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Post by Silver on Mar 31, 2023 21:16:30 GMT -6
Once again, Silver found themselves backstage at a show hastily grooming a creature so that it looked perfect for the contest. They were usually fond of the process of bonding with and caring for their creatures, but there was something about the time pressure that made them a bit nervous. Silver tried to remind themselves to breathe, and that everything would be alright. Oko, of course, was just happy to have someone new to play with. He cheerfully booped and fiddled with anything in reach.
"Ah, hold still for a second," Silver said as they brushed near his head and face. They didn't want to risk poking him in the eye or anything like that. Oko booped again and pressed his head into the brush. Silver beamed, thinking that he was the perfect choice for this show. What a cutie. As a final piece, they clipped a beautiful handmade collar they had won in another contest onto him. It matched his fur just perfectly, and they had to wonder if the judges would like the little nod to the Summer contest as well.
1 [147.95, 26.4] [Using brush and braided collaret.]
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Post by Silver on Mar 31, 2023 21:26:15 GMT -6
What better creature for a basics show than an Orbaru? They were the most simple of all labs creatures, and Silver knew that they could impress the crowd by showing off a creature that on its own, wasn't actually that special. What was special about Oko was that he was sweet, loyal, and smart. He knew a lot of tricks compared to most Orbaru, or at least they thought he did. They certainly knew a lot of Orbaru thanks to Nina, and at best they tended to only know a few simple commands.
It was finally their turn, so Silver headed out onto the stage. They were alone at first, having decided not to carry Oko but asking him to stay back stage for a second. They thought it'd be more impressive if he made his own way out. "Okay everyone, I would love you to meet my friend, Oko! Come here Oko!"
Oko hopped onto the stage and made eye contact with his owner. He watched them carefully, expecting another command. "Come here boy, it's time for the show!" they said with a laugh. Oko hopped over to their side and flopped over next to their feet, resting his head on their boots.
2 [147.8, 26.6] [Displaying name and come.]
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Post by Silver on Mar 31, 2023 21:46:03 GMT -6
"Thanks," they said sarcastically, hopefully quietly enough that the judges didn't really pick up on it. That would be embarrassing. Regardless, they should keep going with the show and pretend that it was all part of the act.
"Oko," they said, lifting him up gently with their foot. He hopped to his feet and started to look around. "Oko, sit boy, sit," they said. Oko plopped down where he was standing without even turning his head. The reaction was immediate. "Now stay, stay where you are Oko." Without that command he surely would have started hopping around again in no time.
Silver grinned at the judges, like they were saying 'See? He did it!' but that look was short lived. "Why don't you tell them your name, Oko. Oko, speak!"
Oko booped softly, as if he was following orders but his heart wasn't really in it. "Oko, speak!" Silver said more firmly, eliciting a louder boop from the Orbaru. "That's better."
3 [147.85, 26.8] [Displaying sit, stay, and speak up.]
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Post by Silver on Mar 31, 2023 21:58:00 GMT -6
"Oko," Silver said. His green eyes snapped up to their face when he heard his name. "Do you know what I have?" they asked. Of course he didn't, but he was about to find out.
They held up a single bright red berry between their thumb and index finger. "Look at this, Oko, one of your favorites!" Oko booped excitedly, and stood up to get closer to the berries. Even though he had been instructed to sit, he forgot as soon as he saw a good treat. That was fine, though, it was time for the next part of the show.
"Can you catch, Oko? Jump up and catch," they said. They annunciated the words that were commands a bit differently from the other words in the sentence. Oko prepared himself to jump as he saw a berry fly through the air. He hopped up and caught the first one as it was thrown, then another, and finally one more. As he had done so well catching them, the rest were handed to him gently. He proved that he could jump and catch, at least.
4 [148.1*, 27] [Displaying leap, catch, and using blood berries.] *Typo corrected.
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Post by Silver on Mar 31, 2023 22:06:08 GMT -6
"Now, for the next trick, we'll need your toy... where has your toy gone, Oko?" Silver asked. It was clear from the tone of their voice that this was all part of the act. "Follow me," they whispered so only he could hear. They started to walk around the stage, feigning to look for a toy they had placed earlier. Attentive audience members might notice that the toy was sitting prominently on a stool.
"Well, you know, I just can't find it. Perhaps you could come on up and help me look?" Silver said. Again the tone of their voice indicated to a careful listener that the statement was actually a command. Silver leaned down to make it easier on the Orbaru, and Oko climbed up onto their shoulder. It was clear they had practiced this, as it was very smooth.
From there, Silver continued to look around for the toy, with Oko balancing on their shoulder and not falling off.
5 [148.15, 27.2] [Displaying follow, and hitch a ride.]
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Post by Silver on Mar 31, 2023 22:09:14 GMT -6
"Oh, here it is!" they said as if surprised. Any kids in the audience should be laughing, they thought. Did kids even attend these things, or was the audience full of adults groaning at their sorry attempts at humor? They decided not to dwell on the question and finish up the show.
"This is your favorite toy, isn't it?" Silver said, holding up the toy to their shoulder so Oko could see it. He reached his paws out as if to grab the toy, but his arms were too short to reach. "I can see why," they said with a chuckle, comparing the toy to the Orbaru itself. "Well, if you like it, you better go get it!"
At the same time, they threw the toy and leaned down so that Oko could jump to the ground, which he did. Then he dove after the toy, grabbing it and bringing it back to where Silver was. Though he didn't seem keen on letting it go.
6 [148.2, 27.4] [Displaying fetch, and using blue Orbaru plush.]
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Post by Silver on Mar 31, 2023 22:32:49 GMT -6
"Wow, that must have been exhausting," they said. They leaned over and pulled a small pet bed from a stack of them that had been sitting on the stage.
"Do you think it's time for you and your friend to go to sleep?" they said. Yet again, a careful observer could tell where the command was in the sentence, but they tried to make it look natural.
Hearing what he was meant to do next, Oko continued to clutch his toy self and flopped into one of the beds. He curled up into a little circle with his tail and hind leg wrapped up over his friend. He did a cute little yawn, which Silver thought was yet another perfect unintentional effect.
"Well, as you can see, he's exhausted, so I suppose that's the end of the show. Thank you for having me," they said with a parting bow.
7 [148.25, 27.6] [Displaying lay down, and using tiered pet beds.]
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Post by Skylos on Mar 31, 2023 22:54:51 GMT -6
THe last time he'd brought Kitri to the contest hall, it was a flick of whimsy. Now here they were, not quite the largest animal on display today, but certainly (to him) one of the tougher looking. If she didn't keep having a case of 'shuffle behind the cat' while watching the others take ot the stage. Did Skylos have an idea of how to show her off? No. What to do? Fake it till you make it. Its how he's survived so far. "Kitri, sit." he tells her as they walk onto the stage. She sits, head tilted. She's more curious now that its on her. He commands her to stay, walks across the stage, and has her come to him. She does come. the pup is rewarded, and is rubbed all over. She loves it. But that's all the time they had for then, and were ready to get going. -name, sit, come, stay-
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