Clearing 3} Picord and Zenith

Picord played by Evan, Zenith played by Kiwi

Sniff...Sniff sniff. A small troll halted on their typical walk in the forest’s clearing. They liked the forest, all the trees, the way the wind whispered through them, the comfortable shade they made, but… Say say, this place smelled a bit odd didn’t it? They found themselves stuck in place, unable to shake the feeling that something smelled…smelly. It was a warm scent, one that most people would expect to come from fresh baking or perhaps a freshly cooked meal. One that drew you in and invited you in for a comfortable stay. One that would only make sense to this here troll. Turning their attention to the ground, they began to pull away at the grass expectantly revealing the cool soil just beneath the surface. The sensation of dirt on their bare hands brought them joy, like a fluttering in their heart as though Amalgama itself bestowed upon them alone this wonderful gift. Pulling away dirt and scooping it out by the fistfuls they soon found their prize:
A small piece of white… something. The fluffy troll squinted at it, bringing it close to their near useless eyes as though it would do them any good. There was only one way to know if their theory was right for certain. Slowly, they stuck out their tongue and licked the object. That taste- they were right! It was unmistakably the taste of remaining decay! Excited to find the whole collection, Picord continued to carefully uncover the skeleton bit by bit, piece by piece, until they had amassed a small pile besides their newly dug wonderful hole. They stared at it with wide eyed glee.

Zenith was walking though the forest, he was on his way to sit and talk to a dead rat. This was stupid he hadn't been here in years, and he didn't need this. But something in his gut told him he needed to talk with his Lusus. Got Ryelam was really in his fucking head wasn't he. All this "therapy" disturbing his normal. It also didn't help that he saw a portait of his Lusus everyday in his livingroom.
Zenith walked into the clearing and spotted the Limeblood. he tilted his head wondering what they were doing. It was dark so his vision was better, but there was still light so it wasn't great. Zenith squinted and saw that this troll was right on top of the grave, with a bone in their hand. He let out a panicked noise "Wꚕαᵗ αŕᥱ ჸꙨu DO│∏G" he rushed over and shoved the limeblood taking the bone from their hands. It may have been irrational to freak out, after all the grave wasn't marked, and he killed the Lusus himself. However Zenith was in fact freaking out.

Picord tipped over with all of the resistance of a domino slumping over onto the ground like a rag doll. Hmm, the forest looks a little different now doesn’t it? What changed what changed... They took a deep breath in, their mouth twisting into a triumphant smile. Sideways! This forest is now sideways! Slowly their chest moved them back upright so that they could be sitting once more although in a bit of an odd position. Much better! This looks about right! Now for the next piece of the puzzle (Picord of course wasn’t all that great at puzzles), what was happening here? Their blank, milk white eyes glazed over the newly rearranged scene, where they were sitting before a strange new troll had taken their place, and the bone they were holding originally was in the stranger’s hands. Odd! They could only wonder how this happened so suddenly!
“fuuuuuuu” They let out an elongated sigh “there was a b0dy buried there y0u see. it was there f0r a l000000000ng time” their voice showed no echo of Zenith’s panic, as if completely unaware it was a component to this conversation at all. If this new troll was interested in the body, who were they to keep that information from them?

Zenith put the bones back in the dirt, and shot Picord a glare before doing his best to cover his Lusus' bones. "Yᥱʂ │ αm ⨍ucǩﺃՌᶢ αᐜαŕᥱ Ꙩ⨍ ᵗꚕαᵗ ﺃՌ ⨍αcᵗ ﺃᵗ ﺃʂ mჸ luʂuʂ αՌḋ │ BUᖇ│ED ﺃᵗ ꚕᥱŕᥱ." Zenith glared at the smaller troll again. He was angry why was he- wait was he angry. He began to look confused as he sat down on the ground and held his head. What in the fuck.
He took a deep breath and just sat there soon calming down. "Juʂᵗ ḋꙨՌ‵ᵗ ᵗꙨucꚕ ﺃᵗ"

Picord didn’t even falter at the aggressive language. Their smile stayed dopily on their face with open mouthed dullness, their head remained ever so slightly tilted and their blank eyes remained fixated on the stranger in front of them. He didn’t seem too pleased, did something upset him? Picord for all they were worth couldn’t connect the dots that perhaps digging up his lusus was the source of his upset. Was it because he really liked them that he wanted to preserve them in the dirt? That way they do keep their scent, so that was the only logical explanation!
“s0rry f0r taking y0ur b0nes theyre really niiiiiiiice 0nes” they frigidly rubbed their dirt covered hands together causing bits of residue to fall onto their lap “y0u did a g00d j0b 0f keeping them happy”

