Not An Ordinary Frog: Difference between revisions
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And that is where we are today... our investigators are just arriving now. | And that is where we are today... our investigators are just arriving now. | ||
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'''''Medina''''' | |||
At the very least, allergy levels in Montrose must be giving mercy in the summer with its residents rescued from the shedding of cat hair. Clearly, there is a silver lining in everything. | At the very least, allergy levels in Montrose must be giving mercy in the summer with its residents rescued from the shedding of cat hair. Clearly, there is a silver lining in everything. | ||
Medina's not wild about investigating missing pets, but that doesn't mean he's not willing. He's driven up to the scene in his service truck, which means a couple of people who needed a ride may very well have come with him. He backs into a parking spot, ingrained habit to be able to rip right out of wherever like the getaway driver he usually is. | Medina's not wild about investigating missing pets, but that doesn't mean he's not willing. He's driven up to the scene in his service truck, which means a couple of people who needed a ride may very well have come with him. He backs into a parking spot, ingrained habit to be able to rip right out of wherever like the getaway driver he usually is. | ||
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'''''Emma''''' | |||
Emma is one of those people that hitched a ride with Medina. Because it means that she didn't have to drive, which is always a good thing. So, she talked his ear off on the way over, along with whoever else was in the truck. It used to be that she was very quiet and most people hardly noticed she was around. At some point in the recent weeks, that changed. | Emma is one of those people that hitched a ride with Medina. Because it means that she didn't have to drive, which is always a good thing. So, she talked his ear off on the way over, along with whoever else was in the truck. It used to be that she was very quiet and most people hardly noticed she was around. At some point in the recent weeks, that changed. | ||
"Who steals a llama? I mean, do you just wake up one morning and decide that you need a llama in your life, but you're not sure where to buy one, so it's just easier to steal it?" | "Who steals a llama? I mean, do you just wake up one morning and decide that you need a llama in your life, but you're not sure where to buy one, so it's just easier to steal it?" | ||
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'''''Slouch''''' | |||
Slouch stands across the street from the old Johnson’s Pet Supply, one foot braced on the lower rung of his battered shopping cart. He’s loaded it up tonight: secondhand camping lantern dangling from a bent handle, coil of rope, an ancient flashlight with half the letters rubbed off, all rattling softly. He pats the side of the cart like it’s a faithful mutt and rummages around until he finds an old bicycle mirror on a stick. He uses it to angle a peek at the dark corners inside the glass, nothing but shapes and reflections. “You see that frog yet?” he rasps to whoever’s come along or whoever’s trailing behind him tonight. | Slouch stands across the street from the old Johnson’s Pet Supply, one foot braced on the lower rung of his battered shopping cart. He’s loaded it up tonight: secondhand camping lantern dangling from a bent handle, coil of rope, an ancient flashlight with half the letters rubbed off, all rattling softly. He pats the side of the cart like it’s a faithful mutt and rummages around until he finds an old bicycle mirror on a stick. He uses it to angle a peek at the dark corners inside the glass, nothing but shapes and reflections. “You see that frog yet?” he rasps to whoever’s come along or whoever’s trailing behind him tonight. | ||
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'''''Sweet''''' | |||
Sweet jogged over from halfway across town it seems. Yes the cars were honking and flipping him the bird and wondering what he was doing there but he akes it all in stride. Most are usually too afraid of direct confrontation. The man is wearing big black shades, his boxer's shorts, and a slightly worn white wifebeater with a number of mustard stains because for whatever reason white wifebeaters are absolute magnets for mustard. He got a notion of something about animals dissapearing which made Athena a little bit sad so he doesn't hesitate to hoof it on over and hey is that a frog? He grins a big goofy grin as he sees froggy and the others. | Sweet jogged over from halfway across town it seems. Yes the cars were honking and flipping him the bird and wondering what he was doing there but he akes it all in stride. Most are usually too afraid of direct confrontation. The man is wearing big black shades, his boxer's shorts, and a slightly worn white wifebeater with a number of mustard stains because for whatever reason white wifebeaters are absolute magnets for mustard. He got a notion of something about animals dissapearing which made Athena a little bit sad so he doesn't hesitate to hoof it on over and hey is that a frog? He grins a big goofy grin as he sees froggy and the others. | ||
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'''''Todrick''''' | |||
Todd probably definitely got a ride with Medina as well, paid for by being quiet while Emma yammers. "I don't think I've ever seen a llama." he muses, hopping out of the truck once it's parked and all. | Todd probably definitely got a ride with Medina as well, paid for by being quiet while Emma yammers. "I don't think I've ever seen a llama." he muses, hopping out of the truck once it's parked and all. | ||
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'''''ST''''' | |||
To the casual observer, Johnson's Pet Supply is closed, but maybe not unoccupied. The muffled sounds of several different types of animals can be heard coming from the building. Barks, chirps, croaks, and even a llama's hum can be heard from the old building. But to those paying closer attention, two things stand out as being unusual about the noise. First, not a single noise coming from the building belongs to a cat. No meows, howls, or even a kitten squeak. Second, the longer you listen, the more you realize all of the animals are sounding in sync with each other. Like they were chanting. | To the casual observer, Johnson's Pet Supply is closed, but maybe not unoccupied. The muffled sounds of several different types of animals can be heard coming from the building. Barks, chirps, croaks, and even a llama's hum can be heard from the old building. But to those paying closer attention, two things stand out as being unusual about the noise. First, not a single noise coming from the building belongs to a cat. No meows, howls, or even a kitten squeak. Second, the longer you listen, the more you realize all of the animals are sounding in sync with each other. Like they were chanting. | ||
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'''''Medina''''' | |||
"I've stolen some shit," Medina says, and although he doesn't give details, apparently some part of him can relate to the idea of heisting a llama. But he gets out of the truck after he kills the engine, pocketing his keys. When he sees Slouch, he shakes his head that he hasn't, in fact, seen no frog. But Sweet makes him look. He looks to Tod. | "I've stolen some shit," Medina says, and although he doesn't give details, apparently some part of him can relate to the idea of heisting a llama. But he gets out of the truck after he kills the engine, pocketing his keys. When he sees Slouch, he shakes his head that he hasn't, in fact, seen no frog. But Sweet makes him look. He looks to Tod. | ||
"You're fidna see a llama, Todd, you play your cards right." A pause, as he keys in on the sound, and a pensive expression makes its way onto his face. "...A llama in a cult." His voice is a touch more hush now: "I ain't the only one hearing that?" | "You're fidna see a llama, Todd, you play your cards right." A pause, as he keys in on the sound, and a pensive expression makes its way onto his face. "...A llama in a cult." His voice is a touch more hush now: "I ain't the only one hearing that?" | ||
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'''''Emma''''' | |||
"I wonder if llamas spit. Alpacas do," Emma muses quietly, looking thoughtful. She closes the door on the truck as she gets out, then looks around, her dark eyes scanning the area. Nothing really looks out of place, though. | "I wonder if llamas spit. Alpacas do," Emma muses quietly, looking thoughtful. She closes the door on the truck as she gets out, then looks around, her dark eyes scanning the area. Nothing really looks out of place, though. | ||
But then she notices the sounds, which has her brow furrowing. A step or two is taken toward the old pet store, although she doesn't move closer than that. "That's weird, right?" | But then she notices the sounds, which has her brow furrowing. A step or two is taken toward the old pet store, although she doesn't move closer than that. "That's weird, right?" | ||
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'''''Slouch''''' | |||
Slouch freezes at the corner of the crumbling wall, the old bike mirror drooping from his hand. The weird chorus drifting out of the pet store hits him full in the chest like cold pond water. He cocks his head—listening. Bark. Croak. Hum. Chirp. All together. All exactly together. He looks back at the others, eyes wide, “Yeah. Yeah, that’s—” He lifts a hand and points one grubby finger at the sound of animal chanting “—that’s not normal.” He spots the others arriving from the truck and gives them a wave with the disembodied bicycle mirror in his hand. | Slouch freezes at the corner of the crumbling wall, the old bike mirror drooping from his hand. The weird chorus drifting out of the pet store hits him full in the chest like cold pond water. He cocks his head—listening. Bark. Croak. Hum. Chirp. All together. All exactly together. He looks back at the others, eyes wide, “Yeah. Yeah, that’s—” He lifts a hand and points one grubby finger at the sound of animal chanting “—that’s not normal.” He spots the others arriving from the truck and gives them a wave with the disembodied bicycle mirror in his hand. | ||
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'''''Ashton''''' | |||
Ashton is a raven, and he's on Todd's shoulder. He does this thing where he seems to stare itently, sideeying the store. He stretches out a wing, indicating the store. "They sound like they're chanting together. But no cats. Should there be cats? There's always cats." He says this all in raven talk, so warbles, caws, etc. | Ashton is a raven, and he's on Todd's shoulder. He does this thing where he seems to stare itently, sideeying the store. He stretches out a wing, indicating the store. "They sound like they're chanting together. But no cats. Should there be cats? There's always cats." He says this all in raven talk, so warbles, caws, etc. | ||
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'''''Sweet''''' | |||
Sweet shrugs. "Hey it seems that the mystery's solved. The animals were in the pet store all along! Good job everybody!" Sweet dusts off his hands as if he's concluding the Saturday morning cartoon episode, torn the mask off the Scooby Doo villain and all is more or less well. "Alright so what I guess one of you pop the door open and then we get the llama or whatever back to its owner..." | Sweet shrugs. "Hey it seems that the mystery's solved. The animals were in the pet store all along! Good job everybody!" Sweet dusts off his hands as if he's concluding the Saturday morning cartoon episode, torn the mask off the Scooby Doo villain and all is more or less well. "Alright so what I guess one of you pop the door open and then we get the llama or whatever back to its owner..." | ||
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'''''Ashton''''' | |||
