Picking Sides - Tea Party in the Rain - RPLOG
From Flexible Survival
Participants
Date
29/12/2014
Log
In what would best be described as old asian workmans' clothes, a trio of Tanuki walk along the streets south of Zephyr. With wide brim hats, the light rain and soft wind of the cloudy early evening don't seem to bother them in the slightest. Two males and one female, they seem to be discussing among themselves too quietly to really be heard, though one of them gives a great belly shaking laugh after a few moments. Looking about after, he asks the others something, though the language is unrecognisable!
As soon as she is clear of the lobby and out into the streets of Fairhaven, Rihko's form shifts and shrinks, until she is once more in her more normal kitsune shape. She gives a little tug on her bright red leather jacket to make sure it is settled in place properly, and then she sets a quick pace for the rendevouz site she was given. Sure enough, she spots the trio of Tanuki, and she smiles and calls out a "Hello!" in greeting as she raises her hand and approaches.
The first to show up is a very small hyena, no taller than 4 feet, dressed in workman's clothes. She adjusts her toolbelt as she steps up just after Rihko from the direction of Zephyr, her conductor's hat protecting at least some of her black hair from the rain. "Figured since I don't do much, I ought to help some fellas out." she says to them, hoping that they can understand something other than whatever their language is.
Fenris comes trotting down the road, round belly bouncing before him, though it does not seem to slow him at all. He is overjoyed to finally hear from his otherworldly brethren again, it has been far too long! He thinks fondly back to his brief experience with Lord Tanuki. He wears a bamboo hat of his own and futs right in as he joins the others. "Welcome, Brothers and Sister!" he says, bowing low and smiling happily, an ornate spear bobbing over his shoulder. He is a little sorry he missed the joke!
Trotting the on all fours, though wearing some basic armor, a coyote emerges from an alley near where Fenris stops. He sniffs the air, and recognizing at least one familiar scent, starts towards Rihko. "What's going on here?"
Foxjogging on up all foxily, armed and foxlike... Is Thelergramor. Thelergrafox! He peers around at the people, nods, all happy with the rain. Just keeps glancing between all the other people... Remains quiet for now, standing next to Reddbuddy.
Wandering down the street, Hajime appears to be talking to another entity -- Smith, to be exact. Pointing to a book she's carrying, which appears to be covered in dark red leather, her voice becomes within hearing range to whomever happens to be nearby. "--And that's why biotechnology is related to things like yeast," she says, not seeming to immediately notice the others.
It's hard to say when she got here, but she very clearly did at some point. Dressed up in her typical regal black and gold Chinese robe, Edel offers a wave towards the other tanuki before reaching up to adjust her oversized leaf of a hat. "Always nice to meet more visitors," she says, shuffling to a stop next to Rihko.
The wolf beast walking alongside the Fennec, Hajime, wears a Zephyr jumpsuit, and Zephyr combat armor, FERAL on the back, yellow on dark blue, reminiscent of the collapsed FBI's vests. "Fennec Hajime, that's confusing. What about babies? They're bio-techno-logical, too, right? Cuz the little Nanites are techie and the babies are bio logic-whatsits..." He trails off, looking ahead at the group gathered. "Oh, hi! I am Smith!" He says simply, his voice growl-ish, matching his wolfish appearance. Though, really, he always sounds like that. Standing at 7 feet and muscled, he's a bit imposing, but his loping gait and hunched appearance make him... appear 6 feet, give or take? He's almost comical, standing beside the tiny fennec.
The tanuki give a look to Rihko as the kitsune comes up, but then, two more tanuki join them. Though not true tanuki, it is easy to sense their connection. "Great greetings mortals of the realm. Pleasent weather today." Says the most rotund of them, looking about to those that walk up, "Would you all care to accompany us to our destination?" He asks, the pair behind him nodding along, female giving, "It would be most welcome company." But the smaller male asking, "Wait, did not you, and you..." pointing out Edel and Rihko, "Help Eight Tails?" he asks, though the bigggest gives a wave of his hand, "Come, we can walk and talk well enough." Starting off toward the east, the others joining in walking behind, girl giving a wave for everyone to follow.
