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Multiple Settings Mass Clans: Beyond

Filament is easily pulled off of the orange tom, not having landed a single blow. Whether because he couldn't bring himself or he hadn't the chance ambiguous. He's held down as he weeps, His intended victim simply staring in shock at the entire scene before stepping back to be close to Aceline, his gaze dark with worry. This wasn't the reunion he was expecting but he supposed things with the group never tended to go well. He shakes out his pelt, giving his forepaw a lick before drawing it over his head-fur.
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Alec seems a bit dumbfounded at his cousin's words, looking like he's waking from a dream for a few moments. He brings a forepaw to his muzzle and his toes come away bloody. "Mute, yeah." his voice trails off a bit as he stares at his bloody paw, like he's waiting for something to happen. "I want to-" His words die in his throats and he stands still, barring the occassional shiver.
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Lizeth watches the entire scene, still in shock. "Farm cat?" The words leave her muzzle deftly although predictably nobody responds to her confused query.

"What are we going to do now?" She'd ask, trying to divert everyone's anger from Deceit.
 
The lifeliner holding Filament down with one paw gently patted him as he wept. Their face obscured by their helmet however. So no sympathetic or scolding expression could be seen.

A pair of staff, specifically the two that had been sewing False Lamb’s back, walked up to Pest. With one of them pressing a gauze cloth against his nose for the bleeding. While the other pressed on his lower back to coax him into a sitting position.

“Farm cat sounds delicious right now.” Speed meowed. Her voice getting most of the eyes in the room to look over at her. The she-cat, still in her green race suit, pushed herself into a sitting position. Then pulled her helmet off and shook out her fur.

”I know you don’t like to think about it but you guys taste great... Country girl’s right though. What are we doing Trin?” Speed meowed, her voice no longer projected through the microphone in her helmet.

“…We‘re going to Funworld.” Trin said simply. Garnering a confused look from both Deceit and Speed. As well as a look of annoyance from FyePIM.

”What? Why? I don’t want to go to funworld. I want to kill whoever just blew me the f**k up!” Speed exclaimed, stamping her paw on the gurney. The action causing her to strain and keel over slightly from pain.

”Don’t worry. You’re not going. You‘re staying here to rest up.” Trin said, turning his head away from Speed and lowering his ears in preparation.

”Excuse me? Trin I’m fine! This kind of thing is what my suit’s for. I don’t need to rest.” Speed reacted with misplaced anger.

”Yes you do Speed. You had a complicated pregnancy, were forced into labor early, and now you were just in an explosion. You need to rest.” Trin replied calmly.

”No, you just don’t want me in danger. You think everything‘s your fault like you‘re my keeper or something so now you want to pack me away with some bubble wrap so I don‘t get scratched or damaged.“ Speed retorted. Her voice edging towards sneering at the end.

”And!? So what if that’s what I want to do!? Is it so bad I don’t want more of my friends to die!?” Trin practically spit out.

That made Speed pause. Her angered expression wilted. And her eyes began to look around the room. Searching for the various faces and animals she recognized.

”…Where’s Triss?” The acrobatic sheline asked. Already figuring the answer. Trin chose not to answer her.

“…We’re not going to Funworld to chase anyone down. We’re going to relax and take a well needed break that I think we all could use... Mute’s still alive. And I don’t want to lose you. So you’ll be in the care of the greatest military the multiverse has ever known. So you can relax and recuperate as well.” Trin meowed in a forcibly neutral tone of voice. Speed squinted and crossed her forelegs across her chest.

”I’d be safer with you guys and you know it.” Speed said, her voice almost pissed. She placed her forelegs back down a moment later.

”I don’t know that anymore. The de facto mother of my daughter is dead, Triss is dead, Charlat Goat is dead, and so is every other version of me that would help. Fil‘s mom is dead and Hal is gone. So the safest place for you for now, is here.“ Trin said, a forlorn tone seeping into his words.

”I died too.” Jezebel meowed flatly. But her small smirk and demeanor showed she was trying to lighten the atmosphere. It didn’t seem to work on Trin.

”PIM can you get us entry to Funworld? ETA immediately.” Trin said, turning to the blue alien.

”WHAT? Did you just ask me to plan a trip to Funworld for 10+ animals without any warning while I’m not even in my own body?” PIM asked with an all around vexed disposition.

”Yes.” Trin said.

”Done. But it wasn’t easy! Fye’s gonna fry my circuits if I haven’t already burned through half of her server farms. And I definitely overclocked her…everything. She‘s gonna be-is pissed. She IS pissed.” PIM replied, looking herself over before dropping her head dramatically.

”Great then. Lexi, open a portal to Funworld. Specifically Kitty Cat Cape if you can. They’ll most likely reroute your portal to a cafe.” Trin meowed to which the huntress closed her eyes. Twenty seconds later a black portal appeared behind her.
 
Lizeth's expression shifts from confusion into understanding and nods her head in response to what Speed has to say, seeming a bit flustered being described as 'country girl.' Where she's from they'd call that road-meat but decides not to announce this based on the looks that Speed gets at her words.

"I like to have fun!" She'd try to chime in excitedly, hoping to dispel the tense air in the room but that fails extremely quickly as Speed and Trin get into a fight.
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Alec sinks into a half crouch before laying on the ground at the behest of the staff member. "It's hot in here, right?" He'd ask, using a paw to shield his eyes of the flourescent lights above them.
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Filament gets himself together and stands to his paws, his head lowered in shame as he weaves past the others into the portal, tired of hearing them fighting. Not that he had any position to judge after what he'd just done.
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Flame looks at Trin quizically but does not argue with the elder tom. Giving Speed an apologetic look as he heads into the portal.
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Holly runs over to Speed as the others depart, wrapping her forepaws around the she-cats neck in a tight hug, whether she wants one or not. "Please be here when we get back. I need you." The she-cat would whisper over Speed's back. She wants to argue with Trin but she knows better but at the same time she feels extremely torn.

She can't leave her only friend but she has to follow the rest if she's going to reintegrate with them.

"I promised I'd have Hunter's back." She tries to justify.
 
Speed hugged Holly back just as strongly. Even while she groaned from pain due to the pressure.

”I won’t be going anywhere. Just call me if you ever want to talk or have some questions about the multiverse. PIM and Trin knows my contact. Mute too.“ She replied, holding the hug a little longer in the process.

”He needs it. Be safe.” Speed meowed, giving Holly a smile.

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The staff members gave each other a look then put their attention back on Alec.

”Do you have a history of high blood pressure? How are you feeling?” They both asked in perfect unison.


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Keesipip patted Lizeth on the back a couple times and gave her an appreciative look for trying to help.

”Their relationship’s more like a brother and sister—that dated. Point being they’ll cool off and be fine. Come on.“ The ashlander explained, looking out the corner of her eyes when she realized her analogy wasn’t the best fit given her companions’ past. She shook it off and gestured for Lizeth to follow through the portal. The ashlander perfectly content to be her impromptu guide for the time being. It was something she herself would have appreciated when she first joined.

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PIM watched Filament rush into the portal with a glum expression. But didn’t immediately chase him. Instead her face contorted like she had a shiver run down her back.

“Hey Fye. Yeah I know. I know. I’ll pay you back I promise. Swear it. Trin wanted me to book a group Funworld visit. Exactly! I wouldn’t bust your body for nothing. Yeah… yeah. Uh-huh. Thanks for understanding. You uh, wouldn’t mind if I borrow it for the Funworld trip? You’re a gem. And feel free to pass me any of your menial processes any time. I mean it. I meeeean it. I told you I’m big…. I’ll talk to him but no guarantees. Give me a bit too, my love is in a dark place right now. Bye.” PIM lazily paced in a tight circle while seemingly talking to herself. Like she was on a phone call. Once the “call“ was done she wasted not even a second before rushing through the portal.


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On the other end of the portal was a black reflective room. It was as if the floor, walls, and ceiling were all made of black mirror panels. Yet simultaneously, the infinite reflections you’d expect to see in mirrors facing one another were not there. It was like you were standing in a glass room in an infinite black void. Yet the walls were reflective like a perfectly polished mirror. The visual was surreal to say the least, made worse by the room being very dimly lit but there being no visible source of light. By all means the room should be pitch black but it wasn’t. It was just really dim. You could make out the clear silhouettes and eyes of everyone around you.

”Your entry into Funworld is being delayed due to reports of a large scale terrorist attack. Please stand by while we assess you for security.” A voice said from nowhere and everywhere at the same time. Both suave and clinical sounding. A voice designed by a team to be innocuous without being ignorable.

”Funworld is the multiverse’s largest theme park! Spanning every single inch of Teyo’thal’sia! That‘s what Funworld was called in its early stages! From the mountains in it’s southern hemisphere to the fields and tundras of the equatorial regions, or down in the depths of the 5 oceans to up in the skies, there’s fun to be had for every walk of life! Or craaawl of life! Looks like you’re all headed tooooo… Kitty Cat Cape! What a goody! Lots of fuzzies and furries there! And the sweet sea breeze is always a pleasure. Have a blast and have a, WORLD, of fun with us!”

“Your entry into Funworld is being delayed due to reports of a large scale terrorist attack. Please stand by while we assess you for security.”

Trin padded through the portal and ended up bumping into Keesipip. The room wasn’t the biggest. The tom uttered a small apology and slid past her. PIM, or more specifically the silhouette of the body she was in, was not visible anywhere. But that fact either didn’t bother him or he didn’t realize it.

”Fil. Hey, I want to talk to you. It’s okay what you‘re feeling right now.” Trin meowed, at first not spotting the tom in the dark. Once he did he walked over to him.

”I mean it. You’re not wrong to be angry. It’s perfectly natural and deserved.” Trin softly, venturing to place his tail on the tom’s back.

”Hey there Cape Campers! You can call me Cassidy Kitty! I’m one of the cast of critters you can come ’cross on your quests in Kitty Cat Cape! Me and my band of buckaroos settled here 400 years ago! That’s 400 revolutions around the star of your species‘ home planet. Or 400 rotations around the sun! Or if you’re from a moon that’s 400 revolutions around the sun. Or if you orbit a black hole that‘s 400 hundred revolutions around the sun! You heard me right 400 hundred revolutions! 400 hundred years ago we settled this ol’ cape. It looked like the perfect spot for me and my friends to get our kitty on! Yeeeeeeeehaw! Here you’ll find wonderful cabins and villas for overnight stays! The big city of New Catscity named after yours truly, and all of her surround sub-purrbs that make up the Catscity metroplex. Catterwall canyon for all you thrill seekers! Feline Falls for the nature lovers. Kitty Cove for those with a propensity to spend kitty! Hoooo-we! And many many more landmarks all across the cape! Don’t be a stranger and be sure to drop in to one of our 5,000 saloons, cat cafes, whisker waffle houses, Claw Spas, biscuit bakeries, or mouser malls. If you need anything at all don’t hesitate to talk to a staff member or me and my gang! And if ya see anything out‘er the ordnery, let us know. Our pussy posse will catch any dastardly desperados and put’em down like cat caca in kitty litter. Yeeeehaw! Hope to see y’all around cape campers! Have a pawful of puuurrfect memories and a world of fun!” A happier, much more tacky sounding voice played now. One with an accent that you weren’t sure was supposed to purposefully sound fake and that was apart of the character. Or if the voice actor couldn’t do a good wild west accent.

