[004] action -- getting his hands (and quite a bit more) dirty

[empireofmymind]

[Ken and Wormmon have decided to retrieve the fallen wedding ring from the sewer! Wormmon climbed down on in and successfully located the missing item, swept a bit down the pipe.

Except now Ken is kneeling, as if prepared to climb in himself. From a ways away comes a plaintive cry:]

Ken-chaaaaan!

Comments

[washurhair]

[Shampoo, who has been biking around the city with a broom on her back for her own job, nearly runs over Ken. Luckily a quick swerve to the left saves everyone some medical trouble.]

Oi, don't you have better place to sit around? Shampoo could have broken new bike because of- [She squints her eyes when she hears something from the sewers.] what was that?

[empireofmymind]

[Ken glances over, but doesn't spare time for excuses. Later on he'll apologize properly - he just has a lot on his mind.]

Sorry - could I borrow that?

[He nods to her broom, fixing her with a rather unsettling stare.

And from the sewer, the voice again.]

Ken-chaaaan! Help me!

[washurhair]

[Weird kid but she shrugs and hands it over.]

You break it, you owe me new one.

[She crouches down next to him, nose wrinkling at the subtle smell of sewer waste.]

Aiya... so Shampoo not going crazy. How did someone get stuck down there?

[empireofmymind]

[He nods grimly, accepting the broom.]

Thank you.

[Broom tucked under one arm, he begins slowly lowering himself into the open grate.]

A wedding ring got washed into this sewer. My partner retrieved it, but the current's increased....

[washurhair]

Ah! That not good at all. All that sewage going to ruin broom...

But no one should be stuck in that. How can Shampoo help poor boy and friend?

[empireofmymind]

[Ken thinks, his feet touching down. He calls up to Shampoo.]

Wait there. I'll pass him up to you, so I can climb up myself.

And - [He looks sheepish for a moment, then determined, gripping the broom nearest its head.]

I'll be careful with your broom.

[washurhair]

Alright, I ready over here on this end.

[She rolls up her sleeves and her pant legs, ready for whatever is going to come spewing out of the hole.]

[empireofmymind]

Mm.

[Ken crouches and pokes the broom down the sewer pipe, calling for whoever's in there to "hang on". He ends up nearly slipping (and up to his ankles in sewage), but after some straining he's retracting the broom and turning around.]

Here...Wormmon, let go.

[Passing up a rather dirty, rather shaken, giant green worm now. It's clutching a wedding ring between two legs.]

[washurhair]

[It's a bit dark down there so Shampoo's not sure what's she is grabbing until she lifts him back up. Not expecting a huge insect, she flinches and throws Wormmon in the air.]

Why you give me huge bug!? Give me back broom, I go kill it!

[Action]

[youngestboxer]

[Well... that's not something you normally see. Yuta walks over to investigate.]

Hey, did something happen?

[Action]

[empireofmymind]

[Ken has a leg in the sewer already, but looks up.]

It's Wormmon. We retrieved the ring from the jobs board, but...

[He looks down to indicate the direction Wormmon's been swept.]

I have to get him back.

[Action]

[youngestboxer]

Something happened to him?

[Now Yuta's worried.]

Do you need help? I can go in with you.

[Action]

[empireofmymind]

Ah...

[Ken glances down the pipe, thinking it over.]

He's - stuck. Afraid he'll be washed further.

I should be all right alone.

[He doesn't sound convinced.]

[Action]

[youngestboxer]

Because this place is always predictable and safe.

[Yeah, Yuta doesn't look convinced.]

I can at least keep watch from here. If it turns out there's anything funny in there, I can help you out faster.

[Action]

[empireofmymind]

[Caught in the act. Ken glances away, then back.]

Thank you. I'll be quick.

[Another call for "Ken-chan!", fainter this time, can be heard as Ken descends into the sewer.]

[Action]

[youngestboxer]

Careful!

[Once Ken descends, Yuta takes a deep breath before sticking his head in, trying to watch for his friend.]

[Action]

[empireofmymind]

[It's a smelly, dirty job, but someone's got to do it.

Ken creeps along the pipe, feeling his way carefully along the wall.]

Hold still, Wormmon. I'm almost --

[There is a splash and a Wormmon-yelp from within the pipe.]

[ action ]

[thevesselofhiswish]

[ Another one that wanted to help and might arrive just in time to watch that. ]

Oh, dear! Is he fine? Do you want some help?

Re: [ action ]

[empireofmymind]

[Ken glances over as he begins to lower himself into the sewer.]

If brought out quickly, he should be fine.

[He's about to reassure her he has this under control - he doesn't want to trouble a stranger - but practicality wins.]

We - might need assistance climbing out. Thank you.

[ action ]

[thevesselofhiswish]

I'd love to help you then. Tell me what I can do to help then. If we do this together, I'm sure we will have this finished soon and you will not need to worry for anything.

[ action ]

[empireofmymind]

Well....

[Ken thinks.]

If there's anything around we can use to climb out, that would be helpful. Otherwise....I'll pass him up to you.

[ action ]

[thevesselofhiswish]

Would a rope fit this? I can go and look for one right now...!

[ action ]

[empireofmymind]

[Ken nods, while another wail of "Ken-chaaaan" drifts up from the pipe.]

Perfect. I'll be right back.

[And he drops the rest of the way into the sewer to begin fetching his friend.]

[ action ]

[thevesselofhiswish]

[ Irisviel then runs to find a rope, which only takes her some minutes. ]

Here it is.

[ action ]

[empireofmymind]

[Ken slowly emerges, carrying a wet, dirty - giant green bug.]

Thank you....Can you grab it, Wormmon?

[The bug will now cling to the rope as Ken calls upwards.]

It's okay to pull. I'll go up next.