That set him off again into a strange stupor. He stared at the burial place of his Lusus, his face twitching. He grabbed his head "GEТ OUТ OF MY FUCK│∏G 廾EⵠD O廾 MY GOD" this wouldn't normally have bothered him, he should be fucking laughing right now. He took some deep breaths; he didn't know how to handle emotions because he never had them before, and why was he having them now.
Damn you, Ryelam. It was a bad idea agreeing to that in the first place. He shook his head "mꚕm ⨍ucǩ"

Hmm… Yeah, this definitely wasn’t normal for trolls. I mean, are they really valuable bones? Did they taint the value by licking them? No matter the cause, he was certainly upset! Those are words used by the emotionally distraught after all! Maintaining their blank smile, they slooooowly inched closer to the other troll whether it was a good idea or not, followed by a similarly slow moving arm. Ever so gently, they would give him a reassuring pat on the back. There was notably no weight behind it, like they had no muscles to be firm with to begin with.
Through their mouth came out a low hissing noise, but perhaps it could even resemble a ‘shhh’ “hhhhhhhhh its alright its 0kay” they repeated a few times, keeping up the calm balance of pats and reassurance. If he was upset, all that he needed was to calm down right? Maybe the bones couldn’t be unlicked, but his mood could improve couldn’t it?

He stared at the Limblood for a second. Everything was spinning everything was loud. He took a deep breath and shoved them off. "DꙨՌ‵ᵗ ᵗꙨucꚕ mᥱ" He hissed out. What the fuck was wrong with him oh my god. He shook his head and pulled his knees up to his chest. "ᐜꚕαᵗ ﺃʂ ᵗꚕﺃʂ" He sniffed and shook his head again.

Wrong answer! That’s ok, they were sure they would get it right this time! All they had to do was not touch him right? That was easy enough! It was strange how their body moved and bent so easily, just a shove being enough to slump them over once more. Dragging their body upright once more after being shoved over, they sat criss cross applesauce and looked down at the now filled hole once more, then back over to the saddened troll. “..what are y0u talking ab0ut?” they curiously asked. If he didn’t want to be consoled, maybe he wanted to be listened to? They could only use solutions they’ve seen before, so they went about it in a trial and error fashion.

He shook his head and leaned over. Everything was loud still, and the words pounded in his head. He heard that but it didn't register correctly. More deep breaths and another head rub as he tried to calm himself down. Then suddenly it was like a switch everything shut off again and he was fine. Zenith blinked. what in the fuck just happened. He looked at the mushperson,
"│ um │‵m ŕᥱαllჸ ʂꙨŕŕჸ │ ḋꙨՌ‵ᵗ ǩՌꙨᐜ ᐜꚕαᵗ ᵗꚕαᵗ ᐜαʂ Ꙏuᵗ mαჸꙎᥱ ﺃՌ ᵗꚕᥱ ⨍uᵗuŕᥱ ḋꙨՌ‵ᵗ lﺃcǩ Ꙩᵗꚕᥱŕ ϼᥱꙨϼlᥱʂ Luʂuʂ‵ ꙎꙨՌᥱʂ"

As though the altercation never happened to begin with, Picord moved right past it with ease. Of course, what he said next was far more troubling than anything that happened up until this point. Is he suggesting that they shouldn’t lick random bones they find in the ground? Preposterous! Absolutely insane! Who in their right mind would come up with something like that? Picord’s smile finally faded, and instead they puffed out their cheeks for just a moment. “uuuuuu but…. alriiiiight” They chirped back, mocking a salute for whatever reason in agreement with their wishes. Fine fine, before licking bones, make sure no one was around. That made sense.
“...the b0nes are pretty happy th0ugh” they repeated their earlier sentiment, staring back at the dirt with knowing eyes “there’s l0ts 0f life that came fr0m them, huuuuu, made l0ts 0f things very happy” an... odd sentiment at that, but they didn't seem to be saying it maliciously, in fact the way they spoke it lacked much tone at all. "ive never seen y0u bef0re" they finally remarked, breaking off of that previous topic

Zenith stared at the dirt, "│ ᶢuᥱʂʂ ﺃᵗ‵ʂ Ռﺃcᥱ ᵗꚕαᵗ ﺃᵗ‵ʂ ꚕαϼϼჸ" was all he could say. Everything going on was crazy, and it was ridiculous. He didn't understand what in the fuck was happening. he looked up and stared at Picord for a couple minuets silent. His pupils were moving and it looked very weird. He blinked a couple times "ꚕꙨᐜ ḋꙨ ჸꙨu ǩՌꙨᐜ"

With a broad grin their head jerked to face him again, unnaturally so. Every time they moved it was as if one point in their body dragged the rest of it along, like everything had to be consciously moved individually to function. It looked unnatural. “Y0u can tell there were l0ts 0f things 0n iiiiiit because it has that residue, it tastes… warm” with that remark, they looked back into the dirt as though something had just been lost. “l0ts 0f things thrive 0ff 0f things that have passed i think thaaaaaat’s nice t00” The troll themselves looked quite normal apart from their oddly blank eyes. Their hair was neat and curly, their overalls were rather clean and their sweater was still a bright lime, the only inconsistencies were in the way they moved and how they allowed the dirt to remain stuck to their hands.