“Your entry into Funworld is being delayed due to reports of a large scale terrorist attack. Please stand by while we assess you for security.“

“There’s nothing I can say to make the pain go away. Just know we’re here for you. And we understand losing someone you love. You aren’t alone.“ Trin said in a voice that echoed experience.
 
"I'll see if I can get a communicator so I can call you." Holly promises, giving the she-cat a final squeeze and nod at the she-cat's words. Hesitantly she pulls back, giving Speed a small forlorn look before turning away and making way for the portal, trailing just behind the rest of the cats as they enter the portal.

The sight that greets her is bizarre and she isn't sure how to properly describe the area around her. "What a weird area." She'd mouth silently, watching Trin's outline or what she assumes is his approach Filament, she knows it's him because at this point she's quite familiar with the tom's choking sounds.
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Pestilence looks up at them questioningly. "You mean that hammering in my chest?" He asks rhetorically, keeping his paw above his eyes, which now feel irritatingly dry and scratchy. "Not really, not since I stopped using." The tom would answer after a few long moments, straining to keep his voice even as that gut-wrenching fear returns.
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Lizeth doesn't seem disturbed by the insinuation of incest even if it's subtle. Giving a small nod of understanding, she'd adjust the shawl around her neck and step through the portal, bumping into Keesipip on accident. "Oof, sorry." She'd mew, stepping back and then realizing that she can't really see anything more.

She seems distracted by the second voice that comes from some location she cannot pinpoint. It talks in a strange accent, one that almost seems to mock the ones she'd grown up hearing although it was ironically almost identical to the way animals from her world spoke. That was something that escaped her notice and she cocked her head.

"Is that gal tryin' to mock me?" She'd ask into the darkness. Her voice isn't irritated but it is confused and slightly grumbly.
Holly snickers at this ever so slightly.
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Filament listens as Trin talks to him like he was crazy, like he was fragile, but he isn't angry. He remains standing, his head cast ahead of them towards nothing. This room was strange and the confusion actually manages to stop his ragged breathing for a few moments. He stiffens as Trin rests his tail on his back but quickly relaxes, resting his own tail on Trin's back.

"I'm not angry, Trin." The words leave him after a moment of silence but he is almost drowned out by 'Cassidy Kitty'. The spiel goes on for a bit longer before Trin continues and the tom finally turns his head to look at where he assumed the other tom's face to be.

"I know, almost all of you have been through this before. I've been through this before." The tom would mew a bit more plainly than he intended and he frowns apologetically.

"I appreciate the gesture Trin. Thank you." The tom mews genuinely, turning his head back into the void before them.

"How long is this gonna take? I'm hungry." The tom queries, his stomach grumbling slightly and he tries to offer a chuckle although it comes out more sad than he would like.
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Hal sneezes, from his position leaning against the side of a store. He hadn't moved far from where his ghostly companion had left him but he sits now, back leaning hard against the wall next to the broken window.

Blood drips fairly consistently from his nose and his breathing is a bit ragged. The lacerations on his chest have mostly dried at this point but the dried blood on the front of his plate carrier is steadily being wettened again with the blood from his muzzle.

His breathing is harsh and strained but he doesn't make any movements, content to lay there and let whatever happens happen.

He sneezes again, before coughing at the same time, the action shaking his body slightly. With small whimper, the tom sneezes again, spattering blood across the sidewalk in front of him as a ragged looking hexagonal orange portal opens in front of him, his eyes remain rolled back and he doesn't seem to notice; almost on the verge of unconsciousness.
 
Trin gave Filament a nod and pulled his tail back to its normal resting position. He figured Filament didn’t need any more words than absolutely necessary right now. No need to say ‘thank you‘ or reiterate what’d had already been said. He was a mature tom and Trin respected it.

”They could hold us for as long as they want. This is a space in between dimensions. They’re probably just being extra careful due to the Symphony. Want to keep the virus out.“ Trin answered, a little louder so that everyone could hear.

“Your entry into Funworld is being delayed due to reports of a large scale terrorist attack. Please stand by while we assess you for security.”

Keesipip blew air out of her nose in humor at Lizeth’s comment. Tempted to say that this Cassidy character sounded just like her.

”I think they are trying t—oof.” The gray sheline started score being bumped into by Hunter coming through the portal.

”Sorry.” The brown tom whispered. Receiving a rough push away from the ashlander.

”Now now kittens! No wraslin just yet! Don’t get yer whiskers in a twist. You’ll be let in soon.“ The voice of “Cassidy” played as Hunter bumped into Anya when he was pushed. Who then stepped on Vasteye’s toes.

”Ah! You‘re on a claw, off-off-off-off.” The silver tabby mind reader hissed out in discomfort.

”Vasteye? They let you come?” Anya asked, her voice showing she didn’t know that the one next to her even was him.

”No. I just walked over to the portal and no one stopped me.”

“I thought you were Penny.”

”I’M Penn—“

”Your vetting for security is complete. We pride ourselves on maintaining safety and providing fun experiences to all of our guests. Welcome to Funworld. The gateway to Kitty Cat Cape will be open in 5…4…3…2…Fun.” The more clinical voice informed. And upon completion of the countdown, a bright circle appeared. The change in light intensity was momentarily blinding but once your eyes adjusted you’d see what your ears would have picked up a second or two earlier. A see-through portal had opened up that lead to a bustling cafe.

Sounds of dozens of conversations, movement, and music all blended into a general cacophony. The cafe wasn’t big but wasn’t small either. It wasn’t cozy as much as it corporately designed to be adequate. Like a fast food chain’s interior. But what the floor plan and furniture lacked the cafe made up for with the decorations and staff. The walls, including the glass walls showing the roaring theme park outside were covered in analog pictures, drawings on the chalkboard walls, and all kinds of western memorabilia. Photos that resembled polaroids were pinned up wherever there was space. And the animals in the pictures corresponding with their locations on the walls. The photos showing tall bipedal cats were high up near the ceiling while the photos showing small quadrpedal cats were near the ground. And everything in between. There were photos of families, friends, lovers, and most of the time there was a staff member in the photos too.

The staff were wearing a simultaneously alien yet familiar ensemble. Be them bipedal, quadrupedal, or tripedal they all were wearing cowboy maid costumes with cat ears and tails. But they weren’t how you’d expect to see on earth. The hats were mostly normal. Tans, browns, whites, and blacks, with big fuzzy cat ears popping out above the brim. The maid portion of the costume was where it broke from tradition. The entire dress was made of brightly colored faux fur. With worn brown leather being used for the apron instead of white cloth. Complete with big bushy tails coming out from under the skirts. Often times right next to the wearer’s actual tail.

Some of the staff wore chaps with fringes while others wore shorts or nothing under the skirts. And lastly, all the bipeds had detailed leather cowboy boots on. While the quadrupeds had white toe booties or nothing at all. Beyond their attire they behaved like normal waiters and waitresses, just much happier and engaged than your average service industry animal. There was one major thing that was peculiar about some of the animals in the cafe though.

All the bipedal cats and non-feline animals in the building were fine and content to work or enjoy their dining while behaving no differently than anywhere else. But as for the quadrupedal cats, some of them were not quite… there. Some of the cats, never any of the staff mind you, were not sapient. They were no different than a pet. You could even spot one of the staff calling one of the non-sapient cats over to a table with a mixture of physical gesturing and kiss noises. A cat just like Thrush, Holly and the rest of the crew, called over another cat that looked just like them and was their exact same size, to a table so a family of four could rub it’s head and face. And then it wandered off like a pet.

”What the?” Keesipip voiced her confusion as she walked out of the portal. A glance back would show the portal had appeared against a pillar specifically marked for portals. With a sign over it saying to be aware of opening portals.

Trin immediately started a brisk walk to the exit. Not saying a word. It would be wrong to say he was jogging, but it certainly didn’t seem like he was moving slowly enough to be walking.

“I already got us a table!” PIM said loudly, having been leaning against the pillar to the right of the portal. The pillar itself wasn’t against a wall but rather perfectly in the middle of the cafe. Standing next to her was a staff member bouncing excitedly. They even gave the group a giddy wave as they filed out of the portal.

”Nya! Welcome to Funworld party of PIM! I hope to provide you with puuurrfect service! Eee!” The maid tom said, drumming the floor with his forepaws as he did so.


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The two medics with Alec looked at him curiously.

”Since you stopped using? Using what exactly? You could be experiencing withdrawal.” One of them asked, while the other walked off with the intent to grab something.


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A purple suited quadruped jumped out of the portal in front of Hal. Pulling their tail all the way through it dramatically as though they had just dodged something and their tail was the last bit in danger. The purple suit wasn’t military or wholly utilitarian in design or form. It looked like something you’d have a ballerina or ice-skater wear. It was form fitting, had a diamond weave pattern throughout, and had no pockets or even a visible zipper. It wasn’t thin and given the few cuts along it‘s surface it was durable. That left their head, which was covered by a matching purple cloth that paws wrapped around their head to cover everything except their eyes.

”Hal right?” When the stranger spoke their voice was modulated. They didn’t want you to know what they actually sounded like.
 
A holy item? Lipstick with the ability to bring back the dead? Thistle thinks back to Hunter's demise. He fell from the cityship (that was itself falling from stratosphere) into the ocean below. There was absolutely no chance in Helheim that a single atom of the tomcat remained after that. And even if it did, how could Deceit possibly have found Hunter's remains from beneath the rubble of the city that landed on top of him? Thistle picks up the case and turns it in his paws carefully. It certainly doesn't look special or magic. Maybe PIM can tell. The conversation going on around him changes out of nowhere. A portal has opened and now Trin wants to take everyone (everyone who is uninjured, that is) to a place called Funworld. "Wait- Are you just gonna forget what's going on?" He gawks at everyone leaving. So quickly fleeing the gloomy mood that settled in the medbay like a thick layer of ash. Growling in frustration, Thistle grabs the silver tube with his teeth and dashes through the portal.

The ubiquitous warning through this void of a room hammers home just how wrong he feels. How this whole situation feels. There is indeed a large-scale terrorist attack going on, but they're choosing to go to this so-called 'Funworld' to take their minds off it instead. Thistle just wants to get this alleged Holy Item identified and get back to what really matters.


