Raine stands in Harmonia’s room, staring at the sleeping Harmonia.
Harmonia stirs, looking at Raine sleepily. "Uh... hi?"
He combusts into smoke, and on the floor lays Claire.
Harmonia jumps and looks at Claire, confused.
Claire stirs on the ground before getting up, waving to Harmonia. "I missed you..!"
"Hi..." Harmonia looks nervous. "Roxy isn’t dead..."
"I know, she just teleported,," Claire responds.
"Why didn't you tell us that?" Harmonia asks.
"I wasn't in the best mental state,,,"
"I... I guess that's fair..." Harmonia looks down shakily.
"Can I come to bed, dear?" Claire asks.
"Mhm,,"
Claire crawls into bed, shaking slightly. She has very, very slight seams from the edges of her mouth going to where her ears begin. They're barely visible, but you can still see them.
Harmonia pets her hair. "Are you okay?"
"Mhm,,!" Claire purrs slightly, cuddling up to Harmonia.
Harmonia pets her and sighs. "You scared me..."
"I'm sorry,,"
"It's okay..." Harmonia curls up. She smells vaguely of orange juice.
"You smell nice hehe,,," Claire leans into Harmonia's neck, kissing her slightly.
Harmonia purrs. "Really?”
"Mhm!!" Claire squishes the tiny bit of chub on Harmonia's belly. “Hehehe squish squish! Cutie,,"
Harmonias face blushes red and she giggles. "Hey!"
"It's cute!! You're my squishy lil wife hehehe.” Claire smiles, doing it again.
Harmonia blushes more, kissing her on the lips. "You’re adorable…”
"You are too!! I love you, Harmie," Claire says softly, kissing Harmonia on the lips and dragging her fangs across her bottom lip.
Harmonia purrs. "Cutie."
"Hehehe no you!!!"
“I’ll eat you!" Harmonia gently bites Claire's neck.
"Not if I do it first!!" Claire does the same, dragging her fangs gently across her lower neck.
Harmonia purrs, leaning into her. "You're amazing."
"You are too,, you're my favorite person ever,,," Claire holds Harmonia close, putting her arms around her.
Harmonia giggles and hugs her. "I love you..."
"I love you too,," Claire hugs Harmonia, playing with her hair
Harmonia purrs and hugs her back. "What do you wanna do?"
"That's up to you, mon petit papillon," Claire smiles, kissing Harmonia on the forehead
"We could talk maybe?" Harmonia asks.
"Okie! What about?"
Harmonia pauses. "Do you know about me being crucified?"
"I do,,"
"What do you... think about it?"
"It shouldn't have happened,, I'm glad you're still alive,,, and I'm glad that bastard is dead." Claire responds.
"Yeah..." Harmonia looks away. “Part of me feels like I never left that place..."
"But you did,,!"
"I know but...I... I feel stuck there almost... like this is just a dream and I'll wake back up there…” Harmonia says.
"You were there for a long time so it's understandable,,, reminds me of.." Claire trails off, an unfamiliar look on her face, although it doesn't look happy
"Reminds you of what?" Harmonia asks.
"Uhh,,,,, a place,,, I had to be in for a bit,,,,,,,"
"Will you tell me about it? I understand if not I just... there’s so much I don't know about you..."
"It was like.. a bunker in the middle of the woods... looked more like an unfinished basement,," Claire says.
"Why did you have to be there?" Harmonia asks.
"I disobeyed Lucille,, and had to repent,,,"
Harmonia furrowed her brow. "I'll hurt her for hurting you..."
Claire lets out a humorless chuckle. "I don't want you getting hurt,,"
"I... I’ll find a way...." Harmonia pauses. "... when were you under Lucille's influence?"
"From around... December of 2019 to.... maybe around May of 2020?" Claire responds.
"Really? Were you in her cult?"
"I was the executioner." Claire says.
"I see... so you had to kill people who disobeyed her?"
"Mhm,,"
"How did you escape?" Harmonia asks.
"Daniel helped me,, But I still stayed in the cult until the end. I had to. I had to see to it that her plans were ruined, that the ritual was botched." Claire says.
"The ritual? What happened? She had an old cult before this one?"
"There was gonna be a ritual,, unsure of what it was gonna do but I ruined it and Porcelain took the blame because she was supposed to ruin it... and yeah, it was called Deity In Death.."
