saveourearth | Don't pet them, grab them! [Mingle]

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Don't pet them, grab them! [Mingle]

Date: 25th of July
Characters: Open!

I.

In the afternoon on the 25th, a network message alerts the Numbered to the fact that the petting zoo in Moss Manor's Menagerie is facing a major break-out: Someone has torn down the fences, and all the bunnies, sheep, and all the other animals typically found in petting zoos have decided to book it. They are now swarming the manor's grounds.

Due to the staff being nowhere near enough to catch them all, and due to the generally low threat level of the animals that escaped, visitors are asked to help catch them instead of being sent away.

And anyone who just happens to show up and help will be happily welcomed and included in the fort, without any question of who told them that help is needed.

II.

Afterwards, Lady Margaret Camilla Brassant invites everyone onto her patio and offers refreshments - tea, water, little sandwiches, cake and scones with clotted cream and jam. She retires quickly herself, but not before giving a brief speech thanking everyone who helped save the gardens from hungry mouths.

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"I...yes?" Her response is distracted as she wrestles her phone from her bag. Opening up the messenger she sends Ben a text:

Hey so I think I just hallucinated at the petting zoo. WebMD says it's cancer.

She looks up at Walter as she locks her phone screen, "I felt that...feeling again." Before she can say anything Else she catches the smallest flash of blue. "I saw it!" She hisses tugging Walter's sleeve and pointing, "Right there!"

Walter breathes out, short but forceful.

"What a time for it."

Though, spotting the bird like that sure is useful...

"Really wish we'd brought food for them- Is it just one of them?"

They'd better be on the move, then.

Sadie's gaze remains fixed on the peacock as it rustles about the bush, at Walter's murmured wish she slides her hand back into her bag. After a bit of a rustle, she pulls out a small Ziploc bag with about five, slightly crushed Digestives.

"Here." She blushes lightly, "Mum's a nurse, she has this thing about snacks."

She moves forward, continuing to follow the rustling bushes.

"Follow your target, not to close not to far. You do not want to be seen but you must remain close enough to pounce."

She scowls. Oh, that was going to be annoying.

Walter chuffs.

"Snacks do have their uses..."

He's tempted to let her take the lead on this one - that body language is hard to argue with. Still, he does take the bag, getting ready to lightly toss one of the Digestives just shy of the grove.

Sadie moves forwards, trying to split her attention between keeping an eye on the bird and walking in the same way the man in her vision had. It works, a bit. Her footsteps sightly softer but not soundless and effortless like the man's had been.

She got just a bit too close, what little of the peacock she could see disappearing off into the foliage.

"...Shite..."

Walter winces practically in-sync with her, as the birds run away again.

"... Only so far they can go, though, right?"

He picks up the Digestive, debating whether or not to toss it in and try to lure them back.

"That is true...Maybe we should leave some of the biscuit at this point, stop the peacocks from trying to leave the area or maybe lure in another escapes animal?"

Sadie slowly pads forward and-'Do not strike till you are assured of your success.'- whispers at Walter.

"What-what do you make of this Network thing?"

"Right," Walter answers, stepping forward to crack it in half.

Holding an already-crumbling Digestive does not do him any favors for stealth, he figures.

Still, he answers without hesitation, and just as quietly.

"If you'd asked me about something like this two decades ago, I'd have accepted it without question. One decade ago, and I'd have rejected it just as quickly, or ignored it. Now... I don't know. It's- it's strange, for sure, and it could be dangerous but none of us have become worse off for it yet, and I can't imagine who could have created it. I suppose I'm- ambivalent."

There are worse things.

"Oh..." That had not been quite the answer that Sadie was expecting. "It worries me, who knows who could be listening in to it?" She knew Ben had been listening in, who was to say that there weren't more people listening in without them knowing? "What could even make something like this happen in the first place? The only thing I keep coming back to is magic and well." Her face scrunches in displeasure.

Moving into the trees some more she spots one of the peacocks again, pecking about near a dense patch of foliage. "We might be able to corner it!"

"It's certainly not everyone, but it's hard to tell who's who if we don't already know each other."

Walter's displeasure mirror's Sadie's, then he refocuses on the task at hand.

"What, you go left, I go right?" he asks, keeping his voice low.

"Hopefully we'll be able to meet with some of the others after this, especially the people we haven't met yet. I'm glad I at least know some of the people on it, like you and Sir, it makes me feel a bit better about the whole thing to be honest." Sadie admits and pushes the sunglasses back up her nose.

She does smile when she sees Walter's reaction to the suggestion of magic before focusing back on the peacock. "Sounds good, heard it further into the corner so you can grab it?"