Thrush's ear turns in the direction of the portal when it's summoned, but other than that she pays it no mind. She doesn't move from her spot. If the traitor goes through the portal, then so does she. If not, so she remains (with the added benefit of fewer around to try and stop her from committing murder). She watches Thistle dive through the portal next and her paws gain a pins-and-needles sensation with her lack of following after him.


Lethe is torn between staying or leaving the hospital ship. From what he now knows, it doesn't matter who he's with, tragedies happen both with and without Trin around. It's only a matter of time of when the next one comes. Though, if something happens again, the most advanced medical team and equipment are readily at paw. The Ashuli tom waves to those already heading through the portal.


Nyx made up her mind as soon as Trin said 'Funworld'. She follows the departing group through the portal. "Oh- Sorry!" The demoness whispers, having bumped into someone upon stepping into the darkness. When they're given the all-clear to continue on, Nyx exits the intermediate room and is immediately met with the oh-so-familiar scent of coffee. Her mouth waters at the prospect of a piping hot, caffeinated drink.
 
Alec would almost laugh at that, but his breath hitches in his throat. "Nah, that was years ago." Inwardly laughing a bit, no withdrawal from anything he'd ever been on would cause these kinds of symptoms.

"I'm sick." He'd mew with finality, finally giving up on covering his eyes with with a paw. It had been a fairly pointless effort anyway.
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Hal's eyes move to look at the figure now standing in front of him in front of the portal. His vision is tunneling and he feels as though he might pass out again, he didn't even know how long he'd been laying here, since his almost fight with Cannibal's dad.

He thought that maybe it had been a day or so but he couldn't be sure. While he tries to figure this out in his mind, he remains staring past the figure in front of him, some far away part of him sure of this androgynous figure's femininity.

"Yeah." He exhales at last with a haggard breath, his breath hitching again.
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Filament stares in disbelief at the scene in front of him, but quickly moves toward a bowl surrounded by farm cats. Their eyes are empty of any higher thought and a few sniff at his implant and the rest of his face uncertainly. He pays no mind, beginning to eat. His joke about being hungry had more truth to to it than it had appeared and he seemed to have no issue eating out of a bowl like a wild animal.
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When Keesipip shoves Hunter, Holly catches Hunter, bracing him but not letting her touch linger. As the portal opens in front of the group, she strides forward, taking in the admittedly strange sight before them. "What's with them?" She queries, her ears twitching in the direction of some of their lesser intelligent familiars.
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Lizeth makes it through the portal but freezes the second she sees all of the bipeds in the cafe, her fur standing on end. She adjusts her shawl twitchily with a free paw, her gaze somewhat wild.

One of the waiters notices her distress and heads toward her, getting onto his knees and extending his paw towards her, a small handful of ground flower in his paw.

Tentatively, she sniffs his outstrethed paw, the interaction activating some apparently generational switch in her. A small purr rumbles in her throat and she brushes her head against his paw, allowing him to run it from the top of her head to her tail and within seconds is going table to table to receive similar attention.

She seems content to stay at one table, in which a family of bipeds has given her their complete attention, with her on her back, even receiving the ever so apparently risky belly-rubs.
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Luther watches as Thistle leaves, staying in the room. Like Thrush, if Deceit leaves he will go to but if the demoness does not, nor does he, his new objectively seemingly her safety.
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Flame watches in awe as the new gal immediately seems to act like the strange, somewhat deft felines that share the room with them.

"What the hell was that about?" He'd ask, nobody in particular, startling as the waiter makes some odd noise at them, more surprised than anything that he can even understand the male in question.
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Holly stares in shock although the smell of pastries quickly brings her back to attention. During her time on Hell, she'd spent many a day baking with her boss and the smell is nostalgic, almost drawingly so. Whiskers twitching, she faces the waiter that approaches the members of the group who had not already wandered off.
"Thank you." She would mew politely.
 
Deciet didn’t move from her spot. Watching with a modicum of annoyance as the others left. Her eyes following them one by one, getting a bit bigger with each animal’s exit. Really? None of them were going to send her back? She thought to herself.

”How splendid.” The demoness grumbled once it was clear she was stuck there. She said a few words under her breath and the let out a long yawn.

”What a long day.“ Deceit commented to nobody as she lowered herself onto her belly. Slightly curled up. Her uniform riding up along her back in doing so.

”What’s your problem with me anyway?” The orange eyed sheline asked with her eyes closed. But the target of her question could be guessed was Thrush.


______

The medical animal next to Pest looked at his eyes, squinting a little bit.

”Let’s get you onto a bed then.” She said, bracing up against the tom.

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”Oh they’re farm cats.” Hunter meowed in reply to Holly’s query. He hadn’t seen any before but they matched the description False Lamb had given him a while ago. Cats that look like me and you but aren’t intelligent.

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“S’okay.” Lexi said to Nyx after she bumped into her. The huntress was used to it. Her messenger was a large canine. The size difference often led to some stepped on toes. Once they were cleared she was the last through the portal and looked around the cafe with a blank expression. Due to Funworld’s security her bounty hunting had never taken her here, but she was never one of the kittens that grew up dreaming of visiting. After taking stock of where they were she watched Lizeth pad over to a table. Grimacing at the display.

”Gross.” She mumbled before turning her attention to PIM and the maid.

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Keesipip looked at Lizeth, then to Flame, and finally back to Lizeth. Shrugging at the orange tom.

”I have no idea.” The ashlander responded. Feeling just as out of her depth as he was.

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The waiter dipped their head to Holly with a smile. Gesturing for the remaining grouped up animals to follow him. The table they were to be seated at was only10 feet away. And it had a little card on it showing a crude crayon drawing of PIM and company all with smiles. Weirdly the drawing featured intimate details of their appearance, like Holly’s leg and Fil’s artificial. Like whoever drew the placard actually knew what they looked like.

”Order whatever you’d like. Nya!“ The waiter said, as Penny and Lexi took their seats. They weren’t actually seats though, they were just big cushions on the floor.

“Um, is it okay for them to do that?“ Penny asked the maid tom, pointing to Filament and Lizeth. He looked over his shoulder for a second before nodding.

”Mhmm. That’s purrrfectly fine!” While the maid said that, PIM watched Filament with visible discomfort. One of her paws flexing against the ground anxiously. Should she go and grab him? Or would that be rude? He was in a bad place right now. But she also didn’t like seeing him eat like an animal. But if that’s what he wanted to do, shouldn’t she just let him? Lots of questions and worries raced through her mind.

”Where‘s the menu?“ Anya whispered, hoping the answer wasn’t obvious and she was being a fool.

”Scratch the table. It’s built into it and heat sensitive. It’s like a game.” PIM answered, while her attention stayed on Filament.


___________
 
Thistle heads right over to PIM when he crosses into this new world. "-IM!" He drops the lipstick case on the ground. "Can you identify Holy Items? I want to make sure Deceit wasn't lying. If what she said is indeed true, then we need to keep a tight grip on this. The ability to revive anyone with... with a kiss would be an invaluable asset!" The tom is confident when speaking but as soon as his mind gets to the kissing part, he falters, perhaps a bit flustered at the application of this possibly Holy object.


"What will you two be ordering?" Nyx asks, sitting down on one of the plush cushions and paying Lizeth and Filament no mind. Everyone has their kinks and quirks; she is in no place to judge someone else for what makes them happy. She traces a paw on the table, opening up the menu. "I'm sure they have many delicious things here."


"Probably because you betrayed us, you killed Eden, you shot Keesipip... Why wouldn't she have a problem with you?" Lethe remarks.


Thrush doesn't respond. She looks over at where the injured rest, where the kittens are huddled. It wouldn't be a good idea to kill the betrayer with the little ones present to witness, it would just traumatize them more. But, if she does something rash like attack first, then she'll just have to put her down. Maybe the medical team would be able to restrain Deceit? There has to be some form of straitjacket on paw for aggressive patients. Or perhaps they can use drugs to make her fall asleep, to completely cut the chance of her running away or fighting to zero. Blue eyes swiftly return Deceit, like if her gaze is not upon the demoness for too long, she will disappear into thin air.
 
PIM hummed and looked down at the lipstick case while Thistle spoke. Even before the tom had finished her head began to shake back and forth in a ‘nok gesture. The AI picked up the item and twirled it in her blue webbed paws, charmed at the dexterity.

”Invaluable it would be… but I can’t tell if something’s a holy item. Even more so outside of my own body. This just looks like lipstick to me. Perhaps Jezebel could help?” PIM replied, looking the silver case up and down closely.

”Hmm?” The eldritch horror in question acknowledged the use of her name from her spot at the table.

“Can you tell if item is a holy item?” PIM asked, raising the lipstick case up.

”Yes.” Jezebel answered neutrally.

”So this lipstick? Is it a holy item?” The ai questioned. Jezebel looked at it and then cocked her head. Her lips pursed, she thought for a second and then went back to a neutral expression.

”…You’ll know soon enough. I recommend it be held on to.” The dark sheline replied enigmatically. PIM gave her a deadpan look before handing it back to Thistle.

”How can you tell them apart but PIM can’t?“ Penny asked, looking up from her menu. “I’m going to get the cassidy crepes. Ooh and some Cu-law-chees. Claw-ches? Some of these puns are a real stretch.” The chocolate colored she-cat said to Nyx before Jezebel spoke.

”Because I can see inside of it. PIM cannot.” The self-proclaimed angel meowed simply.

_________________________________________________________________________

Deciet chuffed, raising her head to look at Lethe.

”I didn’t shoot Keesipip. And Thrush never cared about Eden... Most of you didn’t. You just keep bringing up her corpse because it makes you feel nice. While from my perspective it’s very dishonest to feign like you cared about an animal after their death all so that you can justify your anger to me; to pass it off as morally righteous. Don’t forget I lived with you all for a long time. HE cared about Eden-” Deciet pointed at Alec, “-Trin did. But Thrush? Thrush cares about her own and her own only. Thrush only really cares about connections with animals she made herself. And right now she doesn’t care that she’s laying dead on a gurney, or that she’s holding in tears, or him, or any of you.-“ the demoness pointed to Crimson, then Purple, then Nastiel, then the room in general, “-all she’s thinking about is killing. Because she’s a violent, damaged cat with a permanent chip on her shoulder who enjoys the suffering of others and is unashamed of it. If not for her brother Thrush would be no different than the countless thugs and brutes you’ve all put down. She’s a thief and a torturer. And probably more if she’d ever open up about her past.“ Deciet meowed in a conversational tone of voice.

“So how’d I do? Quite accurate I‘d bet.“ Deciet teased Thrush, staring right back at the sheline.
 
