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Post by Zenjesi on Dec 7, 2023 13:56:52 GMT -6
They realized too late what the sound meant. A second wave of green slime washed over Zenjesi, this time emerging from the Bulldozer's maw as he coughed up all that he had inhaled while inside the tube. They sat still and dripping for a second time. "It is time to go home," they decided, looking sadly to Florian. He seemed to have recovered now, all six eyes blinking at the satyr. They chuckled weakly, reaching out and stroking his back. They could have sworn that, in that moment, his eyes all closed, as if he actually found the gesture somewhat of a comfort. If that was the case, then all of this was worthwhile. They carefully pushed themselves up onto their hooves, careful to avoid the... glass? But it was gone. Now, the tile had turned once again to wood. The fluorescent lights had softened and warmed to a gentle yellow glow.
Zenjesi: 0.4 Florian: 12.6 / 8.3
December: 3
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Post by Zenjesi on Dec 7, 2023 16:02:47 GMT -6
Though their senses were a bit preoccupied with the fluid they were covered in, a different and much more welcoming scent hung in the air: food. Specifically, something like roasting meat and something else heavily spiced. This time, the aroma was fresh and warm, not at all indicative of the rotten feast they had discovered earlier in their adventure. Florian detected it as well, his nose raising above the puddle and nostrils working. It felt as if months had passed since they had arrived, but Zenjesi recalled with great clarity that they had promised the Bulldozer food if he would only accompany them inside. Yet after the happenings since then, and with some additional insight into the Mansion's character, they were feeling a bit less eager to partake. They even wondered for a moment about the items they had procured along the way: the little critters, the discarded trinkets... the crystal.
Zenjesi: 0.45 Florian: 12.8 / 8.4
December: 4
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Post by Zenjesi on Dec 9, 2023 20:50:31 GMT -6
Was the Mansion expecting some kind of payment for those? Instinct, once again, told Zenjesi no. To their estimate, enduring its trials was payment enough. But if they were incorrect, and the Mansion did not seem keen to let them leave with their findings then so be it. At this point, they (and Florian) needed a proper rest uninterrupted by the chaos within this property. The most important thing they were taking away from this journey was a closer bond with the Bulldozer. And the crystal, Zenjesi's mind guiltily added. ... Yes, and the crystal. They may fight back a little more for that one. Zenjesi glanced around to ensure the glass truly had disappeared. It was a shame the slime had not accompanied it. They sighed. "Come along, Florian," they encouraged him, taking a step back towards the... The door they had entered through was gone. The sigh turned to a groan.
Zenjesi: 0.5 Florian: 13.0 / 8.5
December: 5
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Post by Zenjesi on Dec 10, 2023 22:48:23 GMT -6
It was not as if they were trapped (there was another door within sight the moment they turned around) but the shifting had, for the moment, become more tiresome than exhilarating. "This way, Florian," they redirected him. He turned, beginning to follow them with a newfound degree of compliance. He was not slow moving, exactly, but he did not move quite so quickly as Zenjesi, which gave them an extra few moments to take in the arrangement of the room. Where the desk had stood mere moments before, there new was a side table, topped with a bowl overflowing with fruit. No particularly intriguing knickknacks were tucked in with them, no pull from an internal compass beckoned them closer, so they moved past, grasping the door and pushing it open. It was as they did so that they realized they no longer knew where in the Mansion they were located.
Zenjesi: 0.55 Florian: 13.2 / 8.6
December: 6
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Post by Zenjesi on Dec 10, 2023 22:58:17 GMT -6
This realization prompted a momentary surge of emotion that seemed to be one part dread and one part intrigue. On one hand, the Mansion seemed to yet be toying with them, and the magical interaction was fascinating to the satyr. What did it know, and how did it know it? What were its intentions? What was the extent of its power? On the other hand... they were growing hungry, and they wanted to go home and to sleep. At the moment, these physical needs seemed to be taking precedence. There were no windows in this room, which implied (but did not guarantee) it was an interior room. But the features were fairly nondescript. A couple of cozy chairs were arranged throughout, along with another side table with another bowl atop it. This one was not filled with fruit, but with a variety of nuts. Zenjesi wondered if this was somehow significant.
