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It was the first day, not for him, but for the entire country. It should've been a more disorienting event, but this actually isn't the first time it's been everyone's first day. It's the World of Monsters, at least that's what the war ended up deciding, one of chaos, happenstance and unpredictability. So perhaps everyone's just gotten used to it, the idea that every day could be the day you wake up and access to your memories, to everything in your life that came before, becomes abstract. Stranger things had happened, or did they? Dunno, no one can really remember. But something happened, something so eventful that everyone's grasp on reality needed a reset. That's how it happened last time, The London Incident. Through the bits and pieces of recollections people have managed to keep a hold of, they ascertained that somehow there was a Kaiju in London, which triggered Giant Monster attacks in other parts of the country and then.... Nothing. A blank in everyone's memories, they all just woke up in the middle of a war between Monsters and the Humans that oppressed them. Same thing here, vague recollections of a godless thing covering the sky, covered in teeth and jaws, spreading to everything, the floors, the buildings, the furniture, the people, all melting, all becoming it aaannddd.... Nothing! Everyone woke up, the war was over, it's a World of Monsters, the Humans are gone, metamorphized or in significantly lesser quantities, it's peace time and no one has any idea how we got here.

But like we say, it's round 2 of this for people. Some people are just as horrified to having their entire reality upended as they were the first time: Temporal Dysphoria they call it. The people they didn't really care the first time, care even less now. The folks in the middle, however, they've all come up with their own rituals to cope.

For Bulrush, he found the quickest way to find his footing again last time was just to exist in a place he's just been in for a lot of his time. He finds it to be a chain reaction, he recognizes people, people recognize him, and together they were able to piece together the memories that had been taken from them both. Well that was easier in Colchester, the town where he grew up, but now he finds himself in the city he must've moved to: Nottingham. He knows this because the moment of The First Day, he was just walking towards the city centre, he's fairly sure he came from his house, well it was somewhere that had a lot of his stuff in it anyway. And what is a house but the place you do sleep and the stuff lives? Okay, but he must've gone somewhere more than once during his time here? He finds his feet leading him to The Evermore, a historical landmark of the city: It was a Monster/Human co-ed pub even during the days of Human Supremacy, even now it's still going with an implied new role of being an establishment tolerant of High Creatures, Demons, Fictives, Celestials, Aliens and heck even stuff they hadn't even thought of or considered! The kind of the place you can never know whom you'll find comradery with by the end of the night.

Yes, yes! Bulrush knows he came here all the time, at least to try and find new friends in this scary new city. Was he successful? Who knows!? But it's a good a lead as any right now. He walks to the front door and decides to let his recollection guide him. He closes his eyes and lifts his arms, as to not bump into other patrons too much. He instinctively changes directions, spins around in circles and even walks backwards a little, hoping to bait coincidence itself into placing him in front of a Monster who recognizes him. He opens his eyes and on top of the expected looks of bafflement from the other Monsters in the pub, he finds himself face towards and pointing to a little cornered off seating area, just a stroll away from the bar. He sees inside of it two Monsters holding each other in an embrace: What looks to be a Cat and a Squirrel.

Trusting the whims of fortune, he orders himself a cocktail, the Fermented Swarm, made from the fluids of insects who were farmed to be drunk on fermented fruits 24/7, a favourite of rodents with insect based diets like himself and heads on over to the table, much to the two Monsters confusion as he sits down.

-So this is going to sound weird, but do you two know me by any chance? He asks, gesturing towards himself.

The two Monsters lean forward and give him a good look up and down, before they both receded back into their seats and shrug.

-Oh I see. He continues. Sorry it's just I only moved here recently and with the memory thing happening again I'm just grasping at straws trying to find someone who knows me, I'm sorry to have bothered you both.

As he gets up from his chair to leave, The Squirrel gestures him to sit back down.

-No no, it's okay, we're in the same boat too. The Squirrel explains. In fact, we think we JUST moved back here today?

-I have vivid recollections of suitcases in a house I have not lived in and thinking "I'm knackered, I need a drink." Explains The Cat.

-I think we managed to pack away 4 bowls before I gave up and opened Shortcut on my phone.

-That's when we left the house.... Also we live in a house now???

