Scene #8491:

Owner	Pose
Persephone Kore	BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLJAgUEWobg It can't be evening in space, not really. Especially not this far out, where the Sun is barely bigger than any other star, tamed so much by distance it doesn't sting to look at. But it is evening here. The lights are dimmed a little, the people are quieter. And we know who the real Sun is here, don't we? Ahahaha. The Artificial Warpgate puts Kukuru in a dark gray cargo bay, with its mouth to space through a shimmering force-field. It's a liminal zone, still sensibly space station-y, the only part that isn't rich delicious-apple red and sculpted like the banks of a river. But that can be seen at the far end, past the cargo. And so can they! Identical triplet girls with pale complexions and long dark hair play something like 'tag' on the high-stacked containers, skipping and jumping in lower gravity. When the Warpgate pops, they turn their heads and cascade down, immediately crowding around Kukuru with expressions of wonder. They're twelve or thirteen, maybe, and heartrendingly doe-eyed. "What's your name?" "Are you here to visit Dr. Carpathia?" "We don't know you." "Why's your hair like that?" "Can you play with us?" "You look so pretty." "I'm Hope!" "Faith." "Charity." It's a little strange how they talk and move like a superorganism, but charming, too. "Girls," a young man says, crisply but not unfondly. He's standing at the doorway leading further in, dressed like a snotty private school student despite being twentysomething. Blonde, tall, he ought to be insufferable. But his smile isn't. He fidgets with his cuff buttons and slides his gaze up to Kukuru. "She's further in. She's looking forward to it." And I am! More than he knows.
Kukuru	For Kukuru, visiting the station that Phony calls home is a much needed respite from nearly everything that's happened in the past few weeks. She's certainly had a rough time, and trying to keep her spirits up and her expression reassuring has been difficult to say the least. Even her efforts at getting food together to bring on today's visit took longer than her usual time, and she's already used to moving at a languid pace! Nevertheless, when she's greeted by the curious triplets so soon after coming out of the Warpgate, she's already feeling some of that genuinely warm energy returning to her. Not all of it, not yet, but some! She's wearing her usual white blouse with the green and brown skirt that she often does, likely picking it for comfort and style alike. She still has enough sense not to look like a slob coming to Persephone's home, after all! "He-llo, he-llo there~ Ah, my name's Kukuru." Tic pause while she squats to make it a little easier for them to all be at eye level (and to give her legs a break from walking for over three whole minutes). "That's Ku-ku-ru. Hope, Faith, and Charity... Such pretty names, too!" "I'm a friend of Phony's! Eheh... I haven't seen Doctor Carpy in a while, though. Has she been taking care of herself?" "Aw, thank you. You're so adorable yourselves, too! I'll come play in a little while, okay?" As strange as it may seem, Kukuru winds up bouncing around their chatter as easily as she might find a comfortable position to sleep. It's only natural, after all, with how many energetic youngsters there are back home. She only pauses to let out a dainty little yawn before reaching over lazily to give the girls each a gentle pat on the head, then stands back up with another brief stumble before greeting him with... Also a pat on the head. "Aw, thanks! It's nice to meet you, too~ You're doing great with them." She smiles warmly at him as she gets ready to continue further in, but pauses to fish out a rectangular takeout container from her pocket. "For you and the girls." She explains (badly) before handing it over. It's a whole pile of crispy bits from the bottom of a pan after cooking fried rice. She's got way more where that came from, even if she doesn't smell like she's been cooking all day. She cleaned up before coming!
Persephone Kore	"Kukuru is really pretty too!" "Ehehe, 'Doctor Carpy'." "She's doing great! Ms. Lilian brought her some medicine last year." "Okay! But bedtime's in two hours." "Isn't everyone a friend of Phony?" While she's kneeling, the triplets touch her in the endearing way that children who haven't quite learned personal space do: feeling her hair, feeling the fabric of her blouse, holding her arm. Even when she gets up and walks again, they stick close nearby, brushing up beside her or trailing just behind. The young man sighs, patiently but affectionately, when he's head-patted. He offers a firm handshake in return. "I believe we've spoken, though only briefly. Kukuru, wasn't it? Marc Heller, once again. She'll be in the Arboretum." The gift is accepted gracefully, though he has to telekinetically open it a sliver to peek inside: "For us...? Oh, goodness. This looks like quite the treat, Kukuru. Thank you kindly; I know it'll be enjoyed.." Marc tilts his head to the side as he turns to lead the way further in, pauses, and parts his lips for a second before speaking. "Are you... do you take coffee? Why don't I make some for us, maybe with some biscuits. It'll be no trouble." When he thinks Kukuru isn't watching, he unfolds a switchblade comb from his pocket and re-settles his hair just so from the pat. The smooth 'plastic' hallways he heads down weave and flow organically, merging with tributaries and splitting into deltas. Their rich crimson feels overwhelming as a base color at first, but when the eye adjusts to it, it's relaxing. It makes the houseplants and trees pop that much more. Researchers and subjects, with little to distinguish them but the increasingly fuzzy boundary of age, intermingle and chatter. People nestle in alcoves and nooks off the hall, talking and playing and doing the things that people do. It feels a little like a library, and a little like a park. A place not for people to do things, but for people to be. That's the feeling. Ahahaha, see! It really is a village. And a village that radiates wholesome contentedness, at that.
