[He's Ranpo. It's easy to read between the lines.]
[He hesitates on what to say next, but ultimately--]
Actually If you don't mind that I won't be the best company right now, could you come over for a bit?
I told Atsushi I'd be fine while he was at work today, but even with Watty here, it's a little lonely.
[He's already sure she might wonder why he's asking her and not someone else. And truth be told, the answer is a little selfish. He hasn't told anyone else about the break up yet, and right now? He doesn't want to have that conversation. ]
[Lucy is almost jumping at the chance. If it's selfish, then they're both selfish. The silence is suffocating. Feeling alone when you aren't actually alone is the worst and has her itching to cut all ties for safety.]
Yeah, I can come by. You free now?
[Not to imply that she's desperate for company or anything, but......]
[She is quick to respond with a simple “ok,” before grabbing that cheap tote bag and hightailing it out of the apartment... Well. That was her intention. Lucy hangs by the door and calls out uselessly to Inaba... Then leaves.
Usually, Lucy might meander on her way to Ranpo’s. She doesn’t want to seem desperate for friendship, nor does she want to miss any interesting sights or sounds along the way. But today is different. She hurries along and wastes no time.
Reaching his apartment, she knocks loudly at first... then slows to more timid and polite knocks.]
[Ranpo doesn't mean to make her wait at the door, but he does. For reasons that'll become very obvious the moment he opens it.]
[The person at the door is definitely Ranpo. But it seems cordis has decided to be rather mean to him right now. His hair is stark white, his eyes are a bright golden color, and he has two white tails hanging low to the ground behind him.]
...I guess I should have given you a heads up, but I didn't notice this until I went to change.
[...that said, he's absolutely still in his pajamas, because they're oversized and comfy, and he's very Particular about clothes when he's a kitsune.]
[Colour her disappointed that there are no cat ears.
Try as she might, Lucy cannot stop her mouth from falling open.There were two consistent warnings regarding the moons: Iris is the sex moon and avoid kitsune. Ranpo in particular avoided her about that one... But he seems too sad and miserable to be a threat. Lucy shoves the warning aside.]
I-It's fine. It's not as if I like your cat ears. [So transparent.]
[Not that she can get a good look at them, with how they're all folded down from how sad he is, blending in with his white hair. He can still purr like this, too, but the mood is unlikely to be right for it.]
[He'll move to let her in, making his way over to the couch. But obvious sulking aside, there's something off. He's moving slowly, as if very tired. And really-- he is. He hasn't had much of an appetite, but cordis needed a lot of food and moonlacing to compensate for their fast metabolism. Normally, it's never a problem, but right now...]
But I don't think this will be an issue. Usually I get a personality change, but I don't feel any of that right now.
[Lucy is racking her brains for memory of what Cordis means. Atsushi said food and help from friends, right? She hadn't pressed further, because she assumed he would have better friends than her to get help from. The same would normally be true for Ranpo, she assumes...
But he doesn't look too great.]
Yeah. The tails are a nice touch, too. [She offers compliments, too distracted to filter her words. Following him to the couch, all Lucy has on her mind is worry.]
You doing okay there, Ranpo? You look kinda... pale. [Wait. That's stupid. His hair is white, so of course he looks pale. ]
[Thankfully, his condition isn't one he's putting himself in intentionally. But for Lucy to notice, he must look as bad as he feels right now.]
I'm pretty tired. I couldn't really get down much of breakfast this morning... I know cordis moonblessed need to eat and moonlace more than usual during the full moon, because our bodies burn through chroma faster, but usually a lack of appetite isn't a problem for me.
[The solution sits on her tongue, waiting to be spoken. We could moonlace. Even something as simple as handholding could slow the rate that he burns chroma, right? And yet, suggesting it is harder for Lucy than jumping off an airship.
She eyes the couch. What's the worst that can happen? It isn't as if a fear of Ranpo factors into this indecision. Only a fear for her pride.]
... C-C'mon. We can sit together. I... need to buy a new dress anyway. [She's not moonlacing for him! It's for her own sake!]
It's not gonna be much, but something is better than nothing. Right? I didn't realize Cordis was so annoying.
[Oh, the worst is absolutely going to happen. Because Ranpo knows just how hard it is for her to offer that--]
[And he's so touched he starts tearing up a little. Emotions run high when the moons are full, and while cordis usually put him in a great mood, when he was inconsolable like this, it just made his moods more extreme. Not a great combo for a guy going through a break-up.]
