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Post by Zenjesi on Sept 6, 2024 18:28:15 GMT -6
While this might be a concern while visiting most standard properties, Zenjesi was not particularly bothered by the thought with regards to the Mansion. For one, the Mansion did not seem to have qualms with causing emotional and (admittedly mild) physical harm to its visitors. Not to mention that the Mansion regenerated itself evidently for sport, so surely it would find no issue with repairing any damage done by a juvenile Bulldozer's jaws. Suffice to say, they would feel greater shame were Marian to chew through a door at Ramal's park than one of the doors here.
"Prepare yourself, Marian," the satyr warned her while they reached for the gate. Though, the words may have also been uttered to bolster themselves. They knew Marian could not harm them while she wore the amulet. She was wearing it today, they had confirmed, though it was concerning hard to notice at a glance against her pale skin.
Zenjesi: 0.4 Marian: 7.0, 3.5
September: 4
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Post by Zenjesi on Sept 6, 2024 20:39:11 GMT -6
Still, they did not feel entirely comfortable in her presence. It reminded them a bit of being in the company of a humanoid, and the general mutual unease that typically surrounded those interactions. They doubted the Bulldozer had the capacity to comprehend their social curse; it seemed to be limited to humanoids, anyway. She was just mildly... hostile, it seemed. Perhaps the Mansion would hold the secret to their bonding process. It had worked with Florian - a task they would have deemed impossible once.
Now, as they opened the gate, Marian did not take the initiative to enter, as Florian may have. Instead, he satyr finally took a step through, onto the grounds once more. They allowed ample space for Marian to follow... and she did not. "Marian, come," they urged her with a hand gesture. A low growl began to rumble out of the Bulldozer. Zenjesi heaved a sigh.
Zenjesi: 0.5 Marian: 7.2, 3.6
September: 5
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Post by Zenjesi on Sept 8, 2024 13:50:33 GMT -6
They had spent some time together at Ramal's park, but Marian had been younger then, and Zenjesi had been both distracted by conversation with Ramal and their work in the gardens there, and also had endeavored to give the ill-tempered Bulldozer a bit more personal space. They had hoped that doing so would demonstrate to her that they respected her boundary. Perhaps that had had been the correct approach on their first outing together, but if they were to properly bond with her, Zenjesi suspected they may have to force her hand. Claw.
"Come," they encouraged her again, taking even another step back onto the Mansion grounds. The growling increased in volume. This was perplexing. They could not fathom what about this was irritating her so, except perhaps the possibility that she simply despised being told what to do. That would prove to be difficult, if it truly was the issue.
Zenjesi: 0.6 Marian: 7.4, 3.7
September: 6
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Post by Zenjesi on Sept 8, 2024 14:10:25 GMT -6
Or perhaps it was the fact that Zenjesi was perceiving her. Or the fact that the Mansion was a large building, and Marian disliked anything larger than herself. Or the fact that the apples on the trees were red. With this Bulldozer, Zenjesi could not begin to guess. It may be that the best route would be to ignore her irritable noises.
As always, the satyr had arrived at the Mansion in the evening and at the least popular hour for other visitors. Thus, they had fewer concerns with what they were about to do. Zenjesi turned their back on Marian and strode deeper into the lot. Of course, they would not let her completely out of their sight, lest she disappear in pursuit of a civilian. But they also did not wish to reward her poor behavior with their attention. At the same time, they were not sure their attention was something she craved.
Zenjesi: 0.7 Marian: 7.6, 3.8
September: 7
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Post by Zenjesi on Sept 8, 2024 14:18:49 GMT -6
It could be a fearful reaction that she wished to incite in Zenjesi, they supposed. But that would not occur, either. Zenjesi did not fear a Bulldozer, especially not their own. Though their reasons for aggression would not always make logical sense, their actions were fairly simple and predictable. In that way, they were the least frightening thing Zenjesi knew of.
The Mansion's grounds appeared exceedingly normal and pleasant this time of year. An orchard spanned the front lawn, with rows of neat and orderly trees heavily laden with ripe apples. The ground beneath each was almost as rich with them. A gentle, evening breeze rustled leaves that were only just beginning to fade in color. Something small darted from the shadow of one tree to another, cowering behind an apple. The satyr was wondering about its identity when they saw that the large, white shape in their peripheral vision was moving.
Zenjesi: 0.8 Marian: 7.8, 3.9
September: 8
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Post by Zenjesi on Sept 10, 2024 16:45:14 GMT -6
They turned, but only halfway, watching as Marian finally crossed the threshold. Still, she was growling; the satyr could hear it even from this distance. Perhaps she could sense the magical energy that the Mansion emanated, like Zenjesi could. They somewhat doubted a Bulldozer's mind was sophisticated enough to comprehend what such a thing meant, but it could be that that was precisely why she was distressed.
Then, she lunged, and her jaws snapped down. The satyr felt their heart skip at least one beat, if not two, as they whirled to see what damage had been done. Had the small creature evaded them and ended in Marian's mouth? Had another visitor to the Mansion wandered out onto the grounds, both they and Zenjesi unaware of the other's presence? Something red was clenched in her maw, and something else was dripping from between her teeth. A cold feeling washed over Zenjesi.
