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In their headspace Alexandria paces around their corner back and forth, paws covering their face as the gravity of their assignment dawns on them. Rose places her paws on their shoulders as she massages them, trying to calm her fellow headmate down. The entire System knew this was going to be a rough one, their job was of course to just record minutes, and note down anything important or weird said during the meeting with the social workers. But for most that's the one job, it's also a second job of not breaking down, getting violent or reacting in any way in the face of this. The face of people who's sole job is robbing Monsters of their children and either institutionalise or circulate in the foster system, all to secure next season's grant when contract season comes around. Capitalism comes for all un-nationalised services and the number does indeed need to be going up and if that number aids in the spreading of Human Supremacy in this country, the idea that Monsters having kids at all is 'Ohhhh bit risky' then hey that's a win for them isn't it? It's so much psychic damage and it ruins them all deeply. Even being witness to it somehow feels like personally being implicit in it, they know they are an employee of a charity and everyone's hands are tied... But still... Ugh...

-Listen I can take over this one if it's gonna be too much.

Alexandria would love nothing more, but like they said they're supposed to avoid reacting at all during this and Rose, they love them but...

-I'm good for now, but if I need to tap out can you be on standby?

Rose nods their head, but Raphael speaks up during this.

-Um are you sure? If we're looking to minimalize the likelihood of violence...

-Hey I can control myself alright? Replies Rose.

-Well maybe on our own we can, but you think Chloe's gonna just sit there? Like really? I know how you can Alex get around that cat you know?

-Well then it just fucking happens! Alexandria outburst. It's already bad enough we have to witness our genocide face-to-face to be able to eat, there's only so much we can take.

Alexandria shivers a little as Rose embraces them and gives a little smirk Raphael's way, who just roles their eyes and continues with their knitting.

What do I think about this? Mate there's a reason I speed run to narrate on work days, like this all sucks man.

---

Butters swings their head up all of a sudden, we call that the "Headspace meetings gone on a little longer than is socially acceptable kill switch." Indeed, they had been staring into the void for so long the meeting had come to an end, the room now being empty. Butters rubs their face to bring their mind back into the mortal realm, before noticing the distinct noise of chatter and the clinking of mugs and saucers. Aaah they must've gone taken their break before doing their jobs for the day, there's a communal kitchen Monsters who book the meetings can use as they like. Typically, meaning whenever a slightly strenuous task is done within 5 meters of the break room, no matter how little time has passed since the last one it's; ooohhhhh time for a cuppa me thinks.

They take a suspiciously instantaneous trek to the break room only to be hit with another peculiar scene. The Cyclops, Veeo, I guess cradling would be the word, tho visually more resembling grasping Chloe's entire existence in the palm of her had. The Cat taking to their new bedsit like a hammock on a spring evening, in fact it looks like they've fallen fast asleep. But this checks for Butters, Chloe's type... Well outside of themselves of course, has always fallen directly under "Could kill me, weather intentionally or by happenstance" which Veeo absolutely qualifies. Still, my god Veeo, you've known them a full ass half an hour. The Squirrel steps up to this absolutely pathetic display, though with a big grin across their face, as they look up to face The Cyclops.

-You know, you don't HAVE to cradle them like that just cos they asked Vee'. Explains Butters.

-I know but like, awwwh look how cute she is tho. Veeo explains, as she uses her free finger to scratch Chloe's stomach.

The Cat can be heard purring a little as they adjust their position on Veeo's palm. Pathetic, absolutely pathetic. Butters can't help but laugh out loud through their attempted scowl. They step forward and pull on Chloe's tail with a ferocious velocity, causing them to fall between the cracks of Veeo's fingers and colliding with the floor on their front, with their paws breaking their fall. Without missing a blink, they stretch their limbs, arching her back and reach their paws towards the sky as they give a great big yawn.

-Well I guess it's time to get back to work, tho having just had a nap I'm pretty sleepy, looks like it's time for another break and a cuppa. Chloe rationalises as they give Butters a knowing look.

