[log] poorly managed arctic zoo [closed]

[mrcreamsicles]

Characters: Davesprite, the Cat, Jade, and Brian/Hoody
Location Houses 34, 35, and 37
Date: Day 157 evening + all day 158 + at least part of 159
Summary: Dog girl and hood man run into a crow and a cat, awkward travel ensues. Then event weirdness.
Warnings: Nothing planned. Individual warnings can go on threads if the need arises.

HOUSE 34: Most of this house is in ruins--to get to the door requires walking over some rubble of the ruined house, although it seems like someone has moved the worst of it, allowing easier access to the house. The intact door leads to two intact rooms, and therefore it can be used as an overnight shelter. The door opens to a master bedroom with a large mattress and a thick comforter--too thick to carry without trouble, but nice for staying overnight here. The master bedroom is attached to a functioning master bathroom; the most important thing to note here is that it has a working shower with about ten minutes of hot water every day. One nightstand has been broken apart and burned. Written on the wall is "EMERGENCY RATIONS IN NIGHTSTAND. MEETING DAY 67, HOUSE TO NORTHWEST. CONTACT @CMDRSHEPARD". Carved on the wall is "ALPHONSE ELRIC, DAY NINETY-FIVE, TRAVELLING NORTH. IF ANY ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED CONTACT @LELRIC ANY TIME". One of the cabinets is marked with an X made of blue painter's tape. The following is written in blue ink on the wall: "This is Building 52 on the composite map. Medical assistance and hot, clean water available here. Toiletry supplies in bathroom cabinets. Contact @CaptSteveRogers for details." Underneath this is a pretty accurate map showing the house in relation to the west snow wall, the funeral home, the park, the convenience store, the school and athletic shed, and buildings 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 28, 31, 35, and 37. House 35 is labeled "Extra supplies in kitchen cabinets." The snow wall is labeled "Snow wall." The park is labeled "Park." The convenience store is labeled "Convenience store; unlike store in northeast this is not a source of food." The school is labeled "School. Food available in cafeteria; DO NOT STAY HERE OVERNIGHT." The athletic shed is labeled "Shed". The funeral home is labeled "UNSAFE; DO NOT STAY HERE OVERNIGHT."

HOUSE 35: The second floor of this house has collapsed, but it forms a good seal against the elements and the ceiling of the first floor has yet to collapse, so it's still serviceable as an overnight shelter. There is a small kitchen and living room with basic furniture, though no electronics or appliances. Small, finger-sized holes have been cut into the couch cushions. There are some small dents and scuffs on the walls of the kitchen. A small snow fort has been built outside. One of the cabinets is marked with an X made of blue painter's tape. A few splintered remains of a chair have been stuffed into one of the cabinets. On the chair is a note: "Feel free to use as you see fit : )! Be careful of splinters!" There are snails drawn in the margins of the page. Carved on the wall is "ALPHONSE ELRIC, DAY NINETY-FIVE, TRAVELLING NORTH. IF ANY ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED CONTACT @LELRIC ANY TIME". Carved on the wall is "ALFIE SOLOMONS, 1922. Camden Town, London, England, UK, Europe, Earth. Day 145, February 4".

HOUSE 37: While the kitchen of this two-story house has collapsed, there's a door sealing it off and making it suitable for staying in overnight. The living room is the only remaining room downstairs, while upstairs is a master bedroom, bathroom, and nursery. The crib has been taken apart, parts left in the corner of the robin's egg blue room. A rabbit mobile hangs over the space where the crib once sat, twisting and turning on its own from imperceptible shifts in the air around it. Delicately designed with carefully-drawn rabbits mounted on laminated poster board, it appears handmade. "ALPHONSE ELRIC, DAY SEVEN, TRAVELLING SOUTH" has been carved into the living room wall. "ALPHONSE ELRIC, EDWARD ELRIC, GREED, DAY SEVENTY-TWO, TRAVELLING SOUTH-EAST. DEAR FORMER RESIDENT, WE ARE FRIENDS, PLEASE DO NOT FEEL YOU NEED TO HIDE FROM US. CONTACT LELRIC." has been written on the wall.

Comments

DAY 157

[mrcreamsicles]

[mrcreamsicles]

[You wanna know who'd been perfectly content to settle in, smelling like the inside of a Lush store and possibly shimmery with biodegradable glitter or whatever it is they put in bath bombs? You want to know who was looking forward to a good night's sleep with hopefully minimal hassling from his fuzzy travel companion who totally didn't trick him into bringing him along?]

[Well none of that matters, because Davesprite's suddenly awkward as fuck. From tensing up at the sound of people arriving to the greater problem of just who it is, he's gone stiff as a board and shuffled off to the side somewhere. There is unfortunately little place to retreat to in a home where only the master bath and bedroom are left, though.]

