Eye of the Storm - Flowering Opportunity - RPLOG
Participants
Date
21/7/2016
Log
Astara is leaning against an intact portion of the retaining wall that runs along nearly all of 5th Street's south side on this block. She waits with a rather serious look on her face, but she doesn't look angry or upset - just determined for the task at hand.
What a strange and sudden thing, to recieve a page from Astara calling them to a location he was vaguely familear with. Otto was not very heavily involved with the guild headquarters, but he was definitely looking to change that fact. It was in his best interest, after all... yet after all that plotting and discussing and meeting up to chit chat, he felt as though nothing physical had been done. Today, on this cloudy afternoon, that changed. With a kick in his step, and his medigun on his back, he walked towards the meetup spot, holding what appeared to be a can of... some sort of beverage? Regardless, he rounded a corner and spotted Astara in the distance. She seemed quite stern-faced, which did not bode good tidings. As he neared, he waved to the centauress and greeted politely, much like always. "Afternoon, Astara! Am, I? I guess I'm the first to arrive." he says as he tucks his head into his pockets and taks a look at the nearest building. "What can this bunny do for you today?"
The urban landscape is eerily quiet, the cloud-splattered sky casting uneven beams of wan sunlight down onto the shattered stumps of concrete pillars and reinforced plastic bollards, the broken teeth of the city. They yawn like a vast and gaping mouth, promising nothing but even odds of life or death. Is the city dead and waiting like a fattened corpse for butchering, its bones and offal for the taking to be made into wealth and power? Or is it merely dormant, a slumbering beast beaten down and deeply scarred by battle - but dangerous still even in infirmity? Who indeed could say...
So it is that from an abundance of caution that the thoughtful man would move with stealth and purpose. Such a man as Moondog, like a ghost in his camouflage, moving from shadow to shelter with deliberation. The ghostly white canid face on his helmet resolves from a floating fog of cement dust and powered bone, spectral and sudden. From beneath the hood, his mirrored lenses flash the dying sun into Otto's face, then to Astara's, in silent acknowledgement of their presence. "Am I late?" He rasps, in that even tone of his, his voice as quiet and dead as long dried leaves stirring from a tomb.
Nayru took careful strides as she made her way to the station. Her eyes and ears keeping careful watch on any hostile ferals that could be coming their way. Fortunately there didn't seem to be any coming their way. Though given her company right now, she couldn't blame them. "Hey everyone. Are all of you excited about this as I am?" She greeted the group with a small wave once they arrived. Looking over the front of their building that will soon be their new headquarters.
Today should have been a normal thing, just go out collect some vials before she recieved the page from her tsune sister Astara to meet up in a location near Zephyr headquarters. Her face was estatic to hear that the location provided was the soon to be guild headquarters, soon turning away from Zephyr and heading towards the west with a bit of stride in her step. Before long she arrived with the clouds holding up overhead as she walked along, arms crossed as she saw and looked at fellow members have already arrived towards the location.
A few more steps before she got the actual look to see everyone already arived, Astara, Moondog, Naryu and Otto, even though Moon tried to stick to the shadows. "I came as fast as I could once I got the page. Hopefully this will go peacefully, because I don't have everything." She says a bit excited, only to wave up her tranquilizer along with her spray can just to show everyone. "Just in case of emergency..." Before she adjusts the armor underneath her clothing.
Ferus strides to Astara, and the rest of the group gather around her, with a intent purpose. The last to arrive she notes. Glancing down at her wrist licks the last remnant of something from it. The snowleopard taur calmly and level looks at other taur, "You called?"
Astara cracks a light smile as her colleagues - comrades, really - assemble around her. "Excellent, everyone's here on-time." She pauses, putting her weight back fully on her feet, and she turns herself to face everyone. "Everyone, today is move-in day! Or at least we'll be properly establishing our claim today by securing the premises. I've yet to actually look at the place today - it's been maybe a week since I last visited, but I don't think too much has changed. Come, follow me - we aren't going very far, just up the stairs so that we can all get an unobstructed look at the place."
