June 10th, 1999 - After School

[ohmygah]

Ayumu hadn’t gone to see Nurse Bubblegum in a while, mostly out of time constraints than anything. With whatever mom was working on wrapped up, they had time to set a real appointment, which happened to land on today’s date.

Every now and then Mrs. Kasuga sat Ayumu down and tried to explain “now I don’t think that…” something something “court order, his insistence, safest I could find” something something. It all kind of went over Ayumu’s head and she had a hard time focusing. It meant she got to see all the nice people down there, so she wasn’t sure what her mom was worried about.

All in all, she’s feeling pretty good when she gets called into the office. She happily opens the door, waving her arms brightly. “Hiya Miss Bubblegum!”

Comments

[bonni]

[ Peebs, for her part, didn't mind the "Bubblegum" nickname the children usually used for her. In fact, you could say she partially encouraged it, since nobody knew her real name - probably something embarrassing, since the degrees hanging on the walls didn't bear a name either. (None of them have anything to do with medicine, either. Huh.)

Still, she was the best thing this town had to offer, and she didn't mind these sessions with Ayumu. It was a job, and honestly Ayumu was nice enough. ]

Hey there, Ayumu! Take a seat. I was juuust finishing up a little something. [ She, indeed, does have a little something in her hands. Vials of... some sort of chemicals, probably. Purple in one hand, green in the other. Probably dangerous, too, since Peebs has on a pair of goggles and long, rubber gloves in addition to her usual lab coat.

Good luck finding a seat, though. Since the office had been converted into more of a science lab, various pieces of sciency do-dads, weird gizmos, and most-definitely-not-medical supplies were strewn on almost every available surface. ]

[ohmygah]

[Given that this is Osaka, she probably thinks Bubblegum's her real name. She still gets confused about the whole Osaka nickname, even after the two years she's had it.

Ayumu looks over the lab carefully, thinking over this predicament.

Fact 1: There is no place to sit, except the floor.

Collorary Fact: The reason for this is because there all available seating positions are covered in doo-dads.

Fact 2: Doo-dads can be moved about and placed on ground.

Conclusion: Make chair out of doo-dads.

And now she's attempting to lift a beaker holder or something to make the base of her creation.]

[bonni]

[ Peebs is... totes engrossed in her work. She doesn't even notice Ayumu moving the items. Even when she goes and pulls a beaker from the very beaker holder that Ayumu just moved.

A few mixes of chemicals, adding some sort of powder.....

Peebs pauses for a moment, then pulls a pair of lab goggles from her coat, holding them out towards Ayumu. ] Put these on.

[ohmygah]

[Luckily she was already putting down the holder, so there aren't too many chemicals flying about when she drops the stand right then and there. That thing she was thinking about has now become a distraction to thinking about this new thing. So, chair making thoughts gone and putting on goggle thoughts in.]

Oh, okay! [With little trouble, she eases the goggles onto her eyes. And then gives PB a bright smile, regardless of whether she's looking back at her or not.]

1/3

[bonni]

[ Oh. Oh snap. Those were chemicals. And those chemicals are now spilled on the floor. Ayumu, why? ]

2/3

[bonni]

[ ...Oh well! What's done is done. C'est la vie. Nun ja.

More important things to do. Liiiike- ]

[bonni]

[ SCIENCE!

Mixing the last two chemicals in this mixture, aaaand- GREAT BIG CLOUD OF PINK SMOKE. Don't worry, it's mostly non-toxic!

Give a moment for the pink smoke to clear, and Peebs is holding out the resulting bright-pink mixture to Ayumu. ]

Here, drink this.

[ohmygah]

[Ayumu is positively enraptured by this pink cloud. Dang. Maybe if she squints hard enough, she can spot a dog or something! But then it clears and PB is handing her something.]

Okay!

[Just. No moment of doubt or fear. Immediately chugging it.]

[bonni]

[ Peebs has procured a notebook from... somewhere. And a pen. ] All right. Now. Tell me how you feel.

[ohmygah]

[She considers the question thoughtfully.]

...Kinda itchy, I suppose.

[She glances down at the floor.]

Say, did you do some renovations Miss Bubblegum? Cause I don't remember that T-Rex riding a unicorn carpet being here before.

[She casually scratches her arm a little.]

...And when the lab get so biiiig?

[bonni]

Iiiiiiiiiinteresting.

[ Peebs jots down a few notes, then stops. She pulls out a small flashlight. Then she turns it on, and shines it into Ayumu's eyes for a moment. She nods to herself, makes a few "mm hmm" noises, then goes back to jotting down more notes. ]

[ohmygah]

[Ayumu seems decidly unfazed by the light. How is she supposed to see it behind that kaleidoscope rooster?

She sways around patiently, trying to keep her balance, casually watching Bubblegum and the rooster take notes.]

Hey, Miss Bubblegum?

[bonni]

Hm...? Yes? [ She seems a little distracted. With her notes.

She notices Ayumu's body language, though.... and promptly starts taking notes about it. ]

[ohmygah]

What's it like being real smart?

[A pause and another sway.] And so taaaaallllllllllllllll.

[bonni]

[ Oh, questions. Right, those were a thing during sessions. ] It's not all it's cracked up to be. Either one.

