Difference between revisions of "Tiger Tales - RPLOG"
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| + | =Participants= | ||
| + | * [[Emacs]] | ||
| + | * [[Khaybat]] | ||
| + | * [[Mickey]] | ||
| + | * [[Phosphorus]] | ||
| + | * [[Rokarion]] | ||
| + | * [[Sharanda]] | ||
| + | * [[Zar]] | ||
| + | =Date= | ||
| + | 13/12/2017 | ||
| + | =Log= | ||
| + | <div></div><br> <br>Flanked by four stripey huntresses, the agents who've shown up are escorted through the thick and humid jungle, taking strange, twisting passages past giant-sized traps, beaten down by the passing of many tigers over the years. Before terribly long, they manage to arrive at the gate in one piece. They pause here, gesturing up towards the guards in their towers and having a brief exchange in a strange language. Finally, one of the guards points at the group of agents, shouting down, "Pass through! Don't cause trouble, else we make you regret it. Touch nothing, and most important, respect the Big Lady. Always." With that, the creaking of strained wood and rope sounds out as the gate lifts and allows them passage onto the dirt road cutting through the village hidden within. "Hurry, hurry through!" Every one of them can feel the intense gaze of feline eyes on them. They're not just being watched: Every nuance of their beings, the way they move, the way they behave is being observed.<br> <br>Jungles. Always humid. Always far too much vegetation to be able to creep around effectively. Out of all the places to be, Phosphorus probably disliked jungles the most. She had tagged along to bring stories of her time out of bubble, but also just to kinda see what all the fuss was about. The panda came kitted with light arms and armor -- no sense in being armed for a siege if it's supposed to be a social call -- but even a light plate carrier quickly gets her a bit more heated than she'd like. She's quiet on the way to the compound, figuring it best if no kaiju were attracted to this little patch in the rainforest. It'd be such a shame for everything to be crushed. Once inside, she tries to take in the sights of the quaint little tiger village, waiting off to the side as the other agents filter in.<br> <br>Rokarion was among the group that arrived to the tiger village, never the poodle to miss a chance of studying a newly discovered tribe. The kemo-canine had sagely chosen not to bring any of his heavier gear, or drones, and to wear more airy armour, a wise choice in the humid jungle. He was following along with a sprightly step, taking the time to look around and noting down all the interesting sights. <br> <br>Mickey figures going the way of their jungle-tribal wear from the preserve would of been slightly insulting, and so the ratphon is donned instead in a trope-filled safari outfit of short shorts and a smart T-shirt complete with hard-pith hat. Completely unarmed too aside from a winning smirk. They do choose to walk near the only other large feline in their party Sharanda; mostly because Mick wasn't /stupid/. If shit happened, best to jump behind the largest guy. Wide-eyed and fluffed up with the humidity, Mick is looking eagerly around exchanging the looks with their own.<br> <br>Khaybat was sweating a good bit but didn't seem to mind too much! Then again it was the first time she'd been in a jungle and the bawkgirl was constantly trying to resist the urge to fly around. After spending her entire life as a gazelle it was definitely a difference having wings that actually let her flap around. For now though the macaw just looks up at the talking mutants on the top of the gate, then gives a chirp of approval when the gate slides open to let them pass through. If only Otto were here to let her backpack him!<br> <br>Sharanda sauntered along with the group as close to the front as she could, using her bulky frame to nudge or simply walk her way through while her own ears rotated slowly to every new sound as they walked along the paths through the jungle. Icy blue eyes flickering in directions her ears weren't, ensuring to gaze at every feline she could see. A bit of a smile creeping over her muzzle with so many kin, walking a bit taller and intentionally taking heavier steps of those big foot paws to ensure her figure tensed up from the impact. Tail whipping around in excitement she'd chirp out a few curious mewls in response to the one shouting at them before shrugging as they were ushered through. Adjusting her own ragged and torn armored vest without much thought before giving a disgruntled little huff with all the gazes, shifting her own straight ahead to continue forward. Ragged jeans looking closer to shorts then actual pants swaying the ripped strands with her steps as she'd pause with Mickey's closeness. Not giving it too much thought she'd just slap her hand paws together in a resounding clap while stomping her bulky frame in front of the gathering, a more demanding, baritone air hanging mewl echoing from her muzzle as her ears flattened with impatience. <br> <br>Beyond the hosts, Emacs feels relatively ill at ease here. The density of the world here is very high. To perceive it is to swim through mud and dust and dirt. To understand it is to become something else, a hybrid of the jungle and the self. | ||
| + | Briefly, Emacs was considering that line of thought seriously. Of course, there's nothing at all similar to swimming through mud and dirt to simply see it. To understand it, well, that's a more complex issue. Personal progression and projection of the story of one's own life aside, this is unusual for the kitsune. | ||
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| + | It is not that she is unaccustomed to jungles, nor being surrounded by people who might choose to hurt her if she misbehaves. No. Those things are not strangers to the kitsune. | ||
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| + | What is the stranger, is the request. Stories. Wurtzite knows about them. Shi thinks they're the essence of life. Emacs is not gifted in that way like her sister. Stories are a projection of events out of all possible sequences of events. To call a story the essence of life itself is like saying that atoms are the building blocks of matter in the universe(well, sometimes it's made of other stuff). It's so true that it is utterly meaningless. | ||
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| + | Stories are intrinsic to causality. Causality is a narrative structure that might be deviated from in narrative due to the lack of information about the systems described. Under this sort of thoughts, she barely notices the progression of the group through the jungle<br> <br>As they pass through the gate and get nearer to the other tigers, it becomes abundantly clear that the muscular physique of the huntresses is not entirely unique here. In fact, every other tigress they pass by seems to be built like an amazonian killing machine, and the ones who aren't tend more towards being motherly in their proportions. Not all, but most. The sexual dimorphism is significant to say the least, as the males are significantly smaller and even more effeminate than their counterparts in most regards, except, err, one that sticks out. They are particularly well endowed. They smile and quietly exchange comments while they stare at the agents. Sharanda in particular gets a lot of very strange looks, though everyone seems utterly alien and unique in their own way to the tigers, as though they've never seen anything quite like them in their lives. Some of the older females seem less impressed, but the general impression from the growing crowd is that of bewilderment and interest. Once they get closer to the center of the village, it becomes impossible not to notice the literal giant tigress sitting in a clearing, a short ways off to the side of the central firepit. She looks over each and every one of the agents with a gentle smile. The huntresses gesture towards the ground around the firepit, a small fire glowing within, as though this place weren't hot enough to begin with. Tigers crowd at the edges. "Sit, circle."<br> <br>Phos shoots a momentary glance at those who came unarmed -- it's not that the panda expected trouble... well, that's a lie. She expects trouble (as always), but perhaps not trouble caused by the tigers. Regarding the stories she has to tell... well, she tries not to think of them too strongly. Best to relay them once, then let them die. She glances back and forth at the population of this tiger village, taking silent notes over the average structure of this seemingly isolated infection. She also tries to take note of the structures they've built, taking shots in the dark for what their use may be. Architecture can say a lot about a civilization, no matter how early or primitive. Having been shepherded over to the fire, Phos takes a second to peer at the giant tigress, her ear quirking and eyebrow raising at their massive stature. She calmly takes a seat by the side of the fire, turning her gaze to the flame, waiting for the others.<br> <br>Rokarion made an effort during the journey to eyeball his companions; however, the only piece of information he got there was that he was with four strangers and Mickey, and Roka was certain that strangers will be more reliable that the rat-thing in a scuffle. Focusing on the task ahead, the poodle boy took note, or rather notes, of the village population, and their apparent architectural 'feats'. He made an effort to take a seat near the only other person he knew in the circle, while giving the village elder a respectful nod. <br> <br>Mickey's tail twitches from side to side. At least the ratphon isn't outright flaunting things off, but there are times for sure where they can be caught staring and need the extra nudge from Sharanda or threat of stepping-on to remember to continue on. Then the even /larger/ tigress comes into view and the bird-half's beak slightly drops. Seems like they're just finding out now for the first time why the place was called Kaiju island. "Think we could have issues," Mick mutters to Roka during the seating as they pass and, in retaliation for the paw-clapping that makes Mick jump slightly, bothers Sharanda with consistant Ratphon presence and sits beside her. Not worried, nope! Only a rat slash bird literally surrounded by cats. Was it hot out here? One talon fingers under their collar as they look up and gulp.