hummy and ellen in: what do you mean you're not still a cat

[songfairy]

Hummy is a cat on a mission. She's had the urge to groom one of her beloved friends all day, but none of the other Cures were particularly amenable to Hummy's attempts. That was all right, anyway: the one person she'd been really hoping to find was Siren.

Who she can see just below! "Siren!!" she calls. She's glad she chose a high vantage point now: she gets to see Siren's cute, surprised face when she notices that Hummy is calling! "Siiiiren!"

Comments

[modulation]

It's a little silly for Hummy to say something like that, a little unexpected. Ellen intercepts a paw with her index and middle fingers, hooking them around it.

"I wasn't for a while, was I? I'm sorry, Hummy... I should be thanking you." She can't think of a time when she's been happier.

[songfairy]

Hummy swings her paw back and forth, now that they're as good as holding hands. "No, Siren! We'll just always be here for each other from now on, right?" The question is rhetorical; she doesn't actually have any doubt. She never has. "Don't be sorry, okay?"

[modulation]

Ellen is silent for a long moment, her brow clouded and stormy.

Finally, she smiles, moving her hand along with Hummy's paw.

"Okay, Hummy. Thank you. Say, what kind of cupcake do you want? I'll get it for you." To everyone else, Hummy is just a normal - if very affectionate - cat.

[songfairy]

"Hmmm... strawberry! No, wait, maybe... vanilla... oh, or chocolate!" There are so many great options! Hummy spends a solid minute or two hemming and hawwing over her choice before she comes up with a better one.

"We should get matching ones! So whatever you want, Siren!"

[modulation]

"What if you don't like what I pick out, silly?" Ellen laughs. She can easily put just as much indecisive thought into this as Hummy. "What about..."

What about... As they walk through town, Ellen glances around at their surroundings in search of inspiration before an idea finally comes to her.

"How about strawberry with vanilla frosting?" The colors, strangely enough, remind her of Hummy.

[songfairy]

"I like every cupcake, Siren," Hummy answers, a certain air that she's been insulted to her. But Hummy has no room or time for offense in her, and she settles back down immediately. Siren is clearly thinking carefully about her, and so that's enough, at least until she comes to a decision. Hummy has the utmost faith in Siren.

The option Siren presents is nearly too good to be true, and Hummy wiggles around, pleased, before she speaks. "That's a great idea! Oh, Siren, you always pick the best things!"

[modulation]

"Well..." Ellen colors a little, then lets out a proud little huff. "Of course I do!" She giggles despite her boasting, tickling Hummy's sides with her fingertips.

She's going to have to pretend to be a normal cat (as opposed to a former-cat, like Ellen) at least while they're making their purchase, so Ellen quiets her down the closer they get.

"Let's do it, then!"

[songfairy]

Hummy giggles and wiggles under Ellen's fingers, her protesting, "Siren--!" turning into a fully catlike mewl midway through. By the time they're outside the bakery, she's gotten back into her catlike groove, and she meows pointedly to Ellen. Time for cupcakes!!

[modulation]

Holding the box up as if on display, she turns her nose into the air just slightly.

"Oh, I don't know if a regular little cat should have a cupcake, do you?"

Ellen's cautious about teasing Hummy, still guilty with the effects her jealousy had on their friendship, but it wouldn't hurt to rib her a little bit.

This is just payback for all the embarrassing stories she told Hibiki and Kanade, after all.