a ding dang mingle

[endsjustified]

WHO: anyone
WHERE: anywhere
WHEN: Day 9, morning through to late afternoon

[well there's still new landmarks to explore, new teammates (and new ragged individuals) to meet. occasional gunfire's been resounding through the woods sometimes, scaring birds up into the air and sending wandering pygmidillos in the meadow askitter.

what are you up to this fine day?]

Comments

[mykidisthebest]

Well, you can't judge people by appearances, of course. But you seem pretty laid back in general, so it feels hard to imagine you rehearsing anything.

[catposting]

Are you saying he isn't laid back?

[mykidisthebest]

It's hard to say. I saw him when he couldn't exactly walk very well, so I feel like that's a poor time to see how laid back someone is or not.

[catposting]

Ah, yeah... he and Lily suffered a lot the past couple of days. I wouldn't blame him for being different from usual.

He's usually very friendly.

[mykidisthebest]

Oh, he was plenty friendly. Just...how do I say it. He doesn't talk about himself too much.

[catposting]

Hmmm. That's pretty normal around here, especially since... you've heard about the "games", right?

[mykidisthebest]

"Games"? I've heard about demons and Death asking questions that result in people dying or being severely injured.

[gestures towards him]

I heard Rose died the first time around. Doesn't sound much like a game to me.

[catposting]

I didn't say they were games for us. Whoever's in charge clearly enjoys playing with souls, though. As for Rose...

[ shrug ]

We got off pretty easy. Died, hung out with Death for a bit, came back fully healed. The rest of the pasture are the ones that had to watch. I can't imagine putting bodies back together was fun, either.

The question encounter was far worse. As you can see, Charon is still experiencing side-effects. Who knows how long they'll last...

[mykidisthebest]

Were the side-effects part of the punishments for answering questions wrong, or did they come about after it was all finished? If it's permanent...Well, it would be a good idea to find a way to make sure no one gets asked questions again, or everyone is going to have some problems.

[catposting]

After.

I doubt it's permanent. Nothing here is.

[mykidisthebest]

You sound pretty confident about that. What makes you think so?

[catposting]

You arrived yesterday, right? When Clover and Lily still had ghostly limbs?

[mykidisthebest]

Yeah. Are their limbs normal now? I haven't seen any of them this morning.

[catposting]

Yeah. It's a little weird for all the side-effects to disappear at the same time, don't you think?

— Well, most of the side effects. Charon's a unique case.

[mykidisthebest]

When you put it like that I have no reason not to agree. A status effect penalty for not answering some questions properly seems unnecessarily harsh, though. Is Charon's eyesight his unique case? If it's the same as their limbs then it should go away eventually, right?

[catposting]

Yes to both, as far as I know.

[ a wry laugh. ]

I'm sure we'll see a lot more unnecessarily harsh penalties soon enough.

[mykidisthebest]

Don't jinx it like that! You're supposed to say that it's all smooth sailing from here. Think positive thoughts, you know? Death and demon rams can't have that many questions.

[catposting]

It's all smooth sailing from here. Think positive thoughts, you know? Death and demon rams can't have that many questions.

[mykidisthebest]

...

Say it with more feeling and enthusiasm. If you're going to be sarcastic about it you've really got to lean into it.

1/2

[catposting]

. . .

[catposting]

"It, it's all smooth sailing from here, I promise. . .! So p-please, try to have some hope!! Those encounters with Death and the ram were one offs, they shouldn't have happened. . . b, but it's okay now, right? You're still here!!! Please be careful, regardless. . ."

1/2

[mykidisthebest]

[oh my god]

[mykidisthebest]

Too much, too much! Dial it back down! Five stars for enthusiasm, I concede!

[catposting]

[ Blossom impressions truly are the most powerful. ]

As you wish. What should I call you, anyway?

[mykidisthebest]

Uh...

Some people back home call me "Honey", which you don't have to use and should not use unless dire circumstances call for it, but I can't think of anything else. So that works for now.