[Of course, the fact that he's a white-haired pretty boy foxboy right now, wearing an oversized shirt and looking teary-eyed and vulnerable is probably not going to make this easy for Lucy. At least he's not giving off pheromones yet?]
I... think I'd feel a lot better, if we did. Do you mind if I lean on you?
[He says lean, but he's 100% going to cuddle against her.]
[He got her with that teary expression. Lucy has never seen Ranpo look so vulnerable: He's always smiling and making every outing feel like a grand party. If all he wants is someone to lean on then, well...
She sets herself down on the couch, shoulders stiff in preparation.Ranpo is Atsushi's friend-- her friend, if she dares to think it. They write songs about friends leaning on each other! This is fine. It's normal. She can do this.]
I'm not here to ignore you, so... [Oops, maybe that was the wrong thing to say.
Lucy shuffles closer as an apology.] C'mon. Can't have you getting chroma starved.
[Once she's sitting down, he scoots over. But rather than just lean his shoulder against hers, he leans closer so his cheek is resting on his shoulder, and his arms wrapped around one of hers.]
[She wasn't ready for this. It's Ranpo, so she doesn't react negatively; Only with a surprised gasp and bright red cheeks. This is for Ranpo, she reminds herself. And with the warmth of moonlacing, it doesn't feel bad.
Lucy closes her eyes, carefully taking a deep breath and trying to calm her nerves. She's never been this close to anyone. Even when they hugged in the cuddlepile, Lucy at least had her dragon instinct to get her through it.]
Y-Yeah... It's better. Is this enough chroma for you? [she's gonna get to buy a real nice dress from this.]
[Lucy exhales to calm herself. Slow and careful, she leans in his direction. She wants to help! But more than that, honestly... She wants to get used to this.
Since Ranpo just broke up with someone, Inaba will keep names out of her mouth. She doesn't want to make this about her, but keep it about Ranpo. And that means not admitting that she's never even imagined cuddling with her own mysterious, super secret crush.]
... I don't even daydream about this, is all. It's... nice. I-I like the money!!!
[Just disregards her money comment, gurl, he knows.]
You know, I wasn't really the touchy-feely type back home. But I'm glad this place encourages it. I don't think it would have been as easy, being here, without someone to hold me once in a while.
[Is that too sappy? Maybe a little. But things like that have been on his mind. After all-- he was usually the one holding Inaba, rather than the other way around.]
[She doesn’t need to say anything for him to know. That’s one of the nice things about Ranpo. In a way, it’s like hanging out with Anne.
how does it feel to be compared to a creepy doll, huh...
But Lucy never has to explain herself to Anne. Her friend just knows. Ranpo is like her imaginary friend: He gets her and she doesn’t have to explain her painful truths. Like how it’s hard to suddenly get used to the cuddle life. Not bad, not miserable: Just hard.]
Mm... It’s less lonely.
[So for Ranpo, her friend who she doesn’t have to explain herself to, Lucy will cuddle back. She leans toward him and offers an arm around him, too. Because it’s Cordis!!! And he’s a kitsune and he needs chroma!!! And because it’s not bad, either... and some loser might be practicing so that she can hug a cat without punching him someday.]
There. It’s not much, but I won’t let you... chroma starve or whatever. Until Atsushi gets back. [...] Unless this is inappropriate.
[Well, he is the cuddle-senpai here. And with how warm and comforting moonlacing is, Lucy can’t argue against hugging her friend.
Her friend.
Is that even okay to think? Lucy closes her eyes, banishing the tsun concern. Right now, at the very least, Atsushi’s friend needs to be comforted. This is his fault. When she frames it that way, turning this into a job, it somehow becomes easier. There are less of her feelings on the line this way.
She does giggle at the purring.]
I’m going to have to start calling you Tabby Cat if you keep this up, you know.
Hmm, I dunno if I'm much of a Tabby. I don't really have the stripes.
[Is he getting away with the nuzzling? Good, because he's gonna keep it up. But nothing more than that -- mercifully, he doesn't have the usual Kitsune Horny Energy he usually gets in this form.]
[But also, because this thread isn't cute enough -- from the other side of the room, a tiny white blur nyooms over and leaps onto the couch beside Lucy, immediately snuggling up to her side. "Maudie!"]
[Now that there's more chroma in the room, he can be more active -- he needs it to maintain his form, after all. And Ranpo didn't exactly have much to spare.]
