doggone

[repeatedprayer]

[In the time following his departure from Tabito and Manabu's company, the alias "Grey" has wound up sticking.

Not that everyone calls him that, he's used a few other aliases since then, but it's what he's wound up thinking of himself as. If Grey had taken the time to think about it a bit more he might have picked something with a little less connection to Rezo's name, but it's still leagues better than thinking of himself as "Rez- wait, no, just a copy." And maybe that's why he's felt significantly calmer since he left Sairaag.

By his own standards, Grey has been laudably well-behaved; sure, he's been mostly doing under-the-table psychic work, often on behalf of criminals, but! He's been trying to keep a low profile so it's usually things like clairvoyant spying rather than anything violent, and he's been making a point of not doing anything that directly impacts the galaxy railways.

It would be extremely awkward if Manabu Yuuki had to try and arrest him, after all.

He's found himself frequently thinking about Manabu, much to his annoyance. He has no serious expectations of ever seeing Manabu again, so it's simply a waste of mental bandwidth to find himself wondering what Manabu is doing right now or where he is, or to reminisince over their incredibly brief acquaintanceship. Grey can only suppose that because Manabu was the first reasonably normal person he got to know after leaving Sairaag that Manabu is going to stick out in his mind for a while.

And it's probably because of the real estate that Manabu is hogging in Grey's mind that he's been very aware of every mention of the SDF that crosses his path. He hasn't exactly been tracking the SDF's activities deliberately, but he does pay attention to the news and the SDF frequently winds up in there, even if Manabu's name in particular isn't normally dropped.

Until the day it does.

SDF Officer Taken Hostage By Pirates]

* * *

[It's taken several weeks of investigating, but Grey has been able to track down The Huntress's client, a Dr. Parish and associates. It must be a small galaxy, because Dr. Parish is someone Grey knows. Sort of.

Rather, Dr. Parish was a colleague of Rezo's who collaborated with the man on chimera research (and other unsavory things) in the past. Not only that, the man was an ardent admirer of Rezo's superior psychic prowess, and desperate to improve his own meager abilities.

He'd had quite a shock when Grey approached him in town, but after the initial surprise it had been sickeningly easy to convince Dr. Parish that he was the real Rezo. Grey can only surmise that the man wants to believe too badly to let himself be properly suspicious. It had only taken a day for Grey to be invited to tour Parish's laboratory.

The lab's located on the grounds of a former Marquess's estate, a ways out of town and secluded by trees, a high wall, and a long drive. Grey's done a little recon before, but actually being here is different, especially since he has to navigate by cane at the moment. Grey is doing his best to politely nod and smile as Parish guides him from room to room, explaining their work and occasionally handing him things to examine himself.

But evidently Parish realizes that "Rezo" isn't entirely interested, because he stops partway through an explanation of some stem cell experiments he and a few others have been working on to say "Of course, the really interesting specimens are kept in the basement floor."

Grey already knows this. He hopes his expression seems the right sort of eager.]

Interesting?

["Something along the lines of what we did in the past. Would you like to see them?"]

Nothing would please me more.

[Grey can practically hear Parish's delighted grin. To soothe the surge of irritation, Grey reminds himself that he's going to kill this man before the end of the day and allows Parish to guide him out into the hall and to the basement entrance at the back of the building.]

Comments

[siriusly]

Ehhh... [he sounds like the notion is as favorable as, say, a kid being told to study before being allowed to watch TV. still, he takes the scissors and puts them to the task of making underwear wearable again.

once shirted and boxer'd:] There's still meat from yesterday to heat up, right? I can do that. [anything to avoid brushing.]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey levels Manabu with a stern look at the noise, and gives a firm reassurance:]

I'll be careful. I know how to untangle hair.

[Is it different when you're working with dog hair vs. human hair? Well. Hopefully not!

Since the plan is now Settled as far as Grey is concerned, he lets Manabu get on with his tailoring and boxering while Grey takes the time to start gathering up the laundry. The dirty clothes are tossed into a leftover shopping bag (Grey doesn't have a proper laundry bag) and he's in the midst of stripping the sheets from the bed when Manabu speaks up.

Grey glances up briefly.]

