sticksandbones

[ And Josh is absolutely hit with the biggest grin Beat can give him. Then laughs, because he can't help it. ]

Dude, it's fine, ain't no one gonna take bones and the pin. I'll find that again, an' you got the stone. And Barmolethew fucked off, so I'll find him later. I jus'... I might not 'member those two months? But I feel those two months. My asshole is itchy, yo. That's gross.

[ Without batting a fucking eye.

Are you really sure you missed this vulgar man?

He sighs and relaxes back a little, closing his eyes. ]

Now that I'm soakin', fill me in. What I miss?

[ ... ew. That's almost enough to distract him from the fact that there was a pin somewhere in that pile of bones that he hadn't seen. Almost. Josh wrinkles his nose, sitting back on the air (he's not sitting anywhere else, there's humidity in here, gross) and crossing his arms. ]

You know, there's a practice known as keeping certain things to yourself.

[ He doesn't sound seriously disgusted or anything, at least. But the tone of "Really?" is definitely there.

There's an opportunity here to move the subject along, and he gladly takes it. Beat is soaking, and that's all that he needs to know. ]

Well, let's see. You probably can't see it right now, but when you left, some of the stars returned to the sky. I'm not sure what all happened there. It could be coincidence. It could have been something you did. I'm really not sure. Oh, and speaking of stars, another star like Revati has been found, and another one that they haven't heard from in a long time spoke to someone through dreams. Seems like we're making progress.

Oh, and I tagged along on a little expedition. We ended up stuck in a brief time loop until Beiwe was able to break us out. We saw how that fallen sun was strapped up and restrained in a temple, and we met the people that came to break him out.

We also died horribly, but it was a time loop, so it wasn't a big deal. He owes me a new shirt, though.

Pft, you've heard worse.

[ They're married after all, even if Josh has no memories of that. And while he talks, Beat begins to scrub at himself vigorously with a cloth, listening intently as he does. He doubts the stars are anything he did but that's good! They're getting it done!

He huhs softly to the time loop/expedition stuff, then looks upset that Josh got killed. You kill his husband?? You shish him like the kebob??? ]

The fuck, yo. I leave an' y'all go nuts.

[ He digs at his ears with the cloth, frowning thoughtfully. As thoughtfully as he can. ]

So like, y'all saw how he can be rechained? Can we do that?

Clearly you shouldn't leave again, then, hm?

[ Not that it really has any bearing on what happens, but whatever he can do to really nail it home! ]

In a sense. I don't know how easily it can be redone. It looked fairly complicated. It may be something to ask Beiwe and Ourania about, though. The temple we were in had a wing for Beiwe, so it stands to reason that the wing on the other side of the main chamber would be for Ourania.

Heh, seems it, yo! I'll make sure I don't. Can't leave you alone too much. You go an' get killed an' shit.

[ Soap time! Oh yeah, gonna suds it up, scrubbing like his life depends on it. He's looking cleaner by the moment.

Human wise, at any rate. ]

So uh... [ jeopardy music give him a moment ] if he was stuck in there but there was rooms for them then that mean only they gonna be able to seal him again, right?

If it's any consolation, I criticized his killing method the whole way.

[ Dying never bothered him anyway. Especially when it doesn't count!

Look at Beat, though, getting good and clean. Josh nods approvingly. The smell is certainly better, though he's not looking forward to the more canine half of things. Wet dog smell... ]

Maybe. There were a lot of runes, but we couldn't get very close without getting obliterated, so I'd like to find a way back for closer inspection. It's hard to say how weathered it's become, but it's worth a look. He was very much conscious during his period of being trapped, though.

[ Yes well, dying bothers Beat so stop that.

He's listening, he promises, though he's scrubbing himself as roughly as possible. There's a lot to get rid of, frowning around shampoo as it oozes out of his hair and down his face. ]

Ye well, if you go, I'm goin'. Ain't not like I think you can't do it on yer own, but we're partners, an' I got two months to make up fer leavin' you alone.

[ He transfers his frown to Josh. ]

Other than dyin', how you been?

[ He sure is doing a good job at scrubbing. Very thorough. Josh nods, approving.

