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Post by Kristofor on Sept 27, 2020 23:25:15 GMT -6
"Every citizen in Pethia is filed here Mr. Kristofor. Every citizen..." Roz reaches out as something behind the desk makes noises that sound like a printer and picks out something akin to a playing card. "This is your citizen card. Don't lose it...its expensive to replace..." Do I need the card for anything specifically?, I write while looking to Marcel. "Does he really need that card Roz? Yo've pawprinted the guy, I assume thats enough, right?" He smiled jovially... to no reaction at all. The toad's eyes crinkle up, like paper. In a bad way. "Give your card to the person who runs the kennels Mr. Kristofor; they'll keep it safe for you..." The card is placed on the table and shoved forward. I take it. Somehow it has a portrait of me on it, in very small size. Fascinating. "Don't lose it." Roz warns. Its almost overwhelming, I've taken my first step since leaving home to making a new life. Being a citizen. But a question burns at me, and Mira's just watching the toad. I write it down, show Marcel, and he covers up his mouth to try not to laugh. badly. "hahah... oh. oh dear... oh.. hahaha! Ah. He asks Roz, are you a frog or a toad?" +1
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Post by Kristofor on Sept 27, 2020 23:33:11 GMT -6
Can that toad's expression get any flatter? Yes it can. I can almost hear a guttural groan. "I'm an amphibian." Roz answers, but doesn't elaborate. Why? "Welcome to Pethia Mr. Kristofor. Enjoy your stay..." Gently, Marcel draws me aside with a grin and a thumbs up. I'm feeling pretty good about myself at the moment, stowing my card away from eyes and away from Mira, in case she gets a choice of eating paper. "And you Marcel, the higher up wanted to speak to you..." reaching out one of those long padded fingers to press on a box with lots of buttons on it. Like a cassette player but no tape in sight. The button lights up briefly, then goes out. "Just a moment, wait over there. NEXT." Roz gestures closer to the door, and I move away, the faun following me, still lavishing the unknown frog/toad with compliments. Uh...?
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Post by Kristofor on Sept 27, 2020 23:43:11 GMT -6
Coming towards us, or rather to Marcel is a very primped human, in a black suit and tie with black shoes shined up to gleam like the sky. Black hair slicked back as if someone spent a lot of time licking him, and bright yet small brown eyes on a serious looking face. Its almost pointy. "Marcel, its good to see you. How is the tribe?!" the man greets him, totally ignoring the fox in the room, in which I don't mind, but he's talkign and I don't understand him at all. They are grasping hands, but so tightly? "Ah, Padraic, how good to see you too. Back in the city so soon too! I thought that business trip would take longer." the two males seemed to be having an amiable sounding conversation, if not for the increasing grip on their hands with each other. Looking between the two, I wasn't sure I wanted to stick around for this conversation. Maybe.
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Post by Kristofor on Sept 27, 2020 23:48:55 GMT -6
"The tribe is doing just as well as the last time, always migrating. Fall's upon the continent, so we'll be moving south sooner then later." the faun answered the tall man's question. Eventually they released each others hand after trying to conveniently crush it. "Growing every season with new hornlings and new families getting together." "Good, good. Its good to hear our panite tribe is flourishing so well. Business trip to the north went about as well as I'd expect; I can't get those bumbling uthax to grant a trade route passage up to the frozen ocean for any amount of money or favors I offer." Padraic sighed, angling his head sideways. Taking notice of me, just standing there with my open knapsack and a panilla on my shoulder. Wheek wheek wheek! Mira clung to the fabric of my shoulder. Had she smelled something off? "And there's a new kid in town! I heard about someone coming from the West to the city." He laughed at my shock. "Bus records, boy. One way ticket to New Pethia. Travelers, buy round trip. Residents to be, are one way." Marcel translates for me. Oh. Made sense.
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Post by Kristofor on Sept 27, 2020 23:53:30 GMT -6
What is a panite?, I write on the chalkboard and show Marcel. He sighs and clears his throat. "Padraic here believes that anyone or anything that is remotely looking like an ungulate, no matter how little, must be a panite. Panites are traveling nomadic goatfolk, to give them a term. And for the record, faun, not panite. Faun. Fae." He clicks his tongue disapprovingly and turns back to the man. He laughs at whatever Marcel says back. "I do hope he settles in nicely to the city. Ah, yes. This was for your last job for us here at the Hall." passing over a small envelope. Marcel took it, and unfolded a piece of paper inside. Reading it fast with his eyes. Nodding and folding it back up. "Wired to your account, just as requested." "I'll check the deposit, just in case. No hard feelings toward you Pat, just business." The belt has a spot for letters as he files it away. Padraic takes a good long look at Mira, who starts up and starts making alarm noises.
