IC Inbox | ryslig

[starmark]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, THIS IS JOTARO. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 019.20.118.16 *** THIS IS JOTARO has joined 019.20.118.16 <THIS IS JOTARO> okay i'm typing now what <THIS IS JOTARO> delete what i just said <THIS IS JOTARO> delete what i just said <THIS IS JOTARO> delete everything i just said <THIS IS JOTARO> make this an automated messa <AUTOMATED REPLY, DO NOT RETURN> This is Jotaro. Whatever you want, hurry up and tell me already.

Comments

[starmark]

Maybe there's another way. The one who helped me unseal Star Platinum — maybe that one might know something. Maybe the next time she comes around, I'll see if I can get her to tell me something.

[But that's idleness talking, too; while it's certainly a weird topic of discussion to beholding while partaking of a Long Walk on The Beach™, it's theirs, and this sure is a Long Walk on The Beach™, all right.]

I don't know if we could even do anything with it. But it'd be interesting to know.

[manuscripture]

Can you buy lore from her? [ That's a weird thing to sell. ]

Why would you want to waste your coins on that? There are so many other things you could ask for than a chincy piece of information you're never going to use.

[starmark]

Oh, yeah?

[He gives their hands the very slightest twitch of an almost-swing, hiding the beginnings of a smile.]

Give me an alternative. What do you think would be a better use of my coins?

[manuscripture]

Anything that isn't seeing how far away the next Monster Island is?

[ SO... ] Well. I'm saving for something. [ Gonna be nonchalant about it too ready-- ] She can give you the opportunity to become a human again for a short time.

I want that.

[starmark]

...Yeah?

[He doesn't mean to sound as eager as the word comes out, but he does. It's unusually upbeat, bright with surprise. He's well aware of how Life With Snakebutt™ has been an ongoing series of trials for Rohan, of course; the prospect of a solution, or at least a temporary respite, is definitely something worth being intrigued about.]

And when you're human again? What's the first thing you're going to do?

[manuscripture]

[ Life With Snakebutt™ needs to go on a hiatus. ]

See if I still remember how to walk or if I am back at square one with climbing stairs. [ His brow furrows and he frowns with his eyes turned back to the water. ] My memory of what I looked like before is starting to go.

I will do whatever I can when it happens. I want to feel that way again if for just a little while... [ He is aware of how The Little Mermaid that sounds but give him a break. ]

What do you think the first thing I should do is?

[starmark]

[It will forever be a point of great lament that Jotaro is like one or two years too early for The Little Mermaid. But he's going to love it when it comes out.]

...Honestly? I think you ought to give me a swift kick in the ass, probably.

[He pauses, and then breaks a hint of a grin in Rohan's direction.]

If you can reach your leg up that high.

[manuscripture]

[ It's better that the reference falls short. Musical Mermaids have no place here. ]

Do you remember how long my legs were? I could reach your ass with a kick easily. [ Snakebutt winds behind the two of them and lightly thumps Jotaro's tail for emphasis. ] I don't think it would be a problem.

Yet I'm not sure if I would be able to be near you without actually getting burned.

[starmark]

They were long.

[NOT THAT HE STARED AT ROHAN'S LEGS A LOT OR ANYTHING.]

So what you're saying is, I better start practicing at turning that off?

this sounded less gay in my head but here we are

[manuscripture]

[ SURE YOU DIDN'T. ]

Unless you want me to stay out of sight for a month.

That defeats the purpose of enjoying myself, doesn't it? You're involved if I'm really going to be...

I spent those coins on the castle for me since I needed a better place to stay. I could have bought something smaller for only myself... [ He's trying NOT to make that sound totally selfish but it's selfish as Hell. No one should be surprised. ]

I spent an extra few for somewhere you could stay too. I know the location is dingy and not ideal and the building is TOO BIG, but the only room with a view is a room with you in it.

[ Oh. ]

[starmark]

[...oh my god

oh my god that line is so shitty he can't help but be compelled by it

he, the reigning king of shitty lines, has just been hit with a shitty line of his own AND IT'S SO STUPID AND YET SO GOOD

he's gonna die]

...You want it to be an "us" thing. Not just a "you" thing.

[OH MY GOD]

Keep talking like that and there's no way I'm going to stand a chance of keeping my temperature under control.

[manuscripture]

[ OKAY THAT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO WORK BECAUSE IT WAS INTENTIONALLY BAD

SEND HELP. ]

What-- [ Game has been met with more game. Things are looking up. ]

Am I allowed to insinuate that I want it to be an "us" thing? [ Not touching the temperature line for a second here. Let's get the Important things out of the way. ] I won't complain.

