[Inaba doesn't know that this isn't another dead body--or at least, not in the way that someone's killed this man--so at the first sign of seeing the hand in the water, she can't help but jump visibly. But it's only for a second before she catches herself.
Calm down, Inaba Himeko, she tells herself as she takes careful steps and tries to reach out to said hand, not with her own, entirely, but with a handkerchief.
as she reaches out, the hand only floats there until she picks it up with the handkerchief — if she chooses to inspect it, it appears to be a perfect human hand, feels like one too, even though it isn't.
it's one piece of something else under the water, because the bubbles have came back after she removed the appendage.
[Inaba grimaces externally as she says that aloud with only the slightest hints of annoyance. The only thing that makes her relieved is that it may be a hand, but it's only a hand.
If there were a bone sticking out of it, or even worse, blood, it'd be much worse.
But she does hear the bubbling and can't help but place the hand aside on the floor beneath her before crouching, trying to peer into the water without doing anything yet.
it's at that claim the water stops, ending all weirdness, and instead the hand that she's set to the sit hops to attention. using its digits as legs, the thumb as the back, and between the index and pinky acting as the front to keep the appendage balanced. there's no bone, no nothing, and what it does is walk over to the edge of the pool, peering down into the water with inaba as the share the sight.
...
the knuckles look up (yes, even though they can't see) at her, waiting for that so called scream she had spoken about. it's almost like he did that just for this to happen.
[ ah, did he fail in that? no, what he finds is that he likes this one — something simple as a moving hand and she doesn't seem afraid, that's good.
that means she's worth talking to for now, and that means he can find something fun.
the hand stops moving, taking a few steps back on digits at the comment. there's no fear, nor does it skitter away, but instead it stands in the female's direction, and then hops in direction of the pool.
two hops which is meant to say pull, that whatever is there she has to pull up, because the moment it stops jumping up and down, there's bubbles appearing in the water again. it's not long before something quickly reaches out, wet skin grabbing at inaba's ankle — half a body pulling itself up, but the head missing. ]
[Whilea lot of her frustration is built up from stress over time and a desire to act stronger than she actually is.
But then what ends up spooking her isn't the disembodied hand whcih seems to be asking for help, but rather, the way the headless body suddenly grabs at her ankle, enough that it makes her actually scream this time, her voice pitching.]
Aah!? D-Don't-- don't do that!! Hey! Let - go -
[She may be attempting to kick him off of her, sorry.]
[ her voice echoes, reverberating inside the pool and against the walls, and that is enough to summon the body out of the water. if his head was connected, he'd find joy in this, but since it's just the body, all it can do is use her as leverage to get up. well, that's until she starts kicking at his hand. it doesn't hurt, so he continues holding onto inaba until he waits for her to be properly angled in pulling back, and he'll let go if she seems desperate enough, and that she may fall.
he is doing what she said, after all!
whether she falls or not, the body fully pulls itself out of the liquid, and droplets of water drip from his attire which is the uniform those who attend yogen wear. on its knees, and free hand against the surface of the ground, and his other arm missing a hand, the body is adjusting to being out of the pool.
the hand nearby is skittering around inaba in circles, waiting to see what she'll do next. ]
[Even if he is doing what she asked, she immediately has regrets because she is screaming more in frustration as she tries to shake him off but she is obviously not that physically strong so she just...
Falls down, sighing.
Why is this her life.]
Fucking hell-- why are you even in the goddamn pool in the first place?
[ he can't help that fact of why he's in the water, that information is in a different body part than the entirety. once the vibration of the thump against the ground is registered, the body releases her person knowing that there's no way to pull himself up. it does well getting out, completely drenched as the body stands tall, dressed in the yogen uniform that's drenched, and droplets of water hitting the ground, and probably her as well.
the hand however, crawls up the pants leg, and settles on his shoulder. following her breathing, it's with his other hand that the body holds it out to help the female up.
it's the least he can do for dragging her down, no matter how hilarious. ]
Goddamn it, I'm gonna have to change out of this later... what a pain in the ass.
[She sighs to herself in frustration. A part of her wonders if he can hear, headless like that--or perhaps there's just some echolocation bullshit going on here. Because even if he can't hear her, he can probably feel; that's probably something that his physical body is focused on, anyway, she guesses.]
It's fine, I can handle myself.
[Inaba answers as she uses her hand as leverage to pull herself up before squeezing the water out of her skirt.]
Can you hear me, by the way? If the answer is yes, clap your hands.
[She asks, but then opts to also do something else. She doesn't know how smart this person--if you can really call a headless doll a person--is. So it's a test to see.