Kukuru	Patience is perhaps one of the easiest things for Kukuru to exercise when it comes to curious kids! Her hair, despite looking like an absolute mess that should be an unmanageable and tangled mess, is soft and fluffy to the touch, and her blouse has a silky texture to it despite being made of something visibly cheaper. She'll let them dangle off her arms if they'd like, of course, and hold their hands as long as she's able to prior to passing Marc that little box of snacks. "We did...? Oh! Sorry, Marc. It's been a little... Busy back on the planet, you know?" She explains with a light chuckle and without really explaining at all, letting her head lull to the side briefly as she reminds herself of all that's happened. "But I'll make sure to remember next time!" It's a promise to Marc as much as it is to herself. She doesn't normally forget names, after all. This has to be one of the first times she's ever even managed that. "Coffee's okay. Ah, only if it's okay for you to be staying up late. It's so dark out already, you know?" She comments/warns with that a vaguely stern and clearly concerned tone, already forgetting that any view she might have outside might not necessarily match whatever time it actually is out here. Thankfully, she doesn't notice the hair-fixing, or perhaps she's used to it. Amused, even, if the light giggle she has for seemingly no reason is any indication. It totally is. Gawking at all those hallways on the way, Kukuru finds her eyes drifting here and there thanks to the deep reds that help guide her to focus on where she should be. It probably shouldn't be so easy to guide her attention that easily, but it is, and there's a visible relaxation in her movements before long even if her mind is still far more active than it would normally be during such a visit. "Everyone looks so... Themselves here. It's such a nice change of pace." She comments aloud, not to Marc or anyone in particular, but simply as an idle observation while she strolls along. "Every time I see this... It's just like how I'd like home to be one day. One great big family in our perfect home... How much more work would it take to get like this?" That's more of a direct question, although it's not visibly clear who she's asking, even in her own head.
Persephone Kore	"I'll be having decaf. Don't worry yourself on my behalf, Kukuru; my sleep patterns are immaculate, and I mean to keep them that way." Both of Kukuru's arms are liable to be occupied by any two of Hope, Faith, and Charity, but the way Marc walks beside her conveys a kind of passive companionship anyway. Eventually he reaches over the triplets' heads and lays a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it gently as they walk. "It isn't quite perfect yet," Marc says firmly. "Though I certainly can't blame you for thinking so. As for how much work..." He smiles, and it reaches his eyes. His gaze lingers on her for a while. "What's imperfect with your home as it is, Kukuru? You're there, so I can't imagine much." "Yeah! You're really sweet, Ms. Kukuru." "Can you stay?" "No. She has another family." "But I want more rice..." The winding, flowing hallway opens up ahead, into a beautiful park-garden with a glass dome roof that exposes it to the stars. So much wide open idyllic, gorgeous green after the winding crimson paths feels like taking a deep, sweet breath. And, of course, it's where my aura is the strongest. You can feel it, can't you? Here all along, but now you're at the epicenter: warm and welcoming, heavy but gentle. An inescapable embrace of the heart. Persephone is sitting under a huge pleasantly-gnarled tree that nearly scrapes the glass with its boughs. When you enter, I look up and smile, and set my tablet aside, and get up to come greet you. I'm so excited! You know I love our time together, Kukuru. I hope you love it too.
Kukuru	"It isn't? Mm..." At first, Kukuru wants to reject that thought, but even she can recognize that something as idyllic as what she's seeing now could always be improved in some way she's just not aware of. "... It's a lot closer to anything else I've seen, that's for sure. You've done really great work here." She states with the utmost confidence, giving the four a reassuring nod as she considers what could be different back home. "Eh? Oh, there's plenty back home that could change. Like..." Wait. It's probably better not to bog them down with the more unpleasant things during this kind of visit. No bad memories allowed! "... There's a lot of work to do every day, you know? Waking up early, filling out forms. If I had my way, I'd be napping and making tasty food a lot more." She affirms with another nod, although her firm-ish tone from earlier melts almost immediately when the compliments and requests to stay start coming in. "Ahh, you're all so sweet, too! I'll come back with more rice any time you want it, okay?" She reassures with a bright, almost teary-eyed smile and brief high-pitched noise coming from the back of her throat. It probably wouldn't be too hard to do so, either, although she'll have to keep an eye out for good spots to teleport to so as to not scare anyone with a sudden arrival. After getting distracted by more hallway (she's easily distracted by hallways) (somehow), Kukuru reaches the Arboretum, and there she feels that familiar sensation of her friend in her head long before she can see her. Part of her wants to collapse into that warmth right there, but the lgocial part of Kukuru's mind works for once and tells her that just falling forward right now... Actually, she knows Phony would catch her, but she wants to at least get over there physically first. Following both her eyes and that feeling in her chest, Kukuru's smile brightens considerably when she finally gets close enough to Persephone that she can reach her arms out for a direct hug that matches what she's already feeling in her heart. "Phony! Hello, hello~ Aah... Thanks for inviting me here. I do love my time here, mhm!" Already, she can feel some of her worries melting away and then some. "What did you have today? Anything tasty and new?" She's not worried about whether or not Persephone ate because she already knows it's illegal to worry about Phony like that. It's far easier on Kukuru's heart to ask and wonder about less obvious things instead, like... "Oh! I brought these, too. We had a bunch after the weekend." Out comes another one of those plastic takeout containers full of the crispy fried rice scrapings. It's probably a good thing that nobody back home needs to worry about things like blood pressure, blood, or anything like that.
