|
|
Post by Zenjesi on Nov 22, 2023 10:03:24 GMT -6
Cities were unnecessarily complicated. Zenjesi's goal had been to urge themselves outside of their comfort zone (or, more accurately, lock themselves outside of it) by offering snacks to some of the cityfolk and perhaps making a new acquaintance or two in the process. However, they had learned upon arriving with their very full arms that one could not set up inside the community center without a reservation. Then they had found out that they could not set up outside the community center either as security escorted them away. So... this would have to do.
A folding table was arranged in an alleyway, just off of the sidewalk. Two store-bought pies and a large jug of cider were set atop it, along with two bags of pet treats, one catering to carnivores and one to herbivores. Paper cups and plates and forks sat alongside them. A piece of paper was taped to the front that read (in surprisingly nice script), "Friends?" Zenjesi stood behind this table, slouching forward as they always did and watching passersby with their milky eyes. Their only saving grace with this objectively unusual scene may have been the fact that a very calm, content Houluh puppy was leashed up to the table's leg, and wagged her tail pleasantly at everyone who passed by.
Zenjesi: 0.1 Shadow: 0.2, 0.4
|
|
Ramal
Full Member
Posts: 160
|
Post by Ramal on Nov 22, 2023 17:46:35 GMT -6
Perhaps it was time to get a job. Ramal sighed deeply at the thought. His pantry was empty, and he needed to feed his creatures. While he was perfectly happy scraping buy on instant noodles and whatever else he could muster up, that wouldn't be good enough to feed a whole Thundergug. So, out into the city he went. He didn't have a plan, really, but he figured between the quest board and market he could probably find someone willing to exchange credits for labor. That's how these things usually went, anwyay. Shale was an odd little creature that was really, really good at digging. It was his hope that he could make use of that skill somehow, but if he didn't, at least he had someone to keep him company while he did something else. She snuffled around just in front of him, taking in all of the strange and often potent smells of the city. When she suddenly took a sharp turn to the left and started sniffing wildly into the air, Ramal was instantly curious. He followed her as she scuttled around until she suddenly stopped dead. "Oi?" he muttered, looking up from the ground to see himself face to face with a stranger. He instantly froze, his frilled gills jumping up in surprise. [5.5, 0.2] |
|
|
|
Post by Kristofor on Nov 22, 2023 18:35:18 GMT -6
 Kristofor isn't a shy fox. He doesn't insert himself into a social situation; usually someone else speaks to him first, and a conversation will blossom from there. He likes that about the people he encounters; most of them don't even bat an eye on a fox doing their shopping in town. They more have their eyes on the repointe clopping along behind him. Suffolk underwent a drastic growth spurt in the last few months, and how could he not think that the foxfawn would become taller then him. He's not a small fox, even standing upright like a person. The fawn...or maybe he's a stag now, the foxfawn's shoulders meet his chest. Its... unnerving, because almost everything he has is no taller than his waist. The world is made of colors. Suffolk's baby brain didn't understand what he saw, but it feels like he's tasting the world. His maw remains slightly open in the new muzzle he wore. It lets him open his mouth plenty in order to drink water and such. As they go back down the street, a simple table with chairs catches his eye. A person and a ...note saying friends? He doesn't speak immediately but comes closer to inspect the sign. Curious. A polite nod. |
|
|
|
Post by Zenjesi on Nov 22, 2023 21:44:28 GMT -6
Person after person passed by. For a heroic handful of minutes, Zenjesi attempted feebly to engage a few. They offered a smile or a nod or a vague gesture towards the pie, but they were ignored or, worse, shunned. They drove one individual to the other side of the street with their child after the little one stopped to pet Shadow. Now, they had withdrawn into themselves, their eyes glossed over, lost in thought, wondering how long they would stand here before they would decide it was no longer worth -- They hissed and jumped as something flared in their face, their hands flying up defensively before slowly... sinking down.
