Video - End of Lasohm/start of Malom, about a day after the breach is resealed

[twistedempathy]

[The city is still in a state of disarray, though the fighting is over. Everyone will surely need to pitch in for some extensive repair work to make Havenwell what it once was. Will is sitting on a somewhat mangled chair on a cafe's patio, disheveled and powdered with stone dust, looking more exhausted and discouraged than most people here have ever seen him--unless, of course, they happened to help him endure the agony of the battle's psychic backlash.

He's doing his best to smile regardless, and holds up a slightly rumpled piece of paper to show the camera; on it are some surprisingly good line art head shots of Akira, Akechi, and Kei done in pen. They may not be exactly artistic, but they're at least faithful to their subject matter; he's even helpfully tagged each with hair and eye colors, since he could only work in monochrome.]

Has anyone seen these three recently? My roommates all vanished during the fighting. I figured they must have had their hands full, and maybe they got hurt and needed to stay with someone, but.....

They aren't answering their tablets, and they're not at any of the temples. I've been searching around town, but I haven't found them yet, and Arche can't pick up any scent trails, either. I'm starting to think maybe they got sick, and..... got worse.

[Anyone who's seen or experienced the strange illness that can grip the newcomers may understand what he's talking about, and why he's so worried--people fading out of existence entirely is a frightening prospect. His voice is quieter now, as he reaches out to end the recording and submit it to the network.]

.....I'm not sure I want to stay in my house anymore.

Comments

[twistedempathy]

Who ever said you're in the way? Do I need to talk to someone?

[And by talk to, he means chew out, of course. Who would dare to make his adorable pink daughter feel bad about herself? Yes, he's aware they haven't known each other long, and that you're probably everyone else's daughter here, too. TOO BAD. You're tiny and cute and quiet, you're adopted.]

[pinkmin]

[It's never too late to develop adoption papers. She blinked, tilting her head.]

No one here.

[But that didn't mean it wasn't true!]

I don't think you'd have to talk to anyone though?

[twistedempathy]

Somewhere else, then? Or do I need to talk to you?

[It's a teasing tone, but the sentiment is genuine.; He's been thoroughly distracted from her shrinking ability. Don't make him try to cuddle you until that self-esteem trouble falls out your ears!]

[pinkmin]

[This is a very confusing turn of events!!]

Children are generally liabilities if they don't have useful skills. [That was just basic, Will.]

Not everyone is fond of people that change forms, either.

[twistedempathy]

Well, I like you no matter what shape you are. And didn't you come over to show me how useful it is?

[pinkmin]

[Vianca gave a small nod. This was the task!]

Yes. I haven't... met everyone that is here yet, so I didn't feel good about a public message.

[Having a few people that liked you was very, very, good, but it didn't erase scars.]

But you'll have a better sense of scale in person too.

[twistedempathy]

I know what you mean. It's scary, not knowing how people might react, isn't it? There's no guarantee they'll understand.....

[Have a rueful, sympathetic smile; he's all too familiar with that fear himself. You can't help what you are, or what you can do. You can't make people be accepting. All you can do is hope, and deal with the fallout as it arises.

Will moves to sit back down, either way. She said she would be pretty small, after all. He may as well get closer to her impending height, right?]

[pinkmin]

Yes.

[Vianca fiddled with the hem of her sweater vest for a moment, and then gave a decisive nod. She'd decided to do this, after all. There were very few ways for her to actually be useful, and if this could be one? There was no reason not to bring it to the table.

So she took a breath-- and then the little girl was gone.

Left bobbing in the air in her place was a little, pink... Shiny Cutiefly and Oddish fusion??]

[twistedempathy]

[Gasp. GAAAAAAAASP. Will just stares for a moment, speechless, and then--]

Oh my Mew, you're the cutest thing ever--

[pinkmin]

[There was a sassy little shake of her head. Cute, maybe, but not the cutest. He hadn't seen her sisters! They were way cuter! Especially the purple ones, with those cute little whiskers and their lovely pink blossoms.

But she flew a little circle in the air, making a sort of 'see?' sounding humm. She'd meant it when she said small. Her body probably wasn't any taller than four inches or so.]

[twistedempathy]

I'll believe there are cuter things when I see then. You weren't kidding about being small!

[Will can't help but grin.]

Are you sure it's still safe to go crawling around in rubble piles like that, though? You must be pretty fragile at that size.....

[pinkmin]

[Get her a Joltik to ride into battle.

She gave his question some though, lightly tapping her hand against her chin as she hovered. It'd be a lot like spelunking with Knuckles, she figured. They'd never had a problem! Of course, Knuckles had been there with all of his strength. There was also the fact that she'd still been a white pikmin at the time, which meant she had been able to simply see through the earth to discover any hidden secrets. That would have been extremely useful right now...!

Oh well. She at least had a sense for what a safe passage was and what was not, so she nodded. It'd at least be worth a try! There definitely wasn't any lingering trauma from being crushed to death!

... Definitely not!]