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"Well if you hadn't been LEADING ME ON I wouldn't need to cool down!" He replied, tempted to add that her grabbing him with her tentacles like that was NOT HELPING. Instead, he merely half-sulked, reaching over with one hand to grab hold of her arm in a mutually supportive motion, still treading water. "Besides, it's almost a full moon, it's not my fault."

It was a good thing he could swim, and swim relatively well. On the other hand, it was a shame he didn't have any aquatic animal pelts in his arsenal. The wolf pelt he always wore would be no help -- he was quite a bit heavier in that form, and couldn't scale the side of a boat with it. The crow feathers might have, had he not already been soaked through and unable to fly. As it was, however, Junko provided the solution. Or the pseudo-solution at any rate. Grunting a bit as the weight of the net came down upon their heads, he looked up skeptically at her, agreeing with Riley almost immediately.

"There's no way she could pull us both up, but maybe if I hoist you, she could pull you up," he replied to Riley, already reaching an arm around her waist. Given the previous situation, it wasn't outside the realm of possibility maybe he was getting fresh with her.

Riley couldn't help but laugh at Nuk's lively reply. Okay, okay, she held her hands up, I'm sorry. I can't help it, it's too much fun. I'll be good. She lied easily. She was about to mention that she didn't actually need help being hoisted up, as she'd scaled the boat twice already - and she could easily do it again. She didn't get a single thought out before Nuk's arm was around her waist, and she narrowed her eyes at him dangerously. Was this revenge for her little stunt? Perhaps. Still, she wasn't about to say no to making the climb easier - so she grabbed hold of the rope with both hands, and planted her feet firmly on the side of the boat.

If you two lovely ghouls want to try and help pull me up, I have no problem with that. Just be careful up there. She warned them as she began heaving herself up. She fully expected Nuk to lift her, but she kept one arm firmly attached to the rope after she'd done her own bit of heaving. The other hand reached out to LW and Junko, once she felt she'd gotten high enough.

LW's sudden presence surprised Junko and she nearly let go of the net, pulling it up when it was clear they wouldn't need it. Riley had a rope, they'd be okay without the net. But hey! Two was better than one, right? Junko smiled, feeling better now that she had help. "It should be easier if we both pull, I think." She chirped, grabbing a firm hold of the rope regardless of if LW helped her or now. Junko braced herself in much the same way she had when bringing the turtle up onto the boat, one foot planted firmly on the deck and the other perched against the wall for leverage to keep herself from being pulled forward; she made sure to push back with that leg to avoid the catastrophe of herself going over the edge and into the water. There would be no words for how awful that would be to her. She pulled until she saw Riley's purple hand reaching up for them, taking hold of it and pulling RIley onto the deck. Unfortunately for Junko she fell flat on her rear once Riley was over the railing, landing with a surprised squeak followed by a pained groan as she rubbed at her lower back. Owwwwwww! That huuuurt! The ghoul slowly got back up onto her feet to stand, looking down to make sure Nuk was still there. Good, he was.

Now it was his turn to be pulled back up, hoping it would be easier if Riley also helped. She would, right? Why wouldn't she? Junko pulled even harder this time but only because damn was he heavy. Why did he seem heavier than Riley? Were all boils like this? Geeze! She gave a cheer when he was finally on the deck, releasing the rope and panting a bit from the exertion of pulling both of them up. That was all the workout Junko needed for the next few weeks! Yup! She was a buff machine now. Totally. This ghoul is alllll muscle. "You're okay!" She cheered tiredly, raising a fist and laughing as she fell to sit on the deck now.

Junko looked down at Nuk as he spoke of getting laid, blinking and working through her head what that meant again. Laid as in...wait...Nuk and...?! Junko pouted and puffs her cheeks a bit, pushing gently at Nuk with one of her feet. "I'm telling Sheeeeehk." He'd better have been kidding! Ugh, Junko was tired. She flopped over on the deck and curled up on her side. "I'm tiiiired. You guys are heavy."

...No, Junko dear...you're just a weakling.