As they both laugh with each other, The Monsters decides to take their advice and slowly sits back in his seat. It's only now he gets a good look at both of these Monsters. The Cat introduces Zirself as Chloe, a kind of Tabby Werecat, with a white stripe in the middle of zir black hair, with a brownish fur covering their body. Information he's only privy too because zir wears an open red shirt, covered with little cigarette cartons, with zir chest exposed. Zir is also sporting leather trousers, with a zip at the bottom to increase the size of the cuffs, as to fit zir huge hind paws through the trousers holes. Zie also has piercings on zir brows, zir one good ear, the other being notched and torn up over the years and also a ring pierced at the end of zir long black tail.

Zir partner, Butters, is a Western Grey Squirrel, complete with characteristic red tints on the end of their hair and tail. They're wearing a huge puffy grey denim jacket, with a burgundy inner lining. The arms are covered with patches, including a circle with a lightning bolt in the middle, as well as hearts and pride flags, with the Pan and Agender colours. There's also another one, like the asexual flag except the purple stripe is a pale-ish blue, that Bulrush didn't recognise. They wear black high waist denim shorts over a white shirt, shorts which the top button can't seem to cover their stomach, so they wear it open. On top of this, they have black boots to cover their hind paws, though they are happy to let their front claws be exposed just fine.

The two Monsters also in turn get a good look at their guest; A Nutria, sporting a mop straight out of the mid 00's. The missing link between 2C ad 3A, Wavey and Curley, Cwervley if you will. The gap between his lips exposes huge pale orange front teeth, he's got deep browny-red eyes and he also, like Chloe has let a thin layer of hair grow all on his face and body. He's rocking a double denim outfit, with a short sleeve top and an orange crop top which he seems to have cut himself. It doesn't take much detective work to figure out this shirt used to say "Wet bussy contest." Butters comes to a conclusion this guy was closeted queer for a long time, started being very publicly out to compensate for his quiet years and has now perhaps moved to the city to wind down a little, hence trying to convey this shirt to a crop, to "Calm down" as it were. Tho still he made a crop top, so he still wants people to know he's a lil faggy like. Also just weirdly built? Like gives the impression of someone who's kind of small, but damn son those trunks! Like not a muscle to be seen, but he is still taking up the room: Wide-wise.

-So you know who we are. Chloe says. What should we call our new friend?

-Oh right, I'm Bulrush! I think so at last. He replies.

-Think so? Butters asks.

-Well I feel like I know my name's Bulrush, but all my wallet and stuff says "Caster" so I dunno what that's about...

-Oh nnooo. Chloe chuckles. Did you get hit with The First Day just as you changed your name?

-Uhhhh, I guess! If I didn't take the time to change any of these.

-Wait wait wait, in that case let's start again. Butters interrupts and then takes a swig of their Tequila. There I'm alcoholing that Knowing away.

Butters then shakes their face, making sure to make the sounds of their cheeks slapping sound as wet as possible. Before staring at the table and lifting their head up to Bulrush.

-And your name is? They ask.

-errr... Bulrush?

-Hello, Bulrush. You can call me Butters.

-I know, I didn't forget.

-I'm Chloe. Zie says as they reach over to shake Bulrushes hand.

-I... I promise you this is knowledge that I still own. He replies.

The pair laugh at Bulrush's awkwardness, as Chloe gets up to get the next round for them all. The three spent the night trying to get Bulrush to recount stories and anecdotes of his time in The Evermore, though to no avail. At one point the couple even went around asking on his behalf, much to the Nutria's profound embarrassment. All that came as a result of this was a couple of phone numbers for the rodent, hey I guess people are taking this temporal lapse as a opportunity for a new beginning, good for him! Eventually however through their discussions, Butters and Chloe's ability to recall their time during this lapse was implied, and Bulrush had to know the meaning of this:

-So wait, you two CAN remember your lives clearly before today? Bulrush asks

-Well not without some strife and effort, we have to like -actively- remember, remembering you know? Chloe explains, poorly.

-Let's just say, when it comes to the subject of remembering past a chronology shift like this, we are, -intimately- familiar with the concept. Butters iterates. So ever since we've made sure to tell every mug that passes by our life story, well our story during the time everyone's forgotten.

-Wait hang on. Bulrush asks. So I am...

-Number 15 I think. Chloe replies, lifting zir glass in celebration.

