It’s another beautiful day in Mayday Keep, and Hazard plans on making the most of it. They start packing up their bag and humming a tune, careful not to get too much fluid on anything. The exercises the facility gave them to practice fluid retention have been working wonderfully, even if they’re a little tricky to master...but hey, with this, they wouldn’t need to wear uncomfortable gloves everywhere. 

They pick up their journal carefully, a complex-sized mini notepad and a matching mini pen to go with it. Most TCPs weren’t so lucky, having to get custom made goods just to be able to write down their thoughts. Hazard’s well aware of the fact that their typing, while coming with plenty of shortcomings and difficulties, gives them a leg up in the world at large- and they’re grateful for it. What problems they did have adjusting to well, living, were aided by the facility they spawned in, and now they’re free to pursue a life of excitement and-

As soon as they step out of their house, they’re aware of the fact that they’re being watched. It’s really not hard to tell, considering there’s a large green blob across the street, barely hidden by a neighbor’s shrub. The touch type sighs and keeps a better grip on their pen and pad, trying not to let this get the better of them. They’re just going to walk down to their favorite spot by the river, and they’re going to write a whole new chapter of their cookbook, and it’s going to be great! Nothing better!

They hear unmistakable footsteps as they stop at a crosswalk, turning around to confirm- yes, she’s still following them, and yes, she is trying (badly) to hide behind a lamppost. 

“Esther, those are TCP scale. You’re too big to be sneaky.”

The green TCP flinches but says nothing, and Hazard would have rolled their eyes if they had any. 

“Why do you even follow me every day? It’s not like I do anything super interesting, not to you at least! Do you really just want to see somebody stick their feet in the water and write about pastry? Surely you’ve got something better to do with your time.”

Esther still doesn’t respond, and the signal changes to walk. 

“Suit yourself. I’m off to get stuff done.”

They huff and cross the road, giving one last look over their shoulder before taking the turn towards the river- sure enough, there she is, debating whether to cross the street herself. They can’t resist cupping a hand and yelling across, trying to make themself audible from a distance.

“If you don’t hurry up and cross now, you’re gonna get hit by a car or a bike or something!”

Esther weighs her options before running across the road in that all fours way that she does, and Hazard can’t help but inwardly grimace. She was getting slime everywhere again, and it had to be pretty gross to get all that dirt and gravel up in there…

The slime type comes to a stop in front of them, properly rearing back up on her legs again. Her mask is slightly askew, Hazard adjusting it with a finger and getting a burbly growl in return.

“Running like that’s gonna get you all gross, yknow…”

“I am NOT gross.”

“Just...wash your hands off in the river when we get there or something, okay? Trust me, you don’t want rocks in your fluid.”

“Hmmph.” She grumps along as they both start walking, arms crossed and clearly upset that she got caught. Hazard sighs again, making sure to give her a bit of distance- Esther wasn’t the companion they planned on having today, but she’d have to do. 

It could always be worse, they guess.