saveourearth | Happy Easter! [Mingle]

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Happy Easter! [Mingle]

Date: Easter Sunday, aka the 21. of April
Characters: Open

Easter Sunday starts perfectly normal, and promises to stay so - a welcome relief from all the weirdness of the last few months.

Well.

Unless you own chicken or bunnies.

Because as it so happens, if you own one, you will now find yourself with an equal amount of the other. Children who keep a bunny wake up to a chicken having replaced it inside the cage, picking around with some confusion (not that it is hard to confuse chicken). Farmers who keep chicken will find a bunch of bunnies of varying sizes in the coops.

And out and about, wherever normally bunnies would be destroying lawns and more by burrowing into it, there are young chicks milling around, for the most part very surprised by encountering sun and lawn and fields.

[[ooc note: For those with fine noses who keep track: The scent found on bunnies and chicken doesn't belong to Mr Helpful or Mr Evil.]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[A detriment to local bakers at the very least. Aunt Rosemary will be talking about it for days if not weeks.]

Given that rabbits are not usually kept in these numbers, I expect his chickens are across several locations if they were exchanged. Nothing we’ve been through in the last year has been simple. Hands are enough. Chuck has plenty of hay and that’s mainly what a rabbit eats. Sadie informed me of some basics.

Sadie keeps rabbits?

[There's a pause as Russell takes a moment to look into things.]

Swaps are the going theory, in the network chatter
The other pranks didn't destroy anything - just moved things around
Even the spiders were stolen from somewhere weren't they

Not personally, but she cares for them at the shelter where she volunteers.

[Given pause by the concept of destruction and replacement, Benjiro shakes it off.]

I believe so, yes. Although the numbers were incredible.

Edited 2019-05-04 14:18 (UTC)

[Benjiro can't see his cousin snap his fingers, remembering mentions of that from talks before.]

Absurd beyond all reason, yes
Plainly done with some kind of magic
I keep suspecting its someone involved with the network, or something
But no one's come forward yet

Ill defer to her expertise then
I'm going to ride over, afk for now

Hence my continued reservations about it. Alright, see you when you get here.

[By the time Russell arrives at the farm, all of the crates have been unloaded from the trunk to the grass outside the two pens with the chicken coops. There must be at least a couple dozen rabbits already visible outside the coops, if one counts those visibly hiding beneath the structures. Benjiro is busy at work with Chuck breaking down a dry hay bail to distribute between the crates to give them a thick layer in each.

Spotting Russell coming up, Benjiro dusts his gloves together and steps away from the crates to meet him.]

Thanks for coming. Do you need a pair of gloves?

[The sheer number of rabbits, reasonably enough, brings to mind the days with other strange happenings. All the spiders, all the flowers. And... so on. Russell approaches, raising his bare hands in a shrug.]

Do I need gloves? I recall someone telling me I only need my hands...

[He grins briefly, he's joking - the question was whether to bring food, after all. And he glances around. Most of the ones still out are hiding under things, that might be a challenge to lure them out.

But as long as none of them are up in trees, it should be easier than last time.]

[The grin gives away the jest, and Benjiro rises to it with a hidden smile of his own.]

Depends on how confident you are handling rabbits.

[Seeing how his cousin is assessing the situation, Benjiro fills him in on the plan.]

We’ve been filling the crates with hay and grass for comfort and food, and we’re going to try to keep rabbits that appear similar together. See if we can sort them to some extent. Once we clean out the coops entirely, I need to get some photos of the rabbits we have to share with Walter and Sadie. Walter is keeping watch for missing rabbits and unexpected chickens posted online. Sadie will come by later to make sure they’re all in good condition before we take them anywhere, and she can tell us if any of these came from the shelter.

[Russell loses a second or two failing to think of a witty retort about his confidence and rabbit handling skills, but thankfully Benjiro drops into sharing information quickly enough that he doesn't need to. Instead, he nods slowly and compares the crates with the visible rabbits.]

Right, right... We can try luring them out with something to eat, and grab them so they can't bite too easily...

[Rabbits aren't dogs, but as ever, it's a starting point. One with sharp paws, and teeth.]

Were all the chickens in the coop, before? Or do you think we'll need to search the yard...

Using food sounds like a good first step. Once we have them out, gloves should keep any biting from doing harm. Sadie recommended picking them up with minimal restraint supporting under their back and back feet, and then putting their paws to our chests to carry.

[As such, he’ll grab up the spare pair of gloves waiting for him on the edge of the truck bed and offer them to Russell. The incisors and claws of a rabbit are not to be treated lightly.]

