"It wants to eat." So, in a way, yes. It was attracted to their power, to what they were, what they had.

It wasn't like how Cillian Quinn was attracted to that power, though. How many coveted it. They wanted to hold it in their fists, rise above others, be able to assert themselves as superior.

This thing did not want to be strong. It did not want to rule over others. It just wanted to eat.

"Why is it so hungry?"

He wants to know. But who could he ask? Who would know the answer?

"I think so."

Was it getting worse? Would he even be able to tell? So far, it seemed like he hadn't been able to... attacking people, losing snatches of time, doing god knew what else. This was the most himself he had felt in a while. Wasn't that fucked up?

"Huh?"

It takes a moment for him to put two and two together, before he finally fully turns to face Cillian Quinn.

He flicks his fingers again, crystal expanding back up his arms, both of them this time, until it hides under his clothes. It expands off his fingertips, thin strands of black crystal that writhe.

"Yeah, it's me." Lifting his hands up, the strands of crystal interlock, forming hearts.

"I don't really thing it 'picked' me." No, this whole situation was a lot different than what Lugia had given to Cillian Quinn. Lugia and Gavin seemed compatible. And, well.. if he was compatible with this thing, that probably wasn't a good sign.

"May as well." The crystal retracted, the horrible clinking sound going with it, and Chu-e huffed when it was back under his skin. "I don't think I can handle the needles, though. Might pretend it won't let me deal with them, or something." It wasn't like Walsh wouldn't find out eventually, anyway.

"... I also don't know if it's good to mix whatever this is with MAGMA. I got it from licking a fingernail clipping, flames knows what something more biological would do to someone." If it was a mercy, kill them.

"Man, I would have to be the start of, like, some zombie invasion. Just my luck." Clicking his tongue, Chu-e sighed and shook his head. But, it wouldn't do any good to sit and wallow in it any longer. He could be depressed about it when he got home. They still had loose ends to tie up here in Sootopolis before they could move on.

"Isn't there some movie where a guy gets a parasite, and, like, bonds with his body? And people really wanted them to fuck?" Chu-e frowned, as if this was a very serious thing to say. "You don't think it wants to fuck me, right? I already have a boyfriend. Will I need to find a way to turn it down?"

Deflect with humor, as always.

Cillian Quinn

"Actually, wait, let's think about this."

Said, as before, with much more severity than needed.

Idly, Chu-e sat down, took off his shoes, dipped his hot and sore feet in the water. He was suddenly very, very tired.

"Let's count the benefits here. People have tentacles fetishes, right? It could totally do that for us. Like, some real anime shit. Just gotta get the schoolgirl uniforms."

Man, maybe it was kind of sad for Necrozma that it had decided to live inside of Chu-e and not the other way around.

Cillian Quinn

"Maybe. Like... actually, I don't know if pokemon and human stuff is allowed on there. I wouldn't think so. Might need to look somewhere darker. Like Deviantart."

Groaning, Chu-e leans back further, laying down on the ground, letting the sand stick to his clothes and skin as he stares up at the ring of sky. It still feels surreal, and soon the crushing reality of responsibility will come back down on them, but for now Chu-e is okay with this. Just him and his best friend making jokes and taking a few moments to themselves.

He's tired, and Chu-e recognizes it as the distinct kind of tired that's more than just body, something deep inside of him. It hurts, a little, to breathe. Yet, it's in the unsure middle ground where he can't tell if it's psychological or physical, if it's body or mind breaking down first.

For now, though, he can push it aside and just exist.

Cillian Quinn