Persephone Kore	"It's our job to envision a more perfect world. Maybe I'm meant to always be dissatisfied." Marc doesn't seem torn up about that. Soon his smile returns: "We have done good work. And, as you're a long-standing partner of the Concord, it's partly due to you. So thank you for making this possible, Kukuru." His smile widens a bit further, and he tries to catch her eyes. "Thank you for making me possible. Now, let me go fetch those biscottis." The gaggle of identical children sticks to her right up until she approaches Phony, tugging at her sleeves and hugging her arms and trailing behind like ducklings. Something about their sincere, innocent trust in the benevolence of adults is infectious; if they love you that much, you have to love yourself, right? "Any time we want it?" "Tomorrow?" "We're on a field trip tomorrow." "Well, the day after?" "Can you braid our hair too?" "We can do yours! We're learning!" Persephone is radiantly beaming when she approaches, enthusiasm oozing from the bounce of her hair and the sway of her walk. But when they meet in the middle of the Arboretum, she only hugs Kukuru with one arm. Her knees bend, and the other arm loops behind Kukuru's legs, and up you go!! In the princess carry, their faces are just inches apart. Phony squeezes Kukuru's whole body tight before laughing and relaxing. "I have you now! That's better than anything else, Kukuru. I guess I've been liking this new eggplant yogurt dip, but..." With both her hands full (of Kukuru), she opens her mouth expectantly for the crisped rice. Then, after giggling and chewing: "What have you been treating yourself to lately? Not enough, I bet. We'll be fixing that." She turns and walks further in, beneath the shade of that great glass-scraping tree. "I never showed you my room, did I? Do you want to see? It's a nice, private spot, if that's what you need to unwind. I'll tell Marc to bring the coffee there. And there's a window, and a couch, and you can see the stars go by while the station turns, and..." "See you, Ms. Kukuru!" "Thanks for the rice!" "Day after tomorrow, remember?" "Don't forget!"
Kukuru	Even if Kukuru knows that she might not have had a direct hand in the Sapient Heuristics' successes, simply knowing that Marc cares enough about her mental well-being to thank her is enough to help lighten that load on her heart just that much more. "Nnn...! You're welcome, Marc. And thanks for... Letting me know." The kids' constant affection, of course, is returned with just as much sleepy energy and an unwillingness to pull away, even hoisting them into the air with one (or more) on each arm. "Oh, take pictures if you can! I'd love to see where you went. And I'll do my best with all of your hair, too. Day after tomorrow, mhm! I won't forget~" If she's not careful, she'll get too used to this place. Then again, shouldn't more places be like this? Giggling softly at Persephone's approach, Kukuru only gets to be confused for a moment before she's lifted right off her feet, letting out a surprised (but not unpleasantly so) meep at the sudden shift. One arm drapes over her shoulder reflexively, not to keep her balance or anything, but to lean her head in and rub her forehead affectionately against Phony's gently. "Hehe... Aw, Phony, you're so sweet today, too! Oh, but you can't eat me. I-" Wait. Didn't she already get eaten by Nothing There once? "I wonder what I taste like." She muses aloud while pursing her lips in thought, completely unaware what that might have sounded like. "Eggplant and yogurt... I'm gonna try making that next time I'm back in the village." With a firm and quick nod, Kukuru redirects her attention to Phony's face again when she opens her mouth. Without missing a beat, she pops open that container, snags a big chewy-crispy piece of that fried stuff and feeds it right in! The seasoning on most of them is a bit heavy on the garlic, although some of them are inexplicably garlic-less. "I've had... Lots of stuff! Mostly leftovers since I... Might have made a little too much over the weekend." She admits while chuckling bashfully, alternating between feeding Persephone more fried bits and just hanging off of her. "It was mom's birthday, and everyone needed stuff to eat, so I really worked up a sweat! But now I don't have to make anything until next weekend, so that's a nice break for the week." Looking up at the tree, again, Kukuru's eyes are already shifting about rapidly since a tree that big must have plenty of good napping spots. Not all of them might be good for human skeletons, but that won't stop her from remembering them, anyway. "Your...? Oh! I don't think I saw it yet, nope. Seeing it now would be real nice, though, if you're okay with it! It's your private spot, after all." Even as she says that, there's still that swell in her chest and that uplift in her tone that makes it pretty obvious Kukuru's just glad to be offered that at all. It's been far too long since she's had this kind of overwhelming care outside of the village, and there's a twinge of guilt at even thinking about that now of all times. "Speaking of nice spots... Is there anywhere you've ever wanted to go? Somewhere that... Hmm. /Is/ there anywhere you've never been able to go?"
