rat king

"oi!" leaping off of where he'd been hanging, ezra lands with a heavy thud in front of his fellow goo in arms. "daddy's home. time for you and me to get up to some trouble, eh?"

"you're back!" he hops up to ezra with a big grin, nearly void-like eyes looking up at him with admiration. "missed ya! I got up to a lot wheile you were gone. but it's never the same without you... what do ya wanna do?! can we terrorize the pigs patrolling for curfew? pleeeeease?"

marton stands by it's side, kicking it every time it gets too close to him. "where the fuck am I supposed t-- stop moving! ugh!" he gives up after a while and simply starts bashing its head with the handle of the sword.

nothing of note changes in his expression—mostly because there isn't much to change—but that praise seems to go straight through him. his gills puff out, fins suddenly feeling a little flustered. thankfully he's so devoted to getting a good picture that he manages to smooth them down before the flash goes off. it's also a good thing that he doesn't have lids... because that dazes him for a few seconds, his vision going white and blank. but it's happened before and he knows that it will pass, so he doesn't panic. sure enough, the void clears. "thank you," he says, so full of gratitude he might explode. "i'll always remember this."

"you're welcome, darling." they hand the communicator back to fins, helping him by taking his big hand and pressing it into his palm, even in his daze. "don't forget to send the pictures to me, yeah? you've got my number!" sunny gives him one last wink, before he takes a couple of steps back, making sure he's not going to burn anyone in the vicinity before he bursts into flames. "I'll see you around, fins!" and with that, all he leaves after him is a trail of fire and steam, as he soars into the sky.

"you're just preaching to the choir. i already know we're similar." at least in the ways that count. as much as sunny pretends otherwise, they know he cares. it's obvious, because otherwise he would have no interest in sitting here talking to them about trying to patch things up. nobody else has been willing to do as much... at least, not with him. he can think of more than one that might be willing to give it the right spirit, though. deacon, for one. but that might end up making things awkward... it's so hard to be sure. just as joey has that thought, he smashes that worry. "that could be cool. like an escape room, but without having to actually build it. maybe we should talk to him first, make sure he's open to the idea. and by we... i mean you."

sunny finally finishes his bowl of noodles with a pleased hum, leaning back in his seat, and waiting patiently for their abundant order of mochi for dessert. his happy little smile slowly fades as joey keeps talking. and yes, sunny knows he was the one that suggested talking to deacon. it was a stupid suggestion. it was just... something he got used to doing over time, and forgot that things aren't as easy now as they were before... well, before he decided to turn their whole lives upside down. "me? I don't know..." it's almost out of character, how insecure he suddenly sounds. "why's it got to be me? we could do it together!"

"i'll be looking forward to it." although hunter has the foresight to imagine that what mars proclaims to be serious will be... of a different kind. he's not about to complain about that. it's only his lifetime focus on discipline that keeps him from jumping their bones right fucking now. inconvenience, too. for starters... he just got them into this fresh, new armor that he made. there's more testing to be done than just the fittings! "if you can handle it." a deep chuckle rumbles through him. "if you can believe it, i take more pleasure in telling you yes." but that doesn't mean he can't enjoy the denial, either. especially when they're so devoted to winning approval. how can he deny them that? it's true what hunter says about valuing his safety—the fact that he hasn't been there once already eats at him more than they will ever know. he won't let it happen again. stepping back, he crosses his arms over his chest. "turn around for me. i want to show you something that you'll like."

"if that was true, you'd let me choose a gun." he scoffs, doing anything to go against whatever hunter is saying now. it's the best game he's ever invented! "yes, mars. of course, mars. you can have any of my guns, mars! yes, mars, we can have pancakes for dinner! yes, mars, I'll teach you how to make a bomb! brilliant idea, mars!" he deepens his voice, trying to make it sound as gruff as hunter's is, but it doesn't really work. not when he bursts out laughing in the middle of trying to mock him. and then... then he turns around like a good boy, but only because he wanted to! "I'm already seeing something that I like."

"Oh, of course, Mister Solguard, sir. One ice bath coming right up." She says it in mock reverence, an impish smile on her face. Her hand waves, and a soft pile of snow simply appears fifteen feet above Sunny, landing on him in a satisfying fump as January smiled at the currently steaming pile. Her mutation did delight her so—not just the random headaches or the pains, but the joy she could muster up for herself was second to none. January leans over happily enjoying the bit. "Do you need help standing, Sunny? Should I portal you to the infirmary, or will you float all the way there? Oh, and do you need more snow to cool down?"

he knows that he should be concentrating on his breathing. grounding himself, so that his temperature wouldn't suddenly catch on fire again, but fuck was he too exhausted to even breathe properly. "no. no. no. yes!" no, he doesn't need help standing, because he doesn't want to stand yet. no, he doesn't want to go to the infirmary. no, he will not be floating anywhere. this is the perfect spot him. if not among silk sheets and feathered pillows. yes, please, more snow. "'m not going to the infirmary, I just need a sunbed. and a pool. and a drink. and people wearing little to no clothes. 's that so much to ask for?"