A tapping of her foot in a specific, repeating pattern.
[ he has two choices, now he has to think a out which one would be more fun. hearing would mean she coukd just talk to him, but having her tap with her foot the entire duration of their meeting would be tiring, but just as funny.
this is a difficult decision, but through a coin flip, it landed heads so he'd respond to the morse code, but what makes either option different? it's both based off sound, which would give it away that he can hear just like she's asked.
the tapping must be used for them to communicate, so rather than replying, he walks right next to her— stands in place, and doesn't move. it's like he's waiting for her to walk them both out of the place that they're in, and he'll follow the sound of her footsteps while doing so, she doesn't know that, but he does.
his handless arm raises, hanging towards the hand on his shoulder, and after a few wiggles, it turns around with the wrist towards the severed limb, and after pressing them together, it reattaches with ease.
[ if he could talk, he would say something to her reluctance, but it appears that she's willing as he can hear her footsteps. what be does is follow her standing just a little too close, but not enough to touch her, it's like he's double checking where she's looking despite not having any eyes.
his head is somewhere warm, though he can't quite place where that is. just a cold sensation, but a warm one from start to finish, and so that part of him is doing very well.
taking a step back, he taps his foot on the ground, using morse code to communicate.
it's not there.
the taps echo through the pool area, but at least she won't have to stare into the dark abyss of the water. ]
[She audibly responds as she works through the words in her head. That's good to know.]
At least we don't have to be in here anymore, then... where should we go, I wonder... maybe inside the school?
[Which would mean -
She turns on her heel, her dark gaze shifting towards the pool exit. She contemplates on taking out her PDA and messaging to the whole school "has anybody seen a head" but ultimately decides against it for... a multitude of reasons.
Inaba hates looking like a freak on public forums.
Pausing on her walking, she decides to tap out, again, in morse: Tell me if warm or cold.
She needs to keep the sentences simple, otherwise it'd take too long, too much effort. And finding a head is definitely of the utmost priority.]
he must be willing to agree, because he requests her identity first and foremost while searching for his head. lacking such an important part of him is, one of many reason, uncomfortable. the weight of the body feels unrealistic without it, and he'd hate for anyone to try and look into the empty abyss through his neck.
second, knowing who he's partnered with will help the previous reason. she seems reasonable enough to the point that she wouldn't, and he'd even accept that she's already uncomfortable with the affair herself considering how she's already wet, and screamed due to his antics.
to apply a name to that person, it'd come in handy— please, no puns!
as for her request, the body registers that there's a pool and its connected to a school. it figures, something that striked him as odd because the attire that he's dressed in doesn't match the typical suit and tie.
he takes a step forward, another couple of taps in morse:
colder.
warmer, colder sounds like a fun little game, the colder they are, the longer they stay together. ]
It's only fair to introduce herself given their situation, isn't it? She doesn't hesitate as she answers with a few taps of her heel on the floor.
Inaba. You?
She's lucky that her name is short. And even more so that she doesn't usually use her first name in introductions any longer. She's never liked it - Himeko, that first name of hers with the silly meaning of 'princess child'. There was only ever one person that she'd allow to refer to her by that name, and they're not exactly here.
Nevertheless.]
Colder, huh. Okay, yeah. That means we should get out-- [She pauses in sudden realization, letting out a breathy laugh to herself.] Oh, right.
[Out?
Simple words, enough to convey the deeper meaning. She doesn't need to say more, she hopes.]
[ oh, how cute, hope she says something embarrassing thinking he can't hear.
he taps himself, giving off part of his name equally with hers.
thank you, miss inaba. hiyori.
midori, actually, but for the time being, keeping things simple may work in his favor. it's because of her taps that he knows where she is, and following alongside her, he stops to tap his foot on the ground.
you'll get sick from being wet, dry off first.
that's to say he doesn't need to find his head as quickly, but it'd he nice if it was found along the way. there's nothing about this that terrifies him, he's water proof, and he can detect if someone tries to look into his body from the top.
he'd just rather not have his head missing for so long.
knowing that it's cold, he modified himself to beat sickness, but he doubts that she has if she's worried about the temperature. he's still someone who loves humans, and so their well-being is still a concern. ]
[Hiyori, huh. She doesn't say anything more aloud--not because she suspects anything, but rather because it's pointless for now.
Don't have towel. I'd have to grab clothes from locker.
That is, if she wanted to prevent herself from getting sick.
Although that does beg the question of why people would even get sick in the afterlife. But then again, if people can die here, then sickness might as well exist. There is a nurse, after all.