Persephone Kore	That little sound... you're more precious than you know, Kukuru. Especially when you're letting someone else take care of you! I should really do this more. "Of course I'm okay showing you my room, Kukuru! I trust you so so much, you know." Phony winks, and when she spots and feels the rise in Kukuru's chest, she adds: "You know, you're only the second outside the Project to see it. I guess it's not that special, but it's special to me." Phony carries her from the arboretum out into more winding hallways, and as the main 'river' forks into narrower tributaries, they get quieter too. These are places of solitude, further from the center. "Oh, but you can't eat me. I-" Around that time, when Kukuru gives her another piece of rice, Phony overreaches and closes her smiling lips around Kukuru's fingers with an audible 'aumf'. Her eyes shut in simple joy. She lingers like that for a moment before pulling back. "Mmmm. I'd need it without the rice to be sure! But I think like strawberries, mint, and cream?" Kukuru can feel her chest shake in a quiet laugh, and Persephone squeezes her a little closer in an approximation of a hug. "A sweet taste for a sweet person. It really does fit." Phony eventually reaches a door with a keypad, like many others. This one's older, just slightly more scuffed, and it has a few peeling stickers of stars and pastel planets and bright flowers. With a wish, the buttons press themselves. After a grinding clunk, the door opens to an 'airlock' the size of a closet, and it shuts behind her. On a glowing blue panel, a number counts upwards from one. The cycling process feels like the opposite of a Decompression Chamber. Not a freeing lightness, but a heaviness, familiar and drowsy and secure. Phony's arms were always soft and warm, her body always nice to rest one's head against, but now it feels almost nap-worthy. "/Is/ there anywhere you've never been able to go?" "Ahaha. I'm not sure anyone's ever asked me before. You're so kind, Kukuru." Phony shuts her eyes fondly, but takes a second to think. "... I couldn't go anywhere until I was eighteen. They thought the world outside might hurt me. Maybe they were right, but I'm stronger now, right? I've gone most of the places I want to go. Maybe seeing a castle would be nice! Or seeing your home." Her eyes open again, glimmering fiercely. Her smile is daring. "Now, your turn, Kukuru. And I've got you, so don't think about not answering! What's something you've always wished someone would do for you?" The airlock's still cycling, so there's nowhere to run! And you owe me one, ahaha.
Kukuru	That trust Persephone shows Kukuru hits her even harder than the physical signs of affection, and it makes it that much easier to let her worries melt away. "If it's special to you, then of course it's special." She states matter-of-factly, not out of any sense of trying to appease Phony, but because it'd be hard not to notice the importance some places and things have on people. Little gestures. Old toys. Even specific spots are enough to stir the hearts of people she knows at home, and something like this is no different. Phony snags her fingers, and that gets another cheerful giggle from the green-haired lady. "We can try again later if you want! Sounds like fruity flavors, then... Oh, I wasn't expecting that. Maybe I didn't wash all the shampoo out...?" Never mind the fact that she uses some coconut-y blend. It might convince her to switch, though! Nevertheless, she's more than content to let herself be cradled for once, resting her head against Persephone's chest while turning every now and then to make sure her horns aren't poking her too much. It might look a little weird the way she's contorting her head, but she seems more than comfortable enough! Kukuru doesn't even see the keypad, but she doesn't need to. She'll certainly remember this place, although she'd never come in without Phony's permission. It's not the type of thought that comes naturally to her, anyway! "Castles are fun. So many spots to explore, so many high places to nap in... There's one pretty close to home, actually! I know it like the back of my arm, and I know everyone at home would love to have you there." Kukuru gives her own invitation, of course, and so many pleasant memories float around in her head (there's a lot of space for that). Loving parents, kind neighbors, warm embraces, swarms of kids to tell all sorts of stories to and while away the day with... Figurative warmth, anyway, since most of the adult population don't have living bodies, but still. Alas, Phony catches Kukuru on the back foot! Figuratively again, since she's nice and nestled right up against her. "Huh? Something someone would do for me... Um. Hmmm." She actually has to think about that one. She's not lacking in love generally, and she's already being pampered now, so those certainly aren't going to be new for her. There's far more hemming and hawing than there should be, and she eventually chuckles lightly while looking up right at Phony's face again. "I guess I'm... Getting most of that already? I don't get treated this nice outside of home, so this is such a nice change of pace." She laughs freely, then settles her head back down. "It feels so warm this way, and... I really enjoy doing this for people, you know?" Her tone starts to mellow out a little bit. "Seeing that look on their faces when they get nice food and gentle touches, maybe a bit of spoiling..." A lot of spoiling, but still. "I wish everyone else would let me do this, too." There's a brief moment of melancholy in her tone, and then she lifts her head against once she realizes something. "... Wait. That's not /someone/. Hmm. Maybe... Horn massages? But that might just feel bad on their fingers. Maybe..." She'll be at this all day at this rate.
