Squishy Lumps Underneath

Come down everyone, soup's ready! calls Saint Arnoc.

Potato soup, no doubt, says Gaius. 

 Yay! says Terence. Come on Rusty.

He dashes off down the stone steps, followed by Rusty.

Coming Hideo? asks Gaius.

I've already told them none for me, says Hideo.

For the sake of being convivial, says Gaius.

All right, says Hideo. What about my pupils?

Leave them here on the saucer, says Gaius. They'll become acquainted.

They might slope off, says Hideo.

I'll watch them, says the oystercatcher. 

Excellent, says Gaius. 

He and Hideo go down the steps to the cellar, where the homely aroma of boiled potatoes fills the air.

The oystercatcher stands next to the saucer, guarding the sea slugs.

The atroviridis turns to the crimoras.

Atroviridis: Why are you here?

First crimora: Training.

Second crimora: Yes, training.

Atroviridis: As in Japanese lessons?

First crimora: No. In regeneration of bodies.

Atroviridis: That's what I'm currently doing. Watch me.

The atroviridis sucks up some water.

First crimora: He's sucking up water.

Second crimera: And getting squishy lumps underneath.

Atroviridis: That's good. I'm supposed to.

Second crimora: Yes but how do you do it?

Atroviridis: Say you're infected with copepods, and you want to get rid of your body. You choke yourself, until your body falls off. Then you start sucking, and grow another one.

Second crimora: Sounds easy.

First crimora: No it doesn't. He didn't explain how to do it.

Atroviridis. True: I don't really know how to do it.

Second crimora: Then we're here for nothing.

Oystercatcher. Look on the bright side. You can take Japanese lessons!

Second crimora: Who from?

Atroviridis: Me. I've picked up a few words. Try saying shinjirarenai.

First crimora: Shinjirarenai!

Atroviridis: Yokatta!

Second crimora: Yokatta!

This is great. They are getting on well.