novelraw Chapter 343 285 - Ideal Home
Chapter 343 285 - Ideal Home
To say Mzia was curious about à deux was an understatement.
Taika and Shouri went from arguing to being one in just a short instant. It was beautiful. It was something she so desperately wanted. She didn't know it was possible to crave a deep, meaningful connection with a person to such an extent.
Admittedly, this desire came bundled with a deep-seated jealousy aimed squarely at Shouri's Resonators. At first, she kept her eye on Taika and how close she was with him. For the next day, she just conveniently found herself wherever Shouri happened to be.
It wasn't that she wanted him (okay, maybe she did a little bit), but she wanted to sort through her feelings. Her Natural owners never afforded her any feelings quite as intense as this, so for a seventeen-year-old girl, this was a life-altering realization.
Mzia did want a Maestro.
Not just anyone would do.
She craved a Maestro she could share à deux with.
That was what she wanted.
"I think it's a wonderful idea, Holly," said Emily.
The trio of guild leadership of Shouri, Emily, and Holly sat around the desk. Profiles for their five current residents displayed across the three monitors.
"Cool, I'll add some custom fields. We can interview each of them and determine what kind of traits they want in a Maestro, or what kind of work they're interested in," said Holly, as she got that process started.
Shouri let out a breath. His mind was elsewhere. Bed last night was…contentious to say the least. Taika refused to sleep with them. She apologized profusely, saying she couldn't do it; she couldn't let him see.
What happened that made her so afraid to let him in? He felt almost slighted that she wouldn't let him in, even after what they showed off to Mzia, even after he had seen what Pacifica and Rebecca worried about.
There was no part of him that was hesitant. Whatever Taika went through--he wanted to bear it all with her.
But she wanted none of it.
snap snap snap
"Shouri."
The guildmaster looked around in a daze. Holly and Emily both stared at him.
"What's eating you up?" asked Emily, her brows perked with concern.
With a quiet sigh, he spoke. "We're trying to figure out Taika's hang up with Naturals; but she won't let me in," he told the two.
Holly frowned, she didn't really know much about Naturals as a whole, so she didn't have any insight to offer.
Emily, however, did have a thought. "Have you considered therapy?" suggested the princess.
Shouri looked to his vice-lead.
"If there's nobody down here that's willing to see a Lunar, I'm sure I can ring someone up back home to arrange some remote therapy sessions," Emily continued.
It was so obvious Shouri felt stupid for not immediately thinking of that. If he, Pacifica, or Rebecca couldn't figure out how to help Taika, then why not hire a professional?
Emily almost regretted the suggestion, as the boy had his nose in his tuner not a minute later, deep in the research rabbit hole.
"So, we wanna start the interviews today?" asked Holly.
"Sure, you and I can handle them," Emily giggled.
"I'll be here," Shouri said.
"That's fine, chime in if you hear something scandalous," joked the princess. She got a thumbs up for the offer.
First up was the pair of young cats, Midas and Argyros. Neither boy looked thrilled to be there, as they fidgeted in their seats.
"Okay," Emily began. "We're gonna ask you some questions to try and find you both Maestros."
"We can't stay here?" asked Argyros.
Holly smiled and shook her head. "Only as long as you need to. Our guild's mission is to find you a forever home, a place where you can be happy with your Maestro," she said.
Emily couldn't help but be impressed that Holly beat her to the punch. Despite being with them for less than a month, it felt like the zalavan had been in their ranks from the start.
"I guess that makes sense," said Midas.
"Before we start, I just want to make sure, you two want to stay together, right?" Emily asked.
"Yes!" Both boys confirmed without hesitation.
"Great, let's get started. I want both of you to be honest," Emily looked at Midas in particular. "Don't feel like you have to lie because your brother wants something different from you."
The two cats agreed, though Midas did reluctantly so.
…
What do you want to do?
"Bake!" exclaimed Argyros.
"I dunno," Midas mumbled.
…
Any preferences where you want to live?
"That's a good question; anywhere with lots of food and maybe a big kitchen?" Argyros nodded.
"Uhhh, somewhere dry I think?" Midas mumbled.
…
What would make you unhappy with a Maestro?
"Uh… um… I guess if they didn't like me?" Argyros frowned, unsure of his own answer.
"If they hurt my brother," Midas spoke far more confidently than his older brother for this one.
…
Do you prefer your Maestro to be closer in age to you or do you not mind?
"Older!"
"Same age."
The two brothers looked at one another. Argyros blushed, realizing what he had said. "I-I don't actually care," he said after a moment.
…
Would you mind being in a party with other Resonators, or would you prefer to be your Maestro's only Resonator?
"I just want to be with my brother," the two answered together. No surprises there, really.
…
What do you look for in a Maestro?
"Just someone that will take care of us," Midas stated simply.
Argyros hesitated. "I uhh… well she--they should be nice, and give us good food, and head pats, I like that; did I say nice? She should be nice," the more he spoke, the more the elder cat blushed and fidgeted in place.
…
Once the two cats were sent off, Emily and Holly discussed what exactly the two brothers were looking for.
"Argyros totally has a crush on Solana," Emily giggled.
"Yeah, I suppose he's been hanging around the kitchen since the hunt a couple days ago, huh?" Holly mused aloud. "Kinda funny, though."
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"Boys are just like that, right Shouri?" Emily looked to the male in their midst.
"Huh?" He tuned into the conversation at that moment. "What was that?"