Whatever you think is best. If you don't feel like cooking we already have some premade items.

[Y'know, if Manabu wants to go back to cereal and granola bars.]

[siriusly]

[assuredly:] I can do it. [he can be useful!! he can cook in his underwear - he's done it before! in fact, he's gonna do it after independently walking his way over to the kitchen area, albeit carefully and with a dripping tail sticking out for balance. it's getting easier...and it may be easier still when he stops thinking too hard about it.

objective reached...time to cook up some protein.]

[repeatedprayer]

[Without looking up from the sheet he's peeling off the mattress:]

Your tail's dripping, by the way.

[Whatever Manabu chooses to do with that information is up to him. Grey finishes gathering and putting the laundry aside, digs out Manabu's hairbrush, and then sets it aside on the bare mattress while he putters around and tries to ignore the sounds and scents of food being prepared.]

[siriusly]

[irritably:] I'll wipe it up later!

[he won't. it will just dry on its own and be a slip hazard before then!!

in the meanwhile, he heats up the remaining meat from the fridge and cracks a few eggs - slightly-flavored omelettes!

musing aloud as he plops them in bowls:] Rice would be good... [and plates.] It's ready!

[repeatedprayer]

[They do have bread, at least! Bread's kinda like rice. Staple crop and all that.

Grey's already, despite his best efforts to ignore the process, well aware when Manabu's finished making the foot and is thus already on his feet by the time Manabu turns around. If Manabu's unwise enough to make motions to hand Grey's bowl over or otherwise move out of his current spot, he'll get a warning.]

Watch your step. The floor's wet.

[Teasing aside, Manabu will once again get treated to the sight of Grey wolfing down his breakfast as politely as possible.]

[siriusly]

[Manabu keeps his spot at the counters and digs into his share, hungrier than he realized. it sits a bit uneasily in his stomach, but it's better there than not at all. he does a bit of a double-take when he sees Grey's already pretty much inhaled his serving, Manabu's own only two-thirds the way.

a beat.

he holds it out.]

Want the rest?

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey has a lil' flashback to when they were arguing on the train to Tabito and afterwards, Manabu had offered Grey the remnants of a rice ball he'd picked up somewhere, despite otherwise not having eaten all day.

Subsequently, he shakes his head.]

You're still in recovery, remember? You need to eat more.

[Let's not linger on the possible hypocrisy of scolding Manabu on still being in recovery after Grey already jumped him in the shower.]

[siriusly]

[he looks ready to insist, but after a twitch of an ear, relents and just shovels the remains into his mouth, punctuated with a loud gulp and guh as it goes down.]

Th...there... [nothing wasted.]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey's mouth twitches, amused by Manabu's attitude. He feels like he just made a kid finish off their broccoli.]

Well done.

[With that done, Grey returns to sitting on the bed and picks up the hairbrush he'd set aside, before patting the mattress beside him invitingly.]

Come here.

[It Is Time.]

[siriusly]

[his tail swishes, expression obstinate.]

Wouldn't exercising be more useful than brushing my stupid tail?

[repeatedprayer]

[Really now. Grey gives Manabu a Look.]

We have to do it eventually. Why put it off and give it an opportunity to get worse?

[siriusly]

[man... he scowls, huffs, and then trudges over, hesitating as his pace demands he not drag his feet like a petulant child. so stupid!

he plops onto the mattress with a huff, folding his arms, his tail twitching.]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey's mouth twitches again, torn between the urge to laugh and to roll his eyes.]

I don't know why you're being so stubborn about this. It'll be over quicker if you cooperate.

[And now the moment Manabu has probably been dreading: Since it's going to be hard to brush Manabu's tail while it's twitching around everywhere, Grey has to curl a hand around it before he starts brushing.

To his credit, it's a loose grip- he is aware that Manabu's tail is sensitive as hell, so Grey's being as gentle as he can, starting by combing the very bottom of Manabu's fur and only gradually moving his way up once the brush can glide through Manabu's fur without hitting any snags.]

[siriusly]

I just think it's-! [he blushes, tensing up. it's only a little pressure, but it still tingles in such a way.] Stupid... [he gulps, turning his head and looking in the direction opposite.] It's just gonna get messy again anyway...