-Oohhhhh, we should've put aside a badge for you or summant. Butters contemplates.

Bulrush recedes in his seat, swinging his head back in reaction to being used for these ends. But after a while he leans forward again to ask in earnest:

-I mean... Is it working tho? Have you been able to keep your memories?

-We've not been able to stop every detail from going. Chloe explains. Bbuuttt...

-We seem to be doing a lot better then most folks, we got like a base timeline at least. Butters explains.

Perhaps in a weird way, resigning from his personal quest to remember his own life, the Nutria then asks:

-Well it's evident I have the time on hand, lay it on me: What happened to you two during the gap? Like why are you here in Notts now?

Butters shuffles a little to get more comfortable in their seat, well more of a performance, as if to gear themselves up for a modern epic they're about to unleash on this unsuspecting witness. They give a little look to Chloe, as if though some attempt to sync up their performances, as they begin to recount their tale:

??????????????????????????????

-So wait you two were on opposing sides during the war? Bulrush asks inquisitively. What happened then? Did you wait till afterwards to get together? Did you ever fight? Tell me, tell me!

-Okay okay, chill out, my man! Chloe requests. Is it really that exciting of a story?

-I mean it's exciting, and we've survived like two global memory wipes by now! Butters ponders. But gosh, right, we were already together before The London Incident...

-Well, not from a lack of you trying. Chloe quips in an incredibly exaggerated way, as zie slowly sinks to under the table.

-Oooohhhhh, are we airing out all our dirty laundry, huh?

-Hey, you said it'll help us retain our memories. Chloe murrmurs during a shrug.

Bulrush looks between both Monsters, with genuine confusion

-Alright, alright. Butters announces. You're confusing the lad now! Basically right there was a time, you could say, I was partial to the uuuhhh odd homosapien.

-Exclusively, for a time. Chloe adds.

-Oohhhh nnooo. Bulrush exclaims in hysterics. Like a reverse-chaser or summant!?

-Holy shit dude, that's so good. Chloe compliments. So yes the love of my life, my lifelong partner: The Reverse Chaser. Well I rib, but I've been madly in love with them since we were kids you know.

Chloe leans in and gives Butters a kiss on the head, with The Squirrel leaning into the Cat in reaction. Bulrush can't help but grin, he himself had hopped he could live the hopeless romantic dream like this... Yes, it's coming to him in fact, before he moved to Nottingham, he stayed in his hometown, hoping to chase up his first gay crush, who seemed to vanish off the planet seconds after meeting. The Nutria gained a new vigour for listening to the pair now, maybe he can remember some more about it after the fact.

-So anyways as I were saying. Butters continues. I get over my Human based affliction, we get together, everything's peachy, as peachy as it can be living payday to payday under a Human Supremacy. Then of course The London Incident happens, everywhere in the country reacted to it differently at different times. Now you hear stuff like Monsters in Manchester and Cornwall immediately going to bat for their independence, which like that's expected innit? But to everyone's surprise, Essex was an early adopter too. Now we both grew up there before moving to Notts and just seeing the footage of the fighting in the streets, the places I visited as a kid in flames like, that's my...

Butters leans forward as they put their face on top of their clasped hands, they genuinely seem to be lost in contemplative thought.

-Bulrush, do you believe in like... An obligation to a place? Even if you grew up in a shithole?

-Well I mean we grew up in the same shithole remember? Bulrush reminds. But do I feel that way about Colchester? Hmmmm I mean it doesn't feel like productive thinking, I mean I had things to stay for, but it couldn't give me what I needed as a queer monster you know? I mean I was there with you during the fighting you know, I mean if I was out and about and the Humans attacked us I'd help out, provide and body and that. But aahhh I dunno, it still couldn't give me what I needed and I don't feel like I owe a town that pushed me out anything you know?

Butters swings their head down with a smile.

-Yeah, I mean, that is dead sound logic. Feels like marginalized folks are always between places like that, right? But I dunno, shouldn't the dream be that we shouldn't HAVE too tho? That no matter where in the country you are, you have as much right to your surroundings, to interact, to invest in it and leave a piece of yourself as much as anyone? That's the dream I could feel become at arms reach when all the Kaiju stuff kicked off?