<br> <br>Khaybat is trying her best not to stare at all the tiger toms though with how huge they're hung it's really difficult. Especially with her being in-heat, too! The avian had been hoping leaving Zephyr's building would make it go away as it had before but it appears she's in a real one now and not a forced Lustful kind. Either way the macaw manages to keep from making any overt gestures though she fails to notice her tailfeathers are fanning her 'condition' towards them. When she goes to sit down at the fire the bawk wiggles, trying not to let herself sweat any worse than she already had from the trek. Then she looks aaaall the way up at the big leader. Gulp?<br> <br>Sharanda simply continued to stride forward with a roll of her shoulders, drawing herself up to her full height with all of the gazes. Steps growing longer in full stride as she continued to hammer those foot paws down with purpose like a march straight for the center. Head focused straight ahead, never once straying even an inch in any direction, letting her radar like big round ears swivel and perk around like twin radar dishes to every little sound, snicker and rumble from the crowd. Icy blue eyes sparking to life when she noticed all the built huntresses.... a wrinkle of her nose when gaze settled on the effeminate males. Though a rather longing look did in fact latch onto the particularly endowed one with a rather boring gaze, her foot paws freezing in mid stride with the sight. Sucking in a breath to utter a stone grating, chest bursting purr for a single moment just for it to faid off into the air as she resumed her ever forward movement for the camp fire they were lead to. Stomping around the fire she'd pause with Mickey's form following her own, giving just a head tilt while reaching down to Pat his head once he sat down with just a feral fanged, ear to ear attempted smile in her usual fashion. The smile fading with a serious look once more she'd turn to the massive Tigeress with a straight on stare before walking right up to her side. Still standing as tall as she could she silently offered her mostly white furred, black striped hand forward rather suddenly in an offered hand shake with the same unblinking stare, claws sheathed.<br> <br>Sitting down, Emacs looks over the fire. Their effeminate men are something to look at, if nothing else. Having not noticed the larger tiger, she nearly jumps up when she realizes something she took to be a structure of a piece of furniture is not only alive, but smiling in a more or less friendly manner. | ||
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| + | You can't befriend a table. Nor a house. Well, not usually. | ||
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| + | Maybe this time it was the exception to that rule. Not, of course, that a large tiger is either of those things. So maybe it isn't an exception to those two useful rules. | ||
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| + | She inhales, amazingly aware of the span of time as it passes, exhaling slowly. What is intended to come out as a reverential nod at the elder tiger instead manifests as an uneasy grin and rapid nod. This particular combination of characteristics does not, she feels, carry either intended effect of reverence, nor the intimation that the person performing it is in firm control of themselves.<br> <br>All eyes are momentarily on Sharanda and there is a very uncomfortable stillness that grows the closer she gets to the Big Lady. It seems for a moment as though she's breached some taboo. The Lady herself, however, seems totally unthreatened, her smile broadening for a moment as she presses one gigantic index finger down to 'shake' Sharanda's hand. Sort of. A wave of relief washes over the tense crowds, and they get back to their observations. The Lady very gently nudges Sharanda back towards her seat, evidently quite experienced in being delicate with smaller creatures. From the firepit, even a quick glance around reveals quite a lot to the inquisitive eye. A path branches off that leads through a tightly-knit cluster of basic wooden huts, each one decorated lovingly with vibrant murals and clattering trinkets and chimes. Most of the tigers themselves don't tend to wear clothes beyond the odd loincloth or robe, but there are decorative rings and some kind of socks on their tails, their embroidery following some kind of common pattern, save the slightest differences between each. Once everyone's in place, the Lady lifts a hand, and the crowd hushes once more. Her voice is tremendous, and yet it carries with it such a soft, soothing tone. "Tell us your names, and what inspired you to come before us to share your stories. I am... Curious."<br> <br>Phosphorus watches the exchange between Sharanda and the Lady quietly. 'Touch nothing' doesn't extend to people, apparently. The panda makes a few quick glances about, before taking a short breath, and starting off. "Call me Phos. My stories tide from outside the bubble -- during the current age, but still... a very different sort of world, I feel. It's important to remember how things used to be, yeah? Or even how things -are-, outside of our little sphere. There sometimes seems to be a cultural divide between those who were born before and born after P-Day. Hopefully my stories can mend that somewhat."<br> <br>Rokarion loosened his outfit's collar a bit to better handle the heat emanating from the fire pit. "Probably, if someone decides to be tactless." He replied back, in a whispering voice, to Mickey. The canine did take note of what appeared to be the village's residential area, and of attire of their hosts, making an effort not to linger at any individual in particular, because that would just be rude. The final thing that was observed by Roka was the tremendous amount of respect and power this Kaiju had over the little village. Following after Phosphorus, the poodle answered the question thus, "I respond to Roka. I came here because I was equally curious about you, and your people. As for the stories that I will share, that depends on your interest. I can either tell you about life outside Kaiju Island in the other bubbles, or about the times before P-day, in foreign lands beyond this coast."<br> <br>Mickey is one of those who gives a little sigh of relief. Removing their hat, Mickey starts to rake talons through feathers in an effort to help air them out in the stifling heat. Mick watches a few of the village denizens come and go, then down the line to the Panda as she starts up. Counting down the line, it won't be until Roka starts up that Mickey gets that /look/ on their face. The look of someone suddenly realizing that all their classmates were pulling out shiny finished projects on the bus ride to school. Oh, shit. They had homework. Thankfully Roka was the nerdy type that allows Mick to cobble together something resembling a substanive offering. "Mickey. Sorta do-it-all, see-it-all; wanted to see for myself." The ratphon clears their throat awkwardly, looks around with a bob of their head, and says. "And..Yup. Cool threads!" <br> <br>Khaybat was a bit surprised that the tiger toms didn't seem to be paying attention to the fact she's in-heat along with some of the others though she took a moment to notice their kitty lady apparently almost did something bad. Confused now instead the bawk watches as the larger still tigress appears to shake Phos's entire hand with just her pinky. O-Oh dear. The avian shifts a little from side to side trying not to stare at the amazonian kaiju! When asked for a name the macaw manages to squeak out, "Khay..," and stares up at the huge tiger lady again. Of course it doesn't last too long and soon she's back to looking at all the male toms, unable to help herself! It was the first time she'd been in actual heat--and not a forced one from another mutant's aura--for a while.<br> <br>Sharanda Unflinching with that finger slowly coming down to her, and her paw still out stretched as she remained unmoving and unaware of the tension coming from the others. Eyes still staring straight upwards she'd take that index finger into her own hand paw and give it a rather strong, firm squeeze that she could muster . . . unlikely more then a pinch to the mountain before her. Letting go afterward she'd just give a rather unusually friendly smile after that, her fangs tucked away and muzzle just barely parted with eyes closed...ears perked forward as she nodded twice to the giantess with naught but a single chirped, pleasant little mewl. Sliding a bit with the nudge she'd playfully let her bulky frame linger against it just a breath's time longer then the nudge before bounding a few times on all fours right next to Mickey with a lazy stretch of her figure. Reclining her figure by laying on her back entirely, feet pointed to the side rather then closer to the fire as her own thick fur left her a bit uncomfortable in the area and that inferno....head resting on Mickey's lap to stare up at the giant Tigeress while lifting her one paw up, flexing claws out for a moment while giving that previous rather feral fanged filled, wide grin. Her voice came out broken, grating out of her throat as if it was a struggle for the few words she could even manage. "Sharanda. Fight streets. Paid. Keep ferals bay. Always seek strong! Smush strong. Find stronger" clenches that paw as those claws retrached, simply folding her hand paws on her own bust with her smile unfading even as her maw closed.. a few rugged coughs shaking her frame simply by talking that much. A shake of her head and guttural noise flitteirng out into a few more natural mewls, huffs and grumbles.<br> <br>It is easier to feel at ease now that the larger tiger has spoken. Emacs sighs, "I am Emacs." | ||
