mundane tasks in a not-mundane place

[mephistofeels]

Characters: AU Kyuubey, open to all.
Setting: Floor 11
Format: Starting with action brackets, but I'll match you.
Summary: Between the wear and tear of life in the Tower and a run-in with SAW!Rose a while back, Kyuu's got some laundry to do. Literally.
Warnings: Possible death because, well, incubator.



[Humans find stained clothing distressing. The best way to deal with them is to wash them out. As clothes-washing machines cannot be found, more primitive means must be used.

...is about how Kyuu's thought process went when ze decided to do some laundry. The jumpsuit provided by the administrators, specifically, was an absolute mess. Therefore, it required cleaning in order to be serviceable again. Throwing it away was out of the question; waste not want not after all, and it would be good for wearing again once it was cleaned.

(Yeah, ze's been wearing the friggin' jumpsuit most of the time - when in humanoid form, that is. No, Kyuu doesn't have a sense of fashion, why do you ask.)

At any rate, Kyuu is now on the eleventh floor, washing zir jumpsuit in the lake. Thankfully, there were spare clothes in zir trunk, so ze is wearing this for a change.

And yes, ze is humanoid right now.

Break zir/your brain?]

Comments

[terreifying]

Heeeey, what'cha doin'?

[Rei leans over to get a better look at the boy (?).]

Ooh, are you washing your clothes?

[mephistofeels]

[Kyuubey's gender and physical equipment are in serious question, Rei. It means nothing to zir - and you're kinda odd! Oh well.]

Yes. It got dirty, so it's getting washed.

[That is how it works, right?]

[terreifying]

I'm gonna have to remember this later. My clothes are kinda getting dirty too.

[mephistofeels]

That is what happens, given enough time and wear.

[terreifying]

Too bad the tower has no washing machines. But it would be fun, you know, to go swimming even as you're washing your clothes.

[mephistofeels]

That hadn't occurred to me. Hm.

[Better question: can the adorable abomination even swim? -- probably.]

[terreifying]

[If Rei can swim, Kyuubey can swim.]

Try it! It'll be more fun than just laundry.

[mephistofeels]

I don't feel like it though. Besides, these clothes are clean, so there's no reason to wash them.

[terreifying]

[She shrugs, takes a step back, and jumps into the water, making a big wave that could splash him if he doesn't duck.]

[prayed]

[It's nice to get fresh air every once in awhile, even in this stuffy tower. At least, that's what she thinks when she chooses to come to this floor, which is about as close as one gets to the outdoors.

The sight of another person catches her eye though and she finds herself stopping where she is, just a few feet away from them. One hand is stuffed in her pocket, the other holding a muffing. Ze looks oddly familiar, though she's certain she's never seen a person like this before. The confusion only lasts for a second before she closes the gap, eyeballing the suit in her hand.]

I didn't think anybody would actually hang onto that raggedy thing.

[It's not really a compliment, but not really an insult either, just a statement.]

[mephistofeels]

[And with the sound of that voice, Kyuu nearly drops the jumpsuit in the water. After a moment's flailing, ze manages to keep from dropping it. Hooray coordination! That being said...that statement probably requires an answer.

The desire to hide zir identity - the fear of...whatever, is strong right now. It's completely irrational, though; death is even more impermanent here than it was back home.]

It's still usable, so I'm keeping it.

[Sound familiar, Kyoko?]

[prayed]

[Oh, that voice is definitely familiar, though she's having a hard time placing it now--or rather, she's dismissing the first thing that comes to mind. After all, who would associate the furry little life-ruining monster with this kid? This person's definitely familiar though, enough that it's annoying. She moves closer, glaring a bit as she looks Kyuu over.]

Oi, don't I know you from somewhere?

[mephistofeels]

Yes, but not in this form. [There's a brief pause as ze considers the implications of this.] It seems the wish that enabled me to do this wasn't made on your world.

[Ze looks over zir shoulder at Kyoko after saying this, head tilted slightly.]