Partner, though... Only Neku has called him that, and only in the terms of Game partners. This is... different. It makes his throat constrict just for a second, and he looks down at his shoe where it sits crossed against his shin. ]

The more, the merrier. I'm not going to complain if you want to come along.

[ He's silent for a moment before answering Beat's other question. Only for that moment, though, and then he's back to his nonchalant self. ]

I've been alright. Getting by on the entertainment from others, hanging out with Revati...

[ Isolating, mostly. ]

Good, 'cuz even if you did I'd come anyways.

[ Under the water he goes for a rinse, then comes up sputtering a little, scrubbing at his face. ]

... Ye, I know what that means. "Stayin' in my room, bein' a lil' gremlin on the notepad".

[ The look he gives Josh, as he moves his hair out of his face, is one of pure affection and adoration. ]

You make any friends, at least??

[ Josh laughs at that, soft and lilting. Beat certainly does know him... ]

More or less, yes. Though, I did get out for long enough to talk to Beiwe. She gave me her recipe for muffins.

[ He still has to try making it. Hasn't really had the opportunity or the motivation, though. But, maybe now, he can. ]

I've been talking to one of the cookies. Affogato. There's also a star here, one from another world, named Loop. And Dipper is becoming a promising little telepath.

Wait. Hol' up, yo. Proud of you fer gettin' out there, but gimme a sec 'cuz?? You got Beyblades muffin recipe??

[ He's obviously missed something. ]

Did she give it to you after gettin' you outta the time loop stuff?

Hm? Oh no, no. A bunch of people here summoned her the way we summoned Ourania. She gave it to me in exchange for a recipe for Definitivo Chili Dogs.

[ Shrug. ]

We had to fight her, though. Even me. It wasn't easy. I can still feel the bruises.

You.... you had a meetin' wid Beyblade widdout me?? You sparred wid her?? Bro you coulda jus' nabbed my ass from the woods to join Ida been down even dog-brained!! I'm really proud of you, yo, but man........

[ And he sinks under the water, pouting. Goodbye. ]

[ Aww. Look at that pout. Josh reaches out, even going so far as to get his hand wet to ruffle Beat's hair. ]

Believe me. I tried. I've been trying.

[ He will take the hair ruffle, peeking his head back up so he can breathe and not inhale dirty soapy bath water, though it seems to be refreshing so there's that. ]

... That bad huh?

[ He's silent for a moment, digging into his ear with his finger, frowning at the water. ]

I don't really 'member. I get like... bits an' pieces? I played fetch wid a lady who drew me. I wrestled with Dipper. I think I buried something that kept tootin' at me?? I 'member sittin' in yer room at one point. That sounds super creepy cuz I think I was jus' watchin'.

[ Then the call of the Forest and everything faded away again. He sighs. ]

Hm, promise I won't do it again. Thought the rain got ridda the corruption.

Mm. It was bad.

[ It's nice to hear that he can remember fragments of the times he popped back up, but it's concerning that he couldn't remember the other 90 percent of the time. Joshua doesn't like that one bit. ]

It won't happen again. Not if I have anything to say about it.

[ There's a possessive edge to his voice. That fallen sun won't steal Beat again on his watch. ]

Aw, I like it when you get all possessive, yo. Makes me feel tingly inside.

[ He grins at Josh and arches his eyebrows playfully, before finally lounging back. He thinks? he's as clean as he's going to get without literally just changing bodies so that means.

Poof, werewolf time. And now there's a very soggy werewolf sitting in the water, fur draped sadly down. Hair even sadder. He's gotten very shaggy and looks like he's going to blow coat, there's thick clumps of it. ]

Okay. So! You made friends, fuck yeah, knew you could. You talked to Beyblade an' got her muffins. Hehe. We got stars in the sky and another on the ground - how they doin' yo they still sick? - an' y'all mighta found a way to prison ickysticky. In two months! Cool!

[ The comment is so sharply different from Joshua's that it makes him pause, turning back to look at Beat with raised eyebrows. Tingly, huh?

But before he can say anything about it, Beat is a werewolf and Joshua is immediately distracted. Not by the werewolf body, of course. By the fur. That massive amount of messy fur that is just begging for a good brushing and trim. Oh, Beat is going to be in for it when he's finished with this bath. ]

Well, I don't know that I'd call them friends, exactly. Acquaintances, more like.

