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"Why are we out here?" Candace wasn't complaining, just confused.

"Because I want to show you how to use me!" Atropos proclaimed with a huge grin, carrying Candace on her back again. The woman chuckled and nuzzled her face into the golem's lovely purple hair, her eyes closed and a small smile teasing at the corner of her mouth despite her best efforts to seem annoyed about being carried everywhere.

"But how can you do that when you're not in weapon form?" Oh..she had a point, huh? Atropos hummed and finally shrugged, tilting her head toward Candace and closing her eyes. "This project had really good timing..."

Atropos nodded. "It did, my dearest. It did." She replied in a soft voice, walking quietly with Candace until both of them heard someone shouting. Eh? Candace tilted her head so it was still on Atropos' shoulder but she was able to see past the weapon golem's hair and see what was happening. Oh! It was Otto...and..a lady!

...A lady with fuzzy ears.

"Looks like we're not the only ones to get this idea...Otto doesn't seem to be doing too well against his girl." Atropos gave a snort.

"You wouldn't have that problem." Candace shrugged. "OI!" Atropos called out to the pair as she approached them on the field, her arms tucked under Candace's knees and holding the woman up. Candace was hanging off Atropos' back, her arms curled around the golem's neck and her cheek nuzzled against the golem. She did look very comfortable. "Kickin' his sorry little a**, ghoul?"

"Excuses, excuses~." Atropos sang at Otto, still holding Candace even as they stood beside the other pair. Candace was peering at Tenya, her eyes locked on Tenya's ears. "I bet I'd kick my Candy's a** too." An intentional attempt at provocation on Atropos' part.

Candace didn't say anything.

"Candace..?"

Nothing.

Atropos blinked. "Candace, what's wro--"

"Otto, can I pet her ears?" Candace blurted out, still watching Tenya like a small lady who had just laid her eyes on the most adorable puppy ever to exist.

Atropos looked irritated, her eyes narrowing and her grasp on Candace's legs tightening. What? Why did Candace want to pet that brat's ears? No, Candace! No! Stop that! Stop looking at her! Me! Look at me! I'm the one you want, not her! Was that a problem? She didn't have fuzzy ears like Otto's ghoul, just horns and a lot of hair. Her ears were pretty average. Ohhhh if only she could change into her original natural form she could show Candace something amazing. Oh well, it was too late to dwell on such matters. Candace tried to pull her legs free only to realize Atropos had a vice-like grip on them. She blinked, dropping her arms so just her hands rested on Atropos' shoulders and lifting her head. Eh? What was...ohhhh.

Candace frowned a moment. What was Atropos' problem? Hadn't she made it clear she didn't want any weapon but her? Because she didn't! Atropos was all she needed and wanted! And seeing her like this, being able to hug and hold her, reminded her even more how much she only wanted her weapon...especially after seeing how many of the weapons regarded their Hunters. The frown became a pout and then finally a smile as Candace leaned in, her forehead to Atropos' temple, and kissed the golem's cheek. "I love you~." Atropos' eyes widened and her jaw dropped. She would have even blushed if her body had the blood for it.

Smiling sheepishly, Atropos closed her eyes and nodded her head, turning it to nuzzle at Candace. "I love you, too." Candace grinned and hugged her tightly.

"Good~. I'm glad. Now will you let me go so I can pet Tenya's ears?" Candace pouted her lips again and gave Atropos her cutest pleading face. "Pleeeeeeeeeeeease~?" Look how cute they are! And look how excited she is! Come on! Pleeeeease! Eventually Atropos sighed and rolled her eyes, releasing Candace's legs and letting them drop down to allow the Hunter to stand on her own. Candace squealed with delight and released her golem, clapping her hands together with excitement as she bounced on her toes.

"You're the best, Atropos! Ooooh, Tenya! They look so soft!" Candace hurried over to the golem, reaching out with no hesitation to give her a gentle rub at the base of one ear. Her eyes widened and she gasped. They were soft! Socuuuuuute! "What is sh--er..." The question had instinctively been directed at Otto at first. Normally weapons couldn't answer for themselves! But today? Candace turned back to Tenya with a warm smile. "What are you?"

"A drop bear? Interesting..." Candace stepped closer and reached around for the girl's other ear, rubbing the base of both of them with her fingers and thumbs. She grinned, giggling like a small child. So soft and fuzzy hehehe~! She'd never pet a bear before, this seemed to be close enough. "Atropos is a Catoblepas. She can kill people by looking them in the eye, or with poisonous gas." She explained with no small amount of pride, grinning back at the golem who chuckled and pushed her hair out of her face.

"I used to wear Moonglasses a lot because of it. Or just didn't look anyone in the eye. But it doesn't seem to be the case in these golem things~. It's nice." Atropos grinned widely, looking Otto's way and draping an arm across the boil's shoulders. "Why so grumpy, twerp?" Says the ghoul whose age when being weaponized was probably around the same age as the boil she was leaning on...?

She was so cute! Candace laughed and tweaked one of her ears to see what she'd do, grinning. Atropos didn't have ears like this. Though Atropos seemed content just being cuddly with her, which was nice. Her smile softened at that thought.

Atropos was watching and doing a good job at hiding her displeasure at seeing her Hunter all over someone else's weapon. Her grasp on Otto tightened as a result, holding his shoulder almost painfully as her nails bit into his arm. Stupid...stupid drop bear! She could kick her a** to little muddy bits if--oh, right. Otto. Ahaha. Oops. She visibly calmed and gave the young boy a charming smile. "Bet you weren't grumpy when Candace brought you that steak. Why so grumpy, little baaaaaby." She pinched his cheek and pouted her lips, tilting her head to one side. "You have such a cute weapon, too. Don't boils your age like cute ghouls with a rack like that?"

"You are so cute!" Candace laughed. The petting continued.

Atropos chuckled at Otto's complaint, patting his head and smiling warmly down at him. "I'm actually very surprised to see how many hunters don't seem to get along with their weapons. Or at the very least don't seem to be as excited to see them in the flesh as Candace...our Hunter is all we have, you know." Her smile fell a bit. She didn't regret her decision...but sometimes she missed being like this. It wasn't something Atropos thought of often except for the times Candace was upset and in dire need of a hug or a kiss that Atropos just couldn't provide for her. It was heartbreaking that she could only ever watch... "Don't think of it as an invasion of privacy. We're a part of you now, all of our thoughts are your thoughts now as well..." She flicked at some of the boil's unruly hair, tilting her head to one side. "Do you not like Tenya~?"

Atropos' grin was back. "Just fine, huh? Cute." She tugged playfully at Otto's stupid little hat, pulling it down over his eyes. "That's good to hear. Does she know you like her?" Atropos' eyes suddenly widened and glinted with...mischief? What was she up to?

"I think you should give her a hug and pet her ears~."