✪ Thunder! Thunder!! ✪ [Video]

[loyal_cube]

[The device is turned on, adjusted, and then shows Cube's face.]

Ah, good evening, Discedo. I do hope you're all keeping dry.

Does anyone have any recommendations for living quarters? As much as I like where I am, I believe it's about time to-

[A flash of bright light fills the room as a loud crack of thunder follows. Not a second later, the little demon is knocked over by a blur of red and yellow. The communicator falls to the floor and slides to reveal Flandre clinging to Cube quite tightly.]

F-Flandre-chan! L-Let go! Too tight-- ack!

Le tonnerre, le tonnerre!

[Cube reaches for the communicator, gagging and trembling with all his strength to type something while the vampire has him in a death grip. Rather than send what he typed, the feed clicks off.]

Comments

[loyal_cube]

[Cube is breathing, but his voice is raspy]

N-No. It's a-alright, Aniki.

[Though, he could use the help, in all honesty.]

Flandre-chan.... she's just... she's afraid of the thunder.

[fierybluebird]

Yeah, I used to be the same way. It was a big problem on the Grand Line. Drove my Pops nuts for several years until I got more used to it... But ah... your throat...

Maybe I can calm her down?

[loyal_cube]

R-Really? How did Aniki get used to it? Was there something that you did or thought of that helped?

Ah, calming her would be wonderfulif it's not too much trouble. I worry for her health. [And his own.] Too much stress is never good and I fear I'm not exactly helping much.

1/2

[fierybluebird]

I'll be right over.

[fierybluebird]

Ah... [Rubs the back of his neck and grabs his father's jacket.] My Pops would give me hugs or wrap me up in in part of his jacket or scarf and tell me stories and we'd drink on deck until I got used to the idea that even if it hit the deck we'd be okay... I mean half of my brothers can actually fight lightning.

I still can't fly in it though... although that's just a real hazard not from phobia. I think it's probably why I still get sleepy in rain though... Because my brothers would usually have me sleep through it....

[loyal_cube]

Ooooh!

[Imagining Marco being wrapped up in that big jacket is somewhat cute. Cube Smiles feeling a bit hopeful.]

Aniki isn't the only one who feels sleepy when it rains.

I wonder if a similar techniqe would be soothing to Flandre-chan or not...

[then_there_were_none]

[Flandre hasn't let go, but she is at least speaking in something more intelligible than gibbers.]

...who are you talking to, Cube?

[fierybluebird]

Only one way to find out!

[And Uncle Marco comes running to the rescue carrying the giant circus tent of a jacket over his head.]

Hey, where's my favorite niece? [Gives a soothing phoenix whistle in the hopes that Flandre will chirp back.]

[then_there_were_none]

[Flandre...chitters. The sound's more batlike than birdlike and mostly confused, but it is kind of a chirpy sound!

She's forgotten to choke Cube out in the meantime.]

[fierybluebird]

[Well, it's a start. And he starts moving some furniture together to stretch the coat over the top where Flandre and Cube are and really make it more like a tent, before inching under to give Flandre a fiery blue phoenix hug -- in hybrid form for now. Full birdie can wait.]

Here, it'll be okay now, eh?

[then_there_were_none]

[Flandre watches him for a moment, chittering curiously every now and then.

She starts to relax when the big open space is now less of a big open space because of the jacket, though she twitches away from the fire anyway.

...but it didn't seem to be burning Marco, and it was warm.

Gingerly, she reaches out to touch one of the wings.]

[fierybluebird]

[Grins!] Don't worry, it's safe. Good flames, that's why they're blue, eh? Just heal, no burning.

[then_there_were_none]

[She presses her hand up against the fire at the reassurance--then chirps. It tingled!]

It's warm!

[She wiggled her fingers in it briefly. It did feel rather strange, thinking about it.]

[fierybluebird]

Yeah! [Laughs and gives her a one winged hug.]

I can't cure anyone else but they definitely don't hurt, right? [Spreads a few sparkles for her in continued distraction.]

[loyal_cube]

[Cube is smiling, watching Flandre and Marco. So adorable, and best of all, she didn't seem to notice the storm anymore.

After a moment, he turns into a dog and joins them because more the merrier, right?]

[then_there_were_none]

[One of the sparkles lands on her nose, and Flandre giggles despite herself.

She doesn't notice Cube again until she feels something fluffy brush against her arm; automatically, she scoops it up--or tries to. Much more gently, this time.]

[fierybluebird]

[Laughs at Cube being a dog and carefully snuggles the both of them.]

Nights like this the best thing to do is relax, eh? It'll all pass soon enough, so it's best to cherish it in the company of friends.

That's what my Pops always said.