Persephone Kore	Phony's whole face lights up with warmth; every time it seems like she can't possibly get more radiant, I manage somehow! "Awww, I'd love to visit, Ruru!" Is that a new nickname in the making? Only if it makes you smile! "You let me show you my family, so I have to pay you back by seeing yours, right?" It's cute how she can phrase it like Kukuru's doing her a favor. Aren't you though? <3 "I really enjoy doing this for people, you know?" "I do know," Phony says with a little laugh. "I spoil people all the time too. But I don't push myself as hard as you do! You're really amazing, Ruru. Even if that only makes me gladder-" The warm heavy security fully settles in. The Recompression(?) Chamber's door hisses open. "-that you're letting me give you a break~" ------- The moment you see it, it's hard to imagine Phony living anywhere else. It's expectedly red and maybe unexpectedly modest, really more like 'a bedroom' than 'a place'. There's a long window across the back wall to space, and the soft queen-sized (me-sized!) bed is nestled against it, perfect for staring out longingly at the stars. It isn't grand, or coordinated with a great vision, but everything here less utilitarian than a coffeemaker has a story. Their collective love and warmth is devastating. There's the soft black couch opposite the bed, sized for three with worn-in dents for two, where more makeout sessions than she can count have definitely happened. There's the plastic pastel pink laptop smothered in old stickers on the wear-sanded wooden coffee table between them, sitting atop a spiraling french-knit rug with Carpathia's signature stitched into it. Tubs of colorful building blocks and threadbare board games are stuffed under bed and couch alike. A solar system mobile hangs from the ceiling, and potted plants do too, their vines growing along its spindles and embracing the Sun and planets. Near the bed is a bookshelf, and in it is the Greek mythology book from which she named herself. And I carry you in and step out of my boots, and lay you down on the couch and say "Wait just a minute, okay~?", and I take the big soft blanket from my bed and wrap you up in it giggling, like a big Kukuru burrito! And then you're helpless completely and conquered utterly, and nothing in the world can stop me. And Phony sits down on the heavenly-soft couch and draws Kukuru's head into her somehow even softer lap, her face full of irrepressible joy, and taps your horns with a fingertip. "Now. How sensitive are they, Kukuru? Did you want more 'scratching', or more pressure?"
Kukuru	"I'll look forward to it, then! Everyone at home'll be super excited, too." Kukuru's own bright smile somehow gets wider until it physically can't anymore, compensated for in the form of her starting to bob her head from side to side excitedly at the mere thought of being able to show Persephone her home. She even giggles at he new nickname given to her, mouthing it quietly a few times to herself to get that feeling settled for herself. Nobody's ever given me that as a nickname before. It's so nice sounding, too.. Thank you, Phony! Settling right into the most comfortable hold in the world, Kukuru's eyes widen a bit at seeing the interior of the Recompression Chamber for the first time. Although she had no expectations going in, it all seems so right. So perfect for you, isn't it? The love and care placed in everything has her taking in a sharp breath at first, just soaking up all that lovely atmosphere. It's all different, yet so familiar to Kukuru's mental image of her own room back HOME home. I should roll around on that rug later. The back of that couch looks like a comfy spot to nap. Did I plug in my laptop before I left? I wonder what those vines taste like. "They're not suuuper sensitive, but I can feel stuff through them, mhm!" She replies with a drowsy little yawn, still feeling quite snug and content in that cocoon of hers. Wriggling in place a bit to nestle her head right back into Phony's lap, the whatever-Kukuru-is lets out a ticklish giggle at the tapping. It'd be so nice to stay in this spot forever, wouldn't it? It can't be a conquest if I'm surrendering here first~ "Fingers and rocks, hot and cold, scratching or pressure... Ah. Anything's good! Whatever you're more comfy with is fine with me, Pho-ny~" Those horns might as well just be mechanical drills with how evenly they're shaped and tapered into a fine point, with the little ridge spiraling through it like someone just took a pair of industrial drills and shoved them right onto her head. It doesn't really make sense how they even function or if they do anything at all, either, but they're there for Persephone's free inspection. Although Kukuru doesn't outright say the difference, meanwhile, her memories speak volumes as they come flooding in the moment Persephone asks her that question. The scratching of boney digits and metallic plates, playing a gentle clattering sound through a quiet bedroom with the light of a fireplace colliding with the light of a smaller purple flame. Her parents' unending care and love even in times of sickness or merely after a long and dreary day. Although memories of that scratching are by far the less common of the two, they occupies a disproportionately large share of her mind as a source of comfort and safety, of home and familiarity. Blunter pressure, meanwhile, stirs up all sorts of memories of a far wider range. Curious hands and babies' mouths squeezing them during introductions with new friends and soon-to-be family members. Laughter and joy at carrying others on her shoulders with her head steering their way around a grassy field. Offering a sense of safety while carrying wounded bodies back to safety. More intense grasping and tugging that could almost make those makeout sessions on the couch seem tame in comparison. Maybe. Kukuru doesn't know about the couch. Even with all these memories flooding in, though, the clearest thing that stands out is that Kukuru truly meant what she said about being fine with whatever you like. She trusts you completely, after all, so she knows she'll be fine with whatever you decide~
