[Day 2, Night - Back at the Inns]

[nyanotech]

[ In ones and twos and groups of a few more, the cheerily victorious and the creature's not so cheery victims make it back to the central square and the inns there.

A few in particular are well-splashed with black slime. ]

Baths, baths~ ♪

So, whose place are we going to?

Comments

[nyanotech]

There's the bathtub for that. Just rinse off the worst here.

[Strips off her coat.]

[direstnews]

[Ridding himself of his gloves, then. And his boots. And his tunic. And his separate sleeves. Which still leaves him in a black bodysuit with tights and cowl and circlet.]

Down the sink's catch-basin?

[nyanotech]

[Plugs up one side, drops hers in, and turns on the tap.]

Yep!

[direstnews]

[Considers, and then does the same on the other. He dips his hands in the running water and uses them to slough off the goo that got through to his second layer of clothes.]

We might see where the piping leads. On the morrow, if you still wish to seek a way out.

[nyanotech]

There's gutters outside. Between that and the plumbing, there should be a sewer somewhere.

[direstnews]

Then it's likely to lead to somewhere.

[nyanotech]

Something for tomorrow then.

[Washes her hands, rolls up her sleeves, and sticks her hands in the makeshift laundry basin.]

[direstnews]

Among other things.

[Washes his hands and his face.]

[nyanotech]

You have other things in mind?

[direstnews]

A few.

[Hair, too. Ick, ick, demon goo.]

[nyanotech]

[There's no way you're getting that clean on your own.]

Lean down?

[direstnews]

[Glances you over for a second, just briefly, and then does so.]

My thanks.

[nyanotech]

[Gets him right under the tap, massaging the gunk out.]

You're welcome.

[direstnews]

[Quiet for a minute, letting her, and then:]

What of you? What do you mean to do tomorrow?

[nyanotech]

[Works at the last particularly nasty dried clump.]

Besides looking for the sewers?

[direstnews]

Besides that, yes.

[nyanotech]

Talk to people. Explore. Investigate.

Find someone to make breakfast.

[direstnews]

It sounds to be a full day.

[nyanotech]

I wonder if it might feel quite empty.

[direstnews]

[Glances at her as best he's able with his head still down in the sink.]

You feel something amiss?

[nyanotech]

[Curls one hand around his neck to support him, rinsing the last of the gunk out, and ruffling his hair well while she does so.]

I know there's something.

It's more a question of 'how much'. And 'how many'.

[direstnews]

[He jerks back a little when you go for his neck, drawing in a quick breath as though preparing to speak, and then relaxes when it seems you aren't, in fact, planning on throttling him for making that happen.]

[He straightens when you're done, touching his own hair experimentally.]

My thanks.

...how do you come to know this?

[nyanotech]

[Notes that as well. And reaches over to brush his bangs back from his eyes, movements casual and fond and slow enough to give them warning they're coming.]

Some people excel at using their physique to solve problems.

My specialty has always been using my head.

[direstnews]

[Lets her, tracking the movement with a slightly quizzical look.]

Does it afflict only those who were touched directly?

I must admit, I was not at my most observational when we made our return.

[nyanotech]

Only those touched directly, and only while there was life still in it.

In all cases, it was a short period of heavy, direct, personal trauma, followed by withdrawal, severe drop in energy, and a lingering feeling of loss. As if in sorting through your memories, it pulled something out.

I don't know if any humans were affected, but regardless of species or composition, it seemed to hit all the rest equally.