So how have you been lately? [ Going to start doing her job.



Not that she's going to stop taking notes, either. In fact, be observing Ayumu's reactions to the normal kinds of questions, she can get some feedback on the effects of her concoction. ]

Also, what do you think the color green would taste like?

[ Yes. Completely normal questions. ]

[ohmygah]

Pretty good! Being with friends is nice. Mom seems to be done with legal stuff.

[Dang, that's one deep philosophical question Peebs.]

Like the color turquoise!

[bonni]

Hmmmmm. Hmmmmmmmmmmm. [ Peebs takes some more notes. ]

And how are things going with your friends?

Also, are you experiencing any dizziness, lightheadedness, or tasting colors?

[ohmygah]

Really really great! I mean, Hiroshi's probably heading to a great college pretty soon. Souji too. But lotsa people'll still be around, so it'll be okay!

Not more than usual... It'd probably help if the dinosaur on your carpet stopped shaking the room...

[bonni]

Tell me more about this dinosaur. I think it might.... represent your inner turmoil. Or something like that. [ She's makin' that part up. She just wants to take notes on the side-effect of her new soda chemical formula. ]

[ohmygah]

Huh?

[She looks down to look at the floor to do some looking at the dinosaur whooooaaaaa everything feels so jumbly.]

Look look look... It kinda looks like dad! Got the same mustache and hairstyle. [Cause she remembers her dad being bald. The connection is pretty clear. The truth is out there.]

[bonni]

[ Wait. What.

Okay, this is going places she didn't expect. ]

And does your dad look like a dinosaur?

[ohmygah]

[Thinks about it.]

He's wrinkly like one... But he doesn't have feathers... Does he?

[bonni]

Mooost people don't have feathers. And I don't remember your father having any either, no.

[ohmygah]

Well mom said "there's nothing human about that man" once. Maybe he grew them recently!

[bonni]

That's possible, but not likely.

Is there anything else noteworthy about this dinosaur? [ Other than, you know, existing. While being supposedly extinct. ]

[ohmygah]

[She looks at the carpet again, squinting at it.]

Well, he's happy! But the unicorn looks pretty tired carrying him.

[bonni]

I seeeee...

[ If she had taken an actual psychology course, she'd be having a field day with this.

As it is, she's making notes about the chemical formula she used and how she might adjust it. ]

And what else can you tell me about the.... unicorn?

[ohmygah]

[Head scratch. Little weird that PB was asking these questions, wasn't it? The unicorn was right there. Its prob a nurse thing.]

It has a horn in its forehead!

For Nui

[ohmygah]

[And that's another appointment done. Osaka's feeling pretty good as she leave the office, all things considered. Things have been going so well recently, its rare she hasn't been in a good mood.

She pauses in the lobby, considering what to do next. She wonders if there's anyone who happens to be nearby. That'd be nice, unlikely as it is...]

[flatview]

Oh...hi, Osaka!

[ there is indeed someone else here! Although she's dressed pretty plainly, maybe for a doctor's appointment, that's better. ]

[ohmygah]

Huh?

[Osaka blinks and turns toward the voice. Nui's voice = Nui is here. Person who looks like Nui + plain clothes ≠ Nui?? Hm. Suspicious.

Wait, but what if Nui + reason for plain clothes = actually Nui? Yeah, that would make much more sense than her being replaced by an alien spy.]

Hey Nui! Wow, I've never seen ya in clothes like that before...

[flatview]

[ Just don't inform her of this thought process lest she try to actually convince Osaka that she is an alien spy. ]

These gross, ratty things? [ they actually aren't that ratty...if jeans and a shirt with pink raglan sleeves can be considered ratty. ] Auntie said it was more practical, but she's just blowing out hot air again.

[ohmygah]

[She nods thoughtfully.] That makes sense... I almost didn't recognize ya in clothes like that...

[And that'd be a real silly mistake to make, forgetting who a person is.]

[flatview]

Of course you wouldn't. As if I ever wear this sort of thing willingly.

[ never ]

[ohmygah]

Yeah, it doesn't really seem like you, y'know?

[She glances around her surroundings suddenly.] Whatcha doing here, anyhow?

[flatview]

What do people normally do at a doctor's office?

[ohmygah]

I guess fix broken legs or something.

[GASP!] IS YOUR LEG OKAY?!

[flatview]

[ Osaka you walk right into these things. ]

Ohhh, I don't know! I might have hairline fractures!

[ohmygah]

YOU CAN FRACTURE HAIR?!

[flatview]

[ LAUGHING SO HARD ON THE INSIDE no.....must maintain the facade for this to work..... ]

Haven't you ever heard of split ends?

[ohmygah]

That's what that means?! I thought it meant that your hair got cut into two or something!

[flatview]

It's just another step in the painful process that is hairline fractures, actually! Make sure to use good shampoos!

[ohmygah]

[Nodding in a serious yet panicky fervor.]

I promise! I'll stay safe and never get a fracture!

[flatview]

Then, carry on...!

[ With a melodramatic wave and flourish, Nui steps into the office. That's the end of that charade!

Unless, of course, Osaka's not done talking, here... ]