He just sat at that not wanting to respond. He looked at the pile of dirt thinking about his Lusus. He hid himself away, he stopped feeling, and he stopped acknowledging others because of this event. He shut everything down after killing his Lusus, and now here he was after a random troll licked its bones. He shook his head no he had to be dreaming. But how would he be feeling in a dream. He stared at the pile of dirt again, "│‵m ʂꙨŕŕჸ"

Picord tilted their head to the right, though the movement was more of a slump to the side rather than a tilt. Why are they apologizing? Is he… sad about taking the bones they found? I mean if they were his bones to begin with then there should be no remorse in taking them back! The phrase confused picord, all they could really do was scour their mind for another solution. If someone is feeling bad you…
Picord reached out their hand slowly again and gave him a gentle pat on the back as if that didn’t go poorly last time. What was the phrase they heard somewhere before… if at first you don’t succeed try try again? Or was there another one along the lines of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results? Maybe now was a good time as any to figure out which one was correct.

Zenith sat there still on a bit of a reel from all of that. Ugh this was so fucking weird, from the person sitting next to him, to the fucking breakdown he just had. Now it was all over and there he sat with a blank expression. Was that really what it was like to feel? and why did this set him off so much? He felt the pat and just let it happen. He took a breath and shook his head.
"ТꚕαՌǩ ჸꙨuɁ" He said not knowing if that's what he should say. This day was not happening, it was unreal. It had to be a dream that he was in right? but he just thought of that, and it doesn't make sense as a dream either. His thoughts raced, and his head spun. no, this was fine. He nodded to himself, yeah this was fine. He looked at the pile of dirt again, maybe he should label it or something.

Ah so the first one was right! Persistence is always key, if anything is tried hard enough its sure to succeed! After all, thats what it means to live isn't it? With a blank look of happiness still remaining on their face as if they had forgotten to stop, they tried to focus on what the other troll was doing with serious intent contrary to their still stupid smile.
"its its buried thennnn we can make a t0mbst0ne riiiight? that way it'll be their sp0t and n0 0ne can take it" Picord offered their suggestion, already looking around where they sat for some rocks. "uuuuuu we can spell their name with this right right?"

the second he said a name, Picord diligently began arranging an array of pebbles and grass to spell out just that. it was... semi illegible. Whether Picord just had an awful writing style or barely understood how to write to begin with was up to interpretation at this point. "there there! n0w its all theirs" they hummed it out as if this were a playful tune of theirs. Their expression always looked so carefree, or perhaps that wasn't entirely accurate either. Maybe it was more... empty than it was carefree.

Zenith nodded, this is what it would have wanted. He knew that Remy only wanted what was best for him, but he failed. What was even the whole point of his life. Why did he even keep trying, was the game any fun anymore? Why didn't he just finish the deal already? Did he even want to die anymore? Zenith sighed and shook the thoughts from his head. Not right now, Zenith. "ТꚕαՌǩ ჸꙨu" He said after a bit of silent staring. The marker was nice, even if he knew it wouldn't stay long. He didn't need to mention that to the small troll though.

"ive never seen y0u bef0re" Picord repeated their thoughts from earlier. They don't often come across people in this neck of the woods, if anyone at all. well, no one alive that was. Using their ever dirt covered hands, they dusted off some debris off of one of the stones before calling it a day. Yep! That looked just fine! Oblivious to the troll's thoughts, they carried on without hesitation. "what are y0u called?"

Zenith looked at them and sighed, rubbing his head. "Yᥱαꚕ │ Ռᥱݍᥱŕ cꙨmᥱ Ꙩuᵗ ꚕᥱŕᥱ˒ lﺃǩᥱ ᥱݍᥱŕ." He mumbled out and shook his head. A lot of head shaking was going on, mostly to try to get out of his own head. "│‵m ȥᥱՌﺃᵗꚕ˒ ᐜꚕꙨ αŕᥱ ჸꙨuɁ" It was geting even darker, possibly because of a cloud, which made it easier for him to see. He was thankful for that because it made the pounding in his head die down.

