[audio]

[deathof4thwall]

The message starts with a sharp squeal of static, as if the COMP is a badly tuned radio or something, before it dies down a little and a cheerful voice starts babbling.

"Hiii~! So I was wondering something, and I thought I'd just throw it out on the network like this to get an answer and all."

There's the sound of fabric rustling, as if whoever's on the other side of the transmission is shifting nervously.

"So I noticed a bunch of people have, like, clean clothing, and I was just wondering what's up with that? I mean, how does it happen? My clothes are still covered in scorpion goo, and I don't have any spares or nothing, so it'd be super nice if someone could tell me how all you other folks are getting clean things."

There's a slight pause before the voice lowers to a whisper and hisses out,

"is it witchcraft?!"

With that, the message ends.

Comments

[deathof4thwall]

"Huh? Nah. I just lost track of it after a while."

Nodding very seriously to himself.

"Not sure when it really happened, though. By the time I noticed, it'd been a while."

[greatseal]

"You mentioned something about that before..." Loops of time, or something like that. "But we can talk about it after you've washed, all right? You'll feel better then."

She tugs him over to the shower head and then rummages around in the bag she's carrying. She then pulls out several things - a bottle of shampoo, a bar of soap, and a set of clean clothes that may or may not have been acquired with the actual consent of her brother. But this way, she knows they fit.

[deathof4thwall]

His eyes go wide as he views the hygiene products.

"Wow! Those look neat!"

[greatseal]

This is really not the reaction she wanted. But, pressing on. "I'm not going to stand in here while you shower so pay attention. This is how you turn on the water..." She demonstrates it briefly, making sure they're both actually clear of the spray. "Left is hotter water, right is colder. When I go outside, you'll need to undress and scrub all of that gunk off of you. The shampoo is for your hair and the soap is for everywhere else. Just use a little shampoo, not the whole bottle. After you've scrubbed with the soap, rinse it all off with the water. Then dry off with this towel and change into the clean clothes. Does that make sense?"

She sincerely hopes it does, because really the last thing she wants is to need to monitor his bath.

[deathof4thwall]

He adopts the most serious look he has as he considers.

"I think so!"

A smile as he looks at you.

"Thanks! I still have some candied scorpions left if you want some - just check the paper sack near the sink, 'kay?"

[greatseal]

"Candied...." Um... maybe she doesn't want to ask. "Okay, I'll check. I'll be right outside."

And she steps out and shuts the door behind her. The mention of food... or well, something that might be food? has lead her to want to investigate the kitchen area and answer the question she had earlier about what he's eating... If there is anything edible, she wants to prepare some lunch.

[deathof4thwall]

The sound of running water comes from behind the closed door as you head for the kitchen.

There really is a paper sack next to sink, and a quick check inside will reveal a few wooden skewers, each of which has three scorpions impaled on it. The light gleams off of some kind of coating, so they probably are candied. Inside the fridge, there's a bag of carrots and some canned meat.

Distantly, you might be able to hear him start singing snatches of some wordless melody.

[greatseal]

Well if there's bread, she could make a sandwich at least. Otherwise they'll have to visit a store... Speaking of that she sends a quick text to her brother, asking him to add some food to the shopping list she'd given him while visiting his room earlier.

...She glances at the candied scorpions and decides to leave them alone.

[deathof4thwall]

Scorpions, carrots, and spam. That is every edible thing in the entire apartment.

It's...pretty sad, when you think about it.

[greatseal]

Yes, it is. Shinji would have a heart attack if he could see this.

Minako decides that instead of making food, she'll just tidy things up as much as she can while waiting for him to finish.

[deathof4thwall]

When he does finally get out, he's wearing the clothes you gave him and his skin is so red he looks like a boiled lobster. Just how hot did he have the water in there, anyway...?

"Woooow, that was AWESOME!"

Well, at least he's happy.

[greatseal]

"Next time, maybe keep the water a little bit cooler..."

But he's clean and there's no more gunk or blood in his hair. He almost looks normal. That's probably the best she could hope for.

"You need to remember to take care of yourself, okay? Even if you can't remember some things, you should know about basic hygiene, and feeding yourself. There's no real food in here either."

[deathof4thwall]

"Huh? Are my carrots gone?"

Dashing over to the fridge to check.

[greatseal]

Minato.... "No, they're fine, but spam and carrots and nothing else isn't good for you! You need more variety."

[deathof4thwall]

There's a quick little sigh of relief as he sees the carrots are, in fact, still there. He glances over at you after you finish talking, looking puzzled.

"But...this is more variety then I've had in years."