The Squirrel just smirks as they head to the kettle.

-So Veeo what's your shift looking like today? Asks Butters.

-It's fallen into a little bit of a theme lately. Veeo Replies. Mediating another meeting with the council and a clan of Oni about getting 'size appropriate' accommodations for the land they've seized...

Chloe goes a little into their own mind for a second to parse these words, before remembering: Oh duuuhh!

-Oni are typically Big Ass Monsters right? Chloe interrupts, before catching how rude she was being.

Tho Veeo didn't seem to react with any hostility to this.

-Well, yes. Though 'Giant' is usually the technical short hand for Monsters of that size, Cyclops' like me also falling under lthis category. Explains Veeo, before slipping into a more irritated cadence in their voice. Accommodations for Monsters our size are a hotly fought for, it's like trying to get blood from the stone that is Human-centric local councils and Human government. Too much money and fears of 'Human Cultural Norms' being overwritten by Big Bad Scawey Mownsteeerrss, are the typical excuses. Ones that force Giant Monsters to live in single rooms, literally smaller than themselves.

Veeo shakes a little as she looks to the ceiling and sighs, clearly a topic of contention for Giant Monsters.

-Tho, our girl Veeo must have a silver tongue to get these negotiations this far, I've seen how Humans treat their own, like GRT folks and that. Compliments Butters.

-Well you know. Veeo bashfully replies. It's not me, it's lifetime of trauma of never having any room be big enough for you ever!

Veeo gives a fake smile, before their entire face drops back to resting as they take a sip from their coffee. Butters hands Chloe their cup of tea, in which The Cat gets a slight whiff of Nepeta from her brew. Butters must've taken some 'Special Teabags' from Chloe's room before coming here today. The Squirrel is holding another mug in their other hand, which to Chloe's surprise they didn't keep for themselves, walking towards the doorway and spotting Macio, the mushroom woman from earlier in the doorway and levitating Butters from their Mug based burden.

-Well least the boss understands you'd be best suited for working with your people. Macio begins. Cos guess who got stuck with another assignment about Alraune's?

Chloe began to employ the body language of "Oh that's good, you got something to do with folks like you" like raised eyebrows and a nodding motion, but luckily she just manages to catch Butters' expression in the corner of their eye. The very much "Uh oh, casual speciesim is occurring" rolling of the eyes, tuts and head shakes. Chloe tries to pass of their nodding like they were charging up for the world's most disapproving head shake. Complete with Uuuuhhh's and Aarrgghhhss's to really sell it. Well, oversell it as Butters shoots The Cat a "Are you kidding me?" look.

-Well Macio, I'm sure we all know why that's bad, but perhaps for the sake of exposition, for no one in this room in particular, why don't you just explain it anyways? Requests Butters.

Chloe looks down with a little embarrassment, trying to avoid direct eye contact with anyone in the room. Macio begins to explain:

-So this one is a Mushroom right? We're Fungi and Alraunes are Flowers. But it's typical of Animals to put us in the same category of Plants. Which you can get why that's bad right?

-Yeah, yeah... No. Admits Chloe.

-Well, imagine if someone said Mammals and Vertebrate had the exact same needs?

Chloe nods and points to Macio, yup yup yup, they understood that dynamic completely and no more needed to be said.

-We feel weird complaining tho. Macio continues. Like we obviously wouldn't work with Fungi in this line of work, but it's the fact you lot never get these jobs y'know? We have to study up on Alraune stuff as much as you'd have too. Like none of us go here, right?

-Sorry if this is another headass question like. Begins Chloe, inspiring no confidence with anyone in the room. But like, why wouldn't you work with Mushrooms? Do you guys like, never need help?

-Oh we would theoretically, we're all suffering under a Human Supremacy right? Tho we have a... Let's not say Advantage cos in the grand scheme of things it's not, let's call it a wrinkle. But since we're all connected we can just ask the Mushrooms who know to take over the wheel in those times.

Chloe stands a little flabbergasted before turning to Butters for some kind of backup or explanation. The Squirrel just puts their paw on Chloe's shoulder.

