faderift | [open] bugs are crawlin all over me

WHO: Barrow, too many cats, one million drowning fleas, and you
WHAT: it's bath time for the Barrow household
WHEN: mumbles, late summer
WHERE: the baths
NOTES: Contains animals unhappy with their current circumstances but otherwise fine.

I. At Motherfuck O'Clock, Before Dawn

a. Anyone who's awake in the old mage tower will hear its haunting descent from the third floor chambers: heavy, shuffling footsteps, paired with a plaintive, angry wailing from multiple voices as it passes.
This particular ghost takes the form of Barrow, wearing only loose linen pants for sleeping, with a day's stubble and his eyes squinted mostly shut from lack of sleep. In both his arms are bundled multiple cats: his cats, for the unfamiliar, a litter bequeathed unto him by a former Riftwatch member, who are all squirming and meowing in an incredulous manner.
If approached or addressed, the speaker receives only a grunt of "fleas," as Barrow continues his way down the winding stairs.

b. Across the common area traipses the dread procession, until at last it reaches the heated baths. There, with the reasonable hope that nobody will be either fucking or relaxing in this particular pool at this un-Makerly hour of the morning, Barrow walks straight in to the water with a magnificent splash, cats and all.
Once the lot of them have been submerged, he immediately releases his captives, who proceed to angrily swim to shore and shake themselves out as Barrow vigorously scrubs at his hair (and it's not just on his head), only just now beginning to look a little more awake.

II. Aftermath

Remaining in the pool for some time except when he has to get up and retrieve another victim, Barrow has produced a little comb from a pocket in his trousers and holds each cat individually at arm's length, muttering exhausted reassurances as he picks through their fur to make sure he didn't miss anything.
This takes some time, so morning bathers may come in to see it in progress.