dinohouse | [Fourze characters/Liveman family/anyone really/go wild]

I hold the Switch in front of myself, poised, thumb against the button.

This might be exactly what I was looking for. Exactly what I need. "How do I get to your level?"

"To do that, the Switcher must lose the last traces of their humanity. But since you weren't human to begin with, it's possible you can reach the final stage at once." I incline my head towards his Switch, "Try it."

There's something to be said for unscripted theatre after all.

"And if it doesn't work?" I muse. I should be more cautious. Better planning. Explore every option before making a move.

That didn't work last time. Last time, I decided after much contemplation that the best course of action was to act independently, to turn on every other Greeed. And that worked out for me... not at all.

Maybe there is something to be said for spontaneity.

I press the stupid button.

My instant reaction is to press my Switch, simply because I don't know what I'm dealing with, and I'd rather do it in my own body than a pathetic human.

I can't really say what I was expecting when the smoke cleared. Not those claws, that's for sure.

It feels, which is a far sight different from how it used to be. And the smoke and the glow from the supposed stars is different.

But then... My arms, my arms, with my claws. My own striped armor. There's something different. Odd spots and lines connecting them. But I could care less, because the power is unbelievable. Not full strength, not complete.

But close. Close enough.

I laugh. Spread my arms and twirl and laugh again.

And no dependence on Cell Medals. No fear that my Cores will be stolen. No stupid Medals at all. "This... This is wonderful!"

Five out of twelve complete.

"You're satisfied ... Leo?" Some tiny part of me almost wants to be happy for him. I can remember how it felt, but I can recapture that every time I use the tiny Switch.

I flex my fingers, and find the Switch is still in my hand.

No, it's changed again. It looks like his now.

I wish it were yellow.

Ah, well, beggars can't be choosers.

"Leo?" I press the Switch again, experimentally. More smoke, more glow, and my human visage is back. This is useful. So long as the Switch stays in my possession, anyway. "My name is Kazari."

"That form of you relates to Leo, the constellation. There are twelve, one for each Horoscope. I'm Cancer, the crab, and you appear to be Leo," I explain.

I wondered how his existing abilities would affect his Horoscope form. So far, there's no visible difference, but I haven't seen him in action yet, "nice claws, by the way."

My head rolls to one side as he explains, sort of. I vaguely know what he's talking about. Stars, obviously. The designs humans pretend exist in them. I wonder if that's what the spots mean.

"It still looks like my own true form." I explain. "Except for the... lines," I gesture vaguely where the lines in question were on the other body. "I'll accept it. Leo is appropriate." Like my Head Core. The lion.

"They have been dangerous." I admit proudly. "Perhaps they will be again."

"So. What will you do now?" I can't see him enjoying a visit from a certain gentleman with red eyes, or agreeing to recruit other Horoscopes. But why does that matter? Once the power of a Horoscope has been unleashed, that's really all there is to do (hence no sorrow over the loss of Miss Sonoda.) It's as natural as a leaf falling daintily to ground.

"Who knows?" I purr, holding the Switch up to examine it, turning it over and over. I look up at him again with a curious tilt of my head. "What do you do? You're a student, aren't you?"

"Yeah. One more year to go." More's the pity, but I do enjoy rakugo and my other ... extracurricular activities, "my school was founded to find the twelve Horoscopes and encourage experimentation with the Cosmic Power. But I figured why stop at the school gates?"

"Your school..." I muse. I wonder if Jou knows about this. I suppose I'll have to tell him now. I think the Switch is bound to me now, not like my Cores that could be used against me. "You think outside the box, then." I can relate. "Be cautious. It might catch you unawares in the end. Curiosity kills the cat, as they say."

"But the crab?" I have a little more respect for this guy than for Hayami. Perhaps I'll take his advice, "what about the school? There are kids living in that house, right? Do they go to Amanogawa?"

"My house?" It is. It's Jou's too, of course, and the other parents. But it's my territory, and mine to defend. I'm not sure any of the humans could do a satisfactory job. "Yes, there are students, and a teacher."

"Then how can they know nothing about the Switches? Maybe they just didn't tell you." Dramatic irony?

I raise an eyebrow at him, then scoff. "I didn't think to ask any of them." Why would I? I considered discussing it with Jou, and probably will now, but he's so... good, I wonder if he wouldn't try to make me destroy the Switch. I can't have that.

"And I'm still quite new," I admit with a shrug.

"Ask the audience ... phone a friend. I wonder if they'll tell you what you want to hear?" I open my fan in a mock-contemplative pose, "maybe they have Switches of their own. You would still be more powerful than them, of course. You're the ultimate stage in evolution."

Everything is just a show with him. It could be worse, I guess. Everything could be an experiment, like with Maki.

"I doubt it." About the Switches, that is. "They don't seem the type." The parents are all heroic, and the kids... "But maybe."

"There isn't a type of Switcher. All you need is a weakness or a desire ... and the Switch will find it." Or maybe you're just really bored and want a little more fun in your life. Worked for me.

Sounds familiar. These Switch users, Horoscopes, whatever they are, they have quite a bit in common with Greeed after all. Only they started out as human, and strive to be not. Quite opposite. Upside down.

I've done both.

I'm not sure which I prefer.

"Maybe I'll ask them, then."

"You could try. Doesn't guarantee an honest answer. Unless ... you could find a way to get it out of them." I indicate towards the Switch.

That will be an entertaining dinnertime conversation. I almost wish I'd bugged the house when I was in it.

I raise an eyebrow at him again. He is about as insane as Maki, obviously, though I'm not sure he's quite as interested in the destruction of the entire world. Hopefully.

He's also very lacking in a certain conversational surrogate, so I imagine he must be a bit harder to ruffle. Can't just knock the doll off his arm to make him shut up.

"They're my family now." I say cautiously.

"Your family?" I can feel my smile involuntarily growing. If this were an anime I'd have big starry eyes too, "perhaps they would all like Switches? Look at how well yours worked." I haven't even seen its full power over him yet. And with a whole family, the possibilities would be as endless as space itself.

Creepy. I wonder if he's already planning to shove his admittedly impressive claw through my stomach to retrieve the Switch that I am now cautiously returning to my pocket for examination at a later date.

"No, I don't think so." I'm not sure if I'm protecting them, and if so, what from. Being human, even temporarily, has had it's lasting effect.

Maybe I'm just protecting myself. Any one of them could turn out to be more powerful than me. I'm going to have my hands full with the crab, if he decides to turn against me.

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