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Post by Xentus on Oct 10, 2020 13:50:14 GMT -6
Once more, he could hear the intruding jumbled mess of thoughts leaking into his mind. 'What is?', 'what want?', the thoughts questioned, mirrored by the confused stare on the serpent's face. Basantai's feet shuffled uncomfortably on the muddy riverbank. Now that he knew that the leopard wanted something of him, he seemed keen on fulfilling whatever the request was. Xentus mused quietly to himself on how to approach this command, but settled on a more physical method of granting clarity to the beast. He stepped toward the creature once again and pressed his fingers into the seam of that large maw. This triggered more confusion in the beast's mind, but he allowed the leopard to do as he pleased. Xentus tried to pry the serpent's scaly lips apart. They resisted at first, but then lifted to expose a section of interlocking, hand-sized teeth. "Smile, Basantai!", he repeated encouragingly as he traveled along the lip edge.
30 -- Grin - 2
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Post by Jack on Oct 11, 2020 11:51:01 GMT -6
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Post by Xentus on Oct 11, 2020 13:13:58 GMT -6
The thick lips were like a zipper. As he ran his fingers along the edge, the upper and lower sections lifted. Basantai seemed to be having a bit of trouble keeping just his lip lifted, however, his upper one quivering. He had half of an uneasy grin at this point as the leopard rounded to the front of the pliathor's face. Its breath buffeted him as he passed the nostrils. Nothing like the combined stench of pliathor saliva and hot breath. Just as he was about to start lifting the pliathors lip on the other side of its face, the serpent seemed to so it for him. Xentus was about to praise Basantai's initiative, but he realized something was wrong. Its teeth flashed off-white, snout curling into smiling snarl - eyes locking onto something in the shallow water.
Thoughts invaded the leopard's mind, growling about 'movement' and 'intruder'. [Easy there, Basantai. Nothing is out here to hurt us], the leopard tried to assure the beast. But Basantai seemed intent on staring down this so call intruder. He followed its eyes, scanning the muddy riverbank for whatever it was that riled the serpent. It was hard to see, but there seemed to be a small lump of mud that was slightly out of place. Making note of where he saw it, Xentus went to pick up his nearby net. Hopefully the big lug wasn't going to scare it away.
31 -- Grin - 3
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Post by Jack on Oct 12, 2020 7:09:50 GMT -6
The little thing wasn't too concerned with the giant Pliathor, it was more concerned with the mammalian and what it could do. Was that fur? It looked good, maybe it could eat it? Tilting it's body a little to get over a particularly large rock (for itself), it rose up a little and stared.
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Post by Xentus on Oct 14, 2020 17:26:35 GMT -6
The pliathor's eyes stayed warily locked on the supposedly animate lump of mud for a short while longer. If the master deemed it as something that wouldn't hurt him.. He was resigned to stand down. Hmph. Such a small thing was beneath him anyway. Basantai's attention drifted away from the thing and over toward its master. The leopard was on the way back with his net and a bit of bait, a soft smile on his face.
[This one thinks other company is fine, Basantai], Xentus mentally told the serpent, [Now, to simply attempt to capture or to coax?] An interesting choice to be made. While he wasn't opposed to simply netting the thing, he wasn't even sure what it was. If it were dangerous or venomous or could explode, that wouldn't bode well for any of them. Some field research beforehand might prove more beneficial. Xentus scanned the muddy shore for the odd lump, approaching it carefully while crouched. Then, he scattered some bait forward - fish pellets. Tasty, right?
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Post by Jack on Oct 14, 2020 17:51:29 GMT -6
The fish tilted itself and then covered the treats, nibbling on them with it's mouth that was set under it's head. It liked these! These were certainly new friends then, if they gave it treats! Skittering forward, it looked for more.
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Post by Xentus on Oct 14, 2020 18:03:32 GMT -6
That seemed to work? Xentus examined the odd creature while it hovered over where he threw the pellets. It didn't look like it was doing much of anything. From what he could tell, it had a shelled head.. And a tail.. And some spindly little legs. An unassuming creature, one that certainly didn't seem capable of being threatening in any sort. Some kind of bottom feeder, if he had to guess. A creature who's best defense would lay in its hard shell, should it be spotted whilst camouflaged on the muddy river bottom. Xentus pondered the odd, light blue markings on the top of the creature's shell. They were out of place for something that would need to lay low. Perhaps some way to attract a mate?
Basantai watched his master attentively, ready to intervene should something go wrong. Xentus readied his net. The shelled lump crawled closer.. Some more bait was scattered before it, luring it in closer. Then, strike! The net swooped down in an attempt to catch it.
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Post by Jack on Oct 14, 2020 18:06:53 GMT -6
The little fish seemed startled at the net, but there wasn't much it could do. It flopped over and stared at the mammalian for a moment before beaming at him and wriggling it's legs. It was having some fun!
[Congratulations, you've tamed the fish!]