For just a moment, they mistook him for an unleashed Lab creature, but he was wearing a shirt, so that seemed unlikely. Also... had he spoken? Zenjesi was so startled, they could only think to point at the pie and whisper, "Friends?" No, that was not correct. How long had they had to rehearse? "I have... treats. For friends. To make friends. I am Zenjesi." Well, they came around to it. In the background, they saw another pair of figures lingering: a bipedal hooved creature and a bipedal fox. Again, for another embarrassing moment, they assumed the hooved critter was the owner. Perhaps they were biased. They instinctively nodded back to the fox.
Under the table, Shadow's tail was wagging slowly, cautiously as she sniffed in the direction of the strange creature that had just arrived. She was made of claws and... fingers? Did that mean she would pet her? Or would she play?
Zenjesi: 0.2
Shadow: 0.4, 0.8
|
|
Ramal
Full Member
Posts: 160
|
Post by Ramal on Nov 23, 2023 0:16:54 GMT -6
Ramal reflexively took a step back, not too sure what this stranger would do to them. Once it was clear he wasn't being threatned, he started to relax. It was just a land person! What a relief. In a place like this, he never knew what he would find.
The land person spoke, but Ramal wasn't ready to hear it. He tilted his head toward the speaker just in time to hear the next part, however. Treats! He sure knew what that meant. Ramal looked down to see a pie, among other things. That was excellent news. It would be difficult for him to hide his enthusiasm, which he knew to be polite. He hadn't seen something so indulgent in a while and the mere thought of it was clearly distracting him.
As another person approached, Ramal seemed to snap out of his sugar-lust induced daze. He beamed, showing a row of short but sharp teeth. "Oi! We're making friends," he said to the mammalian. So he had heard what Zenjesi said after all.
"This is my new buddy, Zen-jee," he explained, "and I'm Ramal!"
Shale was not concerned with whatever the people were doing. She could smell something quite distinct. She wiggled her body around, her strange nose twitching furiously. She squinted in the direction of the pup, but she had trouble making out his dark form. She reached out one of her claws, tenatively tapping on the ground just in front of Shadow.
[5.6, 0.4]
|
|
|
|
Post by Kristofor on Nov 23, 2023 12:24:37 GMT -6
He doesn't pick up the sounds of the person who sits here, offering... it smells like apple pie, immediately. Really? Well, it is the season of harvest. Visions of ginger apple snaps dance in the back of his head mockingly; he does like those ginger apple snaps...
Because the "Oi" took him by complete surprise. The fox's tail, already well groomed, poofs to double its size as he turns to look at... something very green. Frog? No, frogs don't have fins on their heads. Unless its a lab frog. He wouldn't be surprised about that. But the 'frog' is talking. Making friends? Had he walked in on something he shouldn't? Zen-gee? Ramal. Ah.
"M-my name is Kristofor." he gathers his overly fluffy tail to him, trying to smooth out the dark fur. "If you two don't mind...I would like to join you for some...apple pie." He doesn't know what to say next. If they reject him for his companion animal is too large, that was understandable.
The smells are very curious, and offputting for Suffolk as his head leans down a bit, looking at each twoleg with interest. His big glassy eyes blink in curiosity at the brightness of the twoleg that is making noises. The other one his ears perk towards, hearing sound. Interest? The fox's pull on his muzzle rope through prevents Suffolk from getting closer to the food, or the other twolegs.
"Th-this is Suffolk." he nods to the fox-notfawn.
|
|
|
|
Post by Zenjesi on Nov 23, 2023 19:44:20 GMT -6
The newcomer - the strange one with fins - appeared to be pleased with the presence of pie. Zenjesi caught themselves absently mirroring his smile at it, feeling a moment of hope. Perhaps he would linger, if even for a brief conversation... and then he turned and called in the fox. The table, barren and avoided for so long, was now unexpectedly and suddenly quite saturated with company. As a result, the satyr behind said table was experiencing the common fear reaction: freezing. So shaken were they that they failed to notice how equally spooked the fox seemed to be. But they did hear a couple of words, slicing through their haze: my new buddy. They turned to Ramal with an expression that could best be described as starstruck. Was it so easy? Was this some kind of prank? Well even if it was, no one had bothered to prank Zenjesi before.
