lifeaftr | [cleaning intensifies]

[ The Knight is incredibly busy, compensating for being the smallest of their companions with an almost manic energy, like they're working in exchange for trying not to think about anything that's happened in the past few months especially.

They may be trying to do that. Whether it works is another thing entirely.

Still, drowning their problems in work or not, it certainly means that their cleaning fervour is at an all-time high. They scrub and patch and follow instructions as needed, putting themselves in some frankly dangerous positions to just get things done that have a tangible effect on the environment.

It's fine. They're fine. Everything is fine. ]

Edited 2019-01-10 15:03 (UTC)

[Honestly? Guzma is doing much the same. He's working to keep his mind and his hands busy, lest the former control the latter to do harmful things to himself and to others. Guzma doesn't trust himself enough to not lose control when left to his own devices, and the last few months were...well. They were. Thankfully, with hard work and exercise does come the blissful endorphins that fuel a good mood, and Guzma has enough wit to see when someone is overworking themself for a purpose.

He approaches the Knight after a period of simply watching them work so feverishly, and squats down to offer them his canteen for a drink. He's not...sure how it is they eat and drink, but if a Magnemite can eat a pokebean with its fucking eye, then who's he to judge how this little thing will absorb water?]

Hey, Lil Bro, how 'bout you take a break for a while, yeah? Y'must be thirsty and hungry after all'a that hard work. You n' me can sit a while and relax a bit 'fore we get to it again, a'ight?

[ They go from All Movement to basically no movement when Guzma pushes a canteen in front of them, like they've forgotten what it was like to take a break. There's the sense that they might have blinked, if they were capable of doing so.

They lift the canteen to their mask, and it lightens just a little. They don't need to drink much, but it's nice. (The kindness of not being forgotten is nicer, but the water helps.)

Then, as instructed, they sit right there. They're covered in dirt and scuff marks from all their work, and keeping themselves clean has fallen to the wayside a little; moving like someone in a slight daze, they scrub at their mask gently, beginning to clean it.

They've neglected themselves, just a little. ]

[Getting dirty and scuffed up during work is definitely a trait of labor like this, but Guzma's not stupid, and he's very observant. He watches the Knight closely as they drink, then begin to clean themself. Taking a rag from a back pocket, he drips some water onto it, wrings it out, then begins to gently wipe the small creature's face and horns. The act feels so...normal, and he doesn't hesitate or pause.

It's almost like grooming his own Pokemon, back home. Something familiar. Something Guzma remembers doing a long time ago. A nicer time, back when so many things didn't happen so fast. Back when things were simpler, easier to go by day in and day out. The smile that tugs at the corners of his mouth is gentler than normal, and he pats the Knight's head, palm laying between their two horns.]

That's better, yeah?

[Edward has never exactly been a fan of menial labor. It's something that needs done, sure, but it's often difficult to keep his focus--especially when it's something that under normal circumstances he could have done in maybe three seconds.]

[Grumbling as he nails another board into place over the hole in the barn, it chafes even more than usual. He'd been able to transmute some of the walls back into a serviceable shape, but there was just too much damaged to do it all in a single day. And working through his exhaustion from even doing that much was just making him even crankier.]

(Ed's transmutation skill was previously unknown to them, but it has caught their interest: it is useful.

Thus, they have decided to assist him.)

You dislike physical labor?

I don't like not being able to do what I should.

[Sorry, Legion, but he's not really in the best mood. He shoots the...robot? An irritated glance before digging another nail out of his pocket.]

Time was I could have finished this whole project in three seconds, but I'm suck wasting my time doing it all by fucking hand, why wouldn't I be pissed?

Such limitations are common on Enso.

(Legion has dealt with so much worse; Ed's temper does not faze them.

As they talk, they continue to work.)

Though your abilities are reduced, they are beyond anything we are aware of in our universe of origin. We are curious.

Edited 2019-01-21 05:23 (UTC)

[It is... nice here, they think.

They aren't sure what it is about this place. The quiet, perhaps? But somehow, there is a pleasant feeling in the air itself, somehow different from what else they've experienced so far. They might... like it? They aren't sure yet.

They also aren't sure what they are supposed to do. There were specific tasks that the Hollow Knight had been trained for. Tasks like these are not it. At some point, they're just staring helplessly at their nail, then at the tasks at hand.

...

It's a little like watching a child work out how to fit a square block into a round hole. You know it's never going to get anywhere meaningful.]