Ashton hops off Todd's shoulder, and shifts to human. His entire demeanor and posture is...quieter than usual. He's slipping into crime mode. He used to pick locks. Not anymore, now a little spiritual jolt and the locks open themselves. He touches the door, and then there's a moment of 'why isn't this working' before he does it again and the lock clicks open. He slowly pushes in the door to get his head in and get a better look at...whatever animal mess is happening inside. | Ashton hops off Todd's shoulder, and shifts to human. His entire demeanor and posture is...quieter than usual. He's slipping into crime mode. He used to pick locks. Not anymore, now a little spiritual jolt and the locks open themselves. He touches the door, and then there's a moment of 'why isn't this working' before he does it again and the lock clicks open. He slowly pushes in the door to get his head in and get a better look at...whatever animal mess is happening inside. | ||
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'''''Medina''''' | |||
Medina slips around back, accompanied by Slouch and perhaps someone else. Back there, they discover the rear entrance / loading dock is locked up tight and the doors are chained. "You got like a torsion wrench or a hook pick or anything ilke that in your bag of tricks?" | Medina slips around back, accompanied by Slouch and perhaps someone else. Back there, they discover the rear entrance / loading dock is locked up tight and the doors are chained. "You got like a torsion wrench or a hook pick or anything ilke that in your bag of tricks?" | ||
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'''''ST''''' | |||
As Ashton opens the front door, the chanting gets a little louder... for a few seconds. As he takes in the sight of the interior, the chanting STOPS. | As Ashton opens the front door, the chanting gets a little louder... for a few seconds. As he takes in the sight of the interior, the chanting STOPS. | ||
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'''''Emma''''' | |||
Emma has stuck around the front of the building, letting the others check the back of it to see if there's an open way in there. She's fallen silent, not wanting to draw any more attention to the small group in case someone happens by at some point. | Emma has stuck around the front of the building, letting the others check the back of it to see if there's an open way in there. She's fallen silent, not wanting to draw any more attention to the small group in case someone happens by at some point. | ||
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'''''Ashton''''' | |||
Ashton pulls back and goes to Todd, immediately tugging on his arm to come look with him. "It's like a medieval castle." He whispers. "Like they're holding court in there." He doesn't know what to think of it but it's got him slightly rattled, it seems. Animals are being weirdly unanimal. "Are they possessed?" He just looks lost on what his next step is. What do you do with that? | Ashton pulls back and goes to Todd, immediately tugging on his arm to come look with him. "It's like a medieval castle." He whispers. "Like they're holding court in there." He doesn't know what to think of it but it's got him slightly rattled, it seems. Animals are being weirdly unanimal. "Are they possessed?" He just looks lost on what his next step is. What do you do with that? | ||
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'''''Slouch''''' | |||
Slouch pads around the side of the building with Medina, boots whispering through damp weeds. Slouch pauses when he spots the big padlock hanging from the door’s latch—old brass, corroded but still stubborn. He leans in close, squints at, he glances sideways at Medina. “Old man Johnson’d roll in his grave if he knew his padlock was keepin’ cult llamas hostage.” He rubs his palms together, muttering something under his breath that might be half prayer, half joke. Then he smacks the lock and declares, “Vinivinivici!” | Slouch pads around the side of the building with Medina, boots whispering through damp weeds. Slouch pauses when he spots the big padlock hanging from the door’s latch—old brass, corroded but still stubborn. He leans in close, squints at, he glances sideways at Medina. “Old man Johnson’d roll in his grave if he knew his padlock was keepin’ cult llamas hostage.” He rubs his palms together, muttering something under his breath that might be half prayer, half joke. Then he smacks the lock and declares, “Vinivinivici!” | ||
The shackle clicks. The lock sags open, clatters to the cracked concrete. Slouch wiggles his fingers at Medina with a grin that’s all teeth and mischief. “After you? Or shall I?” Slouch steps aside, head cocked, eyes darting at the shadows. “Time to meet the congregation…” | The shackle clicks. The lock sags open, clatters to the cracked concrete. Slouch wiggles his fingers at Medina with a grin that’s all teeth and mischief. “After you? Or shall I?” Slouch steps aside, head cocked, eyes darting at the shadows. “Time to meet the congregation…” | ||
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'''''Sweet''''' | |||
Sweet slowly steps in after Slouch's insistence. "Ah maybe its the heat or drug induced hallucination but you know, weirder things have happened...." Sweet scratches his head. "Well come on Mr. Llama. Time to get you home....." Sweet looks around, holding an arm out as if to keep the others back should there be some kind of violent llama thief on the loose. | Sweet slowly steps in after Slouch's insistence. "Ah maybe its the heat or drug induced hallucination but you know, weirder things have happened...." Sweet scratches his head. "Well come on Mr. Llama. Time to get you home....." Sweet looks around, holding an arm out as if to keep the others back should there be some kind of violent llama thief on the loose. | ||
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'''''Medina''''' | |||
Medina stands back and lets Slouch do his work. In that brief interim, he notices Emma's missing. He looks about, only to realize the silence. "None to waste," he says, his tone a little terse. He steps right in, and as he goes, he retrieves his lockback knife from his pocket so that he's got something sharp on hand and is perhaps less likely to have to explain to his pack or anybody else why he got his ass kicked by a god damn llama. With the speaking and the noise that surrounds him, he tries separating himself from Sweet's less subtle entrance, going wider, angling for some cover so he can potentially sneak up on whatever may be distracted. | Medina stands back and lets Slouch do his work. In that brief interim, he notices Emma's missing. He looks about, only to realize the silence. "None to waste," he says, his tone a little terse. He steps right in, and as he goes, he retrieves his lockback knife from his pocket so that he's got something sharp on hand and is perhaps less likely to have to explain to his pack or anybody else why he got his ass kicked by a god damn llama. With the speaking and the noise that surrounds him, he tries separating himself from Sweet's less subtle entrance, going wider, angling for some cover so he can potentially sneak up on whatever may be distracted. | ||
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'''''Todrick''''' | |||
Pets are a weird concept Todd doesn't fully get as it is, and mysterious cults and frog gangsters are just so out of his usual perview. So he's hanging back out of the way concentrating on keeping an eye out so he's a bit startled when Ashton returns suddenly and whispering at him. "...Wat?" Cause this makes even less sense ethan usual. "Hold court... Wat??" He looks to make sure some of the others heard that too and it wasn't just him. "You're weirder than me, you lead." he insists. | Pets are a weird concept Todd doesn't fully get as it is, and mysterious cults and frog gangsters are just so out of his usual perview. So he's hanging back out of the way concentrating on keeping an eye out so he's a bit startled when Ashton returns suddenly and whispering at him. "...Wat?" Cause this makes even less sense ethan usual. "Hold court... Wat??" He looks to make sure some of the others heard that too and it wasn't just him. "You're weirder than me, you lead." he insists. | ||
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'''''Ashton''''' | |||
Well, you can't fault Todd's logic. Ash is weirder for sure. He moves back to the store, and slips inside, keeping an eye out for...god, anything at this point. Traps? Fire? Singing frogs? | Well, you can't fault Todd's logic. Ash is weirder for sure. He moves back to the store, and slips inside, keeping an eye out for...god, anything at this point. Traps? Fire? Singing frogs? | ||
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'''''Emma''''' | |||
When the animals suddenly all go silent, Emma perks up a bit. She can't see what's happening inside the store, which means sneaking inside is what must be done now. Because she simply /can't/ walk away without knowing what's going on. It's just not going to happen. So, after Ashton makes his way in through the front door and the other trio goes in from the back entrance, she slips into the building, as well, without making a sound or drawing attention to herself. | When the animals suddenly all go silent, Emma perks up a bit. She can't see what's happening inside the store, which means sneaking inside is what must be done now. Because she simply /can't/ walk away without knowing what's going on. It's just not going to happen. So, after Ashton makes his way in through the front door and the other trio goes in from the back entrance, she slips into the building, as well, without making a sound or drawing attention to herself. | ||
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'''''ST''''' | |||
As you enter the pet store, you're not quite sure what's going on here. Peering around the sales floor of the shop, you see that the fixtures of the store, that is the shelves, cabinets, and counters have been shoved around crudely forming an odd pattern that you can't quite put a finger on. In and among the fixtures are various house pets. Dogs, turtles, snakes, fish, a llama, and a chimpanzee all are readily apparent. In the center of the room, flanked on either side by a pit bull, is a royal blue Lay-Z-Boy recliner on which is sitting a large frog. Not large in a supernatural sense, but large for a pet frog. | As you enter the pet store, you're not quite sure what's going on here. Peering around the sales floor of the shop, you see that the fixtures of the store, that is the shelves, cabinets, and counters have been shoved around crudely forming an odd pattern that you can't quite put a finger on. In and among the fixtures are various house pets. Dogs, turtles, snakes, fish, a llama, and a chimpanzee all are readily apparent. In the center of the room, flanked on either side by a pit bull, is a royal blue Lay-Z-Boy recliner on which is sitting a large frog. Not large in a supernatural sense, but large for a pet frog. | ||
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The frog immediately notices Sweet and Todrick as they enter the space, and reaches out to them telepathically. It says rather regally, <<Welcome Travellers! Are you the representatives of the neighboring kingdom?>> | The frog immediately notices Sweet and Todrick as they enter the space, and reaches out to them telepathically. It says rather regally, <<Welcome Travellers! Are you the representatives of the neighboring kingdom?>> | ||
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'''''ST''''' | |||
For those somehow protected from telepathic conversation, the frog seems to turn to look between Sweet and Todd as it stares at them with serious intent. | For those somehow protected from telepathic conversation, the frog seems to turn to look between Sweet and Todd as it stares at them with serious intent. | ||
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'''''Todrick''''' | |||
Todd will later blame his complete lack of stealth on being distracted by trying to work out in his head what exactly a llama *is*. He did NOT expect the mental-talking frog inquisition though. "...Yes." he says confidently after a moment's hesitation. A talking frog shouldn't be weird, he's a fuckin werewolf, but... it is. "Yes um." he glances at Sweets, then back to the frog. "We are residents of-" he gestures outside the shop, "Here, and are looking for missing, small, furry, scaley, bloopy friends...?" | Todd will later blame his complete lack of stealth on being distracted by trying to work out in his head what exactly a llama *is*. He did NOT expect the mental-talking frog inquisition though. "...Yes." he says confidently after a moment's hesitation. A talking frog shouldn't be weird, he's a fuckin werewolf, but... it is. "Yes um." he glances at Sweets, then back to the frog. "We are residents of-" he gestures outside the shop, "Here, and are looking for missing, small, furry, scaley, bloopy friends...?" | ||