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| + | "I am here to find out why you want the stories. I don't know why you're out here on the island of the giants, nor what relevance our lives can have to yours beyond the similar structures that compose all human consciousness." | ||
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| + | "I can share stories of my time at home, if I can really call Fairhaven as it is my home. If I'm lucky, I might relate them well." The kitsune smiles at the larger tigress, "If I were to guess why you brought us here, I might imagine that you had already told whatever stories you like to tell to your satisfaction. That to bring about newfound narrative fecundity, you know as well as anyone else, you have to listen to the stories of others to create new ones. There s nothing new is under the sun. But often enough the things that were under the sun one day are cut up and pasted back together differently the next."<br> <br>The tiger boys do seem to be squirming a little more and staring with less than innocent looks on their faces, but they don't advance. It seems under the watchful eye of the tigresses they're not going to make a move. The Big Lady listens to their explanations in turn, quirking a brow at Khay for a moment before nodding slowly. Giggles ring out from the surrounding tigers as Mick speaks, and the same when Sharanda offers her explanation. The Lady grins broadly and rests her hands on her knees. "Your stories are yours to choose, but if you must have guidance, tell us of something important to you. It speaks to who you are, and would hardly be worthwhile otherwise." Her gaze settles on Emacs and she can't help but to grin toothily. "You brush upon something important! My reasons are different than what you think, good a guess as that may be. No, that is only a small part. I wish to see what remains of the world, through your lens. I have not left here in..." She pauses, seeming distant for a moment. "... A long time. A very long time. Before I expose my people to what lies beyond, I must first be certain of some important particulars." She does not elaborate on what those are. "I've sent some of my people out to give me their perspectives. Now I want yours."<br> <br>Phosphorus waits patiently for everyone else to do a quick introduction to themselves and their stories, face passive, glancing at each person while they speak. After the Lady finishes her response, the panda considers a moment, before responding. "My perspective is that of a sold... former soldier. I fought, and I killed -- even before the world changed. The more things change, the more they stay the same, it seems," she says, bitterly, "People die all the time. They used to, at least. But... many, many people died to create the world people call home, now. And many more died senselessly, after. But I don't want to drag the mood down too much, I think."<br> <br>Rokarion took a note of the answers of his temporary companions to the leader of this merry little village, taking a particular note on what was being offered on the table for discussion. When it was time for the tigress to speak, the faux-canine diverted his attention to her, mulling her explanation and reasoning in his brain for a while, mentally observing that it has only been nine years since P-day. And just like last time, Roka began speaking after Phosphorus, "It would be easier if you told us what those important particulars of yours. We could just satisfy your curiosity about them." <br> <br>Mickey gives a soft oof when Sharanda flops atop, but doesn't let it break their flow during introductions. It was nice to have something for their talons to do instead of self-preening in anxiousness; already two feathers had been needlessly plucked. Petting carefully over feline ears and cheeks instead, Mick is unable to cobble together a good-enough 'story' for the second request before it is their turn. Not confident in their ability to lie fully, the ratphon instead takes a more general, vague tact. Enough of a lie to not make Mick sound like another floozy, with a questionable amount of truth to spice! "Well..I got someone sorta like..needin' to know what's happenin' in the city. And and /lotta/ shit happens, so there's a lot to do, see.." Mick adopts a thoughtful tap of their beak with their free talon. "We had a buncha cats, er...smaller ones; from a whole town of them take up residence in our mall. Heh..Damnit, I shoulda gotten a rep from there to come. They woulda loved ta'see this place.." Recognizing getting sidetracked, Mick looks back up to the large Lady. "I guess it is jus' like the jungle tho'. Got its own dangers."<br> <br>Khaybat is very confused by the fact the male toms appear to be wanting to pounce her and the others who are in-heat though she doesn't really brian the concept of a matriarchal society either after being raised Promethean and being taught that both genders are equal. <br> <br>Sharanda listened for a few moments before she became distracted naturally in her own way to the sight of a few of the tiger males squirming in place. Looking through for the specifically well endowed one she saw before to make a few beckoning gestures with her claws, wiggling her ears in a silly manner. Just to pause with her head rolling back in focus to the Big Lady's words once more. A serious expression coming across her face for a few moments as she'd shift her bulky frame a bit more, back of her head still resting in Mickey's lap while her legs crossed over one another still remaining straight. Eyes closing a moment with the petting talons on her ears and cheeks to nuzzle against before focusing a gain upwards. An earthy, air dragging growl eminating from her maw before she spit to the side with obvious disgust, eyes narrowing as she looked up at the giantess. "Why? Here good. Plenty kin. Food. Shelter. Water. Allies. Not out there. Streets swarmed. Always ferals. Fucking. Fighting. Scavenging " grimaced to the strain of speaking, a twinge in her muzzle of pain. "Most hide. Blockade buildings. Behind walls. Cower. " sighed heavily, giving a shake of her head. "This one. Streets live. Weeks at times. Paid by weak. Take out more. Never stops..." growls a bit, eyes drifting up to the sky "Ferals not worst. Many agents...big worse. Selfish. Greedy. Prey weaker agents. Preserve only self. Arrogant. Hide behind walls." finally gave a shrug, snorting. "So this one Fights. Find strong...smush. Get stronger. Find next. Live" smirked a bit. "Story done." grunts<br> <br>"The world as you have no doubt noticed, is amenable to human life in a manner that it has never been before." Emacs starts. "Few people die at all. Everyone heals from any injury that doesn't erase their mind. So from this, I will give you my perspective, so far as I can. I am a corporate lackey." | ||
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| + | "This life started back when P-Day happened. I was interviewing for what would've been a fairly innocuous position at Zephyr. If you care about where it was. I was in one of the few relatively safe spaces in Fairhaven as the world around me turned to dust and ash and monsters. The benefits of the change that had overcome the city were only to be noticed much later, after the nanites had figured out what a human body can properly survive having done to it. I was a young woman at the time. I was about to graduate senior year of high school. My prospects were looking fantastic." | ||
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| + | "What happened instead was that I got to join Zephyr about four months before I was intending to for a summer internship. This would've been fantastic were it not for finding my family as they were. My older sister managed to hold onto her sanity. My parents, not quite." | ||
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| + | "It wasn't too long ago that I found them. They were foxes. As it seems to run in the family." Emacs grimaces at this, "They weren't quite... sane. They were very affectionate. In such a way that would've gone against what they stood for as human beings. It wasn't fun when I had to knock them out and leave so they would stop." | ||
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| + | "Did you know that the sound of a jawbone breaking is different when it's someone you care about? That a gun feels heavier when you're bashing in what might be your own father's head?" | ||
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| + | "Anyway, that's not so much what the world is like today I guess." The kitsune scratches the back of her head. "Today I went out around noon to purge the mutant population at the Bone Yard with a team of combat specialists. I earned twenty tokens for that. That's a fair haul, albeit one that feels too small when we were fighting the strongest things we could find there." | ||
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| + | "It was surprising to see this pop up today. Things have been a bit slow lately as far as this kind of mission hasn't been coming about as often as it was over the summer." Emacs recrosses her legs, "Hmm. I don't know if I'd say it was a good thing or a bad thing." | ||