Yes, everything Deceit said is close, but not quite on the nose. "You were going to shoot Kees, then your little b*tch-boy Hunter did it for you. I don't know how you brainwashed him but the blood is on both of your paws. Eden was my friend. I liked her and she felt comfortable enough to confide in me about the visions she had, where I'm sure she hadn't even told Trin. I keep everyone at arm's length because you never know when someone will betray you." Her eyes narrow at the demoness when she spits the word. "I do my best to rid the world, the multiverse, of scum like you. Animals who need to pay for their crimes, that deserve what they have coming. That bastard tom Red is still at large, probably doing unspeakable things to children because he is absolutely sick in the head. The next time I see him, I will put him down like the rabid dog he is. Undertaker, for destroying my home and the homes and lives of countless others, as well as however many other deplorable deeds, will die the death he deserves." Thrush stands up and pads over to Purple. As much as she wants to kill the traitor, there are kittens present and they are currently mourning. She wouldn't want to do that to them. She glances at Ruma and Jass before sitting next to Purple.

"If you need someone to talk to, I'm here." Thrush whispers to the violet sheline.


"So was Deceit right? You can revive anyone with a kiss with this item?" Thistle gapes at Jezebel, his wide eyes flicking from the cat? to the reflective case in Fye-PIM's paw rapidly. "She must have an ulterior motive if she so willingly handed this over..." He focuses directly on Jezebel this time. "How can you see inside this and the most advanced AI and her capabilities can't?"


"I judge places like this on how good their coffee is. Nothing fancy with tons of flavor syrups and garnishes. Just plain coffee." Nyx informs while she selects her order on the table-screen. A plain dark-roast coffee (hopefully they have a good blend), and some scones for the table.
 
Pestilence leans against the staff member, allowing them to escort him to a bed. He's tired and has trouble staying on his paws. Once they make it to the bed, he lays down and is pretty much instantly asleep. His breaths are short but they are steady.
_____________________________________________________________________

Luther listens to Deceit and Thrush bicker with a grimace on his face. "Okay, this isn't working." He mews irritably, lighting up a cigarette and grabbing the attention of one of the staff members. "You got some kind of isolation room, we can move Deceit to? This aimless bickering isn't helping anyone or anything."
______________________________________________________________________

After about five minutes, Lizeth returns to the table, her fur all mussed up and her throat vibrating with hearty purrs. "I have no idea what those things were but oh my stars, they know what they're doing." She mewls, taking a seat next to Keesipip and looking at the screen of the menu. "What's this thing?" She'd ask, pawing it absently. "'spose they got flautas?" The she-cat would ask the table.
_______________________________________________________________________

Holly looks at the menu. Ordering an extra large lemonade and a plate of 'brazin burritos'. With a small sigh, she sits back in her chair, her gaze flitting about the table before landing on PIM. "Hey PIM, do you think you could do me a big favor?" The she-cat would ask, resting her head on her shoulders.

"Could you send Speed a message that we got here okay?"
_______________________________________________________________________

Filament practically drags himself over to the table and sits down beside Pim, resting his head against her and closing his eyes. It almost sounds like he utters a soft apology but it's so quiet that it's hard to tell and he doesn't say anything else. His mind starts to wonder and he feels a craving he hasn't felt in quite some time, it stirs his stomach and he groans quietly.
__________________________________________________________________________
 
Jezebel looked at Thistle as he spoke. Lifting and placing one of her paws on the table before he’d finished. She waited until he was done speaking before drawing a small circle in the table with a single extended claw.

”This circle is apart of the second dimension. It has no height.“ Jezebel meowed as a maid walked by and used their prehensile tail to set down a steaming wooden cup of coffee in front of Nyx. It had a metal coaster attached to the bottom of it and in the same motion of them placing the cup down they lifted it up off the coaster to Nyx’s muzzle height. When they let go of it the cup levitated at the same height while the coaster remained on the table.

”Scones on the way.” The maid said as they passed, taking an almost imperceptibly quick look at Jezebel’s carving. The dark sheline went on to easily ingrain to cat stick figures around the circle as well. Being careful to wipe all the wood dust into a neat pile.

”These are denizens of this second dimension as well. They know not of height either.“ Jezebel explained as she then etched a diamond inside of the circle.

”Now imagine you have contacted one of the denizens. And they have a question. They have scoured every spot of the circle they can. They have navigated around it more times than they can count. With dogged abandon they have devoted monumental and respectable effort in engineering all manner of new technology to discover the interior of the circle. But they still don’t know what, if anything, is inside it. So they ask you if you could help them. And you answer quite simply that ‘within the circle lies a diamond.‘ At which point they say back to you, ‘what is a circle and diamond?’“ Jezebel meowed, letting a mirthful smile split her muzzle at the end.

”Use this metaphor to understand the words I’d said prior. I can see inside, but PIM cannot.” Jezebel finished. With a paw she swept the table shavings back across her crude drawings and the surface was like new. As if the wood had never been disturbed.

”Scones for you all.” A different maid, this one being tall and bipedal, announced as they set two plates of the baked food down.

“Happy birthday to your brother, happy birthday to your lover, happy birthday to your friiiiend! Comeback next year we’ll sing again! Yeeeeeehaw!” Four of the staff members cheered from a table a little ways away. A cake with a ton of sparklers sat on it while the birthday apparent was getting squeezed to death by the three other members of his party. All of them looked like what you‘d get if you missed a highland cow with a shorthair cat. Brown fur that drooped down until you could only see the bottoms of their eyes and short gray ”devil“ horns sticking out of their heads. Stalker seemed more interested in watching them than paying attention to what was going on at the table.

_______

Keesipip chuckled, looking at Lizeth as she sat down with her fur messed up.

”I have no idea what those are hehe. That‘s a touchpad menu. Touch what you want and they‘ll know.“ The ashlander explained, pointing to the food images on the screen.

“I can‘t tell what species they are. Bipedal cats all look the same to me.“ Lexi said in a voice that was a hair under normal speaking volume.

”They look kind of like that captain we were with. What was her name? Arla? Raya?” Anya said, scratching her chin.

”What‘d it feel like?“ Aceline asked Lizeth curiously.

___________

PIM at Holly as soon as she said her name.

”What’s the favor?” PIM purred, her tone and expression a bit wary given Holly‘s emphasis as to the size of her favor. When Holly said what it was her demeanor popped back up in delighted surprise.

”Of course Holly.” The AI said, giving her a charmed smile.

”Freshly squeezed lemonade for Holly.” A maid cat in a cowboy hat said, setting down the tankard and the plate it was on with her mouth.

“Done. Is there anything else you want to say? I could even do a holo-“ PIM cut herself off when she saw Filament trudge his way towards the table like he was walking through molasses. The AI silently watched him sit and threw a leg around him when he leaned on her.

”S’okay.” She cooed, giving the top of his head a lick and light squeeze.


____________________________________________________________________________________


Deciet looked at Thrush as she spoke with a poker face. Then watched her walk over to Purple with same said face.

“See that Purple. You’re just a show prop. Used when she needs to feign care. Yet you still think I needed to brainwash b*itch-boy as you called-“ Deciet stopped mid-sentence when Luther spoke up, her eyes looking to the tom with her mouth open.

”No by all means I‘d love to stay. I adore making animals speak honestly. Did you catch it? The admittance that Thrush doesn’t trust any of you? Thinks you will betray her? After everything you’ve done-“ she pointed at a distracted Speed, “-and especially everything you’ve done for her-“ her paw aimed at Callista, “she still doesn't trust you. Thinks you’ll stab her in the back. Because that’s how vile animals think. They think everyone else is just as bad as them. Not my choice of a cat to have in a battle.” Deciet meowed as she padded over to and sat against one of the bay windows.


”There’s a very small lounge area back there.” One of the doctors said to Luther, pointing to the small hallway at the back of the medbay that the staff had been going to whenever they needed more supplies.

”Why don’t we put them both back there so they can go at it.” False Lamb joked sourly with an annoyed look on her face.

Lulalissa quietly did some light stretches while Deciet and Thrush spoke.


_____________________________________________________________________________________


The purple suit in front of Hal looked at him silently for a while.

”Greeeeat. Can you run?” They asked, their heading moving down then back up as they looked him over.

”I know a place you can rest,” They said after a second. Coming to the conclusion themselves that he wasn’t fit to do anything strenuous. Without waiting for him to respond they ducked down and scooped him onto their back.

”Come on.” The modulated voice said dryly.
 
Lizeth cocks her head at Aceline, trying to think of a way to to describe the experience. "Uh, 'magine something being able to scratch all the itches you can't." She shudders and continues to purr loudly. "Try it." The she-cat suggests, lazily pawing at the screen on the table. She pauses on a couple different offerings before she settles on the 'buckin' great breakfast combo'. She taps her paw on it, seeming perfectly at home using the interface even though it's a bit more advanced than what she's used to.

She looks over conspiratorily at Lexi, speaking in a similarly hushed tone. "'s how I feel about dogs. And they smell bad but those... people(?) smelled good. Must have good conditioner or something."


A bit self-consciously, she looks over at her own messy coat and shrugs, the shawl moving a bit to expose her prominent throat scar.

"Oooh, is lemonade what you guys call citrade?" She asks, eyeballing Holly's drink. Without so much as a warning she leans over, tasting it through Holly's straw, leaving the aforementioned she-cat's expression flabberghasted.
__________________________________________________________________________________

Holly gives an apologetic look to PIM and gives her a small thank you, still looking slightly disturbed by Lizeth's behavior. Wordlessly, she moves the straw back over to herself and with a bit of hesitation, takes a testing sip before taking a longer one from the tankard and letting out a content sigh.

"It was Arla." She affirms, giving Anya a nod and a small smile.
__________________________________________________________________________________

Filament doesn't say anything but she does nuzzle into Pim a bit deeper, closing his eyes and resting. After a few moments, he swipes his paw on the screen without moving from her side, ordering a large 'krazy kayak rootbeer river float'.

"Been awhile since I had icecream." He mews hoarsley, hoping that it would sooth the soreness in his throat.
___________________________________________________________________________________

"Then it's a shame you don't have a choice." Luther grumbles, taking another drag of his cigarette and looking at Deceit. He beckons her over into the aforementioned waiting room and assuming she follows, will look her over.

"What's the goal here, it seems a bit personally invested if you're on our side. Something she's done or said to you must have really hit a nerve. Lay it on me." He says cooly, lighting up a smoke and offering her one of his.

"Wintergreen, nicotine."

___________________________________________________________________________________

Hal just lets out a breath as they scoop him up. "Who are you?" He manages to wheeze out, lying uselessly on their back, eyes half-lidded.
__<_<______

Lizeth stares at the lemonade, unnerved. "It's sweet, citrade is supposed go be tart." She sticks out her tongue petulantly.