[ The Knight has slightly more idea of what to do here, and thus...they try to show their sibling what to do.

They start with something simple, then.

This barn needs to be cleaned, like the others, so they lead their sibling inside one and motion to the walls.

They attempt to show their sibling how to clean - here's a cloth, here's a container of water. They're going to scrub away some of the dirt and residue. They dip the cloth into the container and get rid of the dirt on it before wringing it out again.

Then they offer the cleaning cloth to their sibling, looking at them, hoping they understood.

How well this demonstration worked is...debatable. ]

[The Hollow Knight does stare for a moment, not entirely sure what they should do, even when offered the cloth. But then, they set their nail down on the ground. They accept the cloth.

So far, so good. They seem to have understood this much, at least.

When they copy the motions themselves, the force behind it is a little too much, perhaps. They... only need to scrub away the dirt, not smother the surface. Still... It's a good start?]

[ They watch their sibling at work and make sure to show visible approval, even if it is a little too much force at first.

After letting them just do that by themselves for a bit, they pick up another cloth and try to show them how to scrub the dirt away for a bit.

...This continues for a little while

until they have an Idea.

They dip the cloth into the bucket, soaking it. Then, they flap it at their sibling, spraying them with droplets of water.

It certainly won't help with cleaning, but maybe it'll help with fun. ]

[If the Hollow Knight could blink, they would have. As it is, the way they jump slightly at the sudden spray is akin to a surprised cat.

And they certainly seem puzzled. Are... Are they supposed to imitate this, too?

It's what they already were doing, after all. If this is part of the process, it's not their job to question it. Cautiously... they flap their own cloth.

Of course, they didn't put it in more water first...

It's not very effective.]

[ They feel a little pang of sadness as this attempt falls flat, but they do their very best not to show it. It's not their sibling's fault they don't understand play; it's not like the Knight understood it either, for a very long time.

They show their sibling the cloth, and then dunk it in the bucket, and then flap it at them, spraying them with water once again.

Then, they nod encouragingly. Try again. It's fine. They get unlimited tries here. ]

[They nod. Right. Yes, they understand it this time.

They put the cloth in the water, take it out, and flap it at their sibling... and success! They've successfully sprayed their little sibling.

The Hollow Knight actually jumps a little at that, looking at the Knight with something... something that almost seems like pride? Look, look! They did it!]

[Well, the Knight's larger sibling is, well...larger, and because Guzma is down one of his larger, stronger Pokemon he's struggling a bit with some of the other tasks that, uh...certainly require a bit more muscle than even he has. Heavy beams need to be put up and moved for the barn, walls need to be restructured and raised up, joints need to be nailed down...it's a lot of hard labor to raise a new barn.

And Guzma sees a poor, big bug without anything to do, and whistles to get their attention, waving loosely.]

Yo, big guy, gimme a hand? [There's no way he can lift this big beam on his own.]

[It takes the Hollow Knight a second. They hear the whistle and look over, curiously. And a few seconds after Guzma asks, they point curiously at themself.

Them?

...They're not the quickest on the uptake.]

[One thick, dark brow lifts up into his hairline and Guzma sighs. Oh boy, this might be a bit more difficult that he anticipated. At least he's a bit more gentle about it - this is clearly someone related to, or associated with, his tiny bug friend. Plus...bugs. He has a bit of a soft spot, let's be honest.]

Yeah, homie, ain't no one else 'round. [No one that can deadlift this huge, heavy piece of wood.] I need y'all's help lifting this.

[Oh! Well, that does make sense. They understand. With a nod, they walk over and... perhaps slightly awkwardly, grabs a hold of the wood. It's a little tricky, getting a good grip with only one hand.

They're... managing.]

[Oh. …Oh.

It takes Guzma a moment to really notice, but when he does indeed see the Hollow Knight's erm...disability there, he blinks and slows his pace a bit, watches them carefully to make sure they're not over exerting themselves and can actually manage to do the work he asked for. He means nothing rude by it, of course, but this is definitely a task that'd be harder for them, especially, and what with his assumption they're connected to the much smaller Knight, he's a bit worried about them.

Not that he'd say so out loud.]

Yo, homie, you sure you got this? Here, brace it on your shoulder if y'feel it slipping, yeah? [He shifts the beam a little with a soft grunt, balancing it squarely on his large, broad shoulder and curling one arm around the length of it to hold.] Lemme know and we can stop for a while, or I can get y'all a spotter, yeah?

