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Coleo comes down the stairs at a glacial pace, looking like an old man in an even older cartoon; night gown, hobbling in the dark, holding a pail with a candlestick on it sort of vibe. Except it's just a onesie and a smartphone. She can't explain why she's up right now, she just knows the pub has got to be open right now, even at 2am on a Tuesday or whatever. There's no universal rule of if the pub is open past closing, obvs people staying in the rooms have a key to let themselves in through the back, but the pub? Sometimes it is, sometimes it's not, if Monsters need it to be Coleo can be woken up of course, but she didn't even need that, she just knew somehow she needs to be here right now. After making herself a cup of coffee and a home remedy kelp flavoured tea, she begins to truly exist in this world once again. Despite this compulsion she had no idea what it could be for, anyone could be bursting through that door, tho she knows intimately that someone will. Granted it's a knowing she had acquired after gaining her new body so it should cause her some kind of alarm, but Coleo has always been a duty over the self kind of Celopod and she's the master of "And we'll file away those thoughts for later"

The door begins to open, as the Octopus' appendages all perk up in surprise, as a Monster all clad in black, balaclava included, walks in through the door. She takes the mask of her head revealing to be a patron she knows quite well:

Chloe, very clearly exhausted with laboured breathing, just stares into space, not given any notice to the faded blood and humanity on her face, somehow having seeped through her balaclava. Their claws start to dig into the bar side as the adrenaline that had enabled whatever she did tonight starts to leave her body. Coleo whips a bar towel towards their paws in order to get them to stop damaging the merchandise.

-Oh, um. Sorry ma'am.

Soon after another figure in similar all black comes waltzing into The Hound, tho this one has only half-hearted committed to the bit as they were still wearing their typical leather shorts, making no effort to hide their huge incriminating tail. Butters likewise takes off their mask and parks themselves next to The Cat.

-Hey boss, thank you so much for opening up for us.

-She didn't, I only just managed to get here. Explains Chloe.

-Oh? You got a hostel thing going on at the moment?

Coleo just shakes her head as she tries to think of how to explain this to the pair.

-Nah I just... Got the feeling I was gonna need to open tonight. I didn't know it'd be you two mugs or I would've stayed in bed obviously.

Chloe sticks out their tongue at Coleo at this ribbing, but Butters stays looking befuddled for a moment, before remembering something.

-Oh is this like, cos of the new body thing do you reckon? Butters asks.

-New body thing? Wonders Chloe.

She then looks at Coleo's face, before glancing down to their hands... Hands!? Chloe picks them up with their paws.

-Whhhhoooaaaaa maaatttee. When did this come in?

-For the last week now, I noticed it straight away but I wasn't sure it was kosher to ask about it. Explains Butters.

-I know transforming into a Monster hurts like hell, but how much must've growing a body caned?

-Oh, more then you two could imagine. Coleo replies, taking their hands away from Chloe's grip. Plus I'm discovering all these new abilities that seem to come with it.

-Oh are you like... Psychic now or summant? Chloe asks.

Coleo just nods along for a quiet life, but she knows this isn't exactly correct. She can't explain it but ESP is an entire ass thing with some Monsters, but it's not quite that. People versed in psionics tap into the mental and thought, but in an embracing way. They master and become aware of all aspects of thought, in order to manipulate it or empower it. But this felt different, this attunement to the mental feels like night vision, the ability to identify something, in order to harness your ability to destroy it. This isn't an ability of the Psychic, this is the ability of Madness... I mean probably! She doesn't know, she's been anthropomorphic for a week now silly!

Coleo takes the two Monsters orders and goes to serve them up.

-If you don't want me to charge the "Got me up at an ungoldy hour tax" on these drinks, might I suggest just buying a room for tonight. You two need to lay low I imagine?

This is when Chloe suddenly becomes cognizant of the mess on her face, she freezes up before giving a little nod.

-Wait no, you're literaly working at my job to make dollar cos we're broke as fuck. Butters reminds.

-Awwww fuck, maybe cancel those drinks.

-I'll just put the room on your tabs for tonight, just try and recover for tonight alright?

The Octopus puts down their drinks along with a room key and proceeds to undo all their "Opening the pub up" satisfied she could go back to sleep, simply reminding the pair of Monsters to switch the lights off when they come to bed.

-Wait we have a tab? Asks Chloe as soon as Coleo is out of earshot.

-Well, we do now I guess?

-Oh.... Well that's good right? I hear you should get repay tabs to improve your credit score or whatever.

-I dunno if that really counts here Chloe. Explains Butters. Also what do you need a Credit Score for? We could not literally afford these drinks girl.

Both Monsters take their drinks and key and decide to sit on the much more comfortable sofa seats in the bar, one directly under a lamp light too. As they both settle in, there's an uncomfortable silence that's introduced to the scene, eventually broken by Chloe herself.

-Hey, I'm sorry for y'know... All of that.

Butters gives a long sigh, as they recoil in their seat. But ultimately puts their paw on top of Chloe, who is currently grasping both of theirs together.