"Weird saloon." She murmurs, ordering a large 'sassy sarsparilla.'
 
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Deciet stayed where she was for a few seconds before standing up and following Luther.

“More of a nook than a lounge. At least there’s a tv.” Deciet commented as she padded around the corner. Noting the small screen hanging from the ceiling. Set to the news and muted. Deciet read the screen while Luther spoke to her. Only looking at him when he offered something to smoke. Deciet gave him an appreciative blink while she deftly grabbed it with her mouth and used his to light hers.

” S’naught persunall.” Deciet commented after watching the tv in silence for ten seconds. The cigarette in her mouth slurring her transatlantic accent. A soft glow from it showing that she was dragging the entire time. After another ten seconds of silence she pulled it from her mouth, letting the smoke flow out of her mouth and nose slowly. She purposefully pointed her muzzle away from Luther as well.

”The reason I’m doing it isn’t at least… I need to know who I’m working for and they need to know who’s working for them. So far, I’m not confident in their ability to see the forest for the trees. I hope that translated properly. Trin might but he’s emotionally compromised right now. And Triss, the only one of them with a history in espionage, just got killed. The rest, are easily manipulated and emotional. So I’m left with a bunch of amateurs to work with the very second amateur hour ended. Amateurs that think killing their informant is swell idea. Thank you for not doing so by the way.” Deciet meowed, then put the cigarette back in her mouth.

“Tv unmute.” Deciet said a moment later, looking up at the screen. When the device remained completely silent the demoness cocked her head and looked around the nook. On the tiny kitchenette counter was a gray remote. She grabbed it and then clicked a button, unmuting the tv. A moment later she lowered the volume so that it was only barely audible.

”…The apartment which apparent god-ring founder Trin was seen in belongs to non other than Milky Cucumber, one of Starworld’s top five celebrities. And knowing what we know now, older pictures do show that the two have been in communication with one another since at least this gala six years ago, where they were photographed on the blue carpet...”

“The last thing I want is to get killed for doing the right thing because some self-righteous thug thinks her dung doesn’t smell. I don’t take kindly to being talked down to by someone who‘s first instinct when left to her own devices in my homeland was to become a murderous criminal…. We’ve all done bad things. I bet if I called the family of the politician she helped kill they’d say she deserves to hang…. I’m getting off subject. Point is, I can’t do my job when the animals I’m reporting to don’t trust me and want me dead… and I want to do my job. I‘m very good at my job, it’s why I know everything about them even the stuff they didn’t tell me. But I don’t get put into lose-lose situations… As Thrush wants it, either A, I do my job and the moment I am done she kills me. B, I don’t do my job well because the moment I do I am killed. So they kill me for not being useful. Or C, I am killed because they’re having a bad day and I “had it coming”. Either way I die… I didn’t make Thrush stay here, she chose to. So I have to make sure everyone else is aware that Thrush is an irrational actor, otherwise she‘ll kill me. I’m not being petty, I’m responding rationally to a direct threat on my life. You may not always be present to enforce that vaunted God-ring sense of civility you pride yourselves on. If you aren’t, I need others who will question Thrush, no matter how much power she posses….. Think back to one of your god-ring morality mindfulness tests in school. If you were a violently orphaned kid, who experienced endless traumas at a young age, had no real kithood because you had to protect your sibling, and then was given immense physical power to wield however you see fit, would you trust yourself NOT to abuse it and conflate whatever you personally want with good and bad?… Don’t answer that, just think about it.” Deciet meowed, watching the tv as she spoke and smoked.

”…Honeydew, I’m gonna have to stop you right ther—no I’m gonna have to—No YOU listen! Honeydew you shut your fuzzy little trap, you don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re wrong! You’re wrong! What facts!? What facts do you have that shows Trinity is a good cat!…Oh yeah!? Well I think he’s a murderer that deserves to be behind bars! Just look at the…”


____________________________________________________________________________________
Meanwhile on Funworld…


Aceline looked over at the bipedal table and grinned nervously.

”I-I think I’ll pass.” She meowed, waving off the offer to go and be petted.


When Lizeth drank from Holly’s cup, her reaction was mirrored by Anya, Penny, and Lexi. With varying levels of intensity and vitriol. Penny looked at Lizeth with annoyance, Anya was just shocked, and Lexi looked at thr action unamused for a second before going back to looking around the place absently. That only left Keesipip to give a couple nervous chuffs.

As Hunter witnessed the table’s reactions he felt two kinds of awkwardness. The first was just his own distaste for what Lizeth did but it didn’t last long nor was it a strong reaction. A slight movement of his brows and the entire reaction was done. it was the lack of a certain reaction he didn’t know he‘d been subconsciously expecting that made it even more awkward. There wasn’t anyone at the table to find the faux pas humorous. The animals who were usually the ones to giggle or snort at something like this were not present. Speed was bedridden. Lulalissa, who would have seen nothing wrong with a little shared saliva, was not there. Trin was absent. And while it wasn’t always a guaranteed reaction from her, Triss was dead. Even Stalker didn’ find any humor in it. Another subtle break in her amnesia facade that was immediately obvious to Hunter since he knew since birth. If she’d really reverted back to her younger self, she’d be cackling instead of staring at the other table’s celebration like a hawk. A quick glance at Vasteye showed the tom was focused more on which maid was bringing their food, and Filament… well Filament certainly wasn’t in a laughing mood. It all gave him a pang in his heart. But at least Holly didn't seem to be angered.

”Almost everything is sweeter than it needs to be.” Keesipip said, silently relating to the sheline. She herself found that it took a little getting used to all the sweetness in the more technologically advanced places. Even the meats often tasted sweeter.


”S-so how‘d you get the scar? It’s kind of like Vasteye’s.” Hunter asked Lizeth, after a couple seconds of Penny staring at her.

Anya pointed at Holly and nodded back. Showing her agreement and appreciation for her recalling the captain’s name.

”Finally.” Vasteye muttered, his eyes glued on to a duo of maids carrying a tray balanced on both of their backs. With practiced ease they carried the tray of food over to their table. With a synchronized movement the two maids laid down, rolled out from under the tray, and caught it with a paw so that it wouldn’t clatter on the ground.

”Mewow, look at this yummy food. We’ve got brazin burritos for Holly.” One of the waiters said, lifting the plate off the tray and on to the table in front of the aforementioned carrot furred she-cat.

”And who had the claw-chees?“ The other waiter asked, making a slashing movement with their paw. Penny raised her paw and was promptly given her food.

”Cassidy crepes?” Penny raised her paw again.

”Nya-nibblers?” Vasteye raised his paw.

”Hisssss and Hers hotcakes?” Those went to Stalker.

”Another set of Brazin Breakfast Purr-itos.” One maid said, eyeing the other and putting emphasis on the cat pun. The other maid looked back at them with a perturbed, “really?“ expression before going back to a jovial one. Anya shook her paw to claim those ones.

”Sassy Sarsapurrilla. And the Buckin Grrrreat breakfast combo.” Keesipip pointed to Lizeth.

“We’re sorry, due to the purrent security concerns we had to substitute some of the pig bacon for faaaarm bacon.” One of the maids explained while the other set the plate down in front of Lizeth. At first their tone was upbeat as ever but you could literally see the moment it clicked in their heads that the table they were serving were indistinguishable from farm cats. There was a half second of panic and silent communication in their eyes before they seemed to agree to just roll with it and act like nothing was wrong. Simultaneously Lexi looked at everyone else, curious if they should warn Lizeth or not.

”Whisker waffles?” Keesipip pointed to herself this time.

”Kitten Chicken and Whisker waffles?” It was Hunter’s turn to raise his paw.

”You also a got Fe-lime pie?” The brown tabby nodded as the maid smiled at him behind a slice of pie on the plate in their mouth. With a clink it was set down in front of him.

”Cinnamon purr-fait?” Hunter raised his paw again. Getting an amused snort and a glass placed in front of him.

“A Krazy Kayak Rootbeer River Float?” PIM waved her paw and pointed at the spot on the table in front of Filament. The maid read the room immediately and carefully set the drink down in front of Filament.

”Biscuits and gravy?” One of the waiters asked, looking around the table. At first there was no one to claim to food, only for Hunter to gulp and say that was his as well. The waiter placed it down in front of him but before pulling away noticed the confused expression he was giving them.

”Is something the matter?”

“Where’s the cat pun?” Hunter asked curiously.

”Oh! You know! Biscuits…-“ the maid proceeded to knead the floor, “-and gravy. The pun is already built in.” The waiter answered happily. Hunter didn’t get it. Vasteye could hear him think, “what the f**k did that have to do with biscuits?” making the silver tom almost choke.

”Umm, I have a question.” Stalker meowed, getting one of their wait staff’s attention while the other continued to call out food names and give them to the animal who’d ordered.

”Mehow can I help?”

”Do you all celebrate birthdays?” Stalker asked innocently enough.

”Of course!”

”He’s shy. But it’s his birthday today.” Stalker said, pointing to Hunter. Making him look up from his food with wide eyes and perked ears.

“Stalker! Why’d you-“ Hunter started but was cut off.

”No wonder you ordered so much!“ The maid cheered, smiling at him like they now knew some secret about him.

”No-no-no-“

”I’ll be right.” The maid said to Stalker before padding off.


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Meanwhile with Hal…


”We’ve met before. I’m an old friend.” The animal carrying Hal answered after some time. Wherever they were taking Hal, it was in the direction of the spaceport.
 
Luther smokes as she talks, not interrupting her but studying her as she spoke. When she finishes, he nods slowly. "I've read through their files, even the classified documents." He takes a contemplative drag off of his cigarette and meets her gaze.

"I have grave concern about some of them, Thrush, Pestilence, Flame." He exhales, closing his eyes comfortably as the smoke trails over his muzzle before looking at her again.

"Those three especially, if it were up to me, those three wouldn't be carrying weapons and Thrush would have a supernatural subjugation device implanted, with or without her consent." The tom would mutter, lighting up another cigarette and inhaling deeply before continuing.

"They've been through a lot and I understand that, but some of these animals are going to get animals killed, more than they already have." He finishes, exhaling again.

"The fact is, Trin isn't in a state to lead right now and I don't personally see a lot of animals who actually should be taking charge eager to fill his role. That's why I'm here." His gaze hardens and he looks away for a moment before turning his head back to her.

"I don't entirely trust you either, but you made good points back there, and like I said, we're not all completely feral. I trust that you want what's best for your people and that aligns with what I want. The best for mine. Nobody's going to try and hurt you while I'm here." The tom spits his cigarette butt onto the ground and turns his head to the tv.