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| + | "In any case, after signing up for it, I got on a transport with everyone else here and eventually arrived. That's when we met your... guards? Warriors?"<br> <br>The Big Lady's eyes fall from one agent to the next as they speak. Many eyes go wide as the tigers listen to the agents, surprised at how brutal the outside is starting to sound. Funnily enough, most of them seem to understand Sharanda better than anyone else, their skills in English somewhat lacking, missing many of the nuances. There's a lot of soft chatter as they explain the stories to eachother in something reminiscent of a big game of telephone. The Lady eventually speaks up again, responding first to Rokarion. "I am confident in my ability to glean the information I require from your story. Do not worry," she assures him in the least assuring manner possible. "And on that note, now that introductions are out of the way and your companions have shared their stories, so should the rest of you, no?" She glances over the agents yet to tell their tales. Despite the best attempts to keep the peace in the crowd, one of the boys finally pipes up, "How strong are you, Shah-randah?!" He struggles with her name a bit but gets there in the end. Another questions Emacs, "Wait, what's a mutant? Or a Bone Yard?!" It takes a lot of hushing to keep a long line of mewled questions from drowning out the stories.<br> <br>Phosphorus hardly had told her story -- more of a prelude, than anything else. But she kept her peace in the matter, seeing that things have moved on. She looks at the Lady, coughs, and raises her voice a bit so it'll be heard over the din of felines mewing. "I think... well. I think we should have a question queue, maybe. A forum, of sorts. Step up, ask a question, step back down, yeah? Or have individual tribe members ask each person a question... or, something else. I'm not sure."<br> <br>Rokarion shrugs as the Fat Lady sings his way, "Very well." was his only response. Listening to the responses of others, the poodle boy taps his chin and begins his own story, deciding to follow's Mickey's strategy of not talking about himself personally, but with more truth, "I come from a distant land...far, very far." Roka purses his lips as he notices how the crowds seem to struggle with more 'complex' speech, and decides to slow down a bit. "If you go back to Fairhaven, then go across the wilderness to the other end, there is another sea, big water, an ocean. Across that ocean, there is another land. I come from an island, just like this one, called the United Kingdom. In fact, we also used to be ruled by a lady, we called the Queen." If any republicans were still alive in the UK they could be heard screaming in rage, but the poodle did not feel that he needed to discuss the nuances of governance with a tribal village elder. "Ever since I left, I do not know of what happened to people back home." And that seemed like a satisfactory story in Roka's eyes. <br> <br>Mickey's tail sweeps from side to side behind them as the chatter starts up all around. The ratphon's beak breaks out in a smirk, and feathered covered rat ears perk up to try and make out a whole question before it got shouted over. "Jeeze, ya'guys could try and make it sound not so completely shitty," Mick comments, a bit softer to the others while keeping the smirk on their beak for visual sake. Without a question directed at them Mickey becomes content with tending to Sharanda's head and ears while watching some of the larger tigresses. A few times they need to shift their ratty-half from side to side as if trying to shift things subtly to get more confortable. Seeing how such wiggles don't seem to stop for long, it is hard going. "Surprised there's such a consistant..form about here. Species, anyway. Pretty rad; this place would make a good vacation break." <br> <br>Sharanda 's eyes seem to light up like a christmas tree the VERY moment she heard someone ask about her strength. Nipping after Mickey's talons in warning as her expression changed before moving. Rolling forward into a situp she'd then simply...continue rolling forward as those digigrade lower legs unfolded under her to draw to her full on height. Patting Mickey one last time atop of his head she'd wiggle claws in the direction of the Big Lady, as she told her part and now had something grabbing her attention. Once again those massive foot paws stomped under her as she started to walk in the direction straight where she heard that voice from. Ears weren't swiveling..both were locked straight forward in the last location of that voice. Muzzle bared...fangs flashing and eyes gleaming even despite their icy blue color. One paw was in front of her spread wide..the other balled into a fist as she slammed it into the padding of the open paw. Shoulders rolled forward..back started to hunch as she gave an air hanging, mellow....near playful...growl that wound around her. Tail lashed with every step, muscles growing more taunt as she finally spoke, not anger but sounding almost ...happy. "Come find out!! Test. Step forward. Lets smush. No claws. No Fangs. No blood. Funzies. Make other yield. You win, Shar yours. For day. Shar win....you Mine. For Day" licked her muzzle. Attention entirely focused into trying to spot the one that spoke up...the stories. Group..even the Big Lady forgotten. "No real harm, no insult. Strength. Fight. Fun!!" spreads her arms wide as she leaned half forward as if to charge, a pleased laugh leaving her maw. "Love challenge!!"<br> <br>"A mutant is one person like you or I. That is, not 'human' in the old sense of the word." Emacs explained, "The bone yard is a massive stone outcropping in the shape of a dog cock. Covered in Dogs. If that isn't a case of the universe being perverse on its own, I don't know what is." | ||
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| + | "Believe it or not, I generally think most days back at Fairhaven are kinda fun. It isn't like I go out and bash things just because the company wants me to, not that their desire hurts it. It's the slow process of reclaiming the world. It's satisfying, and honestly, the fighting doesn't last that long." | ||
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| + | "There are days when I don't go out and do that. Where I spend my time rebuilding the world in a more... constructive manner I suppose. Those are rarer than I'd like." | ||
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| + | "But of course, how can we talk about Fairhaven without talking about the constant, most often consensual, sex?" Emacs waggles an eyebrow at nobody in particular. "There's a wonderful social scene about. Wonderful people to find, talk to, fuck, often in whichever order you please."<br> <br>At first, Sharanda is met with a lot of tigers stepping backwards, but once they realize she just wants some playful fun they start to look at eachother. Eventually, a meek tigerboy, likely the one in question, is pushed forwards by one of the older women to face the white tigress. "Mom wait NO--" is all he manages before stumbling towards her. He can only bring himself to stare up with wide kitten eyes, squeaking out, "Please don't break me." Somewhat abruptly, a couple of huntresses approach Mickey from the surrounding outer circle of tigers. "Shamans want you. Come with us," is all the explanation they offer before practically dragging the rat off past the crowd. The Lady seems mildly annoyed by this, but otherwise unphased. Her gaze finally settles on Khaybat, and she offers another smile. "And what about you, little bird? What story do you have to tell?" The increasing level of interaction with the group is sparking something in the crowd, and it seems to be closing in around the firepit. It's not exactly claustrophobic yet, but boy is it unsettling how they inch in like they're ready to pounce. The older tigresses grab onto some of the boys to keep them from doing exactly that. Suddenly, things start tumbling in towards the firepit, rolled out from the crowd by the tigers, bumping against the stone edge of the pit or up against the agents themselves. A few fresh fruits, bits of scrap, trinkets, long-broken electronics, anything they felt like offering up is being pushed the way of the agents. Some of this stuff could be useful or valuable, even!<br> <br>Mickey smirks and readjusts their hat when Sharanda slips off to stalk amongst the group, and outright laughs at the little meek boy begging. Like a prey creature sensing the weight of air above coming down in the form of an impending claw, Mickey's ears flick back moments before the shadow from two huntresses overtake his spot. "Wha?" Mickey bawks as they're lifted up from under either arm and guided away. "H-hey now, no rush! Plenty of coolness to go around." Mick's chirps fade in the crowd. The beak was all smiles, but it doesn't quite reach Mickey's eyes; those are left high and dry seeing mental images of all of the voodoo they do to you in these strange funny-named islands.[[Category:RPLogs]] | ||
Latest revision as of 06:27, 13 December 2017
Participants
Date
13/12/2017
Log
Flanked by four stripey huntresses, the agents who've shown up are escorted through the thick and humid jungle, taking strange, twisting passages past giant-sized traps, beaten down by the passing of many tigers over the years. Before terribly long, they manage to arrive at the gate in one piece. They pause here, gesturing up towards the guards in their towers and having a brief exchange in a strange language. Finally, one of the guards points at the group of agents, shouting down, "Pass through! Don't cause trouble, else we make you regret it. Touch nothing, and most important, respect the Big Lady. Always." With that, the creaking of strained wood and rope sounds out as the gate lifts and allows them passage onto the dirt road cutting through the village hidden within. "Hurry, hurry through!" Every one of them can feel the intense gaze of feline eyes on them. They're not just being watched: Every nuance of their beings, the way they move, the way they behave is being observed.
