The Day of Thunder

[Chuchu]

"If m' nose's bein'--" Akutou cuts off. "Chuchu, what's that even mean, m' nose's bein' mean? You ain't smellin' nothin' off?"

"A little," She answers honestly. "But it's just you. The Rot's brushed you. Don't need to be scared, we can get it out, 'cause it's only trying to make an opening right now, not get through one." Chuchu nods earnestly. "It stands out here because of the magic, I think. You'd be unconscious of it otherwise."

[Otomo Akutou]

"A little," She answers honestly. "But it's just you. The Rot's brushed you. Don't need to be scared, we can get it out, 'cause it's only trying to make an opening right now, not get through one." Chuchu nods earnestly. "It stands out here because of the magic, I think. You'd be unconscious of it otherwise."

"Chuchu, hon," Akutou says, "I only caught 'bout ev'ry third 'r fourth word o' that. Somethin' 'bout gettin' somethin' outta me as's tryin' t' get through me? An' I smell it 'cause I'm here now?"

He cocks his head at her. Then he takes a breath, and he shrugs.

"You know more 'bout it th'n I do. I defer t' your greater expertise."

And he sketches a short, sharp bow to her, just about the most formal gesture anybody present will have seen him make.

[Chuchu]

"You know more 'bout it th'n I do. I defer t' your greater expertise."

She cheeps. Oh no! "Yes! Uhm! You've been touched by the Rot," And Chuchu repeats, "You don't have to be afraid. It's just a touch -- we can get it healed right up so it doesn't become an infection." Her ears lower shyly.

[Otomo Akutou]

She cheeps. Oh no! "Yes! Uhm! You've been touched by the Rot," And Chuchu repeats, "You don't have to be afraid. It's just a touch -- we can get it healed right up so it doesn't become an infection." Her ears lower shyly.

"Said I ain't skeert," Akutou says. "But you're right; keepin' an' infection fr'm happenin's a fair sight better'n cuttin' it out once it's set in.

"Do what needs doin'."