-And yet, despite the fighting you did for Colchester, you're back in Nottingham now? Asks Bulrush

-He's got you there. Replies Chloe. Listen, I'm on your side mate! When they first packed off for Colchester I were saying they'd just be back here anyways, all our mates are here!

-And yet... You went with them to Colchester? Asks Bulrush.

-He's got you there, mate. Butters replies with a smirk. In zir defence, tho, zie was down bad.

Butters gives their hand a trace down the side of their body as they say that. Chloe rolls zir eyes.

-So when did it dawn you both that you were on opposing sides? Bulrush asked.

-Well, it weren't like... The moment we crossed the border, we started throwing hands or owt Butters explains. We had a period of living in the house I grew up in and we both worked for the MCP for a little while.

Bulrush has a flash of recollection, the MCP: Monster Community Project, was an organisation around prior to The London Incident, dedicated to collection and sharing resources with Monsters during Human's reign. But then comes The London Incident, and suddenly they're the closest thing Monsters had to a governing body. Especially considering, despite not being a political party, they somehow managed to garner some presence in parliament. Even if just THE token Brighton & Hove seat. So suddenly the MCP morphed into the governing body, the council and the intelligence agency for all Monsters. Especially now in The World of Monsters, they hand out the currency now, the quickest way to stay stable is to just earn it from the beast itself.

-I dunno when it was, but during one mission we were tasked to protect, PROTECT mind, these Families of the Huntsman club, full of ex-tories and shit, from an angry mob like "Just in case" anyone was a closeted Monster is when I snapped like, my body cannot be put to use like this.

Chloe rubs zir hair in a mixture of discomfort and maybe even embarrassment.

-Look. Zie begins. Like spoilers: I'm in a better place now, I learnt to love Monsters more than I hate Humanity y'know? But it felt like we were fighting Monsters more than we were ever fighting Humans.

-Well, I mean, that was the entire point of our clashing, wasn't it? Butters chimes in. The MCP was too concerned with the preservation, while the Malcontencious was concerned with upheaval at any cost.

Bulrush clicks his fingers as if these words trigger another recollection, of course! The Malcontencious was a faction of Monsters who were a reaction to MCP seeming like it cared more about the possibility of coexistence with Humanity, that this once in a lifetime chance for Monsters to gain liberation was being squandered. They were about the eradication of Humans at any cost, even if they could possibly turn into Monsters? Didn't matter, they were Humans NOW and that's what mattered.

-Wow, I mean that's not just a little disagreement, that's like core fundamental clashing! Bulrush exclaims. How did you both like... Keep on despite that?

-It wasn't that hard reaaalllllyyyyy. Butters replies. People like to romanticise it a lot but, we both wanted a better world for Monsters after all. Even in the middle of it, like it felt good that THIS was the political divide? Not Fascism vs. Fascism, but slightly less white people die.

-So it was kind of easy to still meet up and have drinks together, even on days where we were pummelling each other not just hours ago. Chloe reminisces. Tho that first day your superior spotting me in The Hound and you just rocked up saying you'd sort me out and then got on me.

-Oohh yeah, good old Slink. Butters recalls. The look on her face was so so so good.

-Okay so I get all that, you're both like left of a different spice. But still this wasn't a debate club, like you were fighting during a war! Like it had to of been rough? Bulrush inquires. Surely if one of you beat the other, that'd create some bad goo power dynamics or something? Like, I don't get how you just put that away after your shift or whatever..

-Well it did help we had the classic Dante and Virgil 3 act thing going on. Butters explains.

-Yeah, like I won, then we tied and then you won. Chloe explains. So like we all got a little bit of every role.

-Our communication and compatibility in the bedroom coming in clutch during: Literal war. I mean, what was our fighting if not a little spicy Switch play?

Chloe nearly chokes on zir drink at describing being opposing sides in guerrilla conflict as "Spicy Switch Play"

-Besides for us Monsters fighting like that is only so much about the physical. Butters continues. We're creatures of perception and symbolism, and at the heart it just came down to who believed in their ideals more.

Butters then looks into Chloe's eyes, with their paw clasping zir chin:

-And like not to trivialise it cos it was heartbreaking at times, but god our last fight together was kind of hot? Like bloody and bruised in the rain, crying our eyes out, soaking wet as we made out in the rain.