[ Because he can't truly claim or admit that they might be. He still isn't great at this whole friends thing. ]

Revati is doing well, actually. He's developed some minor healing abilities, in fact! The other still seems fairly weak, though, but I'm sure we can fix that up no problem. That one was only recently recovered, to my understanding.

[ God, Beat loves it when he can get Josh to pause, it makes him so gleeful. And he snorts when Josh tries to skirt around the fact he has friends. ]

Nah, yo, you actually spoke of 'em. They yer friends. If they was jus' [ MM, he just heard it said, come on brain ] ag-aguant... yo if they was jus' peeps you kinda knew you wouldn't name 'em. You'd just be like yeah peeps I know.

[ At least the soap and shampoo from earlier are blocking the wet fur smell as he begins to work his fur up into a lather. It's not working so well, it's so dirty. ]

Huh, well, that shouldn't be no prob. They eat magic, right? Why don't we jus' get a buncha magic stuff from Yiddlers and feed them like that? Might take a bit of digin' to get 'nuff medal things fer 'em but hell, ain't no one dig like me!

[ He wouldn't name them if they weren't his friends. Psh. Not entirely true, he'd absolutely name and shame also. Not that that applies here, shut up. ]

I doubt they'd claim friendship if you asked them, but if you say so.

[ He says it with a shrug. He doesn't know how they feel about it. He enjoys prodding at them. Is that friendship? If so, then sure, it's friendship. ]

Hmm. I wonder if that would work. Revati ate things created with magic, but it was things like icicles and the like. He licked rocks, though, so I guess chewing on a magicked hat is probably just as good. Never hurts to try. We could give it that shard you found, but...

[ But he could give it to Revati instead. Or he could save it, and they could try to find Hoku and see if it will revitalize him. Choices, choices... ]

[ Oh Josh, going to dance around the word forever. Don't worry, he'll get you back to husband comfy with it again. Slowly but surely. But now that he's thinking of husband please excuse the absolutely softest dog eyes staring at you as he shampoos himself. Gotta watch, gotta love. ]

Or jus' get a rock an' take it to yids an' be like yo. Magic please. Hey, not the blackberry shard. It tastes like blackberries by the way. Give it a lick. Or blueberries. I forget which. Ain't strawberry though.

[ Don't lick it, it's been in Beat's dog mouth. ]

At least not 'til we find out what it is. And why it tastes fruity.

[ ough he is so weak to the puppy eyes and he hates it ]

It feels similar to something I saw about a month ago during our excursion out into the forest, so I have my suspicions. If that is what it is, though, it's certainly edible, in a sense.

[ Not that he plans on chowing down himself, but Revati could mlem away and it could dissolve like hard candy for all he knows. ]

Huh. Aight.

[ And that's the end of worrying about that, because magical doodads are not Beat's specialty. He leaves that up to Josh and Neku. Sure, his imagination means he can rock the pins, but that's easy.

He sinks himself further into the water, nose, ears, and eyes about it but that's it, and starts just sort of... playing around. Sure he's worshing himself of his sins but he's getting bored. ]

Maybe break it and give it to botha them?

[ That is the most choked and muffled bunch of words because his mouth is underwater. ]

[ ... what. ]

You know, it would be a lot easier to understand you if you didn't have your mouth under the water.

[ But, he could understand anyway, because he's a cheater. It's an interesting thought, actually. It might even work. He's a bit concerned about whether or not breaking it would diminish the power, though. Hmm... ]

We could always see if Heimr or Ydalir know whether or not breaking it would release the energy it holds. Revati might know, too. I'd hate to break a perfectly good shard and lose its energy, after all.

[ The look he gives Josh very much says 'how dare you ask me to use my braincell' before he simply just decides he's done with the bath and stands. He's getting too bored. Plus, he's clean enough. Maybe. ]

OH it's a star shard? Cool. I wonder how I found it. But ye, good idea.

[ He begins pulling fistfuls of loose wet fur out, yuck, he's shedding so badly. Then he shakes hard, sending water - and fur - everywhere. He's silent as he does, thinking. ]

... Are they stronger now? Ariana an' Beyblade. Are we actually closer to kickin' the bitches ass an' goin' home?

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