Astara leads the team up the stairs, and for the first time the team can get an unobstructed look at what will be their new home. They're greeted by a picturesquely landscaped plaza... or at least was one before the nanites happened. Cracked brickwork with weeds popping out in between extends forwards towards Fairhaven's passenger terminal, 5th Street Station, a monument to an era that had long since passed even before P-Day; it only serves to starkly contrast with Zephyr's shining tower in the near background. Positioned in the middle of the plaza is an oval containing wildly overgrown grass and flowers, spilling out over the surrounding area; there are several other lush groves positioned in a square pattern around the oval, each perhaps diagonally 6 yards in distance from the center. Everything within that 'square' boundary is near completely obscured by the plantlife and vines spurting through the pavement. A rusted flagpole sticks out from the brush, in bad enough condition that it is unlikely a flag could be raised or lowered anymore. Eternally flying high on the pole are two tattered flags: a sun-bleached American flag flying at full-mast above an equally tattered Californian flag.
Less than a handful of steps are taken before Astara holds out her arm sideways, bringing everyone to a halt. In a hushed-tone, she says "Stop, this is it. I'm afraid I can't accompany you any further; /she/ should be in one of the groves here, the first feral. I am going to sneak around the perimeter, and enter the building from in back to check the status of the inside and basement. You all deal with Miss Lavender, please, and do it PEACEFULLY. She doesn't even have to leave the premises if you can think of something useful she could do around the base. Now, before I go: any questions, remarks?"
Otto observes his surroundings carefully, paws tucked into his pockets and a light footfall as he walked besides his colleagues. To many, merely the prospect of owning part of a shelter so potentially extravagant would be a dream come true! Then there was Otto, who's first thoughts manifested as mutters and mumbles, occasionally nudging Light to share a wandering idea. "Roof Turrets, there and there... wiring over that corner, PVC insulation from moisture, fire alarms here and here. We'll need better doors... hmmm." he went on and on under his breath, too quiet to disturb Astara, but audible enough for those adjacent to him to hear.
Indeed it seemed like a good start, as any engineer knew all too well, a structure is only as good as the foundation it was built upon. There was a lot of work to do, but work was not something Otto would shy away from, and he was certain that his colleagues shared in that. As the group was halted, Otto tilted his head and perked his ears, curious about what was expected of them. He.. did not quite understand. Perhaps now was not the time to have gone for a drink, as he son tucked the metal can of what was clear to be beer away, into his nanopack. He nudged Mondog lightly and shot him with a confused look. If they were to deal with a feral, or so he understood, perhaps things may not be as relaxing as he had initially hoped in the end, but who knew?
The spectral enigmatic figure of Moondog was a lot less spectral when he stepped out of the dust cloud to walk beside Otto, but his cloack and facemask hid his feelings and thoughts as well as any shadow. He says nothing, but his head bobs slightly as Otto lists down a number of engineering concerns, one gloved hand gesturely in a lose, all encompassing way.
The mosty-human shaped figure stops in pace with the bunny, turning his ghostly painted mask to meet his crewmate's gaze. "Diplomacy is not my forte." He offers, with a tilt of his hooded head. He turns his covered eyes back towards the grove, seeking the mysterious Miss Lavender. It is impossible to say what his hands seek, hidden as they are.
Nayru listened to Astara as the group walked. The lop-eared bunny's eyes examining the infrastructure for anything of interest. "Is there anything you can tell us about this Ms. Lavender? Anything at all that could help when we are negotiating things with her."
Light soon followed Astara down the stairs as she starts to take note of the area surronding her, the beauty of the station along with the structural integrity it still held. That was the strength of engineers and worker prior to P-Day, not trying to move but still taking in the scenery. Before being nudged by Otto as he pointed out to her with all the idea's he currently has for the room, she smiles and gives him a poke on the cheek and points out some other spots to assist him in his little fancy.
Even though deterioration from the time it the structure wasnt maintained, it still held itself pretty well throughout P-Day however it would need some more finesse to bring it back to its former glory. When everyone everyone stopped at that certain spot she tilted her head in surprise from everything about trying to calm down or even talk to a Miss Lavender. "I don't think I am the absolute suited one for the task at hand."
Ferus gives a deep blinking nods to Nayru before asking ponder her own question, "What kind of infection does she has?"
Astara hrmmms. "Lavender is reasonably well-spoken for a feral, given her particular infection... she's a venus mantrap. She's camoflauged somewhere..." She waves her hand in the general vicinity of the overgrown thicket, "...over there. Not particularly violent, but keep in mind her infection's advantages are in /seduction/." She smiles just a little, saying "I believe in you guys." before waving and slowly making her way around the perimeter, walking through a broken fence and disappearing behind the building.
