video, mid-october

[wolfcut]

Is this thing — how does —

[ Let there be video of one sorry looking rat holding his pearl as far away from himself as possible. Somehow, he looks even more disheveled than usual, with eyebags practically to the floor.

Those who recognize him might also notice his fur is looking extra wispy today. Perhaps even a bit see-through? That’s different, isn’t it? ]

Okay. Okay. Does... does anyone know Sleep Powder? [ There’s some unbecoming desperation in his voice. He’s just asking for a friend here. ] Yawn, maybe? Or — fuck, what — Spore?

[ Anyone with a keen-eye will likely note that he’s also not at the Spire, but the Archives. Lum Berries are more than welcome to bump into (pass through?) their new rodent problem if they so wish. ]

And no, a punch to the head won’t work.

[ Ghosts are immune to Fighting-type moves, as it turns out. ]

Comments

[edgewater]

I mean, in my experience, it might make it a little less painful on your end. [ "in my experience" actually again being her crewmates' experience but whatever.

as she's talking, she's realised she can just leave her work where she is -- it might be a bit more noticeable that she's also currently at perrin's place. the hisuian arcanine in particular is visible in the background of her video for about half a second, since she's walking around with grumpearl in hand. ]

I'll work it out and be there as soon as I can, uh. [ she's no squinting down at the grumpearl to try and work out where he is as if she'd have any way of knowing. ] Yeah. Maybe I've got it.

[wolfcut]

Wait, that's— [ A squint. He brings the pearl closer to his face.

Yeah. That's one of them alright. ] You're at Six's place?

[ They must've just missed each other. Or maybe he's been in these halls longer than he thought. Bigby's honestly been losing track of time the past few days. ]

Let's just... meet halfway. You're still new here right?

[ Like he actually knows the Archives that well to begin with either. ]

[edgewater]

Huh? Oh, yeah-- he's been letting me sleep on the couch. [ most of her not-sleeping time's been spent helping out with quests or figuring out how she can feasibly fix the spire's flooding problem with sticks and stones, but today's been a drawing board type of day. ]

Yep, only arrived last month. I can meet you halfway. [ bigby can probably feel her distinct lack of confidence in her ability to find him, though. she's finally out the door. ] Surely there's somewhere open. I'm probably easy enough to spot, anyroad.

[wolfcut]

[ His ears droop at the mention of sleep. One can only imagine what it must feel like, to not be Wired but Tired two times over. ]

Yeah, easy enough. [ Only for him to suddenly realize he's going the wrong way. He makes an abrupt pivot. ] This place can't be worse than the Spire...

[ Horrible organizational practices aside. ] I didn't go too far. I think. No stairs that I remember. [ Granted, his memory is shit right now, so. ]

[edgewater]

[ parvati's making her way around, looking every which way to try and gain her bearings on the place. ] You'd hope not.

[ that's about as much commentary as she offers to begin with, more focused on where she's going. come on, parvati, the lower levels of the groundbreaker are about as complicated as this and you learned those quickly! come on! ] How'd you get all the way in there anyway?

[wolfcut]

[ A slow blink, and then: ] ... I don't remember. [ He never thought sleep deprivation could hit this hard. Mundies really do have it rough. ]

I've just been wandering since I left Pe—Six's.

[ Speaking of, if she's been hanging around the apartment long enough, he could try to pick up Perrin's scent off her. That might be easier than whatever this is. ]

You have to make a turn somewhere. I think the second hallway to your... right? No, left.

[edgewater]

[ she's probably backtracked about six times now because she's gone the wrong way. just like home. ]

Well if you've been out there long enough that'd explain us missing each other. [ she makes the left, awkwardly glancing down at the grumpearl. ] You sure you want me to hit you that hard? In the middle of... yknow. [ she cocks her head to the side slightly as she says this. ]

[wolfcut]

In the middle of what?

[ He scrunches his face down at his pearl, completely oblvious to the Rhydon about to step on him up ahead. Luckily, their stomps pass right on through him instead, none the wiser. Almost instantly he stops to shudder, fur puffing.

Oh, he gets it now. Maybe. ]

There's... there's study rooms around. We can find an empty one.

[edgewater]

[ oh yeah neither of them have thought this through at all. ]

Well I need to find you before we can do anything. See anything that sticks out? [ like her hammer maybe--

she's regretting leaving her schematics behind a little now, but no matter. this is more important in the current moment. ]

video --> action

[wolfcut]

... Right. Not yet.

[ Leaping before he looks. Isn't that just the way. He brushes back some of his fur before continuing. At least this time he's keeping his head up, scanning the hallways for any semblance of a pink creature with too big a hammer.

But really, he's just following his nose on this one. A few turns, a few grumbles, and finally he spots her from behind. ]

See? I was close enough. [ Don't think about how long that probably took. He cuts the connection on approach. ] Where did you even get that thing?

[edgewater]

No idea. It was next to me when I woke up. [ she adjusts it on her shoulder. ] Perfect for me, though. I'm the best at smashing stuff with hammers. Or so my Captain says.

[ parvati stretches out with her free arm. ] Soo, do you want me to just-- [ she steps back a little, and mimics hitting with her free hand. ] Like that?

[wolfcut]

... Hm. [ This place is nothing if not on the nose. Either way, it's a lot bigger than he thought. He takes a small step back, paws raised. ] Not out here, remember?

