[OPEN!] At least this maze has plenty of escapes...

[fire_water_wood]

((OOC: S-sorry it's taken so long to get this posted, guys!  I really did think I'd done this already...  OTL))

Characters:  Harlequin and the people of the Winding Way
Content:  With this conversation, Harlequin has agreed to help Gintoki with that HVAC project by mapping out the air circulation ducts throughout the ship . . . from the inside . . .

Comments

either's fine with me

[drinkitlovelife]

Kurumi was humming some sort of song she'd made up on the spot while dumping white rose petals into the dye-filled washbasin. Why had they come to Tulgim of all places, anyway? Roses didn't even grow there. Well, she had to use these up for something before they dried up. If all else failed, she could dump them on the town to celebrate Lunasa. She'd done it for Amicus, hadn't she? Granted, then, it was a bit more fitting...

"Leave it to me, everyone~", she sang. "I'm the invincible Milky Rose~"

We'll see if something happens to make him reveal himself XD;;;

[fire_water_wood]

Harlequin scampered down the newest tunnel, penlight in hand. Before he reached the first vent, from which he could see a light shining, he heard a vaguely familiar voice singing what sounded like an improvised song. He made his way to the grate and peeked in, intrigued at the sight of the petal-laden infusion. Where had he seen her before? For the life of him, he couldn't remember where. Oh, well. He sat down for a moment, slipping his pack off his back and pulling out his pencil and notebook to add to the crude drawings he'd been making.

[drinkitlovelife]

"Miraculous blue rose~ It marks my secret~" Kurumi continued singing her own praises and dyeing the flower petals. A cold breeze went through the room as she put the basin down.

"Mysterious-- it's freezing." The purple-haired girl stopped singing and stormed over to the air vent. "Stupid ship. How are we supposed to fix you?"

[fire_water_wood]

Eeeep!

H-he wasn't sure if any sound actually escaped him or not, but he clapped a hand over his mouth all the same as he scrambled back, trying to fumble the little mana-powered pen light off with the other hand. He really didn't want to get in trouble for seeming to spy on someone or anything like that, after all. He'd certainly not been meaning to!

[drinkitlovelife]

Kurumi saw the flash of light and frowned. "It's busted." She pulled out a screwdriver and got to work. The little puppet inside would have seen the cover jiggle off, heard a popping sound and seen a puff of smoke that went with it and quickly faded. Milk hopped into the air vent and stumbled back once she looked ahead.

"What are you doing in here ~miru!?"

[fire_water_wood]

Harlequin's eyes went wide, and he shied back even further. "Goodness! W-what are y-!" He caught himself. That was rude! A-and besides, regardless of what she was, the fact was what he was right now, which kinda technically was "intruding."

"Ah, s-sorry... I'm sorry. I-it's just . . . I'm working on mapping out the air circulation system for Mr. Gintoki..."

[drinkitlovelife]

Milk glared but didn't answer the cut-off question. "It figures that it would be one of Gintoki's stupid ideas ~miru. What does he want that for ~miru?"

[fire_water_wood]

Oh, goodness! Whatever it - she? - was, was upset. He hoped she didn't decide to take it out with her claws on him! "N-no, no, miss! It's not Mr. Gintoki! O-or . . . well, partly not. See . . . he has an idea to harness the wasted heat put off by the engine and channel it through the rest of the ship to warm up everyone. So I told him that I'd like to help by learning just where all the circulation ducts run, so he knows exactly what modifications need to be made..."

[drinkitlovelife]

"Well, why didn't you say so ~miru?" Milk crossed her stubby little arms and sniffed. "People will probably think you're spying, you know ~miru."

[fire_water_wood]

Harlequin's eyes dropped, painted cheeks coloring softly. "I-I'm sorry. I don't mean to, truly. I'm sorry I've disturbed you, miss."

[drinkitlovelife]

She smirked and pushed a giant ear behind her shoulder, as much as she could, anyway. "Well, some people just don't think about these things ~miru. Anyway, if you're really just going to see what the inside of the ship looks like, why aren't there plans sitting around already?"

[fire_water_wood]

Harlequin nodded. "I'm . . . still learning how flesh creatures think and what the norms of culture and society are . . . " He perked at the last. "Oh, but there are! W-well, not laying around but . . . " He slipped the pack from his back and pulled out a sheaf of loose papers with notes and crude drawings on them. "Here, see?" He was quite proud of his progress so far, as a matter of fact.

[drinkitlovelife]

Milk tilted her head. "Well, then why do you have to map out the vents if these already existed ~miru?"

[fire_water_wood]

Harlequin blinked at her in surprise, a little bemused by her comment. "Ah, w-well . . . they didn't. These are mine. I'm making them as I'm exploring."

[drinkitlovelife]

"Then say that ~miru." She sighed. "That's what I was asking ~miru. Why would there not be plans beforehand?"

[fire_water_wood]

"Oh . . . s-sorry." He dropped his eyes. Goodness, he wasn't communicating very well today, was he? He shook his head and shrugged. "I don't know. I'd imagine there must be some from when the ship was first built, but maybe whoever built it still has them? Anyway, I offered to do this and no one's told me not to - they all seem to think it's a good idea - so I'm guessing if there are plans, no one on the ship has them."