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So...
LM could make... spores?
He vaguely knows of the madness inside the fungus lair from vague mentions from both Laughing Mold themself and Comatus. He's not sure of the full extent of it, though it sounded... not great. It's no wonder the rest of their group never came back. Feel bad for them. Didn't even know what was coming until it was too late, probably.
But. Damn if he wasn't curious. He's gotten high only a few times in his life. Thought it was decent, but not something to do too often. Had other things to worry about, after all. Now, though? Now, there... wasn't much left to loose. Who knows, maybe those things would be similar. Maybe. Even if, he would at least want to get second-hand recounts or something. Just getting high off it wasn't the whole point, after all. He's not like that! Just a general description, give or take?
If any time was the best time, it sure would be now. As far as he knew, everybody else was asleep. They like to take turns keeping watch just in-case something creeps in. It was Laughing Mold's turn. They usually pick the stronger, bigger ones to do it more often. Not all the time, just often. Ahem.
...Hm, uh, how was he gonna... explain himself? Sure, that Sam guy had fetched him some paper and a pen for him before (thanks, Comatus), but even then, that was a last resort with how uncoordinated his tentacles were... hmmh... just in-case, one or two eyes turned to keep track of it...
"...YOU'RE KINDA STARING," He jumped. Oookayyyy. Right. More eyes means it's easier to get noticed looking at something, huh? Actually focusing on the fungal creature, it seemed it wasn't just him that was an example. "JUST THOUGHT I'D MENTION..."
Laughing Mold lumbers over to his side and plops down their frankly stubby many feet. It's a bit out-of-place for such a calm environment. Suppose he shouldn't be taking that for granted? It was a lot worse when they first got here and had to learn how to tone it down...
"SOOO... WHAT'S GOT YOU AWAKE AT THIS HOUR, EH? ANTSY?" Speaking of- they've started using only one or two mouths when they're kinda supposed to be quieter. It's a nice courtesy. For now, he just shrugged. "YEAAAH. WHATEVER."
...Awkwarrrrrrd. Again, if he was gonna get to the point, he probably should. Like. Sooner or later.
"...WELLLLLL... DO YOU- ACK-" Knowing them, they probably had a joke incoming... he felt a little bad with giving them as good as a shove as he could. But, as far as he knew, how else was he supposed to get it out of them? It's not like he could just ask, even if he could speak.
Oh, hey. He... wasn't actually expecting it to work. Before, they got occasional bumps and pushes, yet he didn't notice any spores popping out so easily. Did he shove a little too hard? There were a lot for just one little surprise...
It's difficult to catch one drifting with his semblances of fingers. "WHAT WAS THAT FOR-??" At the slightly accusatory tone, he winced. They might just be getting a weird stare from them anyways. Aaagh. Man. Whatever. Holding up the semi-captured spore to them, he could see the cogs turning in their head.
Once it clicked, he could visibly see their eyes widen. Even without a drop of red blood in their body, he could swear that he could see their face brighten. Never knew the guy could be so expressive. Was it a touchy subject? Guess that made sense, actually. Whoops. "WHUH- WHAT ABOUT IT???"
Ehhhh... one tentacle pointed to the spore, then did, like, that swirling motion next to his 'head' to indicate going a bit crazy? That? Yeah. Should be close enough. Maybe. Hard to tell when you already know what you're talking about. At least it seemed to calm them from their initial horror.
"EH- YEAH, THEY'RE KINDA LIKE PSYCHEDELICS, I GUESS?? SO WHAT?" They seemed to almost forget to keep their voice down. He shrugged again, which got a huff out of them. He could feel their many breaths, just barely.
His eyes drifted to the side. Back to not knowing how to explain himself. Mmh. He decided to just point to whatever kind of... breathing holes? Gills? That he had now. They were kinda like gills, lining along some of his eyestalks (not all of them, others were mouths instead) and subtly blending into the creases. Like one could with a caught fish, he could even open them and show the flesh underneath. Not sure if he actually showed it to... really anybody, to be honest, but he hopes it clicks for them anyways.
Oh, yeah. He probably had to look back at them again, right?
...
...were things always that...
...Oh. Y'know, not sure why he didn't consider he could breathe it in accidentally. If he could still suck in air through his teeth... sigh. You reap what you sew, he supposed...
LM was saying something... jeez, how fast-acting were these things? "...-CT A MILDEW RESPONSE, YEAH? HA..." He tuned in just in time to hear a small, quiet laugh track. It's such an unusual little habit they have. He assumes it's a habit, at least, considering how many times they've done it right after a joke. Hadn't quite focused his vision to watch it happen. Apparently, that gave him away. "ARE YOU. ARE YOU LISTENING? NOT LIKE YOU, TO LOOK LIKE YOU'RE KINDA..." Pretty sure they were studying him right now. If it was the biggest of his concerns at the moment, he would be a bit embarrassed. Just focus before they put it together. Take a deep breath and focus.
...wait, no, don't take a deep breath--
"DO YOU, UH." Laughing Mold wasn't exactly the type to know how to... take care of people. No offense, just that a giant piece of fungus that was apart of a controlling, manipulative system of other fungi and also happened to be an outlier in those customs was. Not one to be stereotyped into a caring worry wart. Or something. He's getting lost in thought again. "DO YOU NEED TO LAY DOWN?"
Nodding would usually be a good idea in this situation. But, uh. When nodding also meant bobbing your eyes up and down individually? While feeling the effects of hallucinogenics? Yeah, he's having a lot of fun with that. Motion sickness galore.