The overgrown thicket now lies in front of the group, with four to six large trees shielding half of the grove from the sunlight. Vines crawl the trees, and the brickwork is obscured by long grass and weeds, with some bushes here and there.
Otto blinks a few times as he observes the dense fauna before him. Well, there were a few questions answered... They were dealing with a feral seductress with a mutation he'd never seen before, and she could be anywhere... Otto squints heavily, trying his best to discern a shape, a pattern, ANYTHING. Being eagle eyed was not one of the bunny's merrits, far from it even. Were it not for his goggles, he would be as near-sighted and blind as a bat. His eyes adjusted the spectacles covering his face as he nudged Moondog with his other. "Think I saw something, but... could have just been my imagination. You see her?" he asks, eyes still darting around the foilage.
Moondog 1
Moondog peers at the foliage for a few brief moments before giving up the ghost of a chance at spotting the feral within the dense thicket. "I don't." He says, turning to look towards the side, picking out various paths around and away. Keeping an eye out for ambushes or anything. "We might need to get closer."
Nayru gave a small nod as Astara took her leave. "Well come on everyone. No point staying here." Taking a moment to adjust her glasses, she began casually walking toward the direction the centaur had pointed out. Keeping her wits about her for any signs of the feral they were suppose to meet.
Nayru manages to spot what appears to be a closed flower bulb, albeit one that's several feet tall. From their perspective, it could've easily been missed - it lies on the far side of two trees that're thicker around than most humans are.
Nayru catches sight of an unusual large looking bud. "I think I see her." She told the group, waving for them to follow as she made her way to said bud.
The vixen stops in her tracks for a moment and silently whispers to everyone. "Wait one second..." Before she shuts herself up and then looks towards everyone with a bit of worry before she taps on her head for a second, soon she lets her voice be heard into all of her compatriots minds as she starts informing them. "I can see her just like Nayru said, but there is also some more movement in the brush and lower leaves. Keep your wits about you." Her voice soon leaves everyone, herself keeping a lookout towards where she spotted the movement.
Ferus takes in a deep breath, and sits back on her haunches as the other go about there searching. Then stands to follow and favoring the lope-eared rabbit with a smile, "Let's go inside and say hello. All we have to do is step inside to say hello, and she has to come to us." flicks her tail "We're too big for her to ignore. If she was strong enough to threaten the entire group we have no business do more then /very/ politely knocking on her door to wait for her to answer anyway. And I want to be polite. Anyone figured out what we're going to say to her?"
Otto followed closely, not liking this one bit. Nayru had spotted their target, sure... but they still had little to no idea what they were dealing with. His hand reached back to touch the side of his medigun, relieved that he didn't go anywhere without it. He kept an ear out, and on full alert, ready to defend if need be. This was sadly not a situation for him to handle, at least not so far as he could see.
The group had now come close to the grove! They might have noticed her first, but she too had noticed them... The bud unfurls, outward appearing a voluptuous green-skinned woman. She's short in stature, coming in somewhere between four-and-a-half to five feet tall. She emerges from a purplish-pink tropical-looking flower, hiding any view of her body from below her thighs. Leaning against a tree, she looks through the parting towards the group with a look somewhere in-between 'just woke up' and 'grumpy'. "Hrmph. So I take it you're the bunch who's going to evict me from my lovely little home here?" Vines noticeably move through the undergrowth, no longer trying to conceal their movement. "Make your case, I'm certainly not going anywhere."
Moondog touches Otto on the side meaningfully, giving him those subtle taps they've had to practice in their days fighting primes. With the bunny informed, the human turns himself fully around, the two of them back to back as they move forward. Otto has eyes on the front, the human eyes on their six. No primes - or other ferals, will sneak up on them as they approach the plant lady! As he stated, he's no diplomat - just barely smart enough to not unsling any weapons or be otherwise threatening. The others can handle her, he hopes.
Nayru looked at the woman before her. It was slightly surprising to see that the plant woman was only an inch or two smaller then herself. "Ms. Lavender I presume. It's nice to meet you." The bunny began with a respectful bow. Her general attitude showing a complete lack of hostility. "We all apologize for having woke you up so rudely. Yet we still hope we're able to reach an agreement where everyone can walk away from happy."