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'''''Sweet''''' | |||
Sweet blinks a few times and shakes his head like he's not entirely sure what he's seeing. He isn't really sure how telepathy works so he's kind of whispering his words to the frog as he's thinking them. "Well maybe the others are. I'm just a guy who punches stuff for the local community. And I heard somewhere that somebody was missing a llama." | Sweet blinks a few times and shakes his head like he's not entirely sure what he's seeing. He isn't really sure how telepathy works so he's kind of whispering his words to the frog as he's thinking them. "Well maybe the others are. I'm just a guy who punches stuff for the local community. And I heard somewhere that somebody was missing a llama." | ||
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'''''Ashton''''' | |||
Ashton talks to spirits -all the time- but this is weird. It's definitely weird. "Frog. A frog prince. King. Frog king." He scratches his arm, sort of weirdly nervous talking to frog royalty. What if there's a whole set of social rules he doesn't know anything about? He's not a frog...courtier. But he just lets Todd talk, we're not at the talking part and Todd handles that part better. | Ashton talks to spirits -all the time- but this is weird. It's definitely weird. "Frog. A frog prince. King. Frog king." He scratches his arm, sort of weirdly nervous talking to frog royalty. What if there's a whole set of social rules he doesn't know anything about? He's not a frog...courtier. But he just lets Todd talk, we're not at the talking part and Todd handles that part better. | ||
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'''''Medina''''' | |||
Medina slips into the store, sliding behind an aisle of bags of dog food, drawing his posture low. Once he's inside he ...Well, is slapped by the what the fuckery of it all. He keeps the knife ready regardless of the royal invite so graciously extended to Todd and Sweet, and just stays watchful for now. He tries to gamble for peering into the umbra briefly, to see just what the hell's happening here on the Other Side. | Medina slips into the store, sliding behind an aisle of bags of dog food, drawing his posture low. Once he's inside he ...Well, is slapped by the what the fuckery of it all. He keeps the knife ready regardless of the royal invite so graciously extended to Todd and Sweet, and just stays watchful for now. He tries to gamble for peering into the umbra briefly, to see just what the hell's happening here on the Other Side. | ||
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'''''Emma''''' | |||
A frog with telepathy. Sitting on a recliner. Like a throne. No, it's not something that Emma's seen before and she sort of stands there wide eyed and dumbfounded. For all the things that have happened in her life, this is probably the strangest. At least up to this point. Still, she remains hidden where she is, completely uncertain of what to do next. | A frog with telepathy. Sitting on a recliner. Like a throne. No, it's not something that Emma's seen before and she sort of stands there wide eyed and dumbfounded. For all the things that have happened in her life, this is probably the strangest. At least up to this point. Still, she remains hidden where she is, completely uncertain of what to do next. | ||
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Slouch | |||
'''''Slouch''''' | |||
Slouch drifts in behind Sweet and Todd and he stops short when he sees the royal blue recliner, sliding out of sight around a corner as his listens and looks around. His eyes do a slow circuit of the dogs, turtles, snakes, the llama chewing on what’s left of a dusty Dog Chow bag—then land on the frog, perched like some amphibian pope. He adjusts the collar of his thrifted coat, tilts his head, and squints at the pattern made by the shelves—his mind already wandering to half-finished theories about ley lines, sacred geometry, or maybe just animal chaos. | Slouch drifts in behind Sweet and Todd and he stops short when he sees the royal blue recliner, sliding out of sight around a corner as his listens and looks around. His eyes do a slow circuit of the dogs, turtles, snakes, the llama chewing on what’s left of a dusty Dog Chow bag—then land on the frog, perched like some amphibian pope. He adjusts the collar of his thrifted coat, tilts his head, and squints at the pattern made by the shelves—his mind already wandering to half-finished theories about ley lines, sacred geometry, or maybe just animal chaos. | ||
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'''''Medina''''' | |||
Medina's focus sort of drifts. His head lowers, and hes looking nowhere in particular. Except, he is. He funnels his concentration, falling very still, and his eyebrows lift a touch. He rests back on his heels from his crouched down posture, then tries another thing: reaching consciously out to his packmate through the agency of their Totem. Somewhere out there, Maarten probably hears it all too, but either way, he tells Slouch what he 'sees' through their link. | Medina's focus sort of drifts. His head lowers, and hes looking nowhere in particular. Except, he is. He funnels his concentration, falling very still, and his eyebrows lift a touch. He rests back on his heels from his crouched down posture, then tries another thing: reaching consciously out to his packmate through the agency of their Totem. Somewhere out there, Maarten probably hears it all too, but either way, he tells Slouch what he 'sees' through their link. | ||
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'''''ST''''' | |||
The frog, responding to Todd in his telepathic way, says <<Wonderful, wonderful. I have been waiting for your Kingdom to send diplomats. I am Srador, King of Pets, and this, in it's own humble way, is my Kingdom. I have noticed recently that the humans of the world have been treating their loyal companions quite poorly. Forgetting their meals, leaving them outside, ignoring them for play time, and in some of the most horrible cases, physically abusing them. How does your Kingdom plan to answer these charges?>> | The frog, responding to Todd in his telepathic way, says <<Wonderful, wonderful. I have been waiting for your Kingdom to send diplomats. I am Srador, King of Pets, and this, in it's own humble way, is my Kingdom. I have noticed recently that the humans of the world have been treating their loyal companions quite poorly. Forgetting their meals, leaving them outside, ignoring them for play time, and in some of the most horrible cases, physically abusing them. How does your Kingdom plan to answer these charges?>> | ||
To those without telepathy, the frog is just staring at Todd. | To those without telepathy, the frog is just staring at Todd. | ||
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'''''Ashton''''' | |||
Ashton peers across the gauntlet. Seems a good time to try it. Medina, judging by the spaced out look, thought of the same thing. He frowns, wishing he understood what exactly is happening here. | Ashton peers across the gauntlet. Seems a good time to try it. Medina, judging by the spaced out look, thought of the same thing. He frowns, wishing he understood what exactly is happening here. | ||
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'''''Ashton''''' | |||
Ashton ever so subtly moves over to Todd and whispers to him. | Ashton ever so subtly moves over to Todd and whispers to him. | ||
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'''''Medina''''' | |||
Medina puts his knife away ever so slowly, carefully lifting himself to stand upright. He moves quietly, still not ready to reveal himself, but angling to. | Medina puts his knife away ever so slowly, carefully lifting himself to stand upright. He moves quietly, still not ready to reveal himself, but angling to. | ||
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'''''Todrick''''' | |||
Hoo boy. Okay, Todd at least seems more at ease with things like charges and accusations, so he goes right ahead and talks a little more, but he flicks his eyes to various friends and companions in case they have like morse code blinks or anything. "Cant yet." he murmurs back to Ashton, and then approaches his highness's royal recliner affecting thet Judge air of respect and dignity. "The kingdom is vast and its inhabitents many, regretfully we few cannot police all, though we do try given the limitations of secrecy. We, folk and pets alike, try to live with each other, balancing our families and employment as best we can, though failure is always a fact of life. How we make up for it and show our apology and love is what makes the difference. Now, those that abuse the pets that depend on them, there is no excuse. Our kind-" he gestures to those of the current group readily available to be seen, "-do fight wrongness and abuse when and where we can find it, regardless of the victim's species. I cannot say if it is malice or ignorance on the part of the owners you speak of, but we do and will try to educate the ignorant or punish the malicious." | Hoo boy. Okay, Todd at least seems more at ease with things like charges and accusations, so he goes right ahead and talks a little more, but he flicks his eyes to various friends and companions in case they have like morse code blinks or anything. "Cant yet." he murmurs back to Ashton, and then approaches his highness's royal recliner affecting thet Judge air of respect and dignity. "The kingdom is vast and its inhabitents many, regretfully we few cannot police all, though we do try given the limitations of secrecy. We, folk and pets alike, try to live with each other, balancing our families and employment as best we can, though failure is always a fact of life. How we make up for it and show our apology and love is what makes the difference. Now, those that abuse the pets that depend on them, there is no excuse. Our kind-" he gestures to those of the current group readily available to be seen, "-do fight wrongness and abuse when and where we can find it, regardless of the victim's species. I cannot say if it is malice or ignorance on the part of the owners you speak of, but we do and will try to educate the ignorant or punish the malicious." | ||
----- | |||
'''''Medina''''' | |||
Medina steps out from hiding as Todrick speaks. And what timing: he steps out when the man says 'our kind'. He keeps his hands where King of Pets can see 'em, having since put his weapon away, and he stays silent for now. | Medina steps out from hiding as Todrick speaks. And what timing: he steps out when the man says 'our kind'. He keeps his hands where King of Pets can see 'em, having since put his weapon away, and he stays silent for now. | ||
----- | |||
'''''Ashton''''' | |||
Ashton thinks Todd speaking is actually a good decision on Todd's part. And Ashton NOT speaking is probably also a good decision because he's like 2 seconds away from rambling about Crono Trigger. | Ashton thinks Todd speaking is actually a good decision on Todd's part. And Ashton NOT speaking is probably also a good decision because he's like 2 seconds away from rambling about Crono Trigger. | ||
----- | |||
'''''ST''''' | |||
The King of Pets sits on his Lay-Z-Boy throne, and says to Todd, <<I would not be the wise King that I am if I was not capable of understanding that you are not a representative of the entirety of humanity on Gaia, but I would not treat with the humans directly anyway. They are often self-centered and loud, and many find a frog to be a disgusting thing. When I speak of the Kingdom you represent, Razzle Dazzle, I am of course referring to the Sept of the Holly King. Is it safe to say you are a trusted representative of that Sept?>> | The King of Pets sits on his Lay-Z-Boy throne, and says to Todd, <<I would not be the wise King that I am if I was not capable of understanding that you are not a representative of the entirety of humanity on Gaia, but I would not treat with the humans directly anyway. They are often self-centered and loud, and many find a frog to be a disgusting thing. When I speak of the Kingdom you represent, Razzle Dazzle, I am of course referring to the Sept of the Holly King. Is it safe to say you are a trusted representative of that Sept?>> | ||