Zenjesi: 0.6 Florian: 13.4 / 8.7
December: 7
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Post by Zenjesi on Dec 10, 2023 23:14:55 GMT -6
Florian had dutifully continued to follow them. That fact warmed their heart. Again, they recalled standing just inside the Mansion's gate, bribing and dragging and fighting with the Bulldozer, as well as pulling a variety of objects from his mouth. He certainly still had his own motivations, and was not nearly so curious as Zenjesi was, but they did notice his head turned slightly to keep them in his line of sight, and when they began to move out of that range, he pulled himself forward to follow. As they rounded the room, intending to pass through the only other door, they did hesitate, just for a moment. A bit of itching curiosity was nagging at the back of their mind... Zenjesi dropped to the ground, laying their ear flat against the floor to peer under the chairs. Nothing there. They stood up again, shrugging to Florian. It was worth checking.
Zenjesi: 0.65 Florian: 13.6 / 8.8
December: 8
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Post by Zenjesi on Dec 12, 2023 11:02:19 GMT -6
Zenjesi pushed on through the next door and into yet another strangely similar room. It was sort of uncanny, now the third room in a row to have wood paneling halfway up the walls, identical wallpaper above, some sitting furniture, no windows, and... tables with bowls. This one was nearly spilling over with berries. Were those edible? Zenjesi was distracted by that thought for a moment before the other primary feature of the room made itself known to them: a lit fireplace. The wave of heat was comforting and welcome, and they shivered once involuntarily from the sudden shift in temperature. Florian seemed particularly keen on this, crawling ahead of Zenjesi to lower himself down in front of the flames. This new setting did make it apparent once again that the two of them were thoroughly saturated with a mysterious and unidentified liquid. Perhaps they really ought to do something about that.
Zenjesi: 0.7 Florian: 13.8 / 8.9
December: 9
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Post by Zenjesi on Dec 12, 2023 11:39:03 GMT -6
The satyr glanced around the room, then quietly closed the door behind them. There were two additional unexplored doors, but no sound reached their ears from anywhere else in the house. That was good. This would be an odd scene if anyone else walked in, but... it needed to be done. They peeled their capelet off, cringing a little at the sticky sound it made as it separated from their shirt. They draped it over the mantle, wondered if they ought place something on top of it to hold it there, and then realized it was sticking and holding on its own. Hm. They carefully extracted themselves from the rest of their affected clothing, shuddering each time the slime pulled against their skin, and lay the fabric out on the floor in front of the fire. This would not clean it, of course, but at least it would no longer be cold.
Zenjesi: 0.75 Florian: 14.0 / 9.0
December: 10
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Post by Silver on Dec 12, 2023 16:20:28 GMT -6
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Post by Zenjesi on Dec 14, 2023 10:21:40 GMT -6
No longer cold, and no longer wet. Those were both important factors when it was as cool as it was outdoors and they were intending on leaving for the walk home. At least they were alone -- A frantic squeaking cut their thought short. It seemed only correct that the Mansion would wait until this moment to introduce something new. But... what was the sound? It was continuing, a desperate sound like cornered prey. Florian, too, heard this, and seemed interested in it, though Zenjesi suspected he had different motives than they did. They ought to act before he did. The saytr moved, trying to pinpoint where the sound was originating from. It turned out to be a simple task, and led them to one of the doors they had not already explored. They reached a hand up for the knob, wondered for a moment if this was some kind of trap laid by the Mansion... then opened it.