For a moment - well, possibly less, given the time conversion ratios - Walter has to puzzle through who Sir might be, but he remembers who before his expression can hint at the question.

"Same here," he says, and "Are there really corners here?" he asks, before nodding and stepping forward, heading ever-so-slightly right.

Sadie looks over at Walter, "The trees kind of act like a corner...? I like animals a lot, hardly an expert in peacock removal though."

She edges forward ever so slightly, "Walter...Did you get anything more from the Aurora, aside from the Number and this Network thing?"

"You're more of an expert than me, then," Walter says, flashing a smile that he hopes is reassuring.

At Sadie's question, he takes in a deep breath.

"As a matter of fact, yes."

And then he moves, heading right-and-around as planned.

"Now, Sadie!"

"Just be careful of its feet I suppose. And their wings...or was that swans...?"

Sadie jumps when Walter blurs and moves, "Bloody hell!" In her shock she lags behind, making the manoeuvre less balanced and ending up with the peacock coming in her direction.

Bending down she grabs it about the body as the peacock tries to get past, scooping it up and holding it tightly to her chest.

"Oh my god Walter that was so bloodycool!"

Walter twists, his face full of concern for the younger girl.

"Er- thanks! But we're only half done!"

Rather than wasting time getting embarrassed (something he knows he'll stew in later), he looks about for the other peacock - peahen?

"It's not hurting you, is it?"

"I'm fine!" She insists, "But that, that was amazing! You moved so fast! Have you figured out how fast you can go?!" She is clearly very enthusiastic about Walter's superpower. "Far cooler than what I got."

She looks around, the peahen would be harder to spot, and harder to catch with her arms already full of bird. Although with Walter's speed that probably wouldn't matter.

"Just the peahen left right?"

"I've done some studying - I can show you my results when we're all finished here," he replies, still scanning for the peahen.

He's still holding the Digestive, and he starts waving it about as if it has a smell the animals can pick up.

"And really, 'coolness' relies more on what you do with what you have."

He nods.

"I would love that!" She enthuses before giggling. "Maybe you'll turn into Turbo the Hedgehog. Say 'Gotta go fast!'"

"And I still think it's cooler than what I got...Although I'll wait and show you when I can put the bird down."

Time to traipse deeper into the Grove for the peahen!

Edited 2018-08-02 21:50 (UTC)

"No," Walter says, teasing but firm.

Pity that he can think faster, but it won't make problems like this easier to solve...

"Can you hear where she's gone now?"

"Awww," She faux whines. "Please? It would literally make my life!"

Sadie stops moving and focuses o what she can hear. "There's a faint rustling over there." She points further in to the trees, away again from the house and main grounds.

"Maybe when we're not, effectively, still in public," is the response.

Nodding, he moves - at a much more stealth-worthy pace - towards where Sadie points.

"I'll have to do a loop-around for this, and I'd rather not stumble on something," he explains over his shoulder.

Better safe than sorry; even with superior speed, he's not immune to injury!

"Yes!" The triumphant yes is hissed out as a whisper.

She steps back from Walter, gushing the peacock which has stated to complain about being held. "Oh! Is there anywhere you'd like me to stand or am I alright here?"

"Whatever way prevents the peacock there from biting you," he answers, moving a few branches away from his face.

"Since the peahen might come to check on her compani-"

Unfortunately, he does not get to finish his sentence because, naturally, said peahen has launched herself at him.

From the top of a tree.

Sadie readjusted the peacock slightly, "I'm fine, I've got his feet pointed away from me."

The sudden peahen attack causes Sadie to jump with a shriek as - Remember to always check above you Little Sparrow. - it falls on top of Walter and her weird visions decide they apparently have a sense of humour.

She can't really help much except for the giggles that start up and build into full-on, tears in her eyes laughter.

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Googling on how to catch a peacock/hen is a hassle. .-.

omg. A net? we need a net

Trufax. Maybe a worker left one in the bushes??? ... Nah, seems improbable.

Maybe they could craft a net from the leaves of the nearby trees...

That would be NICE.

Set up a Peacock Forcefield

/cackles/ Also AC is live! For the next week, apparently.

Tonight is the great AC run-down

IT'S THE FINAL AC-DOWN.

One Ac, one to go!

D'you want fries with that? ;) No, wait, that should be chips.

...now i really want chips. with salt and vinegar. Proper chips, not fries

You'd have an easier time getting them than I would. ;)

*looks longingly at Just Eat*

Re: *looks longingly at Just Eat*

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Excuse me whilst I go die of laughter

looks longingly at Just Eat

Re: looks longingly at Just Eat