| Line 219: | Line 272: | ||
The animals sitting around the room all chirp, bark, and chatter, as though they were onlookers at the court of Henry VIII. | The animals sitting around the room all chirp, bark, and chatter, as though they were onlookers at the court of Henry VIII. | ||
----- | |||
'''''Todrick''''' | |||
Todd wouldn't dream of just saying yes and assuming that he is, he looks to those shifters that aren't soundly hidden and asks, "Am I?" After all, that sort of trust comes from everyone else, not one's own ego. Also, Todd doesn't wanna steam roll, what if someone ELSE thinks they can represent better? What if someone else's socks are pulled up higher than his own?? | Todd wouldn't dream of just saying yes and assuming that he is, he looks to those shifters that aren't soundly hidden and asks, "Am I?" After all, that sort of trust comes from everyone else, not one's own ego. Also, Todd doesn't wanna steam roll, what if someone ELSE thinks they can represent better? What if someone else's socks are pulled up higher than his own?? | ||
----- | |||
'''''Slouch''''' | |||
Slouch slides out of the shadows as the conversation with Frog continues in a relatively respectful and peaceable direction. His shifty eyes slide around the room though, keeping an eye on their surrounding and letting Todd do the Razzle Dazzlin', as it were. | Slouch slides out of the shadows as the conversation with Frog continues in a relatively respectful and peaceable direction. His shifty eyes slide around the room though, keeping an eye on their surrounding and letting Todd do the Razzle Dazzlin', as it were. | ||
----- | |||
'''''Ashton''''' | |||
Ashton's eyes get big. He nods. Yes, you're the guy. "I...We're good people..." He says softly, but not loud enough to actually be speaking TO anyone. | Ashton's eyes get big. He nods. Yes, you're the guy. "I...We're good people..." He says softly, but not loud enough to actually be speaking TO anyone. | ||
----- | |||
'''''Sweet''''' | |||
Sweet just rocks back and forth on his heels. He figures the half moon is probably better with this kind of thing anyway. That is until the peanut gallery starts making noise. He tenses up a little bit instinctively but he's figuring they can be relatively civil about this. "Damn I guess we're kinda caught but its sorta making this talk confusing if you already knew who we were...Anyways yeah I dunno that's a good enough reason for me. I wouldn't dream of sending them back to somewheres abusive." | Sweet just rocks back and forth on his heels. He figures the half moon is probably better with this kind of thing anyway. That is until the peanut gallery starts making noise. He tenses up a little bit instinctively but he's figuring they can be relatively civil about this. "Damn I guess we're kinda caught but its sorta making this talk confusing if you already knew who we were...Anyways yeah I dunno that's a good enough reason for me. I wouldn't dream of sending them back to somewheres abusive." | ||
----- | |||
'''''Emma''''' | |||
At this point, it seems kind of rude to just stay hidden in the shadows. So Emma slips forward, moving so that she comes into view. She's watching the Frog King, looking a little fascinated by the whole thing. Coming up next to Medina, she leans in close enough so that she can speak quietly to him in Spanish. "Is it bad that I want to pet him?" | At this point, it seems kind of rude to just stay hidden in the shadows. So Emma slips forward, moving so that she comes into view. She's watching the Frog King, looking a little fascinated by the whole thing. Coming up next to Medina, she leans in close enough so that she can speak quietly to him in Spanish. "Is it bad that I want to pet him?" | ||
----- | |||
'''''Medina''''' | |||
"In terms of being reliable, creative and insightful, and willing to make sacrifices, yes, I do think you're trustworthy," Medina answers Tod. Seems he trusts him, just not as a blanket thing. Of course, that begs the question where he thinks Tod isn't trustworthy. | "In terms of being reliable, creative and insightful, and willing to make sacrifices, yes, I do think you're trustworthy," Medina answers Tod. Seems he trusts him, just not as a blanket thing. Of course, that begs the question where he thinks Tod isn't trustworthy. | ||
----- | |||
'''''ST''''' | |||
The frog waits calmly for Todd's response. The gallery of animals quiets to a more whispered tone. | The frog waits calmly for Todd's response. The gallery of animals quiets to a more whispered tone. | ||
----- | |||
'''''Todrick''''' | |||
Todd looks back to Sandor and says, "I am a trusted representative of the Sept of the Holly King, your majesty." So say we all. "The pets, they're alright, aren't they?" He can glance around and see some, sure (minus cats, though?) but this isn't how they usually behave so it doesn't tell him for sure that they are, in fact, okay. And that's the most important thing. | Todd looks back to Sandor and says, "I am a trusted representative of the Sept of the Holly King, your majesty." So say we all. "The pets, they're alright, aren't they?" He can glance around and see some, sure (minus cats, though?) but this isn't how they usually behave so it doesn't tell him for sure that they are, in fact, okay. And that's the most important thing. | ||
----- | |||
'''''Sweet''''' | |||
Sweet turns to Medina and narrows his eyes than turns to Todd and then back to the frog. Sweet pipes up and clears his throat. "Well I for one would say Todd is one of the most trustworthy people I know. I would trust Todd with my life. He's an honorable member of the Sept and he's trusted to always do right by people as what we call a haLf moon. Was he a little unclear in stating what we were? Sure but you have to meet people where they're at I guess. I don't know what my word is worth and it might not be worth as much as Todd's is to me but I will tell you right here if you do right by him, he will do right by you. He's never been unfair. I'd trust him with my life. Hell I'd even trust him with my child's life and if you don't understand the gravity of that there endorsement, sir, Mr. Frog, your Majestic Hoppingness, I can respectfully say you clearly don't know me or what I'm about." | Sweet turns to Medina and narrows his eyes than turns to Todd and then back to the frog. Sweet pipes up and clears his throat. "Well I for one would say Todd is one of the most trustworthy people I know. I would trust Todd with my life. He's an honorable member of the Sept and he's trusted to always do right by people as what we call a haLf moon. Was he a little unclear in stating what we were? Sure but you have to meet people where they're at I guess. I don't know what my word is worth and it might not be worth as much as Todd's is to me but I will tell you right here if you do right by him, he will do right by you. He's never been unfair. I'd trust him with my life. Hell I'd even trust him with my child's life and if you don't understand the gravity of that there endorsement, sir, Mr. Frog, your Majestic Hoppingness, I can respectfully say you clearly don't know me or what I'm about." | ||
----- | |||
'''''Ashton''''' | |||
Ashton adds after, "I'd die for him." And he is 100 percent serious about it too. Bit creepy. A little like saying 'You smell different when you're awake' | Ashton adds after, "I'd die for him." And he is 100 percent serious about it too. Bit creepy. A little like saying 'You smell different when you're awake' | ||
----- | |||
'''''Medina''''' | |||
Medina meets Sweet's narrowed gaze. His chin lifts up in a brief little slip of defiance, but he doesn't press the matter verbally further. Instead, he looks to Tod and waits, and listens to the affirmations. | Medina meets Sweet's narrowed gaze. His chin lifts up in a brief little slip of defiance, but he doesn't press the matter verbally further. Instead, he looks to Tod and waits, and listens to the affirmations. | ||
----- | |||
'''''ST''''' | |||
The animals in the room are in good health and there are bowls with various kinds of food and water are pushed into various corners of the room. Every so often some of the animals can even be seen taking a drink or eating. | The animals in the room are in good health and there are bowls with various kinds of food and water are pushed into various corners of the room. Every so often some of the animals can even be seen taking a drink or eating. | ||
| Line 271: | Line 346: | ||
Srador croaks as he says, <<Very good. So, in that case, would your members gathered here be willing to enter into a diplomatic agreement with me? I am willing to order my subjects to return to their human companions, but I need guarantees, and as a King, I did expect visitors to my Kingdom to come bearing gifts, which we can discuss as part of my terms. Will you hear terms?>> | Srador croaks as he says, <<Very good. So, in that case, would your members gathered here be willing to enter into a diplomatic agreement with me? I am willing to order my subjects to return to their human companions, but I need guarantees, and as a King, I did expect visitors to my Kingdom to come bearing gifts, which we can discuss as part of my terms. Will you hear terms?>> | ||
----- | |||
'''''Todrick''''' | |||
To his credit, Todd doesn't hug any of the people he knows here. It's a miracle, I know, but he's grounded by Moot Persona or something at the moment, so he manages to just keep his reactions to nice things said to small smiles. Todrick bows a bit at the waist and says, "Please, let us hear your terms, your majesty." | To his credit, Todd doesn't hug any of the people he knows here. It's a miracle, I know, but he's grounded by Moot Persona or something at the moment, so he manages to just keep his reactions to nice things said to small smiles. Todrick bows a bit at the waist and says, "Please, let us hear your terms, your majesty." | ||
----- | |||
'''''Slouch''''' | |||
Slouch | |||
Slouch stands there for another heartbeat watching the regal frog on its recliner throne before his eyes go distant…. Without a word, he pivots and drifts back outside where there’s a faint clatter as he rummages through his battered shopping cart. After a minute, Slouch reappears in the doorway, arms full of mismatched pet toys: cracked tennis balls, a few chew bones that might be safe, a cat wand with no feathers left but a sparkly string, and what looks suspiciously like a squeaky toy shaped like an alligator. He pads back into the room, boots squeaking again on that stray puddle, and stops just behind Todd. Wordlessly, he drops the whole armful in a gentle tumble right near Todd’s feet. The squeaky gator honks again when it hits the tile, as if voicing its approval. | Slouch stands there for another heartbeat watching the regal frog on its recliner throne before his eyes go distant…. Without a word, he pivots and drifts back outside where there’s a faint clatter as he rummages through his battered shopping cart. After a minute, Slouch reappears in the doorway, arms full of mismatched pet toys: cracked tennis balls, a few chew bones that might be safe, a cat wand with no feathers left but a sparkly string, and what looks suspiciously like a squeaky toy shaped like an alligator. He pads back into the room, boots squeaking again on that stray puddle, and stops just behind Todd. Wordlessly, he drops the whole armful in a gentle tumble right near Todd’s feet. The squeaky gator honks again when it hits the tile, as if voicing its approval. | ||
Slouch gives the frog a solemn nod, then gestures at the pile like a merchant showing wares on a blanket in a street market. “For your… uh. Court,” he says to the frog, deadpan. “Tribute.” | Slouch gives the frog a solemn nod, then gestures at the pile like a merchant showing wares on a blanket in a street market. “For your… uh. Court,” he says to the frog, deadpan. “Tribute.” | ||
----- | |||
'''''Sweet''''' | |||
"Hey wait why is the king of pets a frog anyway? People don't tend to have pet frogs....." Sweet ponders aloud. "I mean...is there a reason? Does there need to be a reason?" | "Hey wait why is the king of pets a frog anyway? People don't tend to have pet frogs....." Sweet ponders aloud. "I mean...is there a reason? Does there need to be a reason?" | ||
----- | |||
'''''Ashton''''' | |||