Persephone Kore	Whatever I decide? Ahahaha. Nobody's ever been brave enough to offer me that before! If it's a surrender, not a conquest- you're the best at surrendering I've ever held, Ruru. Persephone breathes out, sweet and deep, and her fingernails play Kukuru's horns like an instrument. Her nails aren't quite as strong as bony fingers, but I wish they could be, and her 'telekinesis' fills in the contact. When she scratches along the grooves, it adds a lingering warm weight: 'comfort and safety' it is. Mind-reading makes her kind, but it also makes her ruthless. I can see exactly what spots you like the most, and why would I want anything less~? If Kukuru has any outward reaction to the horn-scratches, she quickly finds Phony milking the most intense ones out of her with sheer psychically-guided skill. "You're so full of love," Persephone marvels- she has to lean forward a little to see Kukuru over her own chest, not that it's a problem! "Not just your own, but what everyone else poured into you. Do you know that, Kukuru? Do you know what a gorgeous star your heart is." Her dreamy-fond eyes say that I could look at you all day. That lasts for long, long moments. In the middle of it, a piece of fried garlicky-rice floats over and lands in Kukuru's mouth. Persephone almost-but-not-quite laughs at the role reversal. "Oh, but I guess I'm hesitating," Phony says eventually. Her voice drips with fond warmth, but I'm still greedy! "You said I could take whatever I wanted, right? And I wish I could take care of all of you at once." And I do! A strange lightness starts at Kukuru's scalp- is that Phony's fingers?- and then turns heavy, massaging it with permeating force. Light again, it flows down (into?) her face and shoulders, squeezing those bone-deep but ever so gently to wring out every drop of residual tension. It's a back-arching, toe-curling sensation, a hug from gravity itself, the weight of my heart like a weighted blanket. It leaves the tingly warmth of renewed circulation and achey-light satisfaction in its wake. Then her body is 'engulfed' and squeezed, then her legs... A normal massage can only press outside-in. But this squeezes every cell at once, utterly deep, like it could reach the depth of her soul with the lightest caress. How long does it last? Moments? Minutes? Does it matter~? But halfway through, Phony leans down, her face just inches from Kukuru's. Her shoulder-length hair hangs to tickle Kukuru's cheeks, and her eyes are warm and heavy-lidded with secondhand pleasure. Her lips are parted, like she's going to say something important, but hasn't quite decided what. We have time. I don't need to hurry.
Kukuru	There's some things Kukuru just doesn't get, but it might just be a matter of who and what she knows. After all, you're a dear member of her family. Why would I ever need to be brave around my own family? I know whatever you do for us is because you love us, too, so we'll never have to be afraid. Sighing softly as she continues to nestle and cocoon herself on Persephone's lap, Kukuru lets out a soft hum from those fingernails dancing along her horns. Despite the clear size and physical difference between fingernails and actual finger bones, you know just the right spots to go for to get all sorts of silly little noises to keep coming out of the often exhausted Kukuru. If she was any other kind of creature, she could probably just melt in this state, but Kukuru is still solid enough that she settles for just being immaculately comfortable with all of this. "Hehehe... Mhm! I know, because that's what I got from so many people in my life." My parents. My village. The Concord. You. Even a whole lot of others that haven't become part of our family yet. They will one day, though, so we can give them that love right back! Crispy garlicky rice always gets Kukuru to shut up and eat. It's got a good texture, a good flavor, and it might make her breath smell kind of bad to some people. She doesn't mind, though, as she looks right back up at Persephone with a matching fond look past her chest, even if it's from only one eye. It's too comfy to move more than this. Laughing lightly at Phony talking about greed and taking care of her, Kukuru does finally muster up just enough strength to get one arm out, reaching up slowly to stroke a hand along Persephone's cheek. "Aw, Phony... I'm so glad you get it, too. A lotta people think that caring for others is just giving a lot, but... I feel better when I see everyone else so much happier than before I got to them. It makes my heart feel warm and fuzzy, so... I wonder if that means we're both greedy." Another giggle later, and Kukuru goes right back to melting in Phony's lap with her arm dropping back to the side limply. She lets out one of those longer and uncharacteristically deep croaking noises, too, that can only come from the best of massages that's coming years later than it should have. Despite how soft and boneless she normally seems when she's sleeping draped over a fence or something that shouldn't be comfortable at all, she's actually got a lot of tension in those shoulders! She shivers, she squirms, she groans, and every one of those motions and noises comes with another sense of lightening in Kukuru's everything. It's actually pretty hard to move at all by the time Phony even gets to the halfway point, however long it takes to even get to that point. Not that I mind. I could stay here forever if it didn't tire you out, too! With her eyes still half-lidded, Kukuru lets out another ticklish giggle at the hair dangling at her face, and she practically has to force her head up to press her forehead against Persephone's gently with that loving look in her eyes. "I'll give you all the time you want in the world, Phony. Oh, but your lap's so comfy, too... I can't decide which way to go." Another laugh, and.. Wait. She actually has a dilemma now. Do I stay in your lap, or keep my head up like this? It's too hard to choose!
Persephone Kore	While Phony plays Kukuru like an instrument, she's also playing herself. Every groan from Kukuru broadens her smile and weighs down her eyelids, every shiver tenses her thighs. Because "you get it, don't you?" "That when you're good enough at giving, it's taking; and when you're good enough at taking, it's a kind of giving too. Ahaha, I really will drain you dry if you let me!" Having her cheek cupped like that is familiar. She leans into it, resting her face there, and shuts her eyes as a throaty sigh of satisfaction bubbles up from her chest. "Kukuru..." The massaging pressure holds for several seconds, in an emphatic hugging squish, before releasing and falling back into rhythm. "The world's been so, so hard on you, hasn't it? I can feel its weight on your shoulders." Squeeze. "I don't know why, Ruru. You're so easy to love! Or have you just been hard on yourself?" scratch. "That anybody might not see see your gorgeous, glowing heart... even you..." Persephone leans down a little closer. Her arm loops behind Kukuru's neck, holding her up without the need to strain. The model solar system above, entwined with vines, surrounds her head from this angle like a halo. It suits me, doesn't it? "I won't allow it," she says. "I'll make up for it. If the world's too heavy on your back, I'll give you a world's worth of love." The body-melting massage lets up for a heartbeat, giving Kukuru back her faculties. Persephone's lips part again, almost too dazzled to be a smile. Her near-orange eyes have always been this vivid, but have they always been this warmly hungry? "Hey. If I can do whatever I want. Does that mean a kiss, too?"
