[Ajiellyn]

A small bit more. We didn't get as much done last night, but I don't want to let these pile up.

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Jan 23rd
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Epsimabe knew something up was about this Slig, he seemed a little too reluctant to beat the living daylights out of him and other muds. He had heard insults of "Mudlover" slung between sligs, but he didn't think it was actually possible for a slig to be one. Nevertheless he felt incredibly bad for his blue-tinted friend, as he'd known a few muds gone blue that committed suicide when they were beat. He really didn't want that to happen

Tadelesh wrung his hands, his eyes darting to and fro. He avoided eye contact determinedly, instead taking a keen interest in the ceiling, or the floor, or just about anything that couldn't look back, really. "I... W-Wanted to make sure... You were talkin' t-to me, 'cause, 'cause before, m-mistakes..." He cringed and rubbed the back of his head, his work-chapped mitts making a sandpapery sound against the smoothness of his skin. "Bad. R-Real bad. I'm s-sorry." Now, who had he been under the 'care' of before now...? It had been someone very distinct, someone unforgettable, even though they hadn't been together for long. "H-He wuh..." Oh, how he hated talking! "Was, was a real s-small guy, s-squeaky..."

Seydas eyes Tad from time to time as he scrubs up his own mess, taking gradual steps in this crouched position along the trail of nastiness he created. In this context, he was glad to have something to do, but couldn't help but feel bad for the fellow. Tad was so nervous, so unsure of himself - probably had been here too long. Was that going to happen to him, too, if he didn't get out of here soon enough? Too bad he'd just appear to be smug if he chose this moment to speak up. Not that he even had anything to say, but he figured he'd better be careful not to let his tongue get the better of him again so soon. He worked slightly slower, trying to think of ways he could create more work for them in a subtler fashion until some escape option presented itself. He didn't want to lose anyone else.

Riley couldn't handle listening to this mudokon speak. The time it took for Tad to finish a sentence gave Riley time to observe, and time to observe just gave him more to pity. Nonetheless, he stared at him unmovingly as a concerned adult might watch a timid child confess. In his years working here, he had never seen such a penitent mudokon. A mud this traumatized shouldn't be here... He took another long drag, again exhaling away from the Tad's face. Spit it out, mud, I'll rough up the prick who did this to yer so bad, he thought, but the final answer nearly had him swallow his cigarette. "Sk--Wh--- Skree!? Yer pullin' my leg er somethin? Did he 'talk like this'?! There was no one b'fore that?!"

Epsimabe wiped the sweat off his forehead before looking to the Newcomer, he obviously had something on his mind, but most captures usually did. He shook his head, after all, he was born here, and it was likely he'd die here too. When he saw the slig get absolutely shocked at this turn of events Tad had narrated, he couldn't help but feel a little shocked himself, after all, why would a slig care if another beat a mudokon up? after all it was common practice, and there was something very strange about this overseer indeed.

Tadelesh cowered outright as his overseer reacted, cringing backwards and covering his head with his large hands. He certainly hadn't expected a reaction like that... He must have said something wrong, something very wrong. "S-Sorry! I'm sorry!" He shrieked in reply, skittering backwards a half a pace. "Y-Yeah, j-just like that, h-he t-talked..." He didn't seem to hear the last part of Riley's question through his own blind panic. "I-I'm sorry! I-I'll, I'll go back to work!" He scampered over to Seydas on all-fours and, whimpering, held his trembling hands out for the rag. "I-I'll do the rest, I w-will..."

Seydas frowned after mulling that last one over. Why was he worried about "losing" someone he'd just met? He guessed it must be the circumstances, seeming so dire in comparison to the life he knew not so long ago. He blinked out of his thoughts when Tad approached with such a whimpering suggestion, and eyed him, maintaining a steady scrub-rhythm so as not to seem too distracted. "Whose idea was this? For everyone's sake, I would not want to go against the wishes of our friend..." He looked up at the Slig and tilted his head, trying his best not to sound spiteful despite the semi-veiled sarcasm he had just employed, "Why does it matter who mistreated him anyway? Is there someone you're worried might have more mud-points than you?" So much for being unspiteful.

Riley was surprised and confused enough by Tad's reaction to feel affronted. He certainly wouldn't stand being antagonized... 'I ain't gonna hit ya, mud,' he wanted to say the moment Tad covered his head. However, it was too late... This mudokon's apprehension was beyond him. He had frightened them before, of course-- to impress Skree, to prove himself to other muds-- but he had never terrified one inadvertently. Tad not only failed to answer Riley's question, but he wanted to take up the work of the one who was being punished? "No, yer won't!" he hissed, taking a threatening, mechanical step forward. He was taken off-guard yet again by Sey's comment. "None'a yer fackin' business, mud. Yer business is that floor, so keep yer eyes on it!" No beating... amazing. He turned his attention back to Tad, still eager for the answer. "Get yer ass back here, now! Yer gonna answer my question. Yer ferget it already, ya twit? Who watched yer b'fore that?!" If this was the only manner of speaking which would catch the blue mud's attention, so be it.

Epsimabe muttered to Seydas "Are you crazy?! you're asking to be shot, and frankly, I might get another lickin' if I keep talkin to ya, so lay low, Okay?" before returning to work. Sure, he was risking a whooping, but their fate would all be much worse if this newcomer didn't keep his mouth shut. he returned to his own scrubbing, thinking of the possible ways this day could turn out.

Tadelesh cried out in fear as the Slig rounded on him again, cringing away from the rag like it had suddenly burst into flames. "I-I'm s-sorry! S-Sorry! S-Sorry," he chanted as he scooted back over to Riley, trembling before him as a small, homeless puppy all but wasted to skin and bones from starvation and abuse. "W-Was a big guy, r-real big guy, d-don't kn-know, s-sorry! I'm s-sorry!" He made himself as tall as possible and held his hands over his head. "W-When I made... A mis-stake... H-He would m-make hisself big a-and..."

Seydas felt his muscles tense as the Slig began to speak, expecting some kind of blow for his lack of respect, but nothing. His gaze lingered probably a little too long on the Slig before returning to the floor, but more in confusion now than derisiveness. Without looking, he muttered briefly back to the older Mud with the slightest of nods, "I wasn't even touched, let alone shot. Weird." He knew it couldn't be for lack of confidence, as he had first-hand experience of probably only a fraction of how hard that Slig could hit. As that train of thought ran out of track, he started picturing a Slig who "made himself big" yet talked all squeaky and high-pitched. He smirked a little. That made comically little sense...