Chloe leans back in zir seat as they clearly go through the events in zir own mind:

-Like it's fucked up to say it, but: Yeah. Speaking as a bottom, there is nothing better than a fight to the death and then your opponent who just defeated you declare your love for you and gets off with you under god's tears.... Woof.

-Took more willpower than I knew I had to not just ride you there and then, tbh. Butters comments.

-In front of our entire squads?

-I mean, whatever. They knew it was an important character moment.

Both Monsters laughed, before Butters grabs Chloe's collar and drags them in closer.

-Hey.... I do love you, you know? Asks Butters.

-I promise, it's the only thing I'll remember, even in-between temporal memory wipes. Chloe replies.

Butters then closes the gap completely as both Monsters embrace each other, impassioned by remembering all the history they've had together by this point. After a while Butters glances over to see Bulrush, head resting on the flat of his hands, beaming from ear to ear.

-You two are so perfect, I'm profoundly jealous. Bulrush comments, before slapping the table with both hands. So go on finish then! What happened afterwards?

-Well, everything kind of neutralised itself out. Butters explains. Chloe was a big player at the cracker factory, you see? So zir loss shook the Malcontencious up.

-Meanwhile. Chloe continues. The MCP had been getting dragged through many high profile fuck-ups of letting Angels, who were fighting with the Humans, manipulate the MCPs "Everyone's a Monster just waiting to come out" philosophy to, well, no nice way to say it: Preform some massacres.

-So in the end, while the Malcontencious disbanded, they did influence the MCP enough to drag its policies more to their side. They stopped putting Monsters needs below that of hypothetical reformable Humans. Got a lot more aggressive with operations to secure Essex as a Monster County, and then I guess we're here?

-Nooooo, I think this is when the temporal fuzziness happened, we deffo like triggered Something's ire with our antics.

-Oh right, yeah, those angels we killed. Butters recounts, scratching behind their head and tensing the muscles on the side of their neck.

-We did a big thing I can remember that, there was a huge thing, even bigger than a Kaiju, something cosmic even, it covered the entire sky of the world, crawled into the fabric of every structure and every living thing....

-And we specifically fought it you're saying? That seems like a jump...

Chloe and Butters sink into deep pondering, this is the closest they've come to recalling details of this period of time, that the chronological fabric of the universe is encouraging them to forget.

-Well your thought exercises must be working cos, I cannot remember any of that! Bulrush exclaims. Feels like something I'd remember.

Chloe and Butters sit in silence a little longer, as if crawling tooth and nail through their mind palace to stop this familiarity from being lost... But to no avail.

-Fucks sake! We were so so sos CLOSE! ARrrrgghhhh. Chloe shouts, slamming the table in frustration.

-Don't worry, next unlucky sod we can subject to our stories, we'll get it! Butters reassures. This is the only time it's worked this well, you must be a lucky charm Bulrush.

The Nutria rubs his head with a little bit of embarrassment. Hot Monsters complimenting, oh gosh. It makes him feel a little better knowing being are going through these... Temporal peculiarities, alongside him. After some idle chat and swapping digits, he bids his new friends goodbye for now.

-Well hang on before you go. Chloe shouts behind him. What was the name of that fella you were looking for back in Colchester?

-Oh well, I mean, I doubt he's here or anything. Bulrush dismisses.

-Well, you never know! Butters argues. Plus we're always swinging by our local in Colch, via Shortcut and that. We can keep an eye out.

Bulrush is hesitant to open this door once again, but is somehow inspired by the unlikelihood of Butters and Chloe's romance, like why couldn't Bulrush find this guy?

-Well okay, when I met him his name was [XALA], but god knows if he still goes by that now. If he's still about he is deffo not gonna be Human so dunno what he'd even look like. Or even if he's sound, what if he turns out to be really boring or like...

-Well, what did you look like when you met him? Butters interrupts.

-Oh, I mean I've been a Monster for ages, I was y'know a Nutria when we first met.

-Then it'll be easy! Chloe explains. We'll just find a guy with that name who remembers nearly macking on a Nutria, how many people could that apply to ey?

Bulrush laughs to himself before going to walk away again.

-Hey... I hope you find him. Butters says.

The Nutria walks to the bar with a smile on his face, a renewed affection in his heart.