"I'm going to stick to you like flies on shit."
_______________________________________________________________________________

Lizeth nods her head. "'xactly!" She mrrows excitedly, before her expression flattens at Hunter's question although she does make an attempt to get it back for him. "We got attacked on the road, shortly before you guys appeared for the first time through the wi-portal." She mutters, adjusting the shawl so that the claw marks were more easily visible so that he could see.

She seemed more scared of the memory of what had happened than how other's might perceive her injury. "Some feral took a chunk of my neck with him before he ran off." She mutters before being cut off as her food arrives.

She isn't necessarily the most intelligent cat at the table but she does connect the dots between farm-cats and farm bacon. She gives the meat a small sniff. "Smells like road-meat." She'd murmur, sprinkling some pepper onto it before taking a bite and leaning her head back in pleasure at the flavor.

Without any words, she then nibbles at the egg before taking a sip of her sarsparilla. The way she ate wasn't uncivilized and she didn't make a mess but it was certainly not lady like, not at all befitting of a cat with her appearance.

"So good." She purrs, picking at each part of the meal with enthusiasm, seeming to have not realized the reason for the dirty looks she'd gotten when she'd tasted Holly's drink, suggesting that it was fairly normal in her culture to share food.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

Holly eats her burrito delicately, her head on a swivel now that she's realized Trin's absence. She quirks a brow but for the moment seems more than content to sip on her lemonade and eat her food. When Stalker proceeds to embarass Hunter, she tenses a bit but is unsure on how to react.

Without a word, she leaves the table, catching up with the waiter who had gone to fetch the other maids for Stalker.

"Hey, yeah, excuse me." She'd mew as politely as she could. When the maid looks at her, she gives her most charming smile.

"It is actually his birthday, but he's really shy and doesn't like drawing a crowd or getting attention for it. His sister was trying to play a prank but we've recently been through a very traumatic experience and I think he'd be very happy if you didn't help him celebrate, please?" She adds the last word on a bit more desperately than she intended but waits for a response.
_________________________________________________________________________________

Filament lifts his head up and takes a sip of the float, the beginnings of a smile on his lips as he takes another sip. "It's really good, Pim." He mews, trying really hard to smile for her.

"Do you want to try a sip?" He'd ask, pushing the somewhat over sized straw toward her.
________________________________________________________________________________

Hal cranes his head a bit and looks at the back of her helmet. "Mia'moray?" He'd ask meakly, eyes moving towards the spaceport.

"Spaceport?" The tom groans before lowering his head.
 
When Purple doesn't respond, staring despondently at her aunt's body, Thrush leaves her to mourn. She joins Jass and Ruma. "Hey kittos, how are you guys doing? You didn't get hurt in the blast, did you?" She looks each of them over, checking for injuries. No blood on their fur, eyes look normal so no concussions. They no doubt have mental trauma from this, having lost their sister.


"Care to explain that again for a simpleton like me?" Thistle grumbles. Absolutely nothing in that metaphor made sense to him and explained exactly nothing of the question he asked. "And while we're at it can you tell me who and what you are? You show up to this group unannounced around the time that Trin's sword disappears. Which still hasn't been located, by the way."


Nyx leans in and sniffs her coffee when it arrives, savoring the aroma with a pleased sigh. She takes a sip and grabs a scone, dipping it in her beverage before eating it.
 
Hunter felt a pang of guilt for bring up a bad memory and nodded respectfully to her quick explanation.

”Glad it didn’t take too big a chunk,” Hunter added to try and bring some levity. Penny and Anya made noises through their food filled mouths to show their agreement with the sentiment.

Lexi shrugged when Lizeth began to dig into her food. If she wasn’t bothered by it, then there was nobother. All three of them took note of and a bit of vicarious joy seeing Lizeth enjoy her food. With all of them remember their first times eating “civilized“ food. Knowing grins growing on their faces. Hunter’s eyes caught Holly standing up and out of curiosity he watched to see what she was doing. Stalker did as well.

_________


Jezebel looked at Thistle and gave him an intrigued, but light smile. Her lips just barely curling, with her eyes doing the brunt of the work to express the emote.

”Do you not already know?“ She asked him coyly.

”You may call me Jezebel. I am in most tongues referred to as an angel. The closest approximation you may understand me as is a higher dimensional being. I exist above you, as you inhabit the third dimension. Because of this, I perceive that which you cannot. There is only so far I can go using your language... If your reality is a complex maze, I am a bird that can soar over it and see every twist and turn. I can look down and see more from my vantage point than you can from yours. And communicating what I see down to you in perfect detail is impossible since you’ve only ever existed in the maze. You don’t even know you’re in a maze because there has never not been a maze. Just as a denizen of the 2nd dimension would not know what a circle is, because everything would appear like a line.” Jezebel meowed, scratching her chin with a single extended claw.

”Vasteye, in the moment you kissed me what did I feel like to you?” Jezebel queired the tom.

”Umm… Massive. Gargantuan. Like a- like a planet wrapping around me.” The silver tabby answered after a shiver and a brief hesitation. His tone simultaneously awe-struck and petrified.

”Yes and I sincerely apologize. Now if I were to draw on a piece of paper what would take up more space. Thistle, or the drawing on the piece of paper?” The eldritch horror asked, gesturing to the tom in question.

”Thistle?” Vasteye answered awkwardly. Not sure if it was a trick question or not.

”But what if I drew a really good drawing, I mean an absolute masterpiece! Truly a priceless piece of work the likes of which would make any sighted animal weep of beauty? A drawing that would touch the hearts of all who saw it with its undeniable inalienable majesty...-“ As Jezebel spoke, in an acted but still more passionate tone than she’d ever used before, she leaned further and further over the table towards Vasteye with the same muted smile she gave Thistle. “-*What then? Which would take up more space, Thistle. Or the artwork?” Jezebel whispered loudly in an excited, bated breath. Vasteye looked at her he was on the verge of recoiling away from a fangless snake. He was giving her a very confused look.

”What’s going on here?” Vasteye asked nervously. Jezebel shook her head, maintaining the same expression.

”Don’t worry Vasteye, I’m not flirting with just you.” The dark sheline answered in a coy yet also reassuring tone as she leaned back.

”The point is that Thistle will always take up more space, more mass, than the beautiful artwork. He will always be bigger, by the very nature of what a drawing is. For the same reason that I will always be bigger than you all. It is why I *feel* big when you are near me. You are the artwork and I am an observer of said work.” Jezebel purred, looking around the table with a delighted smile.

_____


PIM looked at Filament and softly smiled back at him, seeing that he was trying to show positivity. There was a knowing glint behind her smile while she nodded and dipped her head to sip the drink.

”That *is* really good, wow. Fye has some great taste receptors.” PIM replied after flinching at just how much she liked and could taste the drink.


________

The maid glanced over their shoulder and stopped, turning to face Holly. They listened to her, nodded with an understanding grin, and stole a glance over her shoulder at Hunter and Stalker

”I completely understand. That’s not very nice of his *sister.*.-“ The maid said, frowning in the direction of the aforementioned cream sheline, “-Thank you for the warning. You’re a good friend Holly.” The maid meowed, giving her an open mouth smile.



______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Deciet watched the news as a Luther talked, taking ample glances his way to show she was listening and he had her attention. Even turning her head completely towards him a couple of times.

”I appreciate that. If you fully trusted me I wouldn’t trust *you.* I’d think you were stupid.” Deciet laughed, with her eyes still on the news. Her pupils zig-zagged back and forth, showing she was reading the crawl as well.

“Devanni civil war. Leckticuciites and 3000 others discuss leaving god-ring. Volticians use chaos to increase oppression within their borders. Mia’moray being deported for fear of demon retaliation. Heh... A little havoc and everything starts breaking. In school we were always taught that in order to deceive someone you didn’t need to actually get them to think the wrong thing. You didn’t need to make them say the sky was green. You just needed to make them question if the sky was blue... We didn’t need to make them think God-ring was collapsing. Just needed to make them question if God-ring wouldn’t collapse. They’re doing all the rest…“ Deciet lamented, finishing her cigarette and stowing the butt in one of her pockets.

”I need a shower.” Deciet mumbled to herself absently. Looking herself over with a grimace.



___________________________________________________________________________________________________

The purpled suited animal laughed out loud,

”I’m not giving you a kiss or raising my tail. No Mia’Moray here.” They said humorously. They weren’t super close to the spaceport yet but you could already see the massive crowd surround the area in the distance. But Hal’s carrier was walking in a direction that would make them skirt the crowd.

”Not the spaceport. There’s a racing ship garage and I know the passcode. How‘s your bleeding?” They asked, as they picked up the pace into a speed walk.
 
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Lizeth laughs when Hunter makes his comment and finishes her mouthful before speaking up. "Yeah, me too. Ford said I'd probably be dead if that vagrant had taken anymore." She'd smirk, readjusting her shawl. "Glad for all this thick fur, speaking of, it's warm in here, it's nice." She'd comment, taking a large sip of her sarsparilla.

With a sigh and a plate easily 1/3rd demolished, she'd notice the three of them all staring at her. She pauses, flinching a bit. "I got something on my face?" She'd ask before licking a paw and drawing it several times over her muzzle.

Wordlessly, she'd lift her bag up to the table and set it beside her plate, rifling through it for a second. "What do you think this meal would cost? I'd wager some... uhhhh-" She continues digging through the bag before depositing a small canvas bag on the table from within her side-bag. It jingles with the sound of brass, tin and aluminum. Letting out a small, continous uhhhhh, noise, she continues to rifle through it. Retrieving a couple random bullets of different calibers and some pins made from bottle caps, safety pins and adhesives. "I think this will cover it, yeah?" She mrrows, looking at the table contemplatively.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Filament smiles weakly at her as she takes a sip, clearly enjoying it too. The storm in his mind quiets for a moment and he relaxes, the intensity of his leaning against her disappating slightly as he sits more upright, unsupported. He sets his paw on her own, breathing out slightly and resting his head more intimately on her shoulders, as she's now much taller than him.

"I'm glad you're here, Pim." He'd mutter softly, before sitting up completely, watching the conversation between Thistle and Jezebel with great intrigue. He has no perception of religion so this conversation isn't making much sense to him but he is thoroughly fascinated by it.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Thank you, I'm sorry to involve you, it's been a rough couple of days." She utters, meeting the maid's smile with her own pearly whites.
Holly makes her way back to the table, catching the end of Thistle's words as he speaks to Jezebel. She listens intently before chiming in once Jezebel is done, she takes a sip of her lemonade, meeting his gaze as she finishes and opens her mouth to speak. "Mother has Trin's sword, last I saw." She corrects gently, her gaze soft as it meets his own. "I don't believe Jezebel ever had it." She avoids looking at Stalker but her gaze does occasionally drift to Hunter's, trying to communicate what had happened with her eyes.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"I'm a lot of things." Luther comments as Deceit speaks, looking around the room. When she talks about the actual topic of a well planted seed of doubt, his eyes lighten a bit and he looks at her. "Yep, and that's the biggest problem of a free society." He'd mutter, his eyes trailing over her as she speaks again.

