It's Minglin' Time

[crittersheep]

WHO: You
WHERE: Anywhere
WHEN: Afternoon 62

[ With Bluebell's lovely morning rite, it's shaping up to be quite the peaceful day. The spring thaw continues, bringing young lilywogs with lingering stubby tails to the shores. It's easy to spot them floating among the reeds, though they're still prone to scattering if disturbed.

And across the pasture everyone is hopefully having a peaceful day, right? Or have some of you been getting up to shenanigans instead? ]

Comments

[papartner]

'nank-- Ananke? Achey...?? Er, what happened to you? You're so little...

[spinebuddyandme]

I got time 'texed.

[ The beetle clacks its mandibles and speaks up in a vaguely electronic monotone ]

CORRECTION: TIME "VORTEXED". EXPLANATION: DURING OCEAN EXCURSION SELF AND HOST:ANANKE ENCOUNTERED UNKNOWN ENTITY. UNKNOWN ENTITY FORCIBLY RETURNED US TO PASTURE VIA TEMPORAL DISPLACEMENT. SIDE EFFECT: "LAYMAN'S TERMS": PHYSICAL FORMS "REWOUND" APPROXIMATELY THIRTEEN YEARS.

[papartner]

[ yeah, thanks Scarab, for the translation. And the translation of the translation. ]

Uhh, okay, well, hopefully this doesn't take thirteen years to fix. You okay other than that though?

[spinebuddyandme]

Yeah. Scarab's real good at fightin', so we didn't get hurt.

[papartner]

Oh good. Don't know if I could live with myself if you got little and hurt. Thanks, Scarab, good job!

[spinebuddyandme]

GRATITUDE: ACKNOWLEDGE. ADDITIONAL: SELF TO CONTINUE PROTECT: HOST:ANANKE.

[ Ananke reaches up to give the bug a lil appreciative pat, but stays focused on Acheron ]

Don' worry! I'm gonna stay home til I get big again.

[papartner]

Good idea - has this happened before? Do you know how long it might take?

[ does he feel like an idiot asking this stuff of someone who looks like a child? yes ]

[spinebuddyandme]

Uh... One time for a ritual, 'n that was like a whole day.

[papartner]

Oh good! Then I don't need to be too worried... Not that I'd mind taking care of you, you know, but who wants to grow up all over again, right?

[spinebuddyandme]

Not me. My baby sister'd have to become my big sister.

[ Shakes his head with childishly theatrical seriousness ]

You can't go 'gainst nature like that.

[papartner]

As long as you're still siblings, does it really matter who's older or younger?

[spinebuddyandme]

Yes. How'm I s'posed to help watch out for her if I'm this little?

[papartner]

I figured she'd just watch out for you instead..? I don't have any brothers or sisters, so...

[spinebuddyandme]

No, she's too little. I wanna keep takin' care've her. It's like...

[ pauses to think very hard about this ]

If you got little 'n your kid was bigger than you.

[papartner]

...

[ countless images cross his mind at the idea of Miri taking care of him and he hangs his head. No, that's just wrong, wrong, wrong-- ]

Okay. I... yeah. Alright, I got it.

[spinebuddyandme]

Told ya.

[ Raises his arms in an 'up' gesture ]

Now, can we go back t'Lily?

[papartner]

Er, yeah, let's do that.

[ as he picks up Ananke with the semi-practiced ease of a Dad ]

[spinebuddyandme]

[ yesss kicks his feet exactly like a pleased little kid ]

Thanks, Achey.

[papartner]

No problem. Lily's here for Lily, every time.

[spinebuddyandme]

[ BEAMS ]

Zactly! That's how it's s'posed t'be.

[papartner]

Hehe, yeah. C'mon, we'll get back and I'll think of something good to make for snacking.