Doesn't make it any less bullshit, however.
Ironically, though all of this...she sneezes.]
Shit.
[That's the only word you're getting out of her from here on out.
But okay, no more stalling. Let's walk out of this dumb pool area before she gets sick. Time to head outside in the cold snow.]
she's getting sick, he heard it, but he skips over excusing, or blessing, and walking by her side as they venture outside. it's the crunch under his heel that's loud to him, digging his shoes into the substance to get an idea of how slick it is. it doesn't feel like gravel, no, or just wet grass, and it puts him into the mind of snow rather than mud. that, his body feels the cold, also confirming his thoughts on the matter.
footsteps will be left exiting, but other will enter so it doesn't matter what trace of himself is left here. it'll be hard to do morse on the ground here, and so it's best to make their way to the main building faster. if inaba isn't paying attention to him, she'll find that the body seems to go a completely different direction of where she's going only because he has no head. he'll start gravitating towards the forest, and the last thing they need to do is get lost in there.
[Inaba herself doesn't mind; it's just a minor inconvenience.
And besides, if she can manage to dry herself, she can probably work through it. She's worked through worse, that's for certain. And she's sure that even worse things will happen even after this.
She lets out a sigh, seeing her breath in the snow--she doesn't usually venture out like this.
But she's paying attention. Of course she is, as someone who prides herself in her analysis and looking at fine details. So when he seems to start walking towards the forest, she hurries her footsteps before forcefull grabbing him by the arm and tugging him back, towards the school.]
Not that way.
[She says, aloud, even though she doesn't know that he can hear her.
Time to head right in the direction of the school.
We're not doing this today. It truly is unfortunate that she has to be dealing with mister headless man without a horse.]
[ not that way she says, but what's there? curious, midori begins to move his fingers slow because he doesn't know how good her sign is. must be difficult when he has no face, but she should know the basic make-up to make heads or tails of his expressions.
what's there?
even without her voice, actions speak louder than words as he's pulled away, and he allows himself to be tugged. one step after the other, not tripping over his own feet as they make their way properly to the school.
if she still has her hand on him, she can tell that he's relatively warm despite his clothes being drenched, just like a normal human body would be if they regulated their own warmth. yep! ]
[Mostly a note to herself rather than her saying anything to him, specifically as she tries to grab his hand, specifically to open his palm. She can probably use this method to communicate as well, even if it's a little more intimate than she'd like
If he lets her, though, she'll switch gears to writing on his palm.
[She pouts a little bit, thankful that he can't actually see before sighing raggedly. Okay, fine, this works out. She'll deal with it. That's when she pulls him towards the school. Let's at least get back inside. It's freezing out.]
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Calm down, Inaba Himeko, she tells herself as she takes careful steps and tries to reach out to said hand, not with her own, entirely, but with a handkerchief.
If it's evidence, best to preserve it.
As much as she can, anyway.]
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as she reaches out, the hand only floats there until she picks it up with the handkerchief — if she chooses to inspect it, it appears to be a perfect human hand, feels like one too, even though it isn't.
it's one piece of something else under the water, because the bubbles have came back after she removed the appendage.
...
will she set the hand down and try again? ]
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[Inaba grimaces externally as she says that aloud with only the slightest hints of annoyance. The only thing that makes her relieved is that it may be a hand, but it's only a hand.
If there were a bone sticking out of it, or even worse, blood, it'd be much worse.
But she does hear the bubbling and can't help but place the hand aside on the floor beneath her before crouching, trying to peer into the water without doing anything yet.
Maybe she's just talking to the water, but--]
If you try anything weird, I will scream.
[She won't hesitate, bitch.]
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it's at that claim the water stops, ending all weirdness, and instead the hand that she's set to the sit hops to attention. using its digits as legs, the thumb as the back, and between the index and pinky acting as the front to keep the appendage balanced. there's no bone, no nothing, and what it does is walk over to the edge of the pool, peering down into the water with inaba as the share the sight.
...
the knuckles look up (yes, even though they can't see) at her, waiting for that so called scream she had spoken about. it's almost like he did that just for this to happen.
i'm so sorry inaba. ]
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Or at least, that's what's running in Inaba's head before she hears the subtle movement of something--causing her to look at her side and down below.
Ah.]
That's not what I meant by something weird--
[She crouches down to where the hand is, huffing a bit.]
If you're moving, you're not human, right? Do you want me to crush you under my heel while I still can, hm?