We might look around just to be safe, but Chuck puts the chickens up every night. He found the rabbits first thing and has not opened the pens yet. If anything we might find some chickens running around his property.

[Seeing that the new helping hands have arrived, Chuck will come over to greet Russell as well. He’s an aging farmer, but not quite on in years as their aunts.]

[Russell accepts the gloves gladly, but doesn't immediately don them. He waits to offer a handshake to Chuck, pulling his gloves first if the farmer's already wearing some of his own.

It's a quick polite exchange rather than an introduction; they've met in passing, at least. Russell explains he's here to help gather rabbits, Chuck appreciates the help, and the rabbits continue to stare forebodingly. And once the mannerly thing is done, all that stands between them and wrangling some rabbits is the sides of the coops.]

Right. So, we start with the ones that don't go hide on us, then lure the rest out with treats. Are we tagteaming these ones?

[Russell doublechecks where the crates are at, compared to the nearest coop. The longer they have to carry the captured rabbits, the higher the chance of an escape.]

[Noticing how Russell is looking between the spread of crates and the pen, Benjiro shakes his head and adds another detail to the plan to put the concern to rest.]

No need. We can take some crates inside with us, then take a short break to carry the full crates out and get a new set. That will give us a chance to let them calm down and swap to the second pen. Although it would help to coordinate with someone opening and closing the crates inside the pen.

[Benjiro bends down to collect a stack of two crates then stands up with the bottom box held in against the side of his abdomen.]

Ready to go in?

[That's a lot simpler, and no mistake. Especially since, if they're fortunate, they can put some food in the crates, and curious rabbits will hop in of their own accord.]

We'll take turns lifting or handling the doors, then.

[Such as, right this instant: Russell moves to the gate of the pen, preparing to open it once Benjiro gets there.]

Gladly.

[The hay and grass should be enticing if the rabbits are hungry.

Chuck picks up a third crate, and with both Benjiro and Chuck at the gate of the pen, both move into the space as soon as Russell opens the path. The rabbits immediately scatter away to the edges of the enclosure or try to join the others under or even inside the coop. Carefully, the crates are placed down, and Benjiro sets one of his closer to a corner with the top propped open laying on its side.

Chuck readies the other two crates, leaving it to Russell and Benjiro to try to catch the first rabbits.]

Try to get similar ones in the same crates if you can. Otherwise we can swap them later.

[Russell closes the way once everyone's gotten in, the better to ensure the skittish rabbits don't make a break for the larger freedom outside.]

Right. Those gingers, then, they look related.

[Hoping to bribe his way out of lunging and skidding across the ground too many times for his terribly elderly late-20s frame, Russell rests a couple of scavenged vegetables in one of the crates, along with the hay and grass, and pockets one of the carrots just in case. Then, leaving the bulk of them as bait to hopefully lure the rabbits over, he steps away to the edge of the enclosure before circling around in an attempt to grab one.

The rabbits keep scattering away from the humans, but one or two creep toward the food-filled crate, noses twitching curiously.]

[Careful to keep his distance from the open, alluring crate, Benjiro crosses to the far side of the pen. He turns his attention towards the corner opposite the open crate and studies the rabbits collected there. He compares them carefully for their features, trying to identify some that would match well in the way Russell picked out the ginger colored ones. Nearly immediately, he picks out some with longer fur. Whether he can get to them is the question.

He approaches with a slower pace and steps that fall nearly silent in a stride. Rather than rushing, he watches their body language and stops whenever one starts preparing to run. Once nearly in reach, he squats down low to pause. A couple rabbits start to move away, and he reaches towards one with the longer fur. It puts its head down to the ground and freezes, and he gingerly scoops it up under its back feet with fingers hooking around and under the chest between the forelegs. Lifted up, he brings it in paws to his chest. It is scared, so he moves smoothly to take it to a crate. Chuck opens it and in the first rabbit goes.

That one may be used to handling. It was too easy.]

If the ginger ones are hard to get, the ones with long fur might come easier. I don’t think they’re wild.

Edited 2019-06-16 21:56 (UTC)

[Russell starts out with a slow motion, following one of the rabbits in more of a pursuit predator way than anything. It sniffs and shuffles away from him, he continues forward, and they go on a merry little slow chase around the enclosure... Until one time, when the rabbit's nearly cornered, and Russell moves faster to grab at it.

Everything goes a little static with emptiness, and a pulse pounds through him. Russell freezes, the rabbit leaping from his grasp, and he shifts to kneel in the grass while a dizzy sensation passes by. It's only seconds until Bejiro starts speaking, and he shakes his head and tries to listen.]

Uh. What? The... long haired ones?

