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[Vanessa blinks back at Catty, opening her mouth, closing it again.] Not my clothes. [A beat.] You think so? [Wait, Vanessa.] No, I mean my powers. [God, how does she even explain...] You know that buzzing feeling whenever I make you invisible? I feel that like, all the time.

Mmhmm! They really show off your legs. [Catty rolls onto her side, and then her stomach, kicking her own back and forth] You mean all the time right now, or all the time, all the time.

[Catty pls. It's hard to concentrate on the important stuff when she's checking out her own legs now.] They're so pale. I haven't had a proper tan in months... [Yup. Important stuff.

She takes a seat on the floor next to her best friend.] All the time, all the time. Except right now. It's not bad or anything, it's just quieter. Kind of like when I was on the mainland, but not as bad. [Vanessa wonders what that's about. She hasn't made a Choice, she hasn't left the turtle. Unless...]

We-ell, it is summer here in turtle-topia. We can always take some time out to work on our vitamin D. [Super important!]

[Catty is just going to roll over until her head is resting in Vanessa's lap.] The mainland is where you lose powers, right?

Vitamin D is pretty important. We could probably go to one of the beaches. The rot isn't so bad near the ocean.

[Vanessa runs her fingers through Catty's hair, nodding.] Right. It was like being cut off. They weren't gone, but they definitely weren't there anymore.

Uh, yes please. That sounds amazing. We could go just us, and then maybe make a beach party out of it some other time.

[Catty hums at little at the way Vanessa's fingers run through her hair. There's a pause, before she decides that sharing what happened will at least help Vanessa feel like she's not alone] I fell. Out of the shadows, I mean. Snapping back into existence hurts.

I'm good with just us right now. [A party could be fun, but...] Some other time, maybe if we get things straightened out a bit here with Tu Vishan.

[She smiles at the way Catty hums, but the smile freezes on her face at the confession.] So you are feeling off.

Sounds like a plan!

[Catty wonders if she might have mad a miscalculation] Only a little bit. Don't freak out!

I'm not freaking out. [Okay, she's freaking out a little bit.] I was kind of hoping it was just me, though. Like there was something wrong with me.

[Even from her position of lying on Vanessa's lap like she is, Catty can look disbelieving. You're always freaking out, lady] You were hoping there's something wrong with you?

[Her life is a mess. Can you blame her for freaking out? She makes a face.] If it's just me, then that means there's not a bigger problem at work.

[Duh.]

[Catty reaches over and pushes Vanessa's knee] If it'd just been you, that would have been a big problem. To me, at least. Who knows, maybe we just ate something weird. [a beat] Also keep with the hair stroking thing, it feels nice.

[It's like petting a cat. :| But she keeps running her fingers through Catty's hair, humming slightly for a moment before she says anything.] It's not like we've eaten anything new around here. Maybe it's Asti.

[Complete with happy noises.] Maybe your cooking builds up. [She only teases briefly before turning serious again] You mean the turtle? It's dying, right?

That's so rude. [She gives a small huff.

She's quiet again, remembering her dream and the talk with Asti.] Yeah, that's what he called himself when he visited me. He's sick. Like, really sick. All of his brothers and sisters got sick and died, too, and there's no real cure.

I don't hear you denying it.

[There's a pause] Can I take a better look? [Look at Catty, asking permission.]

My cooking is just fine. I've been living off of it for five months. [xc!!!!!]

Okay. [Vanessa doesn't even hesitate in her answer. She trusts Catty, and she tries to swallow back the thought of 'now'.]

I don't know if you can call that living.

[She dives on in without hesitation, but it's like swimming through glue. She makes a face to indicate that, struggling her way around Vanessa's thoughts until she can find the memory. She sits through it quietly before unsticking herself from her friends mind] Well that was depressing. You think this means he's getting worse? Like, if he's where our powers come from, now...

You're a terrible friend.

[Vanessa can feel Catty moving through her mind, and it's weird, but she sits there patiently, still running her fingers through dark hair.] Yeah, I wish I knew a way to help that could be permanent. [A nod.] I can't know for sure unless other people are experiencing power failure, but it makes sense.

I do what I can~

[She shifts a little, settling back into Vanessa's touch] We could ask your other friends? The demigods, or whatever. I mean, your new boytoy as fire powers right? [a beat] Maybe don't try kissing him again until you know what's going on.

[Vanessa makes a squeaking sound, face going red.] He is not a boytoy. Catty. [God that's so embar- She pretty much looks like a tomato now.] You're terrible. Absolutely terrible.

[Poking her knee] Uh, then what is he? He's not your boyfriend, at least not yet. He's younger, too. Boytoy, see? [A wide grin] Yeah, but you love me.

[Nudging her shoulder.] He's my friend. That I like. [Nyeh.] Yeah, he's a couple of years younger. Not that that's a big deal or anything, because it's not. [It is kind of weird.] I absolutely love you.

Booooooooooytooooooy. It's okay, I won't say it to his face. While you're around, at least. [Catty beams] You're the best.

[She hates everything. Just... Everything. So rude.] Don't say it to his face, Catty. [Sighing and rolling her eyes now.] Yeah, I am pretty awesome.

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