Ashton answers unhelpfully. "He is...as he does." He looks to Sweet. Did that help? No. No it didn't. "Spirits are...weird." He admits. "Like, humans are weirder, to be honest." | Ashton answers unhelpfully. "He is...as he does." He looks to Sweet. Did that help? No. No it didn't. "Spirits are...weird." He admits. "Like, humans are weirder, to be honest." | ||
----- | |||
'''''Medina''''' | |||
Medina has been silent while he observes, at least, outwardly. But when the speculation happens, he speaks up, his tone on the firmer side of cautioning while still managing to maintain courtesy. "It's probably better to hear terms before we get distracted." | Medina has been silent while he observes, at least, outwardly. But when the speculation happens, he speaks up, his tone on the firmer side of cautioning while still managing to maintain courtesy. "It's probably better to hear terms before we get distracted." | ||
----- | |||
'''''ST''''' | |||
The tiny frog King seems pleased with this tribute of pet toys, and says. <<Excellent! My subjects have been running low on entertainment. These will do wonderfully.>> The frog looks over at some of the animals, and a dog and the lone llama step over and take the toys away, and sounds of rejoicing are heard from the crowd. | The tiny frog King seems pleased with this tribute of pet toys, and says. <<Excellent! My subjects have been running low on entertainment. These will do wonderfully.>> The frog looks over at some of the animals, and a dog and the lone llama step over and take the toys away, and sounds of rejoicing are heard from the crowd. | ||
| Line 306: | Line 386: | ||
He looks at Sweet with as much contempt as a regular frog can muster, before turning back to Todd, when Srador says, <<As for my terms, the one of most priority is a source of fresh water in my Kingdom. There is no running water in this building, and getting water for my swimming subjects was a bit of a pain. I would like your group to agree to have the water turned back on here, where I may access it at my leisure. Second, I would like a food supply. I am willing to send the pets here home, but I will still require food. The crickets in this region are succulent. I would prefer those, but will accept what can be sourced locally. Finally, I need a promise that you and yours will always step in on the side of pets whenever they may face abuse from their human companions. What do you say to that?>> | He looks at Sweet with as much contempt as a regular frog can muster, before turning back to Todd, when Srador says, <<As for my terms, the one of most priority is a source of fresh water in my Kingdom. There is no running water in this building, and getting water for my swimming subjects was a bit of a pain. I would like your group to agree to have the water turned back on here, where I may access it at my leisure. Second, I would like a food supply. I am willing to send the pets here home, but I will still require food. The crickets in this region are succulent. I would prefer those, but will accept what can be sourced locally. Finally, I need a promise that you and yours will always step in on the side of pets whenever they may face abuse from their human companions. What do you say to that?>> | ||
----- | |||
'''''Medina''''' | |||
When Medina sees that the toys Slouch scrounged for in fact makes for acceptable tribute, he lets himself enjoy a satisfied, fleeting smile. It lingers when he sees the other, less delighted half of Srador's reaction to the questioning. But he doesn't wear his Schadenfreude long, and instead glances Slouch's way with a flash of thanks and appreciation. Then, as Srador speaks, Medina moves casually over to Sweet to be in elbowing distance in case the need arises. He is attentive to Srador as he moves, eyes on the frog. | When Medina sees that the toys Slouch scrounged for in fact makes for acceptable tribute, he lets himself enjoy a satisfied, fleeting smile. It lingers when he sees the other, less delighted half of Srador's reaction to the questioning. But he doesn't wear his Schadenfreude long, and instead glances Slouch's way with a flash of thanks and appreciation. Then, as Srador speaks, Medina moves casually over to Sweet to be in elbowing distance in case the need arises. He is attentive to Srador as he moves, eyes on the frog. | ||
----- | |||
'''''Emma''''' | |||
Emma has been quiet this whole time. It's out of respect and partially because she doesn't think she has anything that can be added. But some thought has occurred to her and now she's fidgeting a little bit with wanting to ask it. It's that damn curiosity thing again. It's like it's staring her in the face and baiting her. She's trying to wait until negotiations are done, at least. | Emma has been quiet this whole time. It's out of respect and partially because she doesn't think she has anything that can be added. But some thought has occurred to her and now she's fidgeting a little bit with wanting to ask it. It's that damn curiosity thing again. It's like it's staring her in the face and baiting her. She's trying to wait until negotiations are done, at least. | ||
----- | |||
'''''Todrick''''' | |||
Todd gives a quiet, "Thank you, very much." to Slouch and a little bow to the Gnawer as well when he produces his arm load of tribute. This is good, because Todd didn't bring *any* of his squeaky toys with him! He gives that llama a 'what ARE you?!' look and takes a step to the side away from it. That thing has way too fucking much neck. It's like a... a giraffe deer. | Todd gives a quiet, "Thank you, very much." to Slouch and a little bow to the Gnawer as well when he produces his arm load of tribute. This is good, because Todd didn't bring *any* of his squeaky toys with him! He gives that llama a 'what ARE you?!' look and takes a step to the side away from it. That thing has way too fucking much neck. It's like a... a giraffe deer. | ||
| Line 321: | Line 406: | ||
He has a look to the others, not commenting on the kingly nature of frogs at all and instead just looking for any nays the group might have before talking. Probably there aren't any, these are pretty reasonable requests. "The Sept of the Holly King can agree to your terms, your majesty. If I may, I have a request of my own. Those pets who have been abused or who feared for their safety must be allowed to remain with you, but those who miss their humans and wish to return must be allowed." The frog said he'd send them back anyways, Todd just wants to make sure anyone that's getting beaten or starved has the option to stick around, and visa versa. Details matter! | He has a look to the others, not commenting on the kingly nature of frogs at all and instead just looking for any nays the group might have before talking. Probably there aren't any, these are pretty reasonable requests. "The Sept of the Holly King can agree to your terms, your majesty. If I may, I have a request of my own. Those pets who have been abused or who feared for their safety must be allowed to remain with you, but those who miss their humans and wish to return must be allowed." The frog said he'd send them back anyways, Todd just wants to make sure anyone that's getting beaten or starved has the option to stick around, and visa versa. Details matter! | ||
----- | |||
'''''Slouch''''' | |||
Slouch steps back after he drops the toys and watches the interaction between the Frog and the Glasswalker with a quiet reverence, a religious kind of respect as he nods his head sheepishly and agrees to the terms. He only used a raccoon for a pillow once, and besides, the raccoon was into it. | Slouch steps back after he drops the toys and watches the interaction between the Frog and the Glasswalker with a quiet reverence, a religious kind of respect as he nods his head sheepishly and agrees to the terms. He only used a raccoon for a pillow once, and besides, the raccoon was into it. | ||
----- | |||
'''''Sweet''''' | |||
"Oh well uh sorry your majesty." Sweet clicks his tongue and leans on the wall for the time being. "Well that all sounds good to me and I'll help where I can so far as haulin stuff around. That's about as much as I can do since well, I'm kinda broke and I'm not a plumber or nothin...not too good with people unless ya need me to scare em or sing a song. I'm pretty good at that..." | "Oh well uh sorry your majesty." Sweet clicks his tongue and leans on the wall for the time being. "Well that all sounds good to me and I'll help where I can so far as haulin stuff around. That's about as much as I can do since well, I'm kinda broke and I'm not a plumber or nothin...not too good with people unless ya need me to scare em or sing a song. I'm pretty good at that..." | ||
----- | |||
'''''Ashton''''' | |||
Ashton looks around. And then sorta just wanders off to go say hi to the Llama. He hasn't met a Llama before. Do they spit? Let's find out! He moves over to the Llama and scratches its neck, affectionately. "You're a pretty boy aren't you? Or girl? Which one? Maybe neither." He decides. Spirits don't always have gender. Is this a spirit? Probably not. But it's still a good point. | Ashton looks around. And then sorta just wanders off to go say hi to the Llama. He hasn't met a Llama before. Do they spit? Let's find out! He moves over to the Llama and scratches its neck, affectionately. "You're a pretty boy aren't you? Or girl? Which one? Maybe neither." He decides. Spirits don't always have gender. Is this a spirit? Probably not. But it's still a good point. | ||
----- | |||
'''''Medina''''' | |||
Medina has no objections. His eyes move to Sweet as he keeps talking. "Didn't know he was talking to you," Medina murmurs to Sweet. Then he looks back to the king. | Medina has no objections. His eyes move to Sweet as he keeps talking. "Didn't know he was talking to you," Medina murmurs to Sweet. Then he looks back to the king. | ||
----- | |||
'''''Sweet''''' | |||
"He was talking to all of us but mostly Todd." Sweet responds a little snippily. | "He was talking to all of us but mostly Todd." Sweet responds a little snippily. | ||
----- | |||
'''''ST''''' | |||
Accepting of the modified terms, the King of Pets chirps happily and proclaims to the gathered people and animals, <<Then it is done! As I am Srador, King of Pets, so be it. The Sept of the Holly King will provide fresh water, fresh food, and assistance to pets in need anywhere they might find them. The Kingdom of Srador will become a sanctuary for pets finding themselves harmed by their would-be companions. It is time for much rejoicing in the Kingdom! Huzzah!>> He raises his tiny frog arms in triumph and the gathered animals hum, chirp, bark, hiss, and otherwise make noise in celebration. | Accepting of the modified terms, the King of Pets chirps happily and proclaims to the gathered people and animals, <<Then it is done! As I am Srador, King of Pets, so be it. The Sept of the Holly King will provide fresh water, fresh food, and assistance to pets in need anywhere they might find them. The Kingdom of Srador will become a sanctuary for pets finding themselves harmed by their would-be companions. It is time for much rejoicing in the Kingdom! Huzzah!>> He raises his tiny frog arms in triumph and the gathered animals hum, chirp, bark, hiss, and otherwise make noise in celebration. | ||
| Line 349: | Line 446: | ||
The llama is indeed just an animal llama, and accepts Ashton's scratches happily. | The llama is indeed just an animal llama, and accepts Ashton's scratches happily. | ||
----- | |||
'''''Ashton''''' | |||
Ashton says, “Your fur is so coarse." He says softly. "No offense. I guess Llamas are just like that right?" He's certain the Llama does not understand him, but he's | |||
talking to him anyway, as a friend. "What do llamas eat? Do they eat ravens? I hope not."” | |||
----- | |||
'''''Emma''''' | |||
"I think we've been dismissed," Emma murmurs. She looks around at all of the animals in the store, a slightly bewildered look to her features. "Where are the cats? I mean, I know they're usually assholes, so maybe that's why they're not here...?" With a small shake of her head, she drifts back toward the exit while waiting for everyone else. "King of Pets definitely beats what I saw out in the woods. Why can't we have more of this kind of stuff?" | "I think we've been dismissed," Emma murmurs. She looks around at all of the animals in the store, a slightly bewildered look to her features. "Where are the cats? I mean, I know they're usually assholes, so maybe that's why they're not here...?" With a small shake of her head, she drifts back toward the exit while waiting for everyone else. "King of Pets definitely beats what I saw out in the woods. Why can't we have more of this kind of stuff?" | ||
