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Post by Xentus on Aug 30, 2023 21:54:20 GMT -6
| Xentus, | Currently Accompanied By...
| | Relevant Skills:
- Agriculture 3
- Plant Lore
- Berry Picking
- Expert Gardener
- Toxin-wise |
| | Supplies;
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Posts
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Post by Xentus on Aug 30, 2023 22:04:02 GMT -6
> Also accompanied by...
This... Would be something different. A change of pace, an added flavor to the usual tedium that would hopefully spice things up. The (usually) monthly trip to the breeding center went just about the same way each time. Somehow manage to get the lotine into a carriage, haul her off to the back side of the breeding center to the garden, get her into a pond, then spend a couple of hours bonding. And Xentus, being a researcher, would take mental notes of the lotine's behavior - in the name of science and biology. Valii was growing quite fond of him and this little ritual, as far as he could tell. She didn't shy away from any chance to plop herself on his lap and lay there as if she actually fit. While Xentus welcomed her affectionate nature coming through, he was growing antsy for a change of pace. So, he decided to bring a new pet along: a small seryn. The fry was a fascinating one, said to be able to make a reflection of itself when it got older. If it was anything like Miss Ferella's rakai, he had an interesting specimen on his hands. Valii seemed particularly interested in the fish-in-a-bowl the man brought along, her nose poking curiously at the glass.
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Post by Xentus on Sept 3, 2023 23:05:04 GMT -6
It was now that he realized that Valii might see the fish as a potential snack, given that the lotine's favorite food was fish. "This fish is friend, not food", he informed the serpent in a strict tone, eyeing her carefully. Her grey eyes looked up at him with an air of wonder, seeming to try to figure out what he'd meant and why he brought a particularly lively meal. A tilted head made the long, floppy tendrils of the serpent fall over to one side. "This one good fish, this one food fish", Xentus told her slowly, pointing at seryn first, then holding out the rainbowed fish. He could tell the lotine was confused by the situation. That something was not, in fact, food. But a very similar something was food. With her traditional meal offered forward now, she took it and retreated into the pond - this was the only thing she knew that was certain she could do.
Xentus sighed. Hopefully that would keep the lotine sated enough to dismiss the small fry as a combo to her meal. His eyes now shifted to the slightly frightened looking seryn in the bowl. "Fret not, little one. Xentus wouldn't allow Valii to eat you"
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Post by Xentus on Sept 4, 2023 11:48:58 GMT -6
Those were some rather bold words coming from him. There wasn't any way he could really promise that. But, perhaps by showing invested interested in the seryn could he demonstrate that it was a creature of value - moreso than for merely fodder. "Ah, so what to name you...", the man muttered to the bowl, rubbing the glass with his padded finger. The fish within followed along the inner surface as the finger traced around in circles. Its scales shimmered with brilliant blues and purples, reminding him of a kaleidoscope. And with that thought alone, he settled on Kaleido, the beautiful image. Now, whether or not Kaledio was a boy or girl was still a mystery to him. He wasn't sure how fish genders worked. The ssashirk at the bait shop mentioned something about looking for an egg spot, but males could have a false one, and well it was all really rather confusing.
"Kaleido he shall be named", the man murmured gently to the bowl, assuming the fish to be male until proven otherwise. Not that a female fish would likely care for a masculine sounding name. It was for his own sake really, for trying to address his pets properly.
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Post by Xentus on Feb 12, 2024 12:54:58 GMT -6
Now, Xentus knew better than to keep the small fry prisoner within a bowl of all things. Proper piscine husbandry dictated that the fish should have a minimum of five gallons of water, plus an additional two per square inch of fish, serviced by a bio-active filter and... In shorter terms, a lot more care than what a mere bowl of water could offer. The man's eyes shifted slowly to the pond despite knowing it was best to not make the rash decision to let the fry loose within the lotine-infested waters. There was little harm in the seryn's travel-container, he assured himself. It would survive this little outing, have some fun, and return home safe and sound into its proper set-up.
With that instance of mental gymnastics trying to justify having a young seryn with him at all, the man settled down and turned his attention to the fry. It looked back at him with wary eyes, with a spark of curiosity behind them. Once Valii came up from the depths of the pond, he'd make an attempt at introductions, round two. The lotine normally took her time eating her meal, savoring the (presumably) magical flavor of fish. Sometimes, he wondered what it tasted like..
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Post by Xentus on Feb 18, 2024 0:45:25 GMT -6
It was decidedly not a good time to get lost in thought regarding that, however. The mammalian instead decided to shift gears to entertaining the fish and figuring out exactly how to introduce it and the lotine. He could keep it within the confines of the glass and submerge it in the water. Or have Valii come up onto his lap and take a look that way. Ideas bounced in his head for the brief moments before the serpent poked her head out of the water.
"Ah, enjoy your meal dear Valii?", the man asked gently, giving the rainbowed creature a smile, "Xentus has decided- he will dip more than just his toes today"
It wasn't the warmest of days to decide to take a dip, but it was bearable enough to slip waist-high into the pool. The fish in the bowl swam frantically in circles as it laid eyes on the lotine. "Kaleido, it is okay. Meet Valii. Valii, Kaleido", Xentus kindly introduced the two water-fairing creatures. The lotine was sated from her meal and more curious than hungry for seconds. The seryn, on the other hand, was quite concerned to be in the presence of a potential predator. As if a giant feline man wasn't scary enough!
