MUSHI DISASTER

[dontpokethat]

Who: Anyone and everyone; it’s a mingle-style log!
What: A sudden spike in the mushi population brings some trouble to the carnival.
When: Around day 87-90
Where: All around the carnival
Warnings: Illness, potentially some minor body horror, and so on



[Following the recent disappearance of Ginko and Tanyuu’s mushi repellent, there will be a sudden increase in the number of mushi in the carnival this week.

This is a mingle-style log, so just post a toplevel, tag out, and have fun with mushi disasters! Event information and questions are here.]

Comments

[puddingemote]

Tamaki's a little startled when he feels the tap on his shoulder, but at least it's someone he kind of knows. His eyes widen at Lambert's gestures - the meaning comes through loud and clear.

He's not sure if it makes it better or worse that someone else is going through the same thing he is. It's nice to know someone can commiserate, but that also means there's more of those things that did this lurking around. That means anyone can be a victim.

He nods in response, since he can't exactly say anything about it. He mimes picking something up and putting it to his ear. Is that what happened to Lambert?

[whattaprick]

So it is a similar affliction. Lambert's smile is clearly pretty wry, and he nods simply. He'd demonstrate what exactly he put to his ear, but ... it'd look pretty silly to put his flask to his ear now.

He picks up an extra fork from his tray and offers it to Tamaki with a slight shrug. Perhaps they're not going to be really able to have a conversation like this, but misery loves company, and all that. In the meantime, his shoulders heave in a silent sigh, as he looks down with narrowed eyes at his food.

Still, even if he can't speak, the sudden loud thunk as he stabs his own fork into his chicken-whatever speaks plenty.

[puddingemote]

Tamaki takes the fork gratefully, eyes still on Lambert. He understands the sigh, and definitely understands the urge to stab something with a fork. He watches this activity with sympathy.

So Lambert hates this, too. Tamaki can understand why. It's isolating, in a way, to not be able to hold conversations with people, to tell them your ideas and concerns or just to pass the time with them. If he could at least use hand signs or something, he could communicate, but he doesn't know how to do that.

Tamaki slumps over his own food, chasing it around his plate with his fork for a bit before finally taking a bite. Misery loves company, indeed. He wishes he at least knew what they could do about this situation.

[whattaprick]

For a little while, that's all there is -- just the sound of both of them poking at their respective meals and the sound of the rest of the cookhouse around them. Once he's made significant headway on his food, though, Lambert will pause to nudge Tamaki in the side with an elbow to get his attention.

Reaching into a pocket, he pulls out a bunch of folded scrap paper -- some of it already scribbled over with pencil marks from previous 'conversations' -- and a small stub of a pencil. He writes, briefly, because there isn't much space, then slides it over to Tamaki.

Not the fastest way to talk, but writing works.

[puddingemote]

Tamaki takes the note from Lambert, creasing his brow as he reads it. At least, thanks to the fae magic of this place, he can read it.

He takes the pencil stub and leans over the paper, scribbling something down in return. It takes him a minute, like he's not entirely sure of what he's doing - the idea that he can write in a different language now is weird to him, even though he's been speaking it just fine. But he doubts Lambert could read Japanese very well.

Finally, he passes it back.

Annoying. Do you know how to fix it?

[whattaprick]

That fae magic is what Lambert's been counting on. The only thing he doesn't know is if someone who was completely illiterate could read it. While Tamaki writes, he continues working on his food. At the eventual response, he scowls.

We have to wait. It'll go away on its own in a few days. The specifics of how long he needs to wait, and whether or. It's not very much to go on, and he knows it, so he just gives Tamaki an apologetic shrug. Sorry he's not much help, dude.

[puddingemote]

If Tamaki had a voice, it would be groaning right now. As it is, he slumps back in his chair and leans his head back to imitate his best groan. It's not Lambert's fault, but Tamaki is clearly not happy at this news.

After his melodramatics are over, he writes back.

Hate waiting.

Pronouns are unnecessary.

[whattaprick]

Lambert's response to that is swift and decisive. Even if he isn't as dramatic about it (Ginko would beg to differ, probably, given Lambert's reaction on seeing him) this is ...

Me too.

Though, it occurs to him he hasn't really seen or spoken to Tamaki since they bumped into each other in Alola.

Ever end up getting that bird thing?

Tamaki had seemed pretty determined...

[puddingemote]

Oh, that's right. Lambert didn't know.

Suddenly perking up at this line of conversation, Tamaki reaches in his pocket for his Oricorio's Pokeball. He pushes the button, and she appears in a flash of light on the table, cooing happily to be back out.

Riori, Tamaki writes on the paper. He passes it back, then reaches up and scratches the feathers on Riori's head. He gives her a little piece of fruit from his plate, too.

He points at Lambert, wondering if he ended up keeping the donkey thing.

[whattaprick]

It's clearly the right track to take, at least for cheering Tamaki up. Unfortunately, the silent question has Lambert grimacing slightly, the explanation for which he's quick to provide:

Pig's bigger now. Got infected with a different kind, though. Meaning, naturally, a different kind of mushi, which he indicates by rotating his wrist, gesturing a hand at their surroundings. He taps the Pokeball at his belt. For now, she's in there until she gets better. Childermass's suggestion of keeping her inside seems to have worked, but he isn't keen on getting her infected again. She's not happy being cooped up, but he'd prefer that over risking another infection.

[puddingemote]

Tamaki's eyes widen as he reads the note, and he hastily scribbles a reply.

They can get infected too?

Suddenly, he's regretting letting Riori out of her ball. He reaches up as though to grab her, then hesitates and stops, wondering if touching her is even safe. What if she can get infected by the same thing that's stolen his voice?

Riori looks between the two, then shakes her pom-poms questioningly. She seems to want to cheer them up.

oof, sorry on the delay on this

[whattaprick]

Lambert nods, though he can guess at Tamaki's reason for sudden hesitation, and writes back:

With some kinds. Not this one. He touches a hand to his throat, as though to indicate what he means. Looking at Riori, he can't help but quirk a brow, giving the little Pokemon a little wave by wiggling his fingers back at her. Nah, he can't talk, but there are plenty enough ways to communicate if you get creative enough.

Still, it's a pain in the ass.

np I've been slow too

[puddingemote]

Well, at least Riori won't lose her cute voice. Tamaki sighs in relief and reaches out again to give Riori a reassuring scritch between her wings.

Riori reaches out with her wing and wags a pom-pom at Lambert in response to his little wave. She can't talk either, not like humans do, so together they make quite a group. At least they can understand well enough.

Tamaki takes back the paper and writes, What kind? with an error pointing to Lambert's earlier message about Pig's infection.