[Beyond a flat 'Sup? of greeting, you're gonna have to ask the bird directly if you want something more out of him.]

[0thingsonmymind]

*Ask directly, stare at...same difference, right? Or stare in the general direction of, since his face is covered with a black mask (with a red :( on it), but whatever.

He's never seen a thing like Davesprite before. While that's not really a new thing in this place, the floating is confusing. Can he just not see this guy's feet? Is he flying? But if he was flying he'd be flapping his wings, right? Maybe he flies like Dumpy does...not that he knows how Dumpy manages to fly.
There's a lot less screaming involved, though, so that's probably not it.*

[eclecticbassist]

[ Meanwhile, on the opposite end of the spectrum of reactions to seeing a ghostly bird-man: ]

Davesprite--! Hi!

[ Despite the way their last conversation went, Jade can't help but be happy to see him. Which reminds her, Oh, god, their last conversation. Yikes. She halts mid-step, kind of worried he doesn't want to see her. Like, at all.

She's still smiling, of course; it's just a little smaller than usual, more self-conscious.





Okay he looks catatonic, she better say something before this gets weird. Um. Uhhhhhh-- ]

This is my friend. Brian. [ She reaches for her snow buddy's hand, in case it wasn't obvious who she was referring to. Holding things is nice when you're nervous. ]

[absentconstellation]

[ The Cat, being the master of social finesse that he is, demands attention with an insistent meow.

He would like to be introduced, please. ]

[mrcreamsicles]

[It's a good thing Davesprite never thought he could escape the ridiculousness of his life, because here it is slamming in on all sides again. Jade is holding MaskFace McSilentGawker's hand, and House's words flood back to his mind before he can stop them. Friend. Brian. Dude who can't string a sentence together without tripping over every word in it, and who knows if he'll fare much better verbally. Does he talk?]

[The Cat meows, not so much cutting the tension as pawing at the screen door poorly holding it back. Davesprite reaches over to pick him up, careful with his talons as he does. He says to him, voice low,]

Might want to can it on the meows, dude. She's part dog.

[Then, straightening, he gives a measured look to Jade and Brian both.]

This here is Fresh Step. He's a constellation and I met him in a dog house.

[He tips his chin at Brian.]

You want to explain the facial wear?

[He'd be one to talk if he were wearing everything he's picked up, but the moment he's abandoned the materials of his non-hat, and the curtain he found is only draped loosely over the floating curl of his tail instead of belted on with dog leash and flower crown. They'll get to see him in full glory later, but right now he's window dressing casual.]

[0thingsonmymind]

*While only Jade will notice, its a testament to how far they've come that Brian doesn't flinch when she takes his hand. It does take him a few moments to remember to hold her's as well, though. Otherwise he doesn't outwardly react to the hand holding.

He hadn't noticed the cat until it meowed, so he briefly shifts his attention to it as it does so. Thankfully Davesprite picks it up so he can go back to staring at the bird boy. (Jade might notice him tense up as the cat makes a noise, then relax as Davesprite picks kitty up.)

He cants his head at the introduction. Constellation? It looks like a cat, but maybe that was some weird other world race of feline things. He doesn't know. He doesn't get other world stuff very well. He has enough trouble with his world stuff.

At the question he nods, then points to his face and shakes his head. Clearly that will convey that he doesn't feel like his face is right.*

[eclecticbassist]

[ Jade does stiffen when The Cat meows, but otherwise she's doing okay at ignoring it. Besides, there's Stuff to explain. ]

He just doesn't like showing his face. Or talking.

[ She "Awwwwwww!"'s internally when Brian reciprocates the hand-holding; she wasn't expecting it and that's weirdly cute! God but she's been starved for cute things. ]

Um, when you say "constellation"-- are you being, like, Genesis Frog literal?

@featherydouche; text → @gardenGnostic;

[mrcreamsicles]

[It's after whatever initial chaos may have ensued, and Davesprite has settled himself down into a corner. When he had first found this house and its nice bed with the comforter, he had wanted to sleep right there, and sleep well. Better than he had the night before with just the curtain for warmth. But now? Not a chance. He's not taking the bed for himself, and while the cat might have been tolerable, he's not about to play slumber party cuddle pile with Jade or Brian. He'd retreat to the bathroom entirely, but that would be all the more obvious as avoidance goes, and what if someone needs to use it during the night? He's not getting in the middle of that awkwardness.]

[So, corner it is. He has the curtain around his tail still, coat left on, bag on the floor beside him. The stuffed head of a dog pokes out the top zipper. He has put his hat comprised of pawprint bandana and pink bra back on his head, better to keep it warm through the night.]

