He doesn't even know how true that is.

[keepitreal]

"What a big head you're getting." Ah, and now he gets annoying. It's not making me mad so much as it is awakening this kind of fondness? Is that right? Whatever, it seems... okay. I don't mind that feeling.

We just have a lot of history and it's making me fond. I guess. Gross.

I have an image to protect, er, sorta. Kazari sliding past my defenses (and not using just sheer deception) is strange, but it's nice having someone look past my hard outer shell.

[catcameback]

"Getting? You mean I didn't have it already?" I smirk at him. He's teasing me, but I don't mind in the slightest. Reminds me of my parents. Different, obviously, because there's only two of us. But like Jou and Yuusuke. They're always like this. And they like it.

I make a snap decision to flop over into his lap. I may be human now, but underneath all that I've learned, all that I know, and especially all I can do, my basest instincts still come from when I was the Feline Greeed.

[keepitreal]

"That might be the one thing you're right about, then," I allow. Waiting just a couple seconds after he flops into my lap to process 'did that really happen. is he really--yes he is. is he staying?' type thoughts, I adjust to at least make it comfortable for him, and then rest a hand on Kazari's arm.

Yeah, this isn't. Bad. Awkward, maybe? Different--but not bad. I don't mind him being like this, so long as it doesn't get embarrassing. Still, I seem to relax a little more, maybe him being like this is comforting? Yeah. That seems like the right word for it.