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that means she's worth talking to for now, and that means he can find something fun.
the hand stops moving, taking a few steps back on digits at the comment. there's no fear, nor does it skitter away, but instead it stands in the female's direction, and then hops in direction of the pool.
two hops which is meant to say pull, that whatever is there she has to pull up, because the moment it stops jumping up and down, there's bubbles appearing in the water again. it's not long before something quickly reaches out, wet skin grabbing at inaba's ankle — half a body pulling itself up, but the head missing. ]
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But then what ends up spooking her isn't the disembodied hand whcih seems to be asking for help, but rather, the way the headless body suddenly grabs at her ankle, enough that it makes her actually scream this time, her voice pitching.]
Aah!? D-Don't-- don't do that!! Hey! Let - go -
[She may be attempting to kick him off of her, sorry.]
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he is doing what she said, after all!
whether she falls or not, the body fully pulls itself out of the liquid, and droplets of water drip from his attire which is the uniform those who attend yogen wear. on its knees, and free hand against the surface of the ground, and his other arm missing a hand, the body is adjusting to being out of the pool.
the hand nearby is skittering around inaba in circles, waiting to see what she'll do next. ]
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Falls down, sighing.
Why is this her life.]
Fucking hell-- why are you even in the goddamn pool in the first place?
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the hand however, crawls up the pants leg, and settles on his shoulder. following her breathing, it's with his other hand that the body holds it out to help the female up.
it's the least he can do for dragging her down, no matter how hilarious. ]
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[She sighs to herself in frustration. A part of her wonders if he can hear, headless like that--or perhaps there's just some echolocation bullshit going on here. Because even if he can't hear her, he can probably feel; that's probably something that his physical body is focused on, anyway, she guesses.]
It's fine, I can handle myself.
[Inaba answers as she uses her hand as leverage to pull herself up before squeezing the water out of her skirt.]
Can you hear me, by the way? If the answer is yes, clap your hands.
[She asks, but then opts to also do something else. She doesn't know how smart this person--if you can really call a headless doll a person--is. So it's a test to see.
A tapping of her foot in a specific, repeating pattern.
A morse code message of "hello".]
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this is a difficult decision, but through a coin flip, it landed heads so he'd respond to the morse code, but what makes either option different? it's both based off sound, which would give it away that he can hear just like she's asked.
the tapping must be used for them to communicate, so rather than replying, he walks right next to her— stands in place, and doesn't move. it's like he's waiting for her to walk them both out of the place that they're in, and he'll follow the sound of her footsteps while doing so, she doesn't know that, but he does.
his handless arm raises, hanging towards the hand on his shoulder, and after a few wiggles, it turns around with the wrist towards the severed limb, and after pressing them together, it reattaches with ease.
...
now the body is ready to go. ]
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[That comment is mostly at the sight of seeing body parts getting reattached, in spite of the fact that she's a techie.
Nevertheless, she sighs.]
Guess we'll just have to find your... head... I suppose. If you can move that easily, then I guess we can do a little searching.
[She wonders if it's actually in the pool, though. Inaba takes a few careful steps, trying not to slip as she scours the area.]
This is honestly going to be a pain in the ass, isn't it...
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his head is somewhere warm, though he can't quite place where that is. just a cold sensation, but a warm one from start to finish, and so that part of him is doing very well.
taking a step back, he taps his foot on the ground, using morse code to communicate.
it's not there.
the taps echo through the pool area, but at least she won't have to stare into the dark abyss of the water. ]
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[She audibly responds as she works through the words in her head. That's good to know.]
At least we don't have to be in here anymore, then... where should we go, I wonder... maybe inside the school?
[Which would mean -
She turns on her heel, her dark gaze shifting towards the pool exit. She contemplates on taking out her PDA and messaging to the whole school "has anybody seen a head" but ultimately decides against it for... a multitude of reasons.
Inaba hates looking like a freak on public forums.
Pausing on her walking, she decides to tap out, again, in morse: Tell me if warm or cold.
She needs to keep the sentences simple, otherwise it'd take too long, too much effort. And finding a head is definitely of the utmost priority.]
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he must be willing to agree, because he requests her identity first and foremost while searching for his head. lacking such an important part of him is, one of many reason, uncomfortable. the weight of the body feels unrealistic without it, and he'd hate for anyone to try and look into the empty abyss through his neck.
second, knowing who he's partnered with will help the previous reason. she seems reasonable enough to the point that she wouldn't, and he'd even accept that she's already uncomfortable with the affair herself considering how she's already wet, and screamed due to his antics.
to apply a name to that person, it'd come in handy— please, no puns!
as for her request, the body registers that there's a pool and its connected to a school. it figures, something that striked him as odd because the attire that he's dressed in doesn't match the typical suit and tie.
he takes a step forward, another couple of taps in morse:
colder.
warmer, colder sounds like a fun little game, the colder they are, the longer they stay together. ]
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It's only fair to introduce herself given their situation, isn't it? She doesn't hesitate as she answers with a few taps of her heel on the floor.