[It shouldn't be surprising then that when he goes to talk to Jade, it's through the more private medium of tablet text.]

so whats with you and brian

@gardenGnostic; text

[eclecticbassist]

[ You're always welcome to join the cuddle pile, Davesprite. Those wings could be a real asset. ]

hes a friend!
weve been travelling together pretty much since i arrived

[mrcreamsicles]

[Not on your life, Harley. Too weird, too awkward, too unresolved tension, too nope.]

but hes a fucking weirdo
do you not see the mask
or the whole filming everything thing
do we need to reestablish that i am not ok with that because i thought i was pretty clear already

[eclecticbassist]

implying i dont have any weirdo tendencies!!
remember the "voyeurbot"? ;P

[ It's weird how much they have in common, at least with regards to Things they just Have to do. ]

and like i said, his mind was tampered with so he cant really help it
think horrorterror with first guardian-ish traits

[mrcreamsicles]

you say that
but for one your grandpa was a creepy science guy
and prospit and skaias sleepy dream time spy clouds were a legit part of the game
also
youre part first guardian but youre not insane
and rose was all involved with the horrorterrors and she went back to normal even after her grimdark festerbabble stint

[John had to have told him about that at some point during the trip.]

if you both turned out as normal as anyone involved with sburb can be then what does that say about your creepshow travel buddy

[eclecticbassist]

well the filming definitely served a purpose when he was back home
and this creature is more harmful than a horrorterror!
like....

[ She hesitates to out Brian as Unwell for a moment, but it's hard to miss the constant pill-popping. ]

being around it makes you prone to seizures [ And split personalities. ]

[mrcreamsicles]

more harmful
and yet you still trust him
?????
if you havent noticed none of us are wherever our home was either
he could have been a master filmmaker with a billion statues of the naked gold guy to his name
it doesnt change that i dont want him filming me here

[He budges his tail in closer against himself. Even with Jade he complained about her creepy robot, but he never had to deal with it sitting in the room with him, possibly under the influence of whatever it is that messed with Brian's mind. It's a whole order of magnitude in difference, to him.]

KITTY

[0thingsonmymind]

*He's not familiar with the word "constellation" so its pretty easy to accept it as being "some otherworld thing that looks like a cat," but he's not sure what to make of the Cat past that. It certainly looked like one, and seemed to act like a cat, but there had to be something more to it. So once things had settled down some he comes over to examine the constellation.

He just stares for a few minutes, memorizing what the creature looked like. Once he's satisfied with doing that he reaches out and...lightly touches the Cat's back before pulling his hand back. He'd seen Zell and them pet Mochi before...that was similar, right? Probably close enough, even if he's not sure what the point of 'petting' was.*

[absentconstellation]

[ It may have looked like the Cat was sleeping, but he was paying attention to everything that happened in the room. Every sound that was made, verbal and otherwise, he noticed.

He was aware when Brian began staring at him. He chose not to do anything about it. What did he care if some mortal youngling stared at him?

The poke was pushing it a little, though. He opened his eyes and leveled a stare at the boy. ]

[0thingsonmymind]

*Okay, so its awake. Didn't seem like the touching like Mochi did. Maybe it was a cat thing and not a constellation thing.

He cants his head at it for a moment before raising a hand in...almost greeting. Hi?*

[absentconstellation]

[ The Cat just keeps staring. And staring. You have greeted him, yes. Did you actually want something? ]

[0thingsonmymind]

*He sits down next to the bed, continuing to watch the Cat. He's curious about it, but he doesn't know if its the sort of thing he can ask questions to or if he just has to watch. So he watches for a few more moments before putting his hand on the bed near the animal.

Mochi had done something when he went near it. Would this creature do so as well?*

he's going to keep making this face forever

[absentconstellation]

[ ...

This poor mortal boy is clearly some sort of fool. But he's not trying to cuddle. So there's that.

He glances down at the hand. Then back at Brian. Just to communicate that he has seen, and he is not impressed. ]

[0thingsonmymind]

*Well, that didn't really achieve anything...

He takes his hand back and scribbles out a note on the back of some recepeit paper then places it before the Cat. It reads "whatis con ste lla tion ?*

DAY 158

[mrcreamsicles]

Evening/after getting to Building 37; ota

[0thingsonmymind]

*He's kept close enough to the group as they traveled, but once they arrived in what would be their final destination for the night he breaks off to search the place. Its normal for him, though he'll eventually return to whatever room the group is hanging out/bedding down in.

He spends a good amount of time in the nursery, though, poking at the mobile. He doesn't remember what one is, so he's trying to figure out if it does anything other than spin. Or if it spinning activates anything else in the room.*

DAY 159

[mrcreamsicles]