[network] @bluestar; Join SnowClan? [open]

[dousedflame]

Hello, everyone... I have a few things to say, that might be important to everyone here.

[She's sharing a video, so... everyone will be able to see that the speaker is a scrawny and slightly unkempt Russian blue cat, who is currently not wearing her jacket - which means that the long and deep scar running across her shoulders is plainly visible. She also has a torn ear and slightly crumpled whiskers in case there were any doubts that she's not your average pampered house cat.]

It's been almost a moon now, I think, since the idea of SnowClan came to me. Since then, the one I was hoping to be my deputy has died, and we are still waiting for him to return, but the idea has blossomed while he was away. Originally, I had planned to hide away from you Twolegs... but it's become clear to me that we have a common goal, and that is staying alive.

I intend to claim a territory in one part of the Twolegplace - I'm not sure what part yet, but it will be small by Twoleg standards. Just a few nests to move between to avoid the mind-sickness. There will be no tax for moving through SnowClan territory, and no need for guard accompaniment - not yet, at least. I only ask that you're respectful of those you meet there, and take nothing without asking me first.

Those who would like to join SnowClan are free to, as long as the existing members accept you. I only ask that you accept my leadership, and the duty to keep your clanmates safe - I will handle teaching each new member our customs, until they're comfortable to teach others. I do not want to impose on those who don't wish to be part of this; I only want to offer refuge for those who need it. Warm nests, stores of food, and clanmates who will protect you from any danger we face here.

I do have to mention, though, that Doctor House is not allowed in or near SnowClan territory. I trust that he's kind enough to respect that, but I am willing to organize a patrol to keep him out if I have to.

[Judging by her tone, no, she doesn't trust him to respect it. There's a very real threat in her voice, her tone turning icy as she speaks about him.]

Comments

[cahooted]

[What?

Flynn is a very live and let live person by default but this stops him short. True, he and Bluestar have discussed her tribal-like heritage before and it had sounded interesting and fascinating. In theory, but...

After spending years dealing with organized groups and "clan"-like structures like the Serpent Brotherhood, the Deadly Scorpion League (it's not Bluestar's fault but the animal names really don't help with the negative associations) and various other organizations he can feel himself getting more and more wary with every word.]

You do realize that depending which area and buildings you pick that might be a lot of imposing by default? And what sort of "customs" are we talking here?

[dousedflame]

Sacrifices are necessary for the good of the whole. I'm not planning to cut off resources if I can help it, but that might have to happen to be sure SnowClan gets what it needs.

[Spoken like a true cult leader, Bluestar.]

I just want to bring some civilization here. Some customs don't have a place here, but many do - things like earning names as a mark of our status, and holding trials for those who break our laws. That, and simpler things like sharing tongues and searching for signs in the stars.

[Because StarClan is still out there, somewhere... and more importantly, The Cat is always available for advice.]

@jphawkins, audio

[rattlingthestars]

[ Well. So much for thinking the cat-person was cute. Or in need of help. ]

You can't just go around deciding things are yours.

[dousedflame]

If I picked up a rock and said it was mine, no one would argue - the rock wasn't stolen. These nests don't belong to anyone yet.

[She isn't trying to be smart with him - she just doesn't know how else to explain the concept of conquering new land.]

@Peterthegreat, audio

[zunesareawesome]

Sure you can!

@hotstud_xxx; text

[rubikscomplex]

[Oh, this is cute.]

you were right
you're not running a gang
you're running a cult

i don't respect cultists
nothing personal against yours
just a general thing
a cultist killed my mom

[dousedflame]

I don't know what a cult is, either.

[Spoilers, Bluestar, it's what a clan is.]

Assuming that isn't another one of your jokes, I can only say her killer would not be welcome in StarClan.

@w.graham; audio

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

Huh.

Curious. You're effectively re-establishing the cult that we know existed here. With many of the same expectations, restrictions and promises of violence for non-compliance.

[ There is a pause and then his voice raises as he calls over towards someone, but it also carries over the tablet. ]

I wonder if that "sickness" the ghosts talked about is part of what's at play here?

[dousedflame]

Violence is a fact of life - one that has been much too real lately. My goal is to cut down on it, not add more.

[She huffs slightly at the mention of sickness. She's fine, really. Her family history of dementia has nothing to do with this.]

Life was easier where I am from, and I'm trying to make it easier here. For everyone's benefit.

@Wayne, audio

[gothamiteknight]

[There's a cat.

A cat apparently claiming territory and setting up its own rules and...why is any of this even happening? He's fought interdimensional aliens, and this is somehow just...stranger.