"Yes, pie," Zenjesi agreed immediately in their soft, hissing whisper, reaching out and quickly lifting the lid off of the apple one, as requested. "Kristofor. Ramal. Take what you like." They leaned back, allowing their two guests free reign. "I do not mind." After all, the more pie they ate, the longer they would stay. As Kristofor introduced his elegant creature, Zenjesi offered, "For him, as well." Quickly, they tore open the bag of treats for herbivores. Then they gestured down to their Houluh. "She is Shadow."
However, the Houluh did not yet know her name and was otherwise distracted anyway. As the tap came, she let out a playful yip of both surprise and delight, bounding to the side to "dodge" the claws, and then ran a lap around the little critter.
Now came the part where Zenjesi stumbled: conversation. "You... are in town," they observed of both Ramal and Kristofor. It was a feeble start.
Zenjesi: 0.3
Shadow: 0.6, 1.2
|
|
Ramal
Full Member
Posts: 160
|
Post by Ramal on Nov 24, 2023 5:37:46 GMT -6
"I'm so glad you asked!" Ramal said to Kristofor. Though his intonation suggested he was making a joke, he was also being truthful. The two strangers were interesting, sure, but that pie was calling out to his sugar deprived heart.
"Thank you, that is kind from you," Ramal turned to address Zenjesi. Ramal eagerly reached for a slice of pie, but he was suddenly reminded of Shale's existence. She hadn't gotten off somewhere, had she? He was visibly startled, his gills standing straight up as he visually scoured the ground in search of his Lindig. Thankfully, she had not made it far at all.
"Mine is - her name is Shale," he said. He wouldn't have thought to introduce his pet, but since everyone else did it, he figured he probably should as well.
"Shale, our friend brings treats for you too," he grabbed one and dropped it to the ground unceremoniously. Shale's odd nose began twitching again, dragging her in the direction of the treat. As curious as she was about the pup, she couldn't resist such a good smell. She squinted at the pup as if she was a little uncertain about what to do.
Now, with all of that out of the way, could he finally have his piece pie? He scooped up one of the plates, almost as an afterthought, and plopped a modest bit of pie onto it. He didn't seem to notice the forks at all, but that didn't stop him. He merely lifted the whole plate to his mouth and took a bite from the top.
"Ya, so are you!" he said to Zenjesi's unusual comment. "What is the celebration?"
[5.7, 0.6]
|
|
|
|
Post by Kristofor on Nov 25, 2023 5:08:43 GMT -6
The one the frog...no, Ramal, spoke with, is very soft spoken. Almost like listening to a hissing snake? But doesn't look like a snake. A nod of thanks as he steps forward to take a slice of apple pie from the pie tin, and serve it onto a small plate. They're busy with a bag of treats that smell... like what Mira might attempt to eat. She's picky but doesn't only eat bamboo. The pie's enticing scent curls its way around him hauntingly, picking out a fork to eat his pie with. Sticky fur pads would make his day harder later, as licking your paws in public is...a bit odd. "T-thank you."
At his feet, or near them, he can see a puppy, and what looks like a tail with claws attached on one end. Its... strange looking. Shadow and Shale. Shadow seems more single-focused then some puppies he's encountered, being a grand total of ...three. Why did he feel like it was more. "I don't see many s-solid colored pups running about. Shadow is a-a good name." She has the 'cute puppy' vibe, but he's more interested in the pie in his paws.
Suffolk's attention draws towards the fox's smell around the item in his not-hooves. The fluffy split nose sniffs through the muzzle, a snuffling sound. Food? Doesn't smell like food to him. Having his face gently pushed away with one paw. "No no Suffolk. Apples don't taste good f-for you."
Wait. Hes a fox-fawn that looks like a fawn, not a fox. Ah. Uh... "Uh...S-suffolk actually would prefer the t-treats for your p-pup down there. If you've got any." he tries not to be rude to ask. Since he's close to having the foxfawn just use height to his advantage and stuff his face in the pie.