-I didn't have to follow you out of the house, you know? Like trusted I wanted to be mad, wanted to rip your dang head off the moment I caught you walking out the door in your friggin charity shop assassin fit. Cos I knew! I knew exactly what shit you were gonna get up to like. But... This feels better don't it? Like we're in the good timeline, I choose this as much as you did. Honestly? I'm glad you did.

Chloe looks up to Butters, who has now shifted right next to her and places their arm around The Cat to bring them in closer.

-I can never instigate the things you do Chloe, honestly we're in two very different places with this stuff. I can't throw that first stone like you can, but I'll be damned if I won't follow you the moment you do.

-I... Hmm, I feel that's fibbing a little, it's never felt like you've followed me all the time before. Replies Chloe.

Butters shifts back in their seat, ugh this is really not the time to go through Plurality 101 with her, so let's just say:

-Well I've been kind of reshuffling my priorities lately you know? Butters explains. It's like even if something like tonight was a horrible idea, we kind of needed it?

-I dunno where you're getting Bad Idea from, we ended that guy, he won't be able to sell off any of Monster's kids to some ward for a big commission anymore.

-That doesn't make it a good idea you know...

-Isst? Did you forget that Sapian? Chloe replies, leaning forward as her voice gets louder. The way he talked about Monsters like they're lesser beings, all while referring to his own Monsterous kid? Imagine how much suffering we've prevented that kid going through?

-You have NOT got to tell me anything Chloe, I've been face to face with these cunts longer then you have, you know: A fucking day?

-Then how could it possibly be a bad thing!?

-It's just a plaster over the fissure, they'll replace him with another scumbag, like a Hydra head...

-Oh yeah? And you know how the story of the Hydra ended Butters? The Hydra eventually DIES.

Chloe swings their arms towards the Squirrel in frustration, as she returns to recline in her seat. Ugh, they have a slight thought of regret, she had been riding the high of finally feeling like closing the chasm between her and Butters that they forgot how bad these little clashes of ideology feels. Tho even Chloe can even pick up on something feeling different, she looks up to find Butters staring into space with a look of... Pondering. A far cry from the typical awkward tension this usually leaves.

-Well, if someone's willing to do the diligence of cut that head of every time. Butters continues. Then I think you have a point there. Just Y'know, it's gotta be someone else I can't be arsed to do this every week or whatever.

-Heh ...Y-yeah? Chloe asks, a little in disbelief.

-Well... Yeah? What do you mean?

-Nothing, it's just you've never like conceded to my point of view like this before, it's usually "Don't hurt the smoll Hoomin beans" or whatever.

-Well, like I said I've been reevaluating some things, letting other parts of me influence well, MY point of view. Like I'm not on team Human Genocide suddenly or anything, but something's gotta give innit? You were never not talking sense you know Chloe.

Butters takes a moment to place their paws on their face and rub their whole face for a few seconds, before just swinging their head upwards. Chloe gets a feeling they're switching decks almost, that's the descriptor that comes to mind anyways.

-But I dunno maybe people arn't a monolith, maybe people's morals really can be altered by just being tired of fighting the people they're closest too. I dunno! I dunno...

Butters places their paw on top of Chloe's interlocking their fingers with hers.

-I dunno, I think I'm just contradicting myself and not making any sense now I reckon. Explains Butters.

-Nah I get it, you're willing to compromise a little these days for the people you care about. Explains Chloe. And maybe if one day you're really lucky I might also think about doing the same.

Chloe grins and giggles between her teeth as they turn to face Butters, who just rolls their eyes. They lean over and place their left paw under Chloe's, to tag out the right one so tp speak, which now finds itself pulling the back of Chloe's hair to hoist her head upwards. The Cat can't help but let out a little moan at the suddenness of the gesture.

-Ohhh such a tough girl here on the streets, when I know that all melts away once we hit the sheets. Butters explains.

They lean over further to sink their teeth into The Cats neck, not with full strength of course, but still enough to hurt her a little bit. Chloe instinctively starts tapping their hind paws against the floor, as she starts to bite her own lip, with little chirps escaping her breath as she tries to hold it in as the sensations overtake her body.

Butters then brings Chloe's head to lead a long and passionate kiss. Despite how ungodly horny she is right now, The Cat still notices that during their embrace, The Squirrels eyes dart, for a split milliesecond, towards the bar like they see something. But it lasts for such a brief moment before they go back to kissing Chloe. After a while Butters draws backs and softly speaks into The Cats ear.

-Why don't we make use of this room we've been so generously donated?

The pair shoots up out of their seats as they head right towards upstairs as fast as their feet will carry them. Tho Butters has to back up a little bit, forgetting to turn off the lights at the bar. They pause. Chloe leans back from the stairway to check what's happening. That spot again... They're staring right at it. Chloe leans to see what has captivated their attention so and... An empty bar. Chloe looks at Butters confused, but Butters keeps staring, knowing that SHE is glaring back at the one who betrayed Humanity tonight.

Butters shakes their head before turning back to Chloe, letting her know 'It's nothing' before they speed right back towards the darkness upstairs.