[prayed]

[She's not able to hide her shock for a moment for a moment. It's pointless to remain outright aggressive towards Kyuubey when tolerating zir would lead to more gain, but she's never seen zir as being anything close to 'human.' It's confusing and vaguely irritating to see her as such and to know it's only this way because of someone's wish.]

Wait, you're not saying you're that thing, are ya?

[mephistofeels]

I am - the one you met in the cafeteria, yes.

[There's two Kyuus, kiddo. Fear for your life. Or something.]

[prayed]

[That irritates her, to think that there were at least two people who threw their life away for a thing like this. She hates, too, how the way those wishes are forcing her to view Kyuubey as human.]

Just how many girls were stupid enough to wasted their one shot at a miracle on ya?

[mephistofeels]

Just the two, and admittedly one of them was very angry at me. Considering how I was, how I still am in your timeline, I really don't blame her. The other...the other I tried and failed to talk down. It happened more often than I'd like.

[Sayaka is one in a long string of zir failures, the latest notch on the string - but no less significant for that.]

[rewindingly]

[ Homura had gone a suspiciously long time without seeing that little alien. She was beginning to wonder if maybe Kyuubey was gone. It would be a relief, honestly. She had enough to worry about without that cruel creature around. The problem was not that Kyuubey made the other girls uncomfortable... it was Homura who was uncomfortable with the idea.

So, with this hope in her heart, she does not expect this person to be Kyuubey. But hope is a cruel thing. Something that likes to betray you. For now, at least, she does not recognize Kyuubey. ]

... Do you need help?

[mephistofeels]

[This day is getting better and better - Kyuu nearly drops the jumpsuit again. Bah. Oh well, there don't seem to be washing machines, so ze'll just have to get used to it.]

...No thank you.

[Right, come on, we need to get going on this. Speak up now or get called out later.]

I remember what you asked of me when I arrived - "don't show yourself before us."

[After a brief pause, ze turns slightly in order to look at Homura. It's funny how not-smiley this incubator is in this form, huh?]

Just let me finish my laundry first, okay?

[rewindingly]

[ It does not even take her a full second. Recognition kicks in when it speaks. Her transformation is evoked and Homura has a Beretta 92FS pointed between its eyebrows. ]

Incubator? [ But this feels wrong. As quickly as she lifted the gun to point at Kyuubey, she has to lower it. That human form, those human eyes... her stomach churns. Homura can't shoot that. But she must, if this is a threat. She regains her resolve to lift the gun again. ] What kind of tricks are you playing now? I won't have any of it.

[ Poor Kyuubey. ]

[mephistofeels]

[There's that 'annoyance' feeling... Ze tries to keep it under control, but there's a faint furrowing of brows and narrowing of eyes as ze looks at the gun and at Homura.]

I am not playing tricks. I am trying to wash this jumpsuit.

[rewindingly]

[ She swallows her hesitance. Why is she pointing her gun at this Kyuubey? He cannot contract with Madoka-- that is already done. Nothing can change it.

She realizes rather quickly that it isn't because she is worried about the effect Kyuubey has on the other megucas... it's herself. This new Kyuubey makes her uneasy. This human form makes her feel sick. Has Kyuubey been able to turn into this the whole time? Has she been killing a human? No... That thing is not human. She doesn't feel bad for shooting it. ]

Then do that. [ The gun lowers only slightly, ready to pull up for a shot at a moment's notice. ] I won't get in your way.

[mephistofeels]

[That's new. Sorting through the memories from the other unit...ah. Ze nods after considering it.]

If it helps, you could think of me as the damaged incubator, while yours is the undamaged incubator. It's the truth, after all.

[rewindingly]

[ Sorry, still pointing a gun at your head.

But she clicks the safety on. ]

Elaborate.

[mephistofeels]

Two wishes were made in my world that weren't made in yours: one, to enable me to take this form, and two to...force emotions on me.

The emotions came first, for the record. So you see, I really am damaged by incubator standards. [Ze manages to crack a not-exactly-happy smile.] Considering how we are though, you probably already know about incubator standards, huh?