#OHHH THE ANIME ONLYS WILL BE DEVASTATED WHEN THIS (eventually after a long long time) IS ANIMATED

[jujutsustraycats]

ASAGIRI WHAT ARE YOU DOING

WHAT ARE YOU DOING

WHAT THE FUCK

*ANGUISHED SCREAMING*

[morewritingforourcharacters]

Expensive brown leather loafers beat against the rain soaked pavement as Pierre ran down the city streets with a small box tucked tenderly under his arm. His eyes were full of purpose, even as the sleeting rain pelted his body and soaked him through to the bone.

Pierre knew she was the only one person who could help him. There was only one person with the ability to change the present. “Ophelia.” He muttered to himself in his thick french accent. “Where are you?” as soon as the quiet question left his lips, a buzz from his phone made Pierre stop dead- seeking eaves under which he could take out his phone.

‘Can’t you see me?’ it read, and Pierres brow furrowed. He frowned and looked down from where he had come. It took him a moment, but then he let out a sound as if he solved a particularly difficult puzzle, then walked briskly into the dark alleyway he just passed. His eyes shifted suspiciously from side to side, the alleyway only filled with the usual sort of things alleyways were filled with. “Ophelia?” He called out again more loudly. No answer. The man frowned and continued down the alley.

It was when he turned around the back of the building it ran alongside that he gasped and staggered back, eyes wide at the sight. In front of him sat stacks and stacks of cardboard boxes- so high it reached the second floor fire escapes. More curious was that… they didn’t appear wet. An indignant huff proceeded before the man slipped off his jacket to wrap around the small box he was so cautiously carrying, then set it atop one of the nearby trashcans so he could begin rummaging. He wasn’t sure what sort of game Ophelia was playing, or why she was so keen on being so obnoxiously difficult to find- but he supposed that was her prerogative when she was the self proclaimed Master of time. Box after box he opened, each one yielding something different. Sickers, staples, cupcake, stuffed animal, sushi, nothing (only one of them actually contained nothing). Minutes passed into dozens as he tore through the stack of boxes, trying to figure out the next clue… or at least appease the enigmatic woman and her whims. Was she going to be in one of these boxes? Or was this just some cruel joke in his time of need? With much annoyance, Pierre finally reached the last box- the soggy remains of the other cardboard boxes and their strange gifts lay about like fallen soldiers. It was shoebox sized- and he was beginning to think he wasted his time entirely. He picked up the container and lifted the lid- then a bright smile split across his face.

He ran back to his jacket, gingerly unfolding his jacket- but found the box he brought was no longer there. “Merci beaucoup, Où que tu sois!” He shouted into the alleyway, then threw his jacket across his shoulder and started the long way home.

--- Inside the ship Joe and Pierre called home, there was an eruption of muted panic radiating off the girl like heat off the sun. She had made the worst possible mistake- and it wasn’t even something she could secretly blame on someone else. She was still clutching the paper decorations she had made days prior, bright colors with pink and blue and white cutout mice all marching in a row tied to a string. She had been trying for a while now to pin the decoration up on the wall, but every time she tried she felt her heart squeeze unpleasantly under the rigors of stress.

Everyone was coming over today- to celebrate a baby shower for a baby that didn’t even exist. She hadn’t even known until yesterday that there was no baby- and when she did, she spent the rest of the night trying to figure out if she could cancel the get together.

But everyone had already bought presents! Flam had already baked a three tiered cake! She couldn’t cancel it now! Her and Pierre had stayed up all night trying to figure out the best way to handle the situation- intermixed with comforting kisses and long cuddling sessions where she really didn’t think about anything at all. But it was this morning when Pierre ran through the house with his usual energy, shouting as he pulled on his coat that he knew someone who could help them. Someone who could change the future. She really wished he had been more descriptive… But he always did that sort of thing- probably to frustrate her. Deliberately.

Oh… if only she hadn’t opened her mouth. If only she hadn’t tried to have any friend. If only she didn’t have to want to maintain relationships with the people she cared about. Maybe she should just fly off into space, alone, and float around the black starry lagoon she loved so much- forever.

Actually, that wasn’t a bad idea. She made to get up off her seat of misery and pain, but just as swiftly she rolled back down on the cushions, immediately covered in a half-dozen animals. It was hopeless. Joe would have gladly kept wallowing in near tears for the rest of her life, but the doorbell chimed to indicate that the world had different plans for poor Joscelyn. She winced when it cracked through the air, signalling the end of her life as she knew it. With a look of being both deeply put upon and exceedingly devastated, the small woman struggled up from the animal pile and called out ‘I’m coming’ in a voice no greater than a spirited whisper. “Oh- heh… Whooo is it?” She asked through the closed door, hoping that she had just been hearing things and that maybe… just maybe... everyone had forgotten that there was a party at her home. On purpose or otherwise.

“Oh, well, I suppose it’s Floyd!” A deep, amused voice back through the door. Joe let out a long sigh and put on a strained smile.