[ He motions for her to follow instead. ] Think I hid a bottle in one of these, actually.

[ He pokes his head into a few rooms as they pass, finally stopping at an empty one. ] Look good to you? [ He says, as if they're going to actually study and not bash his head in. ]

[edgewater]

Oh, crap. You're right. [ it's not like the two of you were walking around in circles for like forty minutes or anything, that boggles the brain! even for parvati.

she follows after him anyway, though. ] Heh, maybe that's the booze you're needing.

[ she peers into the final room they come to. ] Should be, unless you like. Scream real loud and implicate me for murder. Don't do that.

[wolfcut]

Knock me out in one hit and that won't be a problem.

[ He's had worse, honestly. Behind one of his paws, he stifles a small yawn. ]

Parvati, right? Wait here. [ Off he scurries into one of the cracks in the wall. It does take a bit of waiting, but eventually he re-emerges, pulling a bottle out with him by the teeth. It's almost as big as he is, made all the more obvious when he picks it up with both arms to waddle it over to her. ] Hid some of these for Perrin's birthday. Somehow managed not to go through all of 'em.

[ He sets it down next to himself. ] ... Want some? Before, you know.

[edgewater]

That's me. No thanks, I get really sad when I have any drink. [ which is a slight exaggeration on her part, but anything to avoid admitting that she doesn't like the taste of alcohol. ] Wait, for who's birthday--?

[ that last question comes as she's readying up gigaton hammer, so now she's awkwardly holding her hammer in an awkward about-to-swing-but-won't position. oops. ]

[wolfcut]

[ IT FINALLY SLIPPED AND HE DIDN'T EVEN BLINK. ]

Perry? You haven't met them yet? [ He needs to get knocked out immediately so he can stop talking. What a fucking mess. ] I guess it was before you got here. Anyway, doesn't matter.

[ He's trying to uncork that bottle as quickly as possible with paws, only to eventually give up at bite it instead. There we go. ]

It's too bad, though. This one's got a nice berry flavor. [ He does one big swig before taking in a deep breath. ] Alright, hit me.

[edgewater]

[ for a second, parvati hesitates. okay, so, by her calculations, she's definitely just heard something that she shouldn't. but given how absolutely incoherent bigby is now she can't actually tell which part.

this entire thing feels utterly ridiculous and she can't even brush it off as some kind of weird adreno-induced dream this time. she takes another step back, just to be store and then--

WHACK!

down comes gigaton hammer directly onto his head, alongside and extremely loud --] SORRY! [ --you know, as one does. ]

(1/3)

[wolfcut]

[ That hesitation is hard not to notice. It’s obvious she’s still thinking about it. ]

They’re a Pelipper, if you’re wondering. Looks sort of like a Pelican?

[ He’s playing it as cool as one can with a migraine as deep as his is. After centuries of keeping secrets from coming out, all it took was a few nights of no sleep in this mess of a body to throw all that experience out the window. ]

(2/3)

[wolfcut]

[ His ears twitch when she finally steps back without a word, only for them to completely fall flat as she winds up her hammer high. It’s definitely much, much bigger than he first realized.

What the fuck was he thinking again? ]

Uh. Actually, Parvati, maybe we—

[ Down it comes. ]

(3/3)

[wolfcut]

[ He reacts as any rodent (or Looney Tunes character) would, trying to jump away before it flattens him out completely, but too little too late. Luckily, Bigby’s not prone to yells or screams, but that grunt comes close enough. He stumbles back, seeing Staryus until he finally topples over.

Surely that’s that? ]

Nnngh...

[ No, it’s never that easy with Bigby. Still somehow awake, now laying on the floor with another concussion. Looks like that might be a 2HKO move for him. ]

[edgewater]

[ parvati crosses over to him, cringing. like, really cringing. she leans over and sighs, brow scrunching apologetically. ] By the Void, this might be one of the worst ideas I've ever had...

[ that part's a murmur, mostly muffled by her already putting her hand over her mouth in sheer embarrassment. at least this couldn't be mistaken for an attempted murder by brute force bludgeoning now? no, parvati, don't focus on that-- ]

Uh... do you want some help, Mr Bigby?

[wolfcut]

[ Don't beat yourself up about it too much, Parvati. Bigby's already taken enough of a beating as it is. When she offers him help, he looks at her before closing his eyes. ]

Just... give me a second. [ Maybe he can just pretend he passed out for a minute or two. Though, try not to point out how he looks like he's about to fade away at any moment. ] Honestly, at this point, it was worth a shot.

[edgewater]

You sure? [ she's holding out one of her hands now.

she's massively overthinking it in her head regardless, a fact that may or may not be apparent on her face depending on how willing bigby is to expend his limited brain power on that sort of thing. ] We can, uh, go back to Six's place if you want? Since we both seem to be crashing there anyway?

[wolfcut]

[ When Parvati asks one more time, his frown deepens until he looks up at her again. While his expression starts to soften, he still lets out a sigh, finally taking her hand to get back up. ]

... Fine. [ He winces a little when he's fully on his feet. ] Hard to beat laying on the floor, but I guess his couch'll do.

[edgewater]

I'm sure anything soft is better than the floor, Mr Bigby. [ parvati's eyes give him a quick once-over to make sure she didn't batter him too badly out of habit, before squinting the moment she realises she has no way of being able to tell on a non-human body. ]

C'mon. I might be able to put on a hot drink before he gets home and I have to explain all this.