Jungles. Always humid. Always far too much vegetation to be able to creep around effectively. Out of all the places to be, Phosphorus probably disliked jungles the most. She had tagged along to bring stories of her time out of bubble, but also just to kinda see what all the fuss was about. The panda came kitted with light arms and armor -- no sense in being armed for a siege if it's supposed to be a social call -- but even a light plate carrier quickly gets her a bit more heated than she'd like. She's quiet on the way to the compound, figuring it best if no kaiju were attracted to this little patch in the rainforest. It'd be such a shame for everything to be crushed. Once inside, she tries to take in the sights of the quaint little tiger village, waiting off to the side as the other agents filter in.
Rokarion was among the group that arrived to the tiger village, never the poodle to miss a chance of studying a newly discovered tribe. The kemo-canine had sagely chosen not to bring any of his heavier gear, or drones, and to wear more airy armour, a wise choice in the humid jungle. He was following along with a sprightly step, taking the time to look around and noting down all the interesting sights.
Mickey figures going the way of their jungle-tribal wear from the preserve would of been slightly insulting, and so the ratphon is donned instead in a trope-filled safari outfit of short shorts and a smart T-shirt complete with hard-pith hat. Completely unarmed too aside from a winning smirk. They do choose to walk near the only other large feline in their party Sharanda; mostly because Mick wasn't /stupid/. If shit happened, best to jump behind the largest guy. Wide-eyed and fluffed up with the humidity, Mick is looking eagerly around exchanging the looks with their own.
Khaybat was sweating a good bit but didn't seem to mind too much! Then again it was the first time she'd been in a jungle and the bawkgirl was constantly trying to resist the urge to fly around. After spending her entire life as a gazelle it was definitely a difference having wings that actually let her flap around. For now though the macaw just looks up at the talking mutants on the top of the gate, then gives a chirp of approval when the gate slides open to let them pass through. If only Otto were here to let her backpack him!
Sharanda sauntered along with the group as close to the front as she could, using her bulky frame to nudge or simply walk her way through while her own ears rotated slowly to every new sound as they walked along the paths through the jungle. Icy blue eyes flickering in directions her ears weren't, ensuring to gaze at every feline she could see. A bit of a smile creeping over her muzzle with so many kin, walking a bit taller and intentionally taking heavier steps of those big foot paws to ensure her figure tensed up from the impact. Tail whipping around in excitement she'd chirp out a few curious mewls in response to the one shouting at them before shrugging as they were ushered through. Adjusting her own ragged and torn armored vest without much thought before giving a disgruntled little huff with all the gazes, shifting her own straight ahead to continue forward. Ragged jeans looking closer to shorts then actual pants swaying the ripped strands with her steps as she'd pause with Mickey's closeness. Not giving it too much thought she'd just slap her hand paws together in a resounding clap while stomping her bulky frame in front of the gathering, a more demanding, baritone air hanging mewl echoing from her muzzle as her ears flattened with impatience.
Beyond the hosts, Emacs feels relatively ill at ease here. The density of the world here is very high. To perceive it is to swim through mud and dust and dirt. To understand it is to become something else, a hybrid of the jungle and the self.
Briefly, Emacs was considering that line of thought seriously. Of course, there's nothing at all similar to swimming through mud and dirt to simply see it. To understand it, well, that's a more complex issue. Personal progression and projection of the story of one's own life aside, this is unusual for the kitsune.
It is not that she is unaccustomed to jungles, nor being surrounded by people who might choose to hurt her if she misbehaves. No. Those things are not strangers to the kitsune.
What is the stranger, is the request. Stories. Wurtzite knows about them. Shi thinks they're the essence of life. Emacs is not gifted in that way like her sister. Stories are a projection of events out of all possible sequences of events. To call a story the essence of life itself is like saying that atoms are the building blocks of matter in the universe(well, sometimes it's made of other stuff). It's so true that it is utterly meaningless.
Stories are intrinsic to causality. Causality is a narrative structure that might be deviated from in narrative due to the lack of information about the systems described. Under this sort of thoughts, she barely notices the progression of the group through the jungle
As they pass through the gate and get nearer to the other tigers, it becomes abundantly clear that the muscular physique of the huntresses is not entirely unique here. In fact, every other tigress they pass by seems to be built like an amazonian killing machine, and the ones who aren't tend more towards being motherly in their proportions. Not all, but most. The sexual dimorphism is significant to say the least, as the males are significantly smaller and even more effeminate than their counterparts in most regards, except, err, one that sticks out. They are particularly well endowed. They smile and quietly exchange comments while they stare at the agents. Sharanda in particular gets a lot of very strange looks, though everyone seems utterly alien and unique in their own way to the tigers, as though they've never seen anything quite like them in their lives. Some of the older females seem less impressed, but the general impression from the growing crowd is that of bewilderment and interest. Once they get closer to the center of the village, it becomes impossible not to notice the literal giant tigress sitting in a clearing, a short ways off to the side of the central firepit. She looks over each and every one of the agents with a gentle smile. The huntresses gesture towards the ground around the firepit, a small fire glowing within, as though this place weren't hot enough to begin with. Tigers crowd at the edges. "Sit, circle."
Phos shoots a momentary glance at those who came unarmed -- it's not that the panda expected trouble... well, that's a lie. She expects trouble (as always), but perhaps not trouble caused by the tigers. Regarding the stories she has to tell... well, she tries not to think of them too strongly. Best to relay them once, then let them die. She glances back and forth at the population of this tiger village, taking silent notes over the average structure of this seemingly isolated infection. She also tries to take note of the structures they've built, taking shots in the dark for what their use may be. Architecture can say a lot about a civilization, no matter how early or primitive. Having been shepherded over to the fire, Phos takes a second to peer at the giant tigress, her ear quirking and eyebrow raising at their massive stature. She calmly takes a seat by the side of the fire, turning her gaze to the flame, waiting for the others.
Rokarion made an effort during the journey to eyeball his companions; however, the only piece of information he got there was that he was with four strangers and Mickey, and Roka was certain that strangers will be more reliable that the rat-thing in a scuffle. Focusing on the task ahead, the poodle boy took note, or rather notes, of the village population, and their apparent architectural 'feats'. He made an effort to take a seat near the only other person he knew in the circle, while giving the village elder a respectful nod.
