Chapter 281
- Liqu -
Hmm.
Something happened.
This is not only told me by the noise, but also by the way Shari keeps on standing alone in the room.
Of course, I also got a lot better at judging human interaction, which helps a great deal to figure out this kind of situation.
What I gather from my vantage point right outside the door is that both my Shari as well as her slime offspring are upset about something.
In general, I'm not this much against it, as it's in my interest if those two aren't that close with each other.
Shari already spent so much time with her rather than with me.
Though, she already decided that we'd soon leave together for some other place.
Therefore, their relationship won't affect me anymore once we're gone.
On the other side, I know my Shari.
She tends to stay grumpy for quite a while if she's upset.
In this case, it might be better if they make up, or she might vent on me.
"Shari, are you alright?" (Liqu)
"No, Liqu, I'm not! Leave me alone!" (Shari)
What did I say?
She just walks briskly past me, heading to the upper rooms.
"Nia! Please, let me in! What is wrong?!" (Okin)
Now the human child shouts while banging on the cellar door.
Things got quite heated quickly.
It's really not the time to laze about it seems.
Well, can't hurt to stay informed.
I slip out of these clothes I'm wearing and glide leisurely over to the boy,
"Hello. What is wrong?" (Liqu)
When he turns around, the boy looks at me with an expression that makes me concerned.
I've seen similar on humans who just dropped dead when I ambushed them.
Some kind of mental overload thingy.
Seriously, no idea in which way this would improve survival chances, if it's part of their setup as living beings.
But fortunately, the boy lives, which is a good thing, being free of this ailment.
"Nia. I-I can't get to her... She locked the door. Without the key." (Okin)
Huh, so she can use her slime to a certain degree of proficiency already.
"Yes, she looked rather upset. Didn't seem like she'd want to come out anytime soon." (Liqu)
"D-do you know what she got angry about?" (Okin)
"Hm, they were linking just before, so I'd assume it's about something they said." (Liqu)
Given the idea of human sensibilities, they might've easily conveyed something a human would find offensive.
There are, oddly, so many things like that after all.
"My Shari doesn't want to talk to me, and she doesn't react well to being pushy. So I guess I'll talk to the other party instead. Seems more fruitful to me." (Liqu)
"But, but the door is closed!" (Okin)
As if that ever was a hindrance for me.
.
.
.
Soooo, just a little more, and... there!
"Slop"
"What!?" (Nia)
The girl startles when she notices my presence.
Which happens rather instantly, because she isn't covered, and therefore her vision isn't obstructed.
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
I quickly reassemble, as I suppose she prefers human communication to linking with me.
Can't hurt to accommodate her a bit.
"Hi!" (Liqu)
"What are you doing here!?!" (Nia)
"This is my place. Why wouldn't I be here?" (Liqu)
At least, it initially was, and I don't know when I would've given up on it.
Even most of the slime residue originated from me.
"I wanted to be alone! How did you even get in here?!" (Nia)
"I made passages. They link to every room in this place and also outside. The better question would be why you and Shari even bother taking the roundabout ways." (Liqu)
"Goddamnit! What do you want?!" (Nia)
"That things are peaceful again." (Liqu)
"What do you mean?" (Nia)
"You had a fight with Shari. Can't you make up?" (Liqu)
"That doesn't have anything to do with you!" (Nia)
"But it does! If Shari is unhappy, that affects me. So I am involved." (Liqu)
At this, she deflates, her whole body visibly becoming smaller.
I wondered when she became able to control so much more mass.
Turns out, she just made herself look bigger by stretching.
"Can't really help you with this. So you can just leave." (Nia)
"No can do. I want to know what happened." (Liqu)
"... Not gonna tell you." (Nia)
"Why? I need to know what happened, and you're capable of speech. I don't see an issue." (Liqu)
"Did anyone ever tell you that you're annoying?" (Nia)
"My Shari, I guess. Now I answered your question, so it would be polite to answer mine. So what is wrong?" (Liqu)
"I... I can't. It's... nothing I want to talk about." (Nia)
"So you want to link?" (Liqu)
Sounds like the simplest solution to me.
"Wha-what?!" (Nia)
She really likes that word.
"We link. Then you can simply convey what is on your mind." (Liqu)
"But, uh, well..." (Nia)
"What would be wrong with this? That's what linking is for. You just did it with my Shari." (Liqu)
Something that makes me still a little upset.