"Y-yes. I'm in town?" Does that mean if he lives here? Yes, he does. But he holds interest on what the celebration is, besides harvest season.
|
|
|
|
Post by Zenjesi on Nov 27, 2023 19:20:40 GMT -6
Confusion washed over Zenjesi for a moment. Shale? Ramal had a pet? They immediately bent double, peering under the table for this mysterious creature. But quickly they understood: she was a little mole-like creature, scuttling along at Ramal's feet. And his feet... They were distracted again by the sight of a mismatched prosthetic. Head tilting, they wondered for a moment about it, though at least, to their credit, they knew better than to immediately ask.
Instead, they watched as the treat Ramal dropped bounced on the sidewalk. As Shale made no immediate move for it, Zenjesi's houluh took the inaction as an invitation. She bounded forward, snapping it up and wagging her tail happily. "Shadow, no!" Zenjesi hissed, lunging forward under the table. But of course, they were far too late. All they succeeded in doing was bumping their horns against the table and precariously jostling the pies. It was a good thing no one had opted for cider yet.
Shadow, misconstruing the scrambling Zenjesi as playing, darted away to the lengths of her leash with a happy yapping. "I am sorry," they mumbled, climbing back upright now between Ramal and Kristofor. "Yes, hers is an old bloodline," they explained to the mammalian, though they were a bit preoccupied by trying to pick her up at the moment, while she did her best to evade them. Perhaps not the best selling point for her genetics. "The other treats... are meat... for Suffolk... Ah!" Finally, they scooped her up, and brought her wriggling form up tightly in their arms.
It was as they turned back triumphantly that they were cornered by Ramal's question. "Ah... the celebration...?" Zenjesi licked their lips. "Ah... it is... ... that I am lonely?" they finally admitted, hunched over with a writhing pup and looking a bit worn.
Zenjesi: 0.4
Shadow: 0.8, 1.6
|
|
Ramal
Full Member
Posts: 160
|
Post by Ramal on Nov 27, 2023 22:00:44 GMT -6
Shale froze, arching her back and hiding her face behind her claws. Shadow suddenly diving for the treat frightened her, and doubly so when a whole person came crashing under the table into the scene. She quickly scrambled back to Ramal, wrapping her tail around his good foot for comfort.
"Oi, it'll be alright," he said. He grabbed another treat with his free hand and gently gave it directly to her instead of dropping it. Ramal smiled sympathetically at Zenjesi. He knew exactly what that was like. He had done his own awkward version of trying to catch overzealous creatures before.
While that was happening, Ramal took the time to look around at the creatures involved. First there was Shadow, the little pup. She had very long ears, Ramal thought. He didn't know what kind of creature that was, but other things like her were common enough that he didn't waste too much time thinking about it. The other creature was Suffolk. A very large Repointe. Now he did know what a Repointe was, though his was not nearly this big yet. He made a mental note to get her a bigger bed in anticipation of her growth.
Ramal was caught off guard by Zenjesi's response to the question. He had expected it to be a holiday of some kind. Those were always happening and he rarely knew which one took place at what time. Humans also celebrated their own hatching as if it were a special occasion. To hear that it was not any of those things, but instead a much more sincere request made him pause.
"Ya, well..." he said, speaking to fill space rather than because he had something to say. "Krissofor and Sofolk and Shale and I are here now," he said with a nod. "Would you like us to stay?"
[5.8, 0.8]
|
|
|
|
Post by Kristofor on Nov 27, 2023 23:54:24 GMT -6
The table jostles a bit with Zenjee ducking beneath the desk to retrieve an excitable puppy. Go forth and steal the treat of the tail with claws, its a very Puppy thing to do. He steps back a few to avoid the capture attempt. With Suffolk's face being manuvered away from the pie in his paws, keeping the repointe close.
