[OPEN]

[newphew]

WHO: Hunter and YOU!
WHAT: Hiding from the vet
WHERE: Anywhere in the base, including your room!!
WHEN: Shortly after the downtime log
WARNINGS: Stupidity???

[ no matter where you might be -- the metro, the shrine, your actual room? you catch a movement out of the corner of your eye and a blonde teenager is taking refuge behind a door, in a karaoke booth, a supply closet, or under your actual bed, etc. the list goes on. the stupider, the better ]

[ hunter catches your eye and has the audacity to make a "shh" motion at you. wow, what is he hiding from? what's got this kid so spooked he'll take refuge under the beds of other recruits? ]

[ it must be serious.... right? ]

Comments

sorry for the delay!

[newphew]

[ hm, that's not good. hunter remains under the bed, but he can feel the shift in the atmosphere, the mist coming in, the drop in temperature --- wait, it's that goddess lady doing this? maybe she is who she says. ]

[ regardless, hunter apparently is ready to take his changes freezing to death rather than what he's hiding from, so he stays hidden and quiet!! ]

[ ereshkigal, though, might see a little lock of familiar blonde hair under her bed.... hmmm, suspicious ]

np!

[queenofkur]

[ Blonde hair...? Rodents don't have hair! Not that sort of hair, anyway. Mhm... She should give whatever is hiding under her bed a chance before she strikes. She clears her throat and: ]

Who's there?

[ The ethereal spears are still there. Not replying would be most unwise. ]

[newphew]

[ rodents can have blonde hair! probably ]

[ but this particular rodent is trying to get a glimpse of the spears to assess threat level without giving himself away...... a little late for that. he debates staying quiet, but.... well. better to take his chances with her ]

It's Hunter! I'm not here to steal or desecrate or whatever! Keep your voice down.

[ before the vet finds him!! ]

[queenofkur]

[ Wait... I-Is she hearing that right? ]

H-Hunter?

[ Okay, the ethereal spears vanish. She owes him her life, after all. That wouldn't be very kind of her to take his in return. But still, there is something that needs to be addressed, and she's most definitely not keeping her voice down. ]

What are you doing under my bed?!

[newphew]

[ no, feel free to spear him to death. he deserves it ]

I'm hiding!

[ he does poke his head out from under the bed ]

Don't let them find me!

[ this sounds almost pleading ]

[queenofkur]

[ Let them find him...? What in the world is he talking about? ]

Them...? Who?

[ He's gonna have to be less cryptic if he wants her cooperation! ]

[newphew]

[ well, once she hears the answer, she will surely sympathize with him and want to protect him....! ]

The... doctor! The cat doctor thing!

[ or not. he just doesn't want to get a physical, apparently ]

[queenofkur]

A cat doctor...?

[ Does he have a cat? Isn't it a good thing a doctor wants to see his cat?! ]

It's... Fine, but please come out.

[newphew]

The doctor!

[ he insists, like she's just not getting it.... he gives her a skeptical look from the floor, which probably looks incredibly stupid ]

How do I know you won't turn me in?

[ as if him being under the bed would somehow stop this from happening ]

[queenofkur]

[ H-He dares question her integrity?! ]

Dare not question my word!

[ She won't stand for it, especially not when it comes from an intruder. ]

Besides, you are in my room! I should punish you for such a violation of my private space, but I suppose I owe you a debt.

[newphew]

[ he dares..... ]

[ but upon being scolded, he finally emerges from under the bed. and then gives her a confused look ]

A debt? For what?

[ apparently he does not consider him saving her something to be repaid.... ]

[queenofkur]

[ H-Huh...? Does he not know why she owes him? Has he forgotten already?! Surely she can't be that forgettable, right? ]

W-Well, you saved my life last month.

[ She thinks he did anyway! Her memories aren't the problem here, are they? ]

[newphew]

Well. Of course. I wasn't going to just let you die.

[ but he's still kind of surprised she wants to repay him... weird ]

[ but now he seems a little embarrassed ]

But let me hide out here, and we can call it even. If you want.

[queenofkur]

...

[ Some would have left her die. The other gods had abandoned her for tens of thousand of years. But she doesn't say anything of this. Instead she turns away and tries to say casually: ]

Very well. I shall let you hide here for as long as you want.

[newphew]

[ he does know that feeling, if she were ever to voice it ]

Thanks.

[ rubbing the back of his head awkwardly..... there's a long stretch of silence... ]

So... uh.... feeling better?

[ this is the same energy as "hello, zuko here" ]

[queenofkur]

[ Thank goodness he decided to talk! She doesn't care if that's just about the worst conversation starter she's ever heard.

She couldn't have done better. ]

O-Of course! I am a Goddess, such wounds are nothing to me.

[ The bandages, bottles of antiseptic and various medicines on her nightstand tell another story. Shh, don't mind them. ]

[newphew]

[ his eyes flicker between all of that and back to her, very obviously unconvinced. uh huh..... ]

Do you remember back then?

[ they talked.... ]

[queenofkur]

Vaguely...

[ She doesn't want to admit it, but that hit had really done a number on her. She barely remembers what had happened in the following week. ]

It's a bit of a blur.