Banta: Sneaky Slime

She slides through the window, just like the night she found Dusk. It was curious how the succubus seemed to know her, and knew sign so well. It's even more curious how that same succubus seems to light up as she enters the room.

"Banta?" Her voice sounds unsure, but hopeful.

The slime climbs up the succubus' leg, sitting down in her lap. Stretching up further, she grabs one of Knack's hands and slowly twists the open palm side to side.
"[SL] ...so-so..."

Knack purses her lips as she inserts her other hand into the slime. "[SL] You're not sure?"

Banta guides the succubus' first two fingers and her thumb to connect. "[SL] No. But you seem...familiar..."

The succubus sighs. "[SL] You don't remember..." She shakes her head. "[SL] Do you remember anything?"

"[SL] Darkness...room...lonliness..." Banta notices her companion's shoulders slump. "[SL] I remember the beach. The sun was warm, but then I was underwater..."

Knack looks remorseful at first, before blinking and shaking her head. "[SL] But you're better now, right? You can see, and hear...even if you can't speak..."

If Banta had eyes, she'd blink in realization. I never said anything about being deaf... "[SL] ...I...found you... Will you finally tell me your name?"

Knack's breath catches and a smile begins to form on her face. "Banta..." She retracts her hands and hugs the slime tight, forcing the mute to struggle to hold herself together. She mumbles something else, but Banta can't seem to understand it. They stay like that for several long minutes, Knack rocking back and forth on the bed. Eventually, she sits up and sticks her hands back in the slime. "[SL] Don't tell anyone else, but you can call me Hali."

"[SL] Your name isn't Knack?"

She shakes her head. "[SL] I'm not 'supposed' to be here, so it's better for me to use a different name. But...I don't want to lie to you. I can't tell you everything, but-"

"[SL] It's fine. I'm just...glad I found you again." Banta leans into Hali, and wraps herself around her torso, attempting to convey a hug.

"[SL] I don't know a lot about this reincarnation process, but I think I know something to help your remember. Forgive me if I don't remember all the words, though." She chuckles before lying down on the bed, and only now does Banta notice a pair of fuzzy handcuffs near the pillow. Hali clears her throat a couple times and hums, trying to finds the right note. "Where the ri-veeer, meets the seeeeeea, watch the wa-teeers, my beautyyyyy. Two worlds meeeet and come as ooone. Just like uuus, when we have our fuuun." She giggles and sighs. "[SL] Sorry, I know you had a couple other verses, but I'm usually asleep after the first."

"[SL] It's...fine. I think I remember the rest. Your singing is beautiful. It's a shame I couldn't hear it before."

"[SL] It's a shame I can't hear your singing now." Hali sighs. "[SL] I've been a bit on edge recently, with my boss' big plans. She wants everything to be perfect, and one of two guys this all hinges on doesn't seem to care about the end goal at all."

"[SL] ...maybe I could help? You've already done so much for-"

"[SL] No." Hali clenches her fists. "[SL] I nearly lost you once. If you want to help, just keep sticking by Dusk. If nothing else, I can trust him to keep you safe."

"[SL] ...okay..."

"[SL] Don't be like that, Banta. You literally had to die the last time you helped me. I just don't want to lose you again..."

The slime wraps herself more around Hali. "[SL] I don't want to lose you, either. That's why I want to help."

The succubus shakes her head. "[SL] This isn't something where I can make sure you're safe. We're trying to..." She pauses, mulling over a thought. "[SL] We're trying to take down the Saintesses."

"[SL] ...the Saintesses?" ...the most powerful people in the world...

Hesitantly, Hali nods her fist. "[SL] ...yeah... And now that you're a monster, they'll hurt you if you work with us...maybe even kill you."

"[SL] ...will they kill you, too?"

The succubus sighs. "[SL] ...possibly..."

"[SL] Then I don't care. I'm helping, whether you like it or not."

Hali sighs again. "[SL] I should have known." There's a long pause. "[SL] Let's talk about precautions, first."