Lavender huffs, smirking a little as she stops leaning and 'stands' upright. "While I am oh-so-grateful you didn't come with /her/ and burn me out of here..." She stops, shaking her head and just simply saying "I'm listening, go on."
Light looked up towards Miss Lavender with a good of up most respect, listening in to how Astara's little mishaps again spreads through the feral communities itself like wild fire. She stands up and crosses her arms, looking up towards Lavender. "Though what she done was a mistake and I hope you don't fault us for the actions done, we actually would like to have it that we both could work in unison here so you wouldn't have to migrate from your abode. But let me at least tell you my name so that you at least know who you are talking to, the name is Light and its a pleasure to meet you."
Lavender raises an eyebrow to Light as they speak; "Well, what do you want me to do? It best not be an uneven deal."
Ferus gives a short little chuckle, and looks back at the group. As Nayru speaks the snow leopard gives the rabbit another very slight nod, and sits on her haunches quietly beside her. Watching the local feral very intently. Refusing to confuse who maybe in charge, lays quietly beside and a little behind Nayru. Ferus then turns to look at Light as they speak. When the kitsune finishes the snowleopard turns back to 'Miss Lavender', and gives her a slight nod and her best smile. Processing what the three have said so far, but remaining silent.
Light gives Lavender a smile and nods some more. "Well we will first like to hear some stuff that you would like. We would like to set up our base in here and we would like to co-exist in this station, though we would love to have some reasonable idea's thrown onto the table."
Lavender plainly states "I wish to stay right here, at my home.", pointing a finger down to indicate the grove.
"I also wish not to starve... I have a feeling that you aren't going to take kindly to 'gathering' some 'nutrients' from passers-by."
"If I might interject." the bunny cuts in gently while rubbing his chin. "If these so called 'nutrients' are what I think they are, then perhaps we can strike a bargain?" he asks, already quite heavily hinted into what the feral was referring to. "It is based on experience that I state this but, cooperation is always more beneficial than competition, perhaps we can reach some sort of compromise, offer you what you need in exchange for say, protection." he elaborates with a faint smile and a smooth tone. "How does that sound, Lavander?"
Moondog continues to watch everyone's back, not participating in the diplomatic actions.
Ferus purrs makes a small show of nuzzling into Nayru's cheek, perhaps whispering something, and then softly head butting her shoulder to continue her little spontaneous show of affection. Whispering to the smaller lagomorph as she does this, "She wants to bargain I think, and is afraid of us."
Lavender gives a bemused smile at what Otto says, her demeanor changing quite a bit: the rigid, defensive stance she previously held melts away into a more freely flowing one, gently swaying from side to side. "Ohhhh? Well what is it, I'm /dying/ to know what your proposal is, now."
"Well as I already stated, me and my colleagues offer to take up residence here and use the facilities as our own, and in exchange you will be provided with say, a private patch to call your own, same as anyone else who is a valued member of our organization. You won't be denied your space." he smiles earnestly and adjusts his cuffs as he resumes speaking. "You will also be provided all the 'nutrients' you might need, be they salvage or otherwise. I have plenty on stock and an fairly confident that I can satisfy one's hunger with relative ease, not to toot my own horn..." he states confidently, as his stare locks onto Lavander's own, "I fully believe such an agreement may prove to be far more mutually beneficial, and perhaps even entertaining."
Lavender looks on haughtily as Otto speaks, snorting as he gets to the latter half. "I could care less with what you want to with the building. I care about my humble little abode here," she says, holding both her arms out in indication. "...But, I may accept your offer, stud. As long as there's ready 'tribute'." She licks her lips, smiling somewhat sinisterly.
Nayru took a deep breath as she felt heat rush to her face. Trying to get the images that Otto insinuations had created out of her mind. The lop-eared bunny wasn't exactly comfortable about this deal. Not at all liking the idea of Otto offering himself to the plant. Still it wasn't her place to speak up. Otto can make his own decisions. She just hope the other bunny didn't end up asking more then he can handle. And that the rest of them weren't going to have to become tribute.
Ferus winces a little at the last of the offers, but still remains otherwise calmly quiet. Keeping at least one eye on Lavender as she turns her head and a ear to each speaker in turn. When offer to let her stay in 'her grove' completes it's implication Ferus briefly, only briefly, growls. The leopard's tail picks up a slow and stay sway, lashing it's tip as it crests to each side. She closes her eyes, and takes in a breath. Opening them again, "What are the bounds of your grove? What are the bounds of her grove to be?"