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Post by Xentus on Feb 18, 2024 0:52:31 GMT -6
Though, Xentus was particularly disarming to be in the presence of. Kaleido had grown used to him, for the most hand. That sea serpent on the other hand looked... Pretty. The rainbowed coat of the lotine was shimmery and beautiful. As the bowl was dipped into the pond, Kaleido was able to get a better look at the mean predator in its midst. While it wasn't as scary as it initially thought, it was unnerving. It did witness the serpent drag down a fellow fish into the water. The invisible barrier of the bowl did provide some modicum of comfort, as did the mammalian man's presence.
Valii swam around Xentus' legs, curling her body around him playfully before coming in to take a closer look at the fish. It, unlike her routine meals, was still alive. And Xentus' concerned staring didn't go beyond her notice. He did babble warningly a bit at her, but his sounds made little sense. It was difficult to put it all together. But ultimately, curiosity came first. The lotine swam up to the fish and found her snout rudely blocked by the invisible glass barrier. A quick snap of teeth at the offensive barrier was her response.
"Valii, no!"
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Post by Xentus on Feb 18, 2024 1:56:20 GMT -6
Xentus moved the bowl away while the lotine spent a moment to recover from surprise. Her body twisted backward in recoil in response to both the surprise of solid glass and the man's muffled scolding. Kaleido's eyes seemed to grow even bigger than they already were, full of terror and fright from those teeth! It felt lucky to be alive! This glass barrier proved to be more reliable than it thought, though being invisible did leave it feeling far too vulnerable for comfort.
"It's ok, Kaleido, Valii can't hurt you"
The leopard's voice was muffled through the water but still sounded calming enough to ease the fry's woes. It looked up at him with pleading eyes. To be somewhere safer than here. Xentus understood its fear, though given his plans for the little fish, it needed to grow brave enough to face things even more dangerous than a lotine! But, such plans were some time away from now. Xentus sunk deeper into the water and wrapped his arms around the bowl, giving more visible protection than the glass alone. Within moments, the seryn seemed to settle down, feeling better with these new fortifications. Valii soon recovered from her bout of shock and nuzzled at the man's side, seemingly to ask for forgiveness.
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Post by Xentus on Feb 18, 2024 2:04:03 GMT -6
She wasn't keen on getting scolded again, despite not being fully certain of why she was scolded to begin with.
"Xentus means not to be harsh, dear", he muttered, glancing between the seryn and the lotine, "Be kind to Kaleido here. This one hopes for the two of you to get along despite your ah... Differences"
Differences was a strange way to describe the predator and prey dynamic here, but there was little else that fit. Not that Valii understood the man's words at all. Getting her more familiar with the common tongue was something he'd been meaning to do, but it was one of many things he'd 'been meaning to do'. That list grew faster than it could be depleted unfortunately. But, it meant he could easily stay busy. And just as easily feel overwhelmed. It was a double edged sword. One thing at a time, he reminded himself. And sometimes, two at a time. Having some better bonding time between Kaleido and Valii was the whole point of this outing. And nurturing lola came as a bonus.
Xentus released an arm from the bowl to stroke along Valii's back, accepting her apology and showing her forgiveness. The opening gave her the opportunity to get closer to the bowl and try getting another look
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Post by Xentus on Feb 18, 2024 2:13:06 GMT -6
And this time, without breaking her snout. The lotine reached out with a paw to feel for the smooth edge of the glass bowl as she crept toward it. Kaleido seemed somewhat interested in this strange new method of approach. It was far less frightening than being greeted mouth first. It swam up to the edge and examined the relatively large paw up close. And gingerly, after giving it a moment of thought, its own fin reached out to touch the glass from within. Upon touching the surface, the fish spooked and darted off. The moment of bravery was amusingly brief.
Xentus grinned with delight and tried to mimic the curious gesture, trying to show that the lotine wasn't something to be afraid of. His free hand reached for Valii's paw and gave it a rub. The lotine's dark eyes seemed to sparkle at the gesture. Her head poked out of the water as she hummed in delight.
"Haha, feel good, Valii?", the man said with a chuckle.
Kaleido watched and seemed to take in the 'harmlessness' of the lotine's paw. And the apparent nice feel of the leopard's touch. It too swam up to the surface of the water and offered up a fin.
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Post by Xentus on Feb 18, 2024 2:31:50 GMT -6
That was possibly one of the cutest things he'd ever seen. An audible 'aww' escaped the man's lips as he reached into the bowl with a finger to accept the fin-five. The small fry swam with a flourish, seeming delighted to be included in 'hand-holding'. Xentus didn't think a little fish could be so adorable. He watched as it turned its attention back to Valii and tried once again at offering its fin against the glass. The lotine accepted and placed her paw on the other side once again. Their keeper, watching this, could only imagine what kind of bond the two have begun to form. It was at its early stage, but he sensed a friendship that would surpass the predator and prey dynamic. Or perhaps that was just his wishful thinking speaking up.
Still, he felt it would be fun to have the two get to know one another better with time. And it would help take some attention off him from Valii. The lotine had little else she was fond of, and while it wasn't bothersome to be her only source of interaction, it was reasonably more healthy to have something a little more in her realm - literally. Sure, the seryn was small now, but it would surely come to grow to rival even the lotine's stature in due time. They'd just need to see how things turn out as the days passed.
10 - Done
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Post by Silver on May 14, 2024 23:59:03 GMT -6
They appear to match their mother. How cute! |
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Oct 30, 2024 11:03:36 GMT -6
Oct 30, 2024 11:03:36 GMT -6
This song is one of the most common culprits for me, lol
Oct 23, 2024 13:48:09 GMT -6
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This song is one of the most common culprits for me, lol
Oct 23, 2024 13:48:09 GMT -6
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