Red Pool
An indoor pool. Where one would expect to see windows, there are only concrete walls. A small cabinet room nearby contains 16 swimsuits, which seem to fit the cast perfectly. The pool is cold and relaxing...besides the unusual red color. You can only assume it's dye, as it smells, feels, and tastes like water...you really, really hope it's water.
Ivan: "...Hey! Flower dude! Are you in here?" He calls out, poking his head into the bizarre pool room...wow, this entire place is really red huh? Even the water looks...awfully on-color.
Lotus: Although Ivan had poked around a few rooms looking for him, he was right about this one being the one. Sitting against the wall facing the pool was Lotus, hugging his knees and weeping quietly into them. His entire body was shaking, his long tail lashing around without much control.
Ivan: He stepped a bit closer, his loud footsteps making him known. God, he was bad at situations like this...but it's not like he could just skip away all happy-like after that...
"...Uh, are you alri-"
Lotus: "G-Get away from me!" He yelled in response. Ivan steps back in surprise.
"What if...what if you hurt me...? I can't risk it! I'll stay in here forever if I need to!"
Ivan: "W-What? Guy, I promise I'm not going to hurt ya." He tries to keep his voice softer, with mixed success. He sits beside him, although keeping a fair bit of distance...he feels like getting too close wouldn't help.
Lotus: "...How do I know that?" He replies through sobs. "How can I...hiik...trust anyone!? I-I'm not a killer, and everyone else here seems terrifying!"
Ivan: ...Ivan doesn't know what to say right away. He takes a few moments to stare at the ceiling, thinking...
"...How about I protect you, then?"
Lotus: Slowly, he lifts his face from his knees.
"H...Huh?"
Ivan: "Yeah, I could totally do that!" He smiles at him, standing up again.
"Everyone knows not to mess with a bird, cause I've got claws on my hands and feet!"
Lotus: "That's...that's true..."
Ivan: "And, I got eyes that can see for miles. If anyone harms you, I'll know. I'll be right there to defend you."
Lotus: "...Hah."
He wipes some of the tears from his face, his tail now curled tight around his leg. "I didn't think anyone here would offer to do that...for me."
Ivan: "Well we have to help each other somehow, right?" He puts his talons on his hips, bending over a bit. "This shrimp guy is probably trying to tear us apart, make us scared, all that stuff. Fuck that! We can beat his butt with friendship!"
Lotus: "...Hah."
...Lotus lets out an almost embarrassed chuckle.
Ivan: "...Sounds cheesy when I say it like that, huh?"
Lotus: "It, hah- it does. It definitely does."
Ivan: He offers a claw for Lotus to take-- which he does, wobblily getting back onto his feet.
"Oh- before I forget!" He suddenly interjects. "What's your name?"
Lotus: "It's, uh, Lotus. Kind of a given, considering the..." He gestures to the foliage on his face, "...This."
Ivan: "Lotus! And your new personal bodyguard is Ivan, at your service~." He shakes his hand with a wink.
Lotus: Lotus can't help but let out another giggle...the contrast between the two bickering not long ago compared to now was evident, and his feelings towards the strange bird-boy couldn't have changed faster...but if it was true that this guy wanted to help him, then he had to put his trust in someone.
He didn't want to die. And perhaps...he could get through, if he has someone by his side.