sticksandbones

bork?

ayo can someone tell me the fuck is goin on?? woke up feelin like i spent a week on a bender, on a pile of socks in the woods, an' im comin back in wid the things i had wid me an some bitch whisperin in my ear (i think that was you-know-who yo, but it got quiet) an then i meet me????

an i go aye you cant be me cuz im me and he TRIED TO KILL ME? I THINK?

or like really aggro play or some shit i dunno i went hey hey HEY cause he made me drop my mole friend and my blueberry shard thing that i dunno where i got but bro was real intent on rippin me a new asshole jus cuz i came outta the woods!!

i get it yo im stinky but also the fuck is goin on?!?!

josh come get me im scared :(

[ No, he's not, but he's trying to find the humor in this weird ass situation. ]

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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?

[ Ah, big wet naked werewolf. With gross matted tangled fur. Mmm. He's going to have to do something about that. ]

It could be a different type of shard. I'm not sure what the difference between--

[ Wait. Beat is a big wet naked werewolf. He's standing, dripping wet from the bath. Josh pauses mid-sentence, frowning in disapproval at the thought of getting wet and just. Going right ahead and putting up a shield, because--

Yeah. Yeah, there's the shaking. At least the water hits solid air instead of him. ]

... anyway. I don't know if they're more powerful, exactly, but Ouriana is still in a pretty bad state. Beiwe certainly seems strong, though. I could only hold my shield against her for a few seconds.

[ Hm. What if it's a fruit shard? It tasted fruity, after all. Beat doesn't vocalize these thoughts but Josh will be able to hear them nonetheless. Plant shard. Maybe it's for plants.

But he looks pleased that Beiwe is strong, his tail wagging on the surface of the water. ]

Ima see if I can't talk to her, I bet she's so kick ass.

[ He sighs, then turns his attention to Josh, and takes a moment to simply stare at him. The soft puppy eyes again, just taking him in.

Before just blurting: ]

I missed you. I ain't 'member much but I know I did, 'cuz it's onna those things you feel, you know? I'm glad I'm back...

[ Josh can hear that thought, yes! And for just a second, he catches himself wondering: chili dog shard?

Wouldn't that be a hoot. ]

I guarantee you'd have a great time. I know you like to play hard.

[ He's been sitting here for a moment, but mortal bodies are so needy, and his muscles feel in need of a good stretch. So, that's exactly what he does! Which means his eyes are scrunched closed when Beat turns to look at him, one arm folded behind his head while the other reaches up over his head. And once he's finished...

Ah. That loving look. He feels the tips of his traitorous ears turning warm. ]

Well. I'm glad you're back, too. The excitement around here just hasn't been the same.

[ Ugh don't tell him that, because now he's super sad he missed wrestling with a Goddess. Come ON, that's not something you get to do every day.

And no, Beat's not looking at Josh stretch with anything but pure love.

.... Okay, maybe also a lot of appreciation. It's been a long while but he still remembers what-

His tail wags harder to that, and he finally moves out of the water entirely. Then begins trying to squeegee his fur out. Just grab and squeeze. ]

Heh, promise to make yer days an' nights fulla excitement again.

[ Okay, yes, he has to look up, grin, and wink hard. ]

[ This is a level of comfort he can easily slip back into. He snorts out a soft laugh, tipping his head. ]

Oh? A promise, you say? I'll hold you to that.

[ In the meantime... Beat, please be more gentle with your fur, it's already coming out in clumps as it is. Ohhhhh he needs a brush. ]

How about I help you out with all that fur? You could use a good brushing. You're probably covered in burrs and brambles, and I'm sure you have a ridiculous amount of tangles.

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