Kukuru	Somehow, this is one of the few things Kukuru actually does get in the deepest parts of her heart. At first, she wants to say that she doesn't, because that's just how words work, isn't it? Giving can't be taking! And yet, the concept comes as naturally as breathing does to her, once Persephone points it out to her in a way that even Kukuru's mind can comprehend. "When it's so natural, it's like... We're giving and taking from each other, but nobody actually loses anything. And that's the best way, isn't it? When everyone can give and take things freely from each other, because... We all know we'll have even more than we started. That lets us be as greedy as we like, even if you do drain me until..." She chimes in with another cooing noise as she lets her head rest back down on Phony's thighs, turning her head over so slightly to just enjoy that warmth and sense of overwhelming safety envelope her cheek. She doesn't actually know what draining means in this context. Kukuru is not one to understand context, but she can certainly understand comfort! It's so easy to feel lazy around Persephone and this immaculately comfortable position, after all, although the alternating pressure and scratching of her horns still has Kukuru inadvertently letting out little squeaks each time. Oddly enough, she actually does function like an instrument in that sense. The tips of her horn-drills get different noises from the base, and the ridges too get their own pitch the further away they are from the base. The noises from scratching differ, too, but they're certainly nothing like they are when her parents would do it. I know this didn't feel anything like this before, but your fingers are just that lovely! With the tension all but gone from Kukuru's shoulders, too, it's pretty hard to get her arm back up when Phony presses her face into her hand. Still, for you? I can do this all day, because I know I'll feel even better after I'm done. She's still grinning like a dope when Persephone lays on more of those compliments, and she lifts her head to make it just that little bit easier to get her head back up, finally seeing Phony in light of those vines from the model solar system. "It really does... Like an angel, but even better." She finds herself murmuring without even realizing it at first, caressing Phony's cheek lovingly. She traces her thumb over her cheek, across her lips, then slowly up to her nose before giving it a gentle squeeze and letting out a carefree "boop!" sound. As much as she'd like to be a little sillier, Kukuru's inadvertently set herself up for maximum heart fluttering when Persephone makes that declaration to her. Her breath hitches in her throat momentarily, and she can't help but keep her own vibrant green eyes focused on Phony's what that warmth and hunger mirrored in her own eyes. If a spell's being cast on her right now, then that doesn't change a thing. Of course you can, Phony. Anything you want, I'll give, if I can give you that kind of world, too.
Persephone Kore	Kukuru's absolutely precious! squeaks, her fading-into-relaxation squirms, and her groggy movements stoke a fire in Persephone's heart. Its smoke is in the comfortable fogging of her eyes. Its warmth is in her breathy sighs, and the greediness of her touch as her hand shifts from Kukuru's head down to her cheek- mirroring yours!- and then collarbone. Her thumb rests there, in that vulnerable spot, where I can feel your heart flutter in anticipation. You're so precious, Kukuru! And can you feel mine? The 'boop' is an energy of a different kind. Persephone bubbles over into an almost girlish giggle and grabs at Kukuru's wrist. That might have been reflex, but knitting their fingers together afterward and holding her hand out at arm's length- like she's about to sweep her down for a mid-waltz dive- is utterly on purpose. "Like a goddess, maybe?" Persephone teases. Her eyes, as soon as she opens them again, wink. Her eyelashes ignite a tiny sparkle-star. "As greedy as we like. This is how it's always meant to be, Ruru. With someone who can almost keep up with the warmth of your heart!" She takes a breath, and stares into Kukuru's eyes, and looks just a little enthralled by what she finds. Persephone's hair, rather than hanging to obstruct the kiss, starts to float like in zero-G. Her dangle earrings clink like chimes. She leans in, her lips part, and-- I want all of you, Kukuru. Ahahaha, but don't worry~ I'll give it back! --Gestures can mean lots of things. Holding hands can mean 'I like you' or 'I love you'. A punch can mean the same. Here, breath against face, lips against lips, body against body, heart to heart- this means 'you're perfect, Kukuru. I love the way you make me feel a little lighter. I love the ways you're like me, like nobody else is.' And it also means 'ahaha, I really did mean I could eat you up!!'.