----- | |||
'''''Todrick''''' | |||
Todd bows at the waist to the frog king of pets in satisfaction of their pact, and while critters rejoice, he turns around and asks very quietly, "What the fuck did I just do?" He loooks to Medina, and then Slouch, and asks, "Do either of you know plumbing? I've got two kin that are perfect for this job but neither are plumbers. Shit, we need electricity too. And... And the Corax, we have news stuff to do. Sweet, you down for some landscaping? And Emma, ecological council?" | Todd bows at the waist to the frog king of pets in satisfaction of their pact, and while critters rejoice, he turns around and asks very quietly, "What the fuck did I just do?" He loooks to Medina, and then Slouch, and asks, "Do either of you know plumbing? I've got two kin that are perfect for this job but neither are plumbers. Shit, we need electricity too. And... And the Corax, we have news stuff to do. Sweet, you down for some landscaping? And Emma, ecological council?" | ||
----- | |||
'''''Ashton''''' | |||
Ashton considers. "Todd's fur is very soft." He confides in his new llama friend. "I use it in my nest. Although now I just sleep on Todd, it's easier." And warmer." He scritches the Llama's chin. "Are you like a camel?" He asks out of nowhere. "And where are the cats. There are no cats. Why no cats?" He pauses. "Not that I like cats that much." He admits. He pauses. "Corax? What?" | Ashton considers. "Todd's fur is very soft." He confides in his new llama friend. "I use it in my nest. Although now I just sleep on Todd, it's easier." And warmer." He scritches the Llama's chin. "Are you like a camel?" He asks out of nowhere. "And where are the cats. There are no cats. Why no cats?" He pauses. "Not that I like cats that much." He admits. He pauses. "Corax? What?" | ||
----- | |||
'''''Medina''''' | |||
Medina says "Thank you," when he hears that they're collectively dismissed. When Tod stares at him, he stares back, then he looks at Slouch, then back to Todrick. When he's asked if he knows plumbing, he blurts, "I'm -Mexican-, like this all should be incredibly obvious. | Medina says "Thank you," when he hears that they're collectively dismissed. When Tod stares at him, he stares back, then he looks at Slouch, then back to Todrick. When he's asked if he knows plumbing, he blurts, "I'm -Mexican-, like this all should be incredibly obvious. | ||
----- | |||
'''''Medina''''' | |||
"I'm -Mexican-," like this all should be incredibly obvious.* | "I'm -Mexican-," like this all should be incredibly obvious.* | ||
----- | |||
'''''Sweet''''' | |||
Sweet nods and smiles to the guys with the llama. "Alright then I guess if everyone's happy I'm happy. I'm gonna go train or somethin I guess. There's a big ol sand filled bag with my name on it somewhere." Sweet shrugs. "As for the cats, I ain't worried. Sometimes they wander on back after a day of adventures no?" | Sweet nods and smiles to the guys with the llama. "Alright then I guess if everyone's happy I'm happy. I'm gonna go train or somethin I guess. There's a big ol sand filled bag with my name on it somewhere." Sweet shrugs. "As for the cats, I ain't worried. Sometimes they wander on back after a day of adventures no?" | ||
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'''''Slouch''''' | |||
Slouch shrugs when Medina looks at him and clarifies, "I'm not Mexican, but I can fix anything you throw me at. That's a promise." | Slouch shrugs when Medina looks at him and clarifies, "I'm not Mexican, but I can fix anything you throw me at. That's a promise." | ||
Latest revision as of 14:09, 10 July 2025
Participants
Storyteller
Summary
- After hearing rumors and a request from local Kinfolk, a group consisting of Emma, Medina, Slouch, Sweet, Todrick, and Ashton investigate the case of the missing pets in the Montrose neighborhood of Houston. Finding themselves at the Johnson's Pet Supply building, which has been closed since 1989, the group moves into the building to investigate what can only be described as a group of mixed animals chanting out loud in their own animal sounds.
- Entering the building, the group finds a makeshift castle made out of the old store shelves and counters, and in the middle of it, a royal blue velvet Lay-Z-Boy recliner on which a large frog sits. But this is no ordinary frog, this is Srador, King of Pets, a rather curious Incarna that holds the loyalty of house pets everywhere (other than cats, but that remains a mystery). Entreating with the King of Pets, the heroes of this story find that he has grown concerned for his subjects in the light of increased instances of pet neglect and abuse. Assuring him that they will work on the problem, the heroes also make an arrangement by which they agree to provide his kingdom with food and water, in return for the pets being sent back to their human companions. The King agrees to this, and the heroes are victorious, returning the pets of Montrose to their owners.
Log
ST
In the past few weeks, the rumors on the Kinfolk grapevine have been that most of the pets in Montrose have up and vanished, with not a sign of foul play to be found. Dogs, fish, lizards, birds, pigs, and even in one case a llama have all been reported having vanished, all while their owners slept, and without commotion of any kind.
More recently, Glass Walker Kin Annette Gordon reported to the Sept of the Holly King that she had noticed what sounded like animal activity at the old Johnson's Pet Supply store, which has been closed since 1989. Additionally, she reported that when she was in the vicinity of the store, she kept seeing a large frog just sitting there, quietly watching while she investigated. She got nervous about the whole thing, and ran off, hoping that braver Kin or even some Shifters might step in to investigate.
And that is where we are today... our investigators are just arriving now.
Medina
At the very least, allergy levels in Montrose must be giving mercy in the summer with its residents rescued from the shedding of cat hair. Clearly, there is a silver lining in everything.
Medina's not wild about investigating missing pets, but that doesn't mean he's not willing. He's driven up to the scene in his service truck, which means a couple of people who needed a ride may very well have come with him. He backs into a parking spot, ingrained habit to be able to rip right out of wherever like the getaway driver he usually is.
Emma
Emma is one of those people that hitched a ride with Medina. Because it means that she didn't have to drive, which is always a good thing. So, she talked his ear off on the way over, along with whoever else was in the truck. It used to be that she was very quiet and most people hardly noticed she was around. At some point in the recent weeks, that changed.
"Who steals a llama? I mean, do you just wake up one morning and decide that you need a llama in your life, but you're not sure where to buy one, so it's just easier to steal it?"
Slouch
Slouch stands across the street from the old Johnson’s Pet Supply, one foot braced on the lower rung of his battered shopping cart. He’s loaded it up tonight: secondhand camping lantern dangling from a bent handle, coil of rope, an ancient flashlight with half the letters rubbed off, all rattling softly. He pats the side of the cart like it’s a faithful mutt and rummages around until he finds an old bicycle mirror on a stick. He uses it to angle a peek at the dark corners inside the glass, nothing but shapes and reflections. “You see that frog yet?” he rasps to whoever’s come along or whoever’s trailing behind him tonight.
Sweet
Sweet jogged over from halfway across town it seems. Yes the cars were honking and flipping him the bird and wondering what he was doing there but he akes it all in stride. Most are usually too afraid of direct confrontation. The man is wearing big black shades, his boxer's shorts, and a slightly worn white wifebeater with a number of mustard stains because for whatever reason white wifebeaters are absolute magnets for mustard. He got a notion of something about animals dissapearing which made Athena a little bit sad so he doesn't hesitate to hoof it on over and hey is that a frog? He grins a big goofy grin as he sees froggy and the others.
Todrick
Todd probably definitely got a ride with Medina as well, paid for by being quiet while Emma yammers. "I don't think I've ever seen a llama." he muses, hopping out of the truck once it's parked and all.
ST
To the casual observer, Johnson's Pet Supply is closed, but maybe not unoccupied. The muffled sounds of several different types of animals can be heard coming from the building. Barks, chirps, croaks, and even a llama's hum can be heard from the old building. But to those paying closer attention, two things stand out as being unusual about the noise. First, not a single noise coming from the building belongs to a cat. No meows, howls, or even a kitten squeak. Second, the longer you listen, the more you realize all of the animals are sounding in sync with each other. Like they were chanting.
Medina
"I've stolen some shit," Medina says, and although he doesn't give details, apparently some part of him can relate to the idea of heisting a llama. But he gets out of the truck after he kills the engine, pocketing his keys. When he sees Slouch, he shakes his head that he hasn't, in fact, seen no frog. But Sweet makes him look. He looks to Tod.
"You're fidna see a llama, Todd, you play your cards right." A pause, as he keys in on the sound, and a pensive expression makes its way onto his face. "...A llama in a cult." His voice is a touch more hush now: "I ain't the only one hearing that?"
Emma
"I wonder if llamas spit. Alpacas do," Emma muses quietly, looking thoughtful. She closes the door on the truck as she gets out, then looks around, her dark eyes scanning the area. Nothing really looks out of place, though.
But then she notices the sounds, which has her brow furrowing. A step or two is taken toward the old pet store, although she doesn't move closer than that. "That's weird, right?"
Slouch
Slouch freezes at the corner of the crumbling wall, the old bike mirror drooping from his hand. The weird chorus drifting out of the pet store hits him full in the chest like cold pond water. He cocks his head—listening. Bark. Croak. Hum. Chirp. All together. All exactly together. He looks back at the others, eyes wide, “Yeah. Yeah, that’s—” He lifts a hand and points one grubby finger at the sound of animal chanting “—that’s not normal.” He spots the others arriving from the truck and gives them a wave with the disembodied bicycle mirror in his hand.
Ashton
Ashton is a raven, and he's on Todd's shoulder. He does this thing where he seems to stare itently, sideeying the store. He stretches out a wing, indicating the store. "They sound like they're chanting together. But no cats. Should there be cats? There's always cats." He says this all in raven talk, so warbles, caws, etc.
Sweet
Sweet shrugs. "Hey it seems that the mystery's solved. The animals were in the pet store all along! Good job everybody!" Sweet dusts off his hands as if he's concluding the Saturday morning cartoon episode, torn the mask off the Scooby Doo villain and all is more or less well. "Alright so what I guess one of you pop the door open and then we get the llama or whatever back to its owner..."
Ashton
Ashton hops off Todd's shoulder, and shifts to human. His entire demeanor and posture is...quieter than usual. He's slipping into crime mode. He used to pick locks. Not anymore, now a little spiritual jolt and the locks open themselves. He touches the door, and then there's a moment of 'why isn't this working' before he does it again and the lock clicks open. He slowly pushes in the door to get his head in and get a better look at...whatever animal mess is happening inside.
Medina
Medina slips around back, accompanied by Slouch and perhaps someone else. Back there, they discover the rear entrance / loading dock is locked up tight and the doors are chained. "You got like a torsion wrench or a hook pick or anything ilke that in your bag of tricks?"
ST
As Ashton opens the front door, the chanting gets a little louder... for a few seconds. As he takes in the sight of the interior, the chanting STOPS.