Thelergramor perks up at the mention of Eight Tails. "I was there too! Helped." The foxnods, recalls that he asked her to have dinner with him. Glances around, follows after them, acknowledging his friends with nods.
Fenris happily joins the other tanuki. "It is an honor!" he says, "Where is it we are going?" The round tanuki produces a little packet of cookies from a pocket in his long coat and starts passing them around.
"Who, or what, I suppose, is Eight Tails?" The coyote inquires with a glance towards not only the odd Tanukis, but Rihko, Edel and Thelergramor as well. "I've never heard of anything called that." He does follow behind them though.
Surprised to be one of the first, Jaqui looks around to everyone else that starts to show up, but tries to focus mostly on the tanuki. "Yeah, I heard about that. So what if there are kitsune here? What if not ALL kitsune are enemies of Tanukis?" she asks the large male, following along nonetheless, eager to get on with it and deliver them to their destination. "Hey, aren't you guys all powerful and stuff? Can't you get more tanukis here and just go yourselves? Kinda just seems weird you're getting a bunch of us 'mortals' to help you... not... mortals."
Smith blinks, wondering what he just walked into. "Hrm... Hajiiiime..." he whines softly, scooping her up and holding her close, like one would a teddy bear for security, as he follows hesitantly, for better or for worse. "I have bad vibes 'bout this, Fennec..." He sighs, his head tucked low, hunching a bit more, staying towards the back and side of the group...
"I did, yes," Edel says, smiling. "I am kind. Even to our... Rivals," she says with a nod. "It goes a long way to show a bit of politeness. I would not be much of a tanuki priestess if I were to treat them poorly just because they happen to be kitsune."
Rihko smiles at Edel, and gives Redd a small nod. "I was told that we had visiting dignitaries, Redd," she explains, gesturing at the tanukis, "and so I came to make sure nothing untoward happened." The kitsune's tails flick and she gives the visitors a reassuring smile. "I am simply a guardian of the peace, honored guests, here to ensure your travels are safe and smooth," she offers, bowing her head and falling in with the group.
Thelergramor just keeps moving... "Redd, the Eight Tails they mean was this one Kitsune with a name that was... nature sounds. No real words in the name. Helpd 'em clear a building for some reason. I offered her dinner and wasn't given a a definite 'no.'" Glances around again, smiling... Peers at the Fennec and Smith... Shrugs.
Hajime sighs quietly as she's picked up, squirming her arms free so that she can properly hold her book. "Smith... You're seven feet tall and can throw trucks around if you /really needed too. You have nothing to be scared of, am I right?" she offers, coming along with him for better or for worse. Hajime also visibly blushes, embarrassed about how she's being held in front of all these strangers, even more so that 90% of them aren't feral.
Fenris is glad to see Edel here and gives her a friendly wave. "Isn't this great?" he calls out, "I hope that they all stay for a while!" He looks to the three tanuki. "You will stay a while, won't you? Edel makes the best plum wine!"
Smith whimpers softly. "I don't like throwing stuff... poor doors..." He sighs and picks up speed, the middle of the right side, and then towards the front right side, then near the familiar Thel, still muttering about bad vibes. "Trust the vibes... trust the vibes..." His eyes constantly dart around, his nose constantly twitching as he sniffs the air, cradling Hajime protectively.