"Shit, me too." He mutters, blood still matting his pelt. "For what it's worth, I regret having to take the lives of the demons that rushed the apartment. If I'd had more mobility in the matter, they'd have been taken alive." He adds, his gaze a bit faraway. It wasn't the first time he'd taken lives and it's clear that it has a below average effect on him. But since she's been up-front with him up to this point, he's willing to offer his sympathies to her dead comrades.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The sick and bleeding Hal actually manages a wheezing snicker at that. "I'd hope not." He mewls, falling into a coughing fit that continues for at least a minute before he manages to compose himself. "Bleedings minimal, dad packs a wallop." The tom manages to utter out, not seeming to catch the part about the space port.

"You move fast."
 
“We have things to do.” The enigmatic animal said as they approached a fancy building with architecture reminiscent of a music hall. Near the spaceport but not connected to it or any of its surrounding grounds. They walked through a door and quickly padded down an unremarkable hallway.

”Which one is it again…”Hal’s noble stead muttered through their voice changer. Looking at the gray doors as they passed them. The doors were of various sizes and it took a bit of wandering before Hal’s carrier stopped in front of a cat sized door. Rather than open the door normally, the purple suited felid stuck a metal claw into one of the slots on the handle and shook it violently until the door opened.

”Voila.” They said to themselves as they walked in and pulled the door closed with a rear-leg. Paws met epoxy covered wood as they moved further into the room. To the right of them was a large green and yellow race ship. The purple suit didn’t show any sign that they were impressed by the speed machine and instead took Hal over to the loft that was to the left of the door. Depositing him on a couch. With their rider no longer on their back, they walked over to the tv, switch it on, and then sat down heavily next to Hal.

”…seen traveling with. Lulalissa, the Mia’moray, is an official god-ring representative. And this tom right here. Hal, though some reports say his full name is Hal Zenith or Hal Sho-Vahn, can be see here but also here at a Mia’Moray award ceremony on the Capitol ship of Air Foil. He was accepting a medal for valor when he was apprehended by a Lexi Vettor. A well accoladed god-ring huntress. Hal’s current whereabouts are unknown, he was last seen leaving the apartment just a little bit before the explosion went off. He is presumed missing. More and more images from online social forums keep coming in showing these animals in the background of photos. Revealing more and more of the bigger narrative unfolding. Hal Sho-vahn, Lulalissa, and Lexi Vettor along with Trinity have been present all over the multiverse in just the last year alone. From nightclubs to military bas…”

”Blood suckers. All of them. Never help anything, just want a story.” The purple suited animal beside Hal growled viciously at the screen. They pointed a paw at the cabinets in the small kitchenette and a moment later a medkit came zooming out. The kit flew into their paw and not a moment later they tossed the kit onto Hal.

”Fix yourself.” They said absently but also with the aura of an order. Their attention still focused on the tv as the news anchors and experts they had with them continued showing photos of the group’s exploits from the past nearly two years. One photo was even from Earth.



_______________________________________________________________________


Rum and Jass looked up at Thrush and nodded slowly. Jass was half leaning half laying between her sister’s forelegs. While Rum was in a sitting position, lightly hugging her.

”We’re okay. No scratches on me or Jass.“ Rum answered.

”A little scared though.” Jass croaked out. Receiving an ear lick from Rum in response.

”Thanks Thrush.” Rum meowed appreciative of her worry. Jass nodded.

”Yeah thanks Thrush.” The other ashlander youngling echoed.

”Bailey’s asleep. He seemed okay… I don’t know’about Streak.” Rum meowed, pointing with her eyes to the brown tom slumbering and then to the split furred tom.

”It was really loud...” Jass commented. Her sister nodding down at her.

in the background Purple started to softly cry. A small choking sound escaping her muzzle as she sat next to Crimson. Rum and Jass’ eyes looking over at her from the position on the opposite wall of the bay. A quick scan of the medical staff in the room showed they weren’t really equipped to deal with or console distraught children. Which made sense. They were military staff. Very few god-ring species even allowed children to serve and even fewer still allowed children to serve in combat roles. Bedside manner wasn’t really a part of their job description. It was actually the lifeliners, not the staff, that were eyeing the kittens from their huddle at the back of the room. They were doing some kind of debrief and you could practically see the proverbial red tape tying them down from hugging the kits right now. They probably had to finish some kind of after action report before, given the way they wKyle say something to each other about what just happened and then type something onto their pads. Sneaking in a glance or two towards the kits.
 
Hal actually snickers when the newscaster refers to him as Hal-Zenith. "Never thought my radio name would be mistaken for my sur-name." He mutters, before being quickly interrupted by the other animal growling visciously. As inclined as he was to agree, he wasn't in a position to judge them. Not really. Before the idea of a place like Starworld existing was even in his mind he'd been buying into and spitting back many theories that although very entertaining, most would consider completely unrealistic.

When the medkit lands on him he nods his head, struggling for a moment to get his plate carrier off. It falls to the floor with a soft clatter and he leans back against the back of the chair, examining the wound on his chest. The claw marks easily tore through his vest, his fur and his flesh and he's left slightly a-gasp before he reaches for a tube of disinfectant. Using his organic forepaw, he begins to smear it into the wound, grimacing but not crying out. After he's satisfied, he tediously wraps his chest by weaving the gauze bandages around his body starting at his neck.

Wordlessly, he looks to the tiny mirror in the first-aid kit, letting out a concerned grunt at the sight of the scarred flesh around his no longer functioning bionic eye. It continues to bleed and the area around the claw marks is red and inflamed. He bites the armrest and applies disinfectant to the area, letting out a muffled scream of pain and anger as he does so.

For a moment he braces himself, waiting for the pain to stop. Without much grace he makes a makeshift eye-patch for the area with a gauze pad and adhesive bandage, letting out a small noise of discomfort as he does.

Once he's done, he snaps the lid shut and reclines back into the couch, somehow more tired than he was before.

"You gonna tell me who you are?" The tom sighs out, splaying out on the couch. "I didn't know anyone who could use telekinesis.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Streak turns his attention to Thrush when she comes over to check on himself and the other kittens. When she asks how they're doing he shrugs and points his gaze at the floor. His ears stay on a swivel and his expression darkens when Rum mentions him, his muzzle turning into a scowl. "You don't have to talk about me when I'm right here. I don't even want to be here. I want to go back to the ship!" He growls, his face turning to glare at her and by extension Thrush and the rest of the clowder.
 
"Thank the gods..." Thrush sighs before wrapping her arms around the ashland kittens and giving them a big, long hug. "Explosions are incredibly loud, I'm glad you guys still have your hearing." She doesn't let the sisters go, just squeezes them a bit tighter. "It's perfectly normal to be scared. What you experienced was scary. You kittens are so strong and so brave." Thrush lets out a long, strained sigh, her whole body seemingly deflating with it. Above the kitten's heads comes a sniffle. "You don't deserve this, Little Runners." The ruddy-furred sheline rests her cheek atop Ruma's head and she shuts her eyes to prevent tears from escaping. "You should be with your moms. Learning and hunting and playing and being happy. Little ones like you shouldn't have to grow up like this."


Lethe watches as Thrush, who is still practically a kitten herself, tends to the other youngsters. He wonders silently how he can help the distraught kits who want to be anywhere but on this hospital ship. "I'm sure most of us share your feelings, Streak, but we're kind of stuck here right now." meows the brown tom, "We need to wait until our friends are healed. Is there anything that would make you feel better in the meantime?" He knows that Streak lashed out last time he tried to help but he has to do something.



"Why are you here, then?" Thistle states more than asks. "If you're bigger than us, why are you following us around. Don't you have better things to do?" The tom looks over at Holly, nodding and pointing at her when she tells them of Trin's sword. "Her! This "Mother" character! She's like you, isn't she? When I first met her, she claimed to have carried my soul before I was born, she also talks in riddles and coincidentally disappears whenever you show up."


One black ear swivels to face Holly when she pipes up. "How is that going, by the way?" Nyx asks casually, looking at Jezebel from over the brim of her coffee mug as she takes a sip. "If you ever want to get on Trin's good side again, I suggest you stop with these "visits" and work on recovering that sword." The demoness remembers that interaction quite well. It was her first huge shock when she first joined this ragtag bunch of heroes, finding out that their leader was in possession of a blessed sword. It was also the first time she really saw Trin break from his stoic warrior facade. He really ripped into Jezebel. Nyx doesn't blame him at all, though. The white tomcat had said he gave the sword to Jezebel for the sole purpose of safeguarding it and a creature like herself couldn't even do that. Then she had the audacity to offer to help the group fix her own mistake.
 
Jezebel looked down at the table in thought for a long moment before smirking.

”I can assure you at the current moment Trin would prefer his sword remain unrecovered.” She meowed, facing Nyx half way through to give her an affirming nod.

“Mother is like me but we differ in an important way. An issue of policy or morality you could say…... There is no hierarchy to my tasks. There is nothing ‘better’ I could be doing nor is there anything ‘worse.’ I am just doing. To say otherwise would imply I, and things I have to do, are better than you all and your goals solely because of what I am. This is firmly untrue.“ Jezebel said in her characteristic way of speaking.

_________

Stalker pouted as Holly was walking back to the table. The cream sheline growing a forlorn expression and slumping her head on to the wood.

”What’s wrong?” Hunter asked her.

”Nothing.” The she-cat replied awfully. Her brother continued to look at her with concern for another few seconds before turning his attention back to the table. He catches Holly’s look and gives her a long blink of appreciation.

PIM waved her paw at Lizeth. Both to get her attention and in a “no-no” sort of way.

”Don’t worry. Trin is paying. Your currency wouldn’t work here anyway. Oh and word to the wise, ammunition is not allowed on Funworld grounds so put that up quickly.” PIM informed Lizeth, gesturing to the bullets.

Lexi blew air from her nose in humor at Lizeth’s actions. A moment later she jolted because a bronze paw tapped her on the shoulder. The huntress whipped her head around to look at the perpetrator. A gold colored lanyard hung from their feline neck that read “Haven” in a distinct font. A full look at the shoulder tapper revealed they were just a cat. No extra parts or unique features. She was however, literally metallic bronze in color. To the point where her standing there motionlessly evoked the image of an ancient monument. It was then, after taking her all in, that Lexi realized there was a trend with all the Haven agents they’d come across. None of them slouched. They all stood and walked in this way that was upright and confident but not regal. The best word would be suave. They were all devilishly suave, irregardless of the setting. No doubt trained to be that way; Suave and silent.