Lavender frowns. "Whaaat, a problem with tribute? A girl like me has to eat, y'know?" She runs her hands over her plump and well-fed body. "Well, you can come here, too, Miss Cat. I don't mind sharing my space here with others, and I promise I won't rape anyone either! As long as I get a steady supply of food..."
Light listens in to all of the information, on both on her own side and Miss lavanders side that she closes her eyes and thinks about everything that was given towards the terms. "I am sure we can hold our terms towards keeping your abode nice and proper where it is and towards the boundries you had it before, though how big is your abode? Is it just around here or does it span the whole place?" She waves around towards where the local flora is along with the brush and all. She then looks towards Otto though when he offered himself as a tribute towards giving her the nutrients she desired. "Y-yes I am sure we will be able to provide you with nutrients needed when desired offered, though you might have some selection on your hand."
Moondog listens carefully, but says nothing. The others have put the plant lady into her place well enough, and he'd rather not distract from the delicate balance of back and forth going on behind him.
"There is ALWAYS ready tribute. Ixchel's blessing makes sure of that." the bunny replies and winks slyly, then crosses his arms before himself. His ears perk up as he listens to the complaints and concerns of his colleagues. They had a point, but then were Lavander's terms so difficult to accept? He rubs his chin and steps forward, pacing around a few times between the two parties. "The way I see it, folks..." he starts to speak, calmly and clearly "Now, there is no point in being unreasonable, we have the potential of having an able and willing sentry and guardian right here. We can avoid conflict altogether and enlist her services as well, I'm fairly certain she'd be willing to defend her grove as much as we would want to defend this structure." he elaborates calmly as his eyes dart among the listeners. "BUT! Let it not be said that I was that randy bloke who listened to his groin before he did his head. The overgrowth may be an issue, but it is my personal opinion that we can make it work to our advantage, or just plain come to a compromise in which it is not so obstructive to our activities that it causes problems to anyone." he concludes firmly.
Lavender was subdued as the bunny talked, but she almost burst out laughing when he starts making specifications to his party. "Pshh. Whatever you say, cutie~ But yes, I agree. If I get fed extra well, well... maybe I'll put in some extra effort of my own to landscape the place a bit."
Nayru sighs. Her gaze exploring the overgrowth as she tried to think about this whole thing. "Very well then. I have no disagreements about this deal. Anyone else?"
Light shakes her head. "I don't think there is anything wrong with the agreement here."
Ferus takes another deep breath. "My name is Ferus, and we will talk later. I will abide by this agreement though." With a blink she stills her tail, but now never takes her slightly narrowed eyes off 'Miss Lavender'. "We will speak later Miss Lavender. You and I are going to come to a personal agreement about how to treat one another." With another breath Ferus calms her self, "Until then? I wish you well and welcome you." The snowleopard stands and turns in place. "I'm sure there will be much to motivate you to garden very well."
Moondog hrmms quietly from behind his faceshield as it seems like the negotiations are drawing to a close. He has little down that there will be some refinement of terms in the near future, and already his mind is assembling some potential solutions and uses for this new, untested ally.
"Excellent." the bunny nods and clasps his paws. "A peaceful resolution then. I won't be needing this today." he pats the stock of his medigun and beams a smile to his colleagues. "So, I suppose all that's left now is to eventually clean the place up a bit..." he rubs his paws together and shoots a glance at Lavander "And for me to fulfill my end of our agreement, as recently established." he steps up closer to their new feral cooperative and tucks his paws into one another behind his back, then looks back towards his team. "Light! I'll be sending you detailed information about my plans for suiting up this place with the proper electronics, a project I trust you could assist me with, before the power issue is resolved. Do send me your thoguhts on the matter as well."
The group converses for several minutes, with Lavender going back to sleeping - they really had just interrupted her sleep, afterall. Astara soon after pops out the front doors, trotting over to them. "Well, by the looks of it, you didn't burn the grove to the ground..." She glances over to the bulb, smirking to the group afterwards. "...and I see she's still there. So job well done, I suppose! I hope you'll give me a detailed report on our way back to Zephyr!"