Next thing he knew, he was already laid down on his back. Thanks, man. Sure they were being very ginger with it. Did they ever actually use this on anybody before? Is this weird to them? Or does he look appetizing?? It's not like he really laid himself down. Unless he fell over. Does that even count? Should he be taking this with more fight than he is? Well. Maybe he's too small for them. Not enough nutrients. Too messy with all the tentacles everywhere... what is he even thinking right now. Hello? What is going on.
Uuurrrrggh. LM was saying something again. He didn't wanna listen this time. His eyes flicked closed. Mind was drifting. A little. A lot. A moderate amount. He wouldn't know. Weird how it makes people fall apart so easily. In a comfortable way. A way that makes people accept it.
Were they poking him...? He felt something on his arm. Maybe him closing his eyes was pretty obvious with his physique. Trying to get him to pay attention, probably. Understandable. Unfortunately, he's the last person to be helping with that.
He, ah... might as well try. Probably? One- two eyes, maybe, blearily blink open. Have to strain to actually find and look up at Laughing Mold. It feels like somebody turned up the saturation to unreasonable levels in his eyes. Or the vibrancy? Man, that's a damn nerdy way to describe it. He's a musician, not a photographer. It's colorful, is what he's trying to say.
"HEEEY. WAKEY-WAKEY. DON'T JUST PHASE OUT ON ME LIKE THAT," They seemed mildly annoyed instead of worried now, if anything. His bad. Not like he meant to drug himself. Was just trying to make an example. Leave him alooone. Waaah. Despite his inward complaints, they kept prodding at him. "I WILL ADMIT, THIS IS SOME PRETTY HARDCORE STUFF, BUT THAT DOESN'T GIVE YOU THE EXCUSE..." Yeah, he can tell it was! He was... admittedly, not experienced enough for this, like. In any way whatsoever. It might not be that obvious, but he is, in fact, sky high right now.
Hm. Did they trail off because he stopped paying attention, or did they actually trail off?
Ooohhh. That's becaaaauuuuse he's. Loosing control of what his body decides to do. Okay. Whatever. Sure. Just let the fungus take the wheel. If it hasn't already, that is. Hope Laughing Mold likes tendrils with barely any real energy poking back at them, 'cause that's what they're getting.
Apparently, they don't mind too much, as he felt a textured hand... paw...??? It's hard to tell which with this guy, and it's not like they hold hands on the regular to find out. They're too tall for that. A paw instead of a hand would be kinda funny. Like a cat? He's always liked cats. Specifically the black ones. Always chastised for being 'unlucky'. It was charming, in a way... oh, yeah. Grabbing his tentacle-hand. The paw. Hand. Whatever it is. At least they weren't poking anymore!
The contact was kinda nice, to be honest. Weirdly enough. Probably the spores talking, whatever. "...OKAY, YEAH, YOU'RE. DEFINITELY GONE." It was hard for him to differentiate emotion anymore- to differentiate things in general- buuuut that sigh sounded a bit frustrated, maybe? Sigh-whistle-maybe a small growl? Maybe??? If he says 'maybe' enough times, then maybe it'll have some merit to it.
...he strains to listen, yet he hears nothing. Only vaguely felt LM fiddling with his fingers. Just casually. To pass the time. Sure. Were they giving up? Did he really seem that... y'know...? Actually, he shouldn't be the one to evaluate that. He probably does. Absolutely does. Sigh...
It... okay, it might be the spores talking again, but. Does he just give into it at this point. His mind has been hanging just by a thread for a little bit now. So. What if he. Grabbed the scissors, so to speak. Or something. Michael was the one that was good at idioms (or so he's been told; key word was, not to be too rude), not him. He was good at rhymes. There's a difference.
...hmmmm. Y'know, the cold, hard floor has never felt more comfortable right now.
He's half-expecting his body to nod off without his permission, but. That's sort-of what you get messing with stuff like this. Probably.
Probably...
...probab... ly...
"...HEY, WAIT A SECOND-"
Pr... ob... abllyyyy...
"NOT WHAT I ... NT?"
...prrr... ob'ly...
"... ERT?? HEELLOOO?"
...pro... buh...
"YOU GONN ... IGH, OKAY."
...
...what. The hell?
Eyes blinking individually, he sluggishly sits up. It takes a few moments to focus. Uhmm... oh. Yeah. Right. That. All that happened. He could barely remember it, but... yeaaah. Okay.
"Oh, good morning, dear!" He hears while casually giving into the average post-rest urge to stretch. "You've been snoozing for awhile, yaknow." The chipper voice of Musette calls to him from the... what is it called again. The thing that boils their soup and keeps it warm for them. He's still slow, give him a moment!
...wait, what.
He casts the bird woman a confused, sort-of concerned look (after correctly articulating his eyes to do so). How, uh. How long has he been asleep. Exactly?
"Hm?" Please realize why he's caught off-guard. "...ah! Well, you've been out for..." Yes, he's a patient fellow. "A few hours more than usual?" Oh. Oh, okay, yeah. Suuuure.
"But don't worry your little eyes, I'm sure you really needed the rest. Wouldn't wake up for a thing!" Even better! He forces himself to look away- he doesn't want to show his annoyance to her. It's alright, it's fine.
Walking was. Also an annoyance, sadly, but he's decently determined right now, so. He'll give it go, yeah. Graceful. As if he's an octopus... he doesn't remember how octopi move, actually. Uuuughhhhh.
"Are you alright, dear...?" His struggles held Musette's attention anyways. A bit rushed, he responds with a very short-lived thumbs up.
Then he looked back to where he was trying to go, and.
Captures just right moment of Comatus giving him a look from a little ways away. The way he was trying to go. To. Y'know. Talk to Laughing Mold. While Comatus themself was talking to Laughing Mold. A very knowing look, he may add. He could tell.
...he can feel the cringe and it's not great.
Oh dear.