Audio

[tyrantball]

The message Desco posts on the network - the public network - is short and incredibly angry.

"This is a new low even for you, Des-X! Are you too scared of the Final Boss to face her one-on-one‽ Gather up as many minions as you like, you stupid cow! I'LL STILL KILL YOU FOR THIS!"

...hm. Wonder what happened.

Comments

[primordial]

[Ah, yes, the water. Well, that was another thing in common- if Sam ever felt bad, he'd be found under the water of his own bathtub, too. Didn't know she had a mouth in her tail, though.]

[He approaches, bending over her.]

Let me guess. You're not feeling any better?

[tyrantball]

Desco rolls her head to the side so that her speaking mouth is out of the water.

"Desco opened one of her eyes. She made a mistake."

Understatement.

[primordial]

You should get like, tape or something to keep those eyes closed. Otherwise you'll still get the same results if you keep opening your eyes.

[He scratches his head awkwardly. he doesn't know what to do, as it's not like he's taken "How to Take Care of Your Shoggoth Friend 101".]

...Maybe I should leave you alone for now. I don't think I'm going to help with anything, Desco.

[tyrantball]

Desco would spear you with her puppy-dog eyes, but, well.

"But then you won't be safe! And Desco is fine as long as she only leaves two of her eyes open!"

[primordial]

[He sighs. Otoha is standing nearby, and if he just says that "well, I can defend myself", that would seem suspicious for such a supposedly weak young man to say, plus it would just make Otoha distrust him more for leaving Desco when she needs him most.]

[See, this is why he doesn't like having friends. They're too much trouble.]

...I'll stay, if you want. But I can't do much else, okay?

[tyrantball]

"That's fine. Desco is just glad to see you."

...how is she seeing, anyway? All her visible eyes are closed, aren't they?

[primordial]

You can't see, Desco.

[He'll look around and see the stool near the sink, so he pulls it up so he can sit by the bathtub.]

[tyrantball]

Desco moves her claws near her ears, making little ripples.

"Desco doesn't actually wear earrings!"

What is she talking about, those are clearly earrings...oh. Wait.

No, she has small eyeballs dangling from her earlobes.

"Desco can't close them because they don't have lids."

[primordial]

[By this point? He's not surprised anymore. Eyes on her ears. Sure! Why not.]

But...don't they have neural implants like the rest of your eyes?

[tyrantball]

"The feed is corrupted, but Desco can keep stable as long as she doesn't open any of her other eyes. Although Desco does think you look very regal with purple skin!"

[primordial]

[Ah.]

[He lets out a huff, slightly out of amusement.]

Well, thanks. I guess...that's not normal, though. Don't get used to it.

[tyrantball]

"Okay!"

Having someone to speak to is doing Desco good, it seems - her tail has closed up and is no longer drooling on the floor. The very tip of it is even twitching occasionally. There's certainly a lot more energy in her voice.

[primordial]

[If Sam notices it, he doesn't mention it, only glancing at her tail before he looks back to her.]

How many eyes do you have, anyways?

[tyrantball]

"Seventeen!"

She sounds very proud of this.

[primordial]

[That's actually not too many, from Sam's point of view, what with all the hundreds of eyes he's keeping hidden from the world for now. But he nods either way.]

That's a good number. Though bad if stuff like this happens, I guess...

[tyrantball]

"Desco would ask you a question, but Uncle Otoha is probably listening at the door and Desco promised not to tell your secret."

Desco rolls a bit in the tub so she's facing upwards, and her tail slowly retracts as she does so. The three golden eyes down her torso are closed tightly, the back of the lids the same purple as the majority of her chitin.

[primordial]

Oh, well, I'm sure you could ask it later.

[And he leans back against the wall, looking a bit tired as he stares at the other wall with lidded eyes...when Desco should suddenly hear his voice in her mind, as if he's talking out loud- but his lips aren't moving a centimeter.]

I don't like using this much, but..if he's listening, this is probably the way to go. What's the question? And you can just think it, you don't have to say it out loud. I can hear you just fine.

[tyrantball]

The tips of Desco's ears twitch, sending ripples through the water and gently propelling her to nudge against the side.

Um, um, how many eyes do you have, Bi-Lord of Terror?

[primordial]

His mouth twitches upward at that question, though it quickly disappears as he glances at the door, to make sure Otoha isn't privy to what is happening.

Hundreds. I can't even count them because the number changes a lot. Heh, it's ironic, because, like you right now, I've got all of them closed except two.

[bakegarasu]

[Otoha knocks on the door a few times, before calling out to the two of them.]

I'll be in the living room if you need me. Just let me know.

[He'll be able to hear if they're having problems... but he should gie the kids their privacy, now that he's determined that Sam isn't at least an immediate threat.]

[tyrantball]

"Okay!"

Well, in that case, Desco will assume it is safe to speak normally. Sam might catch the faint flickers of a thought, however - big bro is so amazing! - but hey, who knows?

"Um, um, so what happened while you were gone?"

[primordial]

[He frowns slightly at that snippet of thought, suddenly feeling uncomfortable, but shakes the feeling off, turning to her.]

I went back home. I tried to defeat a very bad person, but.just when I was about to finish him off, I came here again.

It really isn't fair...

[tyrantball]

"How bad is very bad? Is he as terrible as Lady Des-X?"

[primordial]

He's probably even more terrible than that. He's done so many horrible, horrible things...

[He sighs, looking down at the ground.]

But with me here, he's still very much alive...and I hate that, I really do.

[tyrantball]

Desco's voice is very small.

"Des-X was Desco's little sister, the production model to her prototype model. She defeated Desco in battle, ate her eyes, and crushed her skull."

So yes, there is her rubric for 'terrible'.