Yet the little slime gives it some thought.
"F-fine. But if I do this, then you leave!" (Nia)
"Sure. I only want to know what's up with my Shari." (Liqu)
It's convenient that we can do this.
I at least see advantages in having more of our kind around.
We may not share the same bond as I do with Shari, but it's certainly closer than with most humans.
A certain form of understanding.
The moment she presents her arm, I grab it.
I mean, why would I wait?
Subsequently, I see her inner world.
The first information I receive tells me quite a lot.
How she's longing for safety, a place to be, care, and someone to rely on during difficult times.
I can understand most of her reasoning.
Which means she's a rival!
"God, do you have any other thoughts than about 'your' Shari?!" (Nia)
"No! Because she's great!" (Liqu)
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. Your Shari is great. I fully understand." (Nia)
"She is! Should I tell you the many reasons why that is so?" (Liqu)
"I'm already getting more than enough about that, thank you!" (Nia)
I probably shouldn't overextend her mental capacities.
Her core is quite a bit smaller than ours, and she might be at risk if the mental onslaught is too great.
She could wink out, just like a regular slime.
"Erm, those are kinda scary thoughts right now." (Nia)
"Oh, sorry. I only thought how easily you might be snuffed out." (Liqu)
"Yeah, 'that'. I get that you don't mean it that way, but I don't like that you're thinking about killing me." (Nia)
That's interesting.
So someone with human sensibilities interprets statements like this.
"Fascinating. So, what about you and my Shari? I see you too want her to care for you." (Liqu)
"And what's wrong with that?! I mean, I'm like this because of her. That she just changed my entire body and then leaves is a bit much, okay?" (Nia)
"I agree with you. She carries responsibility for your current state. But what exactly are you expecting her to do for you?" (Liqu)
"I don't know. Maybe just that she sticks around?" (Nia)
"I am not an expert on human stuff, but as far as I understand, what she does is going to protect you in some way. That's something, isn't it?" (Liqu)
All the things my Shari did until now have led us to being able to walk among humans without having to fear being attacked by them.
Hundreds of humans now know what I am, and they still haven't become hostile.
It's such a great development.
I'm sure I couldn't have achieved this by myself.
"I know, okay?! Still! This doesn't mean I can't be angry if you just piss off without us!" (Nia)
She does have a point.
"But this is just who my Shari is. She always tries to find the best solution for everyone and is very dutiful. If she could've thought of something better, she would have. She's smart after all." (Liqu)
"Groan! I get it, she's great! But this doesn't help anything!" (Nia)
"What exactly needs to be resolved?" (Liqu)
"Well, everything! You're still just leaving us here!" (Nia)
"With a place to dwell, enough sustenance to last for a long time, many different opportunities to preserve yourself, and a whole new body that is going to serve you well. Do you need much else?" (Liqu)
It may not be quite as close as Shari and I are, but it's a lot more than I ever had.
In terms of living up to her responsibilities, she does a great job.
"Still. She's going away." (Nia)
"Now you're just sulking. She said she would return." (Liqu)
"What does it matter? Those are just words." (Nia)
"Because she promised. And my Shari always keeps her promises." (Liqu)
Just as she said that she would stay together with me, and here we still are.
"Goddamnit! Again! I don't like not knowing how to argue with you! I don't like feeling like this! I don't like that you are making sense so easily! And I certainly don't like that you, of all people, are teaching me about this stuff!" (Nia)
Oh, how nice!
"Why are you happy?" (Nia)
"Because you acknowledged me as a person." (Liqu)
"Well, I can't really not call you this with how I am, can I?" (Nia)
"That's nice! See? Linking is helpful." (Liqu)
"I'm not quite as sure about this. I heard a lot of concerning stuff about it from Shari. Also, I'm starting to feel a little dizzy." (Nia)
Now that she says it, her core is growing hot, as it usually does if you overdo it with the processing.
"Yes, I think we should detach now. Your core seems strained. Wouldn't want you to collapse." (Liqu)
"Sigh. That's still disturbing. But I guess you're right, I kinda feel hot." (Nia)
"Yep, makes sense. After all, those were very intense twenty seconds." (Liqu)
"What!?" (Nia)
At least if I kept track of it.
Which I think I did well enough.