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Post by Xentus on Oct 14, 2020 18:29:09 GMT -6
No thrashing, no flailing. The creature seemed to accept its fate within the confines of the net. Now, he wasn't well versed in the tells of aquatic creatures, but there was a certain look to those beady eyes that made it even seem happy. It was.. Oddly cute. The net might not even have been necessary - he doubted the thing could even go very far or very fast. Xentus chuckled and lifted the net, scooping up the sand skimmer along with it.
[Intruder contained], he told the pliathor who was dutifully watching over him. Basantai seemed to relax fully now, eased by this information. The jumble of foreign thoughts that the leopard heard in his mind now rambled about 'insignificant' and 'safe', but no distinct words were being communicated to him. That was fine. He had enough of a too-chatty beast in his mind with Kyrio. Basantai was a bit more reserved in exchange for less organization in his thoughts.
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Post by Xentus on Oct 14, 2020 18:37:48 GMT -6
The sand skimmer was released into a shallow tide pool so that he could retrieve it later. What could he do with that odd lump.. He didn't know. But it would be interesting to research at least. There was much to be learned in the ways of the aquatic. Hailing from a desert, the water and the things within were a great mystery to him.
Well, back to working on making Basantai the cutest pliathor on land. Xentus telepathically asked the serpent to lower its head again and started over, hands pulling apart those scaly lips. "Smile, Basantai!", the leopard audibly commanded. The serpent still had some confusion about this activity, but he did well to lift his lips as the leopard ran his hand along the seam of his mouth. He didn't want to let his master down. The sensation was a little ticklish, though. The long body of the pliathor involuntarily shuddered in response.
35 -- Grin - 4
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Post by Nadia on Oct 15, 2020 7:38:32 GMT -6
Aww, what a cute, spotty fish!
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Post by Xentus on Oct 16, 2020 15:19:32 GMT -6
"Yes, good smile, Basa!", the leopard praised once he was finished with this strange lip-parting experiment. His hands were moistened with stinking pliathor saliva, but that was an issue he'd tend to later. The serpent's eyes seemed to glow at hearing the praise, that forced grin on its maw making it look all the happier to have done something that pleased its master. The invasive, jumbled thoughts from the beast now muttered something about 'master pleased' and 'praised', but there wasn't a particular line of thought that he could pick out of the mess. But the sight even made the leopard grin in response.
[Nicely done, Basantai], the leopard mentally praised, [This one is proud, you may relax now.] Despite the words, the serpent held the grin for a moment longer before readjusting his mouth and lips to their normal resting state. Right after, Xentus issued the command once again, both verbally and mentally this time.
"Smile!", he called, ready to assist the serpent with showing his teeth should be still be confused about the idea. It was shaky, using muscles that the creature was unaware he even had, but the seam of the pliathor's mouth lifted and showed those sharp teeth all in a row.
36 -- Grin - 5
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Post by Xentus on Oct 16, 2020 15:38:54 GMT -6
If ever there was a sight to behold, it was the glistening teeth of a giant land-dwelling pliathor. Xentus was thrilled by it, but he realized it might not have looked the most friendly to.. Well, anyone who didn't have the companionship of the serpent. It could easily be mistaken for the beast snarling or ready to strike. But he still found it cute, and that's what mattered! Satisfied with Basantai's performance, the man clapped his hands and went to rub its snout.
"Very good smile, Basantai", he chimed happily. The serpent gently pushed its nose into the man's hands, soaking in every last drop of praise and affection. Its grin slowly faded into a natural content expression with its eyes half closed. If the beast could purr, it probably would. The idea made the leopard chuckle. He would've attempted to teach the serpent how to purr, but he feared it might just sound like a guttural growl coming from the giant.
37 -- Grin - 6
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Post by Xentus on Oct 16, 2020 15:53:23 GMT -6
Now, what else could they do together.. The leopard withdrew his hands and beckoned for the beast to follow along as he traversed the muddy riverbank. His main goal was to teach the serpent to give a cute little kiss or lick on command. Then after that, he'd move on to something else like mount training. He was really looking forward to traveling through the air on the giant's back. Or on the top of his head? Within its mane? Carried in its claws? Ah, to be carried in its claws sounded like the most fun. An amused chuckle escaped the leopard. He glanced quickly over his shoulder to the serpent to assess its carrying capabilities. Its clawed digits didn't look very dexterous. But he'd still consider the idea nonetheless. He also needed to temper the creature's quickness to guard him. Which.. Probably wouldn't be easy considering it was designed to be a guardian.
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Post by Xentus on Oct 16, 2020 15:58:43 GMT -6
A redirection of focus would probably work, but he'd never really had to do this kind of thing before. Now it was seeming daunting, thinking of this all at once. He was really good at getting absorbed (and overwhelmed) in these kinds of thoughts. A quick shake of the head to refocus on the small steps to get where he wanted with the serpent. Right. Something cute. A kiss, maybe teach it how to roll over if he was feeling like grooming that long, thick fur. No, no, that was an awful idea. At least, an awful idea to do here at the riverbank. He'd spent literal days cleaning the mud out of that mane. A nearly two hundred foot long serpent was not an easy one to groom and keep clean. Ah he'd think of something. The leopard kicked over some rocks in his path, eyes looking over the underside for anything of interest.
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