Sweet as Sugar

"Predictable" Mu rephrased

"Ah," Melly replied. "Yeah, I guess it's only so long before watching horses and riders running in circles gets old, huh?"

"They all do the same thing. Our acts are never the same." Mu replied

"So you do different tricks each time?" asked Melly.

"Or at least in a different order." Mu nodded.

"Well yeah, that works a lot better," said Melly. "Check, waiter!" she called to their server as he passed.

Mu nodded again. "I like being different"

"Me too," Melly answered. "Even if it backfires sometimes."

Mu smiled. "Yeah."

The waiter came with the check. Melly paid the price and the tip. "Ready to go?"

Mu nodded happily.

"Let's go then," said Melly, getting up. "I'm thinking of visiting the artist alley again. Talk with some friends and stuff."

"Alright" Mu chirped, getting up and following her.

Soon after Melly went outside she bumped into a pale individual with brown-and-tan splotched hair.

"Oh, Curtis! It's been awhile!" Melly greeted. "I heard you were dead!"

"...Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated," Curtis replied with a slight smirk.

Mu blinked at the man in surprise. His tail curled around Melly subconsciously and he pulled it away from her.

Curtis noticed the gesture but seemed more amused than anything else by it. "Who's your friend?"

"Oh, this is Mu," Melly explained. "Mu, this is Curtis. He's a guild leader of -"

"Not anymore," Curtis interrupted.

"Why not?" asked Melly.

"...Complications," he answered vaguely.

"Hi" Mu chirped. "I used to be in a cirque."

"Really? How interesting," replied Curtis. "Are you a demon like she is?"

Melly stiffened. That's right, Curtis knew about her, thanks to that bastard-

Melly blinked. "Wait, you're not...mad at me?" she asked.

"I've been through too much crap since then to really care about what's demonic and what's not anymore," said Curtis with a sigh. "But the guild still cares. And Voltaire."

Melly sighed, stinging at those words.

"Nope. Imp" Mu chirped. "Bout you?"

Curtis sighed. "...Do you really want to know?"

"...Ghost?" Melly ventured.

"Close. Zombie," Curtis answered. "Rumors of my demise were only slightly exaggerated."

"Does that mean you're dead?" Mu asked

"Pretty much," Curtis answered. "I don't really recommend it as a retirement plan."

"Okay. I'll take your word for it Mr Curtis." Mu smiled

Melly glanced over to the smiling Mu and wondered how well he understood what Curtis just said.

"You look pretty good for being dead," chirped Melly. "I mean, you look a little pale, but that's it."

"Raizin takes good care of me," Curtis replied, though he didn't seem too thrilled about it.

"Is he a demon?" Mu asked