Regret 008; [Action - Afternoon]

[returninghope]

[Good afternoon Luceti, it’s a beautiful day isn’t? There’s nothing that could ruin this lovely day in the square. Absolutely nothing, am I right?

Not even the giant, mountain of six-foot tall, icky, mud-colored slump of sludge trying to worm it’s way to the center. Or that absolutely foul smell that seems to be emanating from it. The creature, whoever or whatever it is, is lurching towards the fountain, leaving a trail of the oily, thick substance behind it. It doesn’t seem to be able to talk, and when it tries, there’s the faint sound of sputtering, coughing, and perhaps a bit of gagging going on deep in it’s center.

Unfortunately, there’s not enough water in the fountain to wash all of that scum away. Care to lend a hand, citizens?]

[ooc: Zan’nen’s come back from his kidnapping cosplaying as a Grimer! Just kidding. (Although that’s a simple way to put it.) He’s come back covered in nasty, sticky sludge. It’s not poisonous, although the smell is terrible. It’s layered on so thick, he’s about twice his normal thickness, and quite a few inches taller. It also tastes terrible... Eww. ]

Comments

[falenandawn]

[He's being careful!

But oh wow, there really is a person in there. He picks up the pace, trying to at least free their face from this muck.] Hang on, ok? We'll get you out....

[tinyjasmine]

[YES ZAN'NEN THAT DAMN SMELL IS YOU.

That is why Kaori is pinching her nose and trying to hold her breath as she runs over~ to see what was happening, because pulling bishis out of disgusting goo is cool. :|b]

[returninghope.livejournal.com]

[Zan'nen reaches forward and clutches at Frey's shoulders, trying to pull himself up from the fountain.]

How-... how? [He erupts in coughs again. Sludge is not something one wants in your lungs.]

[falenandawn]

[He...

Knows that voice. gripping the other's hands through all the muck, he works on helping him up.] Zan'nen?

Zan'nen, what in the world is this?

[tinyjasmine]

[Meanwhile, Kaori is staring at the two with wide eyes and an otherwise unreadable expression. She'd never seen this man before, but she knew him.]

Rikuto! [Now she's digging into the muck to try to help him escape, going as fast as her little hands are capable of.]

[returninghope.livejournal.com]

[With Frey's help, he manages to get steady on his feet, although he keeps a hand on his shoulder to keep himself that way. He still couldn't see.] I don't know. I know it's disgusting. That help?

[The mention of his other name makes him jump nearly out of his skin. Rikuto? Who called him that? Who was that? Who even knew that name here?]

[falenandawn]

Rikuto? [He'll hold him steady but keep using his other hand to scrape away more of that muck from the other's face. Oh runes he is never wearing these clothes again after this. He doubts the smell would even come out.]

[tinyjasmine]

[Of course the little one has to help clean up Zan'nen, too, it meant that he wouldn't smell for as long if they managed to get him cleaner sooner.]

Is Rikuto okay...?

[returninghope.livejournal.com]

[Zan'nen doesn't answer Frey's inquiring tone. No Frey, you'll have to ask him directly for answers.

Zan'nen reaches out toward her tiny hands, trying to grip one beneath the caked lump of mud. She didn't have to help and get all filthy herself.]

I'm fine. [Cough, cough.]

[falenandawn]

[Frey continues trying to clear off the other's face of gunk, deciding it's probably best to make sure he doesn't breath in any more or get it in his eyes.]

Who's Rikuto?

[tinyjasmine]

[Kaori turns her head to look at Frey, clearly confused by his question. Why would Frey be asking if it seemed like he and Zan'nen knew each other?]

He's Rikuto! [Pointing straight at Zan'nen's face, her tone begins to grow sulky.] But why is he all big now?

[returninghope.livejournal.com]

[Zan'nen has no comment to any of this. The two could figure it out, right? Right.

He bends down and tries to rinse off his fingers in the water so he'll have something clean to wipe his face with. Unfortunately, the water is nearly as murky as he is now.] Hnn.

[falenandawn]

[Maybe Kaori was mistaking him for someone else? ....no, Kaori was too perceptive for that, wasn't she?

So it was a different name he goes by? she seemed to have met him when.. he was smaller? turning to Kaori, he decides to venture a guess as to why.] Perhaps it is the Malnosso's doing, don't worry.

[He directs the next statement to Zan'nen.]

We should try to find a better place for you to wash off. the lake, perhaps?

[tinyjasmine]

But why? [Her brow furrows, because that doesn't make any sense to her, and Zan'nen didn't seem too happy. Then again, maybe he wasn't happy about smelling so bad.]

Are we going to go swimming, too?

[returninghope.livejournal.com]

[Zan'nen squeezed Kaori's hand through the muck. He didn't mean to confuse her. It was a touchy subject for him.]

The lake? ...I guess that would be better. [Although right now, what he was craving the most was a steamy hot bath, with soap. Lots of soap. Although the clean up would be inconvenient even in the best case scenerio.]

And maybe you can go swimming if I don't muck up the lake too much, Kaori. All right with you Frey?

[falenandawn]

[Yeah, he's not carting you to the hot springs, sorry.] Of course we can. It might be a little chilly, though.

[By which he means it is September guys it's going to be cold. Suck it up like a man Zan'nen.]

[tinyjasmine]

I don't mind! [Squeezing Zan'nen's hand right back, she begins to stand up and drag Zan'nen up with her. She wanted to get to the lake as soon as possible!

Then again, she shouldn't be in water for too long anyway. But she's not going to mention that to either of the two just yet, she didn't get very many opportunities to go into water.]

[returninghope.livejournal.com]

...Maybe we should all pick up a change of clothes or something first. And you need a jacket Kaori. [There was no way he was going to let her catch cold on his account.

And he wasn't sure, but he could guess these clothes buried beneath the filth were ruined. Not that he was going to change in front of them, but... It'd be nice to have close by when they were done.]

[falenandawn]

We can stop by the clothing shop on the way. [hefting Zan'nen up as well, though his grip isn't the best given the slime. It really was quite disgusting.....]

[tinyjasmine]

... New clothes? [You mean pretty dresses for everyone?! *o*]

[returninghope.livejournal.com]

[Luckily, with Frey's help, Zan'nen manages to find his feet, despite all the water and the mud. His abdomen was sore.] Thanks.

[Oh no, Kaori. Zan'nen's dealt with little sister's before, and he can sense that excitement a mile away.] We're not going to turn this into a shopping spree. A change of clothes and that's it. We can go shopping for real later.

[falenandawn]

Yes, just a change of clothes. He's right, We can all go shopping together and get you something nice later, but right now we have to focus on cleaning Zan'nen off. [Frey had, as well. He'd been subjected to enough of Lym's whims to know little girls and shopping was a dangerous combination.]

[tinyjasmine]

'Kay. [Well now you two will be subjected to a pouting six-year-old, do something to cheer her up before she makes your lives miserable.]

[returninghope.livejournal.com]

[Awh man. Not pouting! No pouting. He's a sucker for pouting and sad girls. Don't make faces like that, Kaori. Ugh.]

Frey. Go get her a snack or something. Cookies, or whatever. I'll... try to wash up.

[falenandawn]

Right... Let's give him some privacy, ok Kaori? [Taking her hand and nodding to the bakery.] Cookies sound like a great idea to me. Maybe we can pick out something for Zan'nen, too? [So she doesn't just gobble them down and rush back.]