Mickey's tail twitches from side to side. At least the ratphon isn't outright flaunting things off, but there are times for sure where they can be caught staring and need the extra nudge from Sharanda or threat of stepping-on to remember to continue on. Then the even /larger/ tigress comes into view and the bird-half's beak slightly drops. Seems like they're just finding out now for the first time why the place was called Kaiju island. "Think we could have issues," Mick mutters to Roka during the seating as they pass and, in retaliation for the paw-clapping that makes Mick jump slightly, bothers Sharanda with consistant Ratphon presence and sits beside her. Not worried, nope! Only a rat slash bird literally surrounded by cats. Was it hot out here? One talon fingers under their collar as they look up and gulp.
Khaybat is trying her best not to stare at all the tiger toms though with how huge they're hung it's really difficult. Especially with her being in-heat, too! The avian had been hoping leaving Zephyr's building would make it go away as it had before but it appears she's in a real one now and not a forced Lustful kind. Either way the macaw manages to keep from making any overt gestures though she fails to notice her tailfeathers are fanning her 'condition' towards them. When she goes to sit down at the fire the bawk wiggles, trying not to let herself sweat any worse than she already had from the trek. Then she looks aaaall the way up at the big leader. Gulp?
Sharanda simply continued to stride forward with a roll of her shoulders, drawing herself up to her full height with all of the gazes. Steps growing longer in full stride as she continued to hammer those foot paws down with purpose like a march straight for the center. Head focused straight ahead, never once straying even an inch in any direction, letting her radar like big round ears swivel and perk around like twin radar dishes to every little sound, snicker and rumble from the crowd. Icy blue eyes sparking to life when she noticed all the built huntresses.... a wrinkle of her nose when gaze settled on the effeminate males. Though a rather longing look did in fact latch onto the particularly endowed one with a rather boring gaze, her foot paws freezing in mid stride with the sight. Sucking in a breath to utter a stone grating, chest bursting purr for a single moment just for it to faid off into the air as she resumed her ever forward movement for the camp fire they were lead to. Stomping around the fire she'd pause with Mickey's form following her own, giving just a head tilt while reaching down to Pat his head once he sat down with just a feral fanged, ear to ear attempted smile in her usual fashion. The smile fading with a serious look once more she'd turn to the massive Tigeress with a straight on stare before walking right up to her side. Still standing as tall as she could she silently offered her mostly white furred, black striped hand forward rather suddenly in an offered hand shake with the same unblinking stare, claws sheathed.
Sitting down, Emacs looks over the fire. Their effeminate men are something to look at, if nothing else. Having not noticed the larger tiger, she nearly jumps up when she realizes something she took to be a structure of a piece of furniture is not only alive, but smiling in a more or less friendly manner.
You can't befriend a table. Nor a house. Well, not usually.
Maybe this time it was the exception to that rule. Not, of course, that a large tiger is either of those things. So maybe it isn't an exception to those two useful rules.
She inhales, amazingly aware of the span of time as it passes, exhaling slowly. What is intended to come out as a reverential nod at the elder tiger instead manifests as an uneasy grin and rapid nod. This particular combination of characteristics does not, she feels, carry either intended effect of reverence, nor the intimation that the person performing it is in firm control of themselves.
All eyes are momentarily on Sharanda and there is a very uncomfortable stillness that grows the closer she gets to the Big Lady. It seems for a moment as though she's breached some taboo. The Lady herself, however, seems totally unthreatened, her smile broadening for a moment as she presses one gigantic index finger down to 'shake' Sharanda's hand. Sort of. A wave of relief washes over the tense crowds, and they get back to their observations. The Lady very gently nudges Sharanda back towards her seat, evidently quite experienced in being delicate with smaller creatures. From the firepit, even a quick glance around reveals quite a lot to the inquisitive eye. A path branches off that leads through a tightly-knit cluster of basic wooden huts, each one decorated lovingly with vibrant murals and clattering trinkets and chimes. Most of the tigers themselves don't tend to wear clothes beyond the odd loincloth or robe, but there are decorative rings and some kind of socks on their tails, their embroidery following some kind of common pattern, save the slightest differences between each. Once everyone's in place, the Lady lifts a hand, and the crowd hushes once more. Her voice is tremendous, and yet it carries with it such a soft, soothing tone. "Tell us your names, and what inspired you to come before us to share your stories. I am... Curious."
Phosphorus watches the exchange between Sharanda and the Lady quietly. 'Touch nothing' doesn't extend to people, apparently. The panda makes a few quick glances about, before taking a short breath, and starting off. "Call me Phos. My stories tide from outside the bubble -- during the current age, but still... a very different sort of world, I feel. It's important to remember how things used to be, yeah? Or even how things -are-, outside of our little sphere. There sometimes seems to be a cultural divide between those who were born before and born after P-Day. Hopefully my stories can mend that somewhat."
Rokarion loosened his outfit's collar a bit to better handle the heat emanating from the fire pit. "Probably, if someone decides to be tactless." He replied back, in a whispering voice, to Mickey. The canine did take note of what appeared to be the village's residential area, and of attire of their hosts, making an effort not to linger at any individual in particular, because that would just be rude. The final thing that was observed by Roka was the tremendous amount of respect and power this Kaiju had over the little village. Following after Phosphorus, the poodle answered the question thus, "I respond to Roka. I came here because I was equally curious about you, and your people. As for the stories that I will share, that depends on your interest. I can either tell you about life outside Kaiju Island in the other bubbles, or about the times before P-day, in foreign lands beyond this coast."
Mickey is one of those who gives a little sigh of relief. Removing their hat, Mickey starts to rake talons through feathers in an effort to help air them out in the stifling heat. Mick watches a few of the village denizens come and go, then down the line to the Panda as she starts up. Counting down the line, it won't be until Roka starts up that Mickey gets that /look/ on their face. The look of someone suddenly realizing that all their classmates were pulling out shiny finished projects on the bus ride to school. Oh, shit. They had homework. Thankfully Roka was the nerdy type that allows Mick to cobble together something resembling a substanive offering. "Mickey. Sorta do-it-all, see-it-all; wanted to see for myself." The ratphon clears their throat awkwardly, looks around with a bob of their head, and says. "And..Yup. Cool threads!"
Khaybat was a bit surprised that the tiger toms didn't seem to be paying attention to the fact she's in-heat along with some of the others though she took a moment to notice their kitty lady apparently almost did something bad. Confused now instead the bawk watches as the larger still tigress appears to shake Phos's entire hand with just her pinky. O-Oh dear. The avian shifts a little from side to side trying not to stare at the amazonian kaiju! When asked for a name the macaw manages to squeak out, "Khay..," and stares up at the huge tiger lady again. Of course it doesn't last too long and soon she's back to looking at all the male toms, unable to help herself! It was the first time she'd been in actual heat--and not a forced one from another mutant's aura--for a while.