“Ohhh gooood.” “I’m here too, skirt! And Bala too.” Travis lazy tone followed shortly after and joe let her head fall forward against the door. “Uhm- are you sure you’re all uhm… I mean-” She pressed the wall with her finger deliberately, hard enough that she hoped they could hear her finger thud against it. “Oh no, I think the door is stuck- heh… You all might just wanna go home!” Joe said, feeling only slightly bad about lying to her friends- it was a desperate time afterall. There was a moment of silence where Joe though that that was it- that for once in her life she could make a mistake and it wouldn’t be the end of the world… “Ah, don’t worry Joscelyn, I can get it open. I used to have trouble with this door myself.” Flam said as something scraped in the crack of the door. “It might do a little damage though!” Some horrible straining noise proceeded from the door, and Joe practically thrust her whole body on the door button panel in the attempt to get it open. O-ohh ha- heh- ha… Oh, I guess i just pressed the wrong button….” Joe said with exasperation, smiling stiffly at the familiar stranger at the door. Flam was, of course, disguised- this time as a middle aged bus driver, holding a large box that was filled- presumably- with the three tiered cake he baked for the occasion. Bala was in the back heaving a huge pile of presents- and Travis… Brought himself.

“Heh… mmm You guys really went all out on this… It kinda feels like your trying to one up me and make it impossible for me ever to do anything better…” She said through her saddish smile, which got her a concerned look from Floyd. “Just kidding, heh…”

Flam smiled uncomfortably in his disguise and stepped in first, smoothly transitioning into his usual form. “Well, its nothing, really! It’s a celebration of life, isn’t it? I can think of no better occasion to go all out than this one.” he said in that sort of imperious way that would make anyone with the smallest shred of self-doubt feel small and condescended to. Unfortunately she was the only one in her group with any shred of any kind of doubt. “Totally! I mean, there's nothing more important in life than life itself, right? Need any help with that stuff, skirt?” He directed back at Bala, who could barely see behind the stack of presents. “Fine. Am’a fine.” She shot back, sounding as aggressive and blunt as usual.

Joscelyn felt herself shrink more and more every second they were here, and tried her best not to make a fool of herself while they traversed the dog flooded house and into the kitchen. Flam set down the cake as soon as he reached the counter and started working to unveil it from its box. “Ah- what lovely decorations. Pink and blue, hm?” He said with raised eyebrows. Travis piped in. “Twins? Rad. I’ll give them all my blessing, man.” Bala just dropped the presents where she stood, which made Joe jump like a frightened rodent and skitter away slightly.

“Mmhmm- Oh- yeaaah…” She breathed, feeling herself start to feel faint as her heart pounded out of her chest. Where was Pierre? What was he doing? “Where is Pierre?” Flam said, which made Joe stare at him in slight terror. Could shapeshifters read minds? But the questioning look on his face eventually made her realize that it was actually a legitimate question.

“Oh, well… heh… uhm…” “And where are the little scamps?” Travis added with his languid smile, shuffling around to root through their fridge without asking. Joe started to back away, feeling all the eyes on her as if she was a juicy piglet in a den of hungry wolves. “Heh- well- heh… So…” She stammered so much that Flam paused in lifting the top off the cake box to stare at her. “... Is something the matter?” Flam prodded. Oh- oh the room was closing in on her. What would she say? What would she tell them? Why wasn’t pierre here? Did he give up on her and decide to let her suffer for her actions alone? Well, she supposed that was fair, even though she stuck with him through the whole Francis ordeal without complaint. “Heh- actually- there… Hm… So, it wasn’t on purpose, but-”

Right on time, just like a time traveler should be, Pierre burst into the room like a triumphant warrior. “AH! You all arrived!” He said, as if he weren’t the last to get there. He was trying to keep his panting from showing, but his red face and tousled hair- and the fact that he was soaked head to toe in rain- was indication enough that he had been in a hurry. Everyone swiveled around to look at him, and Joe felt like she was about to cry for relief. Now she wouldn’t have to tell them the bad news, Pierre could! “Nephew! Why- you are in quite a state…” He said with concern. Travis follow it up with his usual Hail and Bala crossed her arms over her chest waiting with critical eyes for an explanation for this strange behavior. “Well. That happens when you run for a couple miles. Here- the guest of honor.” He said, pulling the shoebox he had gotten from the alley out of his pocket. There was a noise of scrambling within, then, when Pierre opened the box- a rat with five little rat babies sat on a bed of cheese crackers. Everyone had a look inside, all giving various signs of cooing at the new mother and children- Joe most of all. She was practically in tears as she came over next to Pierre and looked into the box. She gathered up the little creatures and leaned affectionately against her husband, hardily caring that he was dripping with rain. The question was why they weren’t in the house this whole time- but these questions were evaded as Pierre artfully herded everyone into the livingroom to open presents of little mouse clothes and rat toys. When they were all chattering and fawning in the living room, the lid of the cake box jostled slightly, only a pair of dark sunglasses and a single strand of hair popping out from the gap. “Good work, mark. Good work.”