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Post by Kristofor on Sept 27, 2020 23:59:58 GMT -6
"Must be off to my next job then. Until then, Rat." Marcel steers me around as he waves an amiable? hand and walks quickly out of the hall. "Until again, Goat." he clips off as the door shuts. When the door shuts, Marcel steers me away from its windows before he leans against the nearest wall with a strained smile and shaking out his maybe crushed hand. "I really can't stand that guy. He's a rat in a human skin, figuratively." the faun complains, the smile falling at last. Mira's alarm noises stopped when she couldn't see him anymore as she twines around my neck. I reach up carefully and offer my fingers for her to sniff. Offering to scratch her back if she'd let me. "Knows very well I am NOT a panite, I'm quite a bit shorter then a panite, and he knows it." stamping a hoof briefly. "Anyhow. Kristofor. You're a resident! A citizen! Congratulations are in order. Now. Head straight down this path, and you'll see a big gray building. Its tall, you can't miss it. Bigger then this place." he jerks a thumb back at squished apple pie place. "Its the Kennels. Talk to the keeper inside. They've got all the new resident stuff you'll need. Including food." My stomach rumbles in response. "I've got things to do, so ta~" patting my ribs with an open hand and walking off fast. Once he's gone, I check to make sure I wasn't just pickpocketed. Nope. Lucky. +1
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Post by Kristofor on Sept 28, 2020 20:37:43 GMT -6
The northern path winds upwards, and it heads off left, marked by the signs to the kennels. Standing up tall, a huge building. Going up at least twenty floors. It looms overhead with gray, gloomy cement walls. And right in front of me, two very wide doors are marked "Resident Kennels". This building is taller then the squashed apple pie of a city hall, taller then maybe even the gleaming white walls of what was beyond the tree line. Its bigger then any building I've seen in the little town in the valley. Granted, that place... with the raving mad dogs and the thing. was tall. Yes. Its a big place. A humanmade foxhole? No. The doors slam open, and someone storms out. Shouting something about giant bladed reptilian asses in the hallway becoming a blockade of living proportion. "I hope you are happy with that donkey of a crossbreed!!!" the person shouted. "Its ugly! Deformed! Too many pieces attached!"
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Post by Kristofor on Sept 28, 2020 20:49:01 GMT -6
As the person walks away at a brisk pace, the doors start to close again. Unsure if it'll open again, or even open to me, I dash inside before the two doors close up completely. Ow, it took a single hair off the end of my beautiful tail. Its cold... surprisingly cold. Now in a very long, horizontal hallway, and before me are a series of people behind a glass wall- With velvet ropes marking lines for each of their windows. Okay, not even people. There's the occasional person who looks more animalfolk to my eyes. "Well, don't just stand there, come forward." Someone who reminds me of a bird beckons me forward. "Ah, a new resident. Do you speak Common?" I shake my head no. Its written on my board already 'I speak laiyan' as I turn it around to show her, now standing in front of the glass wall. The human? woman is tall, slim, with a long thin nose and a long neck, for a human. Mira hides in my shirt collar.
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Post by Kristofor on Sept 28, 2020 20:55:07 GMT -6
"Ah. Laiyan. Well, I do believe we have someone on staff who can assist you....myself actually. Your resident's card, if you please." She offers out her hand, and I swear if she were a bird, her fingers would be feathers. They are long and thin, like sticks. Carefully, I hand out my resident's card to her. She takes it, reads it, and wrinkles her long nose. "That amphibian's lack of detail is difficult to work with. Your registry papers please." Nodding, I take off my knapsack, and set it on the counter to fish out the folder and hand it to her. She nods, and takes it. "I see you have your first pet. She seems rather attached to you." I nod again. Mira is a gift from my family for moving away, to here., I write down for the birdish woman. She nods. Severe looking may be, but at least not shouting. Yet.
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Post by Kristofor on Sept 28, 2020 21:06:48 GMT -6
"I see... so one pet so far... silver fox.... is this both a breed and a last name? Humans and animalfolk have the choice of a last name. However, if you do, you'll have to get an updated card. Roz loves her organization... and is a real stickler for paperwork." she smirks a bit. "I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Kevin, I am one of the overseers of the Resident Kennels." Nodding a thank you, I rub out most of the words and sentences again. Hello Kevin. Roz mentioned you would be keeping my paperwork., I write down. "I can, yes. You are brand new and have no home yet, which is why you are here, yes?" I nod again. "Yes, this is free housing for all the citizens of the city. Property is expensive, and our kennels are seemingly endlessly expansive. We have not run out of space yet..." Mira shivers against the bare ring of skin under my collar.