Is this gang activity? This sounds like gang activity.]

What gives you the right to claim territory? What happens if another encroaching group claims your territory? Will you fight them?

[dousedflame]

No one else has claimed territory yet - you said so yourself. If someone else wants to dispute over territory, that's a sign of civilization and progress - but I doubt our territory will be big enough to cause any problems. It takes days to travel across Norfinbury, surely a cat's territory won't be in anyone's way.

That said, if someone wants us to rewrite our borders, I will hear them out. If we can't reach an agreement, fighting is a last resort.

@Spoiler; video

[spoileralert]

[ Dude she totally wants to be part of a cat family. ]

You know about cabin fever, right? You can't stay in the same place too long? You just want to keep that in mind when you're picking a territory.

[dousedflame]

[Yes! She brightens up at the first open mind here.]

Sunpaw told me about the mind-sickness, yes. I want to establish a territory just large enough to stop us from coming down with it. We can cycle through the nests to keep our minds clear - that way we won't be constantly wandering through the snow.

I want to equip each nest in our territory with food stores and basic supplies, that we can replenish as we pass through. Perhaps if someone comes back from the dead near one of the nests, we can keep supplies ready for them to get back on their paws.

@funyarinpa | audio

[fiftheclipse]

[Even in whatever year it is now, people still post cat videos? That's a cute thing to find. That's--

Wait a minute, the cat itself is recording this? ... And talking?

That's weird, but.. Well, no, everything's weird here, so Junpei can put that aside. His focus ends up more on those old injuries, instead. He wants to help.

... What do you even say to a cat, though?]

Just a couple places to be safe, huh?

When you figure out where, I could leave some food for you if I'm around.

[dousedflame]

[Don't patronize her, Junpei.]

I can find my own food, thank you.

[She's used to being mistakenly treated like a kittypet, though, so she doesn't seem particularly offended. If anything, she sounds like a mother replying to a question from a child. On the other hand... she doesn't look like she's been doing as good a job staying fed as she'd like everyone to believe. She's still too picky for her own good.]

If you have any good suggestions for where the territory should be, though, it would help. I don't have a mind for spaces as large as Norfinbury.

@magenta2; audio

[himalayanyeti]

Shit, I'll get in on this just so I can legally kick House's ass as necessary. What's the catch?

[dousedflame]

[Why is she not surprised.]

I suppose the catch is that if I see you attacking him without a good reason, we'll have to sit down and have a talk.

But somehow I doubt you won't have a good reason.

@clowncutie92; video

[clowngirl]

To be honest, I'm surprised nobody started carvin' up territory sooner.

[Back home, when the city had been destroyed by an earthquake, it felt like the gangs had started claiming pieces of No Man's Land as their own almost immediately.]

[dousedflame]

It does seem rather odd - but from what the other Twolegs have told me, maybe having territory is strange to them.

[She'd never understood how Twolegplaces function without clan leaders to oversee them... she's starting to think that they don't.]

>action

[thewarningafter]

[What is this. Stephen listens to Bluestar's message with growing concern and the dawning realization that what had seemed like a good morale boost at the time might be turning into something a little...inconvenient. He's responsible for this, in some roundabout way, he's sure. Shouldn't have encouraged the formation of this...SnowClan. He makes his way to Bluestar and sits nearby.]

So...we're forming a city-state now? Because as your, uh, Medicine Twoleg, I'm just gonna say that this is all news to me.

[dousedflame]

[She glances up at him... her fur is still ruffled from dealing with the backlash, but this isn't the first time one of her decisions has been unpopular. It will fade.]

That's the kindest word I've heard for it.

[She sighs softly, settling down properly to tuck her paws under her body.]

A lot has been happening - losing Star-Lord and Rocket, seeing that message from the man looking for criminals, the fight at the hospital... it's been too long since I've felt like I was doing anything other than raking my claws at my glowbox. The only thing I've ever known how to do is serve my clan, and without a clan to serve, I feel... empty. And small.

This is good for me, and it's good for Star-Lord. I hope you and Gamora understand that... I don't expect you to agree with all of it.

@godsend, video

[termineur]

I don't think it's a bad idea to have a small area that's about protecting people. As much as I'd like everyone to be focused on solving the puzzles to get us out of this place- we can't all fit over here anyway. It's just not how us Twolegs are used to arranging ourselves anymore. We generally are able to each have our own space that's under our control- that's really hard to manage here.

But if you want to try it, maybe you'll have better luck. You've lived with that kind of structure before.