”My apologies for startling you... Mrs. Vettor, we believe you left your bag at the Symphony.” The bronze cat meowed and smiled as they shifted to the right to reveal a green bag hanging from their side. Gently they shrugged it off and stepped out of the strap.

“We took the liberty of dry-cleaning it and of course we ensured it carries no remnant of the virus at the Symphony. Along with the leotard inside.“ The agent practically purred, using a single claw to snag the pull and unzip the bag. She gestured to the golden garment within before once again zipping it back up. Lexi‘s mouth wasn’t open but her eyes were certainly shocked.

”Thanks. I assumed I’d—I didn’t think I would get... Thanks… But I’m not a Mrs.“ The huntress sputtered, grabbing the bag and pulling it against herself. As she jumbled her words, she managed to catch how the agent had referred to her. The bronze sheline responded by scanning over the animals seated at the table at a purposeful pace, not too slow and not too fast. Certainly taking note of each face that was there.

”Correct you are Ms. Vettor. My mistake. Please enjoy your stay here at Funworld. If you need anything at all, let us know.“ The agent spoke to Lexi in a casual but still professional tone. She did an about face and began to walk away, garnering stares from other animals in the room as she did so. Stares of awe that transferred from the bronze sheline to the group at the table she was walking away from.

”So are they like everywhere?” Penny asked PIM. Referring to the Haven agents.

”Most entertainment venues and major population centers yes.“ The AI answered.

Hunter stared after the haven agent, curious where they were headed. It looked like they were going straight out of the cafe. He figured that meant there wasn’t a haven agent facility in this building and that the living statue had come here specifically for Lexi. With that information gleamed he dug back into his miniature feast. Anya and Penny were already almost finished with their food, while Vasteye and Lexi were only halfway through. Stalker seemed to have lost interest in her own food however, still resting her head on the table.


___________________________________________________________________________


“Don’t sweat it, wasn’t my unit.“ Deciet replied nonchalantly.

”Speaking of, you know my species sweats?-“ The demoness reached a paw into the collar of her uniform and pulled out a hidden zipper pull, “-It’s one of the reasons they like pulling spies from my planet. No matter how stressed we get, we never have to pant. But we look like we should. So animals tend to just assume we don’t sweat. They think-“ she spoke as she unzipped her uniform, switching from using a forepaw to a rear paw as it came down, “-furry cat, full pelt, obviously she’s gotta pant. And if she’s not panting, she must not be stressed.” Deciet finished and shook her uniform off. Beginning the process of carefully folding it.

”…many already recognized this animal here. Speed, hasn’t raced in years but is still the winner of over six straight Grand Prix and consistently places on the podium every time she gets behind the controls. There she is with her trophy in her uniform, the little fluffball. And guess who was her team cheerleader? That’s right, you can see him on screen now in green and yellow, Trinity himself! I guess he gave up leading in order to pursue his true dream of shaking Pom-Poms. Folks we’ll be right back after these commercials. Don’t go anywhere, I’m Vix Fox and you’re tuned in to Journ Theory with Vix Fox I’ll see you in ten, and we’ll get back in to seeing what else these cats have been up to. I’m Vix Fox, this is Journ Theory, and you‘ve been infected. We’llbebackafterthesemessages, the next story will…”

”No scent either. Completely undetectable. For all intents and purposes, I appear like someone who pants. But in reality. It’s really hard to make me do so.” Deciet meowed, having finished her folding and turning back to face Luther.

________________


Rum leaned into the hug Thrush gave her and didn’t move away when she put her cheek on her head. She just looked into the middle distance with heavy eyes. With her ears pushed down, Rum looked at Streak with a mostly tired but a little sympathetic expression.

”Sorry Streak.” Was all that came out of her. It didn’t come out sounding very genuine but that was the best he‘d get from her at the moment.

One of the lifeliners padded up a couple paces behind Lethe and nodded at Streak. Encouraging him to answer the tom’s question.

Malevo went over to console Purple. While the vanta-black one walked up to Nastiel.

_____

”Debrief and review of your actions and the actions of your team during the symphony came in.” The pitch black animal said, sitting down in front of the tom. Nastiel raised his head up from his gurney and gave a bittersweet smirk.

”The review always comes huh?” He said with forced humor.

”Always. Want the highlights?” The lifeliner replied in an understanding and knowing tone. To which Nastiel gestured an affirmative. With that the vantablack animal put his pad down in front of the yellow eyed tom.

”Under your watch one of your team members, Hal, loaded his service weapon with lethal ammunition without authority to do so. Immediate demerit. Next, while under your command your team did not properly approach the situation involving a rogue animal‘s appearance in a vehicle. The vehicle endangered the civilians in the parade route to the Symphony. A verbal self-reflection check is required.” The lifeliner spoke, while Nastiel read through the review on the pad.

”Team members under my command yowled and screamed instructions at the equine. Some of the instructions were contradictory and the yelling was both needlessly intimidating and would have contributed to the suspect’s confusion.” Nastiel answered, his tone showing he’d already thought about this exact thing.

”Yeah, that’s what the reviewers thought too. There’s some important context though. Footage, audio, and vest tag ID confirms that Hal was one of the animals yelling aggressively. While aiming a weapon with lethal ammunition. You get what they’re getting at?” The lifeliner asked, cocking his head.

“S**t... I didn’t know. S**t. Yeah I messed up. That could have gone really bad. If Aca–the equine. If the equine had followed the wrong orders she could have been lethally shot by one of my team members... immediate demerit.” Nastiel respond aghast. Bitting his lip out of guilt as he looked at the video of the incident on the pad.

”Next. While under your command members of your team successfully deescalated a situation involving citizens of the Prefunctorian civilization. Encorcer Pest attempted to quell the hostility with an offer of honorable combat. His attempt failed and was taken as intimidation. Better situational and cultural awareness is recommended on his part but no remediation is required. Enforcer Triss established congenial communication and gathered necessary information. And enforcer Nyx showed exemplary decorum in placing herself between the animals. Acknowledging, then utilizing handler information. And maintaining civility in her engagement with god-ring citizenry. Enforcer Pest also deserves recognition for utilizing logical argument and communicating with a citizen from a level of equality rather than that of an authority, helping deescalate. Enforcer Nyx ensured that both parties left the situation as positively as she could influence it within her power. Immediate commendation. The actions of all three enforcers were without major error and is deemed to have strengthened the citizenry’s trust with their enforcers. And all while not yet on duty.” The lifeliner explained, glancing over at the orange tom a couple times.

“Lastly enforcer Filament and PIM successfully aided fellow enforcers in thwarting a cubophile and protecting an adolescent. While the unorthodox method of utilizing a kit’s advice is not recommended in the future, no remediation is advised whatsoever. The Vetus Sapiens are grateful for their efforts.” The lifeliner finished, stifling a yawn.



____________________________________________________________________________


”Adrianna.” The helmeted animal with Hal answered sarcastically in the form of a sour joke. You could even hear their dry chuff at their joke through the voice modifier. And even though you couldn’t see their face, their head moved subtly like they were rolling their eyes. Whoever they were, they knew of Adrianna and they knew that what they’d said was a crude jab and insensitive to Hal.


”…This just in. God-ring troops have officially began engaging demon forces in three separate universes. We go to our frontline reporters right now…viewers at home, you can see it is absolute hell right now. It’s louder than you can even imagine. The unit I’m with is tasked with clearing out demons that have dug in to their position. The navy has already just absolutely blasted the demonic vessels in orbit, if we point the camera up you can see the distinct residue of a ship’s core explosion as the debris falls to the surface. I mean, it’s just devastating really. Hu-oh-oh okay they’re telling us to get down now…”
 
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Streak looks over at Lethe indignantly for a moment but only for a short time before his expression changes from obstinance to teary-eyed fear and confusion. He sniffles and looks at the ground again, his pelt still coated with blood from when he'd fallen down the stairs. "I yelled at you." He squeaks out from gritted teeth as he actively tries to stop himself from crying. "I want a hug. I want Aunty Jezebel." The tom-kit mewls, beginning to cry in earnest as he looks at the ground. "My dad left me again. I don't know where mom is either." He wails.
"Mom!"
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Seeing that she's no longer needed, Holly takes a really long sip off of her lemonade and stands, leaving the table again and making way for the door; her food mostly untouched as she follows the haven agent. "Excuse me, Ms." Holly would mew as she caught up to the other she-cat, keeping pace beside her. "I'm Holly, I believe that shortly before the symphony, I was added to the list of cats under Trinity's membership." She'd mew, falling into a steady step with her new limb. "I was hoping you may be able to take me to him, myself and him have things to talk about." The last part, she'd on in a bit of a hushed tone.
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Lizeth's features morph into an expression that could only ever be read as an 'oh shit' look and quickly shuffles them back into her bag, looking extremely embarassed. "If they're not taking brass, than what kind of currency is used here?" The she-cat would ask, stowing her bag beside her and awkwardly adjusting her bag at her side. "I didn't mean to mess up, I'm sorry." She'd bow her head in shame, body tensed like she was expecting more scolding to follow. "Please don't be upset, I meant no offense." She adds quickly, keeping her head down and her eyes on her forepaws. Her tail twitches anxiously beside her.
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Luther's eyes narrow as Deceit begins to speak while she undresses, shifting a bit awkwardly under his body armor and business casual outfit. "I'm familiar with your species." The tom would add after she asked if he was aware that they sweat, quite an unusual trait for a quadrupedal mammalian type species. As she switches to her hindleg to finish removing her uniform his breath hitches just slightly enough that it's almost imperceptable. Flexible, huh? The tom thinks to himself, allowing his eyes to take in every detail of her pelt while she folds her uniform. When she speaks up again, he flashes her a bit of a grin but there are certain emotions in his eyes that betray his intent.

"That so?" The tom would almost coo closing the distance between them and stopping with less than a muzzle length between them. "You got one of those Demon plastic explosive incisors, I should be worried about?" His voice still held the commanding but not arrogant tone that was quickly becoming the norm. "Once we're off this clunker, I'd be very intrigued to see if I'm able." The tom would purr, his gaze intense.
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Hal let's out a bitter laugh at the other animals sardonic comment about his dead love interest. "Hilarious." He rasps, his eyes closed as he leans back against the couch. "If you won't tell me who you are, then let me know if we're getting out of here, soon. I'm sick of this god's damn place." The tom would hiss, before taking in a shuddery breath and lowering his gaze to his discarded plate carrier. He's too tired to put it on right now, but he makes a mental note to do it before they leave.

"Before you say anything, I'm aware I'm more than aware that I'm at your mercy here, if you won't tell me who you are, care to explain what you want with me?" The bi-color tom would ask before sneezing, beadlets of blood spattering on the cushion.
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