Emma
Emma has stuck around the front of the building, letting the others check the back of it to see if there's an open way in there. She's fallen silent, not wanting to draw any more attention to the small group in case someone happens by at some point.
Ashton
Ashton pulls back and goes to Todd, immediately tugging on his arm to come look with him. "It's like a medieval castle." He whispers. "Like they're holding court in there." He doesn't know what to think of it but it's got him slightly rattled, it seems. Animals are being weirdly unanimal. "Are they possessed?" He just looks lost on what his next step is. What do you do with that?
Slouch
Slouch pads around the side of the building with Medina, boots whispering through damp weeds. Slouch pauses when he spots the big padlock hanging from the door’s latch—old brass, corroded but still stubborn. He leans in close, squints at, he glances sideways at Medina. “Old man Johnson’d roll in his grave if he knew his padlock was keepin’ cult llamas hostage.” He rubs his palms together, muttering something under his breath that might be half prayer, half joke. Then he smacks the lock and declares, “Vinivinivici!”
The shackle clicks. The lock sags open, clatters to the cracked concrete. Slouch wiggles his fingers at Medina with a grin that’s all teeth and mischief. “After you? Or shall I?” Slouch steps aside, head cocked, eyes darting at the shadows. “Time to meet the congregation…”
Sweet
Sweet slowly steps in after Slouch's insistence. "Ah maybe its the heat or drug induced hallucination but you know, weirder things have happened...." Sweet scratches his head. "Well come on Mr. Llama. Time to get you home....." Sweet looks around, holding an arm out as if to keep the others back should there be some kind of violent llama thief on the loose.
Medina
Medina stands back and lets Slouch do his work. In that brief interim, he notices Emma's missing. He looks about, only to realize the silence. "None to waste," he says, his tone a little terse. He steps right in, and as he goes, he retrieves his lockback knife from his pocket so that he's got something sharp on hand and is perhaps less likely to have to explain to his pack or anybody else why he got his ass kicked by a god damn llama. With the speaking and the noise that surrounds him, he tries separating himself from Sweet's less subtle entrance, going wider, angling for some cover so he can potentially sneak up on whatever may be distracted.
Todrick
Pets are a weird concept Todd doesn't fully get as it is, and mysterious cults and frog gangsters are just so out of his usual perview. So he's hanging back out of the way concentrating on keeping an eye out so he's a bit startled when Ashton returns suddenly and whispering at him. "...Wat?" Cause this makes even less sense ethan usual. "Hold court... Wat??" He looks to make sure some of the others heard that too and it wasn't just him. "You're weirder than me, you lead." he insists.
Ashton
Well, you can't fault Todd's logic. Ash is weirder for sure. He moves back to the store, and slips inside, keeping an eye out for...god, anything at this point. Traps? Fire? Singing frogs?
Emma
When the animals suddenly all go silent, Emma perks up a bit. She can't see what's happening inside the store, which means sneaking inside is what must be done now. Because she simply /can't/ walk away without knowing what's going on. It's just not going to happen. So, after Ashton makes his way in through the front door and the other trio goes in from the back entrance, she slips into the building, as well, without making a sound or drawing attention to herself.
ST
As you enter the pet store, you're not quite sure what's going on here. Peering around the sales floor of the shop, you see that the fixtures of the store, that is the shelves, cabinets, and counters have been shoved around crudely forming an odd pattern that you can't quite put a finger on. In and among the fixtures are various house pets. Dogs, turtles, snakes, fish, a llama, and a chimpanzee all are readily apparent. In the center of the room, flanked on either side by a pit bull, is a royal blue Lay-Z-Boy recliner on which is sitting a large frog. Not large in a supernatural sense, but large for a pet frog.
The frog immediately notices Sweet and Todrick as they enter the space, and reaches out to them telepathically. It says rather regally, <<Welcome Travellers! Are you the representatives of the neighboring kingdom?>>
ST
For those somehow protected from telepathic conversation, the frog seems to turn to look between Sweet and Todd as it stares at them with serious intent.
Todrick
Todd will later blame his complete lack of stealth on being distracted by trying to work out in his head what exactly a llama *is*. He did NOT expect the mental-talking frog inquisition though. "...Yes." he says confidently after a moment's hesitation. A talking frog shouldn't be weird, he's a fuckin werewolf, but... it is. "Yes um." he glances at Sweets, then back to the frog. "We are residents of-" he gestures outside the shop, "Here, and are looking for missing, small, furry, scaley, bloopy friends...?"
Sweet
Sweet blinks a few times and shakes his head like he's not entirely sure what he's seeing. He isn't really sure how telepathy works so he's kind of whispering his words to the frog as he's thinking them. "Well maybe the others are. I'm just a guy who punches stuff for the local community. And I heard somewhere that somebody was missing a llama."
Ashton
Ashton talks to spirits -all the time- but this is weird. It's definitely weird. "Frog. A frog prince. King. Frog king." He scratches his arm, sort of weirdly nervous talking to frog royalty. What if there's a whole set of social rules he doesn't know anything about? He's not a frog...courtier. But he just lets Todd talk, we're not at the talking part and Todd handles that part better.
Medina
Medina slips into the store, sliding behind an aisle of bags of dog food, drawing his posture low. Once he's inside he ...Well, is slapped by the what the fuckery of it all. He keeps the knife ready regardless of the royal invite so graciously extended to Todd and Sweet, and just stays watchful for now. He tries to gamble for peering into the umbra briefly, to see just what the hell's happening here on the Other Side.
Emma
A frog with telepathy. Sitting on a recliner. Like a throne. No, it's not something that Emma's seen before and she sort of stands there wide eyed and dumbfounded. For all the things that have happened in her life, this is probably the strangest. At least up to this point. Still, she remains hidden where she is, completely uncertain of what to do next.
Slouch
Slouch drifts in behind Sweet and Todd and he stops short when he sees the royal blue recliner, sliding out of sight around a corner as his listens and looks around. His eyes do a slow circuit of the dogs, turtles, snakes, the llama chewing on what’s left of a dusty Dog Chow bag—then land on the frog, perched like some amphibian pope. He adjusts the collar of his thrifted coat, tilts his head, and squints at the pattern made by the shelves—his mind already wandering to half-finished theories about ley lines, sacred geometry, or maybe just animal chaos.
Medina
Medina's focus sort of drifts. His head lowers, and hes looking nowhere in particular. Except, he is. He funnels his concentration, falling very still, and his eyebrows lift a touch. He rests back on his heels from his crouched down posture, then tries another thing: reaching consciously out to his packmate through the agency of their Totem. Somewhere out there, Maarten probably hears it all too, but either way, he tells Slouch what he 'sees' through their link.
ST
The frog, responding to Todd in his telepathic way, says <<Wonderful, wonderful. I have been waiting for your Kingdom to send diplomats. I am Srador, King of Pets, and this, in it's own humble way, is my Kingdom. I have noticed recently that the humans of the world have been treating their loyal companions quite poorly. Forgetting their meals, leaving them outside, ignoring them for play time, and in some of the most horrible cases, physically abusing them. How does your Kingdom plan to answer these charges?>> To those without telepathy, the frog is just staring at Todd.
Ashton
Ashton peers across the gauntlet. Seems a good time to try it. Medina, judging by the spaced out look, thought of the same thing. He frowns, wishing he understood what exactly is happening here.
Ashton
Ashton ever so subtly moves over to Todd and whispers to him.
Medina
Medina puts his knife away ever so slowly, carefully lifting himself to stand upright. He moves quietly, still not ready to reveal himself, but angling to.
Todrick
Hoo boy. Okay, Todd at least seems more at ease with things like charges and accusations, so he goes right ahead and talks a little more, but he flicks his eyes to various friends and companions in case they have like morse code blinks or anything. "Cant yet." he murmurs back to Ashton, and then approaches his highness's royal recliner affecting thet Judge air of respect and dignity. "The kingdom is vast and its inhabitents many, regretfully we few cannot police all, though we do try given the limitations of secrecy. We, folk and pets alike, try to live with each other, balancing our families and employment as best we can, though failure is always a fact of life. How we make up for it and show our apology and love is what makes the difference. Now, those that abuse the pets that depend on them, there is no excuse. Our kind-" he gestures to those of the current group readily available to be seen, "-do fight wrongness and abuse when and where we can find it, regardless of the victim's species. I cannot say if it is malice or ignorance on the part of the owners you speak of, but we do and will try to educate the ignorant or punish the malicious."
Medina
Medina steps out from hiding as Todrick speaks. And what timing: he steps out when the man says 'our kind'. He keeps his hands where King of Pets can see 'em, having since put his weapon away, and he stays silent for now.
Ashton
Ashton thinks Todd speaking is actually a good decision on Todd's part. And Ashton NOT speaking is probably also a good decision because he's like 2 seconds away from rambling about Crono Trigger.
ST
The King of Pets sits on his Lay-Z-Boy throne, and says to Todd, <>
The animals sitting around the room all chirp, bark, and chatter, as though they were onlookers at the court of Henry VIII.
Todrick
Todd wouldn't dream of just saying yes and assuming that he is, he looks to those shifters that aren't soundly hidden and asks, "Am I?" After all, that sort of trust comes from everyone else, not one's own ego. Also, Todd doesn't wanna steam roll, what if someone ELSE thinks they can represent better? What if someone else's socks are pulled up higher than his own??
Slouch
Slouch slides out of the shadows as the conversation with Frog continues in a relatively respectful and peaceable direction. His shifty eyes slide around the room though, keeping an eye on their surrounding and letting Todd do the Razzle Dazzlin', as it were.
Ashton
Ashton's eyes get big. He nods. Yes, you're the guy. "I...We're good people..." He says softly, but not loud enough to actually be speaking TO anyone.
Sweet
Sweet just rocks back and forth on his heels. He figures the half moon is probably better with this kind of thing anyway. That is until the peanut gallery starts making noise. He tenses up a little bit instinctively but he's figuring they can be relatively civil about this. "Damn I guess we're kinda caught but its sorta making this talk confusing if you already knew who we were...Anyways yeah I dunno that's a good enough reason for me. I wouldn't dream of sending them back to somewheres abusive."
Emma
At this point, it seems kind of rude to just stay hidden in the shadows. So Emma slips forward, moving so that she comes into view. She's watching the Frog King, looking a little fascinated by the whole thing. Coming up next to Medina, she leans in close enough so that she can speak quietly to him in Spanish. "Is it bad that I want to pet him?"