[That his cousin is kneeling out of reach of any rabbits is the first sign something is off, and when Russell responds with such dullness as to merely repeat words, worry edges into his thoughts. Leaving the rabbits be, he walks over to drop to one knee beside his cousin and puts a hand on his shoulder. He recognizes the state.]

Russell? [He carefully lowers his voice to limit what Chuck may overhear.] Are you alright?

[Coming back to the present moment, he's very aware of Chuck over there - and the possibility of the farmer coming over concerned, thinking that Russell's come over ill with the heat and exertion. So Russell forces a laugh, nodding and briefly patting Benjiro's hand.]

Oh, yeah, that one just slipped away from me! I'll get it next time. Maybe we should flank them.

[He shifts to slowly climb back to his feet.] Of all the things to set it off... It's nothing bad, I've just done this sort of thing before after all.

[The pat at his hand and false laugh are enough of a cue to him, and he takes his hand from Russell’s shoulder to stand up with his posture consciously at ease.]

That’d probably be more efficient.

[Benjiro remains beside him as Russell rises to his feet, and he tilts his head as his cousin describes the basic content of the Echo.] You remember gathering up rabbits before?

Just the one, I think...? More than once.

[It's a blur of overlapping memories, more like the tunnel walk than the tea party. Along a snowy, tree-filled path, houses all around, and chasing after a small rabbit he was convinced was a child person rather than just an animal.

In the moment, Russell pats himself off, wiping off the worst of the dirt, and pauses - hand to his pocket.] And something I didn't have before.

[Superficially, it sounds rather mundane compared to other things his cousin has described, but details can be shared later when they do not have company. If nothing else, a rabbit straying into underground tunnels seems logical.

Benjiro looks over his cousin one more time as he starts to dust off, then readies to step away as he notices the baited crate luring in one rabbit...only to stall at the mention of a find. Curiosity keeps him from moving away.]

What is it?

[Turning so Chuck is on his far side and unable to see, Russell sticks his hand in his pocket and pulls out a sweet on a stick. It's an adorable design, where the (plainly) edible part is shaped like a cutesy rabbit's head.

The similarity of the shape doesn't leave much question that yes, this came along with the echo, but nothing about his new memory explains its presence. Russell stares at it, baffled.]

A lolly...?

[Benjiro watches his cousin retrieve the candy from his pocket and stares at the confection. It seems so superficial that the shape alone should pull it through from wherever it once belonged, yet he has no other information that could relate it to their current activities.]

That’s...unexpected.

[The teenager flinches when Chuck calls over to ask if everything is okay, and Benjiro hurriedly answers.]

Sorry, yes!

[An apologetic look given to Russell, it seems more discussion would have to wait. Benjiro moves over towards the luring crate with slow easy steps to drop the top down and catch a single rabbit inside. He gently and slowly turns the crate upright, then carries the crate to set with Chuck.

From there, one by one, the group works to gather all the rabbits away from the coops in both pens and then under the coops, gradually filling the crates Chuck has to transport them. All that remains is to clear any rabbits from inside the coops. The farmer excuses himself to retrieve a little more hay from the barn, leaving the cousins alone to rest a moment.]

[Russell watches Chuck's departure long enough to be sure the farmer is leaving for a few, then droops into the shadow of a coop. He sits down next to it, risking bird poop and all, to rest his head back against it. Gently, for the drama of it, he bangs his head against the siding a few times.]

I cannot believe some of the things that set this off.

[Chasing rabbits. Why does he remember chasing a rabbit? Why does he have candy because of it?]

It's nothing on anything you've told me about. It feels like remembering... babysitting, or something, rather than petsitting. And doing it a lot.

[Benjiro lingers on his feet as his cousin slides to sit and knocks his head against the coop. Concerned with a small frown, he walks over to squat down beside him with forearms on his knees to talk.]

It's really not a contest... Getting anything from our Numbers is stressful. [If not outright horrifying, then confusing at the very least. Even the Echoes that brought useful talents and gifts tended to be tiring.]

Maybe it was babysitting. You mentioned a lady with blue skin and sharp teeth before. So maybe there was someone else with rabbit ears. [The same way Sadie has ears like a cat.]

Happy Easter! [Mingle]

[Phone text]

[Phone text]

[Phone text]

[Phone text]

[Phone text] -> [Action]

[Action]

[Action Forever] *from the truck (not trunk)

this is an interesting contrast to the disown thread

Actual fluff thread, indeed

very fluff

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icon is not the right expression, but i can't not use it

Sorry for letting this one sit so long; but I agree that icon was necessary

two weeks is nothing compared to my crimes. i'm gonna shorten my tag lengths, see if that helps

Good strategy

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