The Ranch

Slumber Party (2)

(Warning: The Slumber Party Arc will talk about some dark and disturbing things. You've been warned)

"Then, who wants to start." They look around silently, none wanting to speak first.

"Maybe we should start with boss since he's the leader?" Pierre offers. They turn to look at the boy who's staring off into the distance, distracted.

"Mm, okay. I'll talk about what I already know about him." Kai answers. "We've run into a kid named Axel previously. He blames his missing ear on Tih."

Kai glances at the innocent enough looking Tih," Everyone here is aware of his physical prowess and speed, but there are moments when he...changes.

His eyes would turn red and he no longer completely emotionless. It's not that he show any expression on his face, but he emit a heavy bloodthirsty aura and rips apart anything he deems an enemy.

He seems to have gotten more control over it asthe number of times it happens increases, but I'm still not entirely sure what causes it to appear. Extreme mood changes, traumatic events?" Kai glances around to see if anyone else has any theories, but they remain silent, waiting for him to continue.

"Other than that, I don't know where he originated from, but we were on the same bus. Of the luggage he brought with him, the clothes looked old and worn, the shoes too. It only contained basic necessities, but everything was neatly folded and placed with care."

In the end, the amount they knew about their boss was akin to a few personality traits. Curious it's grows within the eight as they watch the boy's actions.

Tih feels a weird sensation. To alleviate the feeling, he pats Basile and opens his palm to him.

Tih has already done this a couple times before, so Basile understands his request. He pulls out a chocolate and a lollipop," Which one."

Tih takes the chocolate, opens the wrapper, and starts nibbling on it slowly to savor the candy.

"Let's have Tih answer yes or no questions." Victor looks for Tih's guardian's approval.

Kai notices Victor's eyes on him. He glances at Tih before nodding in approval,"It should work."

Tih can't talk, but he can nod or shake his head.

"Tih, can you answer our questions for us?" Kai asks in a tone that explains that they wouldn't be mad if Tih denied.

Tih nods.

The group looks between each other.

Theodore speaks up first,"Do you know what causes that, when your eyes go red?"

Tih shakes his head.

"If we're going by the clothes...Tih, were you an orphan?" Sherlock speculates.

Tih nods. Sherlock and Kai meet eyes.

Kai adds on,"And that other guy, Axel, was also from there?"

Tih nods. They look between each other, we might be able to get some information out of Axel.

"Do you remember doing that to Axel?" Victor wonders.

Tih tilts his head in confusion.

"Then do you remember fighting Instructor Kane's students?" He switches the question.

Tih slowly nods.

It's confirmed, he gains more control with time. Now someone brings up the question on the back of everyone's mind.

Kai asks carefully,"Tih,  Are you mute?"

Tih tilts his head.

"Have you ever tried speaking before?" He changes the question.

Tih shakes his head.

They look between each other.

"Then, can you try?" Abel speaks up, also curious.

Tih looks to be in a daze as he slowly nods.

They wait for him in a hushed silence, but nothing happens.

Tih tilts his head in confusion, not understanding why it's not working.

"...Tih, you need to part your lips, first of all." Theodore tries to explain.

Tih doesn't quite understand.

They try to show him examples by opening their own mouths, but Tih still doesn't quite grasp the process.

Eventually, Kai takes a hold of Tih's chin to try to pull it down, but it doesn't budge.

"It can't be that Tih's mouth is glued shut since he eats...he does open his mouth to eat, right?" A worrying conjecture pops into Pierre's head.

"Tih, it's like when you're eating." The others try to describe while Kai tries to stick his thumb between Tih's lips to force his teeth to separate.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

eating...munch

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tih opens his mouth. Unprepared, Kai's finger pushes right through and gets munched on like a teething toy.

He quickly pulls his hand back, wiping the saliva on his clothes,"Good, like that. Now you just need to say something."

Tih is confused for the nth time tonight.

"It's like...you just need to aaaaaaaaa. How are we supposed to explain this?" Theodore drags the "a" sound as an example, but it doesn't help much.

"Hmm, I don't think he'd understand a scientific explanation, but there's no real way to give him a physical example of how to do it." Sherlock ponders aloud.

"I mean, babies know how to make noises habitually. How do you explain something even a baby can do on its own?" Pierre comments.

They scratch their heads in frustration.

"Then...can you try to do what you think we're doing?" Sherlock wonders.

They look towards Tih and he nods slightly.

Each person starts making different sounds for him to try. Tih picks one by one, trying to imitate them, but doesn't quite get it.

Kai brings Tih's hand to his throat to let him feel the vibrations it creates. Just in case, he also give a quick explanation of the placement and purposes of the diaphragm and larynx, pointing as Tih's body as he explains.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Talk..ing, words.... voice speak....like..this?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The group is silenced into a stupor as Tih's lips part and sound travels through to reach the ears of those listening. But...the sound coming out of Tih's mouth can only be called demonic.

Like garbled nonsense that pervades into one's mind, influencing them to abandon their sanity, the sound pours out of the void that is Tih's mouth.

The others stare at Tih in a daze, their eyes grow increasingly blurry, while their minds can only perceive static, the sound growing louder and louder in their heads.

"...this." Only Victor shows a bit of resistance as a flash of inconceivability enters his eyes. He wants to close off the sound before it's too late for them, but it feels as if he's no longer in control of his body.

He forces his body and mind to the limit. The veins on his face and arm bulge as he stretches to Tih's side. His eyes become bloodshot and his teeth are close to cracking from being clenched so hard.

A tear of blood slides down the side of his mouth. He barely managing to reach Tih's jaw. He quickly snaps the jaw closed, cutting off the spell-inducing chant.

Tih: *opens mouth*

Tih: hoLa NiñO