compnetwork | [audio]

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[audio]

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.

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It's not witchcraft, it's laundry. And it's a bit important if you don't want to stink to high heavens Well, no matter, you aren't the first I've met who's never washed a shirt before.

[See example: Almost every citizen of Melee Island. That's a smell you don't forget. Ever.]

The speaker draws out the word as if it's unfamiliar.

"Launnnnnnnd-ry."

There's a brief pause before you are inundated with questions.

"How does it work? Does everybody know about it? Should I know about it? Do I need a license? Is it government-sponsored? Are there manuals for it?"

And on and on, each question progressively stranger.

Oh boy, it's her unwell acquaintance (Shura hesitated to call him a friend).

"You've never done laundry before???" Ew, man. EW.

"So that is what it's called??"

There's a sound like tape tearing.

"And nope. Do I need special tools?"

"There are laundry machines at the end of each floor... ... but you don't know how to use them, do you."

"You mean those weird box things?"

A few thoughtful hums.

"So that's what they're for! I wondered."

"Where do you live? I'll help you. Get your clothes and some yen coins." Hopefully this time around Minato is not cut and bleeding again.

"Libra 9-6!"

Hopefully he has some coins. Or knows what they are.

[She recognizes the voice, of course. Most people might not, since the strange shifts in tone brings him far away from what Minato ought to sound like, in her mind. But she remembers that meeting during the attack and so she knows who this must be.

As then, this encounter doesn't do much to help her understand what's going on with him, just adding to a pile of concerns.]

Minato, you have to do your laundry and buy yourself changes of clothes! Have you even been showering? ['Have you been eating right' - She stops herself before she gets that far, because this isn't really her brother no matter how much he looks like him. The mothering instinct won't go away.]

There's a certain amount of blank incomprehension in his voice as he answers.

"Aren't showers just a thing for love hotels, though?"

...um. That's. Not a good thing to be hearing, is it?

[What........]

No! You should shower or take a bath at least every other day!

"Really?"

Honest surprise in his voice.

"...how do they work, then?"

[does she.... seriously have to explain this to a 17 year old boy?]

You know what, where do you live? I'll come over.

"I'm in Libra 9-6!"

So many visitors today!

[It's what he gets for a post like that...]

Okay. I'll be over soon.

[But first, she has to stop at Minato's for an emergency clothes supply.]

Whenever you show up, the door to Libra 9-6 is slightly ajar, the nameplate that should be saying Minato Arisato scribbled over with permanent marker and a crudely made sign with the words '??? - The Universe' hung up just beneath it.

Feel free to just walk right in.

Just in case, Shura brings pocket change. After a trip through the teleporter that slammed her into a wall, she arrives at Minato's a bit worse for wear. Like last time she came, she knocks at the door, then comes in. "Minato?"

Minako stares at the sign for a moment, before deciding the questioning isn't worth it and pushes her way into the room.

"Minato?"

"Hiii~!"

...

...why are his arms covered in duct tape. How did he even get that stuff.

Shura just... stares for a minute.

"What are you doing?"

A smile and a wave as he greets you in return.

"Yo!"

He, uh...really, really was not kidding about still being covered in scorpion goo. There's thick patches of the stuff caked all over his uniform jacket, flaking off into little shreds of sickly green powder as he moves. His hands appear somewhat clean, at least, but there are multiple streaks of dried blood matting his hair and a variety of small tears on his pants.

He looks down at his arms for a moment before glancing back up and grinning.

"Improving my skin!"

With absolutely no hesitation, he grabs the end of a piece of tape and yanks it off in one smooth motion, not even flinching as he does so.

Dumping the piece of tape on the floor, he holds up his arm for inspection.

"See? Baby smooth!"

Shura cringes and grits her teeth when Minato rips out the duct tape. "Minato, you... you don't need to rip out your arm hair, shit. That's for weirdos."

A thoughtful look.

"Really? Hu~uh."

Looking back and forth between his arms now.

"How do I get this off, then?"

That's actually a good question, Minato.

"Well... rip it off for this one time, but don't do it again, okay?" This is going to be horrible won't it.

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