Sharanda Unflinching with that finger slowly coming down to her, and her paw still out stretched as she remained unmoving and unaware of the tension coming from the others. Eyes still staring straight upwards she'd take that index finger into her own hand paw and give it a rather strong, firm squeeze that she could muster . . . unlikely more then a pinch to the mountain before her. Letting go afterward she'd just give a rather unusually friendly smile after that, her fangs tucked away and muzzle just barely parted with eyes closed...ears perked forward as she nodded twice to the giantess with naught but a single chirped, pleasant little mewl. Sliding a bit with the nudge she'd playfully let her bulky frame linger against it just a breath's time longer then the nudge before bounding a few times on all fours right next to Mickey with a lazy stretch of her figure. Reclining her figure by laying on her back entirely, feet pointed to the side rather then closer to the fire as her own thick fur left her a bit uncomfortable in the area and that inferno....head resting on Mickey's lap to stare up at the giant Tigeress while lifting her one paw up, flexing claws out for a moment while giving that previous rather feral fanged filled, wide grin. Her voice came out broken, grating out of her throat as if it was a struggle for the few words she could even manage. "Sharanda. Fight streets. Paid. Keep ferals bay. Always seek strong! Smush strong. Find stronger" clenches that paw as those claws retrached, simply folding her hand paws on her own bust with her smile unfading even as her maw closed.. a few rugged coughs shaking her frame simply by talking that much. A shake of her head and guttural noise flitteirng out into a few more natural mewls, huffs and grumbles.
It is easier to feel at ease now that the larger tiger has spoken. Emacs sighs, "I am Emacs."
"I am here to find out why you want the stories. I don't know why you're out here on the island of the giants, nor what relevance our lives can have to yours beyond the similar structures that compose all human consciousness."
"I can share stories of my time at home, if I can really call Fairhaven as it is my home. If I'm lucky, I might relate them well." The kitsune smiles at the larger tigress, "If I were to guess why you brought us here, I might imagine that you had already told whatever stories you like to tell to your satisfaction. That to bring about newfound narrative fecundity, you know as well as anyone else, you have to listen to the stories of others to create new ones. There s nothing new is under the sun. But often enough the things that were under the sun one day are cut up and pasted back together differently the next."
The tiger boys do seem to be squirming a little more and staring with less than innocent looks on their faces, but they don't advance. It seems under the watchful eye of the tigresses they're not going to make a move. The Big Lady listens to their explanations in turn, quirking a brow at Khay for a moment before nodding slowly. Giggles ring out from the surrounding tigers as Mick speaks, and the same when Sharanda offers her explanation. The Lady grins broadly and rests her hands on her knees. "Your stories are yours to choose, but if you must have guidance, tell us of something important to you. It speaks to who you are, and would hardly be worthwhile otherwise." Her gaze settles on Emacs and she can't help but to grin toothily. "You brush upon something important! My reasons are different than what you think, good a guess as that may be. No, that is only a small part. I wish to see what remains of the world, through your lens. I have not left here in..." She pauses, seeming distant for a moment. "... A long time. A very long time. Before I expose my people to what lies beyond, I must first be certain of some important particulars." She does not elaborate on what those are. "I've sent some of my people out to give me their perspectives. Now I want yours."
Phosphorus waits patiently for everyone else to do a quick introduction to themselves and their stories, face passive, glancing at each person while they speak. After the Lady finishes her response, the panda considers a moment, before responding. "My perspective is that of a sold... former soldier. I fought, and I killed -- even before the world changed. The more things change, the more they stay the same, it seems," she says, bitterly, "People die all the time. They used to, at least. But... many, many people died to create the world people call home, now. And many more died senselessly, after. But I don't want to drag the mood down too much, I think."
Rokarion took a note of the answers of his temporary companions to the leader of this merry little village, taking a particular note on what was being offered on the table for discussion. When it was time for the tigress to speak, the faux-canine diverted his attention to her, mulling her explanation and reasoning in his brain for a while, mentally observing that it has only been nine years since P-day. And just like last time, Roka began speaking after Phosphorus, "It would be easier if you told us what those important particulars of yours. We could just satisfy your curiosity about them."
Mickey gives a soft oof when Sharanda flops atop, but doesn't let it break their flow during introductions. It was nice to have something for their talons to do instead of self-preening in anxiousness; already two feathers had been needlessly plucked. Petting carefully over feline ears and cheeks instead, Mick is unable to cobble together a good-enough 'story' for the second request before it is their turn. Not confident in their ability to lie fully, the ratphon instead takes a more general, vague tact. Enough of a lie to not make Mick sound like another floozy, with a questionable amount of truth to spice! "Well..I got someone sorta like..needin' to know what's happenin' in the city. And and /lotta/ shit happens, so there's a lot to do, see.." Mick adopts a thoughtful tap of their beak with their free talon. "We had a buncha cats, er...smaller ones; from a whole town of them take up residence in our mall. Heh..Damnit, I shoulda gotten a rep from there to come. They woulda loved ta'see this place.." Recognizing getting sidetracked, Mick looks back up to the large Lady. "I guess it is jus' like the jungle tho'. Got its own dangers."
Khaybat is very confused by the fact the male toms appear to be wanting to pounce her and the others who are in-heat though she doesn't really brian the concept of a matriarchal society either after being raised Promethean and being taught that both genders are equal.
Sharanda listened for a few moments before she became distracted naturally in her own way to the sight of a few of the tiger males squirming in place. Looking through for the specifically well endowed one she saw before to make a few beckoning gestures with her claws, wiggling her ears in a silly manner. Just to pause with her head rolling back in focus to the Big Lady's words once more. A serious expression coming across her face for a few moments as she'd shift her bulky frame a bit more, back of her head still resting in Mickey's lap while her legs crossed over one another still remaining straight. Eyes closing a moment with the petting talons on her ears and cheeks to nuzzle against before focusing a gain upwards. An earthy, air dragging growl eminating from her maw before she spit to the side with obvious disgust, eyes narrowing as she looked up at the giantess. "Why? Here good. Plenty kin. Food. Shelter. Water. Allies. Not out there. Streets swarmed. Always ferals. Fucking. Fighting. Scavenging " grimaced to the strain of speaking, a twinge in her muzzle of pain. "Most hide. Blockade buildings. Behind walls. Cower. " sighed heavily, giving a shake of her head. "This one. Streets live. Weeks at times. Paid by weak. Take out more. Never stops..." growls a bit, eyes drifting up to the sky "Ferals not worst. Many agents...big worse. Selfish. Greedy. Prey weaker agents. Preserve only self. Arrogant. Hide behind walls." finally gave a shrug, snorting. "So this one Fights. Find strong...smush. Get stronger. Find next. Live" smirked a bit. "Story done." grunts
"The world as you have no doubt noticed, is amenable to human life in a manner that it has never been before." Emacs starts. "Few people die at all. Everyone heals from any injury that doesn't erase their mind. So from this, I will give you my perspective, so far as I can. I am a corporate lackey."
"This life started back when P-Day happened. I was interviewing for what would've been a fairly innocuous position at Zephyr. If you care about where it was. I was in one of the few relatively safe spaces in Fairhaven as the world around me turned to dust and ash and monsters. The benefits of the change that had overcome the city were only to be noticed much later, after the nanites had figured out what a human body can properly survive having done to it. I was a young woman at the time. I was about to graduate senior year of high school. My prospects were looking fantastic."
"What happened instead was that I got to join Zephyr about four months before I was intending to for a summer internship. This would've been fantastic were it not for finding my family as they were. My older sister managed to hold onto her sanity. My parents, not quite."
"It wasn't too long ago that I found them. They were foxes. As it seems to run in the family." Emacs grimaces at this, "They weren't quite... sane. They were very affectionate. In such a way that would've gone against what they stood for as human beings. It wasn't fun when I had to knock them out and leave so they would stop."
"Did you know that the sound of a jawbone breaking is different when it's someone you care about? That a gun feels heavier when you're bashing in what might be your own father's head?"
"Anyway, that's not so much what the world is like today I guess." The kitsune scratches the back of her head. "Today I went out around noon to purge the mutant population at the Bone Yard with a team of combat specialists. I earned twenty tokens for that. That's a fair haul, albeit one that feels too small when we were fighting the strongest things we could find there."
