(backdated to ghost event)

[akito]

[ Akito has admittedly forgotten to check up on the network, if only because he spent so many years without communication that it's hard to adjust...

But he needs help, even if he's scared to ask. He's hiding out in the burrow he made for himself under the pond, so it's dark save for the light that Woo gives off.


Unfortunately the deceptively friendly-sounding ghost of the doctor who made him followed him into said normally cozy burrow. ]

How do you make them go away? This isn't normal, is it?

[ Rinta-ghost begins asking him for a blood sample (again) - 'wanting to see the effects of a new environment and diet on the potency of your blood', apparently. Akito also is sporting a few deep gashes, similar to what a scalpel would leave behind, but he's not going to mention those. They're going to heal by tomorrow anyway...

Dr. Minami is usually not very considerate of his status as a sentient being, but he at least used to be considerate enough to treat him like a particularly smart pet. Meaning nine times out of ten if there was going to be pain, he was given warning and treated kindly, if not anesthetized.

Whispered, somewhat panicked and... almost desperate: ]


He died a long time ago, so why won't he leave me alone?

Comments

[locked]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Some are not-so-secret, some are totally secret. There's some wriggle room, but I'm sorry--it's not important. What's important is where you'd wanna meet. Your call; I got my stree'doo, so I can get just about anywhere in good time.

[locked]

[akito]

Is by the pond alright?

[locked]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Sure thing. I'll be there ASAP!

[locked]

[akito]

Thanks. I will be waiting there.

[and action]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[Sam actually manages to arrive in a surprisingly short time, zipping towards the pond on her stree'doo---and making a mental note to thank Wheeljack for the sturdiness of the mod job. She slows, seeing Akito, and lifts a hand in greeting as she pulls up to park.]

Hey. How're you doing?

[akito]

[ Akito lifts a hand in return and waits patiently for her to park. ]

I have been better, but I've also been worse. So I would say that I'm doing okay. And Sam?

[10_20_15_5_50]

[She pulls her helmet off before answering.]

I'm pretty good, actually, all things considered.

[She stands from the stree'doo, opening the little storage compartment under the seat to retrieve two jars---one full of salt, the other full of fennelseed---and offer them over.]

Here. I'm sorry I don't have more for you. There's supposed to be a third thing, some sort of flower, a person can add to try to make the mix more effective---and I'm not entirely sure how effective it'll be---but I can't remember just what it is for the life of me.

[akito]

I'm glad.

[ he takes the jars carefully and gratefully. ]

This will be good. Even if it's a little bit effective it will help.

Does it have to be a specific flower?

[10_20_15_5_50]

I sure hope so, kiddo. And it does, which is what has me hung up---although! [She snaps her fingers, having remembered something.] Violets. Violets aren't the flower that's supposed to go with the salt and fennel seed, but they're supposed to repel ghosts, and I think it's according to some Greek superstition leeks are supposed to do the same thing.

[akito]

Violets? Just the flower, on their own?

[ time for a flower crown? Time for a flower crown. ]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Just the flowers, on their own. Allegedly.

[akito]

Do any grow nearby?

[10_20_15_5_50]

I'm not sure. We could go to the farm and ask? I can give you a lift, no problem.

[akito]

...Un, that would be nice, if it isn't too much trouble.

[10_20_15_5_50]

Okay. Here, just a sec.

[She opens the stree'doo's storage compartment again, to retrieve the helmet she makes Hiro wear on his ride-alongs.]

It's easier for a second rider to be bumped off, so even though I'll drive carefully, you should wear this.

[akito]

[ Akito understands the concept of a helmet, and how to put it on... But halp, Sam, he's never dealt with one of these strap things before ;_; ]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[oh]

Let me give you a hand, here...

[Seeing Akito struggle with the strap, Sam will step over to adjust it---carefully! She's been pinched by the damn things before.]

How's that? Not too tight, not too loose?

[akito]

Un! It's good, thank you.

[10_20_15_5_50]

You're welcome, and good.

[Sam'll seat herself on the stree'doo and start it up, scooting forward a little in invitation. It's not really necessary, since the seat is easily long enough to fit a second person---even a third, if that third person was a slight thing like Hiro---but it's the thought that's there.]

Hop on, and just hold on to my waist, okay? We'll start off slow.

[akito]

[ he hesitates for a moment before doing as she says; grabs a snug hold of her waist, while simultaneously trying to keep as polite a distance as he can from her in the situation. ]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[True to her word, Sam's patient in accelerating. Though it's an unusual vehicle, the stree'doo is nice in that it's much more stable than a motorcycle, and not quite as bumpy as one would expect.]

[akito]

[ Akito is actually quite disappointed that it isn't bumpy and fast - that would be way more fun. but he waits patiently and keeps quiet, letting Sam drive without distracting her. ]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[He won't have to be disappointed long---she does speed up, once it seems Akito has had enough time to know what to expect. Those first few minutes, slow and steady, were only a kind of courtesy.]

[akito]

[ as soon as things start speeding up he lets out a small noise of delight. he likes the speed, yo! has to actively remind himself to keep his grip on sam. ]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[The stree'doo may obscure some sound through its rumbling, and their voices may be muffled by the helmets, but that little noise wasn't quite little enough to be lost... and they have nothing ahead but smoothly sloping fields.]

[so]

[Sam guns it.]