9 Stinking Oaf (1/2)
”They've got quite the story.” Chao murmured. ”Oh, welcome back!”
They turned their neck and hummed. ”You've been sleeping for a couple hours. It's a little past dinner time already, there's still time until the slumber party. If you go to the cafeteria, you'll get some meat and seafood. Make sure you clean up after yourself. I'm leaving now to get some stuff in order.”
”Wait, what?” They called out to Chao but she disappeared leaving only a trace of her scent behind. ”Don't worry about her. She never stays in a single place for longer than 5 minutes.” Bea helped them sit upright. ”May I know your name?”
”Right now I'm…” they looked down and slowly recollected. ”Marianna. Lawrence is here too. She killed them right?”
”Yes and no. You'll know what I mean tomorrow morning. Right now, you have to join the slumber party in her wing. Well, it's in two hours, but you are joining. It'll benefit you. You just woke up so you'll be a bit unstable.”
She was confused, but nodded. ”Good. Now, go wash up and eat a bit. Your hair's a bit matted since you're no longer in your beast form.” Marianna looked down and saw that she was in a hospital gown. She then touched her hair and immediately retched. Her hair was greasy and slimy in some spots. ”Is there a set clothing standard in place or can anyone just create their clothes to wear?”
”You're free to wear whatever you want as long as you aren't bothered by it. One person walks around in plastic clothes and cardboard hats. They even made a tall tophat out of cardboard with a fake beard. They said 'Call me the Rail-Splitter'* after they had visited some place.”
”O-okay. I'll go now.” 'What is a rail?' Marianna walked away. Bea snickered softly, ”Confusion 100.”
. . .
”Is she going to stop staring at us anytime soon?”, one of the children whispered to another.
”Maybe she wants to size us up?”
”For what reason?” another chirped.
”Maybe she's a predator.” whispered a child with reverse eyes.
”What? No! You're so weird Inrigo!”
”Hey Caligo, Nubis! Walk up to her!”
”You do it Noctis!”
”1, 2, 3...Not it ×6”
”Not i- dang it!”
”Good luck Luna!”
”Ventus and I will mark your grave!”
”I'll burn sage for you!”
”Inrigo, pray tell, what will that do?”
”Noctis, your sister is quite...lacking upstairs. Are the lights on?”
”There's no electricity in the first place.” The boy shrugged while his older sister Luna, took deep breaths. She looked into his light grey eyes that were just like hers, closed her eyes, and fixed her long slate-blue wavy hair before taking her first step.
Chao listened to the entire thing making sure to not leek a hint of her enjoyment. 'They are truly lively.'