[He is getting away with it. Because under the excuse of Cordis and "being helpful," Lucy is able to cuddle someone. And she doesn't hate it. Actually, this is pretty nice. It's certainly unlike trying to get hugs from a cold doll like Anne.]
There you are, Watty! [And what a relief it is to see him! That must mean that Ranpo isn't low on chroma. The last thing that this horrible break-up needs is someone turning into a crystal. ahahaha......
She welcomes Watty into the cuddle pile, put even more at ease by Ranpo's cute son.]
Good. Now we're all together. [A happy hum slipping out as she considers,] Maybe not a Tabby Cat then. But close enough.
[Not Atsushi, but honestly? Lucy is beginning to trust Ranpo just as much.]
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[He hesitates on what to say next, but ultimately--]
Actually
If you don't mind that I won't be the best company right now, could you come over for a bit?
I told Atsushi I'd be fine while he was at work today, but even with Watty here, it's a little lonely.
[He's already sure she might wonder why he's asking her and not someone else. And truth be told, the answer is a little selfish. He hasn't told anyone else about the break up yet, and right now? He doesn't want to have that conversation. ]
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Yeah, I can come by. You free now?
[Not to imply that she's desperate for company or anything, but......]
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[The fact that this reply comes almost right away says a lot about how much Ranpo needs the company too.]
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Usually, Lucy might meander on her way to Ranpo’s. She doesn’t want to seem desperate for friendship, nor does she want to miss any interesting sights or sounds along the way. But today is different. She hurries along and wastes no time.
Reaching his apartment, she knocks loudly at first... then slows to more timid and polite knocks.]
Ranpo? It’s Lucy!
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[The person at the door is definitely Ranpo. But it seems cordis has decided to be rather mean to him right now. His hair is stark white, his eyes are a bright golden color, and he has two white tails hanging low to the ground behind him.]
...I guess I should have given you a heads up, but I didn't notice this until I went to change.
[...that said, he's absolutely still in his pajamas, because they're oversized and comfy, and he's very Particular about clothes when he's a kitsune.]
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Colour her disappointed that there are no cat ears.Try as she might, Lucy cannot stop her mouth from falling open.There were two consistent warnings regarding the moons: Iris is the sex moon and avoid kitsune. Ranpo in particular avoided her about that one... But he seems too sad and miserable to be a threat. Lucy shoves the warning aside.]
I-It's fine. It's not as if I like your cat ears. [So transparent.]
[She shrugs,] May I come in, then?
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[Not that she can get a good look at them, with how they're all folded down from how sad he is, blending in with his white hair. He can still purr like this, too, but the mood is unlikely to be right for it.]
[He'll move to let her in, making his way over to the couch. But obvious sulking aside, there's something off. He's moving slowly, as if very tired. And really-- he is. He hasn't had much of an appetite, but cordis needed a lot of food and moonlacing to compensate for their fast metabolism. Normally, it's never a problem, but right now...]
But I don't think this will be an issue. Usually I get a personality change, but I don't feel any of that right now.
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But he doesn't look too great.]
Yeah. The tails are a nice touch, too. [She offers compliments, too distracted to filter her words. Following him to the couch, all Lucy has on her mind is worry.]
You doing okay there, Ranpo? You look kinda... pale. [Wait. That's stupid. His hair is white, so of course he looks pale. ]
Do you need food and friends?
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[Thankfully, his condition isn't one he's putting himself in intentionally. But for Lucy to notice, he must look as bad as he feels right now.]
I'm pretty tired. I couldn't really get down much of breakfast this morning... I know cordis moonblessed need to eat and moonlace more than usual during the full moon, because our bodies burn through chroma faster, but usually a lack of appetite isn't a problem for me.
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She eyes the couch. What's the worst that can happen? It isn't as if a fear of Ranpo factors into this indecision. Only a fear for her pride.]
... C-C'mon. We can sit together. I... need to buy a new dress anyway. [She's not moonlacing for him! It's for her own sake!]
It's not gonna be much, but something is better than nothing. Right? I didn't realize Cordis was so annoying.
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[And he's so touched he starts tearing up a little. Emotions run high when the moons are full, and while cordis usually put him in a great mood, when he was inconsolable like this, it just made his moods more extreme. Not a great combo for a guy going through a break-up.]
[Of course, the fact that he's a white-haired pretty boy foxboy right now, wearing an oversized shirt and looking teary-eyed and vulnerable is probably not going to make this easy for Lucy. At least he's not giving off pheromones
yet?]I... think I'd feel a lot better, if we did. Do you mind if I lean on you?