-It's best to just take these insane statements at face value and hope that one day, we can just put them all together and it'll explain everything. Butters advises.

A scowl starts to appear on Macio's face upon hearing that.

-Oh fuck off Mammal, let us show you, ask me a question, some information this vessel doesn't have acc-. Macio stops herself before rephrasing the request: That is to say, ask I... Me, yeah ask -Me- something -I- don't know.

The Mushroom looks around the room to check if she said that sentence correctly, Veeo gives an affirming nod.

-Okay uuhhh, what's "723x23." Asks Chloe, thinking Math would be a good old faithful "Who fucking knows."

-Who fucking knows? Replies Macio.

After giving an over exaggerated shrug, she tilts her head towards the ceiling, as Chloe could see the grooves under the cap on her head start to convulse, as the cap itself shivers as little specs of dust fall from underneath. This dust begins to glow a neon red, as it appears Macio seem to be accessing -something-. Their head jerks back to face the Monsters in the room as they recite in a different cadence in their voice to what has been there this entire time:

-16629.

She then shakes her head before continuing to speak, but speaking like she had been previously.

-Sorry, that should've been more impressive. But the mathematicians weren't available as quickly as the Mushrooms who were currently on their phone were. But you probably get what we were getting at, right?

-So like you're all connected together on like a Mushroom network? Guesses Chloe.

-That's an individualistic view of it. Explains Macio. But that's the gist of it. It'd be more accurate to say there is no 'Me' but... -Me- am but one root of a single being. -Mys- uses a name to...

Veeo shakes her head.

-Uhhh -I- use a name, because it's y'know, easier for Individual Monsters to comprehend our nature, erm -Me- nature. Me, I, do this thing. Macio franticly explains.

-You don't have to mask like that Macio, there's two Them's literally in this room. Reassures Butters. Basically Chloe just think of their pronouns as "We/Us" and just go about understanding them from their.

Chloe nods, as they seem to at least understand these concepts enough to be respectful to Macio. It was however a lot of new information to take at once, so much so it took a little bit to notice the contradiction in Butters' reply: 'Two' Enbys? Did they miss that Veeo was nonbinary? Well no they didn't say that they said "Them's" and Chloe was sure Veeo used She/Her pronouns, right? Her ear twitches, in fact it has been twitching constantly for the last few minutes. For some reason, Chloe's eyes are drawn, more compelled even, towards the broken water heater across the room. The Cat focuses on their own distorted reflection within the canister and then she notices it, a mass of stretched out colours that doesn't seem to corroborate with any object currently in the room. A stretch of Pale, Reds and Blacks invading the reflection.

-Way to give away the fun Butters.

And there it is, that feeling again, that she felt before. The feeling, the idea, the KNOW, that the basic understanding of the world Chloe inhabits has changed. That the reflection isn't a reflection at all, it's the window to reality and the space she currently stands in, is the distortion. Sure enough, the reflection in the water heater depicts the reality she once knew to be a universal truth, she was alone. The Cat then hoists her entire body around behind her, well like softly as to not spill their tea, as Bloody Mary stands behind her sipping a mug of tea of their own.

-Yeah you should get used to that, they like to do that a looooooot. Laments Butters.

-That reminds me to follow up on my email to the boss about a reflectionless break room. Veeo muses.

-We've been over this, if there's nothing in the room to reflect from that leaves but one place. Explains Bloody Mary, before ominously pointing towards the reflection in their own eye, with their free hand.

Chloe relaxes their body language, tho still carrying a look of mistrust on their face. They know enough to know people trying to be THIS familiar with you, without barely knowing you are usually complete dickheads. Despite the scowl, it doesn't stop Bloody Mary from engaging with The Cat.

-Oh it's kosher to ask by the way. Explains Bloody Mary.

-Ask what? Chloe replies.

-Like what kind of Monsters I work with.

-Nah, wasn't wondering about that.

Bloody Mary breaks out in a huge grin, before putting their arm over Chloe's shoulder.