"Thank you, uh... Fluffy girl," he replied after a second of recovery, opening one eye to look over at LW appreciatively before Junko posed her threat, his attention redirecting once more. "Aww, cut me some slack Junnie-bee, I didn't mean it~" Nuk half-whined, propping himself up on one elbow to give her a sad puppy-face. Surprisingly, Riley also came to his defense, and he gave her a curious look, a little envious at how graceful she still looked despite it all. Here he was, flat on his back, and she was only just now sitting, and only because she was facepalming at him. Which was pretty funny. He tried really hard not to smile, and ended up failing miserably as a thought entered his head, smirk returning even after this entire ordeal. He just never learned, did he?

"Actually, tell her," he finally prompted in a sly voice, waving at Junko and her cell phone idly, "Tell her to get her a** over here -- I would very much appreciate a threesome. Mmm~"

Closing his eyes again, he grinned, folding his arms behind his head in a smug manner. He may or may not have been imagining that very scene. The phone that was dropped on his stomach at this point was, therefore, regarded with an extreme lack of seriousness, a short message clicked out before he tossed it back at the ghoul. Then again, Nuk had trouble with cell phones, it might not have even gone through at all. Or been coherant.

Riley's head dropped when Junko tried to compare the idea of being able to carry herself around to carrying Riley. The logic that was missing in that entire thought was .. Riley couldn't help but chuckle repeatedly. Her chuckle started to threaten to turn into full blown laughter, and she tried to stifle it, but it was all she could do. The situation got even worse when Junko looked to each of them for an explanation as to what a threesome was. This was just getting better and better. She couldn't stop laughing, and it was starting to become annoying. She continued chuckling even as she held her hand out to Junko.

Can I borrow your phone? She asked. She shut off her thoughts, so that only she could hear her own laughter ringing in her head. She just could not stop.

Riley was laughing. Why was Riley laughing? That made her tense up against Nuk and look back toward her with worry, frowning deeply. What was so funny? It was just what Nuk said, right? That was all, right? Junko would just tell herself that to make herself feel better, instinctively pulling her eyePhone out from her obi and holding her hand out toward Riley when the mindflayer asked to borrow it. She pouted at Nuk's teasing. "We're the same age, Nuk." Junko retorted, settling down again as he warned her against letting Riley borrow her phone.

"Maybe she just wants to text Malodore're something. And there's nothing to be jealous of. You're wet and smell like wet dog." What had gotten into Junko all of a sudden? It had to be more than just simply being tired, especially with the way She was grinning underneath the ghoul's hair. Nuk couldn't see it, but perhaps if Riley looked close enough she'd see a part of the grin from where Junko's hair fell with her cuddled up close against the skinwalker. Even despite the flaws she'd mentioned it wasn't so bad; it was like cuddling up to an annoying wet teddy bear.

"Oh well thanks Squirt, I feel the love," he replied with a little prod to her side, pretending to scowl and failing miserable. It was much too comfortable right here to do much of anything than just relax. Already his skin had dried, leaving only his pelt and clothing wet, the latter drying much quicker than the former. Still, while he felt comfortable to not wear his pelt around Riley, there were others on the boat than just them three, and besides, he did not want a wave to accidentally carry it off when he wasn't looking. Still... it was kind of wet... Sitting up a bit, he pulled the wet material out from under his back just as Riley was beginning to lay down as well, flopping it a few feet away to (hopefully) let it dry. Opening his other arm invitingly, he grinned as Riley decided to join them, laying back down and opening his eyes just in time to see her lift the phone and take a picture of them, blinking a little blearily.

"Wuhwazzat for?"

Not exactly expecting a response, he shifted a little to get comfortable before letting out a monstrous yawn, glancing between the two ghouls complaining about the smell.

"Do you really want to be coaxing me to take my clothes off?" He teased, smirking.

Riley fiddled with Junko's phone a bit more, making sure to send the picture to her own phone before she received a message. She clicked it open, and her eyes slit mischievously.

Sorry, we'll put up with the smell if it means you stay dressed. Riley murmured, lifting her head slightly as she watched Junko flail for a moment before falling asleep. Wow.. that ghoul sure did fall asleep fast. She caught Nuk's yawn, and realized it was about time they all had some much needed rest. She pushed herself up and walked over to Junko, sliding her hands underneath the ghouls body before picking her up in a cradled hold. She remained bent down, holding the phone up for Nuk to see. On the screen was a message, a response from Shehk.



When Nuk returned to his cabin, he would find a similar message waiting for him on his own phone.



Riley flipped the phone back into her pocket, and gave Nuk a wink as she stood to walk Junko back to their cabin. Sweet dreams.