Inaba. You?
She's lucky that her name is short. And even more so that she doesn't usually use her first name in introductions any longer. She's never liked it - Himeko, that first name of hers with the silly meaning of 'princess child'. There was only ever one person that she'd allow to refer to her by that name, and they're not exactly here.
Nevertheless.]
Colder, huh. Okay, yeah. That means we should get out-- [She pauses in sudden realization, letting out a breathy laugh to herself.] Oh, right.
[Out?
Simple words, enough to convey the deeper meaning. She doesn't need to say more, she hopes.]
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he taps himself, giving off part of his name equally with hers.
thank you, miss inaba. hiyori.
midori, actually, but for the time being, keeping things simple may work in his favor. it's because of her taps that he knows where she is, and following alongside her, he stops to tap his foot on the ground.
you'll get sick from being wet, dry off first.
that's to say he doesn't need to find his head as quickly, but it'd he nice if it was found along the way. there's nothing about this that terrifies him, he's water proof, and he can detect if someone tries to look into his body from the top.
he'd just rather not have his head missing for so long.
knowing that it's cold, he modified himself to beat sickness, but he doubts that she has if she's worried about the temperature. he's still someone who loves humans, and so their well-being is still a concern. ]
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[Hiyori, huh. She doesn't say anything more aloud--not because she suspects anything, but rather because it's pointless for now.
Don't have towel. I'd have to grab clothes from locker.
That is, if she wanted to prevent herself from getting sick.
Although that does beg the question of why people would even get sick in the afterlife. But then again, if people can die here, then sickness might as well exist. There is a nurse, after all.
Doesn't make it any less bullshit, however.
Ironically, though all of this...she sneezes.]
Shit.
[That's the only word you're getting out of her from here on out.
But okay, no more stalling. Let's walk out of this dumb pool area before she gets sick. Time to head outside in the cold snow.]
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she's getting sick, he heard it, but he skips over excusing, or blessing, and walking by her side as they venture outside. it's the crunch under his heel that's loud to him, digging his shoes into the substance to get an idea of how slick it is. it doesn't feel like gravel, no, or just wet grass, and it puts him into the mind of snow rather than mud. that, his body feels the cold, also confirming his thoughts on the matter.
footsteps will be left exiting, but other will enter so it doesn't matter what trace of himself is left here. it'll be hard to do morse on the ground here, and so it's best to make their way to the main building faster. if inaba isn't paying attention to him, she'll find that the body seems to go a completely different direction of where she's going only because he has no head. he'll start gravitating towards the forest, and the last thing they need to do is get lost in there.
he thinks he's going the right way. ]
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And besides, if she can manage to dry herself, she can probably work through it. She's worked through worse, that's for certain. And she's sure that even worse things will happen even after this.
She lets out a sigh, seeing her breath in the snow--she doesn't usually venture out like this.
But she's paying attention. Of course she is, as someone who prides herself in her analysis and looking at fine details. So when he seems to start walking towards the forest, she hurries her footsteps before forcefull grabbing him by the arm and tugging him back, towards the school.]
Not that way.
[She says, aloud, even though she doesn't know that he can hear her.
Time to head right in the direction of the school.
We're not doing this today. It truly is unfortunate that she has to be dealing with mister headless man without a horse.]
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what's there?
even without her voice, actions speak louder than words as he's pulled away, and he allows himself to be tugged. one step after the other, not tripping over his own feet as they make their way properly to the school.
if she still has her hand on him, she can tell that he's relatively warm despite his clothes being drenched, just like a normal human body would be if they regulated their own warmth. yep! ]
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[Mostly a note to herself rather than her saying anything to him, specifically as she tries to grab his hand, specifically to open his palm. She can probably use this method to communicate as well, even if it's a little more intimate than she'd like
If he lets her, though, she'll switch gears to writing on his palm.
It's much faster, anyway.]
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thinking that she wants to lead him in this way, at least he's not going to slips his fingers between her own. ]
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[She pouts a little bit, thankful that he can't actually see before sighing raggedly. Okay, fine, this works out. She'll deal with it. That's when she pulls him towards the school. Let's at least get back inside. It's freezing out.]
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