Palace Game 6/5

[fujimaru]

The Dreamer In The Grand Temple
Humanity Foundation Value: ????

What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.

Comments

[fujimaru]

It's going to sting! These eyes are in fact sharp enough to cut if he gets hit at the right angle, and it seems quite pleased with itself for the effort.

[survivaltricks]

[it DOES sting, which means the offended cat look merely increases??]

Okay, buddy. You've earned yourself a cuddle.

[can he pick up the tentacle creature and cuddle it like a stuffed animal]

[fujimaru]

Oh my god, Akira,,,,

He can in fact pick it up! It's not going to go peacefully though; when he picks it up it immediately begins to struggle and thrash, trying to wrap itself around his wrist and fingers--anything it possibly can--and clinging like it means to crush. For something so small, it's pretty strong.

And also, underneath where it was sitting, is a gold ring. Fancy that.

[survivaltricks]

[YELPS IN PAIN and like. continues to hold onto the creature with one hand, though he extends his arm to get the tentacles as far away from his main body as he can?? which means his hand and wrist are probably getting. . . all wrapped up. . .]

[BUT HE'S GONNA SNATCH THE GOLD RING WHILE HE'S AT IT]

Quit that! Why are you so angry??

[fujimaru]

It's a pretty heavy gold ring! Pretty nice,

When he grabs it, though, the tentacles go wild, thrashing harder in his grip, some of the longer ones trying to reach for the ring. It's too small to snatch it back, but it won't be for lack of trying.

[survivaltricks]

[swiftly pockets the ring so he can use both hands to detangle himself from the creature's grip and just like. . . try to calm down the thrashing. in general!!]

Hey-- hey. What's wrong? I'm not going to hurt her, if that's what you're worried about.

[fujimaru]

Calming words don't work because it can't hear,

No, it just seems to be have worked itself into some sort of tizzy, trying to reach for his pocket. Unfortunately, it appears to be time for baby tantrums.

[survivaltricks]

[HOW DOES HE HANDLE BABY TANTRUMS????]

[he is swiftly looking around the room for like. . . idk. some kind of toy?? or something that might soothe an angry tentacle beast?? all the while fighting with it to keep it away from the ring in his pocket]

[fujimaru]

THAT IS A PROBLEM YOU NEED TO FIGURE OUT FOR YOURSELF, AKIRA,

He might notice, though, while he's having this baby slapfight, that there appears to be something on the wall on the opposite side of the bed. It's glowing faintly, little firefly gold sparks that were not there before. The outline isn't really clear, but it does seem to be staying intact for now.

[survivaltricks]

[CAN HE JUST]

[SQUISH THE TENTACLE BEAST LIKE A PLUSHIE]

[that won't help, Akira. please. anyway he is going to slowly make his way towards the glowing thing to see what it is??]

[fujimaru]

Congratulations on your spikey squeezy toy, Akira.

The glowing appears to be vaguely in the outline of a door. The closer he gets, the brighter the outline becomes, like it's trying to come into existence and just can't manage, quite yet.

[survivaltricks]

[he shifts the creature underneath an arm, ignoring the pain of the spikiness for now, and reaches out to try?? and open the door?]

[and if he gets it open he'll go through, and yes, he is gonna take the tentacle beast with him]

[fujimaru]

The door is going to take a bit to manifest itself properly; it's like there's some step that's missing...

But the tentacle does NOT want to go. It is now just trying its hardest to get away from him, and the door; the anger has gone out of its body language, replaced by what appears to be an instinctive, mindless fear.

[survivaltricks]

[hang on now we are distracted by the creature being scared?? pauses, standing next to the door's outline, frowning a bit as he holds the creature up to eye level]

. . .

You're afraid of what lies beyond?

[. . .]

Why?

[THE THING HASN'T SPOKEN A WORD TO HIM BUT HE'S STILL TRYING]

[fujimaru]

It still has no mouth, it cannot answer him, but it keeps glancing at the doorway behind him, then away again, still struggling to get away from that door.

[survivaltricks]

[. . . okay. okay! priority: calm down angy baby, before going through any doorways]

[with a light huff, Akira turns away from the door and moves towards the bed, plopping down on same as he settles the tentacle creature into his lap]

. . . okay. Okay. I was bullying you a little because you were being so fussy, but maybe that's not the right route to take, here. We should establish a feeling of trust between us, right?

I'm Akira.

[a nod of his head]

I'm a friend of Ritsuka's. I'm here to help her. [a pause. . .] . . . and since you're here, you're a part of her, right?

[fujimaru]

Once they're away from the door, the thing calms down again, though it is trying to inch out of his lap, moving in the same way a caterpillar might. When he addresses it, though, its eyes turn in his direction again, staring at him for a few seconds before the tip swings back and forth, like a head shaking No.

[survivaltricks]

[ah]

[well, now things are starting to click into place]

Then. . . you are-- [hm. Boudica didn't really give him a name. . .]

Pity?

[fujimaru]

It starts to nod, enthusiastic, then pauses, and then more slowly shakes again. Close enough, but not quite.

[survivaltricks]

[hmmm]

Is there any way you could explain it to me? Without using words-- ah. . . maybe through gestures?

[does the tentacle beast know sign language]

[fujimaru]

It's just a baby, Akira, babies cannot talk.

It just wiggles at him before trying to inch off of his lap again.

[survivaltricks]

[. . . fine. Akira will let the tentacle beast wiggle off his lap :/]

Are you sure you don't want to come with me? I said I'm here to help Ritsuka, but-- . . . I think I'm also here to help you.

[fujimaru]

It does not appear to be very impressed by this, instead moving to try and inch partly under a pillow so it can glare at him from (relative) safety.

[survivaltricks]

[dude!!]

[inching a little bit closer to them, leaning forward to peer at the creature even though they're hiding underneath the pillow now]

Are. . . you afraid?

[fujimaru]

It just stares at him, the red eyes glowing a little in the darkness under the pillow. If it holds very still, it starts to blend in.