-Oh this is a good one Butters, at least more loyal than them losers you usually date. Blood Mary remarks.

-Hey excuse you, I'm a year clean from dating Humans you know. Argues Butters.

-Oh aye? Does that mean you two are dating then? Asks Bloody Mary.

Butters stammers and panics, clearly not being something them and Chloe have spoken about directly, with a tinge of annoyance that they so clearly banana peel'd into one of Bloody Mary's traps. Seeing this Chloe decided to bail them out, putting her own arm over Bloody Mary's as she replies:

-Well least they got someone to be awkward about, can't imagine there's much call for uh... Monsters with glass sticking out of their cooch.

Bloody Mary gives a surprised look to Butters as they point at Chloe and nod, clearly approving of the sass.

-I'll have you know there's a long line of people waiting to get with a Apparition, especially one so close to, and i'm not bragging here but; godhood. Bloody Mary argues. Also the glass thing too, a lot of people wanna die fucking. While I'm at it how do you even know there's a pussy even down their? Tut tut, not very enby-solidairty of you.

-So I take it, 'Apparitions' are the Monsters you work with? Chloe asks back.

-Gasp! Would you look at that? She got me to disclose it without giving me the satisfaction of asking me! Butttteerrrrssss, I thought you told us she was stupid!

Chloe turns to Butters with eyebrows raised, Butters just shrugs.

-What are you looking at me like that for? You are stupid. But hot too. Stupid and hot. Butter explains.

Chloe turns to Bloody Mary and just gives a contented nod. I mean they're right, stupid and hot is all Chloe has ever aspired to be in this life.

Bloody Mary removes themselves from The Cat and finds their own spot in the break room.

-So Butters, since we're all asking, what duty did you get today? Blood Mary inquires.

-Hang on, you didn't have your go yet. Objects Chloe.

-Meeting with Rosarchs to convince them of their physically in our reality, so yes they should apply for benefits. Whatever! Butters you go.

Butters sighs to themselves and looks into their mug for a little while. But upon discovering a long uncomfortable silence wasn't gonna be enough to convince the subject to be dropped they continue.

-Chloe here is shadowing me and The Boss. Butters explains. I'm taking minutes again for another -pleasant- social services meeting.

-Well, it's your fault for being so good at it! Macio Suggests.

-Good at... Taking notes? Asks Chloe, possessing intimate knowledge about the worse note taker in the entire world: Butters Grey.

-Well anyone can learn to do that, but at like... Noticing things! If these genociders slip up during a meeting and they always do, this one catches it right away! Just the littlest things we'd never notice!

Chloe see's Macio beaming with pride about this very niche talent of Butters, she looks over to The Squirrel with a smile, with Butters having no idea how to react to this praise.

-Like just to explain it, last meeting they had with a social worker they caught them in a lie. Veeo begins to explain. So these people where trying to take this single mum Monster's kids away, arguing their environment was in such poor conditions they wern't fit fr rasing children. But this family they were Okiku Mushi, literal maggots, it's in their culture to kind of live in filth? Intentionally rent out houses with black mould to eat that stuff up, like picking rosemary from your garden or something. But these Humans were not having it, they had to live in a 'Humane' place. Legislation and laws were bounced back and forth, semantics to literally decide if these kids were gonna be sold off to the Medical Industry, spend their lives between Foster Families or a ward. Can we 'Gotcha' our ways into this family not being traumatised for the rest of their lives, against these Humans trying to hit a quota for an xmas bonus.

Veeo then starts to point at Butters, with genuine admiration.

-But this one, oh this squirrel, is the champion of this. Like the Mother will argue on their last visit they didn't even bother to make safety checks, like measuring if the mould amount in the house is within the legal allowance outlined in the Monster Thriving Accommodation Guidelines (MTAG) for Monsters like Okiku Mushi. They have equipment for that and they didn't bring it for the inspection. They lied at first, but they couldn't get their story straight and every mention and implication, Butter was fucking on it.

"Well of course we took the readings"

"So you have the readings for the accommodation?"