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Post by Kristofor on Sept 28, 2020 23:09:51 GMT -6
"Depending on what you want, the lot can be completely customizable as well. As big, or as small, as unusual as you wish." Kevin puts out a piece of paper, a listed amount of lots here inside the building. "New Pethia is a hub of trade, so people come and go constantly. For our present amount of citizens... lot number 2784 is open on the 9th level." She circled the lot... "If you wish to make it premade; white picket fence, a houselike look, some humans like that... just ask. I'll lead you up there to find your way. Get you settled, give you the tour. It's a maze in here, so please make sure to keep up." Nodding eagerly, I"m ready to get a home. I"m tired. I want to sleep. Mira's getitng sleepy again, I think. So we follow her up to the place. She's pointing things out. +1
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Post by Kristofor on Sept 29, 2020 13:48:16 GMT -6
“As a new resident of the city, money is always tight. Citizens who are a bit tight on funds for feeding their growing family of animals usually stay here to ease up on the funds. We do offer an assortment of food to feed your animals; but it is not top quality.” Kevin explains as we walk down a long northern hallway. To a human, it looks like a prison, going up and up and up with floor after floor above the head and a big hole in the middle. And this is A BIG HOLE. She finds something in her pocket, and breaks it in half. A chocolate bar. “I forget, are foxes allergic to sweets or chocolate?” We foxes do have a sweet tooth, but not for chocolate. No thank you., I write down for her, while shaking my head no. Blueberries on the other hand, I might have a tougher time saying no.
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Post by Kristofor on Sept 29, 2020 17:59:32 GMT -6
“I’ll keep that in mind then. More for me.” Kevin remarks, popping a square of chocolate the size of a human’s postage stamp into her mouth. She’s smiling like a small child before realizing exactly what she did. “My apologies. I... have a chocolate addiction.” I have no issue if you need to eat while touring., I write for her. She smiles in experience. “Such a polite young fox. You’ve been raised well.” My ears heat up as we walk. Kevin points out various features of the prisonlike building, of how very customizable the lots can be; and then we stop before the 'dark area'. "Beyond this point is more lots, but its considered a darker area. Scary, dangerous..." Have you tried to fix the dark area?, I point out with my chalkboard. "Yes and no. There's the funds to fix the dark area but repairs and such upkeep... Its no excuse really." she points another direction and we continue on. Mira peeks out around my collar. Wheek?
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Post by Kristofor on Sept 29, 2020 19:15:30 GMT -6
The lot she had in mind for me did require a few flights of stairs, but stairs weren't a terrible human invention. Unless you were doing something besides wlaking up or down. Steep, metal and rather rickety looking in some area, the flight held against a fox and a human climbing them. "Here we go. Lot 2784." Kevin gestures to the door as she looks for its key and another piece of chocolate. Was this the third or fourth piece since the tour began...? "I know I have it someplace... aha." she pulled out a regular looking card that could've been for playing poker, if it was paper. Sliding it through the door, the lock undoes itself, clunking and clicking and opening to... an empty space. Literally nothing is in here. Think empty store here, maybe a stray dust bunny or whatnot. "This lot has been vacant since the kennels were established. A bit dusty, but manageable." The drifting dust makes me sneeze, and Mira sneezes as a result as well. POOF, there goes my fur.
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Post by Kristofor on Sept 29, 2020 19:20:28 GMT -6
"Lets see... keycard, map, tour of where the food closet is... do you need anything else?" the birdish woman asked. Where do I get water in here, and food for... people?, I prompt with my board. Her long fingers snap together. "Right rihgt rightright. Water can be gotten from the taps here, and here." she enters the kennel and as I step inside, its a cold metal floor underpaw. I can feel Mira gripping my shirt as she looks left and right, curious adn cautious of this cold new place. "Tap here." Kevin pointed out at a flat panel. "Finger or paw, it doesn't make a difference." I poke it experimentally with a claw, but it doesnt' react. Finally trying with my finger pad. The wall rattles a bit and a rushing noise as water...thats very brown water. Ew... Very brown water squelches out of the tap, landing with a plop in the metal tub that can catch and remove water. Another tap, and it squelches again, but runnier. "Uh... hm..." Kevin regards this with worry in her voice.
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