"im pic0rd its reeeeeeeeeeeal nice t0 meet y0u" Their words came out of their mouth like venom, oozing with an obscure mix of glee and hollowness. It was as if every word took all the power they had just to say, and when it finally let out it was hauntingly airy. Even besides from that fact the way their smile held up was strange in a similar fashion. They just seemed ever so slightly off. Looking up to the now darkened sky, they instinctively let their arms out. "huuuuu its always s0 nice 0ut i cant imagine n0t staying 0utd00rs as much as i can"

Zenith shrugged, he was starting to get back to normal. His thoughts quieted, as his bloobpusher stopped pounding. With another deep breath, he let out a snort "│ ḋꙨՌ‵ᵗ lﺃǩᥱ lᥱαݍﺃՌᶢ mჸ ꚕﺃݍᥱ mucꚕ αՌჸmꙨŕᥱ˒ ʂﺃՌcᥱ ᵗꚕᥱ ŕᥱαʂꙨՌ │ ᐜꙨulḋ ᵗჸϼﺃcαllჸ ᶢꙨ Ꙩuᵗ ᐜꙨulḋ Ꙏᥱ ᵗꙨ ꚕα ᐜᥱll │ cαՌ‵ᵗ ḋꙨ ᵗꚕαᵗ ŕﺃᶢꚕᵗ ՌꙨᐜ lᥱᵗ‵ʂ ϼuᵗ ﺃᵗ ᵗꚕαᵗ ᐜαჸ │ ᶢuᥱʂʂ ﺃᵗ‵ʂ Ռﺃcᥱ ᵗꙨ mᥱᥱᵗ ჸꙨu" he held out his hand to the Limeblood for a shake.

For a moment Picord had no response to his hand, just kind of stared blankly at him as if it weren't there at all. After the silence became just uncomfortable, they realized he was trying to shake their hand. Oh yes of course of course this thing! Picord loosely grasped his hand and shook it leaving behind a residue of dirt. nice. "every0ne c0uld stand t0 be 0utside m00000re, its imp0rtant t0 ingest 0ne wild thing a day" advice has never come from a more reliable source

Zenith shook it back before pulling his hand away. He looked at the dirt, quickly wiping his hand off in the grass. This troll was a very strange one, but well so was he. "ჸᥱαꚕ˒ │ juʂᵗ ḋꙨՌ‵ᵗ lﺃǩᥱ ᵗꙨ˒ ʂꙨ ḋꙨ ჸꙨu ᶢꙨ Ꙩuᵗ αՌḋ ḋﺃᶢ ﺃՌ ᵗꚕᥱ ḋﺃŕᵗ αll ᵗꚕᥱ ᵗﺃmᥱ ꙨŕŕŕŕɁɁ" He asked looking at the Limeblood

Lazily, their tongue now stuck out of their mouth in the worlds least enthusiastic blep manageable. "0nly when i smell s0mething and this time 0000000000000h i g0t lucky g0t real lucky i d0nt find things like this 0ften" its true they did go out for walks, but most of their digging was in the confines of their garden. Sometimes though smells are just so tempting! Like an entire colony had called out to them, like god themselves came down and whispered in their barely functional ear that something wonderful was hiding just beneath the surface of the dirt.

Zenith gave them a weird and confused look. Wait, smell, is this troll saying that they smelled the fucking bones hold on. "Wαﺃᵗ ᐜαﺃᵗ ᐜαﺃᵗɁɁ SmᥱllᥱḋɁɁ ḋꙨ ჸꙨu mᥱαՌ ᵗꙨ ᵗᥱll mᥱ ᵗꚕαᵗ ჸꙨu *ʂmᥱllᥱḋ* ᵗꚕᥱ ꙎꙨՌᥱʂ lﺃǩᥱ αcᵗuαllჸɁ" there was no way, that was impossible right?

For the first time since their encounter began, Picord's wide empty grin shifted downwards into an equally empty frown No no no this was all wrong! Why do other trolls never get this right? "n00000000" they groaned as if he had said something wrong "n0t the b0nes the r0t there was definitely r0t here at s0me p0int" they puffed out their cheeks stubbornly "i t0ld y0u that it made l0ts 0f things happy being buried there n0w they had l0ts t0 eat and g0t t0 live"

Zenith looked at the grave, and he shrugged. It still didn't make all that much sense, how could a troll smell rot. Especially from above ground. He scratched the back of his head. "ᶢuᥱʂʂ ᖇᥱmჸ ʂᵗﺃll ꚕαḋ ʂꙨmᥱ ʂᵗu⨍⨍ ꙨՌ ꚕﺃm ᐜꚕᥱՌ │ ϼuᵗ ꚕﺃm ﺃՌ ᵗꚕᥱ ᶢŕꙨuՌḋ." Zenith had only burried Remy a couple years ago, he still didn't know why he took so long to do it in the first place.

Scene End