"I see... What was the ritual?" Harmonia asks.
"Never found out. It never even got to start." Claire says.
"How did you ruin it?”
"I spoke to The Moon and he did all the work,,"
"I see... so you've known him for a long time?" Harmonia asks.
"Mhm,," Claire nods.
"I'm sorry you were with Lucille for so long..."
"It’s okay,, not your fault, my love.” Claire responds.
Harmonia holds her and pets her.
Claire’s trembling a tiny bit. Seems a little shaken up from the topic.
"I'm sorry..."
"It'll be okay,," Claire whispers, hugging Harmonia close.
"I won't let her hurt you again.."
Claire shakes like a scared animal. "But you'll get hurt,,"
"I’ll be okay... I get hurt for no reason most of the time. If I get hurt because I’m protecting you then at least it’ll mean something." Harmonia says.
"But,, what if she roses you,,? I don't want to lose you,,"
"I... I won't let her. The Playwright wouldnt let her. I know it lets me get hurt but it wants me alive and well. me." Harmonia says.
"Still,,"
"It'll be okay... as long as she stays away from you it’ll be fine."
"She's not gonna come near me I don't think.” Claire responds.
"Good. I won't start anything with her. Just if she tries to hurt you again.”
Claire makes a small noise, hugging Harmonia real close.
"I’ll be as safe as I can, I promise..."
"Good,, I'm safe with you,,," Claire says.
"You are..." Harmonia holds Claire tight. "What would you think about me changing my hair around?"
"Ooooo? I'm curious," Claire grins
"I was thinking Ari could help me trim it and do some red at the end of my hair,,"
"That sounds nice," she smiles happily, burying her face in Harmonia's neck
Harmonia holds her. "Wanna go find the others?"
"Mhm,, can you carry me?"
"Of course, love." Harmonia picks her up bridal style and they head out of the room.
"Stronk wife!"
Harmonia giggles.
---
Harmonia walks outside, carrying Claire. "The dogboys unite.”
“What.” Says Cole.
"You three. Dogboys." Harmonia says, pointing to Orpheus, Cole, and Kade. Ari is on the ground, getting a massage from Orpheus.
Claire's smiling, looking at them all.
“Mean.” Cole switches to his wrath form and giggles.
Ari is just purring loudly.
"It's not mean!" Harmonia sits down, Claire on her lap. "Ari’s vibing.”
“Ari is getting kneaded like dough.” Cole says.
"I am the least dogboy.” Kade says.
"Good.” Harmonia says before turning to Kade. "Kade you can turn into a 40 foot 3 headed dog.”
“Got you there.” Cole says.
“Becoming brea-“ Ari’s cut off by an involuntary hiss/purr.
"Meow.” Claire responds.
"I." Kade is speechless.
Cole woofs quietly.
Orpheus yaps again, giggling at the hiss.
Kade does a small bark.
“Kade, what if I told you that there is a really big stick in the forest?” Cole can barely keep back a smile.
"I'd say you are a liar and a fraud!" Kade says,
“You wanna bet?" Cole asks.
Harmonia giggles and pets Claire.
Claire purrs, leaning into Harmonia.
Kade pauses. "How much."
“A femur bone.” Cole says.
"I feel like the tides are purposefully stacked against me." Kade says.
“No they aren't.” Cole says. “Prove it.”
Kade furrows his eyebrows. "..." Then starts to sprint towards the forest. "I'm finding it first!!!!"
Cole sprints after him. "NO YOUR NOOOOOT!"
"2 thirds dogboys gone.” Harmonia says.
Orpheus has kneaded Ari's entire body basically. And seems exhausted a bit, looking to Ari. "Feeling better..???".
Harmonia watches them, holding Claire gentle
Claire plays with Harmonia's hair, giggling.
"Hey Ari, wanna do my hair?" Harmonia asks.
Ari lays, continuing to purr while looking up between Harmonia and Orpheus. “That felt amazing- I don’t exactly know how to stretch my tail. And oh? I'd be so down to do your hair Harm, any ideas?”
"Like a normal haircut and dying the ends red? Maybe curling it more?"
Ari slowly sits up, waving Harmonia over. “Cmere, lemme get a closer look.”
Harmonia sets Claire down and walks over. Her hair is super long and kinda messy. She definitely needs a haircut.