[He says lean, but he's 100% going to cuddle against her.]
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She sets herself down on the couch, shoulders stiff in preparation.Ranpo is Atsushi's friend-- her friend, if she dares to think it. They write songs about friends leaning on each other! This is fine. It's normal. She can do this.]
I'm not here to ignore you, so... [Oops, maybe that was the wrong thing to say.
Lucy shuffles closer as an apology.] C'mon. Can't have you getting chroma starved.
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[This isn't a lean, it's a full-on cling.]
...thank you. This already feels better.
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Lucy closes her eyes, carefully taking a deep breath and trying to calm her nerves. She's never been this close to anyone. Even when they hugged in the cuddlepile, Lucy at least had her dragon instinct to get her through it.]
Y-Yeah... It's better. Is this enough chroma for you? [she's gonna get to buy a real nice dress from this.]
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[They're only barely started cuddling! Look at the sad fox ears. And sad fox tails, that droop off the couch behind him.]
[But he can tell she's uncomfortable. He doesn't have to be Ranpo to see that.]
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[She blurts immediately, embarrassed as she is apologetic. It's obvious, isn't it? Lucy almost feels ashamed of how nervous she is.]
... I'm not used to it. I didn't think I'd like it!
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Since Ranpo just broke up with someone, Inaba will keep names out of her mouth. She doesn't want to make this about her, but keep it about Ranpo. And that means not admitting that she's never even imagined cuddling with her own mysterious, super secret crush.]
... I don't even daydream about this, is all. It's... nice. I-I like the money!!!
[She's so transparent.]
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[Just disregards her money comment, gurl, he knows.]
You know, I wasn't really the touchy-feely type back home. But I'm glad this place encourages it. I don't think it would have been as easy, being here, without someone to hold me once in a while.
[Is that too sappy? Maybe a little. But things like that have been on his mind. After all-- he was usually the one holding Inaba, rather than the other way around.]
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how does it feel to be compared to a creepy doll, huh...
But Lucy never has to explain herself to Anne. Her friend just knows. Ranpo is like her imaginary friend: He gets her and she doesn’t have to explain her painful truths. Like how it’s hard to suddenly get used to the cuddle life. Not bad, not miserable: Just hard.]
Mm... It’s less lonely.
[So for Ranpo, her friend who she doesn’t have to explain herself to, Lucy will cuddle back. She leans toward him and offers an arm around him, too. Because it’s Cordis!!! And he’s a kitsune and he needs chroma!!! And because it’s not bad, either... and some loser might be practicing so that she can hug a cat without punching him someday.]
There. It’s not much, but I won’t let you... chroma starve or whatever. Until Atsushi gets back. [...] Unless this is inappropriate.
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[Clinging to her arm and nuzzling his cheek against her shoulder while starting to purr, tho? That might be a little more borderline. #yolo]
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Her friend.
Is that even okay to think? Lucy closes her eyes, banishing the tsun concern. Right now, at the very least, Atsushi’s friend needs to be comforted. This is his fault. When she frames it that way, turning this into a job, it somehow becomes easier. There are less of her feelings on the line this way.
She does giggle at the purring.]
I’m going to have to start calling you Tabby Cat if you keep this up, you know.
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[Is he getting away with the nuzzling? Good, because he's gonna keep it up. But nothing more than that -- mercifully, he doesn't have the usual Kitsune Horny Energy he usually gets in this form.]
[But also, because this thread isn't cute enough -- from the other side of the room, a tiny white blur nyooms over and leaps onto the couch beside Lucy, immediately snuggling up to her side. "Maudie!"]
[Now that there's more chroma in the room, he can be more active -- he needs it to maintain his form, after all. And Ranpo didn't exactly have much to spare.]
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There you are, Watty! [And what a relief it is to see him! That must mean that Ranpo isn't low on chroma. The last thing that this horrible break-up needs is someone turning into a crystal. ahahaha......
She welcomes Watty into the cuddle pile, put even more at ease by Ranpo's cute son.]
Good. Now we're all together. [A happy hum slipping out as she considers,] Maybe not a Tabby Cat then. But close enough.
[Not Atsushi, but honestly? Lucy is beginning to trust Ranpo just as much.]
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[Just don't call him a Munchkin Cat because he's short--]
But say, are you hungry at all? I think I'm starting to get my appetite back... I could have something delivered, so we don't have to cook.
["Papa, Watty wants caterpillars."]
I don't think we can get those delivered.
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