[ not likely. ]

[starmark]

I don't think you really need to leave it at just insinuating.

[It makes him reflect, though, mulling over the possibilities. And the mulling ends up leaving him so preoccupied that he doesn't even notice that he's started giving their clasped hands little tiny swings again, swaying back and forth between them.]

...Would you want me to try being human at the same time, too? That'd solve the temperature problem.

[manuscripture]

[ He has stopped trying to stiffen up his arm and make the little swings stop, going along with them. Back and forth.

Rohan perks an eyebrow. He hadn't thought of that... ]

You too? Only if you want. It would make things easier-- [ INHAAALE. ] If we're going down that route.

[starmark]

Easier to do what, exactly? Or maybe I should say "specifically".

[He waggles his eyebrows beneath the brim of his hat, eyes gleaming.]

You've got ideas, huh.

[manuscripture]

Okay, no. [ Not like that. He is unnerved enough at being laid out like this to peel his lips back for a little hiss. ]

Easier to not melt in your presence or hold hands or whatever you want to do! [ He jerks up his arm to bring their hands to eye-level. ] This!

[starmark]

"Melt in my presence". I like the sound of that.

[Did Rohan mean it like that? Probably not. Is he going to pretend to take it that way anyway? Naturally.]

...There, look. There's something in the sand up ahead.

[manuscripture]

I meant literally.

[ This has to be affectionate antagonizing but there is no making Rohan realize the difference. He drops their hands without letting go, taking every opportunity for redirection. ]

Let's go--... [ Begrudgingly. ] Can you see sea glass from this angle?

[starmark]

Not exactly. It's more like...you see a break in the wet sand, rather than seeing something itself. Contrasts, you know?

[He tugs Rohan along, over to the place he'd been indicating, and then digs absently in the sand with his taloned toes before picking his foot up and dropping a clump of sand into his free hand.

It's so weird, being that adept with his feet.]

Though it might be a shell, or garbage — who knows? That's kind of the fun.

[manuscripture]

[ That's a creative use for the Death Toes. ]

Digging around in the sand was fun when I was five.

[ Don't ask him about all the trash he's looked for on the beach back home for Material. He's going to say this is a kid thing. Snakebutt swings around the way it does when he wants to pick something up with it, brushing away at the sand-covered something in Jotaro's hand. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't curious... ]

[starmark]

[As the sand comes away, the prize reveals itself to be a spiral seashell, mostly intact but a little chipped on one side, damp and pearly with little clumps of sand still sticking to its curves.]

It's not still fun now?

[He offers his hand palm-up, showing it to Rohan.]

Here. It looks kind of like one of your pen nibs.

[manuscripture]

It lost its charm when I realized I wasn't going to find anything of value in it.

[ Snakebutt sweeps off the last of the sand it can easily get and reveals the shell hidden beneath it. It's... Just a shell. ]

You're giving it to me? [ His tail moves out of the way letting Rohan pluck it up from the gargoyle's hand. ] Thank you...? I'll find something to do with it. It doesn't have a matching one, so earrings are out of the question.

Of which I need more. [ It's more of a passing thought as he holds up the shell near one of the dangly bits near his ear. ]

[starmark]

It's a big beach. Do they have to be perfectly identical? If not I might be able to find you something.

[He pauses, glancing out at the water, and then seems to contemplate this a little further at length.]

Do you know how to make earrings? Like...if I just brought you things, you'd be able to do the rest for yourself?

[manuscripture]

They don't need to be. Color and minor differences in appearance make them look more natural.

[ Fussing over his appearance is going to be sort of a big deal RIGHT NOW because let's remember he just shredded his nice shirt up because Mom didn't like them standing too close to each other.

Why this. ]

Jewelry isn't hard to make. I have enough things at the shop to string pieces together. I have so many necklaces and the like at the castle from shiny things I've been collecting. I made one out of bells.

[ He's worn the bell one like twice ever but it's a favorite. ]

Bring me whatever you want. I can make something out of anything. If you find another shell like this one, they can have sentimental value. [ Oh-ho-ho, cue a flat bat of his eyes. ]

[starmark]

You're incredibly satisfied with yourself about all that stuff, aren't you.

[Like he's one to talk, with his own gargoyle hoarding tendencies bouncing around somewhere in there, himself.]

Do you want to wait here while I go see what's beneath the surf in the shallows? I've been kind of wondering whether I can swim with wings and scales, anyway.