Zenjesi: 0.8 Florian: 14.2 / 9.1
December: 11
(Taming: 1)
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Post by Zenjesi on Dec 15, 2023 1:19:29 GMT -6
Light flashed off white metal. Black wires (or something like them) connected the plates like sinew. Some kind of gently glowing blue light shone through in places, giving the impression of organs, of eyes, and somehow, of life. The beast, if it qualified as one, clearly seemed to be a remnant from the previous theme of the Mansion. Zenjesi wondered if this was someone who had intended to meet them then, before they had been waylaid by rescuing Florian. At the moment, it was leaning down low, head turning from side to side as it stared underneath an armchair. The squeaking, Zenjesi could tell now, was certainly sourced from there. They never had any particular defense against creatures of the Labs, other than their good instincts and reflexes. However, in this moment, standing unclothed in the doorway, they felt particularly vulnerable as the reptilian shaped robot turned its head towards Zenjesi.
Zenjesi: 0.85 Florian: 14.4 / 9.2
December: 12
(Taming: 2)
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Post by Zenjesi on Dec 15, 2023 1:42:10 GMT -6
There was a moment of stillness. They were close enough that they could slam the door if it charged them, but there was no guarantee that would hold it off for long. How aware was it, truly, if it was made of metal and wires? Zenjesi had never seen something like this before, and they were not sure how to subdue it or appease it. They heard Florian shifting behind them, as he approached to investigate the noises. They had never been more grateful for his vicious presence. Actually, now that they thought about it, this robotic creature somewhat resembled their Bulldozer. It was leaner and longer, but... it almost felt like an impression of Florian, forged in metal. Here they were, between them. That was not exactly a place they desired to be. Carefully maintaining a visual on the robot, Zenjesi shuffled a hoof backwards, then stepped back and next to Florian as they found him by touch.
Zenjesi: 0.9 Florian: 14.6 / 9.3
December: 13
(Taming: 3)
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Post by Zenjesi on Dec 15, 2023 11:20:56 GMT -6
They had never witnessed Florian seriously brawl with anything other than his toys (which were of course designed for withstanding that sort of thing) or random inanimate objects that he found offensive at that particular moment. Now, as Zenjesi looked between the two creatures, they sincerely hoped they would not discover today what a genuine fight with him looked like. They had the amulet, they had the door, and, so far nothing to indicate that this robot would even be aggressive. But if the two intended to fight, they were not sure anything they could do would be enough to stop them. Florian, standing as tall as he could on his short legs, opened his mouth and hissed at the robot. The robot parted its jaws, but no sound came forth. There was a momentary pause, and then the robotic creature lowered itself down to the same height and stance as Florian. This seemed to offend Florian further, who lunged forward suddenly, and let out a growl.
Zenjesi: 0.95 Florian: 14.8 / 9.4
December: 14
(Taming: 4)
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Post by Zenjesi on Dec 15, 2023 17:39:18 GMT -6
The robot threw itself forward at the same time, and its jaws opened silently to match Florian. Zenjesi felt a jolt of terror that they were going to need to intervene with a stool again, that blood was about to start flowing... but the two stopped there, mouths agape at each other. Zenjesi opened their own to try and all call their Bulldozer off when he pushed ahead. The robot jumped back, but landed in a pose mirroring him once again. Florian turned his head slightly to one side, and the robot did the same. Zenjesi did the same. Had this robot been designed in Florian's likeness? That seemed unlikely, but it seemed to think so, anyway. Florian lunged twice more but as the robot continued to evade him and made no aggressive move in return, he seemed convinced he had forced it into submission in the corner, and turned to crawl back towards Zenjesi. The robot, crouched down in a Florian-mimicking squat, waddled behind him. As Florian noticed this, he turned and hissed. It paused. This satisfied him, so he continued to crawl, and so did it.
Zenjesi: 1.0 - logged Florian: 15.0 / 9.5
December: 15
(Taming: 5 - attempt complete!)
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Post by Silver on Dec 27, 2023 18:16:10 GMT -6
Looks like the creature is more curious than a threat. It will continue to follow Florian, if he lets it that is. Luckily, there is something else for Florian to chase just over there. Aww! [Taming success!]
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