Kukuru	Persephone isn't the only getting a fire stoked in her heart. Although the change in her eyes and her breathing aren't exactly easy to miss, Kukuru's eyes and ears/horns/??? help her notice those changes all the more. That familiar lovely look in Phony's eyes, the intoxicating sound of her breathing, and the inescapable grasp of her hands tell Kukuru plenty enough. Even without placing her hearing appendage against Phony's heart, she can feel the beat reverberating through her own, and she holds herself close just to make sure that we can both feel each other's hearts in this perfectly lovely way! The girlish giggle, of course, gets another flutter in the green-haired creature's chest, and that wrist grab is met with no resistance whatsoever. After all, I'm already ready to surrender here. But... I like this side of you, too! She laces her fingers with Phony's, and she swings their hands gently outwards because this really does feel like a dance. Oh, but my I think I'd probably trip all over if we tried dancing for real. "Like a goddess! One that the world should be listening to more than it does, because... "Everything would be so much fairer and kinder for everyone if they did." She states affirmatively, drawing her own and Phony's laced fingers towards her face to just rub her cheek against the latter's. "A perfect world for all this love, to share it with everyone, and to make everyone happier than they could ever be alone!" Just as Kukuru sees that sparkling in Persephone's eyes, so too can she see the gleam in Kukuru's eyes. There might even be some hearts swimming around in there, since nanites are truly a thing, and her emotions always have been worn on her face so easily. She only closes them when she tilts her head towards Persephone's, letting her mind guide her towards-- Aw, you didn't forget already, did you? Silly Phony. I'll give you everything I have, and then I know I'll never lose any of it this way. You can keep me as long as you like, and I'll take everything you wanna give to me so you'll be able to keep as much safe as you ever want to, right in my heart. Even if I can't hold all of you at once, I'll hold as much as I can, and when you give me back what I gave you? We'll be able to hold anything! I wonder what I taste like.
Persephone Kore	How long does it last? Like the massage, it's hard to tell. As long as any perfect moment does. It's the last night of summer, stargazing with your friends. It's the first snow of winter, face pressed against the glass. It's-- Over. But it lingers. Persephone finally comes up for air, breaking the hand-hold just to brush hair back behind her ear. The warmth of the kiss stays behind- on your face, but also on hers. Persephone's smile has never looked more saintlike, more divine! "How are you so good at this," she half-jokes breathlessly. "At taking it. I thought I'd have to teach you. But you're so soft, so open, so... no, you don't even think it's brave. Perfect at being vulnerable." With nothing but warmth and affection: "Perfect at being mine." That second energy- the sharp, giggly, wiggly one- tips the scales against the warm and smoky one. Phony dives back in- one for the lips, and one for the cheek, and trailing up her temple and on top of her head, finishing with one last more to the right horn that finishes in a playful nibble and a laugh, and then with ruffling Kukuru's hair in aggressive affection. "Ahahahaa~ I told you already, didn't I? Strawberries, cream, and maybe mint- and love! You're made with love, just like your treats. That's why I love you, Kukuru." That energy prompts her to stand up from the couch. She's princess-carrying the Kukuru-burrito now- I could just wish you up, but that's not as sweet as holding! And I carry you around the table, and lay you down on my bed, and climb over you to spoon you from behind, and-- "You know," I murmur, from just an inch away. "If I have you for as long as I want, I'll keep you all night." I hug you again, with my wishes and my arms- a squeeze from everywhere, absolutely perfect. "If I didn't have to share you, maybe forever~ You're too sweet to ever want to let go." You know, I wish it weren't so bright. And physics conspire to turn the dimmer switch down. Persephone's contented sigh brushes against the back of Kukuru's neck in the dark.
Kukuru	Does it matter how long it lasts? For Kukuru, not really. This is a perfect moment with a perfect person, so why would she ever want it to end? For the first time in ages, she doesn't even consider time as a thing, drunk in that haze of simply enjoying each moment spent with you and you alone. "Hmmn...? Oh, Phony. You already did teach me!" Her voice is chipper as ever, but somehow more awake than it usually is considering Kukuru's usual demeanor and especially considering how she often reacts after any kind of physical activity. Giggling softly, she get an arm around Phony's neck to help herself up for those pecks, returning them with some of her own to the lips, the chin, and the collarbone when the opportunity arises. "You asked me to treat myself before, so... I did. You gave me so much, so of course I'd take it all! And you're the one and only Phony, so of course I'll be yours, too! But..." She taps a finger to her chin quizzically, giggling again at the nibble on her own and squirming just a little bit more in that way she knows you liked. "I'm not vulnerable at all in here. There'd have to be something dangerous that would wanna hurt us first." Kukuru asserts with a confident little chuckle, bringing her head back in to brush her forehead against Persephone's, looking right back into those orange eyes lovingly. "And if something like that ever did come in, we'd flick it away and forget about it by lunch time~" When was the last time they ate, anyway? She'll fix that later. Right now, she's busy being the best burrito she can be, turning herself around to make sure she has her face buried right into Persephone's, curling up into her hold like the safe bundle she feels like right now in your arms. This is much better, but don't tire yourself out too much! We'll need plenty of energy for-- "Mmn...? Just one night?" Another playful giggle, and then a big smooch. "We can be greedy." She blinks slowly, dreamily, kind of like how a cat would minus being like a cat. "We'll have more of each other that away, and then-" More kisses, and more squeezes in return, all by hand. "-we'll have more to give later." Without realizing it, she starts crying. Not sad tears, though, but joyful tears, elated tears, just letting all those emotions build up and flow as freely as they come, knowing that however long she's here, there's not a single thing to worry about because I'm with you.