Medina
"In terms of being reliable, creative and insightful, and willing to make sacrifices, yes, I do think you're trustworthy," Medina answers Tod. Seems he trusts him, just not as a blanket thing. Of course, that begs the question where he thinks Tod isn't trustworthy.
ST
The frog waits calmly for Todd's response. The gallery of animals quiets to a more whispered tone.
Todrick
Todd looks back to Sandor and says, "I am a trusted representative of the Sept of the Holly King, your majesty." So say we all. "The pets, they're alright, aren't they?" He can glance around and see some, sure (minus cats, though?) but this isn't how they usually behave so it doesn't tell him for sure that they are, in fact, okay. And that's the most important thing.
Sweet
Sweet turns to Medina and narrows his eyes than turns to Todd and then back to the frog. Sweet pipes up and clears his throat. "Well I for one would say Todd is one of the most trustworthy people I know. I would trust Todd with my life. He's an honorable member of the Sept and he's trusted to always do right by people as what we call a haLf moon. Was he a little unclear in stating what we were? Sure but you have to meet people where they're at I guess. I don't know what my word is worth and it might not be worth as much as Todd's is to me but I will tell you right here if you do right by him, he will do right by you. He's never been unfair. I'd trust him with my life. Hell I'd even trust him with my child's life and if you don't understand the gravity of that there endorsement, sir, Mr. Frog, your Majestic Hoppingness, I can respectfully say you clearly don't know me or what I'm about."
Ashton
Ashton adds after, "I'd die for him." And he is 100 percent serious about it too. Bit creepy. A little like saying 'You smell different when you're awake'
Medina
Medina meets Sweet's narrowed gaze. His chin lifts up in a brief little slip of defiance, but he doesn't press the matter verbally further. Instead, he looks to Tod and waits, and listens to the affirmations.
ST
The animals in the room are in good health and there are bowls with various kinds of food and water are pushed into various corners of the room. Every so often some of the animals can even be seen taking a drink or eating.
Srador croaks as he says, <<Very good. So, in that case, would your members gathered here be willing to enter into a diplomatic agreement with me? I am willing to order my subjects to return to their human companions, but I need guarantees, and as a King, I did expect visitors to my Kingdom to come bearing gifts, which we can discuss as part of my terms. Will you hear terms?>>
Todrick
To his credit, Todd doesn't hug any of the people he knows here. It's a miracle, I know, but he's grounded by Moot Persona or something at the moment, so he manages to just keep his reactions to nice things said to small smiles. Todrick bows a bit at the waist and says, "Please, let us hear your terms, your majesty."
Slouch
Slouch stands there for another heartbeat watching the regal frog on its recliner throne before his eyes go distant…. Without a word, he pivots and drifts back outside where there’s a faint clatter as he rummages through his battered shopping cart. After a minute, Slouch reappears in the doorway, arms full of mismatched pet toys: cracked tennis balls, a few chew bones that might be safe, a cat wand with no feathers left but a sparkly string, and what looks suspiciously like a squeaky toy shaped like an alligator. He pads back into the room, boots squeaking again on that stray puddle, and stops just behind Todd. Wordlessly, he drops the whole armful in a gentle tumble right near Todd’s feet. The squeaky gator honks again when it hits the tile, as if voicing its approval.
Slouch gives the frog a solemn nod, then gestures at the pile like a merchant showing wares on a blanket in a street market. “For your… uh. Court,” he says to the frog, deadpan. “Tribute.”
Sweet
"Hey wait why is the king of pets a frog anyway? People don't tend to have pet frogs....." Sweet ponders aloud. "I mean...is there a reason? Does there need to be a reason?"
Ashton
Ashton answers unhelpfully. "He is...as he does." He looks to Sweet. Did that help? No. No it didn't. "Spirits are...weird." He admits. "Like, humans are weirder, to be honest."
Medina
Medina has been silent while he observes, at least, outwardly. But when the speculation happens, he speaks up, his tone on the firmer side of cautioning while still managing to maintain courtesy. "It's probably better to hear terms before we get distracted."
ST
The tiny frog King seems pleased with this tribute of pet toys, and says. <<Excellent! My subjects have been running low on entertainment. These will do wonderfully.>> The frog looks over at some of the animals, and a dog and the lone llama step over and take the toys away, and sounds of rejoicing are heard from the crowd.
He looks at Sweet with as much contempt as a regular frog can muster, before turning back to Todd, when Srador says, <<As for my terms, the one of most priority is a source of fresh water in my Kingdom. There is no running water in this building, and getting water for my swimming subjects was a bit of a pain. I would like your group to agree to have the water turned back on here, where I may access it at my leisure. Second, I would like a food supply. I am willing to send the pets here home, but I will still require food. The crickets in this region are succulent. I would prefer those, but will accept what can be sourced locally. Finally, I need a promise that you and yours will always step in on the side of pets whenever they may face abuse from their human companions. What do you say to that?>>
Medina
When Medina sees that the toys Slouch scrounged for in fact makes for acceptable tribute, he lets himself enjoy a satisfied, fleeting smile. It lingers when he sees the other, less delighted half of Srador's reaction to the questioning. But he doesn't wear his Schadenfreude long, and instead glances Slouch's way with a flash of thanks and appreciation. Then, as Srador speaks, Medina moves casually over to Sweet to be in elbowing distance in case the need arises. He is attentive to Srador as he moves, eyes on the frog.
Emma
Emma has been quiet this whole time. It's out of respect and partially because she doesn't think she has anything that can be added. But some thought has occurred to her and now she's fidgeting a little bit with wanting to ask it. It's that damn curiosity thing again. It's like it's staring her in the face and baiting her. She's trying to wait until negotiations are done, at least.
Todrick
Todd gives a quiet, "Thank you, very much." to Slouch and a little bow to the Gnawer as well when he produces his arm load of tribute. This is good, because Todd didn't bring *any* of his squeaky toys with him! He gives that llama a 'what ARE you?!' look and takes a step to the side away from it. That thing has way too fucking much neck. It's like a... a giraffe deer.
He has a look to the others, not commenting on the kingly nature of frogs at all and instead just looking for any nays the group might have before talking. Probably there aren't any, these are pretty reasonable requests. "The Sept of the Holly King can agree to your terms, your majesty. If I may, I have a request of my own. Those pets who have been abused or who feared for their safety must be allowed to remain with you, but those who miss their humans and wish to return must be allowed." The frog said he'd send them back anyways, Todd just wants to make sure anyone that's getting beaten or starved has the option to stick around, and visa versa. Details matter!
Slouch
Slouch steps back after he drops the toys and watches the interaction between the Frog and the Glasswalker with a quiet reverence, a religious kind of respect as he nods his head sheepishly and agrees to the terms. He only used a raccoon for a pillow once, and besides, the raccoon was into it.
Sweet
"Oh well uh sorry your majesty." Sweet clicks his tongue and leans on the wall for the time being. "Well that all sounds good to me and I'll help where I can so far as haulin stuff around. That's about as much as I can do since well, I'm kinda broke and I'm not a plumber or nothin...not too good with people unless ya need me to scare em or sing a song. I'm pretty good at that..."
Ashton
Ashton looks around. And then sorta just wanders off to go say hi to the Llama. He hasn't met a Llama before. Do they spit? Let's find out! He moves over to the Llama and scratches its neck, affectionately. "You're a pretty boy aren't you? Or girl? Which one? Maybe neither." He decides. Spirits don't always have gender. Is this a spirit? Probably not. But it's still a good point.
Medina
Medina has no objections. His eyes move to Sweet as he keeps talking. "Didn't know he was talking to you," Medina murmurs to Sweet. Then he looks back to the king.
Sweet
"He was talking to all of us but mostly Todd." Sweet responds a little snippily.
ST
Accepting of the modified terms, the King of Pets chirps happily and proclaims to the gathered people and animals, <<Then it is done! As I am Srador, King of Pets, so be it. The Sept of the Holly King will provide fresh water, fresh food, and assistance to pets in need anywhere they might find them. The Kingdom of Srador will become a sanctuary for pets finding themselves harmed by their would-be companions. It is time for much rejoicing in the Kingdom! Huzzah!>> He raises his tiny frog arms in triumph and the gathered animals hum, chirp, bark, hiss, and otherwise make noise in celebration.
After the celebration dies down, the King of Pets says, <>
The llama is indeed just an animal llama, and accepts Ashton's scratches happily.
Ashton
Ashton says, “Your fur is so coarse." He says softly. "No offense. I guess Llamas are just like that right?" He's certain the Llama does not understand him, but he's talking to him anyway, as a friend. "What do llamas eat? Do they eat ravens? I hope not."”
Emma
"I think we've been dismissed," Emma murmurs. She looks around at all of the animals in the store, a slightly bewildered look to her features. "Where are the cats? I mean, I know they're usually assholes, so maybe that's why they're not here...?" With a small shake of her head, she drifts back toward the exit while waiting for everyone else. "King of Pets definitely beats what I saw out in the woods. Why can't we have more of this kind of stuff?"
Todrick
Todd bows at the waist to the frog king of pets in satisfaction of their pact, and while critters rejoice, he turns around and asks very quietly, "What the fuck did I just do?" He loooks to Medina, and then Slouch, and asks, "Do either of you know plumbing? I've got two kin that are perfect for this job but neither are plumbers. Shit, we need electricity too. And... And the Corax, we have news stuff to do. Sweet, you down for some landscaping? And Emma, ecological council?"
Ashton
Ashton considers. "Todd's fur is very soft." He confides in his new llama friend. "I use it in my nest. Although now I just sleep on Todd, it's easier." And warmer." He scritches the Llama's chin. "Are you like a camel?" He asks out of nowhere. "And where are the cats. There are no cats. Why no cats?" He pauses. "Not that I like cats that much." He admits. He pauses. "Corax? What?"
Medina
Medina says "Thank you," when he hears that they're collectively dismissed. When Tod stares at him, he stares back, then he looks at Slouch, then back to Todrick. When he's asked if he knows plumbing, he blurts, "I'm -Mexican-, like this all should be incredibly obvious.
Medina
"I'm -Mexican-," like this all should be incredibly obvious.*
Sweet
Sweet nods and smiles to the guys with the llama. "Alright then I guess if everyone's happy I'm happy. I'm gonna go train or somethin I guess. There's a big ol sand filled bag with my name on it somewhere." Sweet shrugs. "As for the cats, I ain't worried. Sometimes they wander on back after a day of adventures no?"
Slouch
Slouch shrugs when Medina looks at him and clarifies, "I'm not Mexican, but I can fix anything you throw me at. That's a promise."