"It was surprising to see this pop up today. Things have been a bit slow lately as far as this kind of mission hasn't been coming about as often as it was over the summer." Emacs recrosses her legs, "Hmm. I don't know if I'd say it was a good thing or a bad thing."
"In any case, after signing up for it, I got on a transport with everyone else here and eventually arrived. That's when we met your... guards? Warriors?"
The Big Lady's eyes fall from one agent to the next as they speak. Many eyes go wide as the tigers listen to the agents, surprised at how brutal the outside is starting to sound. Funnily enough, most of them seem to understand Sharanda better than anyone else, their skills in English somewhat lacking, missing many of the nuances. There's a lot of soft chatter as they explain the stories to eachother in something reminiscent of a big game of telephone. The Lady eventually speaks up again, responding first to Rokarion. "I am confident in my ability to glean the information I require from your story. Do not worry," she assures him in the least assuring manner possible. "And on that note, now that introductions are out of the way and your companions have shared their stories, so should the rest of you, no?" She glances over the agents yet to tell their tales. Despite the best attempts to keep the peace in the crowd, one of the boys finally pipes up, "How strong are you, Shah-randah?!" He struggles with her name a bit but gets there in the end. Another questions Emacs, "Wait, what's a mutant? Or a Bone Yard?!" It takes a lot of hushing to keep a long line of mewled questions from drowning out the stories.
Phosphorus hardly had told her story -- more of a prelude, than anything else. But she kept her peace in the matter, seeing that things have moved on. She looks at the Lady, coughs, and raises her voice a bit so it'll be heard over the din of felines mewing. "I think... well. I think we should have a question queue, maybe. A forum, of sorts. Step up, ask a question, step back down, yeah? Or have individual tribe members ask each person a question... or, something else. I'm not sure."
Rokarion shrugs as the Fat Lady sings his way, "Very well." was his only response. Listening to the responses of others, the poodle boy taps his chin and begins his own story, deciding to follow's Mickey's strategy of not talking about himself personally, but with more truth, "I come from a distant land...far, very far." Roka purses his lips as he notices how the crowds seem to struggle with more 'complex' speech, and decides to slow down a bit. "If you go back to Fairhaven, then go across the wilderness to the other end, there is another sea, big water, an ocean. Across that ocean, there is another land. I come from an island, just like this one, called the United Kingdom. In fact, we also used to be ruled by a lady, we called the Queen." If any republicans were still alive in the UK they could be heard screaming in rage, but the poodle did not feel that he needed to discuss the nuances of governance with a tribal village elder. "Ever since I left, I do not know of what happened to people back home." And that seemed like a satisfactory story in Roka's eyes.
Mickey's tail sweeps from side to side behind them as the chatter starts up all around. The ratphon's beak breaks out in a smirk, and feathered covered rat ears perk up to try and make out a whole question before it got shouted over. "Jeeze, ya'guys could try and make it sound not so completely shitty," Mick comments, a bit softer to the others while keeping the smirk on their beak for visual sake. Without a question directed at them Mickey becomes content with tending to Sharanda's head and ears while watching some of the larger tigresses. A few times they need to shift their ratty-half from side to side as if trying to shift things subtly to get more confortable. Seeing how such wiggles don't seem to stop for long, it is hard going. "Surprised there's such a consistant..form about here. Species, anyway. Pretty rad; this place would make a good vacation break."
Sharanda 's eyes seem to light up like a christmas tree the VERY moment she heard someone ask about her strength. Nipping after Mickey's talons in warning as her expression changed before moving. Rolling forward into a situp she'd then simply...continue rolling forward as those digigrade lower legs unfolded under her to draw to her full on height. Patting Mickey one last time atop of his head she'd wiggle claws in the direction of the Big Lady, as she told her part and now had something grabbing her attention. Once again those massive foot paws stomped under her as she started to walk in the direction straight where she heard that voice from. Ears weren't swiveling..both were locked straight forward in the last location of that voice. Muzzle bared...fangs flashing and eyes gleaming even despite their icy blue color. One paw was in front of her spread wide..the other balled into a fist as she slammed it into the padding of the open paw. Shoulders rolled forward..back started to hunch as she gave an air hanging, mellow....near playful...growl that wound around her. Tail lashed with every step, muscles growing more taunt as she finally spoke, not anger but sounding almost ...happy. "Come find out!! Test. Step forward. Lets smush. No claws. No Fangs. No blood. Funzies. Make other yield. You win, Shar yours. For day. Shar win....you Mine. For Day" licked her muzzle. Attention entirely focused into trying to spot the one that spoke up...the stories. Group..even the Big Lady forgotten. "No real harm, no insult. Strength. Fight. Fun!!" spreads her arms wide as she leaned half forward as if to charge, a pleased laugh leaving her maw. "Love challenge!!"
"A mutant is one person like you or I. That is, not 'human' in the old sense of the word." Emacs explained, "The bone yard is a massive stone outcropping in the shape of a dog cock. Covered in Dogs. If that isn't a case of the universe being perverse on its own, I don't know what is."
"Believe it or not, I generally think most days back at Fairhaven are kinda fun. It isn't like I go out and bash things just because the company wants me to, not that their desire hurts it. It's the slow process of reclaiming the world. It's satisfying, and honestly, the fighting doesn't last that long."
"There are days when I don't go out and do that. Where I spend my time rebuilding the world in a more... constructive manner I suppose. Those are rarer than I'd like."
"But of course, how can we talk about Fairhaven without talking about the constant, most often consensual, sex?" Emacs waggles an eyebrow at nobody in particular. "There's a wonderful social scene about. Wonderful people to find, talk to, fuck, often in whichever order you please."
At first, Sharanda is met with a lot of tigers stepping backwards, but once they realize she just wants some playful fun they start to look at eachother. Eventually, a meek tigerboy, likely the one in question, is pushed forwards by one of the older women to face the white tigress. "Mom wait NO--" is all he manages before stumbling towards her. He can only bring himself to stare up with wide kitten eyes, squeaking out, "Please don't break me." Somewhat abruptly, a couple of huntresses approach Mickey from the surrounding outer circle of tigers. "Shamans want you. Come with us," is all the explanation they offer before practically dragging the rat off past the crowd. The Lady seems mildly annoyed by this, but otherwise unphased. Her gaze finally settles on Khaybat, and she offers another smile. "And what about you, little bird? What story do you have to tell?" The increasing level of interaction with the group is sparking something in the crowd, and it seems to be closing in around the firepit. It's not exactly claustrophobic yet, but boy is it unsettling how they inch in like they're ready to pounce. The older tigresses grab onto some of the boys to keep them from doing exactly that. Suddenly, things start tumbling in towards the firepit, rolled out from the crowd by the tigers, bumping against the stone edge of the pit or up against the agents themselves. A few fresh fruits, bits of scrap, trinkets, long-broken electronics, anything they felt like offering up is being pushed the way of the agents. Some of this stuff could be useful or valuable, even!
Mickey smirks and readjusts their hat when Sharanda slips off to stalk amongst the group, and outright laughs at the little meek boy begging. Like a prey creature sensing the weight of air above coming down in the form of an impending claw, Mickey's ears flick back moments before the shadow from two huntresses overtake his spot. "Wha?" Mickey bawks as they're lifted up from under either arm and guided away. "H-hey now, no rush! Plenty of coolness to go around." Mick's chirps fade in the crowd. The beak was all smiles, but it doesn't quite reach Mickey's eyes; those are left high and dry seeing mental images of all of the voodoo they do to you in these strange funny-named islands.