"Nothing nothing, just go back to finding your lovely little vixen a good therapist," the vice-lead waved him off.
He grumbled and went back to it.
"Anyways, are we sure its okay to let Argyros lead the conversation?" Emily questioned.
"No, maybe I'll see if I can corner Midas as some point and wring the truth out of him," Holly suggested.
"Maybe don't be too intimidating?" Emily tittered.
"Me? Intimidating? Never," Holly laughed.
Boris and Mayumi's interviews went how they expected. Boris basically wanted any excuse to fly, and Mayumi wanted to go somewhere warm, like northern Selvica or Kalanichi.
Nothing too unexpected for those two.
It was Mzia's interview that threw them for a loop.
The Solar canid walked in and plopped down in the chair. Almost immediately, Emily noted her gaze was entirely focused on Shouri.
"We'll be giving the interview, Shouri is just, uh supervising," said the co-lead.
Mzia nodded, and the interview began.
…
What do you want to do?
The dhole remained quiet for a moment, her eyes locked on Shouri. "Help people?' she guessed. "I think," she added, quieter.
…
Any preferences on where you want to live?
"Uh, I don't mind colder places." She couldn't pay the actual two interviewers her attention and kept her gaze fixated on Shouri. "Maybe like here?"
…
What would make you unhappy with a Maestro?
Another question which earned the Solar element's contemplation. "I, uh, dunno. Mean ones? Ones that--No. Just not nice people."
…
Do you prefer your Maestro to be closer in age to you or do you not mind?
Mzia studied Shouri for a moment. "Closer to my age," she said, after considering it.
…
Would you mind being in a party with other Resonators, or would you prefer to be your Maestro's only Resonator?
"Only Resonator. I want him to myself," she said with full confidence.
…
What do you look for in a Maestro?
"I, uh… I'm not sure. I--" Her eyes once more found themselves hopelessly drawn to the guildmaster who didn't pay her the time of day.
Emily and Holly looked at one another and nodded.
"So, you want Shouri?" Emily asked.
"Yes! I mean, no! Of course not!" The poor girl couldn't look either of the three behind the desk in the face, her head lowered, as she fidgeted with her fingers.
"Just be honest already," Shouri droned, not looking from from his tuner. (This earned a punch in the arm from Emily.)
"What do you like about Shouri? That'll help us find someone like him," Holly tried.
"I--" the dhole's face reddened. "He just said a lot of sweet things to that girl the other night, and his other two. I--I want to be with him,"
"Not gonna happen," Shouri mumbled (and earned another arm punch from Emily.) "What?" he growled at his co-lead.
"This girl just said she likes you! You have to let her down gently!" Emily hissed back.
The boy rolled his eyes and put his tuner away. He finally looked Mzia in the eyes. She gulped and stopped breathing. "You don't like me," he stated firmly. The poor girl looked like she was kicked in the side from the curtness of Shouri's words.
"Shouri!" Emily barked. He raised a finger to silence her.
"Seriously, we've been what acquaintances for like three weeks? You're in love with the idea of me," he said.
The dhole rose to her feet--she couldn't lose that easily. "No!" she barked, her legs shaking. "What's wrong with me?! What do they have that I don't?!" the dhole shouted.
Shouri let out an unimpressed huff and sat back in his chair. "Not much. They certainly fell for me pretty easily. Admittedly, it didn't take much for me to reciprocate, either. The difference is they were first. Being with three people is hard enough. Every day is a new challenge. I can't in good conscious take you in too. They'd kill me," he said.
Mzia ground her teeth, her fists trembling with frustration.
The guildmaster remained calm and nonplussed. "It's à deux, isn't it?" he quizzed.
She didn't respond, and maintained her glare.
"You don't want a Maestro. At least, not one we can easily find. You want someone you can give your whole to, right?"
Finally, Mzia let out a dejected sigh, and hung her head. "Yeah, you're right," she mumbled. "I saw you and that Lunar argue and then it was all over in a second. All you had to say was you loved her and I just…" Her eyes met his, as she fought to hold the tears back. "I just--I've read about love but I never thought I'd see it, y'know?" Her voice cracked as she spoke.
Shouri grinned, confidence carried on his lips. "Relax, I'll hook you up with someone good. Don't worry about it," he said.
"You seem pretty sure of yourself," she challenged, as she wiped the gathered tears from her eyes.
"Sure, you remind me of Taika. If I didn't know her taste, what kind of boyfriend would I be?"
"So, are we even needed here?" Holly whispered to Emily.
"And miss the show? Not on your life, girl," Emily whispered back.
Mzia ignored the chatter of the peanut gallery. "O-okay, I'll trust you."
"Good, that's all we ask," Shouri smiled as he leaned forward and folded his hands on the desk. "Now run along, I'll fill out your profile for you and we'll get you set up with some dates."
Blood rushed to the girl's face. "D-dates?!" Mzia screeched.
"Sure, you basically told us you're looking for a boyfriend."
The poor girl looked like she wanted to die on the spot.
"Now run along, we've got work to do."
Mzia trudged out of the room, uncertain if her dignity would ever recover.
Once they were certain she was out of earshot, Emily and Holly turned to their guildmaster.
"What the fuck was that?" Emily asked, as Shouri reclined in his chair.
"Dunno what you're talking about," he said, returning to his quest for a therapist.
Emily and Holly shared a look. "He's impossible," they decided.