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[traitorously]

"Hi, It's Catty! If you're listening to this, I didn't give you a fake number! Leave a message, and I'll get back to you when I can."

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[traitorously]

Just on this floor. [Catty's tone is absent. this floor is Vanessa's floor. Catty doesn't really feel that the part of the suite she's camped out in should have the moon. Because having two moons would be weird, obviously.] Are you okay, though? What's up?

[fatedchaos]

So? You can stay on this floor whenever you want. We can camp out on it, pretend we're kids again. [Because Vanessa likes Catty being around. She just doesn't want to cling to her without being weird about it.] What? Oh! I don't know, I feel sort of... Muted.

[There's a hum of her molecules, but it feels like it's at a distance.]

[traitorously]

[Muted. What does that even mean? Catty rakes her eyes over Vanessa's form, looking for some outward sign] You look pretty colourful to me. Cute shorts.

[fatedchaos]

[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.

[traitorously]

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.

[fatedchaos]

[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...]

[traitorously]

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?

[fatedchaos]

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.

[traitorously]

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.

[fatedchaos]

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.

[traitorously]

Sounds like a plan!

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

[fatedchaos]

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.

[traitorously]

[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?

[fatedchaos]

[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.]

[traitorously]

[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.

[fatedchaos]

[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.

[traitorously]

[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?

[fatedchaos]

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.

[traitorously]

I don't hear you denying it.

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

[fatedchaos]

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'.]

[traitorously]

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...

[fatedchaos]

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.

[traitorously]

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.

[fatedchaos]

[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.

[traitorously]

[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.