[ He won't be joining, himself- he doesn't feel like he fits there. But she could use a little encouragement, probably. ]

that username's accurate atm

[dousedflame]

[Every time someone seems to have a clear idea of what she's trying to do, she can't help slumping a bit out of sheer relief.]

Some of the people here seem very focused on freedom... I can understand why they want things that way for themselves, but they can't speak for everyone here.

[Just like loners and kittypets. Some cats people aren't built for clan life.]

I understand there's a movement to break free from here. [That she literally found out about while replying to others because it's never affected her before now.] But some, like me, simply can't be of any use for that. I would rather have somewhere to be and others to take care of, than lay stranded in the snow and useless because I can't contribute to what everyone else is doing.

@totheark; text

[0thingsonmymind]

*He's not really sure how he feels about thsi cat anymore.*

why

[dousedflame]

So that things like... what happened at the hospital, don't happen again.

[Does she regret hurting Beckett? No. He earned it. But that doesn't mean it couldn't have been prevented.]

[sleight_of_fate]

[oh, Brigid's tits. Here we go. He has to comment, but inside he's pondering his head against the wall.

And the fact that he's a known associate of House's doesn't matter here. House gets himself into his own shit: he's on his own with that.]

Hey, we haven't met yet, but I'm Rhys. Congratulations on your clan. Connections are good. Family is good.

[He's sincere about that. Even a little wistful, ragged-ass stray that he is.]

With all respect, though, ma'am, I'm afraid I can't abide by your rules.

This place is too harsh, and while I understand what you're trying to do, and have no ill will toward anyone who isn't trying to hurt me first, if I need something that will help me survive, or help us end this place, as long as it's not taking it out of someone else's hands, I'm going to take it. The supplies refill here, every so often, and there are houses that go weeks or months without being searched.

[He takes a breath, tugging at the myriad bracelets around his tattooed wrists.]

That said, however? On the same note, I'm happy to share my own shelter, supplies, and skills with any of your people...or anyone, really...that needs help.

[It's all said very gently, but firmly: all he wants is his neutrality. He's a healer and a man of peace.]

[dousedflame]

[She listens to what he has to say, and at the end she dips her head, as if nodding.]

I respect your wishes. As long as you don't harm anyone within our territory, I can't blame you for acting as you always have. If you are in need of supplies, though, please consider asking first. It will be easier to keep track of what I have to offer if things aren't taken without my knowledge.

@starspangledhero; video

[fifty]

[Oh jeez.]

Hey! I know why people haven't been cutting up territory! It's 'cause to--Twolegs, right? This place is already owned! It's in Alaska, which is part of America. And I'm America. That's weird to humans, too, so I'll explain it if you want!

But anyway the point is I'm cool with you guys having your own little mini territory here, 'cause there's tons of space, but there's a few things I'd want to make sure you'd be okay with. I wont go into 'em yet, first I wanna make sure everything makes sense, 'cause like I said, I'm not always something Twolegs get either.

@hexappeal - Private, audio, cw: Noisy Black

[sleight_of_fate]

[Rhys debates for a while if he should answer this, but it's a piece of information that has bagged at Rhys's mind since their strange exchange back in the...in the Cells.

He tries not to think about the whole thing too much, but he can handle this. As long as he doesn't think beyond that brief conversation, the question that led to America handing him how tablet in the cage.

So after a little while, he does send the message after all.]

Hey. Um. This is going to sound very weird. But. A couple of months ago. In the Cells.

Is that why you asked me where I was from?

@bucky; text

[advanced]

We don't have time for territory wars.

You're going to cause problems and splinter us into factions, stop it.

[dousedflame]

It seems I'm already doing that by suggesting the idea.

I'm not sure I've ever had so much trouble discussing territories before. I hadn't noticed any collective group within the Twolegs, so I didn't think organizing one would be a threat.

@theiceman, audio

[holmesice]

[This is ridiculous. This is an actual animal, no one should be bothering to listen to this creature, much less accept her stupid claim to territory. Much less take her seriously!]

This is clearly a joke. Taxes? Guard accompaniment? Do you really think you can just claim land because you feel like it? Who do you think you are? Wars have been started over less.

[dousedflame]

Wars require an opposing side. A clan cannot go to war with loners; they have no leader, no collective force. It would be unnecessary bloodshed with no proper ending or goal.

Where I come from, it's a common law that cats must be accompanied by guards if they wish to entire another clan's territory. We have had many problems with thieves and invasions in the past. As I said, I don't plan to instate that rule here, but I'm not afraid to if I have to. As they say - speak softly, and keep your claws sharp.