[wow unexpected logic from the guy with eternal cowlicks, who'd have guessed.]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey glances briefly at Manabu's shoulder, still brushing away at his tail.]

It won't if you start brushing it regularly. You'll just have to make it part of your regular routine, like showering and shaving.

[It was a nice attempt at logic, but Grey remains unimpressed. The brushy brushy will continue.]

[siriusly]

[the tail twitches in the loose grip, tip wiggling. Manabu's shoulders draw up against the tickling feeling going up his spine. it has no business feeling nice...

but it does feel really nice. dammit. freakshow tail...]

There's...really no way to get rid of it, is there... [it's just...part of his regular routine now. normal.

it's not normal at all!!]

[repeatedprayer]

...

[Grey's silent for a bit, brushing and mulling over the issue.]

In theory, you could have it amputated eventually. It would probably be easier than restoring your ears. However, the surgeons would need to understand how it's attached to your spine, and if it's possible to amputate it without causing serious damage to your nerves and spine.

[And then Manabu would most likely have to deal with phantom tail sensations afterwards...]

Chimera procedures aren't done with the intention of being reversible.

[siriusly]

Right...

[his balance would probably be screwed up entirely if he did that - to say nothing of what he might do to his motor functions. he doesn't know a lot, but he knows messing with the spinal column is bad, bad news.

it's not like he can get a confirmation on how to undo it from the doctor who did it either, right? not if he's dead...

Manabu's ears droop, tail going limp for the remainder of the brushing.]

[repeatedprayer]

[It takes a little while for Grey to work all the matts out. Luckily, the ones that are there are small. He suspects that those bastards at the lab were brushing it every now and then to keep from having to shave it, but he keeps that thought to himself.

The process of brushing out all of Manabu's fur is a surprisingly meditative one, and Grey's secretly a little sorry when it's over and the brush can glide smoothly from top to tip, at any angle he holds it. But it's done, and the tail is looking much silkier and prettier than it did before.

Grey sets the hair brush aside and lets go of the tail.]

You're all set. How is it feeling?

[siriusly]

Mmh-?

[the process had been kind of hypnotizing on Manabu's end: the pleasant tingling persisted even if he tried to bristle against it, so eventually exhaling the tension left him feeling kind of...floaty. weirdly content, despite the troubles weighing on him.

he blinks over, face still a bit pink, but more lucid after a beat of staring. his eyebrows lift.]

Wait, huh? What? [what'd he say?]

[repeatedprayer]

[Once again, Manabu is saying/doing something that gives Grey simultaneous swells of exasperation and affection. However, he supposes it makes sense that Manabu would have drifted off. Isn't it supposed to be relaxing when you have someone grooming you? At least, if it's someone you trust, as Manabu inexplicably trusts Grey?

Certainly, Grey had liked it when Manabu had washed his back...

Grey turns a little pink himself.]

Your tail. I've finished brushing it. How does it feel?

[siriusly]

Oh-- [obviously tail! Manabu glances down at it.

huh. it looks far less ugly now.]

It, it's fine... [sheepish:] It felt nice. Mostly nice. So, uh...thank you. I know it's...a weird thing to do. [brushing a guy's tail. eesh.]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey nods.]

You're welcome. You'll brush it regularly from now on, won't you? I don't mind helping you with it but I won't always be available to do this for you.

[You know. If he's busy running errands or something.

And when he inevitably returns to his criminal career with their current relationship being but a warm memory that will have to sustain him as he drifts through cold, harsh reality. You know.]

[siriusly]

I, I guess. Yeah. [but it's not going to be as nice, he's sure...even if it'd be too much of a burden to ask Grey to do it. no matter how nice it is.

he can't just...utterly absorb all of his attention all the time, can he? soon enough, Grey will get sick of minding him. and this investigation will end, and he'll try to run, because Manabu wasn't reliable enough to show him a better way...

i'm so behind. i'm already so behind...!

he rubs at his face, feeling the weight time lost and time gaining too fast on him. focus up.]

Right...where's that cord? I need to practice walking around with this tail tied up. Maybe even outside? [he looks over toward Grey, tentatively hopeful.]