Ari runs a claw or two through it gently. “Damn bitch, do you use conditioner your hair is messy as shit. But I can definitely work with this, curls should hold and the dyeing shouldn't be too bad.”
"I do, it’s just... I mean I was just in an orange juice concoction for 4 days.." Harmonia responds.
Ari shrugs. “Fair enough, that acidity can't be good for your hair.”
"Yeah.”
“But yeah, you have dye on you? I could definitely do that, no problem.” Ari asks.
"I don’t but we can ask Cole, I think.”
Orpheus is now just vibing on the ground.
“Sounds good to me.” Ari lies back, flopping onto the ground and promptly wrapping Orpheus up.
"WAUGUH???? HUH???" Orpheus cries.
Ari snickers as his tail gets thicker around Orpheus and he’s lifted into the air over him. She grins devilishly, with a hint of flirtatiousness. “Heyyy~”
"whhghgw???"
"Uh oh. Evil time." Harmonia says.
Ari brings him down close to them, reaching up and scratching their chin. “That was a wonderful massage, you can do amazing things with those paws of yours.”
Orpheus’s tail is immediately wagging as fast as possible!!! ".whwhw..tthank you????"
Ari eyes it for a moment before widening her smile. “You’re quite adorable, all wrapped up like this, don’t you agree?” Scratch scratch scritch.
"..Mm..??? M-maybe????? Aaaaa!!!!"
Ari snickers slightly and moves her claw up to his snout, tapping it absentmindedly. “A little adorable puppy.”
Orpheus barks.
Ari laughs and pats his snout lightly. “Excited, prettyboy?”
He yaps, nuzzling against Ari's hand.
Ari continues to pet him. “You are? Such a good boyyy.” Its tail squeezes ever so slightly.
Claire continues to sit, watching Harmonia.
Harmonia returns and sits next to her, yawning.
Claire leans against Harmonia, purring
Harmonia pets her gently.
Orpheus is making happy wolf noises!!
Ari pets him for a little while longer before laying him down beside them, still wrapped.
Orpheus clings to them. Hug.
Ari hugs back, tongue flicking against Orpheus.
Orpheus bleps back!
Harmonia looks to Claire and speaks quietly. “Hey Claire, can I ask about what happened last week?”
"Of course,,"
"How were you... what was your mindset when Roxy tried to kill you? Was Raine present?" Harmonia asks.
"I knew it was going to happen and honestly..? I was angry, I felt betrayed by someone I considered a sister. Raine was present." Claire says.
“I see… you looked calm… why would… why did she do that?”
"She knows how horrible I am. It was an opportunity to get rid of me. Plus, she was angry. Emotions went over logic." Claire explains.
“You’re not horrible…” Harmonia says.
"She thinks people can't change."
“I mean I know you were the executioner in the cult but that was hardly your fault. She knows full well what would’ve happened if you went against Lucille. She can’t act like you were killing because you wanted to! Even so, she’s friends with us and a lot of us have killed for much less.” Harmonia says.
"I've done worse than just kill people,," Claire responds.
“Do you want to talk about it? I wont judge you for it. I don't have the right. Not when I’m friends with so many who have done terrible things as well.”
"...I'd... rather not,, I'm sorry, I hope you can understand.," Claire’s hands are shaking a little.
“I can.” Harmonia takes her hands and kisses them. “It’s okay… it’ll be okay…”
"Thhank you,,"
“Of course. Is Raine why you were smiling and being kind of cryptic?” Harmonia asks.
"I think,," Claire responds.
Harmonia holds her tight, comforting her as she texts the others. “I wish I could protect you better…that I didn’t have to rely on Raine or The Moon to do it for me….”
"It's okay.. you don't need to protect me.. I'm more than capable.,, hehe,"
“I know… I just… y’know.” Harmonia tucks hair behind Claire’s ear.
"Yeah,,," Claire sighs, hugging Harmonia.
“Do you like… talk to The Moon?” Harmonia asks,
"Sometimes,,"
“Does he… have an opinion of me? As weird as that might sound…” Harmonia asks.
"I'm unsure if he has opinions of anybody.” Claire responds.
“I mean, he seems to like you.”
Claire shrugs. "I dunno.."
Harmonia shrugs and kisses her head. “It’ll be okay, love.”
"Mmhh" Claire hugs Harmonia, leaning into her. "I love you.”
“I love you too,,”