Zenjesi: 0.9 Marian: 8.0, 4.0
September: 9
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Post by Zenjesi on Sept 10, 2024 16:52:44 GMT -6
Their mind was devoid of thought as their hooves began to move, carrying them forward slowly towards the scene. What ought they to do? What had just been lost? Marian opened her jaws again, and the crumpled, broken remains fell forth. ... An apple. The satyr stopped short, blinking, and re-calibrating everything they had just convinced themselves of. It was an apple. A soft chuckle bubbled up and out of them, at least partially due to relief.
"Did it please you, Marian?" they asked her. She had stopped growling, but they could see that all six of her eyes were fixated on the next apple. She propelled herself forward again, clamping her teeth down on it, as well. It was amusing, for a moment, until they realized that, during their time in Ramal's garden, they had allowed her to shred weeds to pass the time. Had they instilled in her a hatred for plant life?
Zenjesi: 1.0 - logged! Marian: 8.2, 4.1
September: 10
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Post by Zenjesi on Sept 15, 2024 13:38:05 GMT -6
Somehow, this thought was almost more horrifying than the concept of her victim being a small, vulnerable creature. To one such as Zenjesi, plants had been a more reliable source of companionship than beasts - or humanoids. To think that Marian may never be willing to coexist with a plant peacefully was a dreadful thought. No, they were getting ahead of themselves, as they always did. This albino Bulldozer may be particularly aggressive, and particularly moody, but surely even she could be reasoned with.
Well, perhaps using the word 'reasoned' was ambitious. Again, Bulldozers were not known for their intellect. If not reasoned with, then... tempered, or redirected. If they had managed to teach Florian to wait for a command, Marian must also be capable of such training. It was simply a question of proper motivation. Another loud crunch punctuated their thought, followed by the hiss of apple juice squeezing from the next fruit bitten.
Zenjesi: 0.1 Marian: 8.4, 4.2
September: 11
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Post by Zenjesi on Sept 15, 2024 13:48:59 GMT -6
They recalled now that, the last time this harvest season had occurred within the Mansion's grounds, the apples had withered and rotted as the season had shifted onward. Soon, the fruits would no longer be viable, nor items the satyr was keen to carry in their bag. But for now, they may prove to be an ideal training or redirection method. Stooping, Zenjesi gathered up half of a dozen of them, careful to mind and disperse any buzzing insects. Periodically, another apple popped behind them. It was almost akin to a cat wearing a jingle bell on its collar; they could be certain Marian was not stalking up on them (or anyone else) while they could yet hear these sounds of destruction.
Their collection complete, Zenjesi did pause for a moment, still crouched in the grass. Where had that small, scurrying creature gone? There was not a sound or a flicker of movement to be seen now.
Zenjesi: 0.2 Marian: 8.6, 4.3
September: 12
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Post by Zenjesi on Sept 15, 2024 13:56:54 GMT -6
Was that not how they had encountered the wheffegy during the last season? Curiosity was a dangerous adversary when visiting the Mansion, but they could not help themselves. On fingertips and hooves, the satyr cautiously crawled forward, peering over each fallen fruit for any indication of hidden visitors. Nothing... nothing... They flinched violently as a large fly buzzed directly towards their face. With a simple wave of their hand, it disappeared into the evening sky.
Their eye absently drifted down to the place the fly had been feeding, passing over when no sign of a creature showed itself -- and then their attention snapped back to the fly's fruit. Zenjesi was no stranger to plant produce. More often than not, the fruits produced by a plant that was not actively tended would be found with marks or wounds from wildlife or disease. This apple, too, bore a scar, though the sight of it was impossible to ignore.
Zenjesi: 0.3 Marian: 8.8, 4.4
September: 13
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Post by Zenjesi on Sept 15, 2024 14:06:07 GMT -6
It was far too regular with edges too sharp and clean to have been naturally formed. It was, quite clearly, the letter 'Z'. The satyr froze, a frown beginning to crease their features. A 'Z'... for Zenjesi? Or, no perhaps it was just the letter 'N'. What would an 'N' correspond to?
No, it was neither, of course. Their logical mind intervened. To think it a letter, or, dare they say, even a message was madness. Was it not? No... it was not -- not madness, that was. Despite all appearances, the Mansion was no abandoned property, left to the devices of nature alone. There were many forces at work here. To think that this imprint was a simple coincidence, simply caused by the fruit growing against a conveniently shaped branch, or resting upon a certain arrangement of grasses was what would truly be ignorant. Naive, even. The satyr certainly knew better than this.
Zenjesi: 0.4 Marian: 9.0, 4.5
September: 14
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Post by Zenjesi on Sept 15, 2024 14:28:51 GMT -6
There was something Knowing within the Mansion. There was something that Knew about Zenjesi, and it Knew too much. Or perhaps it knew nothing at all. Perhaps the Mansion simply had the ability to allow Zenjesi's own mind - their desires and their hopes and their fears - to illustrate the grounds and building.
Someday, they decided, they would discover which it was. Either way, for now, the end result was the same: Zenjesi experienced things at the Mansion that logically should not have been. While it would never do to abandon reason, they were finding that they ought not cling to it so tightly as they once had. The Mansion could be viewed as a window into their own psyche, or a riddle, or...
A massive snap and subsequent crash shocked Zenjesi and sent them to their hooves in an instant. Marian was grasping an entire branch of one of the trees in her jaws.
Zenjesi: 0.5 Marian: 9.2, 4.6
September: 15
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