Now the repointe has briefly met his ...pack. Of houlou. So an excited puppy ducking into hooves range isn't a first happening. The two taller creatures back up to allow Zenjee the ability to collect their creature. He'll grab a treat...and the collection is complete. Good.
Oh. They were lonely? Not a reason to celebrate.
"R-Ramal is right; we are here now." And it is completely possible to be lonely, even in a social environment. He, himself, is shy. He doesn't go out of his way to speak to others.... typically. "L-let us eat some pie... and...uh...have you r-read the local p-paper? They p-posted the c-contest results."
|
|
|
|
Post by Zenjesi on Nov 28, 2023 10:46:10 GMT -6
The momentary silence after their abrupt confession made them wither further. They broke any eye contact they had been managing and were resigning themselves to being alone again when... Ramal spoke up. It was not to dismiss himself, but... really the opposite. If Zenjesi had gills like his or ears like Kristofor's, they would have perked up. Instead, they merely looked between the two of them, bewildered.
This gave Shadow the upper hand, and she finally squirmed free, leaping back onto the sidewalk and sniffing around Suffolk's hooves now. It seemed Shale would have at least a brief break from her antics.
It was not just Ramal, but Kristofor, too, who supported his words. "Yes," was all they finally managed to answer before the fox moved into casual conversation. This had never before happened. They took a tentative step or two closer, to position themselves physically within the discussion (and perhaps also retrieve Shadow, if needed).
"The paper?" Zenjesi repeated. Oh, that would have been a simpler way to find the results; they had been taking periodic hikes to the contest hall itself. "Yes, Vai Min Mur." Should they mention they had participated? Well, they had not placed, so it was nothing to boast. "Do you compete?" they asked Kristofor first, then turned to Ramal, "Or you?" They hoped neither of them were renowned champions, or this would become uncomfortable again.
Zenjesi: 0.5
Shadow: 1.0, 2.0
|
|
Ramal
Full Member
Posts: 160
|
Post by Ramal on Nov 28, 2023 18:25:41 GMT -6
While they were speaking, Ramal surreptitiously studied Zenjesi. Pretty much every person in the city was strange from his perspective, but there was something about this one that felt particularly unusual. Whether it was the stilted way they spoke or some other, less tangible thing, Ramal was a mix of curious and uneasy about their new friend.
Shale quietly nibbled on her treat while pressed closely against Ramal's leg. There was a lot going on and she could sense a lot of movement. There were many mixing smells of creatures, people, and food alike. It was all a bit much for a little thing like her. She would take her time with her snack break before deciding what to do next.
Ramal quickly snuck another bite of pie as the other two discussed the news. It was hard to hide how hungry he actually was as he shoved the plate into his face. He wasn't one to read much, preferring instead to get his news exactly like this - by discussing it directly with the locals.
“Ya, no,” Ramal said, shaking his head. “I am not the best for training pets.”
“Do you?” he echoed the question back to Zenjesi.
[5.9, 1]
|
|
|
|
Post by Kristofor on Nov 29, 2023 12:52:20 GMT -6
As he listens, casually poking a jerkylike treat that had a pungent smell of pork to Suffolk, Kristofor watches. He's a good watcher; Its a fallback on conversation, to discuss things that happen in the paper, but he hasn't himself been "in" the paper for a long time now. No family members in the paper now. A little long in the tooth, his uncle finally retired from the written word, and went into a 'bird farming critique' business. Using his true nature and talent to the fullest, and to rub his fake tail in farmers faces.
Not him.
"N-not this most r-recent contest, no. I...p-participated in the obedience trial r-recently, and took a p-place two years ago in the vaiminmur c-contests. M-my houlou, Dawson, he...won witts two years ago." The fox's ears expressively flatten sideways in embarrassment. He's not bragging, not at all. "Its...o-occasional. But u-using the s-same act each time is b-boring for the audience, I think." And coming up with something new around his business of grooming isn't easy. Silencing himself from rambling by taking a bite of pie. The explosion of apple, ginger and spices in his mouth is delicious. Apple pie is a special occasion only.
+1 Suffolk
|
|
