The coffee pot bubbles and Chu-e blinks.

"Okay. That's a lot to unpack."

He raises a brow at her, ticks off some mental boxes. Madeleine Miro was certainly... interesting. He'd need to see if Cillian Quinn knew anything about her.

"But that's not what I meant. What else?"

For the moment, professional and patient. It would be up to her if he stayed that way.

"Yup." Just for extra show, there was a another moment before crystals overtook his hand, encasing it and up his arm in black, before it, too, sunk back into his skin.

"You know how some gods will pick Avatars?" Gavin or Lulu were good examples, given they were prominent Avatars in Rocket. "I think it's something like that. I got punched in the face, probably would have snapped my neck, but instead all this crystal comes out and..."

Well, Chu-e hadn't really told Leon Vercetti about all the shit he had been going through with his parasite. It was easier, if selfish, to keep that... away from him. From Eris Halla. Maybe he was just a bad person.

"I've been able to feel it in the back of my head ever since."

Chu-e was at the coffee machines only because he was thinking if it was worth it to brew some decaf. Sometimes he did miss the taste of coffee even if it was bad for him.

Madeleine Miro was given a quick glance and nod to acknowledge her. He didn't talk right away, busy squinting at labels, before shrugging and dumping out the pot that had been sitting there before.

"I think something's wrong with her." Or, at least, suspicious. For the sake of the time-line, this thread can take place after 'Platinum', where Chu-e talks to her.

"Could you tell me some about your routines with her?"

"Melody."

A small greeting, somber even if Chu-e was pleased to see the Gym Leader. It was just a shame it had to be in this circumstance.

A tray of food was in hand, something still warm he had brought from home. It was surely better than whatever they had been feeding her. A plastic bottle of juice was chilled in a container with it.

Behind him, his Gardevoir followed, one of the ones that had been at her challenge. Prince nodded to her when he saw her as well.

"I brought you something to eat."

Melody Miro

"No, you sleep." It would be enough to come and curl next to the other and enjoy being close, even if Leon Vercetti was asleep. Mostly it was the feeling of not being alne he was seeking, and if he could wake up and have the first thing he see be his boyfriend that would make it all the better.

Chu-e didn't sat up, just stayed in place and curled up further into himself. That way he could look up at Leon.

Instead of answering, he raised his hand. It took a moment, but from his palm sprouted the black crystal tentacle again, which reached out to caress Leon on the cheek before sliding back into skin. Nothing left behind, like it wasn't even there to start.

"That happened."

"You may be wondering why I called you here today."

Chu-e cut an imposing figure to anyone who didn't know him in the moment. The setting was one of those tea houses with the private rooms, looking out over some of the natural beauty of Petalburg. He was sitting proper on his little custom, some cute little cakes in front of him.

The war party was taking up the other pillows, save for one, which was offered to Zac Ramsay, whom was the guest of honor of this meeting of the minds.

The war party yowled in answer.

They were, of course, the group of like 16 Skitty that Chu-e owned, all crowded into this little room.

At least Chu-e had taught them not to get on the table.

"That's the hard part about being in charge... gotta make sure all the fires are put out." Both figuratively and literally. Either way, he melted into the affection like he was butter and Leon Vercetti was the hot knife. A soft sigh left him as he just... existed for a bit. Allowed Leon's kiss to center him and calm some of the shakier piece of him.

"When I get done, can I come sleep here with you?"

His own home was just as close but the idea of his cold, empty bed was just too much for him.

"I think something bad happened to me. It scared me. I don't want to be alone."

"Balder Schwartz, going dark." With what bit of strength Balder has left, Chu-e watches as the man gives one last defiance in breaking his communicator. The tentacle would find it's way around his neck again, squeezing tight, the man of steel forced to be flesh and blood once again. Chu-e wouldn't let him have air till the other was fully unconscious. Any last eye contact or otherwise between Balder and Lulu Flint is missed by Chu-e. It's there, just not something I'm comfortable expanding upon, and so Dri and Mad can have that moment later.

(Above part of the post co-signed by Dri, who is in a power outage and can't post himself.)

When Balder finally fell limp, Chu-e slowly pushed himself up to his feet.

Crystal shifted over his skin, slowly sinking back to wherever it had been hiding before.

A tired look was shot to Cillian Quinn. His fingertips twitched as he looked at the other, craving, but thanks to the feast he had gotten it was kept down for now. It wasn't enough, nothing would be enough, but for the moment the worst of the hunger pains were sated.

"Decker, Cross, Delarosa. Status." One couldn't forget about their team, even if his thoughts were frenzied. Chu-e needed to make sure Killian Decker, jayden cross, and bryan delarosa were still safe. He would wait to see if they responded, what they said, before clearing his throat and speaking again. A more general order to everyone still listening.

"Stay steady. Continue to flush the League out of the city. Protect the citizens who want to stay. Don't interfere with those who want to leave. Just because shit's looking good doesn't mean we can rest on our laurels till this is over."

There was a quick check of his pokeballs when he was done, a quiet 'fuck' muttered under breath.

"Flint." Spoken up, sudden, if she were still around. "Can you help me transport him back to base?"

---

- Since Dri's power is out, I asked him in DMS if he wanted to say anything in particular
- Balder talks over the comms one last time and smashes his earpiece (Dri Approved)
- Chu-e chokes him unconscious
- He checks on his team then sends a message out to the rest of rocket
- Asks Lulu for help transporting Balder

"Whore." Said full of fondness and adoration. Chu-e curled against the other in an instant when Leon Vercetti was so gracious to allow the touch.

He was a bit damp, grimy, and stinky but surely Leon would understand.

"I can't stay long." It was a miracle he had slipped off to start with. Surely Cillian Quinn would be on the warpath if he didn't return to the sub, soon. Yet, he just needed.... comfort.

"It was a lot." And it was something that Chu-e needed a bit longer to process. "Will you kiss me and tell me it'll be okay?"

Being aware of the crystals under his flesh was new, feeling the overwhelming snap of hunger at the back of his mind. For the moment, Chu-e just wanted to feel normal. Loved.

"It could be." Was promised, sweet. The hand gripping Leon Vercetti's shirt let go, both hands moving to caress his cheeks and ruffle up his hair. The tentacle slid from it's place, back into whatever it had come from, as Chu-e's weight dipped the edge of the bed.

"Lay down and lift your arms up. I want snuggles." Bullish, he was trying to force his way into Leon's bed- for some attention, at least, and nothing less savory for the moment. Chu-e could smell the alcohol thick on the other's breath. Even if he was needy, he wasn't in bad enough shape to take advantage.