[In all honesty, Nuidan is perhaps Guzma's favorite island outside of his home on Enso. There's so much here, and it keeps his hands and his mind busy. He never expected to enjoy physical labor like this, but when it comes down to it, he can certainly get the job done and done well. It certainly keeps his mind occupied, and his Pokemon enjoy the fresh, clean air and the exercise. Seems they're happy to just be out and about, moving freely from their Pokeballs.

Ariados, in particular, is a great help when it comes to patching up the windmill. Guzma can command her from down below, calling up to her on what to do and where, and handing off items she may need as she skitter up and down the sides of the windmill's bodyshaft and its arms. She's a great weaver, and stitching cloth into the arms of the windmill, or holding sections together with her thick and sturdy webs is a boon to have. Not only that, but the spider can haul Guzma up with a line of her thread - like a harness - as he hammers away on parts that require a more human touch. ...Thumbs, mostly.

He takes breaks frequently, mostly to chug down water and food and let his Pokemon rest. At the moment, he's removed pretty much everything but his shorts and shoes (and he's even debating if he needs the latter), tying back the longer, white part of his undercut into a ponytail to keep it from his eyes as it gets slick with his sweat. He's definitely gotten a bit tan, and red in spots, pouring some of that water over his face and even onto his Pokemon, who shivers and shakes it off, but seems appreciative to cool off.]

Good work, sweetheart, you're doing great.

[ The Knight is watching with rapt attention as Ariados spins her webs and helps Guzma reach spots he couldn't normally reach on his own. Truly, this is the power of spiders.

When their breaks line up, the little bug makes a beeline towards the much larger, more colourful Pokemon, stopping a polite distance away.

They reach out...and then realise that might be bad manners, and instead they rummage around in their cloak and hold out a piece of jerky for Ariados' inspection. Most spiders they've met have been hungry. They assume that she's no exception. ]

[Ariados s definitely hungry - she worked hard and she worked a lot! It's a big effort she put into all this, and while she can go on for a little while longer, the big spider definitely does need to refuel. She spies the bizarre creature, blinking curiously at the Knight before turning her head to Guzma, who smiles and nods his head for her to say hello ("nicely, darlin'").

She may be longer than the knight, with a lot more girth to her, especially towards her plump rump, but she's about their eye level, and reaches out to take the offered meat into her fangs and feed herself. She's quite delicate with her pointed fangs, knowing that Guzma is keeping a close eye on her actions. Ariados is poisonous, after all - even an accident could be extremely dangerous for others.

She bobs up and down on her legs, practically bouncing and clicking her fangs in thanks as she pushes the scraps into her mouth with her two front legs.]

Wanna join us, Lil Pinsir? Always room for more. [Guzma pats his lap,to which Ariados hurries over to climb into, like a very bizarre looking cat.] Y'all just gotta share with this spoiled princess.

[ Even the spider is a she! All the spiders they've met are female, all the significant ones anyway. Clearly some things stay the same, even across different worlds.

She climbs into his lap, and that's a little odd to see, but it's not strange enough to keep them away from physical affection. A year and some change has turned them into an unstoppable force for cuddles.

So they nod, and carefully settle themselves in Guzma's lap, leaning carefully against Ariados. One small hand pats gently against her shell, clearly fascinated with this new texture. ]

[Guzma snickers at the two insects clambering for his lap. He reminds him of a time long, long ago, when his Pokemon were still in their first evolutionary stages - much smaller than they are now - all trying to get his attention or affection before others. Masquerain back then was absolutely the spiciest of his team. Still is, the hothead, but now she tends to sleep either on Guzma's head, shoulder, or hoodie. A space on his person all to herself, where she can avoid being a jealous little thing and get into fights with her teammates.

She takes after her trainer a bit too much...

Ariados, thankfully, is extremely friendly - like an oversized cat or dog, and even has the good grace to make room for the Knight to sit comfortably beside her. She's not fuzzy like other spider Pokemon, her carapace hard and smooth, the two stingers on her rear laid down in a more relaxed pose. However, she does tend to poke and play with the Knight's cape after a few minutes, inspecting it curiously and tugging at the fabric gently.]

Uh oh, y'all got found by the fashion police, homie. [He laughs, petting both of them, though it doesn't stop Ariados' inspection.] Careful, she might start knitting you something real soon.

[cleaning intensifies]

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