A look back to everyone, the female tanuki gives, before answering Redd, "Eight Tails is the kitsune put in charge of their works here in your realm. Appointed by Nine Tails." She says, the smaller male looks to Jaqui, "Yes, we could call more of our brothers and sisters to help, but the trip home is long, hard, and tiring. Those of us who are here, it would be best if we stayed until our work was done." He says, the largest giving another laugh, "Relax friends, all should go well." He comments before looking about. Latex foxes, huskies, skunks, all going about doing thier business, until a newer agent comes running out of a run down building, flailing! Shi seems safe once the ferals get a look at the more experienced agents, but the half latex fox, half skunk girl herm struggles with clothes that are hard to tell if they were ripped in the fight, or if they grew to a point that the clothing could no longer contain them... as the agent radios for a pick up, the largest asks, "What of them, and I see we have one alike among us, those who seem to be lost in thier mind, or addled. Some of us have been fighting them, learning of them, but what say you friends of these mortals, and why are you different?"
"Eight Tails," Rihko echoes, nodding at Redd. Then she opens her mouth and makes a sound, like the rustling of leaves in an autumn breeze and a drop of water in a still pond, using a little bit of illusion magic to get it just right. She winks at the Coyote, and then her attention turns to the fleeing agent; she watches for a moment before she answers. "Self control. Choices," she states, tone flat.
Fenris's frown is interrupted briefly as he contemplates the question. "I am not sure what you mean," he confesses, "The Ferals, which is what we call them, are slaves to their passions. Like any mortals or immortals we are differentiated from these animals by our choices and, as Rhiko says, self control."
Thelergramor peers around, watching the agent call for help... Thinks he should help... "Well, if you want to know why we're different, probably because we're not a bunch of mindless rape monsters?" He shrugs at hearing there was kitsune with nine tails and now can't remember which one he was trying to seduce! Bah, it was one of them. Probably the 9 tailed one. Just lets that sit in his mind for a moment. "Oh, and SUCK units. They help with the control bit." Sniffs at the air, glances about.
Upon Rihko's sounds and such: "Yeah, that was the name! I think." Yup, the 8 tailed one.
Edel falls quiet, turning her eyes to the fleeing agent. She heaves a little sigh and shrugs. "I certainly can't speak for the others. I am 'different' because I choose to be, I suppose." That said, she lapses back into silence, linking her arms at the sleeves as her tail sways back and forth.
Smith blinks at the Tanuki. "The ferals? I'm just like them." He isn't wearing combat armor with "FERAL" on it for show. "I just get lots of tests.... needles hurt, but Dr. Rittz says..." He trails off, realizing that he's rambling, and looks at the latex fox/skunk herm curiously. "Poor lady... I hope she gets a good doctor..." He starts petting the Fennec worryingly, whispering about vibes... "No fighting..... I dun' like fighting..." Mumblemumblemumble... and this is with the wolf beast /taking/ his inoculations today. They must be starting to wear thin.
Jaqui scratches her head a bit as she hears the answer to her questions, not quite understanding. "Wait... what? Other dimensions are... long and far away? I don't... wow, nevermind, I'll take bliss over understanding how that works." she says in an exasperated tone, but then notices the agent comes out of the building flailing, seemingly half transformed. Instincts kick in, and the hyena is immediately heading towards hir. "Hang on, help is on the way!" she calls towards the herm in trouble, pulling a hunting knife from her belt, a clear liquid dripping from the blade... and it isn't rainwater. No matter the distance the agent is from the group, Jaqui reports to hir side, ready to fend off any other ferals dumb enough to strike now. "Are you hurt?" she asks urgently.
"I wouldn't know, but I heard it's because they failed to adapt to their changes, and regressed. Only hearsay though, but I've seen it enough places to believe them." Redd's response is basically the same as the others, but a bit more upbeat. "Sometimes they get better, other times they don't."
Hajime states naught but one line, "Ferals are people too, but different," before sighing quietly and gently petting Smith on the head, trying to calm him down. "C'mon, Smith... You don't want to be seen as a scardy wolf, do you?" After saying those words, she glances across to the tanuki group -- and everyone else for that matter -- saying nothing. Instead, she writes down something in that book of hers, which seems to be physically incapable of leaving her possession. That's a joke, of course, but she still brings it with her everywhere she goes.