"That is to say um, we followed protocol of course"

"Can you show us the readings that corroborate with your report?"

"The numbers in the report are accurate with our findings"

"Which your tests can prove are accurate, if you can show us a copy"

"We cannot give you this right now..."

"Why not? You have the notes you took from the meeting right there"

"Well we can't, seem to, find that data..."

"So you can't prove the readings are accurate?"

"We cannot at this time trace these results to our inspection of the accommodation in question..."

"So there's no evidence these numbers represent the property or the inspection carried out today?"

Like BOOM!!! They were bang on it!

Veeo gestures with glee towards Butters, like a "Gottem" moment. Bloody Mary finishes their tea and takes over.

-Listen these two are dire at the spectacle part of these stories. But in plain terms: Your friend here has a knack for "Noticing" things, and that talent has caught Human's breaking protocol. They had to have been insane at Spot the Difference when they were a bab, like. Luck would have it they landed a career in the only way you can make a pay cheque from "Noticing" things.

Butters looks in a right state, normally this is a Monster who lives for any and all praise, but maybe the nature of being good at "Noticing" leaves them in a bit of a muddle. Like it's not something you can really brag about outside of this specific microcosm right? But Chloe still got swept up in this, herself beaming with pride at what they've accomplished. That's them, that's them right there, her scrimb. She's so proud.

Butters has another perspective however, this work is specifically like looking into the maw of genocide itself. The celebratory tone of the story masks the fact that Monsters are having their families destroyed for a commission, they join a long line of Racialised and Autistic families who have been the source of income of these institutions employing the exact same tricks. It's legally sanctioned genocide and any attempts and flagging this up make you sound like a conspiracy theorist. Butters is good at "Noticing" but my god, they wanna be good at killing them. To be able to dig their nails in the smarmy cunts face, the moment they enter the room, let alone get caught in a lie in a attempt to destroy the most marginalised of people, Human and Monster alike. They do not want to get the in a Gotcha!! They want BLOOD.

But it's the only job they've been able to hold down, they're GOOD at it, but even after just over a year the psychic damage is too much to bear. No one should be doing this for more then 6 months, let alone for a good chunk of their life, not a just world...

Butters feels a force on their head, as a paw caresses the back of it and something rubs against their forehead. The rhythmic vibrations of purring gave away this was Chloe , trying o pass some calming or healing properties onto The Squirrel. She didn't even ask if they were okay, they didn't need to, they just needed some comfort. Butters grabs the back of Chloe's had with both paws and grinds against Chloe's head with applied aggression. This is kind of Cat for I Love You in a way.

-Thank you. Butters quietly utters, as they softly bump their against Chloe, just taking in the purring as it gets progressively louder and louder.

Butters moves their head around Chloe's to check the status of the room, they must've been dissociating for a while again, as they and Chloe are the only ones in the room currently.

Chloe see's Butters head come back into contact with theirs, lightly rubbing against it. Before noticing a pause in The Squirrel, a reprieve that lingers just before the "Fuck it" as they lean in to kiss The Cat. Not so much a matter of fact intentionality as the kiss they had earlier in the hallway, but one of the walls coming completely down. They need this from Chloe right now, that is to say nothing of how much they wanted this. Afterwards, they grab Chloe's collar and drags them in closer, before giving a long sigh and pushing her away.

-Listen; No. Butters commands. At least, absolutely not on your first day. But after this shift, we have the whole night.

Butters taps the nails of their claws down Chloe's chest with each inflection, before pushing her back to Socially Acceptable Distance Between Two People.

-For now, we just gotta get through this meeting. Explains Butters. And you be on your best behaviour, or I'm going straight home and jacking off in the shower.

Chloe straightens their body posture and salutes, the two Monsters then head out of the door towards their destination, the door to the break room giving away to a back street, just off a main street in Nottingham, that contained the Health Centre they needed to go. The Monsters are too distracted with each other to take notice of this odd phenomena, instead walking side by side as they slowly grasp the others paw.