[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 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.

[direstnews]

[Sssstills when you mention it sifting through memories and pulling something out.]

Did you mark any physical differences?

[nyanotech]

[Sorts through drawers until she finds a tea towel, draping it over his head.]

Aside from the energy drain? None.

How are you feeling about that now?

[direstnews]

[Reaches up with one hand and begins rubbing his hair dry.]

Peculiar. It's not an entirely pleasant sensation.

[nyanotech]

Any pains? Lingering sense of weakness, or loss? Does your chest hurt at all?